Fangfei’s expression was beyond words. “Madam said that when you arrive, she’ll tell you herself.”

Lin Hao nodded and stopped asking.

Tianyuan Temple was right in the city. The carriage traveled at a good pace and arrived before long.

Lin Hao stepped down from the carriage and walked over. The monk guarding the gate was the same one from her previous visit.

The gatekeeper monk had originally intended to stop people, but upon seeing Lin Hao, he recognized her. His expression immediately turned peculiar as he stepped aside. “Female benefactor, please enter.”

Lin Hao smiled and nodded, her sense of foreboding growing stronger.

The young novice leading the way glanced at Lin Hao again and again, asking obediently, “Female benefactor, haven’t we met before?”

Lin Hao’s mouth twitched. “I came last year.”

“Last year?” The young novice blinked, suddenly understanding. “This humble monk remembers now—you’re that madam’s daughter!”

“Indeed.” Lin Hao smiled.

The young novice’s face showed some sympathy. “I didn’t expect you’d come again.”

Lin Hao took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to inquire.

Since her mother hadn’t allowed Fangfei to speak, there was even less need to ask anyone else.

“Thank you, young master.” Lin Hao spoke politely and quickened her pace.

Soon she saw the surrounding constables and monks, and speaking with one constable was none other than Lin Shi.

“Mother—” Lin Hao called out, walking over. “What’s happened?”

Lin Shi revealed an awkward smile. “Ah Hao, you’re here. Ahem, if I were to say Mother discovered another headless female corpse…”

“How did Mother discover it?” Lin Hao asked without changing expression.

“This time it really was coincidence. After offering incense, I went to the wishing pool. On the way back, I found the sun too strong so I cut through the bamboo grove. Coming out of the bamboo grove, I passed by that rockery—” Lin Shi pointed toward the rocks in the distance. “Suddenly I smelled a foul odor. I went over to take a look, and then discovered something in the crevice between the rocks…”

This “something” need not be stated—it was the headless female corpse.

Over there, the coroner finished the preliminary examination and reported the situation to Constable Liu in a low voice.

Constable Liu nodded from time to time. After listening, he walked over. “Madam Lin, Heir’s Wife.”

Lin Hao acknowledged the greeting with a nod.

“May I presume to ask Madam Lin—did you go out at all in the past few days?”

“The past few days?” Lin Shi shook her head without hesitation. “No, it’s been so hot lately I haven’t gone anywhere. I only went out today to offer incense.”

Lin Hao took Lin Shi’s arm, her expression becoming serious. “Why does Constable Liu ask this?”

Constable Liu thought to himself that there was no noblewoman easier to deal with than Madam Lin. This daughter who’d become heir’s wife wasn’t as easy to handle. His tone became more polite. “It’s like this—based on the coroner’s examination, the estimated time of the victim’s death was approximately two or three days ago.”

“Does Constable Liu suspect my mother?”

“No, no, no, the heir’s wife has misunderstood. It’s really that both headless female corpses were first discovered by your esteemed mother. This humble one just wanted to understand the situation better.”

Where could there be such coincidence? He couldn’t help being suspicious! But given the other party’s high status, even if he had suspicions, he couldn’t show it too obviously without finding evidence first.

Lin Shi belatedly realized she was being suspected. After a moment of surprise, she waved her hand dismissively. “Constable Liu, ask whatever you’d like.”

This frank attitude actually dispelled much of Constable Liu’s suspicion. He cupped his hands. “After further investigation, if there are new discoveries, I may need to trouble you.”

“No problem at all. If you have any questions, feel free to find me anytime.”

Constable Liu: “…” This truly didn’t seem like someone who’d done something wrong, but how could anyone discover corpses twice at the same temple?

“Would Constable Liu be willing to share the progress on the previous headless female corpse case?” Lin Hao asked.

Several traces of embarrassment appeared on Constable Liu’s face. “Currently there hasn’t been much progress. When that female corpse was discovered, she’d already been deceased for some time, and her body bore no items that could identify her…”

It had troubled them so much that their investigating magistrate had lost quite a bit of hair. Before this corpse was discovered, they’d already categorized it as an unsolved case and temporarily set it aside.

“It’s rather hot out. I’ll accompany my mother back first. If there are any questions, you can come find me anytime.”

Constable Liu naturally couldn’t detain them and said many polite words.

On the way back, mother and daughter sat in the same carriage. Lin Shi was rarely somewhat embarrassed. “Mother really didn’t intentionally stir up trouble…”

“Yes, yes, trouble just finds you.” Lin Hao comforted her with a smile.

Lin Shi glared at her daughter. “Why do I feel like you’re laughing at me, girl?”

“How could that be? Today’s matter was pure coincidence. Who could imagine there’d be a corpse in a rockery crevice?”

As for why she’d rushed to look upon smelling a foul odor… forget it, best to just get used to it.

“Ah Hao, isn’t the heir at the Ministry of Justice? Since the Shuntian Prefecture can’t solve the case, doesn’t the Ministry of Justice get involved?”

Murder cases under Shuntian Prefecture’s jurisdiction were generally transferred to the Ministry of Justice for deliberation after initial investigation.

Lin Shi wasn’t afraid of being suspected of murder—her whereabouts were clear and she wasn’t afraid of investigation. What she thought was that since she’d encountered this kind of thing twice, perhaps in the unseen world, the wronged souls of the victims were seeking her help.

“When Ah Shuo returns, I’ll ask.”

“That’s good then. This murderer specifically kills women and even cuts off their heads—simply conscienceless and deranged.”

As they spoke, the carriage stopped. Mother and daughter both stepped down, one walking toward Prince Jing’s residence, one entering the General’s residence.

The gatekeepers of both residences exchanged glances, the same thought occurring to both: The distance between the husband’s family and natal family—truly close indeed.

When Qi Shuo returned to their quarters, Lin Hao came out to greet him. “Ah Shuo, you’re back.”

Qi Shuo looked her over and his lips curved upward. “You need me for something?”

“Mm.”

Qi Shuo took her hand and together they walked into the inner room.

“My mother went to Tianyuan Temple today and encountered something…”

After hearing the full account, Qi Shuo didn’t know how to comment for a moment.

“Tomorrow I’ll ask the investigating magistrate responsible for this matter on their side. Both sides can cooperate and investigate together.”

Lin Hao took Qi Shuo’s arm. “Ah Shuo, if you go to the scene to investigate the case, can you take me along? My mother is the person who discovered the corpse both times.”

Qi Shuo laughed. “If you want to go, just go. Why drag your mother-in-law into it?”

Lin Hao lazily leaned against him and sighed. “Actually, my mother wants to go even more than I do.”

The next day, Qi Shuo went to Shuntian Prefecture and explained his intentions to Investigating Magistrate Liu, who’d been responsible for this case all along.

When Investigating Magistrate Liu heard that the Heir of Prince Jing was willing to actively help, he naturally couldn’t ask for more.

He’d heard that the Heir of Prince Jing was bold and meticulous, and could draw a suspect’s likeness based on just a few words—greatly helpful for solving cases.

“I’d like to examine the case files from last year’s headless female corpse case.”

“Your Highness, please wait a moment.” Investigating Magistrate Liu quickly ordered subordinates to fetch the files.

The case files recorded the entire investigation process and included detailed autopsy records.

The investigation process held nothing particularly special. His gaze fell on the autopsy records as he asked, “This states that the deceased had many narrow, fine wound marks at the collarbone, suspected to be stabbed by sharp, slender objects like hairpins, and therefore deduced that the murderer was very likely female. During that investigation, did you compile a list of female visitors who frequently came to Tianyuan Temple?”