In the early hours of the eighth day of the twelfth month of the third year of Xuanfeng, it snowed heavily in Yidu City, a city that almost never saw snow. Heaven and earth were blanketed in white, and the wind was cold enough to kill.

At one quarter past the first watch, a night soil collector named Xu Laosan discovered a female corpse beside a drainage ditch in Cuicui Lane in the Cihang Ward of the Eastern Second District. The corpse was dressed in red, lying spread-eagled in the snow. Her jet-black hair fanned out like ink on paper. Her entire body was covered in bruises; her skirt had been torn to shreds, exposing bluish-white thighs, and at the inner thigh was a brownish-red peach blossom brand.

This was the first victim in the Yidu Peach Blossom Killer murders that shook the Tang Kingdom.

“The victim’s name was Yu Qing, twenty years old, a singing girl of the Wu Family in the Red Fragrance Quarter. On the night before, she was invited by a patron to perform at the Scattered Blossoms Tower. She departed at midnight and unexpectedly died along the way. According to the coroner’s examination, the victim was first violated and then killed. The fatal cause of death was strangulation. The peach blossom brand was applied after death, and the location where the body was found was not the primary crime scene.” Ling Zhiyan paused. “The actual primary crime scene was never found thereafter.”

“According to these dossier records, from the twelfth month of the third year of Xuanfeng through the first month of the fourth year of Xuanfeng, a total of sixteen women were violated and killed, each bearing a peach blossom brand on the inner thigh. The locations where the bodies were discovered were spread across three wards in Eastern District One, the Eastern Second Ward, the Eastern Fourth Ward, three wards in Northern District Four, and three wards in Northern District Two. The authorities carried out various investigations and canvassing, and even suspended the night market for a time and reinstated the ward-and-ward system — but this measure quickly came to nothing. Enormous manpower and resources were expended, yet still the perpetrator could not be found. For a time, Yidu City was gripped by terror, and ordinary people lived in constant anxiety and dread — until the seventeenth victim was found in a drainage ditch outside the Eastern Market.”

“This victim had also been violated and then killed, stabbed in the throat with a single blow. At the time, the body was drenched in blood, and the quantity of blood was clearly greater than one person could produce. The coroner established upon examination that it was pig’s blood. Using this lead, investigators finally zeroed in on a suspect: a pig-slaughtering butcher at the Eastern Market by the name of Tu Yan. In Tu Yan’s home, they found the murder weapon — a bleeding knife — fragments of the victim’s torn skirt, and a brand iron in the shape of a peach blossom. This evidence confirmed the fact that Tu Yan was the Peach Blossom Killer.”

Lin Sui’an: “What were the causes of death for the earlier victims?”

Ling Zhiyan: “Each differed. Victims one and two were strangled. Victims three through six had their throats cut. Victims seven and nine were smothered. Victims eight, ten through sixteen were all killed by being disemboweled with a sharp implement. When the bodies of victims thirteen through sixteen were discovered, a considerable portion of their internal organs had already been eaten by stray dogs.”

Hua Yitang: “Where did you find the anomalies?”

“There are three anomalies,” said Ling Zhiyan. “First, the two conditions under which these seventeen cases were consolidated were: one, the peach blossom brand on the inner thigh of the corpse; and two, each victim being violated before being killed. The problem lies here — the peach blossom brands on the seventh and ninth victims differ from those of the other victims.”

As he spoke, Ling Zhiyan turned all the case dossiers to the page recording the coroner’s examination format and compared them one by one. “The peach blossom brands on victims seven and nine are noticeably smaller and more refined — and they are six-petal peach blossoms.”

Lin Sui’an leaned in to examine them closely — well, she was right! Every other victim’s peach blossom brand was a five-petal blossom of roughly one cun in diameter, while the two victims Ling Zhiyan was pointing to had brands that were clearly of a different specification.

Hua Yitang lifted his eyelids and glanced at Xia, the Chief Secretary. “Chief Secretary Xia, how do you explain this anomaly?”

Xia wiped the sweat from his brow. “The one who directly supervised this case was the then-Chief Constable Wu Zhengqing. He knows the details of the case best.”

Hua Yitang: “Conveniently, the Military Affairs Office is right next door. Why not invite Military Advisor Wu to join us?”

“Yes, yes, that’s what Military Advisor Hua says is best.”

It was not long before Wu Zhengqing arrived. His complexion was even worse than the previous evening — eyes circled in black, face swollen. He clearly had not slept all night, and his manner was somewhat short.

“Has Judicial Inspector Ling finished asking about where I was yesterday?”

“I have already inquired with the clerks on duty in the records vault yesterday; they can all vouch for Military Advisor Wu’s whereabouts,” said Ling Zhiyan. “What I am asking about today is not that, but the anomalies in the Peach Blossom Killer case.”

Wu Zhengqing frowned. “This case was closed five years ago. What anomalies could there be?”

Ling Zhiyan went over the anomalies he had raised earlier once more. Wu Zhengqing’s expression grew even more unpleasant.

“Although the peach blossom brands on those two corpses are slightly different, based on my deduction, it was likely that the Peach Blossom Killer had lost or damaged his original branding iron, so he made a new one.”

Ling Zhiyan shook his head. “That does not hold. If he used a new branding iron, why did he later revert to the first version?”

Wu Zhengqing’s throat worked. He fell silent.

Ling Zhiyan’s expression darkened, his voice lowering accordingly. “The second anomaly: of the seventeen victims, only fifteen had their identities confirmed. The seventh and ninth victims remained unidentified even when the case was closed — which happens to coincide precisely with the anomaly of the peach blossom brand. Does Military Advisor Wu not find that too much of a coincidence?”

Wu Zhengqing: “Yidu has a population of five hundred thousand. It is not unusual for a few corpses to have their identities unestablished…”

“Those two victims — one was ten years old, and the other was only eight!” Ling Zhiyan suddenly raised his voice with sharp severity. Xia and Wu Zhengqing both gave a violent flinch simultaneously.

Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang turned pale with shock. They leaned in to examine the coroner’s examination format carefully, and the ages of the two victims were written as “young girl, approximately ten years old” and “young girl, approximately eight years old.”

A buzz sounded in Lin Sui’an’s mind, and with no warning whatsoever, the memories of the white sacrificial victims she had witnessed in Yangdu flooded out like madness, swirling before her eyes like a kaleidoscope —

“A’Niang…”

“Second daughter, be good and take your medicine…”

“The nine rivers at dawn run clear and bright, A’Niang’s little one has sharp shining eyes… A’Niang’s little one is coming home too —”

“Xiu’er…”

“Elder brother looks best when he smiles…”

An indescribable, blood-soaked killing intent and pain drilled into her very bones. Lin Sui’an violently gripped the hilt of Qian Jing. The blade hummed ceaselessly, a dark green killing aura nearly overflowing from the scabbard.

“Lin Sui’an!” Hua Yitang’s hand slammed over Lin Sui’an’s, the warmth of his palm transmitting through her skin and gradually soothing the restless Qian Jing.

Lin Sui’an exhaled a long breath. Only then did she notice how eerily silent the entire Office of Justice had become, with everyone staring at her blankly. Ling Zhiyan looked uncertain what to do. Mu Xia was full of worry. Xia and Wu Zhengqing wore expressions of horror. Hua Yitang’s eyes were reddened at the rims, looking as though he were about to cry.

“It is nothing. My blood energy likely surged from the fight this morning; I will be fine after a rest.” Lin Sui’an turned her hand and squeezed Hua Yitang’s hand to reassure him.

Hua Yitang tightened his jaw, stepped forward one pace, and used his body to shield the two clasped hands from view. His hand remained firmly gripped around Lin Sui’an’s, showing no sign of letting go.

Ling Zhiyan looked at Lin Sui’an twice more, and seeing that her emotions had stabilized, he continued. “The case record notes the final victim as Zuo Fangfang, aged thirty-one, residing in the Eastern Second Ward, who regularly went to Tu Yan’s pork stall at the Eastern Market to buy meat. She was thus targeted by Tu Yan and became his final victim.”

Wu Zhengqing clasped his fists. “This is exactly so. Tu Yan made a full confession without reservation of the details of violating and killing this woman, and he also indicated the location of the murder — in his own bedchamber. The bleeding knife matched the wounds on Zuo Fangfang, and beneath Tu Yan’s bed, the peach blossom branding iron was found. Most importantly, Tu Yan gave a public confession in court regarding the murder of the previous sixteen women, signed and stamped in court.”

Ling Zhiyan pulled out the coroner’s examination format for Zuo Fangfang. “Does Military Advisor Wu truly not notice that Zuo Fangfang’s peach blossom brand also differs from the previous ones?”

Wu Zhengqing’s eyes went wide. “What do you mean by that, Judicial Inspector Ling? The peach blossom brand on this examination record is perfectly clear — five-petal peach blossom, one cun in diameter, plainly identical to the previous brands!”

Lin Sui’an was about to lean over to look at the coroner’s examination format, but Hua Yitang reached out and pulled her back, even glaring at her fiercely.

“The edges of this brand are more sharply defined. It was newly made.” Ling Zhiyan said.

“This confirms my earlier reasoning,” said Wu Zhengqing. “Tu Yan, as a precaution, made several extra peach blossom branding irons to keep in reserve.”

Ling Zhiyan: “That argument does not hold. Why, then, did he never mention such an important matter in his testimony? Moreover, his account of the details of the earlier killings was extremely vague and greatly at odds with the coroner’s examination records.”

“About that…” Wu Zhengqing glanced at Xia. Xia frowned, gave a nod. Only then did Wu Zhengqing continue. “To be truthful, after Tu Yan was imprisoned, perhaps knowing that he had done irredeemable evil and could not escape death, he became somewhat unhinged out of terror, and his speech grew erratic. However, he did supply the locations of the primary crime scenes for several of the earlier victims, and when we sent men to investigate, we did indeed find the belongings of the deceased at those locations. As for those details — Tu Yan said that he was in a frenzied state when he committed the killings and could not recall them afterward.”

Ling Zhiyan frowned. “And on that basis alone, you concluded Tu Yan was the Peach Blossom Killer?!”

Xia sighed. “Judicial Inspector Ling does not know — at the time, the Peach Blossom Killer case had thrown Yidu City into chaos. Ordinary people were in constant fear, especially young women, who did not dare even step out of their doors; nights were worse, with various bandits and thieves taking advantage of the turmoil to steal and rob while the city was in crisis. Public order in Yidu plummeted sharply. Had Military Advisor Wu not used his thunderous methods to capture the Peach Blossom Killer Tu Yan and turn the tide, pulling Yidu from the edge of disaster, there is no telling how much longer the city would have been in disorder.”

Wu Zhengqing took a deep breath and clasped his fists. “I am aware that this case was not handled without its shortcomings. But after Tu Yan was dealt with, the Peach Blossom Killer went utterly silent — does that not itself prove that Tu Yan was the Peach Blossom Killer?”

Hua Yitang raised an eyebrow. “Then how do you explain the peach blossom brand on Lian Xiaoshuang’s body?”

A flicker of an odd expression crossed Wu Zhengqing’s face, gone almost before it appeared. “It is my view that Lian Xiaoshuang’s death involves something else entirely. The true killer merely used the peach blossom brand to deflect suspicion.”

Ling Zhiyan frowned and fell into silent contemplation.

Lin Sui’an and Hua Yitang exchanged a glance, and they too could not say with certainty.

Fangke walked out of the side room carrying a wooden tray. “The object concealed in the embroidery has been extracted.”

Everyone’s expressions changed sharply. They crowded forward at once. On the wooden tray lay a small strip of white cloth — nothing of fine quality, with sparse weave, apparently torn from something, frayed threads floating at the edges, looking as though it might fall apart at any moment.

Hua Yitang’s eyelid twitched. He wrapped his fingers in a handkerchief, picked up the cloth and examined it closely. “This is fabric from the embroidery goods of the Four-Sided Manor in Qingzhou Prefecture!”

Ling Zhiyan: “What?!”

Lin Sui’an: “Are you certain?”

Hua Yitang frowned. “Not entirely certain.”

“I am certain.” Fangke gestured for everyone to follow him into the side room. On the writing table lay two sheets of white paper. On the left paper was a tiny strand of white thread, apparently snipped from the cloth. Fangke poured colorless transparent liquid from a small porcelain bottle over the white thread; almost immediately, the thread turned ink blue.

“This piece of cloth was previously steeped in the sacred water of the Longshen Temple.” Fangke said.

Everyone’s expressions went dark.

Hua Yitang ground out through clenched teeth: “To think there is still a fish that slipped through the net.”

“That is not all.” Fangke pointed to the other white paper, on which there was a streak of ink blue. “When I was conducting the postmortem, I noticed that Lian Xiaoshuang’s body was underweight, and I had already grown suspicious. So I preserved her internal organs, gastric fluid, and urine. What I see here I have extracted from Lian Xiaoshuang’s visceral samples — there is an accumulation of Longshen Fruit poison inside her body; she had been taking it for some time.”

Lin Sui’an felt a pounding in her head. The more she investigated Lian Xiaoshuang’s case, the more convoluted it became. From the clues alone, several possible theories could already be deduced.

The first possibility: the Peach Blossom Killer had returned.

Though Wu Zhengqing spoke with certainty that Tu Yan was the Peach Blossom Killer, Lin Sui’an still found Judicial Inspector Ling’s handsome reasoning more persuasive. Setting aside the heap of inconsistencies in the dossiers, even judged purely by looks, the sixth young master Ling was more credible.

The second possibility: a crime of passion.

This was deduced on the basis that Lian Xiaoshuang had a history of abortion, and was at present without corroborating evidence.

The third possibility: Lian Xiaoshuang had become entangled in the Longshen Fruit case.

Hiding something related to Longshen Fruit inside embroidery seemed in every way deliberate, as though it had been left behind on purpose — but the source of the lead was unclear and also awaited verification.

The fourth possibility: a revenge killing.

Lian Xiaoshuang had previously suffered abuse, which was also a lead worth pursuing.

Beyond all this, what was most bewildering of all was the manner in which Lian Xiaoshuang’s body had been handled — meticulous at every turn, and yet contradictory at every turn, truly leaving one completely at a loss.

Lin Sui’an now had the feeling that this case was like embroidery threads tangled into a hopeless knot, with thousands of loose ends and not a single thread to begin unraveling it.

Governor Chi was once again summoned out of the inner office by Ling Zhiyan, walking in with his head drooping and his stomach cradled in his arms, slumping into the taishi chair like a pile of limp, defeated worn-out socks. He was likely unable to fathom how, having only had one hour off, the case had managed to become even more troublesome.

Hua Yitang, with great thoughtfulness, gifted him a complete new set of tables and chairs, and only then did Governor Chi muster his spirits and summon the constables to invite Wu Zhengli and his wife in.

This time, Hua Yitang seemed to be taking the approach of “smiling daggers, striking the unguarded” in his interrogation. He smiled and invited Wu Zhengli and his wife to be seated. Mu Xia had prepared premium Hundred Blossoms Tea. Governor Chi and Xia, the Chief Secretary, took on the heavy responsibility of chatting warmly with Wu Zhengli about household matters.

Lin Sui’an was busy observing Wu Zhengli’s wife.

She was a woman past her early thirties, thin like Wu Zhengli, wearing a tasteful dress, poised and proper in her bearing. Her hands were folded one over the other and placed continuously at her lower abdomen. Her face, neck, and throat were coated in thick powder, a floral ornament pressed to her forehead, with a cherry red dot applied only at the center of her lips — the most fashionable cherry makeup style in Yidu.

This style of makeup emphasized an entirely white, pale face with a tiny cherry-red pout. With expression it looked presentable enough, but without expression it resembled a strange and unsettling mask.

At this moment, Wu Zhengli’s wife was like a person wearing a mask.

The Second Elder Shen Xiang stood behind Lin Sui’an, speaking rapidly in a low voice to fill in the background details: “This woman’s surname is Qu and her given name is Hui. Her mother died when she was young. Her father ran a private school. Wu Zhengli attended this private school as a child, and he and Qu Hui grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Qu Hui married Wu Zhengli at sixteen. Subsequently, the Wu Family rose to prominence and became a newly established gentry family in Yidu, and Qu Hui became the mistress of the household, managing all domestic affairs with great steadiness.”

“The Wu couple was famously affectionate throughout Yidu. Their only regret was the lack of children — reportedly because Qu Hui’s health was poor and she could not conceive, and so she had always been recuperating at a villa in the outskirts. Wu Zhengli was deeply devoted to Qu Hui, and even with Qu Hui unable to bear children, he never harbored any thought of divorcing her, and frequently went to the villa to accompany his wife, going so far as to never take a concubine. Qu Hui’s greatest love was embroidery, so Wu Zhengli engaged Lian Xiaoshuang to come and teach Qu Hui embroidery, to cheer her up.”

Lin Sui’an listened until her head was buzzing.

Childhood sweethearts, married young, the husband prosperous in middle age — a gambler — the wife unable to have children yet the husband steadfastly unwilling to separate or take a concubine, famous throughout Yidu for their devotion — goodness, this was quite a stacked set of circumstances!

Governor Chi and Xia had been chatting for a good while now, their mouths dry, and they truly could not keep the conversation going, and kept shooting looks over at Hua Yitang.

Hua Yitang wore the warm, familiar smile of someone who had known you all his life, fanning his “red blossoms fallen, green plums still small” folding fan, looking like a guileless and harmless young man. “The reason we have invited the head of the Wu Family today is simply a routine inquiry; we hope you and your esteemed wife will not take offense.”

Wu Zhengli held his tea cup and drank a couple of sips, smacking his lips. “Military Advisor Hua, did you not ask all of this yesterday? What do you want to ask again today?”

Ling Zhiyan: “We have already sent men to verify, and the head of the Wu Family does indeed have an alibi for yesterday. However, Lian Xiaoshuang kept largely to herself and only maintained close contact with your honored wife. So we would like to ask your honored wife about Lian Xiaoshuang’s situation.”

“All right, understood.” Wu Zhengli turned and patted Qu Hui’s arm, saying gently, “It is just a formality; do not be afraid.”

Lin Sui’an’s pupils contracted sharply. She had noticed — when Wu Zhengli patted Qu Hui just now, Qu Hui’s body had tensed for just a single instant. Through the wide sleeves and robes, it was likely no one could have detected it except for her own dynamic vision.

Qu Hui lowered her eyelids and said softly: “What would Military Advisor Hua like to ask?”

Hua Yitang: “How many times a month did Lian Xiaoshuang visit the Wu villa?”

Qu Hui: “Approximately two or three times a month.”

“Who set the dates of those visits?”

“Lian Xiaoshuang and I arranged them together.”

“Were the dates fixed?”

“It mainly depended on what was convenient for Lian Xiaoshuang; there was no fixed schedule.”

“How long did Lian Xiaoshuang stay each time?”

“Lian Xiaoshuang did not like being around people. She came each time in the evening and left in the morning, sleeping in the same bed with me through the night.”

“What did the two of you talk about?”

“Naturally, embroidery.”

“Talking about embroidery at night? Wasn’t it too dark?”

“My husband had many candles prepared; the light was perfectly clear.”

Hua Yitang lifted his tea cup and took a sip. “For Madam Wu to be able to share a bed with Lian Xiaoshuang, the two of you must have been very close friends.”

Qu Hui lifted her eyelids. For the first time, an expression appeared on her mask-like face — a gentle, soft smile. “Yes. We were very good friends.”

Hua Yitang set down his tea cup with a click. “Did you know that Lian Xiaoshuang was with child?”

The room instantly fell dead silent. Wu Zhengli’s eyes went wide; the skin of his face twitched involuntarily. A flash of viciousness crossed his eyes before he quickly picked up his tea cup to cover it.

Compared to Wu Zhengli’s loss of composure, Qu Hui’s expression was remarkably calm. “I knew.”

“Who was the father of the child?”

“She never told me that man’s name. But every time she mentioned him —” Qu Hui pressed her lips together. “Her eyes were brimming with hope.”

Ling Zhiyan furrowed his brow but said nothing.

This choice of word is strange, Lin Sui’an thought. When women usually spoke about their sweetheart, they would use words like “affection” or “fondness.” She had never heard anyone use “hope” to describe such a feeling.

Hua Yitang: “And did you know that Lian Xiaoshuang had an abortion?”

Qu Hui’s gaze dimmed. She shook her head slowly.

“When was the last time you saw Lian Xiaoshuang?”

“The eighth day of the eighth month. She said that day that she had a batch of embroidery pieces that needed to be rushed, and that she would not be coming the following month.”

Lin Sui’an thought: The eighth day of the eighth month — that was more than a month ago. Could it be that in this stretch of time, Lian Xiaoshuang had the abortion on her own?

Hua Yitang picked up his tea cup once more. “One final question: where were you between the hour of You and the hour of Chou the day before yesterday?”

At these words, Wu Zhengli’s expression shifted abruptly, and he snapped his gaze to his wife.

Qu Hui’s expression did not waver. “Asleep at home.”

“Who can vouch for you?”

“All the household servants can vouch for me.”

“Enough!” Wu Zhengli slapped the table and shot to his feet. “Is Military Advisor Hua interrogating my wife as though she were a criminal suspect?!”

Hua Yitang curved his lips in a smile, rose with his tea cup in hand, and gave a respectful bow. “Hua was overly abrupt. Please, Madam Wu, do not take offense.”

Qu Hui rose and inclined her head. “Military Advisor Hua is only doing his duty. Think nothing of it.”

Hua Yitang raised his arm higher still. “Hua would drink to Madam Wu’s forgiveness with this tea in place of wine.”

Qu Hui lowered her gaze, picked up the tea cup that had sat untouched on the table before her, returned the gesture, took a small sip, set the cup down, and left, escorting Wu Zhengli’s arm on hers, departing gracefully.

Hua Yitang, Lin Sui’an, Ling Zhiyan, and Fangke stood in a row, watching the two figures recede, their expressions grave.

Hua Yitang: “Did you see it?”

Ling Zhiyan: “She was hiding it the whole time. It showed when she held the tea cup — there is an injury on her arm.”

Lin Sui’an: “Her face was far too heavily powdered, as though it had been applied deliberately, as though to conceal something.”

Fangke: “The injury on her arm is a fresh wound; it appears to have been made by something strip-like used to strike her.”

Governor Chi: “Wh-what does this mean?”

Hua Yitang sighed. “This Madam Wu, like Lian Xiaoshuang, has been beaten and abused regularly.”

Xia: “Who would possibly beat the wife of Head Wu…”

The rest of Xia’s sentence was never spoken. Even as he asked, he already knew the answer.

It was Wu Zhengli.

Skit:

Governor Chi: These people are terrifying — every last one of them a top-ranked case investigator! When will I ever get a day off?!

Come on, let’s place our bets.

Who is the killer?