Ji Yunshu gently wrinkled her nose, took some soap bean powder and sprinkled it down.
Covering over the atractylodes above.
Gao Meng had been dead for several days. His entire face was almost grayish-white, even showing a tinge of blue. Also, because of the flood waters, the body was somewhat swollen overall. The clothes on the body were also stained with much fine dirt and grass debris.
It was a very disheveled corpse.
She put on gloves and began the examination.
The deceased had bruises on his head and the back of his skull, which should have been sustained when he was thrown into the dry well.
She then turned the deceased’s head to the side, pushed aside the disheveled hair, examining from the front of the neck to the back of the neck—nothing abnormal. But finally, inside the deceased’s right ear, she discovered a black object. That object’s softness was like chewing gum. She carefully removed it, pinching it between her fingers, and brought it to her nose to smell.
A faint herbal scent!
Yet the deceased’s ear had not been injured.
Subsequently, she placed that small black object on a clean handkerchief and carefully folded it.
Continuing to examine downward, the deceased’s sleeve had a large black stain, as if it had been scorched by fire.
She lifted the deceased’s hand. The ten fingers were rough, the nails wax-yellow, with much dirt inside. Opening the deceased’s palm, her nose wrinkled slightly. She sniffed and couldn’t help but furrow her brow.
The smell of tiger hide.
Gao Meng’s business was in tiger hides. If there was a smell, there was nothing strange about it.
Next, she removed the deceased’s clothing, revealing the fatal wound on the body—precisely at the heart’s position. One could say it was a single killing blow. The wound was very deep, the flesh tinged purple, even showing signs of decay, with blood staining the surrounding area.
This was the only wound on the deceased’s body.
After examining almost everything, she began to inspect those skeletal remains that had been reassembled.
One hour later…
Finished!
She washed her hands and left the room.
Jingrong glanced inside and asked, “How was it?”
“Let’s talk about it when we return.”
Jingrong nodded and said to the Minister of Justice, “Minister Li, guard the bodies and skeletal remains inside well. This prince may come again.”
“Yes, this official will have people watch them carefully.”
His attitude was very good!
Only then did Jingrong and the others leave the Ministry of Justice.
In the carriage returning to the estate.
Ji Yunshu lifted the curtain and handed the wrapped handkerchief in her hand to Lang Bo, saying, “Big Brother Lang, please trouble you to send someone to Yuhua Pavilion. Give this item to Master Muruo and have him see what medicinal ingredients are inside.”
“Alright, Mr. Ji, rest assured.”
He took the item and summoned a young guard, giving him a few instructions.
The young guard then galloped off at full speed.
Afterward, Ji Yunshu said to Jingrong, “Let’s go to the inn first.”
“The inn?”
“Xianghe Inn.”
“You want to find those merchants?”
“Those who know me—none better than you.”
They exchanged smiles.
Soon, the group arrived at Xianghe Inn.
After dismounting from the carriage, Jingrong instructed the guards beside him to wait outside, entering only with Ji Yunshu.
Just as they entered, the inn’s waiter enthusiastically came forward.
“Are the two guests here to eat or…”
Jingrong’s eyes flickered as he tossed out a phrase, “Ministry of Justice conducting an investigation.”
Uh!
The waiter’s face turned dark with fear, his bow becoming even lower.
“So it’s the officials.”
With an extremely fawning smile.
Meanwhile, the innkeeper who had been calculating accounts behind the counter heard this and quickly came around, pushing the waiter aside and greeting them respectfully, “Not knowing that two officials from the Ministry of Justice had arrived—please forgive the lack of proper reception. This small establishment conducts completely legitimate business, absolutely nothing illegal, and is not a black shop. You two officials are here for…”
Trembling with fright.
Somewhat nervous.
After all, they were from the Ministry of Justice—of course common people would be alarmed!
Jingrong’s gaze swept up to the second floor. His unsmiling and somewhat stern face grew somber as he asked, “Are there merchants who came to the capital staying at the inn?”
“Hmm?” The innkeeper paused, muttering under his breath, “How is it that some people just left, and now more have come?”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing, nothing. This humble one was saying that indeed, there are traveling merchants staying in this establishment.”
“Take us to find them.”
“Yes, yes, yes. Those people are upstairs. Officials, please.”
He respectfully led the two upstairs.
Everyone has a heart for gossip—the innkeeper was no exception.
As he led them up, he asked, “This humble one heard that several days ago, someone among those merchants died—died in the dry well beneath the great Buddha. How could a perfectly fine person just die like that? Moreover, there were many skeletal remains in that dry well. Now everyone in the capital is on edge. Some say it’s the work of ghosts and spirits—is it true or false?”
“…”
“How is the investigation progressing, officials?”
“…”
Jingrong’s face was gloomy, not making a sound.
The innkeeper awkwardly closed his mouth.
They arrived at a room’s entrance.
“Official, the people are inside.”
After speaking, the innkeeper knocked on the door.
After a moment, the door opened.
It was one of the merchants, “You are?”
Before the innkeeper could speak, Jingrong said, “Ministry of Justice conducting an investigation. We want to ask you about something.”
“Didn’t someone just come to ask? Why are you asking again?”
Hmm?
It seemed Jing Yi had brought people and arrived one step ahead.
Jingrong didn’t reveal this, only saying, “This concerns a murder case—naturally we must investigate thoroughly.”
“Oh.” That person was also honest, “Then… come in.”
The innkeeper’s task complete, he left.
Jingrong and Ji Yunshu entered the room.
Inside the room were seven or eight more people. Those merchants were at their wits’ end. With their chief dead and the group leaderless, they were like headless flies buzzing about aimlessly.
Ji Yunshu looked at everyone and asked, “Everyone, please don’t be afraid. We just want to ask about the deceased.”
Suddenly—
“I recognize you.”
Someone pointed at her, “Several days ago when we entered the capital, our horses were startled—it was you, young master, who helped.”
Ji Yunshu smiled, “That was indeed me.”
“Who would have thought you were from the Ministry of Justice, young master. You must seek justice for our chief!”
“The deceased is your chief?”
“Yes. Our chief brought us to the capital to do business, but who could have expected…” That person choked up.
Ji Yunshu asked, “What exactly happened that night?”
One of them shook his head, sighed, and answered, “We’re also not clear. That night after eating dinner, we each returned to our rooms. When we went to find our chief the next day and he didn’t open the door for a long time, we pushed the door open and discovered the person wasn’t in the room at all. Not long after, officials came, and only then did we learn that our chief had died.”
Everyone in the room wiped tears and sighed.
Jingrong asked, “That night, did your chief show any abnormalities? Or did anyone come looking for him?”
“No. We don’t know anyone at all in the capital.”
Suddenly—
Ji Yunshu asked, “Are those tiger hides still here?”
“They are.”
“Did your chief ever open the boxes or touch the tiger hides?”
Someone quickly denied it, “Our chief never opened the boxes. Moreover, those boxes have always been watched by people I assigned. From when we arrived in the capital all along this journey, our chief never opened them.”
How strange!
If he hadn’t touched them, why would there be the scent of tiger hide on his palm?
Ji Yunshu didn’t think deeply about it and continued inquiring.
But she didn’t obtain any important clues.
They were all inconsequential matters…