Chapter 474

Cutting the throat would not cause instant death. The murderer was very agile. He did not use a throat tube, but directly cut the carotid artery on the side.

It was obvious that he was a veteran.

In Xu Qi 'an's previous life, cutting the carotid artery was a fatal wound that even the gods could not save. It was certain death.

However, it would not cause instant death.

This little flag officer died directly on the desk. He did not struggle, nor did his blood splatter everywhere. From this, it could be inferred that the cause of death was not throat cutting.

What really caused his death was the fatal injury to his brain. He had no chance to react or struggle, and died on the spot.

The murderer smashed his frontal bone, and then cut his throat with a knife. It was very efficient … Staring at the shallow hole on the forehead of the dead man, the scene appeared in everyone's mind.

Xu Qi 'an touched the body of the dead man, and after careful observation, he said, "After death, stiffness spread all over the body. The livor mortis no longer moved, the cornea is quite cloudy, and the time of death is more than 17 hours. In other words, the murderer killed at night.

"I suggest investigating from these aspects. First, the recent night travel permit issued by the magistrate's office. Second, ask the Imperial Blade Guards if there are any suspicious people nearby. Third, ask the night watchman in charge of night patrol in the area. Fourth, ask the family about the recent interpersonal relationship of the deceased."

No one spoke for a long time. Lü Qing and the others looked at him in a daze.

That, that was it?

He gave a direction?

In such a short time, he made a clear and clear deduction, and based on it, pointed out the direction of the case investigation.

Although they knew that Xu Qi 'an was an expert in solving cases, they still felt that it was too fast.

Lü Qing thought for a moment and said, "Let the coroner examine first."

Usually, when there was a murder case, the arresting officers would bring the coroner with them to conduct a preliminary examination first. This way, they could better combine the clues at the scene to make a deduction.

The coroner's result was similar to Xu Qi 'an's judgment, but not as detailed as the latter.

Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao were fine, but Lü Qing and the other magistrate's office were quick-witted, and they admired Xu Qi 'an.

"It's a pity that he's already a night watchman, and the magistrate's office can't get him …" Lü Qing sighed in her heart.

If she had such an excellent colleague to arrest criminals and solve cases with her, it would be a great thing in life.

Lü Qing called the quick-witted officers outside to ask them about the results of the interrogation.

It was concluded that the deceased had no recent feud, that he had no visitors during the night, and that he had been in good spirits.

For a moment, Lü Qing did not have a clue.

"The victim was only a minor flag officer. If we exclude the possibility of revenge, then what reason would the murderer have to break into the house in the middle of the night and commit murder?" Xu Qi 'an whispered beside her.

Lu Qing had rich experience in criminal investigation. His eyes lit up when he heard that. He immediately called the wife of the deceased and asked, "Did the family suddenly have more money? Or, what did Liu Han say to you? "

The beautiful woman tried hard to recall for a long time before she said in a sorrowful voice, "A few days ago, my husband did say that he would take us out of the capital to live a carefree life outside."

"…" Qing and asked. "The woman said." Lady, "said.

"About ten days ago." The woman could not remember.

… …

On the way out of the courtyard, Lü Qing said, "He accepted a bribe and was silenced."

Xu Qi 'an nodded. It was a reasonable guess, and he thought so too.

Song Tingfeng frowned. "But, why would a small, insignificant flag officer be silenced?"

Xu Qi 'an thought, as if he had caught onto something. He asked, "If I remember correctly, the Jin Wu Guards are in charge of the east gate of the inner city and the east gate of the imperial city."

Everyone's expression changed when they heard this.

Xu Qi 'an said, "Perhaps we should meet with Liu Han's direct superior and report this matter to the yamen. After we get our tokens, we can go and interrogate him."

Liu Han's superior was a baihu of the Jin Wu Guards. Although they were both baihu, the status of the Jin Wu Guards was much higher than that of the Imperial Saber Guards. The latter was the unit's security, while the former was the leader's bodyguard.

If Xu Qi 'an and the others wanted to go and interrogate him, they would need a token issued by the yamen as proof. It was similar to a search warrant in his previous life.

When they returned to the yamen, they reported this matter to Li Yuchun. Brother Chun took this matter seriously and said, "This matter is very strange, but the imperial city is heavily guarded. A small flag officer can't do much. Just interrogate him as usual, the Jin Wu Guards will investigate themselves. Also, the day of His Majesty's ancestral worship is approaching. Our focus should be on this matter. "

He immediately handed over the token.

After waiting at the yamen for a while, Lü Qing and the other magistrate officials rushed over and went to the east gate of the imperial city.

Baihu Zhou was patrolling with his men and only returned after two hours. When he heard that the yamen and the night watchmen were here, he immediately came to receive them.

Baihu Zhou had a thick beard, triangular eyes, and a fierce-looking face. One look and anyone could tell that he was not an easy person to get along with.

Song Tingfeng said, "Baihu Zhou, do you have a flag officer called Liu Han under you?"

Baihu Zhou, who looked displeased, was about to answer when he saw one of the brass gongs take out a piece of paper from his pocket and ignite it with his Qi.

In the next moment, his pupils were dyed with a layer of Light.

The Qi Observation Technique? Without batting an eyelid, Baihu Zhou restrained the irritation between his brows. "Yes."

"He's dead," Song Tingfeng said.

"What?" Baihu Zhou could not hide his surprise.

Lü Qing asked, "Has Liu Han been acting strangely lately?"

"No."

"While he was guarding the east gate, did any suspicious people or objects enter or leave the imperial city?"

"No." Baihu Zhou shook his head, "There are many soldiers guarding the imperial city. Bribing one of them is useless unless you bribe all of them, but that is impossible."

Zhu Guangxiao asked, "What if I bribe you?"

Baihu Zhou's expression changed, and the anger he had been suppressing surged again, "What do you mean?"

Song Tingfeng smiled, "It's just a routine question. Baihu Zhou, there's no need to be angry. His Majesty's ancestral worship is imminent, and we don't want anything to go wrong at such a crucial time. "

They asked a few more questions. Because there was a brass gong with the Qi Observation Technique on the side, Baihu Zhou answered every question, and suppressed his explosive temper.

When Xu Qi'an's Qi Observation Technique's duration ended, Song Tingfeng smiled and said, "Thank you for your cooperation. We'll take our leave now."

On the way back with Lü Qing and the others, Xu Qi'an said, "He didn't lie."

Song Tingfeng squinted his eyes, "Maybe Liu Han was killed for some unknown reason."

Zhu Guangxiao said in a low voice, "Let's put this case aside for now. The ancestral worship ceremony is more important."

The day after tomorrow was the day of the emperor's ancestral worship, and everything else had to be pushed back.

After bidding farewell to Lü Qing and the others, Xu Qi'an deliberated on the whole process in the side hall, but to no avail. He then put the matter of Liu Han aside.

…

Year of the Gengzi, 15th of October, Jiazi Day.

It is suitable for praying for blessings, fasting and offering sacrifices to ancestors.

Soon, the day of the imperial worship ceremony arrived. Xu Qi'an was no stranger to this. Every year at this time, the gates of the inner city would be closed. As a baihu of the Imperial Blade Guards, Second Uncle would be transferred to the inner city to enforce martial law. The people in the inner city were asked to stay at home and not go out.

There was another similar worship ceremony at the beginning of spring. It was to worship the heavens, to pray for good weather and peace for the country.

Since yesterday, all the inns in the inner city had been checked one by one, and all the Jianghu people had been driven to the outer city. The restaurants were closed, and the inns were not allowed to stay overnight.

As a night watchman, Xu Qi'an was arranged to stand guard at Sampo.

Sampo was a small lake, next to the imperial city. Willow trees were planted by the lake, and their leaves had not sprouted yet in this season.

Winding corridors were built on the water surface, connecting to the white marble platform in the center of the lake. There was a temple on the platform, and on the board were four gilded words:

"Forever Subduing the Mountains and Rivers!"

This was the place where the ancestral worship ceremony was held.

Sampo was not an ordinary lake. It had a history that people loved to talk about, and it was related to the founding emperor of Daibun.

According to legend, "Sampo" was known as the Black Tortoise Lake in ancient times, and the divine beast Black Tortoise lived in the lake.

Once, the founding emperor of Daibun failed to raise his army, and when he fled to Sampo with the remnants of his army, he ran out of ammunition and food.

Just as he was in despair, the lake water boiled, and the Black Tortoise came cleaving the waves, and on its back was a divine sword that could cut the heavens and kill the immortals.

The Black Tortoise said that it had been waiting here for hundreds of years, for a person of destiny.

After that, it offered the divine sword, and left on the waves.

The founding emperor obtained the divine sword, and after three years of enlightenment in the lake, he broke out of seclusion, and regrouped his army. From then on, he won every battle, and overthrew the decadent previous dynasty.

After unifying the Central Plains, Daibun built its imperial capital in Sampo.

Sampo was the place where the founding emperor of Daibun achieved enlightenment, and it had an extraordinary symbolic meaning. Therefore, the royal family of Daibun would hold a grand ancestral worship ceremony in Sampo every year.

The temple on the lake enshrined the Dharma image of the founding emperor.

"Liu Bang even killed the White Snake Uprising. I don't know how exaggerated this legend is …" Xu Qi'an looked at the high platform in the lake, and thought to himself.