The Case of the Dried Well
The Capital Governor took a small step forward.
"Teacher should know that Prince Rong's return to the capital caused a commotion in the imperial court. His Majesty dismissed War Secretary Ji on the spot, and General Ji was sent to the border. The six departments of the imperial court are all connected, so the other five departments were also affected by the Ministry of War's incident. They are so busy that even the capital governor's office is in a mess. This official really has a hard time talking about it. I didn't get a wink of sleep last night. Early in the morning, I hurried over to find Teacher." He sighed again. "I won't talk about it anymore."
He waved his hand.
Ji Yunshu listened and didn't say anything. She continued to turn the bones in her hands.
She ignored him.
Thereupon —
The Capital Governor changed the topic. "I heard that Teacher solved many cases on your way to Yufu and alerted many people."
"Just a few cases."
"Teacher is really amazing."
Hehe.
Receiving no response, the Capital Governor pursed his lips and said, "Aunty Xie's case has been closed, and the Supreme Court has reopened the case. But this official doesn't understand why the case of the disaster relief funds hasn't been investigated yet. Could it be that we've missed out on some crucial clues? "
Ji Yunshu shook her head. "I'm not sure. This case was taken over by His Highness, and this humble one doesn't know much about the ins and outs. If you want to know more about the disaster relief funds, you can ask around yourself."
"No, no, no." He hurriedly waved his hands, an awkward expression on his face. "Even His Majesty isn't pursuing the matter anymore. If this official were to mention it in front of His Highness, it wouldn't be appropriate."
How embarrassing!
Then why did you mention it?
Ji Yunshu curled her lips and didn't speak.
However, he had discovered something. Why did the Capital Governor feel a little strange today?
It was an unusual abnormality.
But she was busy turning the bones in her hands, and didn't have the time to think about anything else.
He didn't know if the Capital Magistrate was so bored that he felt uncomfortable if he didn't open his mouth to speak. He gritted his teeth and moved forward again. Looking at the scattered but neatly arranged skeletons, he carefully asked, "Teacher, how is the 'Lin Capital Case' going?"
"Still investigating."
"How much longer will it take for these bone portraits to be completed?"
"I don't know."
"What's your prediction?"
Ji Yunshu raised her eyes and furrowed her brows. Although she was a little impatient, she still earnestly explained, "Capital Governor, you also know that this case has been going on for fourteen years. Moreover, these skeletons were burned to death, so compared to the skeletons that have only been dead for two or three years, it is too difficult to draw a portrait of a fourteen-year-old skeleton. Even if I had four pairs of hands, I might not be able to draw the entire portrait in a short period of time. Moreover, this is a major case, so we cannot afford to be careless. The slightest mistake will affect the entire portrait. Otherwise, when the time comes to investigate, it will naturally be much more difficult."
Patient!
The capital governor gulped and nodded.
Understood!
However, after a moment, he opened his mouth again and hesitated to speak …
Ji Yunshu took a deep breath and bluntly asked, "Capital Governor, if you have something to say, why don't you just say it? You're beating around the bush, I'm getting dizzy."
Having his thoughts seen through, the capital governor's face turned pale.
He pulled a long face and let out a heavy sigh. He didn't say anything.
Ji Yunshu put down the phalanx in her hand and picked up a rib bone. She flipped it left and right, then casually said, "If you don't want to say it, then forget it."
"Actually … someone died last night."
Huh?
Someone died?
Her hands paused.
Damn it, this occupational hazard is coming back again.
She fiercely suppressed the sense of professionalism in her heart and asked.
"Who?"
"A businessman who came to the capital to do business. His name is Gao Meng."
Ah!
Gao Meng?
Why does this name sound so familiar?
Thinking about it carefully, isn't he the tiger skin trader that I bumped into on the street yesterday?
He just came to the capital, how did he die?
She tilted her head and asked in bewilderment, "Why would a merchant suddenly die?"
"I'm not sure! Moreover … "
The capital governor wanted to say something but hesitated.
Ji Yunshu asked, "Is there anything else?"
"I really can't hide anything from Teacher. Last night, there was heavy rain and lightning. Many houses in the suburbs collapsed, and the flood also washed over them. The entire suburbs are in a mess, and the commoners have all fled for shelter."
"So?"
"It was also because of the heavy rain last night that not only the houses collapsed, but also a run-down temple outside the city. The Buddha statue inside was smashed by a wooden stake, and it was completely destroyed."
Brother, can't you get to the point?
Ji Yunshu controlled her temper and continued to ask, "And then?"
"Unexpectedly, there was a deep well under the Buddha statue, and there was a foul smell coming from it. The people who usually live near the temple went to investigate, and when they stretched their heads into the well, they saw something glowing at the bottom of the well, and vaguely saw the shadow of a person. That very night, they reported it to the authorities. This official sent people down to take a look, and it turned out to be … a corpse. The corpse was stabbed many times. This official investigated and found out that the deceased was a merchant who came to the capital yesterday, Gao Meng. He was a tiger skin trader."
"You actually know who the deceased is? Continue your investigation. There must be traces of the murderer at the crime scene. Search carefully, and you should be able to find it."
"That's easy. The coroner went to examine the corpse, and found that the victim died at the eleventh hour of last night, and the Buddha statue collapsed at the eleventh hour of the day. Someone must have been there before that, but at the eleventh hour of the day, there was a flood, and no one was there. Thus, no one saw it. The temple was washed away by the water, and there were no clues left. Moreover …" The capital governor's face scrunched up.
Ji Yunshu sensed something, "Is there something else at the bottom of the well?"
"Indeed!"
Ah!
The capital governor's expression was solemn as he said, "At the bottom … there are seven skeletons!"
"Skeletons?"
"Yes, the skeletons. Together with the corpse, they were buried in the dried well under the Buddha statue."
"There are skeletons in the dried well? Or the dried well under the Buddha statue? " Ji Yunshu muttered, "It seems that the dried well is a small hidden mass grave, and it was specially used."
"What do you mean, Teacher Ji?"
"Yes …" She paused, thinking for a moment. If she really talked about this case, it would mean that she wanted to take over it. Wouldn't that be falling into the capital governor's trap?
No!
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
"Teacher Ji …"
Ji Yunshu interrupted him.
"Milord, the Buddha statue in the temple has collapsed. You should inform the Ministry of Works, and if you see a corpse, you should inform the Supreme Court."
"But Teacher, those skeletons …"
He was interrupted again, "The 'Lin Capital Case' can't be delayed any longer. If you want me to help you investigate, this one is powerless. After all, I don't have a clone, and I'm too busy. Besides, in such a big country like Great Lin, don't tell me there's no one to solve the case? Is the salary of the imperial court used to feed idlers? "
The capital governor was embarrassed.
He was speechless!
Ji Yunshu put down the skeleton in her hand, and walked out of the central room. As she walked, she said, "You should hurry back, the case is more important."
The capital governor stood rooted to the ground, his face pale.
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