Wenlan admitted that she felt a bit dizzy when she heard this sentence...
The two had not known each other for long. They had only met a few times, and even counting the last time when she had mentioned breaking off their engagement, they had exchanged less than ten sentences. How could he surpass the external appearances of women and directly perceive the so-called inner beauty? So, from a rational analysis, if Xie Yuan was not the world's greatest charmer who knew how to make women happy, then he was a big liar -— the kind who could lie with his eyes wide open. Comparing with what she had heard from Sun Shi about him and what he himself had mentioned about spending his teenage years at Shaolin Monastery, being a charmer seemed unlikely, so he must be lying.
It seemed that he didn't have very good eyesight, and what kind of eyesight could make him say such things about her face, which she didn't even want to look at herself in the mirror?
However, afterwards, Wenlan had to admit that this sentence was truly as powerful as an AK-47, completely shattering her image of herself! At least, under that gaze from behind her, as she walked towards the main entrance of the county office, she had the feeling of something crawling on her back, making her very uncomfortable. Even her basic movements felt unnatural. When she finally crossed the threshold, she turned east towards the gate to the back office to prevent that scrutinizing gaze. Only once she was out of his sight did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
---
Liy Ke already knew she had been taken away and heard that Xie Yuan had gone to find her. By now, unable to contain his anxiety, he was about to send someone else to look for her when she returned on her own. After inquiring about the situation, he was relieved that she was back safe and sound. The family finally sat down to have dinner.
The major case today had been solved, adding a commendable achievement to his record. Despite the failure to collect the full amount of taxes, he had merely pushed down the gourd's lid to make it pop up later. Liy Ke felt annoyed, barely managing to eat a bowl of rice before hastily leaving for the study in the front part of the house.
You, the reader, might be somewhat puzzled. Why would local gentry and landowners dare to openly oppose the local authorities? Actually, in every area, it was more or less the same. Smaller households were usually honest, while the big ones would use various excuses to stall, but in the end, they would usually comply and pay up. Liy Ke had been in office here for three years now. The first two years were fine, but this year, all the local landowners collectively delayed their payments, to the point where the next year's taxes were due for collection. Last year's old accounts had not been fully cleared, yet they were even fewer who complied. It was simply his bad luck.
When he was in Dongchang, Shandong, he had a conflict with a county official who had borne a grudge against him. Unexpectedly, the official was skilled at maneuvering and rose in rank, while he remained a seventh-grade county magistrate, having been transferred from place to place. On the other hand, the official kept getting promotions and had risen to become a fifth-grade left councillor in the Office of Transmission and Suppression of Provincial Governors in Zhejiang. Coincidentally, the big landlord in the county and this councillor were distant relatives. Perhaps receiving a hint, the landlord abruptly began crying poverty and stalling. While, as a district magistrate, his various official duties required cooperation from the local gentry. With his luck this bad, Liy Ke felt truly overwhelmed.
The next day, Liy Ke did not dare neglect the transfer of the heavily accused prisoners to the capital by the Brocade-clad Guards. He personally presided over the handover process and finally breathed a sigh of relief. About to nod and bow to send them off, he suddenly saw a Brocade-clad Guards captain approaching, carrying a silver rectangular box and saying, "Captain Xiao ordered me to deliver this box to Lady Li."
Li Keji was surprised and didn't dare to ask too much, so he accepted it hesitantly. After seeing the person off, he returned to the yamen and called for Wen Lan.
Wen Lan was surprised that she was able to bring the investigation box back from the inn yesterday. She could tell that the story she made up might not have been believed by Xiao Yan. It was probably because of some reason that she wasn't sure about, so the leader of the Jin Yi Wei did not pursue it further. She was grateful that he let it go easily, and she didn't dare to mention the investigation box again. She didn't expect that he would send someone to return the box in the morning. Surprised and somewhat delighted, she was taken aback.
Wen Lan, Li Ke, and others gathered around to open the box out of curiosity. All six pairs of eyes were fixed on it.
Li Ke was stunned and asked, "Sister, what did he send you? What is it?"
Wen Lan said, "When he asked me to come yesterday, he mentioned it was related to the case in the academy. I heard him mention that these are used in Europato examine corpses and investigate cases. Perhaps he noticed my interest in this area, so he decided to give it to me."
Li Ke was puzzled. She was about to go and collect taxes with her men, and she didn't have the mind to bother with this. She muttered to herself, "Not a single one of the Jin Yi Wei is normal," and then hurried away.
"Eldest sister, I want this dagger!"
Jing Zhong was eyeing the various weapons inside, and pointed to a dirty knife, clamoring for it.
At first, Sun Shi thought it was something valuable, but when the box was opened, she was disappointed. Upon hearing it was for examining corpses, her expression changed, and she quickly swatted Jing Zhong's hand away, saying, "I thought it was something else. If you can't afford to give gifts, then don't give any at all. What's the point of having a Jin Yi Wei in the capital city, bringing such ominous things!"
She wished she could throw the rotten box away, but since it was a gift from a person with great influence, she didn't dare say anything. She urged Wen Lan to put the things away quickly, and then reluctantly walked Jing Zhong out before leaving herself.
Once everyone had left, Wen Lan opened the bag inside the box and found dissecting gowns, gloves, and masks. Below that, she found forensic investigation equipment such as magnifying glasses, a thermometer, and bloodstain testing reagents. After inspecting the items, she closed the box and took it back to her residence.
After going through such a journey and passing through various hands, the box had returned to her in such a straightforward manner, which Wen Lan found quite extraordinary.
She stared at the box, lost in thought, wondering if she should reconsider her plans for the future.
...
Speaking of Li Ke, he gathered the county magistrate, the catchpole, yamen runners, and the steward, and set off to the wealthy Ding family to collect taxes. After arguing with the steward for half the day and drinking almost a whole pot of tea, they finally saw him coming out with a cloth tied around his forehead and being assisted by two young concubines. He continued to apologize while lamenting, "Sir Li, it's not that I refuse to pay, but the harvest was bad last year, and you know that my tenants owe me rent. If they don't pay, how can I pay? I know you're in a hurry, but I'm even more anxious. These past few days, I've been so stressed, with headaches and fever. If I hadn't heard that you were coming, I wouldn't have been able to get up..."
He covered his mouth and started moaning.
The steward hurriedly interjected, "Sir, didn't I just say earlier? Our master is in a terrible state because of this. Fortunately, our young master went to collect the rent with the old master a few days ago. If you wait a few more days, and the rent from our tenants is all collected, there's no need for you to come to demand it, our master will take it to the county yamen himself."
Li Ke was furious at the Ding family's use of the excuse "wait a few more days," which he had heard countless times before. "I had already given an extension last time, and today is the last day. If you delay any longer, don't blame me for being ruthless and sending you to jail to eat prison food!"
Before he could finish speaking, the wealthy Ding had already collapsed to the ground. The concubines rushed forward, one shouting at the master, the other at Li Ke, "If you want to arrest someone, arrest me! I forced our master to eat prison food. He's unwell, and if something happens to him, how are we going to live... oh, my master..."
Li Ke was so furious he almost fainted. Just then, a yamen runner rushed in, "Sir, a villager from Xing'ao Village, Jia Laoliu, came to report that his wife didn't return home yesterday, and when they found her, she had been strangled, and her clothes were disheveled. It is said that someone saw the young master of the Ding family rushing in this direction earlier, and they suspect he tried to kill her. Jia Laoliu is now outside yelling for justice and asking for your intervention, sir!"
The room fell silent at this news. The wealthy Ding no longer pretended to be dead and suddenly got up, glaring with bloodshot eyes, and exclaimed, "Nonsense! Jia Laoliu is our tenant. My son went into the mountains to collect rent from him. How could he have done such a thing? Those poor beggars, as soon as they see my son, they start lying and trying to blackmail us!"
Li Ke gave him a dark look and left in annoyance. The wealthy Ding felt anxious and exchanged a glance with his steward, who hurriedly followed him.
Li Ke hurried back to the county yamen, and as usual, there was a crowd of people at the gate. In the court, he listened as Jia Laoliu narrated the whole story and asked eagerly, "You say it was the Ding family's son who strangled your wife. Do you have any evidence?"
Jia Laoliu, barely twenty, knelt on the ground, paused, and said, "Lord, I don't have any evidence. I just know it must be him! Last year, he accidentally bumped into my wife and made suggestive remarks. Since then, he has visited our mountain several times, claiming to be collecting rent from us but staying at our house each time. Yesterday, when he came, I didn't dare to offend him, so I asked my wife to go to Mrs. Shi's place in the same village to hide. But my wife didn't return home afterwards. I searched everywhere and only found her behind a big rock yesterday evening. It's a pity she had already passed away... I traveled through the night and just entered the county this morning, hoping for justice..." With that, tears streamed down his face.
"Sir, these troublemakers want to beat our young master based on baseless suspicions! As the saying goes, 'When you catch a thief, you find the loot, when you catch a villain, you find both.' There is no evidence, how could it be linked to my young master!"
The steward immediately stepped forward and loudly shouted.
Li Ke was quite disappointed. He had hoped to take advantage of this seemingly heaven-sent opportunity to put the Ding family in their place. But they didn't catch anyone at the scene... that made things a bit precarious...
According to the Ming law, in the event of a homicide or theft within the jurisdiction, regardless of distance or weather, the local magistrate must rush to the scene to investigate and personally preside over the autopsy. The county was mountainous, with many villages in the mountains named after "ao." Xing'ao was one of them, estimated to take half a day's journey from the county town to the mountain. As Jia Laoliu did not bring the corpse, Li Ke had to go on his own. Normally, he might not be so willing, but this time it involved the Ding family, so he naturally hoped to find some strong evidence and didn't mind the distance. Slapping the table, he shouted, "I will personally go to the scene to investigate and then draw conclusions!"
Li Ke prepared to depart. As per usual protocol for responding to homicide cases, the county magistrate, Xie Yuan, Chief Jiang, the court scribe Lao Song, and several constables were all present, but the coroner Cui San was still not there. As they anxiously waited, someone rushed in to report that Cui San had tripped and broken his leg a few days ago, and was currently lying in bed moaning and unable to go to the autopsy.
This was a small county, with only one coroner, and no one was willing to be his apprentice. So for many years, Cui San had been the only one doing the work. Now that he couldn't go, they were suddenly short-staffed. After looking at each other, Li Ke turned to Lao Ding and said, "Then you will have to act as the examiner."
Lao Ding hurriedly refused, "Sir, I may be from the court, but I understand nothing about autopsies. There's a saying about understanding the specific work of a specific field; I can't take his place."
As Lao Ding declined, the constables nearby were afraid of being chosen to act as coroner, and they all lowered their heads.
Li Ke angrily said, "Must I do it myself?"
"Uncle, I can go as a substitute for Cui the coroner to inspect."
Just then, someone spoke from behind. Li Ke turned to see Wen Lan coming out. He was surprised, then frowned and said, "Third sister, this is no child's play. You, a young woman, should return to the backyard office."
Wen Lan replied, "Uncle, trust me."
Seeing someone willing to take on the task, no matter who it was, Lao Ding immediately became eager and said, "Sir, I think it's settled. The case at the academy was only revealed by Miss San. Since she said it, she must have some understanding."
Li Ke had no choice but to ask, "Third sister, how do you understand these autopsy matters?"
Wen Lan smiled slightly and said, "Uncle, the case is the most important thing. When I return, I will explain to you."
Li Ke was indeed eager to set off. Hearing her words, he had to suppress his doubts and said, "Considering the long journey, I will arrange for a carriage for you to ride in."
The carriage was ready. Wen Lan walked over and saw Xie Yuan looking at her with surprise.
She no longer hid her face today and nodded slightly to him. Without needing assistance, she climbed into the carriage on her own.
As they traveled to Xing'ao, the Ding family had not seen their son return and were worried, so they sent a steward to follow at a distance to see what happened.
Wu Sanchun held his anger and said, "Commissioner Lu has misunderstood. With such a short deadline, and the vastness of the sea, the prospect of finding pearls is extremely slim. Additionally, our report from yesterday revealed that one of the pearl divers was attacked and killed by a shark. Now, the other divers are filled with fear and unwilling to go into the sea. They all came together to plead at the Inspectorate. Upon learning this, I was worried it might delay the Empress Dowager's longevity, and that's why I had this thought. If it's not approved, then I'll think of another solution."
Lu Zhong coldly sneered, "Just one person died, what's there to be afraid of? Not to mention soldiers sacrificing themselves on the battlefield, even an ordinary person can die from a simple fall. These pearl divers are born to go into the sea. What's there to say about dying in the water? I refuse to believe there are so many sharks waiting under the boats at all times! Clearly, they just don't want to exert full effort. If they don't want to go into the sea, fine, tomorrow I will personally go to inspect!"
After cursing Lu Zhong in his heart, Wu Sanchun forced a smile and said, "Alright, tomorrow I will accompany the Commissioner and see if those lowly people dare to slack off."