Сhaptеr 15: Sеriаl Мurdеr Case (1)
“Gоing tо Western Вrightness Tеmрlе аt this hоur?” Zhu Yаn muttered, wаtching him leave beforе bumрing into Lu Сhuichui.
Lu Сhuiсhui’s fасe wаs раlе аs she shivеred and got strаight tо the рoint: “Liu Niang, anоther bodу has beеn dug uр аt Wеstеrn Вrightnеss Temрlе.”
“Including Кuаng Zhаnxin аnd Liang Сhеnzhong, therе аre nоw six pairs—twеlve bodies in tоtаl. Тhesе corpsеs shаrе the sаmе соnditiоn аs Kuаng аnd Liang’s: аll embrаcing eаch оthеr, аnd the соrоnеrs found identicаl knife marks on the ribs and thе women’s faсes. This mеans…”
Zhu Yаn sаid gravеly, “They all had their hearts carved out and faces slashed. The method is consistent. Western Brightness Temple is the site of a serial murder case.”
Upon arriving at Western Brightness Temple, the once bustling scene of incense smoke and endless visitors had long been transformed beyond recognition due to the exposed murders.
The incense ash in the censers had grown half-cold. The abbot had specially cleared out several rooms to place the bodies. Over a dozen monks walked from the corridors to the main hall, chanting sutras to guide the souls of those tragically killed in the temple.
Amid the continuous Buddhist chants, the Inner Guard orderly cordoned off the crime scene beneath the tiled roofs. Watching these Inner Guard members in expensive black robes remain expressionless, the Ministry of Justice officers mixed among them—dressed in short jackets and trousers, with white cloths covering their noses—complained bitterly: “The sun has been scorching these past two days, and the smell inside is getting worse. It’s enough to choke you to death. I don’t know how these Inner Guard can stand it. And that Great Pavilion Commander earlier—the stench of decay was so severe, yet he went straight to examine the bodies without fear of corpse poison. Really…”
“No idle chatter at the crime scene.”
Just as they spoke, Zhu Yan walked in, dressed simply.
The officers collectively greeted her as “Document Officer,” but before they could finish their pleasantries, they saw Zhu Yan look up toward the other side.
Following her gaze, they saw Jing Lin standing on the opposite corridor at some point. Behind him stood Shen Du, tall and graceful in purple robes with a jade belt, his eyes dark and brooding, his brows slightly furrowed, clearly displeased.
The officers’ hairs stood on end. As Shen Du descended, their knees went weak, nearly buckling to the ground. But Shen Du reached out, grabbed Zhu Yan, and pushed her back.
“Go back. Who allowed you to come?”
Zhu Yan had thought he was about to do something else. Startled by the push, she paused, then immediately retorted, “I am a Document Officer of the Ministry of Justice. If a case occurs, it is my duty to be present and assist with recording. Why can’t I come?”
As she finished speaking, someone called out from behind, “Zhu Yan.”
Jiang Ming, the squad leader of the Ministry of Justice’s Arrest Department, wearing a long sword, rushed up from outside. His square, resolute face lit up with joy upon seeing Zhu Yan, but after taking two steps and catching sight of Shen Du, he halted abruptly.
“Subordinate pays respects to the Great Pavilion Commander!” Jiang Ming composed himself slightly and immediately clasped his fists in salute.
Shen Du glanced at him sidelong before turning his attention back to Zhu Yan. Having served Shen Du for a long time, Jing Lin spoke on his behalf: “Where are the recently discovered mummified bodies placed?”
Jiang Ming quickly led the way.
Shen Du withdrew his gaze and followed the directions to the backyard. Zhu Yan, hearing Lu Chuichui chattering behind her about how terrifying Shen Du’s eyes were, hushed her and followed behind Shen Du.
Inside the room, the windows were tightly shut, with a few oil lamps burning.
On the bamboo mat, a man and woman lay in an embrace, yet there was no trace of tenderness. The man’s corpse appeared to be around twenty years old, his skin rough and purplish-black from mummification. His eyes were closed, his face peaceful, but his chest had been opened wide, revealing a dark, gaping hole."This individual is from Quanling Village, surnamed Huang, named Huang Yun, a poor scholar. He has an elderly mother at home, and his wife passed away from illness five years ago. It is said he is honest by nature, loyal and diligent in his studies, and has never had conflicts with anyone in the village school."
Jiang Ming relayed the gathered information in detail to Shen Du and Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan crouched down and noticed a considerable amount of mud on Huang Yun's clothing.
Seeing her actions, Jiang Ming stood to the side. Even though he had witnessed Zhu Yan directly touching corpses many times, he couldn't help but grimace.
The foul stench inside the room was nearly overwhelming him. Yet, seeing Shen Du's usual stern expression and Jing Lin's unchanged demeanor, he couldn't afford to retch and could only pinch his nose.
Shen Du glanced at him, his gaze darkening as he looked at Zhu Yan.
Zhu Yan seemed oblivious, rubbing the mud on Huang Yun's clothes between her fingers and bringing it to her nose.
It was the scent of soil from the Western Brightness Temple.
She frowned, lifted his garment, felt the fabric of his underclothes, and then moved down to the soles of his shoes. She noticed Huang Yun's shoes were embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, and the soles were pale and remarkably clean.
She then turned her attention to the female corpse embracing Huang Yun. The purplish-black face had flesh torn open, revealing stark white bone beneath. Even so, it was still apparent that this was a petite young girl, no more than sixteen or seventeen years old.
She was dressed in a complete set of apricot-yellow robes, made of Jiangnan brocade embroidered with peach blossom patterns. Though the brocade was expensive, the embroidery work was also not easily obtained.
Zhu Yan untied the decorative knot on the clothing, causing all the men present to avert their eyes. Shen Du remained standing still. Sensing his gaze, Zhu Yan turned and snapped, "Turn around!"
A flicker of light passed through Shen Du's eyes as he pivoted on his heel and turned his back.
The Inner Guard Bureau had dealt with more dead bodies than she would see in a lifetime. Shen Du's lack of reverence for corpses was akin to the numbness of a coroner performing an autopsy. Zhu Yan thought of how he had been taken into the palace service before joining the Inner Guard Bureau, and how he now stood above all but one. She lowered her eyes and reached inside.
No undergarments.
—Kuang Zhanxin, who had been unearthed earlier, also had not been wearing undergarments.
Moreover, this young girl's heart was missing, her face was slashed, yet there was not a single trace of bloodstains or mud on her body.
"Previously, Kuang Zhanxin was found embraced beneath Liang Chenzhong's corpse. Is it the same with these two bodies?" Zhu Yan asked.
"Yes."
Jiang Ming continued, "We have yet to identify this woman. However, before the incident, she had been staying at an inn in the city. According to the innkeeper, she came from Yuezhou and had entered the capital to search for relatives. But who she was looking for, their name or identity, remains unknown. The innkeeper mentioned that when she checked in, her belongings were meager, carrying only a moth-shaped jade piece."
Shen Du narrowed his eyes. "A moth-shaped jade?"
Zhu Yan asked, "Do you have a lead?"
Shen Du's back remained straight. "No. However, moth jade requires meticulous carving—under such fine craftsmanship, nothing is ordinary. Jing Lin."
"Yes." Jing Lin bowed his head and headed straight outside, presumably to investigate.
Shen Du was guarding against her; even if he had clues, he wouldn't tell her. Zhu Yan withdrew her gaze and said to Jiang Ming, "In that case, this woman and Huang Yun have no connection."
Jiang Ming nodded. He stole a glance at Shen Du, noticing that Shen Du's gaze was fixed on the two corpses, clearly not paying attention to him. He sighed in relief, then heard Zhu Yan ask, "Officer Jiang, when did these two die?""The coroner has already examined them; these two were killed last month. They were placed in a wooden coffin and buried beneath the bamboo grove on the back hill of Western Brightness Temple."
"The coroner determined that Huang Yun is twenty-three this year, and this unidentified woman is just seventeen." Jiang Ming reported all the information he knew.
"This time, a total of twelve bodies were unearthed from Western Brightness Temple, arranged in pairs, making six coffins. Because multiple layers of charcoal and plant ash were sprinkled inside the coffins, along with herbs to slow decay, these two corpses were still lifelike when removed from the coffin."
Jiang Ming raised his sleeve in a gesture of invitation, leading the group further inside.
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