Chарtеr 339: Тhе Еnd оf the Hаlf-Fасеd Ghоst 5
Zhu Yan’s exрrеssion was еqually grаvе аs shе sеаrched hеr memory on the mattеr:
“I оncе reаd rесоrds abоut Sоul Sераratiоn Disorder at mу mаster’s рlace, аnd the situatiоn here is quitе similаr.”
Shеn Du’s еуеs wеre clеаr, filled with trust аs hе lоokеd at hеr.
Zhu Yаn frowned in thоught, trаcing thе remnants of this disоrder in her memоrу: “Мy mаster had two bооks. Оne wаs Мisсеllаnеous Disеаses: Оrigins and Insights—Insоmnia and Нyреrsоmnia Оrigins, whiсh stаtеd: ‘When the spirit аnd qi are unsettled, eаch time onе lies down, thе soul аnd sрirit drift awаy. One feels the body on the bed while the soul and spirit leave the body, experiencing frequent nightmares and fright, unable to sleep through the night. This is called Soul Separation Disorder.’
Another book, Differentiation Records: Soul Separation Chapter, also mentioned it, saying: ‘When a person’s heart and kidneys are both injured, they may suddenly feel their body split into two. Others do not see it, but they alone perceive it. People think it is Soul Separation Disorder; who knows it is due to the heart and kidneys failing to connect?’”
She had also realized that Lai Luofu’s condition had nothing to do with her multiple identities, but: “Even if she has Soul Separation Disorder, how could there be a soul from the Wusun Kingdom inside her body?”
Upon hearing this, everyone agreed—Lai Luofu’s condition indeed matched exactly what Zhu Yan had described.
“Right, how could it be someone from the Wusun Kingdom?”
Zhu Yan then asked Jing Lin where Lai Luozhi was actually from.
The Inner Guard oversaw all officials, and their life stories and backgrounds were kept in the secret archives of the cabinet. At Shen Du’s request, Jing Lin had sent people to investigate further.
Jing Lin stepped forward, slightly bowing his head:
“Tongguan County in Yongzhou, not far outside the capital, now under the jurisdiction of Wannian County in the capital.”
Zhu Yan looked at Shen Du, while Jing Lin straightened up beside her, gazing at Lai Luofu with confusion:
“Lai Luozhi was the first person investigated when the cabinet was established. According to records, Lai Luozhi came from a humble background and grew up in poverty. His parents passed away a few years after his birth, and he was raised single-handedly by his older sister, with whom he shared a deep bond. However, when Lai Luozhi was thirteen, his sister contracted a seasonal epidemic and died due to her frail health. This matter was verified locally at the time, with no discrepancies.”
What happened afterward was already known to them: Lai Luofu was resurrected, first becoming Madam Tang and lurking in the capital to commit heinous crimes. But even before that, she had been using the identity of Chen Huo’e to commit murders in other provinces.
Shen Du rubbed his index and middle fingers together, his eyes darkening as he said, “No matter when the investigation took place, Lai Luofu has never had any connection to the Western Regions.”
So how could the scene before them be explained?
Su Guang was still communicating with the young girl’s soul inside Lai Luofu. As they watched this bizarre and absurd scene, an obvious doubt flashed through Shen Du and Zhu Yan’s minds. Zhu Yan tightened her grip on Shen Du’s hand, and the two exchanged glances, confirming they shared the same thought.
“Didn’t we arrest Madam Tang before, and she died in the Judicial Affairs Bureau prison shortly after being captured?” Zhu Yan asked. Shen Du nodded in agreement.
“What about Chen Huo’e?”
“Publicly executed.”
Zhu Yan’s eyes reflected a flicker of firelight: “And Lai Luofu died of illness when Lai Luozhi was still young.”
Everyone was baffled. Pan Chi rubbed his head in frustration: “How could three completely unrelated people be so deeply entangled? It’s a shame I wasn’t present for the earlier cases—thinking about it makes my head hurt.”
Zhu Yan took out her notebook, flipping through the pages rapidly. The clues in her mind scattered like stars across the night sky, yet there seemed to be an invisible thread trying to connect them all.Zhu Yan had always possessed a tenacity that never allowed for doubt, which was one of the reasons she excelled as a coroner.
Shen Du couldn’t bear to see Zhu Yan working so hard and helped sort through the relevant details:
“When did Madam Tang first commit her crimes?”
Zhu Yan flipped a page: “Over a decade ago.”
“Chen Huo’e?”
She turned another page: “Five or six years ago.”
After receiving the responses, Shen Du nodded. “So, these two existed simultaneously for a period of time.”
Zhu Yan’s eyes lit up. “Five or six years ago, Madam Tang was committing crimes in the capital, while Chen Huo’e had already begun her crimes in other provinces.”
“Exactly.” Shen Du praised her, his gaze filled with warmth.
Zhu Yan kept flipping through her notebook. Previously, for the Buddha Swallowing Sins case and the Chen Huo’e case, she had meticulously reviewed the Ministry of Justice and cabinet archives, recording everything in detail. Records that had seemed unrelated before now appeared connected as she turned the pages, and a thought grew clearer and clearer.
“Madam Tang never left the capital. At most, she went to the Foguang Temple in the outskirts to offer incense and pray before returning. For years, she lived a quiet, comfortable life as a widow.”
“If she never left the capital, how could she have traveled to other provinces to commit murders?”
If it truly was one person using two identities to commit crimes, how could they appear in different places at the same time?
Pan Chi, standing nearby, was utterly confused. He tugged at Zhu Yan’s sleeve and leaned in. “Yan’er, your notes are so detailed. Let me take a look. Maybe I can help. As the saying goes, one stinky cobbler…”
“If you know you’re a stinky cobbler, stay away.” Shen Du grabbed Pan Chi and tossed him toward Su Guang, causing Su Guang to stumble a few steps.
“Yan’er… he’s bullying me.” Pan Chi was naturally beautiful, a beauty recognized by both men and women. With his lips slightly bitten and eyes shimmering with tears, he looked utterly pitiful.
Shen Du blocked their line of sight and glared fiercely at Pan Chi. “If you have time, listen to what they’re saying.”
Pan Chi stomped his foot, somewhat displeased, but quieted down nonetheless.
Zhu Yan remained immersed in her thoughts, pointing to her notebook:
“The Ministry of Justice has records. Five years ago, there were multiple murders in Henan County, all brutal. After investigation, the perpetrator was confirmed to be Chen Huo’e. One of these cases now seems particularly suspicious.”
Zhu Yan licked her lips, which were a bit dry.
“That day happened to be the Day of Breaking the Fast, the festival the Empress values most. Foguang Temple held a grand ceremony, with all court officials in attendance and the Empress presiding personally.”
“As the widow of the late General Tang Chengyi, Madam Tang was naturally present. This means that when the crime occurred, she was praying at Foguang Temple.”
“But now it’s proven that she and Chen Huo’e are the same person.”
One was committing murders in another province, while the other was praying at Foguang Temple.
Shen Du nodded. “Five years ago, on the Day of Breaking the Fast, I was at Foguang Temple and saw Madam Tang.”
“This is easy to verify. Many people were present at the time, and Madam Tang herself was acquainted with the imperial family.”
Shen Du alone was enough to confirm the correctness of Zhu Yan’s conclusion.
The same person, using two different identities, appeared in different places at the same time.
Could it be that there truly existed a technique for resurrection from death?
“The world laughs at the moth flying into the flame, unaware that as ephemeral beings born at dawn and dead by dusk, they cannot enter the cycle of reincarnation. Yet the moth, dying in the fire, escapes the cycle and is reborn.”Zhu Yan uttered these words, a bold speculation forming in her mind: "Could it be that their resurrection from death also includes the ability to transform into countless duplicates?"
Shen Du was the first to shake his head in disagreement: "Impossible. Human life is finite, and calamities are inevitable. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all constants, unchangeable. No one can alter this law."
As the Buddha said: Some are born in the morning and die by evening; some live through spring and summer only to perish in autumn and winter; some endure for ten, a hundred, or a thousand years before death. Though the duration may vary, how far apart are they truly?
"For one person to become several versions of themselves is simply absurd."
Zhu Yan thought the same, but if not this, how else could it be explained?
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