1 wedge... The author's note: This story is set during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, mainly to facilitate the design of geography and official titles. It does not involve major historical events, nor will it feature any real historical figures. Please poin
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Chapter 102
Zhan Yun and Zhou Yufei also noticed something was wrong. Zhou Yufei closed the door, took a few steps forward, and frowned, saying, "This is really strange!"
As the old coroner packed up his tools, he nodded in agreement, saying, "It is quite strange! The girl is dressed as if she's about to go out, her shoes are obviously new, but her hair looks like she's about to go to bed..."
Remembering the color of the pool water, Duan Chen asked, "Can you tell whether the heart was removed before the body was disposed of, or whether the person drowned first and then the heart was removed?"
The old man had seen Duan Chen almost every day these past few days, and guessed that Duan Chen would definitely ask about this, but he still couldn't help but frown. With a sigh, the old man opened the wooden box beside him, took out a cloth bag, and showed it to the three of them.
"This is..." Zhan Yun's brows furrowed slightly, and his crescent-shaped eyes showed a hint of surprise: "Lotus petals?"
Zhou Yufei had been frowning ever since he entered the room, and now his expression was even more unpleasant: "Why are they all dyed this color?"
Duan Chen stared at the petals for a while, then glanced at the coroner's face, which was also slightly pale: "Did the murderer stuff the lotus flower into her chest?"
The two people beside him were both shocked, and the old man Shui nodded heavily as well: "When I was examining the body just now, I found that although Miss Shi's heart had been removed, it seemed that there was something stuffed inside, and it wasn't flesh or other organs. After taking it out and slowly unfolding it, I discovered that it was..."
Zhou Yufei spat under his breath: "What a fucking piece of trash!"
Zhan Yun stared at the half-bloomed lotus flower on the table, now stained crimson with blood. A shadow fell over his crescent-shaped eyes, and his voice lost its usual clarity: "If it really was done by the same person..."
The old coroner slowly replied, "Judging from the method of removing the heart, it is indeed the same as that of the previous three victims. At least this person's technique is very skillful. Moreover, this Miss Shi was indeed killed by having her heart removed while she was still alive."
The three asked a few more questions about the details, thanked the coroner, and went into the next room. Miss Shi's personal maid was also called in for questioning. The maid had already fainted once, and now her face was terribly pale. Seeing that her body was trembling slightly, Zhan Yun gently comforted her, "Don't be afraid. Just tell us everything clearly so we can catch the murderer and avenge your young lady."
The maid nodded, her voice trembling, and said, "My...my mistress has a habit of taking a nap, and every day after waking up, she's used to drinking a bowl of bird's nest porridge. I brought the porridge in, but I found that my mistress wasn't in her room. But the hairpin and hair ornament she wore were still on the table, and she wasn't wearing her earrings either...I found it strange, so I looked everywhere, and then..." As she spoke, the maid began to sob again.
Duan Chen listened carefully and then asked softly, "What were you doing while your young lady was taking her afternoon nap?"
The little maid explained tearfully, "I was sewing purses in the outer room, and then I don't know how I fell asleep... When I woke up, I realized it was already time for Miss to get up. I was afraid Miss would scold me, so I quickly ran to the kitchen to get the porridge..."
The three women exchanged a glance. Something was strange! The maid from the Lu household had said she slept very soundly that night and was still groggy when she woke up in the morning. Now this one said she somehow fell asleep. What a coincidence! When the two young ladies had their accidents, the maids serving them were all so sleepy… Especially the young lady Lu. There were so many stains in her room, and they heard that the stools were knocked over and a vase was broken. With such a commotion, servants are usually light sleepers. How could she not have felt anything?
The three exchanged glances. Zhou Yufei continued questioning, while Duan Chen searched the room. The bedding was still neat and tidy, and there wasn't a trace of blood anywhere in the room, except… Duan Chen opened the jewelry box in front of the dressing mirror and called the maid over again: “Take a look inside, is anything missing?”
The young maid wiped away her tears, but when she saw the jewelry and ornaments stained with blood in the box, she quickly covered her mouth and sobbed. Zhan Yun and Zhou Yufei also came over and saw the three finger marks on the rim of the mirror and the bloodstained jewelry in the box.
Zhou Yufei reached up and ruffled his hair, his charming eyes showing some annoyance: "What was this murderer thinking! Killing people wasn't enough, he also came here every time to look in the mirror and pick out jewelry, he's really sick!"
Duan Chen glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "He is indeed sick."
Zhan Yunduan observed Duan Chen's expression and knew that the man must have thought of something, but she didn't rush to ask. The maid beside her, tears streaming down her face, gently rummaged through the jewelry in the box, and after a long pause, replied in a trembling voice, "Something is missing. My young lady's favorite blood jade armlet is gone..."
The three exchanged glances, each feeling a sense of unease. Red coral earrings, blood jade armlet—did the murderer have a particular fondness for red jewelry? Was there some special meaning behind it...?
Author's Note: There will be an update this Thursday at 9 AM!
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Chapter Seven: Footprints • Each with Their Own Sorrows...
As the three were talking, they heard someone knocking on the door, and at the same time a familiar voice rang out: "Xingzhi, Yiran, it's me."
Zhan Yun opened the door, letting the m
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
