494 Exhumation and Autopsy! (Part 2) Bonus Chapter for 77,000 Recommended Votes
Updated: 2013-12-13 21:34:32 Word Count: 3516
Different perspectives and starting points lead to different opinions. Luo Zhiheng felt grateful and moved that Luo Zhiwu had compromised on something he considered very important. Although she didn't value what Luo Zhiwu valued, she still respected the Luo family ancestors in accordance with local customs.
Watching Luo Zhiwu, impeccably dressed, kneel respectfully before the ancestors, meticulously recounting everything, her deep and steady voice filled with reverence, she concluded solemnly, "This act is solely to seek justice for the descendants of the Luo family. From our ancestors to the present, the entire Luo family has never had such an unkind and unfilial person. The descendants of the Luo family have been wronged and unable to return to their rightful place, and yet another descendant has deceived their superiors and committed such a heinous act. I beg our ancestors to see the truth and forgive my actions."
Influenced by Westerners, Luo Zhiheng believed in the existence of souls, heaven, and God. She had witnessed the construction of magnificent, sacred, and loving cathedrals during the Republic of China era and deeply experienced the benevolent feeling within them.
She had often wondered how Jesus in the church, the benevolent savior who came to earth for the sinners of the world, who died and rose again, who saved His people, could be so cruel, insane, and inhuman as to plunder her country, given that Jesus was a savior full of love, even being love himself. Didn't they deeply believe in a benevolent God?
Later, she thought that perhaps this was the true meaning of God's coming to earth. It was because people's cruelty, greed, selfishness, and desires had not yet been saved and redeemed that He came. When the native people took their faith to other countries to plunder, that faith came to other countries and was accepted by people who had never believed in Him before, and they believed even more devoutly than the missionaries.
Seeing Luo Zhiwu's actions, Luo Zhiheng looked up at the sky. God is always omnipresent and so benevolent. Perhaps the ancestors that Luo Zhiwu is worshipping today are really watching all of this from heaven.
Luo Zhiwu stood up, interrupting Luo Zhiheng's thoughts that spanned ancient and modern times and East and West, and pulled her along, saying, "That thatched hut is for the tomb keeper. Our ancestors didn't like anything too fancy, so this place isn't luxurious either. Go inside and rest. I'll wait here for Mu Yunhe to come. You'd better not come out. After all, opening a coffin to examine a corpse is bad luck!"
Luo Zhiheng smiled, her brother still harbored resentment, didn't he? Luo Zhiheng shook Luo Zhiwu's arm and said, "Don't worry, God will forgive your behavior today."
Luo Zhiwu was amused by her sister's words and chased the person away. Before long, Mu Yunhe arrived in a grand procession with a large group of people.
Luo Zhiwu narrowed her eyes and said sarcastically, "Are you here to dig up graves or to have fun? Do you need such a large group of people?"
Mu Yunhe was dressed in plain clothes, his face was cold and stern, and there was no trace of being beaten on his face. He was indifferent to Luo Zhiwu. With a wave of his hand, someone came from behind him and, following the instructions of Luo Zhiwu's servants, found Luo Ningshuang's grave and started digging immediately.
The sun is shining brightly right now, the sun is at its best, it's the time of day when the yang energy is at its peak.
Mu Yunhe stood tall and straight, with his hands behind his back not far away. He did not watch them dig the grave, but instead focused his gaze on the thatched hut not far away, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
Luo Zhiwu sat on a grand chair that had been prepared in advance, crossed her legs and swung them back and forth, saying in a sarcastic tone, "Hey, hey, hey, where are you looking? Look this way! The person you're looking for is right here."
Mu Yunhe's thin lips were pressed tightly together, his expression somewhat cold and stern: "You shouldn't have brought her here. This place... is unlucky!"
Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiwu immediately flew into a rage, cursing, "You know what bad luck is? Then why are you still going to break ground? You're not bringing her? Her feet are on her legs, if I don't bring her, she won't come back on her own? She might even get lost, and then you'll be keeping me company with my confidante?"
Mu Yunhe rationally chose to ignore Luo Zhiwu's obviously furious and resentful temper. His indifferent gaze swept over the carriage behind him before he walked towards the thatched hut.
Luo Zhiwu felt instantly slighted. He grabbed Mu Yunhe by the collar, wanting to give him another beating. The two immediately became tense and their men became tense.
Mu Yunhe remained completely calm. Perhaps he and Luo Zhiwu had already clashed that night; his men had embarrassed Luo Zhiwu, and out of guilt and for Aheng's sake, he willingly let Luo Zhiwu beat him up without retaliating. But in Mu Yunhe's view, they had already settled things that night. If Luo Zhiwu continued to make a fuss, it would be unreasonable, and he didn't need to be polite anymore.
Mu Yunhe stared coldly at Luo Zhiwu, his gaze as if he were looking at a troublesome brat. Luo Zhiwu felt aggrieved, but she knew she couldn't actually make a move. The girl was watching from behind, and if she did, the girl would feel sorry for her.
"Look at you, so capable. If you were really that capable, would you need to dig up graves?" Luo Zhiwu said sarcastically, angrily sitting back in her armchair. She glanced at him sideways, her arrogance clear: "I'm sitting, you're standing!"
"I just wanted to see who was inside. I think she must be wondering the same thing." Mu Yunhe didn't continue walking. He walked back and said calmly.
Luo Zhiwu froze, her raised eyebrows stiffening, and she subconsciously asked, "You know that what's in here isn't..."
Mu Yunhe remained calm. He knew that the person in the coffin was definitely not Luo Ningshuang, and the imposter in his house must be Luo Ningshuang!
Although he still didn't know how Luo Ningshuang had switched the body, he was certain it was indeed Luo Ningshuang. Just recently, he had personally gone to see Luo Ningshuang. He didn't need to ask anything; he simply said, "I heard your sister Luo Ningshuang's grave was desecrated."
With just that one sentence, he sensed fear and anger from Luo Ningshuang, whose eyes also held deep wariness and uncertainty.
At that moment, Mu Yunhe confirmed that this person was Luo Ningshuang. The reason he tested her was because he knew that even the best coroner might not be able to determine the true identity of this corpse three years later. So he had to have other plans. This test gave him some confidence, but he was also curious about who was inside. Perhaps there would be clues, so he opened the coffin anyway.
Moreover, he even brought her along to 'attend the ceremony'.
"Bring your wife over here," Mu Yunhe called out.
The wet nurse personally carried the cheerful Luo Ningshuang down from the carriage. Because Luo Ningshuang was seriously injured, she could only be carried down and placed on a soft sling, and then carried over by others.
Luo Ningshuang was in a really good mood. She had been so frightened by Mu Yunhe's words that she almost fainted. She was worried that Mu Yunhe would discover her secret. But then Mu Yunhe said he would take her out to relax. Although she was puzzled as to why she could relax when she was covered in injuries, her priority now was to win Mu Yunhe's heart. She was willing to go to the ends of the earth for him.
But when Luo Ningshuang sat on the soft cushions and saw everything clearly in front of her, she couldn't laugh anymore. She wanted to scream!
What's going on? How did Luo Zhiwu end up here? This place is indeed beautiful with its clear waters and lush mountains, but why are there so many graves? What are those people doing? Why are they digging?!
Luo Ningshuang just wanted to go back now; she didn't want to relax at all, and she didn't want to face these people! Unfortunately, she couldn't move at all right now.
"You didn't even greet your brother when you saw him?" Mu Yunhe's voice was somewhat gentle, and he even smiled at Luo Ningshuang.
Luo Ningshuang found that smile terrifying and eerie. A chill ran down her spine. Her face was wrapped in bandages, and she bore the marks of her severe injuries. The shadow of Luo Zhiwu's assassination attempt a few days prior still lingered. How could she possibly greet Luo Zhiwu? But she had to ask, her voice stiff: "Brother!"
Luo Zhiwu glanced at Luo Ningshuang, his gaze particularly complex. He truly didn't know how to face this younger sister anymore. He regretted not killing her with a single blow that day, yet he was also relieved; he was deeply conflicted. Remaining silent and unresponsive, Luo Zhiwu's usual nonchalant demeanor vanished, replaced by a composed demeanor.
When the gravediggers finally shouted that they had dug it up, Luo Ningshuang's bandaged face was one of utter horror. She watched as the coffin was lifted up by the group, and then, under the blazing sun, it was pried open with a crackling sound. Then came a stench.
Luo Ningshuang's body was buried according to the standards of the Silver Moon Kingdom. The people of the Silver Moon Kingdom pursued immortality and wanted to maintain their appearance even after death, so they had secret methods to preserve the elasticity of the body after burial. The body in this coffin was indeed the same as when it was buried three years ago, although it was somewhat decomposed and burned beyond recognition, but it was still well preserved.
Mu Yunhe stepped forward and took a look. The corpse inside was grotesque, with some things resembling rotting flesh stuck to it. Some of the clothes it was wearing after death had collapsed. Because of the Empress, there were still some burial items.
Mu Yunhe glanced at it only once before instructing the coroner who examined her three years ago to compare and re-examine it with the one brought in today. He glanced at Luo Ningshuang and suddenly smiled gently, "Do you want to go see her? After all, she's your own sister. Her grave has been desecrated. Aren't you angry?"
Looking at Mu Yunhe's smiling face, Luo Ningshuang suddenly felt despair, a chill ran through her body, and all her thoughts and fantasies vanished. At this moment, Mu Yunhe finally became a nightmare! A nightmare she wanted to escape from and feared at all times.
He knows! He must know everything!!
Luo Ningshuang was so frightened that she almost lost her mind. Seeing that Mu Yunhe was ignoring her and not confronting her, as if he knew nothing, Luo Ningshuang's blood froze. She didn't know where she had given herself away, nor did she know what awaited her. Right now, all she wanted was to survive.
The autopsy was somewhat disgusting and terrifying, and very quiet. Nearly an hour passed before the coroners finally finished their examination and gave everyone a shocking answer!
495 The scapegoat flower blooms! Luring the snake out of its hole! Will it make you feel good?
Updated: 2013-12-14 14:00:15 Word Count: 7902
"Your Excellency, based on the circumstances of the death, it is indeed true that this person died three years ago. He was around twenty years old and suffered severe burns. Although the extent of the damage can still be seen due to the preservation techniques, there is still some decomposition due to the passage of time. However, I have discovered some things that other coroners did not notice three years ago."
Seeing that Mu Yunhe looked solemn and serious, the coroner did not dare to delay and quickly said, "This body had been tortured before her death, and her real cause of death should not be burning to death, but poisoning!"
Everyone was stunned by this unexpected answer. Mu Yunhe glanced at Luo Ningshuang beside him and said coldly to the coroner who examined Luo Ningshuang's body three years ago, "This result is completely different from the one three years ago. You were the coroner who examined Luo Ningshuang's body three years ago. What do you say? Do you agree with what the coroner said today?"
The two men immediately knelt down, trembling with fear. One of them said, "Your Honor, we did indeed carefully examine Miss Luo's body three years ago. However, Miss Luo's body was burned beyond recognition by the fire three years ago, so we couldn't examine it too closely, as we must respect the dead. But we did examine it carefully three years ago and found no signs of poisoning. Today, we examined it together with Coroner Wang, and naturally, we found signs of poisoning. Please forgive our oversight."
They were indeed wronged. Who could have imagined that a dead person could cause so much trouble three years later? And three years ago, there were no signs of poisoning on the woman. But were they really going to say that someone poisoned the dead woman after she died? That simply didn't make sense.
Mu Yunhe's expression was completely unreadable. He looked at the coroner he had brought in today and said, "Why do you say she wasn't burned to death but poisoned?"
The coroner, Wang, dared not delay and quickly pointed to the exposed bones in the decaying part of the corpse in the coffin, which had clearly turned black: "Please look, sir. Only when a person is poisoned will their bones turn black. In this person's case, the blackness is mostly on the upper body, with only a small amount on the lower body. This proves that after the poison was ingested, it did not reach the lower body before the person died. After she died, all the poisoning stopped. This also indicates that the poison was not only highly toxic but also the reason why the bones on her upper body turned black."
"There was no dust or foreign matter in this person's throat or mouth. Although three years have passed, some things may have disappeared, but it is unlikely that they disappeared so completely. Therefore, I speculate that this person did not die in the fire, but was poisoned and thrown into the fire to create the illusion of being burned to death."
Everyone was shocked. The events of three years ago had been brought up again, and beneath the calm surface, such a huge uproar had been stirred up. The coroner's account was reasonable and well-founded, leaving them no choice but to believe it. But how could they easily believe it? Who would have such a deep hatred for a young lady from a prominent family? To poison her to death and then throw her body into the fire?
Luo Ningshuang was completely dumbfounded. She didn't even dare to breathe, her heart was pounding so hard she dared not let it beat. Her eyes were fixed on the coffin. She still didn't understand how it had been exposed. How did people think of her? Everything three years ago should have been flawless!
"So, Luo Ningshuang suffered a great deal before she died. Luo Zhiwu, Luo Ningshuang is from your family. Don't you have any thoughts on her suffering such injustice and grievance?" Mu Yunhe looked at Luo Zhiwu and saw that she was shocked and furious. Mu Yunhe finally felt a little better.
See if you can stop him from digging up the grave! If it's not dug up, how will we see the even bigger and more chilling cruelty hidden beneath the conspiracy? If Luo Zhiheng hadn't been by my side back then, is it possible that the person lying in this coffin today is Luo Zhiheng? Given Luo Ningshuang's hatred for Luo Zhiheng, it's not impossible.
Since Luo Ningshuang was able to come up with such a terrible conspiracy, it meant she was determined to get rid of Luo Zhiheng. So, she switched Luo Zhiheng with her in the fire. After Luo Zhiheng was disfigured and buried, Luo Ningshuang took her place. It was just as seamless.
A fierce fire burned in Mu Yunhe's eyes. The thought that he might miss Luo Zhiheng for the rest of his life, the thought that Luo Zhiheng might be murdered and buried underground in such a tragic way, the thought that someone was plotting against Luo Zhiheng, made Mu Yunhe feel like his heart and lungs were being torn apart. He was restless and extremely agitated.
Luo Zhiwu now shares the same thoughts as Mu Yunhe. At this moment, he is still deeply afraid. If he had insisted on not allowing Mu Yunhe to dig up the grave, he would not have seen the truth and horror of the grave. The fact that the enemy could find someone to die in place of Luo Ningshuang in such a panic shows that they were not unprepared.
Given the extent of Luo Ningshuang's hatred for Luo Zhiheng, the person in this coffin today was very likely Luo Zhiheng three years ago. Thank goodness, Heng'er wasn't tricked by that madwoman Luo Ningshuang; thank goodness Heng'er is still alive!
Luo Zhiwu's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, veins bulging on her forehead. Her eyes were bloodshot as she glanced at Luo Ningshuang with a fierce look that seemed capable of tearing Luo Ningshuang to pieces. Luo Ningshuang shrank back in fright, not daring to look at Luo Zhiwu.
"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! I need to know the details of that fire three years ago, I need to know who this body really is!" Luo Zhiwu's voice was icy. This body should be replacing Luo Zhiheng, but it also replaces Luo Ningshuang.
The coroner then cautiously reported, "Your Excellency, I have also found some clues on the body."
"Speak!" Mu Yunhe said, raising his hand.
The coroner, Wang, respectfully said, "I believe this body was burned before death, as she clearly has two severe burns on her body. It's understandable that you two didn't detect it three years ago, because at that time her burns were already very serious and completely covered the previous burns. But after three years, it's now obvious that this person must have suffered very serious burns before. It seems that this person must have been subjected to severe torture before death; several of her fingers and toes were broken, clearly broken and smashed."
Mu Yunhe's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "Where was the most severely burned part of her body?"
"It should be the head and face," the coroner said.
Mu Yunhe's deep gaze inadvertently fell on Luo Ningshuang. He finally knew who was in the coffin. He just couldn't fathom who could have found the person in his secret chamber. No wonder that person had disappeared; they had been taken away and used as a scapegoat!
"Then can you confirm when this person was first burned?" Once he confirms this, he can confirm that the person lying here is not Luo Ningshuang. This way, he can legitimately search for Luo Ningshuang, and he can also make Luo Ningshuang and the people behind her uneasy. Only when they are uneasy will they take action, and when they take action, they will leave clues. He will then have the opportunity to follow the clues, find the person behind them, and eliminate them!
"This little man needs to be examined more carefully." Coroner Wang hesitated slightly, but he dared not be careless and hurriedly went back to check.
It was past noon, the sun was setting in the west, and the temperature began to fluctuate. As the clouds in the western sky were burned red by the setting sun, and everything seemed to have been washed in blood, the coroner Wang finally finished his study and respectfully said, "There should have been about three to five months between this person's first severe burn and the second burn. I cannot be sure of the exact time."
As soon as he said this, the expressions of everyone in the know changed repeatedly, until they turned deathly pale!
Luo Zhiwu remained calm because she knew this person was not Luo Ningshuang at all. Mu Yunhe was composed because this was exactly the effect he wanted!
Everyone knows that when Luo Ningshuang returned to the Mu Dynasty, she was perfectly healthy and had never been burned. The fire burned Luo Ningshuang beyond recognition, and she died, but before that, Luo Ningshuang was completely unharmed. How could she have suffered a first, severe burn?
Once doubts arise, they can't be easily dispelled. The person before them is the authority within the corpse; his words shouldn't be wrong, especially since he was brought in by the diviner. How could he dare to lie? But if these words are true, then the woman in the coffin doesn't match Luo Ning Shuang, does she?
Could it be that the woman in this coffin... isn't Luo Ningshuang?!
Even without Mu Yunhe's enticement, people immediately thought of this. Elder Tong and General Murong, who had come with them, were sitting in the carriage behind them. They could hear and see everything clearly. They didn't understand Mu Yunhe's purpose in summoning them, and they didn't care about Luo Ningshuang's situation at all, but this scene had already aroused their suspicions.
Several shrewd old men exchanged glances, each sensing a strong undercurrent of conspiracy in the other's eyes, and couldn't help but become serious. If the person buried in the coffin wasn't Luo Ningshuang, then who was it? Where was the real Luo Ningshuang? Why was this happening? Was it a conspiracy? Who orchestrated it? And what was their purpose? What could a living Luo Ningshuang possibly do?
One question after another arose in the old man's mind, making the scene even more unusual.
Mu Yunhe asked directly, "According to this, the person in this coffin shouldn't be Luo Ningshuang. I remember that when Luo Ningshuang returned to the Mu Dynasty, she was perfectly fine, with no burns on her face or head, only burns from the fire at the Luo family residence. Have you made a mistake in your examination? I warn you, if you've made a mistake, I will not forgive you!"
The coroner immediately knelt down, saying with a mixture of panic and determination, "I would never dare to speak falsely. I will only tell you the truth of what I saw. If we follow your account, then the burns from the two different time periods do not match, so the person in the coffin should not be the person you are referring to."
The answer was all too obvious. When the coroner uttered those words, Luo Zhiwu looked at Mu Yunhe with a complex and inscrutable expression. Then, at that moment, he saw a fleeting smile on Mu Yunhe's face, and he felt as if this was all exactly what Mu Yunhe had expected. At that moment, he felt that this man, whom he could beat up, was exceptionally unfathomable.
This conclusion caused a huge uproar among the crowd. People were shocked and started discussing it. They didn't want them to discuss it, because this matter was just too unbelievable. A person who had been dead for three years was dug up and immediately became a person again, not the person he used to be? Could there be anything more ridiculous than this?
Mu Yunhe said to Luo Zhiwu in a serious tone, "This matter is really suspicious. I am worried that it will be detrimental to the Mu Dynasty. It must be dealt with seriously. There is no need to bury the coffin again. After all, it has been confirmed that this person is not Luo Ningshuang. It is not good to include her in the Luo family. I will take the body away."
Luo Zhiwu was speechless. Seeing Mu Yunhe's serious demeanor, she realized he hadn't done anything to harm the Mu Dynasty. Although it was possible, could he really use his position for personal gain in such a dignified manner? She waved her hand impatiently: "Take him away quickly, don't let some random people defile the Luo family's ancestral graves."