Chapter 4: Chang'an Tong Que Ming (Melody of Golden Age)

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Chang'an Tong Que Ming (Melody of Golden Age)

 Chapter 4: 

Buddha Swallows the Sin

Zhu Yan gasped loudly, the pain bringing her back to her senses.

Breathing heavily, Zhu Yan's anger flared from her chest as Shen Du gave orders without looking back: “One team will escort the wedding sedan into the residence; the other team, follow me.”

As he spoke, dust flew up. Zhu Yan coughed for a while and couldn't help but curse:

“How did this person become so arrogant!”

“How can he humiliate you like this!”

The voices of condemnation came from different directions. Zhu Yan was stunned for a moment, turned towards the source of the voices, and saw her friend Lu Chuichui, dressed in official robes, standing beside the flower sedan with a face full of righteous indignation. Zhu Yan didn’t know when he had arrived.

“Second, Second Sister, how did you get here?”

Called out by Lu Chuichui, who was the second daughter of the Lu family, Lu Chuichui suddenly came to her senses and said, “I? Oh, I remember now! It was an urgent case transferred from the Chang’an Magistrate’s Office. The person in charge said the deceased was related to the imperial family, and the condition of the body was very unusual. He was unsure how to handle it and asked me to bring you immediately. We should hurry; if we’re late, we might not even be able to afford tea next month. Let’s go, let’s go.”

Lu Chuichui arrived on horseback, and since Zhu Yan had no other transportation, she had to sit behind Lu Chuichui and listen to the case details while removing her hairpins.

The crime scene was at Ximing Temple in Yankang Alley. According to Lu Chuichui, the body was discovered by a young monk who found a severed arm while digging for bamboo shoots in the temple's bamboo grove early in the morning.

Since Ximing Temple was a royal temple blessed by the imperial family, the young monk reported the discovery to the abbot, who immediately informed the Chang’an Magistrate’s Office. The Chang’an Magistrate then sent people to dig out the body.

The deceased were a man and a woman. The man, Liang Chenzhong, was the legitimate son of a seventh-rank official, while the woman, Kuang Zhanxin, was a renowned courtesan from Pingkang Fang. Both were found dead in an embrace, their deaths peaceful and natural. If not for the fact that their hearts had been removed and the woman's face was completely disfigured, this case might have ended as a tragic tale.

"Has the corpse been examined for poison? Did they have any enemies?" Zhu Yan asked.

"At the request of the Liang family, the coroner at the Chang'an Magistrate's office examined the bodies," Lu Chuichui said, helping Zhu Yan dismount. "Upon hearing that their legitimate son had died, the Liang family was extremely distraught and angry, and they insisted that the bodies be examined immediately."

"Did they open the body right away?" Zhu Yan asked, looking thoughtful as Lu Chuichui nodded. "What were the results of the examination?"

"The coroner noted that Liang Chenzhong's throat was slightly blackened, which caused the Liang family to leave immediately," Lu Chuichui said. "The coroner informed me that the poison was diluted water lily poison, which was not enough to be fatal. The cause of death was still due to blood loss."

Lu Chuichui pointed to the chest area: "This was the only external injury."

Zhu Yan pondered, "In your opinion, what kind of person do you think the murderer is?"

Lu Chui Chui's bright eyes suddenly widened, and she looked at Zhu Yan with a sorrowful face. "How would I know? If I knew, I wouldn't be here as a clerk; I'd go straight to the Dali Temple for an official position. But you know, Dali Temple doesn't even take you, the legendary Liuniang, let alone someone like me who lacks clarity."

Zhu Yan's reputation in Chang'an wasn't very big, but it was not insignificant either. At least, she was known by Chang'an’s notorious figures, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple, as well as the criminal investigation officers of the prison.

One reason was her retired master, Chen Wen, the ex-chief of the prison, who was skilled in interrogation and capture techniques. The other reason was Zhu Yan’s peculiarities from a young age.

Sanniang (third daughter) of the Zhu family, Zhu Yuan, was known for her straightforwardness and horse riding, but the Liuniang became famous not for these things. Instead, she was known for her unconventional pursuit of criminals.

Her pursuit was not merely for show; by the age of sixteen, she had already assisted in solving many significant cases.

A little girl, a daughter of an official family, how could she not be a curiosity?

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