Chapter 9: Chang'an Tong Que Ming (Melody of Golden Age)

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

 Chapter 9: 

 The Buddha Swallows Sin (6)

“The act of dismembering and mutilating a corpse is usually associated with dark sorcery and perversion. The second branch of the Liang family, having already used poison to kill Liang Chenzhong, does not seem to fit this pattern,” Zhu Yan said. “Consider this: chronic poisoning is intended to be discreet. If the second branch had intended a secret assassination, why would they go to such extremes as to kill, dig a pit, and bury the body in the heavily frequented and highly regarded Ximing Temple? Wouldn’t this be self-destructive?”

Wu Taiming handed over the token but then pulled his hand back and said, “But this case also has its doubts. The Liang family’s main branch places great importance on their legitimate eldest son. Why would the second branch target Liang Chenzhong, who was not only a worthless scholar but also had no prospects of inheriting the family business? It seems more like personal enmity. Look at the head of the main branch and his wife today—they immediately dissected the corpse and left after seeing the poison. It seems there has been a long-standing grudge.”

Zhu Yan pondered.

Gasping for breath, Lu Chuichui straightened up and said, “In that case, I can go investigate for you. Recently, Fengle Lane has reported several cases of disappearances. Chief Huang asked Nalan Xin and me to go there and check the situation, and to ask some unsavory people and common folks about the Liang family.”

As a new Book Clerk in the Ministry of Justice, Lu Chuichui had the lowest status. She was expected to do all sorts of tasks, from running errands and investigating cases to serving tea. Even though there were now female Book Clerks among the new recruits, the superiors treated everyone equally. In fact, female clerks often had to work even harder than their male counterparts.

Thinking about how she would spend most of her day off immersed in case work and then still have to handle numerous case files on the desk at the Ministry, Lu Chuichui almost felt she couldn’t stand up straight.

In contrast, Zhu Yan, despite her heavy workload, didn’t have to deal with any of the trivial matters.

As Lu Chuichui was about to jokingly complain about whether the chief favored Zhu Yan, even assisting her in defying the emperor’s orders to investigate, Zhu Yan asked, “If something goes wrong with this token from the chief, could it implicate you?”

Zhu Yan looked at Wu Taiming and asked, “Why are you helping me?”

Wu Taiming glanced at her, his face showing a hint of awkwardness: “Don’t mention my affair with that mistress.”

Lu Chuichui’s eyes widened in shock: “Mistress?”

Wu Taiming shot a displeased look at Lu Chuichui, signaling her to lower her voice.

“I have not fathered any children with that mistress; I merely pity her. After some time, I will send her away. Please don’t tell your mother; I don’t want my wife to know. This token was given by the Minister; it will allow you to move about at night without being stopped and to summon unsavory people immediately. It is meant for the convenience of the Ministry of Justice’s key personnel. Be sure not to lose it.”

Mistress Jin is known for her straightforward temper and extensive social connections. If Zhu Yan were to tell Mistress Jin, Wu Taiming would likely be beaten black and blue by his wife and then sent back to his family with a divorce.

Zhu Yan, knowing that Wu Taiming had a strict wife at home, smiled faintly and agreed.

Wu Taiming finally left with a sense of relief. Lu Chuichui, still in shock, hurried to catch up with Zhu Yan and wanted to ask questions, but suddenly pieced together the situation.

“It’s that little yellow flower!”

“The stitching is delicate, the design is gentle, and it’s embroidered on the inside of the sleeve, intentionally hidden from view,” Zhu Yan said. “I’ve mentioned this to you many times before, but you just didn’t listen. Otherwise, why would you be doing so many pointless things?”

Lu Chuichui regretted it deeply, clenching her fists and lamenting, “You know my brain isn’t very sharp. How am I supposed to understand when you say it like that? By the way, where are we? —Wait, isn’t this the small courtyard where the coroner borrowed to perform the autopsy? It’s already this late, and you still want to look at the corpse? Aren’t you hungry? I’m ready to eat, Liuniang…”

As soon as she stepped through the door and saw the decaying, maggot-infested corpse dressed in brocade and jade bracelets lying across the wooden bed, Lu Chuichui leaped back in horror, slamming the door behind her and wailing.

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