Chapter 24: Beast Language Cracks the Case
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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After being thoroughly drained fifteen times in the Imperial Palace yesterday, Lin Xiu was utterly exhausted, sleeping until noon the next day.
No one from the palace came for him today. The ice he made yesterday was enough to last them at least three days.
After lunch, Lin Xiu first went to Zhaiyue Lou to make their daily ice supply, then returned to the Ministry of Justice.
Following Lin Xiu’s palace visit, the Emperor had bestowed ice upon many nobles, but government offices like the Ministry of Justice received none. Officials and constables still had to work in sweltering offices.
Lin Xiu wanted to build good relationships with his colleagues so they would turn a blind eye to his frequent absences and slacking. Thus, that afternoon, a cool breeze filled every office in the Ministry. Not only were large blocks of ice placed in the corners of each room, but officials also had ice water on their desks.
Within half a day, Lin Xiu became acquainted with officials from the Arrests Division, Archives, jail, and other departments. While he didn’t visit the Counselor personally, he had enough ice sent over.
Most officials and constables now had a changed impression of him.
Although this young master from the Ping’an Baron Estate rarely came to the Ministry, he was pleasant and lacked the air of a spoiled nobleman. Conversing with him was like a gentle breeze, especially since he used his ability to benefit the entire Ministry, saving them from the heat. Their attitude towards him naturally became warm and friendly.
“Why is Master Lin so different lately?”
“Yeah, he barely came to the Ministry before, but now he’s quite diligent.”
“It’s not just that. He never spoke to us before. Now he buys us breakfast and makes ice. It’s like he’s a different person.”
“He seems genuinely different from those other noble brats…”
In one office, as people discussed Lin Xiu, a young official scoffed. “Different? Aren’t all nobles the same? A little kindness, and you treat him like one of your own?”
Everyone turned to look at him, falling silent.
They knew this rising star of the Ministry, from a commoner background, looked down on those who entered through connections. His past experiences had also made him deeply resentful of the Capital’s nobility.
…
Lin Xiu didn’t clock out and leave today.
The Academy of Esoteric Arts was currently on summer break. Every summer and winter, the academy gave students a month’s leave to visit their families. During this time, all classes were suspended, so there was no point in going.
He would use this time to establish his presence in the Ministry. He had to keep this job to reassure his parents.
Bored, Lin Xiu sorted documents at his desk. Seeing a colleague packing up to leave, he casually asked, “Officer Xu, where are you going?”
Officer Xu sighed. “There’s a case in the West City. I’m going to record the details.”
Besides recording and organizing case files, scribes from the Archives also accompanied constables and coroners to crime scenes to document details and witness statements.
Lin Xiu, restless, jumped at the opportunity. “Officer Xu, you’ve all been so kind to me. It’s scorching outside. Let me go instead. I don’t mind the heat.”
He hadn’t been to the Archives much. Three scribes had to do the work of four, so it was fair to say they had been covering for him.
With the sun blazing, Officer Xu didn’t want to go out. It was much more comfortable in the air-conditioned office. He politely declined a couple of times, then smiled. “Thank you for your trouble, Master Lin.”
Lin Xiu waved his hand. “Don’t mention it.”
The coroner and several constables from the Arrests Division also joined this field trip.
Lin Xiu chatted and joked with everyone along the way, except for one person who remained stern, never smiling at him.
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It was a young man, somewhat handsome, but not as much as Lin Xiu. His silence gave him an air of coolness.
Lin Xiu remembered his name was Liu Qingfeng, a superintendent in the Arrests Division. Young but capable, he had a reputation in the Ministry as the former top constable, later promoted and highly valued by the Counselor.
He couldn’t recall offending him, but since Liu Qingfeng was unfriendly, he wouldn’t bother with him.
They soon arrived at the crime scene.
It was a merchant’s residence in the West City, a large, four-courtyard mansion, even bigger than the Lin Estate. It belonged to a merchant named Wang, who was also the victim.
He had been found dead in his courtyard that morning.
The coroner’s examination revealed no other wounds except for the fatal blow to the back of his head. There was blood on the corner of a flowerbed in the courtyard, confirmed to be Landowner Wang’s.
Additionally, a sprained ankle was found on the victim.
One of the paving stones was loose. A constable had almost tripped on it earlier.
The case seemed straightforward. All evidence pointed to Landowner Wang accidentally stepping on the loose stone last night, losing his balance, and falling.
Unfortunately, his head hit the edge of the flowerbed, killing him instantly.
The loose stone, the sprained ankle, the fatal head wound, and the blood on the flowerbed all supported this conclusion.
However, since it was a death, they conducted a thorough investigation, questioning everyone in the household and even recreating the scene. Everything indicated an accidental death.
After repeatedly examining the scene, Liu Qingfeng breathed a sigh of relief. “We’ve thoroughly investigated. Landowner Wang’s death was accidental. You can prepare for the funeral.”
“Master, how could you leave us like this!”
“How are we supposed to live…”
“Master, you’ve been so cruel…”
…
The Wang family burst into wails. The constables, accustomed to dealing with deaths, simply felt it was a tragic end. Landowner Wang had built a vast fortune but died before enjoying it. What a waste…
Just as they were about to leave, Lin Xiu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. “This wasn’t an accident. It was murder.”
The wailing stopped abruptly.
Everyone stared at him.
Liu Qingfeng frowned, fixing his gaze on Lin Xiu. “Scribe Lin, all evidence points to an accidental death. Did you find new clues? Where?”
Lin Xiu shook his head. “No.”
These experienced constables, with their sharp eyes, had thoroughly examined the scene multiple times before reaching their conclusion. Lin Xiu, an outsider, couldn’t possibly have better investigative skills.
Liu Qingfeng’s frown deepened, his tone sharper, almost reprimanding. “Scribe Lin, while caution is warranted in a death investigation, evidence is crucial. Please refrain from making baseless accusations.”
Lin Xiu glanced at a birdcage hanging from the eaves, more precisely, at the bird inside. It was a Hwamei. Many nobles and wealthy individuals in the Capital kept birds for amusement, considering it a refined hobby. Landowner Wang, in an attempt to appear cultured, also kept one.
The surroundings were silent, except for the bird’s chirping.
Lin Xiu looked away and pointed at a man among the Wang family. “Landowner Wang was murdered. He is the culprit. If you don’t believe me, interrogate him.”
The man, pale-faced, dropped to his knees. “Your Honor, it wasn’t me! It wasn’t me! I would never harm the master! I was the one who reported his death to the authorities! Please, Your Honor, you must see clearly!”
Liu Qingfeng’s eyes narrowed. When Lin Xiu pointed at the man, he had noticed a flash of panic in his eyes!
How was that possible?!
He had been observing everyone’s expressions since arriving, eliminating each suspect through careful scrutiny.
This servant had shown no suspicious behavior until Lin Xiu pointed at him, revealing a crack in his facade!
If he were innocent, he would have shown shock, surprise, anger, or fear, but not this guilty panic.
Liu Qingfeng’s experience told him this man was suspicious!
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But how did Lin Xiu know?
He looked at Lin Xiu, but his expression was calm, betraying no emotion.
Composing himself, Liu Qingfeng pointed at the servant. “This man is suspicious. Arrest him!”
The constables immediately dragged the servant away from the crowd.
Initially, believing it was an accident, their questioning hadn’t been focused. But now, with a suspect, their interrogation became sharp and pointed. At first, the servant’s answers were smooth, but soon, his story became riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions. Gradually, even the Wang family noticed something was amiss.
A woman pointed at him, her voice filled with grief and anger. “Wang Er! Our family treated you so well! How could you do this?!”
Under relentless questioning, Wang Er finally broke down, confessing.
He had been stealing from the Wang family, his methods so discreet that he had never been caught.
Last night, while stealing silver, he was caught red-handed by Landowner Wang, who, enraged, wanted to turn him over to the authorities.
Facing punishment, Wang Er pleaded and struggled with Landowner Wang, accidentally pushing him. The landowner’s head hit the ground, killing him instantly.
Panicked, Wang Er cleaned up the scene and meticulously staged an accidental death. His attention to detail was so thorough that even the experienced constables were fooled.
“Damn! I’ve seen people cover up murders, but never so flawlessly!”
“He didn’t leave a single clue!”
“You bastard! You’re talented! You could have done anything with those skills, but you chose this path!”
…
The constables were furious at being deceived. They had searched the entire estate but found nothing. Lin Xiu, on the other hand, had simply stood in the courtyard and identified the murderer. Curiosity gnawed at them. How did he know?
Even Liu Qingfeng lost his disdain, asking humbly, “Scribe Lin, how did you know he was the murderer?”
He no longer saw Lin Xiu as a good-for-nothing who entered the Ministry through connections. Even he had been fooled, yet Lin Xiu had identified the culprit at a glance. This scribe possessed true skill.
He despised those incompetent noble brats but had to admire Lin Xiu’s sharp eyes.
Lin Xiu, of course, couldn’t tell him it was the bird in the cage. Wang Er’s actions, unseen by any human, had been witnessed by the bird.
He gave Liu Qingfeng a mysterious smile. “I guessed.”
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