Fang Miao hurried back to the Dali Temple, took the autopsy tools, and rushed to the victim's home.
The identity of the victim has been identified. He is the second son of Zhang Daren, the Minister of Ceremonies. He was found drowned in the river in the early morning.
Fang Miao heard all this on the way there.
Fang Miao came to Lord Zhang's house. Because of the death of the young master, the entire Zhanshi Mansion was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.
She hurried to the side hall where the body was placed. At the door, a tall and handsome man was standing there with a cold and serious expression.
Fang Miao glanced at him and quickly looked away.
"Master Gu." Fang Miao said respectfully.
"Come in, take a look." Gu Huainian said.
Fang Miao followed Gu Huainian into the side hall.
Fang Miao put down the toolbox, walked to the body and began to examine it.
She looks inconspicuous on weekdays, but when she does things, she seems like a different person, with a serious expression and skillful and neat movements.
"When was the body found?" Fang Miao asked.
Fang Miao asked this question to the officer who was holding a piece of paper and taking notes.
The officer was about to look through the records when Gu Huainian said directly, "This morning, at 1:00 PM, a passerby discovered it."
"When was the body fished out?" Fang Miao asked.
"Three quarters past noon." Gu Huainian said.
"Based on the degree of swelling of the body, the time of death was between eighteen and twenty hours, around the evening of the day before yesterday." Fang Miao said.
The officer quickly wrote down Fang Miao's words.
Fang Miao examined the face, chest, hands, nails and other parts of the corpse.
"The skin color is yellowish, not white."
"Hands extended, hair disheveled."
“No drop of water escapes from your facial features, and no sand or mud gets between your fingernails.”
"The deceased was killed first and then thrown into the river."
Fang Miaodao.
Fang Miao continued to check.
"There's a swelling on the head and clotted blood. It's a blunt force injury."
"After checking the whole body, the deceased had no other external injuries."
"There's nothing unusual about the throat or lips, the nails are normal color, and combined with the skin color, it's not poisoning."
"The victim's fatal wound was on the head, the murder weapon was a blunt object, stone chips were found in the wound, and the murder weapon was a stone." Fang Miao said.
Gu Huainian closed his eyes, and based on Fang Miao's description, a picture appeared in his mind.
The victim was walking on the road when a man took a stone and smashed it on the victim's head. The victim fell to the ground without even reacting.
"The deceased's fingernails were clean, and there were no signs of struggle. Your Excellency, I think there are two possibilities. One is that the deceased was drunk before his death, and his reaction was slow, so he didn't struggle. The other is that the murderer was very strong, and the victim was severely injured in one blow, and he couldn't react."
Gu Huainian said to the constable standing at the door, "Take the deceased's Huaxi and ask along the river if anyone saw the deceased the evening before yesterday."
"You, go investigate the deceased's relationships and who he met the day before yesterday."
"You, go get a basin of water."
Gu Huainian gave instructions one by one.
"Yes, sir."
The detectives took the order and left.
After a while, a constable brought water.
"Soak your hands." Gu Huainian said.
Fang Miao was stunned for a moment, her heart beating wildly. Was this water poured for her?
Fang Miao glanced at Gu Huainian, only to see that his expression was as cold as ever. She came to her senses and washed her hands with the water.
After Fang Miao washed her hands carefully, a handkerchief was handed to her.
The fingers of that hand were very long, with distinct joints. Her ears were slightly red, and she looked up at Gu Huainian.
"Sir, no need, the handkerchief is dirty..." she said hesitantly.
"Take it." Gu Huainian's tone was firm.
Fang Miao had no choice but to take it.
"Come out for some fresh air."
"yes."
The two walked to the door.
A woman came over, supported by two old maids.
Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her hair was messy, and she looked extremely haggard.
"Sir, how did my son die? Did he fall or was he murdered?" the woman asked in a trembling voice.
Gu Huainian said: "He was murdered by someone."
"Sir, please, give my son justice and find the murderer who killed him."
"My poor son, who harmed you?"
As the woman spoke, she burst into tears again, her face full of tears, and she was heartbroken.
"Don't worry, ma'am. I will definitely find out the real culprit." Gu Huainian said.
"Thank you, sir, thank you very much!" The woman knelt down in front of Gu Huainian and kowtowed to him.
Fang Miao hurried over to help her up.
"Madam, please accept my condolences." Fang Miao said.
The woman looked at Fang Miao with tears in her eyes: "Miss, thank you too."
Fang Miao's heart was inexplicably touched.
"Madam, please take a rest first. Your son's spirit in heaven would also hope that you are well." Fang Miao comforted her.
The servant helped the woman to rest.
Gu Huainian and Fang Miao walked towards the door together.
Gu Huainian looked at Fang Miao: "Why do you want to be a coroner?"
Being a coroner is difficult in itself, and most men are unwilling to do it, let alone women.
"My mother was seriously ill at that time, and I didn't know how to do anything else. I wanted to find a way to make a living, so I thought of becoming a coroner." Fang Miao said.
The monthly salary of a coroner is not bad, and it makes money much faster than other jobs.
She was actually very grateful to Lord Gu because there had never been a precedent for a female coroner. She had been to the Ministry of Justice and the government office, but was kicked out both times. Only at the Dali Temple did she meet Lord Gu, who made an exception and kept her.
"Is it just because of this?" Gu Huainian frowned.
"Of course not. In fact, I have always wanted to be a coroner." Fang Miao said, "My father is a coroner and left behind many books. I read those books when I was a child and I know them by heart."
Gu Huainian asked curiously, "Why do you like it?"
Yes, why do you like it?
To outsiders, coroners seem dirty, tiring, and unlucky, and no one wants to get close to them, let alone female coroners. People want to stay away from them, and there is a lot of gossip about them.
But just now, she actually understood the purpose of being a coroner.
"Speak for the dead, give justice to the dead, and give comfort to the living." Fang Miao said, his face seemed to be shining.
If there is no coroner, the cause of death cannot be determined. Some deaths are ruled as accidental, and the real culprit remains at large.
This is so unfair to the deceased.
Gu Huainian's eyes flashed and his expression changed slightly.
Give justice to the dead and comfort to the living.
When he was studying with his master, his master also said something similar.
He didn't expect that a little girl would have such awareness.
Gu Huainian looked at Fang Miao. She was petite, but she possessed great strength.
He felt a similar feeling from his sister.
In his sister's words, it might be the power of belief. When people have faith, they become powerful.
"Well, don't worry about what others say." Gu Huainian said.
Gu Huainian walked forward, but Fang Miao stood there in a daze.
So...was Lord Gu comforting her just now?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com