Chapter 45 Autopsy
The head steward of the Imperial Household Department was so choked by Chen He's words "even the wronged souls were burned clean" that his face turned pale and blue. He found an excuse and left in disgrace.
In the courtyard, only Shen He, Chu Yue, and Shen He's personal maid Gu Yu were left.
Guyu was brought from the Shen family by Chen He. Looking at the dilapidated yard, especially the charred wood, her face turned pale with fear.
Guyu muttered softly: "Miss... this place... is too creepy..."
However, Chen He seemed not to hear, his eyes swept across the messy courtyard, and his tone was calm.
"Let's get started and clean up the yard first."
She didn't complain or back down.
Chu Yue silently rolled up her sleeves and began to pull out the waist-high weeds.
Although Guyu was afraid, seeing that his young lady was so calm, he gritted his teeth, picked up a tattered broom in the corner, and began to sweep the floor.
Chen He walked under the eaves and checked the structure of the house.
She needed a place to shelter from the wind and rain, to store files, and to interrogate prisoners. This shabby house had to be put to good use!
The three of them were busying themselves silently, with only the rustling of the brooms across the ground and the rustling of weeds being pulled out.
After a while, Shen He stood up and looked at Chu Yue.
"Where's Zhou Yan'an? Why hasn't he come yet?"
Chu Yue paused and did not answer immediately.
Guyu couldn't help but interrupt.
Guyu muttered, "Why else? It must be because this place is dirty and shabby, and he's afraid of getting tired! Humph, scholars are just spoiled!"
Guyu's thoughts were simple and direct, but they also revealed a certain reality. This assignment, ostensibly a favor from the Queen Mother, was actually a hot potato, too hot to dodge, so who would be willing to take the initiative?
Chu Yue raised her head and looked at Chen He with a complicated look.
"When I came here, I came from the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Shen He raised an eyebrow, motioning him to continue.
"The Empress Dowager's transfer order has not yet been officially issued to the Imperial Medical Bureau."
This is the "efficiency" of the bureaucratic system! The Queen Mother's order, when it reaches the lower levels, must also be passed down layer by layer, which leaves countless room for maneuver!
Chu Yue continued, "The Imperial Medical Bureau was initially reluctant to release him."
Her tone was flat, as if she was talking about something that had nothing to do with her.
"However, it is probably because they know that you, Miss, have a close relationship with the Empress Dowager and are the future consort of the Sixth Prince."
"Plus, I was in the Imperial Medical Bureau, doing nothing more than menial tasks like pounding medicine and rice, which was insignificant."
She lowered her eyes slightly.
"They tried to make things difficult for me, intentionally or unintentionally, by asking me to pound the medicinal herbs that had been piling up for several days overnight before letting me leave, but in the end, they didn't dare actually detain me."
Behind his understated words lay the exhaustion of toiling through the night, the helplessness of being at the bottom of society, being manipulated at will. He didn't complain, he simply stated the facts, but this fact itself was cold enough.
Chen He listened quietly, his eyes slightly dark.
She understood what Chu Yue meant.
Chu Yue only talked about his own situation, but cleverly hinted at the trouble Zhou Yan'an might encounter.
Chu Yue is a thoughtful person and would not directly criticize the Ministry of Justice, but she used her own experience to clearly point out the problem.
The Imperial Medical Bureau was still within the palace walls and was well-informed. They knew that Chen He was currently in the emperor's favor and did not dare to do anything excessive.
But the Ministry of Justice is different.
The Ministry of Justice is far away from the palace and has its own system.
They had no connection with Shen He, and they had no idea how important Shen He was in the Queen Mother's heart.
Zhou Yan'an was just a low-level clerk in the Ministry of Justice with no foundation at all.
In a bureaucratic world with strict hierarchy, such a person is like a tiny speck of dust, which can be blown away by the wind or crushed easily at any time!
Would those old foxes in the Ministry of Justice so easily let a "useful" clerk get involved in this mess?
Especially, he was transferred by a young lady from a noble family who had no power or position?
The answer is self-evident. Behind this, there must be no shortage of obstacles and obstructions! There might even be covert instructions from higher-ups!
Shen He sneered in his heart.
"Let's clean up the yard here first."
Her voice was filled with undeniable determination.
"Let's go to the Ministry of Justice."
A glimmer of light flashed in Chu Yue's eyes, and then disappeared.
"good."
Guyu also stopped sweeping the floor and looked at Chenhe nervously.
The Ministry of Justice's prison—that's the place everyone in the capital is terrified of! Is the young lady going there... to ask for someone?
Chen He patted the dust off her dress, straightened her back, and walked towards the gate first.
***
There was no conversation along the way until they reached the Ministry of Justice.
The high-hanging plaque of "Ministry of Justice", with gold characters on a black background, carries an unquestionable majesty.
The gatekeeper saw that it was a strange face and wanted to ask him a routine question.
But when he saw Chen He's plain clothes that couldn't conceal her noble demeanor, and Chu Yue's clothes behind her that were clearly from the Imperial Medical Bureau, he was a little unsure for a moment.
Identity is always the most useful pass in the capital, sometimes even better than official seals.
Chen He didn't say much, just said lightly.
"I'm looking for Zhou Yan'an."
The bailiff was stunned for a moment, then showed some understanding, but also a bit of embarrassment.
"Lieutenant Zhou is busy in the morgue. I'm afraid he won't be able to come out for a while."
Guyu was so angry that her face turned red.
Guyu whispered angrily, "It must be intentional! What autopsy? I think they just don't want to let him go!"
Chu Yue remained calm and just looked at Chen He.
Shen He's eyes turned cold.
* “Autopsy?”
Her voice was not loud, but it carried a chill.
"In that case, take me to the morgue."
The bailiff looked embarrassed and was about to say something else.
Suddenly, a strong smell of blood wafted out from inside.
Immediately afterwards, a young man dressed in the uniform of a clerk from the Ministry of Justice, who seemed somewhat out of place, came out from behind the screen wall.
He was tall and slender, with a handsome face, but at this moment, his white and slender hands were covered with blood, and even a few drops splashed onto his plain face, which was shocking!
He seemed not to notice Chen He and his group at the door. He walked straight to the water tank beside him, scooped up some water, and washed his hands carefully.
Blood flowed down through his fingers, staining the edge of the jar red.
It was not until Zhou Yan'an washed his hands and wiped them with the cloth hanging beside him that he looked up at them as if he had just seen them.
His eyes were cold, with an indifference that seemed to see through the world.
Chen He's voice was calm, but questioning: "Zhou Yan'an?"
Zhou Yan'an's gaze fell on Shen He's face and paused, as if confirming her identity.
"But the people from the Ministry of Justice won't let you leave?"
When Zhou Yan'an heard this, a very faint, almost sarcastic arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"No one in this world can stop me, Zhou Yan'an, from taking the path I want to take."
Guyu was choked by his words and suppressed all the anger he had just felt.
A hint of inquiry flashed in Chu Yue's eyes.
Shen He raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
"Then why did you come out now?"
Zhou Yan'an stopped wiping his hands and threw the towel back to its original place.
"I was planning to come find you this morning."
His tone was calm, as if he was talking about an ordinary thing.
"But, I heard something interesting."
He paused, his eyes vaguely sweeping over Chen He.
"I heard that three male corpses were found next to the wonton stall in the south of the city in the early hours of last night."
Wonton stall! Chen He's heart skipped a beat!
Zhou Yan'an continued speaking without any wavering in his voice.
"The death was a bit unusual."
"The tongues were pulled out."
Shen He's expression changed instantly.
Her breathing quickened slightly, and she looked at Zhou Yan'an sharply.
Zhou Yan'an caught the change in her expression and nodded slightly, as if to confirm her guess.
"That's right."
"Those three drunks who were talking nonsense and spreading rumors about you in front of the wonton stall last night."
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