Chapter 94 New Case

Ming Huashang was shocked to hear that a murder had occurred in Chang'an, and asked hurriedly, "What happened?"

The maid was still in shock and said, "Another person was found dead in Tongjifang this morning. The third wife of Duke Cheng's mansion did not return home overnight. They tried to identify her, and it turned out to be their wife!"

Zhaocai took a deep breath and said, "Is she the daughter of Duke Cheng's mansion?"

"That's right." The maid rubbed her arms and said in horror, "Before, beggars and prostitutes died, and they all died in the wild, so there was no need to say anything. This time, it was the legitimate granddaughter of the Duke, who died in Chang'an City, not far away was the city gate guard. I heard that after the body was recognized, the wife of the Duke of Cheng's son fainted immediately. Now Duke Cheng is making a fuss, scolding the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Jinwu for not doing anything."

Chang'an has a curfew, and the Jinwu Guard patrols every night to protect the capital's safety, not to mention the Jingzhao Prefecture, whose mission is to ensure the safety of the capital. Now, under the double protection of the Jinwu Guard and the Jingzhao Prefecture, the Duke's granddaughter was killed in Chang'an City, and her body was not found until one night after being dumped.

Zhaocai screamed in fear, and her face turned pale every time the maid said more. In the previous murders of several women, they didn't care that the dead were beggars and prostitutes. As long as they didn't follow strange men to the wild, girls from decent families would be fine. But this case undoubtedly shattered everyone's luck. The granddaughter of Duke Cheng was not to be underestimated. If she was in trouble, where else in Chang'an would be safe?

Ming Huashang's face was heavy, and she asked, "Has the murderer been caught?"

"No way!" the maid said, "She was found dead in an abandoned dark alley by a few beggars. It's impossible that a few hungry beggars killed the young lady of the Duke's Mansion? Now people are saying that it was the serial killer from last time who came to the city to kill people!"

Zhaocai felt sympathetic, and quickly pulled Ming Huashang's clothes and said, "It's too scary, my lady, let's go back quickly and don't go out for the next few days."

"No." Ming Huashang said firmly, "Have someone prepare the car. I want to go to Tongjifang."

"What?" Zhaocai and the maid were shocked when they heard it, "Madam, don't do that! Someone just died in Tongjifang. It's unlucky!"

"I want to go because someone just died." Ming Huashang's eyes were calm, and they flashed with a calm and decisiveness that was completely different from the usual good-for-nothing Second Miss Ming who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun. "The first crime scene is the most important. Now that many initial clues are still there, it's the best time to catch the murderer."

Zhaocai was so frightened that his soul almost flew away: "My wife, catching the murderer is the government's job, you must not take risks! Maybe the murderer has not gone far, it is too dangerous to go there now."

"It would be best if he didn't go far." Ming Huashang clenched his fists, his pupils as black as black jade, "I will definitely find him."

·

Tongjifang.

The street was crowded with people who came to watch the excitement. The yamen runners kept driving them away and finally cleared a space. Ming Huazhang walked out of the dark and narrow alley. He took off his gloves and his face was as cold as frost. The attendant saw his cold face and said, "Shao Yin, this matter should be left to the coroner. How can you condescend to do it?"

Ming Huazhang said nothing. He handed the gloves to the attendant, held his hands, and looked around slowly.

Tongjifang is close to the city gate, with a huge flow of people every day. It has always been the most filthy and chaotic place. This alley has been abandoned for a long time, with dirty water and dirt accumulating on the ground. The houses next to it have collapsed in half, making the alley, which is already narrow, difficult to walk.

This kind of place should have nothing to do with the noble lady of the mansion all her life, but the body of Cheng Siyue, the third granddaughter of Duke Cheng, was found at the innermost end of this abandoned alley.

Early in the morning, a few beggars came here to search the ash pit and accidentally found the body. Rumors about serial killers were rampant in Chang'an these days, and the murder case soon alarmed Jingzhao Prefecture. When the incident happened, Ming Huazhang was leading people to investigate in Pingkangfang and was not in Jingzhao Prefecture. When he heard the news and rushed over, Jingzhao Yin had already ordered people to carry out Cheng Siyue's body and return it to Chengguogong Mansion.

Ming Huazhang actually did not agree to move the body before the coroner performed the autopsy and destroy the scene. Unfortunately, in the eyes of Jingzhao Yin, calming the anger of the Chengguo Mansion was more important than protecting the scene. Ming Huazhang walked around the surrounding terrain himself and asked, "Where is the coroner?"

The coroner stepped forward and saluted with his arms crossed: "I'm honored to be your Excellency Shao Yin. I'm here to serve you."

"Have you examined the body?"

The coroner was embarrassed and said, "Shao Yin, that girl is the granddaughter of Duke Cheng. She has been brought back to the Cheng family a long time ago. How dare we, as outsiders, tarnish the reputation of the daughter of the Duke's mansion?"

"Which is more important, reputation or bringing the murderer to justice?" Ming Huazhang said, "Where is Duke Cheng? Lead the way, I will go and talk to him in person."

When everyone heard this, they hurriedly advised, "Shao Yin, please think twice! Right now, Cheng Guogong is very angry, and Jing Zhaoyin has already said a lot of careful words to him. If you go over now, won't you be pouring fuel on the fire?"

Even children know the principle of reporting good news but not sorrow. Duke Cheng's granddaughter had just died, and he was furious with the Jingzhao Prefecture. Whoever stood out at this time would be scolded. Ming Huazhang was a newcomer in the officialdom. Why didn't he quickly get away from the gun?

Ming Huazhang ignored these words. He lifted his robe and strode out.

In the dead of late autumn, a man in black clothes with a cold face was walking like a meteor, and a group of people were chasing him. The bright red he wore made him look solemn and cold, like the only bright color in the dull black and white of autumn and winter. When Ming Huashang got off the car, she saw such a scene. She was very surprised and raised her hand and shouted, "Second brother!"

Ming Huazhang paused when he heard the familiar voice, turned around and saw the person coming, and the frost around him melted unconsciously. Ming Huazhang walked towards the carriage and asked with a frown, "Why are you here?"

"I heard there was another murder. I'm worried about you." Ming Huashang stood on the step, her sight a little higher than Ming Huazhang's. She quickly glanced at the crowded alley, jumped up and down from the step, and approached Ming Huazhang to ask: "How is it, any clues?"

Ming Huazhang subconsciously held her hand and sighed, "We are still investigating. There are too many people here. It is not safe for you to stay here. Go back first. I will tell you when we get home tonight."

"No." Ming Huashang insisted, "There are so many people here watching the excitement, and there are also Jingzhao Prefecture and Jinwu Guard patrols. I say there is no place in Chang'an that is safer than here. Are you going to look for someone? Go ahead, I'll take a look myself."

Ming Huazhang knew that this place was full of police officers, so he didn't need to worry about the murderer, but he was still worried about leaving Ming Huashang in such a crowded place. Ming Huazhang called out the two most experienced detectives and asked them to follow Ming Huashang closely, then said to her, "Be careful, stay in crowded places, and don't walk around."

Ming Huashang nodded repeatedly and hurried Ming Huazhang away: "Second brother, please leave quickly."

After Ming Huazhang left, the two constables who were left behind were reluctant to follow Ming Huachang. They were officials appointed by the court, not the personal guards of those young ladies. This young lady relied on her brother being the Shao Yin to go in and out of the scene of the case. Isn't this causing trouble?

Ming Huashang saw their displeasure, but fortunately in this era, money and smiles can solve most problems. Ming Huashang asked Zhaocai to buy hot food and drinks, and she followed the two detectives, smiling and saying, "Is this your first time following my second brother to investigate a case? How come you haven't seen him before?"

Ming Huashang took the initiative to ask questions. The detective knew that this was another daughter of a noble family and that they could not offend her, so he answered perfunctorily, "Yes, we were investigating another case before and did not follow Shao Yin out of the city. This is our first time here today."

Ming Huashang said "oh", Yinling asked them what the last case was like and how they finally found out. Ming Huashang was sweet-mouthed and pretty, and her almond eyes looked at them expectantly. No one could keep a straight face under such a gaze, and they talked a lot unconsciously, revealing many details of this case.

Ming Huashang listened quietly to them talking about how they received the report, how they rushed to the scene, and how they carried out Cheng Siyue's body. She responded with a word or two from time to time, encouraging them to continue.

Slowly, everyone walked to the entrance of the alley. Zhaocai came back at this time. Ming Huashang smiled and handed the hot food to the two constables: "You two have worked hard. I wonder if you have had breakfast. These are some gifts. It is not a respect, but please accept them."

The detectives immediately wanted to refuse. Ming Huachang smiled and stuffed the oil paper bags into their hands: "You two detectives don't have to be polite to me. My brother will help you in the future. You stand here and eat slowly, I Come inside and take a look.”

Zhaocai's face wrinkled when he heard this. One of the detectives also said, "Miss Ming, you can't go there. It's dirty and smelly inside. It's not a place for a lady of your status to come."

"Nothing, I just want to share some of the pressure with my second brother. He has been leaving early and coming back late these days, not even taking time to sleep. I want to see what he has been busy with these days."

Ming Huachang had said this, and the two detectives had no choice but to say, "If you don't mind the dirt, then come in. The body has been taken away anyway, so there's nothing to be afraid of."

Ming Huashang agreed crisply. The detectives had seen many murders, so they were not surprised by this kind of scene. They ate buns while walking inside, and did not forget to introduce: "The dead body was found here. A group of beggars came here to look for something, and saw something shiny inside. They thought it was something valuable, but when they came over, they saw a dead face."

Ming Huashang looked down at the ground, and could vaguely see bloodstains on the gravel. Ming Huashang looked around and said, "Although this alley is remote, it is not unpopular. He didn't even try to hide the body, but just threw it into the alley. It's obvious that he had no intention of covering it up at all."

The constable didn't understand at first: "What do you mean?"

Ming Huashang pointed to the half-collapsed rotten wooden frame next to him and said, "If he didn't want people to find the body, he could have stuffed it under the wooden frame or covered it with stones. It's freezing cold today, and it will take a long time for the body to smell. By the time the government finds it, they won't know how long it has been. Wouldn't that make it easier for him to hide? But he didn't. He seemed to have thrown the body in the dark alley, but every move he made was shouting, come and catch me."

The two constables hissed. After hearing what the little girl said, it seemed to be true. How could the murderer dare to provoke the government?

Ming Huashang asked: "Is there anyone who suspects this now?"

"No." The constable sighed, "This area is a hodgepodge of people, full of filth and dirt, with many people coming and going and few stable residents. Except for those beggars, no one noticed the body."

"Did the beggars ask?"

"We asked them. They were together all the time and can testify against each other. There is no suspicion."

That's a problem, another case without any witnesses. Ming Huashang thought for a moment and asked, "On my way here, I heard from the people that the serial killer from a while ago is committing crimes again. What do you think, detectives?"

One of the detectives stuffed the bun into his mouth in a few seconds and shook his head, saying, "That's just a rumor from the people. In the previous cases, they only dug out the leg bones, but this body is fine, with no missing arms or legs."

Ming Huashang frowned. The condition of the body had changed again. Did the murderer change his killing style, or were there three different people who committed the crime?

Ming Huashang couldn't figure it out, so she had to look at the body. She carefully looked at the place where the body was dumped, noticed the blood on the ground, and asked, "How did Cheng Siyue die?"

"I don't know." The constable shook his head helplessly, "The body was taken away by the Duke Cheng's mansion, and the coroner didn't dare to perform an autopsy. But from the arm she exposed, there were many purple and blue scars."

Ming Huashang had learned some autopsy knowledge in Xuanxiaowei, and knew that the purple scars were injuries sustained before death, indicating that Cheng Siyue had been injured while alive. This way of death was somewhat similar to Huang Caiwei's. Huang Caiwei's coroner was also afraid to perform an autopsy, and no one knew what the fatal injury was, but there were bruises on her arms.

Four years ago, the case of Huang Caiwei was settled hastily because the Jingzhao government at that time allowed the Huang family to take away the body. As a result, it seemed that a lot of files were checked, but in fact, even the cause of Huang Caiwei's death was unknown. Even after Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang took over, they were still unable to find the murderer. Now that someone has died again, Ming Huashang is very sad for the deceased, but she cannot let the same mistake happen again.

Ming Huashang asked: "Where are the people from Duke Cheng's Mansion? Can we convince them to let the coroner perform an autopsy on Cheng Siyue?"

The constable shrugged and pointed outside: "That's not it, Shao Yin Ming is talking about it."

After hearing what Ming Huazhang said, Duke Cheng was so angry that he sneered. He stared at Ming Huazhang with a hawk-like gaze and said, "My granddaughter was killed under your rule, and you couldn't give an explanation, so forget it. Now, you want to insult her posthumous innocence?"

Ming Huazhang did not flinch from Duke Cheng's murderous gaze and said, "Duke Cheng, I understand your grief for having your granddaughter killed. But if you want to do something for Miss Cheng, you should let the coroner perform an autopsy on her body and find her murderer as soon as possible. Hiding the truth like you are nothing but accomplices of the murderer."

Duke Cheng was furious: "What did you say?"

"Ming Shaoyin, don't be rude." Jingzhao Yin saw that the situation was not right, and hurriedly scolded Ming Huazhang, and smiled at Cheng Guogong, "Guogong, please don't argue with a junior. He has just entered the officialdom, he doesn't know anything, and his mouth is full of nonsense. You are a magnanimous person, don't argue with him."

As he spoke, Jingzhao Yin turned to Ming Huazhang and said in a sharp voice, "Why don't you apologize to Duke Cheng?"

Ming Huazhang crossed his arms, but his expression remained calm, and he said calmly, "I have no intention of offending you, but the law is clear and does not allow for partiality. I also ask Duke Cheng to cooperate with Jingzhao Prefecture in handling the case and return the body."

Jingzhao Yin was shocked when he heard this. Duke Chengguo was so angry that he said two good words in a row, saying, "I didn't know that this is how Duke Zhenguo raised his children and grandchildren. You are just a small fourth-rank official. Do you really think that you can show off in front of me just because you passed the imperial examination and were given some face?"

Jingzhao Yin was sweating profusely and tried to smooth things over: "Duke Cheng, calm down... Ming Huazhang, how did I teach you? Why don't you apologize?"

They were in a mess when suddenly a clear female voice came from the side, like the first ray of sunshine after a long period of darkness, piercing through the chaos and bringing spring back to the earth: "My daughter pays respects to Duke Cheng and Jingzhao Yin. My daughter and Sanniang have met a few times and have long admired her, but I never thought she would suffer such a cruel hand. I understand Duke Cheng's taboos. If Duke Cheng and Jingzhao Yin trust me, I am willing to go to the Duke's Mansion on behalf of Jingzhao Mansion to perform an autopsy on Sanniang Cheng and comfort her soul."