Taking the Princess as My Wife - Chapter 22

Blood red eyes seemed to hold both reproach and rage.

The lady quickly led Liu Ruheng to the door of a side room. This side room was not large but was quite tidy; it had clearly been maintained with care.

“Madam, has anyone resided in this room since Lord Jiang went missing?”

As Madam Jiang nodded, Liu Ruheng’s heart sank. If someone had lived there, the evidence would be diminished.

“This room was occupied only on the first day of my husband’s disappearance. On the second day, feeling that something was amiss, I arranged for the occupant to move to another room.”

Liu Ruheng nodded slightly. She entered the side room alone, keeping the rest of the group outside the door. However, with the door wide open, her every movement remained in full view.

After searching the suspicious areas, she still came up empty-handed.

By chance, Liu Ruheng turned her head and caught sight of a small incense burner tucked beneath the bed, containing a pile of burnt-out incense ash.

Though half a month had passed, a faint lingering scent remained in the burner. Liu Ruheng felt the smell of this incense was somewhat familiar.

However, since half a month had indeed elapsed, Liu Ruheng’s nose was not that sharp. She could only ask, “Madam, what kind of incense do you burn in your manor?”

“It is merely ordinary sandalwood; both my husband and I are fond of the scent.” Her voice was soft, tinged with sorrow. “This incense calms the nerves. My husband would light it regardless of which room he stayed in.”

Feeling she had touched upon the woman’s grief, Liu Ruheng remained silent for a moment before asking, “Madam, could you give me some of the incense?”

The lady nodded slightly and instructed the servants behind her to fetch some.

When the servant returned, the weight in their hands was not light; clearly, it was more than just sandalwood.

Before Liu Ruheng could decline, Madam Jiang preempted her, saying, “Sandalwood is not particularly precious, and the other fragrances are just for variety. You have worked tirelessly on this visit, My Lord; please accept the incense.”

Finding it difficult to refuse, Liu Ruheng could only attempt a few more questions while observing Madam Jiang’s expression. “Regarding the theft from the storehouse half a year ago—do you know if any other households were burglarized at the same time?”

Madam Jiang shook her head. “I have been ill at home for a long time and rarely socialize, so I would not know.”

Upon leaving the Jiang Manor, the sky remained overcast, without a single ray of sunlight.

Liu Ruheng spurred her horse toward the county magistrate’s office.

Seeing Liu Ruheng’s official seal, the bailiffs at the magistrate’s office respectfully welcomed her inside.

After comparing the theft cases from nearly six months ago with the recent disappearances, Liu Ruheng’s heart grew heavy.

Between the two sets of cases, there was one point of overlap.

After transcribing the information regarding this individual, Liu Ruheng returned to the Court of State Ceremonies (Dali Si).

After finding Xiao Qing, Liu Ruheng also requested two bailiffs. This case was peculiar; if it truly related to the theft from half a year ago, the only way forward was to stake out the main entrance. Though it was a clumsy method, as the saying goes, even a blind cat might run into a dead rat—it might produce unexpected results.

Once the two bailiffs were positioned, Liu Ruheng led Xiao Qing toward the morgue.

Dressed appropriately, the two entered the room. A different guard was now watching over the chilling morgue, which Liu Ruheng found a bit regrettable.

That Lord Jiang was, after all, a court official with a concerned family and some degree of influence; therefore, after the initial autopsy, his remains had been taken back by his family for burial.

What lay here now was the victim from the second murder case.

He had been a wealthy merchant of great means. It was said his daughter had married into the Crown Prince’s manor as a concubine.

At the time of his murder, his limbs had been severed, and his body was dumped at the main entrance, causing a great commotion.

Because the manner of death was similar to the first official, his body had remained here. Yet, what Liu Ruheng found strange was that even after a long time, not a single person had come to claim his body for burial.

Liu Ruheng stood beside Xiao Qing to assist her. Regarding autopsies, she was still a novice; though she had learned a bit from Cheng Xuehai last time, she was ultimately no match for a professional coroner.

It was better not to get in Xiao Qing’s way.

Although the body had been kept on ice, it was midsummer after all. Even with a face mask, Liu Ruheng could still smell a hint of rot.

Xiao Qing’s movements were professional. She examined the cross-sections of the severed limbs, both above and below; the findings did not differ much from previous results.

Liu Ruheng stared at the face of the corpse, sensing something strange.

The corpse’s expression was peaceful, with the corners of the mouth faintly turned upward. When the eyelids were lifted, there was nothing unusual. However, the case files had not recorded the corpse’s expression. She was curious whether the expressions of the other two had been the same.

Many questions flashed through Liu Ruheng’s mind, but since Xiao Qing was focused on the autopsy and could not speak, she suppressed them.

Much later, after burning incense and heading to another room to use vinegar fumes to remove the odor, Liu Ruheng finally asked, “Was there any abnormality with that person just now? I noticed he was pale but seemed to be smiling. Do you know the cause of death?”

Seeing Liu Ruheng ask so many questions at once, Xiao Qing lowered her head and began writing furiously.

After a short while, Xiao Qing handed her a sheet of paper filled to the margins. Because of the haste, Xiao Qing’s handwriting was somewhat messy.

The cause of death was consistent with the files—the limbs were severed post-mortem, which was not unusual—but the faint smile was suspicious. It was highly unlikely the person died while conscious.

After recording all the suspicious points from today’s investigation into a palm-sized notebook with a charcoal pencil, Liu Ruheng rubbed her temples. There were many doubts today, but little time left for her.

Night had fallen. The usually bustling Dali Si was lit by only a few scattered lanterns. It was now summer, but the nights were always cooler; the evening breeze brushed her face, and the shadows of the trees swayed. Liu Ruheng walked toward the stables alone.

She did not plan to return home tonight.

She was truly worried about the missing person. Although she had sent two disguised bailiffs to keep watch at that location, she still felt it wasn’t secure enough.

Arriving at the East City, Liu Ruheng hitched her horse to a willow tree a short distance away.

The night was long. She found a secluded alley that offered a view of the main entrance and sat leaning against the wall. She pulled out her notebook, occasionally sketching or writing to record her thoughts.

The night passed. It wasn’t until the sky began to turn a pale “fish-belly” white that she realized the killer had not appeared. Liu Ruheng was not discouraged; the fact that nothing had happened was also a good thing.

The sound of the night watchman’s clapper rang out; it was now the hour of Yin (3 AM – 5 AM).

Liu Ruheng stood up to stretch her muscles. As she walked to the willow tree to untie the horse’s rope, she suddenly heard a blood-curdling scream.

That voice belonged to the night watchman.

Her expression tightened. She flipped onto her horse and galloped toward the sound.

It was only one street away.

When Liu Ruheng arrived, the watchman was slumped on the ground. Before him lay a corpse.

The face was deathly pale. A white silk shroud hung high from the crossbeam of the main entrance, and beside the corpse, a bloody tongue was tied with a thin thread.

Liu Ruheng’s face darkened. She dismounted and headed straight toward the corpse. The body swayed slightly without any wind. She reached out to check—the corpse still retained some warmth.

Drip…

Liu Ruheng froze in her tracks. Fresh blood flowed from the corpse’s mouth, dripping beside her feet.

The stabbing red seemed like a provocation from the killer.

The two bailiffs only then arrived. Seeing Liu Ruheng standing by the corpse with an unreadable expression, the two hurried forward to beg for forgiveness.

Punishing them would be useless now. Frowning, Liu Ruheng directed one to watch the corpse and the other to search for clues nearby.

She then stepped forward to help the terrified watchman up. “Old uncle, did you see anyone suspicious just now?”

The watchman swallowed hard. He instinctively grabbed Liu Ruheng’s sleeve, the terror in his eyes genuine. “A ghost… it’s a ghost.”

Liu Ruheng tried her best to calm him, but he seemed frightened out of his wits, merely repeating those few words. His voice showed signs of becoming louder.

Though it was still early, the commotion was becoming too great. Liu Ruheng ordered a bailiff to watch the watchman while she knocked on the manor doors.

Urgency overrode protocol. It was early, and Dali Si was short-handed, plus the distance was significant. For now, she had to use the servants of the deceased’s household to contain the news as much as possible to avoid a larger panic.

It was not until the corpse was transported back to Dali Si that Liu Ruheng felt her limbs go weak. The scene just now had been truly gruesome; if she hadn’t been the only one in charge, she might have screamed in the street herself.

Even back at Dali Si, Liu Ruheng did not relax. This man was the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a fourth-rank official. His violent death at his own doorstep would surely cause a massive stir.

Rubbing her temples, Liu Ruheng walked toward Vice Minister Lu’s office. He always arrived early; with a fourth-rank official dead, there was no way Vice Minister Lu hadn’t heard the news.

She knocked on the door. Lu’s voice betrayed no emotion.

“Enter.”

After entering, Liu Ruheng performed a salute. Skipping the pleasantries, she recounted everything she had seen and heard this morning to him.

Upon hearing that the corpse was still warm when discovered, Lu’s expression sharpened. “Is this true?”

Liu Ruheng: “It is true.”

The corpse was now in the morgue for the coroner’s examination. Liu Ruheng had been cautious and had already sent Xiao Qing to watch from the side to ensure every detail of the autopsy was noted.

Seeing this, Lu looked up. Noticing that Liu Ruheng was still wearing yesterday’s clothes and that her eyes were bloodshot, he showed a rare moment of mercy: “You have labored through the night. Go back and rest first.”

Liu Ruheng did not force herself to stay. She nodded slightly, took her leave from Lu, and left Dali Si. After all, her own health was important.

The morning had arrived, and the sunlight was a bit piercing today.

Returning home, Liu Ruheng forced herself to bathe. Only after changing her clothes did she lie down on the bed.

A drop of blood from the corpse had accidentally landed on her shoulder and stayed there for a while; she didn’t know if it could be washed clean. But even if it could, she didn’t want those clothes anymore…

Being utterly exhausted, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. However, her sleep was not peaceful; even in her dreams, her brow was furrowed.

The scene from this morning reappeared in her mind.

Inside the pitch-black gates, no one was there—only several pale corpses with wide-open eyes, their gazes turning toward her in unison.

Blood-red eyes seemed to hold both reproach and rage.

Clearly, they were only a street apart; why had she not noticed? Why was it not she who died?

Her thoughts were a chaotic mess.

Liu Ruheng turned her head, trying to dodge… but no matter which way she turned, those pairs of sinister eyes stared at her relentlessly. Crimson blood dripped onto her cheeks, and a sense of suffocation washed over her.

With a jolt, Liu Ruheng sat up in bed, clutching her head. She looked haggard. She took a sip of the cold tea sitting nearby, and her muddled brain finally pulled away from the bizarre nightmare.

She lowered her eyes and gave a rare, bitter smile.

She had thought her courage had suddenly grown, but she was still this cowardly. People she hadn’t dreamed of in years had entered her dreams alongside this Vice Censor-in-Chief—how strange.

Liu Ruheng took a deep breath and set the tea aside. However, she did not believe in ghosts or gods; she believed only in herself.

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