Chapter 88 - 55: Please Let Me Perform the Autopsy

Chapter 88: Chapter 55: Please Let Me Perform the AutopsyHow disappointed Lady Xing must be for not finding Xiao Langjun! Ran Yan’s lips curled up slightly, taking some of the items Ran Shilang had bought the day before, she called on Shao Ming and went to the city center together. The first thing Ran Yan did upon entering the city was to visit Inspector Liu. In the side hall, Inspector Liu was initially sipping tea with a composed demeanor, but as he listened to Ran Yan narrate Wan Lu’s testimony, along with her own conjectures, his expression became increasingly unsettled, and at last, he somewhat lost his composure and threw the teacup onto the table, "The murderer is really too cunning!" "What’s wrong?" Ran Yan raised her eyebrow slightly, feeling an ominous premonition, but before she could think further, she saw Liu Pinrang shaking his silver beard in anger and saying, "Last night someone reported, a dead body was discovered in Cai Xiu Hall." "It couldn’t be Cui Mei, could it!" Ran Yan was also quite surprised. It had only been last night when Wan Lu was able to speak, and the reaction of the murderer was just too fast! "The way she died was too gruesome to behold, her face slashed beyond recognition, and then she was hung up." Liu Pinrang frowned as he mentioned Cui Mei. Upon receiving the news, he had personally rushed to Cai Xiu Hall in the middle of the night, and upon entering, he was met with an extremely horrifying sight. Normally, such matters didn’t necessitate the presence of an Inspector on the scene, but he had always been cautious. Recently, there had been frequent murders in Suzhou City, and if the cases weren’t solved quickly, he feared that his position as Inspector of Suzhou would soon be at its end. Liu Pinrang, who came from a humble background to secure his position, was well aware that many were eyeing it greedily. Any slip-up would have those nobly born officials at court seize the chance, kick him out immediately, and place their confidants, especially since the wealth of the Jiangnan Road was more than enough to make them fight tooth and nail for it. "Please allow me to examine the corpse." Ran Yan had been wondering how to broach the topic to obtain permission, but this incident made her anxious. Who knew if the other murderer would kill Wan Lu again to silence her?! Liu Pinrang’s face showed hesitation. Ran Yan sat up straight, determined, "Inspector Liu, I believe you too wish to solve the case promptly, and I do not want to see Wan Lu in danger." Liu Pinrang looked at Ran Yan and slowly said, "Why are you insistent on examining the corpse?" In the Tang Dynasty, forensic doctors merely checked injuries and determined the causes of death; there wasn’t much more assistance they could provide, and naturally, this was what Liu Pinrang thought as well. "Not to mention that this murderer has shown flaws in his method of killing, even if the method were more meticulous, there would ultimately be one oversight, and that is the body!" As a forensic doctor, she had always believed in this, "The body will narrate what it has experienced completely and honestly, even more so than the living." Liu Pinrang took a sip of his tea and commented lightly, "That’s quite a novel assertion." His casual tone seemed as if he didn’t take Ran Yan’s statement seriously. Ran Yan stared unabashedly at Liu Pinrang, her gaze heavy and persistent, causing even this seasoned veteran who could face the collapse of Mount Tai without changing his expression to feel somewhat embarrassed. He cleared his throat twice, "Hmm, I am quite intrigued by your claim. Today, you shall employ your methods and let me see for myself, how you make the dead speak." Ran Yan breathed a sigh of relief, having finally obtained an opportunity, but merely being permitted to examine the corpse wasn’t enough. She took this moment to advance her cause, "This abrupt visit is truly due to the circumstances. I ask for Inspector Liu’s understanding." Having said that, she raised her voice towards the door, "Shao Ming." Shao Ming, who had been standing outside with gifts, immediately entered. "I am grateful for Inspector Liu’s care, and do not know how to express my thanks; I have only some modest gifts to offer your Lady, and I ask you, Inspector Liu, not to reject them." Ran Yan knew he wouldn’t refuse, but still had to offer the requisite courtesies, allowing him a graceful exit to rightfully keep the gifts. Inspector Liu’s usually serene face suddenly broke into a smile, stroking his beard in a rather genial manner, he said, "Lady Seventeen is thoughtful! I shall thank you on behalf of my wife." Shao Ming shrewdly followed Ran Yan’s cue and placed the gift box by Liu Pinrang’s small table before respectfully withdrawing. "May I inquire when it would be convenient to examine the corpses?" asked Ran Yan. Liu Pinrang retracted his gaze, which had been lingering on the gift box, and cleared his throat before saying, "I have official matters to attend to this morning. I plan to be present during the examination, so... perhaps around the time of Wei." Planning to attend? Clearly he had been prepared for it all along! Ran Yan slightly raised her eyebrows but didn’t dwell on it any further. The time Liu Pinrang mentioned suited her as well, so she rose and said, "By then, would I be able to deal with those two bodies as I see fit? After all, one was a prostitute and the other a slave..." "Two?" Liu Pinrang paused, then quickly realized she was referring to the maid from the Yin household. This wasn’t a big issue, one was as good as two for the examination, so he said, "Yes, you may." As soon as he finished speaking, he felt as though he had been tricked. Liu Pinrang had originally thought Ran Yan was only referring to the corpse of Cui Mei, and she had deliberately emphasized "two" to downplay the issue of "dealing with them as she saw fit," causing him to inadvertently agree without giving it thorough thought. Sёarᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before Liu Pinrang could say anything, Ran Yan stood up, "In that case, I shall take my leave." Liu Pinrang sighed with a helpless expression and said, "Have it your way! At the time of Wei, just head straight for the Morgue." After fixing the time, Ran Yan bid farewell. Liu Pinrang craned his neck, watching Ran Yan’s figure disappear through the second gate, and immediately, his face lit up with joy as he opened the gift box. He thought to himself, "The little girl still has a long way to go before she can contend with me!" For Liu Pinrang, the examination of the corpse was just a means to gather evidence. Feng Sanxun had already done an initial examination, so he was not in a hurry. What interested him was Ran Yan’s ability to analyze wounds. Liu Pinrang was fully aware of Ran Yan’s talent for examining corpses, and with the maid being injured as she was, Ran Yan would get involved in the case sooner or later. Thus, he remained patient, waiting for her to come to him, while also taking the opportunity to gain some advantage. Even if Ran Yan knew the real situation, it wouldn’t make a difference. No matter how capable she was in the end, all it would take was a summon from Liu Pinrang, and she would have to help obediently. Regardless of whether she helped or not, she would end up offending the old man known for being stingy and petty. It was better to just flatter him honestly. Being on good terms with the Inspector was far better than offending him. The situation had developed to a very good point at this stage. After opening the big gift box, there were eight red brocade boxes inside. Just by looking at the brocade boxes, one could tell they were valuable. One by one, Liu Pinrang opened them to find a jade bracelet, an exquisitely carved Hetian jade pendant, a golden hairpin... Ran Yan said they were for Liu Pinrang’s wife, but many items inside could also be used by men, such as jade pendants and fan pendants, especially the pigeon blood ring, which Liu Pinrang found irresistible. Liu Pinrang carefully took out the brocade box with the ring and suddenly realized that this specific brocade box was quite short, so why then was the outer gift box so deep? He put down the brocade box and gently tapped the side, hearing an "empty, empty" sound. Joy rose in his heart, and he quickly removed all the brocade boxes on top, revealing the brilliant shine from beneath as soon as the first layer was lifted. On the bright red brocade, there lay a Jade Ruyi, pure and white as snow, translucent and spirited. A large green Lantian Jade was inlaid on the head of the Jade Ruyi, with gems the size of fingernails embellished along the handle, exuding a dazzling radiance of iridescent colors and captivating brilliance! This Jade Ruyi was worth at least thirty to forty thousand silver, and the items on the first layer weren’t even a fraction of this treasure’s value. Unable to hide the joy on his face, Liu Pinrang looked and touched repeatedly, only with great reluctance placing the gift box back as it was, while his view of Ran Yan rose considerably, not just because he had gained a significant advantage. Although he was usually busy, he paid close attention to the affairs of the various families in Suzhou City, in order to understand the situation and control the overall situation. He had heard of Ran Yan’s difficult circumstances, yet she could send such valuable gifts without fanfare; indeed... she had courage! Liu Pinrang smacked his lips and felt that Ran Yan’s way of doing things really suited his taste, murmuring, "It’s a wonder how Ran Wen, with his timid demeanor, could have such a daughter; no wonder everyone is eager to marry daughters from the prestigious families." This remark clearly credited all the merit to the Zheng family. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)