Bone Painting Coroner (Web Novel CN)

Translator: Iris, Editor: Aruthea

But Tang Si was determined to take on this task. She said with her chest puffed out and her chin lifted high, "You're all so naggy. Just relax and leave this to me. I guarantee I'll find whatever it is that you're looking for. Besides, I've always seen you as my friends and it's only right that I help."

"Miss Tang…"

"Ah Ji, just trust me this one time." She wrapped her hand around Ji Yunshu's wrist and pouted, "I want to do this, no matter what you say. Even if you send someone else, I'll follow them. When that happens, it might get worse."

Oh wow, she has learnt to threaten her!

Mo Ruo dragged her to his side and warned, "If you keep this up, I'll have someone tie you up and throw you back to Houliao!"

"I dare you!"

"Try me."

"You…"

However, Ji Yunshu pondered on Tang Si's words and said, "Let her go."

Hm? Jing Rong's eyes widened in shock, "What did you just say?"

"I said, let Miss Tang go."

"No!"

"I know you're worried, and I'm the same. But perhaps she just might be able to help us." She turned to Tang Si, "Just this once, I'll believe in you. But this is really important, you can't act impulsively. After all, this is a matter of life and death."

Tang Si nodded solemnly, "I know, Ah Ji. Just count on me."

"Also, all you need to do is find out if the Buddha statue has anything to do with the Zhang VIllage. If you can't learn anything, then just come back, don't startle them."

"Yep." A wide grin stretched her cheeks as she beamed with pride. She finally has the chance to show her friends what she can do.

Jing Rong was still worried, but Ji Yunshu had given her approval and there was nothing else he could do. Mo Ruo, on the other hand, was about to pull his hair out. He tried to dissuade Ji Yunshu and change her mind, but to no avail.

Afterwards, Ji Yunshu relayed the details of the case to Tang Si once more, and again emphasized that she had to be careful, as the girl listened intently.

On the way back to Yuhua Pavillion, Mu Ruo scolded Tang Si again, but she was in such high spirits that she walked with a skip in her steps, and vowed to dig out the grand secret hidden in the Zhang Village.

In the Yi Estate.

Just like Vice-Chancellor Yu, Judge Yu rushed to the Yi Estate the instant the list arrived from the Ministry of Revenue. Both of them worked earnestly for their own masters.

Wen Shisan also found the commonality between the eight victims, the fact that they were all born in the year, month, day, and hour of Yin.

Jing Yi asked, "What does this have to do with the case?"

"I don't know." Wen Shisan pondered for a moment. "Maybe the murderer was targeting people born in the year, month, day, and hour of Yin. But the reason remains unclear."

Regardless of their training, different minds just would not think alike. At least Ji Yunshu thought of the connection between the Budhha statueand the Zhang Village. But Wen Shisan was still Wen Shisan, he would never be the next Teacher Ji, renowned throughout the capital. Just before Judge Yu left the estate, Wen Shisan also instructed him to interview the victim's family members.

Dou Quan arrived soon after. He reported, "Your Highness, we have a lead."

"Say it."

"The four-inch long dagger that Wen-gongzi told us to investigate was found to have come from a pawn shop. The shopkeeper said the dagger was acquired from outside the capital before it was purchased by someone."

Jing Yi asked, "Who bought it?"

"A maid that works in the Huang family. They live in the capital."

Huang family? How are they related to this case?

Wen Shisan asked Dou Quan, "Then have you gone to question them?"

"Not yet, I came back as soon as we learned of this news."

Jing YI then asked, "Does Prince Rong know about this?"

"According to what I know, Prince Rong's men only visited the blacksmiths and weapon smiths, so he should not know this. I have also paid the shopkeeper to keep his mouth shut, he would not breathe a single word to another soul."

Well done! Jing Yi's men were very thorough with their work.

And so, Wen Shisan suggested, "There's no time to lose. Why don't we visit the Huang Family now."

Jin Yi nodded in agreement, and they left at once.

Soon, Jing Yi and Wen Shisan arrived at the Huang family estate with their guards.

The family head, Old Master Huang, was petrified.

He knew that Prince Yi was investigating the Case of the Dried Well. Was he here because he thought they were connected to the murder?

Old Master Huang immediately clarified as soon as they stepped across the threshold, "Your Highness, everyone in this household are good people, there's no way they would kill anyone."

Jing Yi sat down in the central seat and glanced at the old man, "You need not be so nervous, Old Master Huang. I'm just here to meet someone."

"May I ask, who is this person that Your Highness is looking for?"

"A maid called Caifeng."

"Caifeng?"

Old Master Huang did not understand why the prince was looking for her, but he still sent someone to summon Caifeng immediately. Caifeng was just a young maid, she was very diligent with her work and never caused any trouble. Everyone in the Huang family liked her.

Nobody expected that she would be summoned by the prince. The moment she arrived at the Huang family main hall, she dropped to her knees and greeted the prince.

"This servant greets Your Highness."

Her body was almost pressed to the ground, she dared not raise her head.

Jing Yi asked, "Are you Caifeng?"

"Yes, my name… is Caifeng."

"Good. Let me ask you, have you ever bought a dagger from a pawn shop that's only four-inches long?"

"Yes."

"Then is the dagger still with you?"

"Um…" Her voice trembled.

"Just answer 'Yes' or 'No', why do you hesitate?"

Caifeng replied hastily, "The dagger is no longer with me, Your Highness."

"Where is it then?"

"It's…"

"Raise your head," Jing Yi ordered.

Caifeng trembled at his command and slowly raised her head, but she avoided the prince's eyes. Jing Yi stood up from his seat and walked towards the maid step by step, until he loomed over her. "Listen closely, if you dare lie to me, you will be counted as a criminal and I will throw you into prison."

"I'm not lying, I really lost that dagger."

"Then why are you so nervous?"

"Because… that dagger belongs to the Young Miss. She had already lost it once, outside of the capital. Later, she saw it in the pawnshop and she told me to buy it back. But… I had just retrieved the dagger and kept it in my sleeve. When I came back, it was already gone."

"Gone?"

"Yes, I was even punished by the Young Miss because of this. Everyone in the estate knows."

"Was the dagger really lost or was it stolen?"

Caifeng paused to think, "At that time, on the way home, I bumped into a vegetable vendor, and knocked over his basket. I even helped him pick up the scattered vegetables. That was the only thing that happened on my way back."

Wen Shisan followed up, "Do you know who that vegetable vendor is?"

"No. All I know is… " She recollected," He was dressed in plain clothes and carried a basket full of vegetables. He looked like a middle-aged man. Oh, and he had a lot of scars on his face, about six to seven scars. That's all I can remember."

She was terrified, and she did not sound like she was lying.

Jing Yi and Wen Shisan looked at each other, "Is she referring to Old Man Zhang's son, Zhang Daqi?"