There is a god in the sky

Chapter 239 The Mummified Corpse Case 32

Judge Xu found it impossible. It was an old case from over ten years ago, and the whereabouts of the mastermind were still unknown. How could they have gotten the information so quickly?

Moreover, the news that Xiao Ji had left the city was only known to the people in the Criminal Investigation Department.

"Brother Xu should have thought of this as well. This person can accurately track our movements, and those assassins don't seem to be from the martial arts world. They seem more like trained assassins!"

Magistrate Xu was taken aback. "An assassin?"

Looking across the entire city, how many families can afford to raise assassins?

Besides, what family would raise such a person for no reason? Death warriors are not ordinary guards; they require planning for more than ten years.

Could it be that Xiao Ji stumbled upon a major case by sheer luck?

Xiao Ji pointed to the corpses on the other side, "There are three assassin corpses over there. I have examined them carefully. They all had poison hidden in their teeth. Although they didn't have time to use it, only assassins would use this method."

"That's true, but how could a family like that be involved in a mummified corpse case?"

"I don't know either. All we can do now is follow the clues and hope that the truth will come out one day."

A group of people suddenly rushed in through the door.

Xiao Ji met the head of the Criminal Investigation Department, the old and incompetent Chief Inspector Chu Mo.

Besides him, there were several others, including Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Justice, Prefect Chen of the Capital, and Commander Zhao Jinxiao of the Imperial City Guard.

Lord Chu, his eyesight failing, looked at the hall filled with corpses covered in white sheets, tears streaming down his face. "This is truly outrageous!"

Lord Chen and Commander Zhao also looked very grim.

The case occurred in the outskirts of Beijing, and the assassination victim was a court official. Now the Emperor is aware of it, and every single one of them is involved.

"Lord Xiao, please tell me about what happened yesterday."

Xiao Ji stood up, took Sui Ying's hand, and recounted the events of yesterday from beginning to end, starting with their entry into the mountains to dig up graves.

The officials looked extremely solemn.

But when they heard that they had actually found some clues from the eight skeletons, they were all moved.

"The younger generation is truly formidable, but it's a pity they were too reckless. How could they act so carelessly about something so momentous? So many precious lives have been lost, alas..."

Whether it was praise or criticism, it was clear from Lord Chu's words that he did not approve of Xiao Ji's actions.

Indeed, this old man served as an official his entire life in a very proper and orderly manner, never acting rashly.

Now he holds a position without doing anything, yet no one mentions it, precisely because he never offends anyone.

Lord Chen sincerely praised, "To be able to dig up a case from more than ten years ago and continue the investigation, Lord Xiao is indeed a formidable young man. Moreover, the assassination attempt was an unexpected event, and no one wanted it to happen."

Commander Zhao said with a dark face, "No matter what, the deed is done. Now we need to figure out how to resolve it. The Emperor is not giving us much time."

Xiao Ji asked curiously, "Why would the Emperor inquire about this matter?"

Lord Chen told him, "This morning at court, the Marquis of Pingyang impeached the Imperial City Guard and the Golden Guard. Lord Xiao was attacked in the suburbs. Such a big thing cannot be kept secret."

"Your Majesty is wise." Xiao Ji bowed towards the direction of the imperial city.

Minister Zhao coughed and, seeing everyone looking over, said, "I suggest we start by investigating the guards at the city gates."

The assassins came and went freely; the city gatekeeper is largely to blame.

Commander Zhao disagreed.

Although the Imperial City Guard and the Golden Guard guarded different gates, they were both military officers, and these civil officials would always try to shift the blame onto them whenever something happened.

How abominable.

"Where does Commander Zhao think we should begin our investigation?"

"Seale the city! Search every house for the remaining assassins, capture them alive, and interrogate them to find out who's behind them!"

"Won't this...disrupt public morale?"

"This is the most effective way."

Xiao Ji reminded them, "Those assassins may not necessarily return to the city, or even leave from the city."

Under the emperor's nose, with his eyes everywhere, it's very difficult to secretly cultivate assassins.

But it would be much simpler to hide people in the suburbs.

"Investigate first!" Commander Zhao waved his hand and led his men off to carry out the task.

The other adults also left one after another.

Minister Zhao patted Xiao Ji on the shoulder and scolded him helplessly, "You really shouldn't have taken on this case. There are many more dangers to come."

"Investigating cases inevitably offends people. I have always taken my uncle as my role model and am determined to get to the bottom of this case!"

Minister Zhao had nothing to say and left with his men.

Several officials dressed in civilian clothes rushed in, each carrying a picture book.

Their faces were rather grim as they handed the picture album to Xiao Ji.

"Sir, we saw this on the street."

Others may not know who the beauty in the painting is, but they have witnessed these scenes firsthand.

Even if the beauty had a different face, they would automatically associate her with the face of the coroner, Shen.

Xiao Ji was furious as soon as he opened the book and saw the first picture.

"Where did it come from?" He flipped through the pages one by one.

"It's being sold at the largest Qiwen Bookstore in the city, and there are a lot of people buying it."

These things happened just yesterday; even if things were done quickly, it's impossible for them to be printed and sold today.

Xiao Ji touched it, and his fingers were stained with ink; the smell of fresh ink was also very strong.

"It must have been printed overnight. Qiwen Bookstore has two large printing houses, which can print hundreds or thousands of copies in one night."

"This catalog is selling very well, and it's impossible to take it back now. Should we intervene?"

This is completely beyond our control.

They were just doing normal business and hadn't done anything wrong, so the government couldn't do anything about it.

But what are the true intentions of the person behind this?

Is it aimed at Shen Lan or at him?

Xiao Ji lowered his head and pondered. If he hadn't witnessed Shen Lan's autopsy procedure firsthand, it would have been impossible to draw the scene so realistically.

Of those present yesterday, some officials were killed, some were injured, and those who were not injured were all sent out today to investigate both openly and covertly.

They wouldn't have time to paint, and even if they did, they might not be able to.

That's... Zhao Xuan?

Zhao Xuan had given him paintings many times. She was a student of the court painter Mr. Liu, and her painting skills were indeed quite good.

But why would she do that?

Could it be that he's holding a grudge against the maid who died last time?

"grown ups?"

Xiao Ji snapped out of his daze and said to them, "We can't control this matter, but you must keep your mouths shut and never tell anyone that Shen the coroner performed the autopsy."

As long as outsiders don't connect the woman in the picture book with Shen Lan, there's nothing to be afraid of in this picture book.

Everyone readily agreed.

They only felt a sense of dread after seeing the scene in the painting. In reality, the process of Shen performing autopsies was not frightening.

"Also, the Imperial City Guard and the Golden Guard will be searching the city soon. You should go with them and see if there are any suspicious people."

"Yes."

Looking at their colleagues lying on the ground, they were all full of energy and had a lot of pent-up anger.

Xiao Ji instructed them: "We are not the main force in this city search; just cooperate. Also, notify the relatives of these people and have them come to the yamen to pick them up. The Xiao family will handle their funeral arrangements."

The officials' eyes reddened, and they responded in hushed tones.