22: Someone reported the case, two people died

Tianqi City was blanketed in heavy snow, and the cold wind howled like a roaring beast. Frost covered everything, thick ice coated the ground, and sharp icicles hung from the eaves.

Many plum trees, which had bloomed vibrantly yesterday, were forced to bow their heads and go dormant today in the face of the biting wind and snow. However, a few defiant plums, determined to resist the cold wind, ultimately met a tragic end, their fragrance and beauty perishing.

Playful children woke up early, dressed in thick cotton padded jackets, and used bamboo poles to knock down icicles from the eaves. The mournful decay of winter flowers was quickly replaced by the joyful laughter of children.

Tianquan Division.

Lin Qinghuang, in a beautiful long green dress, brewed a pot of fragrant tea and savored it alone.

Xie Weilou, on the other hand, lay on a chair, his body covered by a long robe, his eyes narrowed as he dozed, looking weak as if he hadn't rested well the previous night.

“......”

Zhang Long stared at Xie Weilou, a hint of envy in his eyes.

They were both on duty, but Xie Weilou could sleep whenever he wanted, treating the place like his own home, doing as he pleased.

They, however, could only toil. It was clear that having a background made a difference.

“Has someone reported a case today?”

Lin Qinghuang looked at Zhang Long.

Zhang Long quickly handed a scroll to Lin Qinghuang: “Last night, Ministry of Works Vice Minister Zhang Zai drowned, and at the same time, Xu Pan, the Ministry of Works Secretary, also died. Today, Zhang Zai’s daughter, Zhang Yun, came to report the cases. Both cases are under the jurisdiction of Second Hall.”

“Two people from the Ministry of Works died?”

Lin Qinghuang raised an eyebrow, took the scroll, and glanced at it.

The person who reported the cases was the same, Zhang Yun. Coincidentally, Zhang Yun’s husband was Xu Pan.

So, a father-in-law and son-in-law died together?

A Ministry of Works Vice Minister was only a sixth-rank official, and the Secretary was just a minor clerk in the Ministry of Works. For both of them to die together, it seemed this matter was not simple.

Zhang Long said: “Zhao Hu has already taken people to seal off both locations.”

Lin Qinghuang nodded slightly: “Since the cases have reached Second Hall, let’s go and take a look.”

With that, she put down her teacup.

Xie Weilou opened his eyes and said sleepily: “Qinghuang, I’ll go with you.”

Qinghuang said indifferently: “I wouldn’t dare trouble the young master.”

Xie Weilou stood up, stretched, and said: “After all, I’m here to gain experience. I still have to go through the motions, otherwise people will gossip.”

“You’re still afraid of gossip?”

Lin Qinghuang stared at Xie Weilou mockingly. Your skin is so thick, and your reputation in Tianqi City is already ruined, what more is there to fear?

Xie Weilou said seriously: “I’m afraid people will gossip about you. You are my superior. If I spend all day slacking off, your reputation won’t sound good either.”

“Hehe! So, I should thank you then?”

Lin Qinghuang gave a cold laugh.

Xie Weilou said with gentle eyes: “After all, you will enter my Zhenxi Marquis Manor in the future. If you have a good reputation now, people won’t gossip.”

“You...”

Lin Qinghuang’s face darkened.

Zhang Long lowered his head, indicating he heard nothing.

At this moment, he was utterly impressed with Xie Weilou. In Tianqi City, how many people dared to provoke Commander Lin like this? Only Xie Weilou.

If it were anyone else, they would probably have been cut down by a sword long ago.

Lin Qinghuang took a deep breath, grabbed the Tianya Sword beside her, suppressed the fire in her heart, and said coldly: “Let’s go!”

For the sake of Tianya Sword, she would not bother with this fellow for now.

— — — —

Zhang Zai’s residence.

Zhao Hu and a group of Captians had cordoned off a pond. Beside the pond lay the body of a middle-aged man.

“Greetings, Commander Lin.”

Seeing Lin Qinghuang arrive, Zhao Hu and the others quickly saluted.

“Mm.”

Lin Qinghuang nodded slightly. She looked around.

The pond was not large, but the water was somewhat deep. Someone who couldn't swim could possibly drown if they fell in.

As for any additional traces, they had already been covered by last night’s heavy snow, making it difficult to find any special marks on the ground.

She walked around the pond, inspecting it, then stared at the body before her.

The corpse’s face was contorted, with a strange smile, and there were signs of impact on the forehead. Its clothes were disheveled, making it look extremely frightening.

Xie Weilou looked at the body, deep in thought. The deceased’s condition somewhat resembled drowning, but there were also signs of freezing to death.

Lin Qinghuang bent down, inspected carefully, and mused: “There’s drowning fluid and debris in the mouth and nose, the lungs are distended, and the lividity is bright red... The time of death should be between 9 PM and 11 PM.”

As she said this, she looked at Zhao Hu: “Where is Zhang Yun?”

A woman in her early thirties quickly walked over. She was wearing a pink cotton skirt and a gray scarf around her neck. This attire gave a strangely contradictory impression.

Her face was pale, and her expression was one of immense grief. She said to Lin Qinghuang: “Reporting, Your Excellency, I am Zhang Yun.”

“Were you here when your father died?”

Lin Qinghuang asked.

Zhang Yun shook her head with a mournful expression: “I wasn’t! My husband died last night, and I was heartbroken. I came to find my father today and only then learned he had drowned in the pond.”

Lin Qinghuang narrowed her eyes and said indifferently: “Go call the housekeeper here.”

“Your subordinate will go at once.”

Zhao Hu immediately left.

After a while.

Zhao Hu returned with a group of people, among whom was an old man.

The old man bowed to Lin Qinghuang and said: “Greetings, Your Excellency, I am the housekeeper here.”

Lin Qinghuang asked: “Who was the first to discover Zhang Zai’s drowning?”

The housekeeper said with a bitter expression: “It was this humble one.”

“When was he discovered?”

Lin Qinghuang asked.

The housekeeper said: “Early this morning, as per custom, I would bring food to the master every morning. But when I passed by the courtyard, I found the master lying there. Coincidentally, the young lady had returned, so I immediately went to report the case.”

Lin Qinghuang looked at the housekeeper: “There are many guards in the courtyard. When the person died, did no one discover it? Or did no one hear any cries for help?”

Under normal circumstances, if someone were drowning, they would surely cry for help.

The housekeeper shook his head and said: “The wind and snow were heavy last night, and we didn’t hear any sounds. Moreover, this is outside the master’s pavilion, and he doesn’t allow guards to approach. Guards can only stand outside.”

Lin Qinghuang looked at Zhang Yun: “Your father doesn’t allow outsiders near here?”

Zhang Yun nodded and said: “Yes, my father has always disliked guards approaching this area. Even maids who come here to clean have to be extremely careful, especially my father’s room; he never allows any maids near it and usually cleans it himself.”

Lin Qinghuang showed a thoughtful expression. Heavy wind and snow, not allowing guards close, a person drowning, even if they cried for help, there would be some movement; it’s impossible to hear nothing at all.

Unless there was a special circumstance!

Thinking of this, Lin Qinghuang looked at Zhang Long and Zhao Hu and said: “You two analyze this case.”

Zhao Hu said seriously: “Reporting to Commander Lin, your subordinate believes Zhang Zai simply drowned.”

Lin Qinghuang asked: “Why do you think so?”

Zhao Hu pointed at Zhang Zai’s body and said: “The face is contorted from struggle, there’s drowning fluid in the mouth, and the chest is distended, indicating that when he fell into the water, he inhaled a lot of pond water and eventually drowned. It’s winter now, and the night is even colder. If a person falls into the water, the icy water soaking the body might instantly cause cramps, making it difficult to struggle. The person was entirely submerged in the water, which is why it was difficult to cry for help.”

Lin Qinghuang shook her head. She then looked at Zhang Long and said: “What do you think?”

Zhang Long said: “I think Zhao Hu is right.”

Lin Qinghuang’s gaze fell on Xie Weilou: “Xie Weilou, you tell us.”