"Before, Hua Yao told me that the leader of this Goddess Cult is someone named Xuan Qingzi, right?" Zhong Li asked, after listening to Lin Jin's description.
Lin Jin nodded. "Yes, this person was in Jincheng at the time, and that riot was incited by him. I still remember it clearly. At that time, the Prince and I were only ten years old. The entire Jincheng was like a ghost town. Normal citizens dared not leave their homes. Many followers of the Goddess Cult roamed the streets and alleys. Some extremists even went to the palace gates to cause trouble. What was even more terrifying was that some women, who were pregnant, I don't know what they were thinking, carrying knives to the palace gates and cutting open their bellies to pull out the children within, calling it devotion to the Goddess, saying that both they and their children would attain enlightenment and become immortals."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li's delicate eyebrows furrowed. This was not a Goddess Cult at all, it was clearly a demonic cult.
"I'm very curious, why is this cult called the Goddess Cult?" she asked.
Lin Jin's gaze fell on the female corpse on the wooden bed as he replied, "Miss Zhong must have also guessed. This cult is very strange. No one can figure out their doctrines. The only clue, the same as recorded in the files, is that this cult believes in a living god who is immortal and indestructible. Next to this living god is a female envoy. It is rumored that this female envoy knows all the secrets of the living god and is the medium for communication between the cult members and the living god."
"Goddess?" Zhong Li also turned her gaze to the female corpse, her meaning clearly asking Lin Jin.
"Yes," Lin Jin said. "This cult selects a beautiful young maiden from its members every month as a sacrifice. The purpose of the sacrifice is to bribe this female envoy, hoping she will tell the cult members the secrets of the living god."
Hearing this, Zhong Li couldn't help but roll her eyes. These were words meant to deceive fools. Only the ignorant and unlearned would believe them. "So, this woman is the sacrifice?"
"Yes!" Lin Jin nodded.
Zhong Li pursed her lips and her gaze swept over the woman's body. Sacrifices made by cult members, with women as offerings to immortals, were quite common in ancient times, well-known matters. It was just... this was the first time she had seen such a way of handling a sacrifice. This method seemed more like... Thinking of this, she shook her head, feeling that such a bizarre matter was unlikely to happen in the land of Nan Yue.
"I heard that this Xuan Qingzi was eventually arrested by Master Chen, correct?" she changed the subject and asked.
"Yes!" Lin Jin nodded. "At that time, General Hua was ordered to suppress the riot, and Master Chen, the Minister of Dali Temple, led the constables to thoroughly investigate Xuan Qingzi. He was apprehended in the southern part of the city."
"So, is he still alive?" Zhong Li asked.
Lin Jin was taken aback.
Zhong Li continued, "If I remember correctly, Mo Cang once mentioned that Emperor Jing felt that for some people who committed mistakes, a single cut of the throat was not enough to fully punish them, so he invented the water prison. Those imprisoned there were all violent offenders and major criminals. So... Xuan Qingzi is also there, right?"
Lin Jin had not intended to say, but since Zhong Li had asked to this extent, he nodded. "Yes, Xuan Qingzi was imprisoned in the water prison back then. As for whether he is alive or dead now, only those in the water prison know."
Hearing this, Zhong Li began to pack her medical kit.
"Miss Zhong, what are you..."
"Only those of the third rank or higher, or those approved by the Emperor, can enter and exit the water prison. This case is bizarre, and the Emperor must have some information. Dali Temple must take action. I want to wait for Lan Heng at the palace gate and have him take me to the water prison," Zhong Li said.
"Absolutely not!" Lin Jin quickly stopped Zhong Li.
Zhong Li looked at Lin Jin with confusion.
Lin Jin said, "My master specifically instructed Miss Zhong before leaving, fearing places like the water prison. He told me to guard against it."
When Zhong Li heard this, her heart felt a touch of warmth. But she remembered Lu Wuxie, whom she still could not contact. Her fingertips tightened slightly. "I know, but Dali Temple has a case now. I want to finish this case quickly and ask for half a month's leave for Lan Heng so we can go to Liaocheng." With that, she turned and walked out of the autopsy room.
Lin Jin didn't react at first. After a while, he seemed to understand, and a slow smile spread across his face. "As expected, my master's feelings are reciprocated."
***
In the carriage, Lan Heng looked at the woman opposite him, who was intently studying the autopsy report. He casually poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of her.
"Did the Emperor trouble you, Master?" Zhong Li put away the autopsy report and looked up at Lan Heng.
Lan Heng gave a wry smile. "Rui'er, you haven't been in the court for long, yet you've seen the Emperor more times than other officials of the same rank. So, what do you think, Rui'er?"
Zhong Li sighed and took a sip from the cup in front of her. "The Emperor is pressuring Dali Temple?"
Lan Heng nodded. "The Emperor has ordered us to ascertain the background of this old Taoist within three days."
"What are your thoughts on this matter, Master?" Zhong Li asked again.
Lan Heng shook his head. "Jincheng has finally calmed down, and now another wave is rising. Master and I have the same idea, let's start by investigating Xuan Qingzi."
"I flipped through the files concerning Xuan Qingzi from ten years ago before I came," Zhong Li said.
"How?"
Zhong Li replied, "According to the records in the files and the memories of Hua Yao and Lin Jin regarding this matter, Xuan Qingzi was indeed taken to the water prison back then."
Lan Heng lowered his gaze. He knew what Zhong Li meant by saying this. She was worried that this case, like Miao Jie's case before, was problematic. It now seemed that this point had been ruled out.
"Continue," he said.
"If Xuan Qingzi is in the water prison, then there are only two possible explanations for this case: first, it's remnants of this Goddess Cult; second, someone is imitating their actions under the guise of the Goddess Cult. If it's the first case, our investigation will be more difficult, as these remnants have been dormant for ten years and are stirring up trouble again, making them difficult to suppress. If it's the second case, we just need to follow the clues based on the condition of the female corpse."
Lan Heng listened to Zhong Li's analysis and nodded in agreement. He lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the bustling crowds on the street. In just half a day, the streets had already begun to be placed under martial law. It seemed the Emperor was very concerned about this matter.
"Rui'er," he said, lowering the curtain. After thinking for a moment, he added, "There is something I think you should know."
Zhong Li looked at Lan Heng, puzzled.
"The Emperor had suppressed information about the Goddess Cult at the time. The files only recorded a part of it. The origin of this evil cult is in Liaocheng, and these people are very likely related to the previous dynasty," Lan Heng said.
"Liaocheng?" Hearing these words, Zhong Li's grip on the teacup tightened slightly. What did this mean? If the origin was in Liaocheng, then Lu Wuxie...
"Rui'er, don't worry," Lan Heng said, seeing through her thoughts, and quickly reassured her. "This matter has just begun. Lu Wuxie is the prefect of Liaocheng—the lord of the city. No matter how capable these people are, they will be somewhat apprehensive. The absence of bad news from Liaocheng is the best news. What we need to do now is go to the water prison to find Xuan Qingzi."
Zhong Li slowly closed her eyes, suppressing her worried thoughts. When she opened them again, her expression was calm as she nodded at Lan Heng.