Zhong Li had roughly outlined the horrific state of the female corpse from the case files, but as she began the formal examination, she couldn't help but feel a sense of shock.
The deceased was approximately thirty years old. Her facial features, mouth, and teeth were intact, and her limbs were complete. Her fingernails were purplish-blue, and her fingers and toes showed signs of swelling and internal decay, with pus-like secretions.
This aligned with the case files mentioning evidence of abuse and rape before death. However…
Looking at the body before her, Zhong Li felt something was slightly off.
She didn't immediately provide Magistrate Liu with an answer regarding the cause of death, instead picking up her scalpel to begin the dissection.
“Did the deceased have any family?” Zhong Li asked.
Magistrate Liu pondered for a moment and replied, “Whether they count as family is uncertain.”
“What do you mean?” Zhong Li had only intended to ask if there was family consent for the autopsy, not expecting such an ambiguous answer from Magistrate Liu.
“Madam Hu had been married twice and divorced twice. She had two children, both of whom stayed with their respective former husbands,” Magistrate Liu said.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li’s gaze lingered on the female corpse. Madam Hu had a good figure and rather attractive features. Such a woman with such a romantic history was quite astonishing in ancient times.
“Since she was divorced, is she considered alone now? Or does she have family?” she inquired.
Magistrate Liu shook his head. “Madam Hu’s family is long dead. As for whether she is alone… based on the information I have, she had a lover named Bi Chuan, who is also one of the suspects in this case.”
“Lover?” Zhong Li seized upon Magistrate Liu’s words. “If they were lovers, their relationship must have been very close. Why then would he have used force against her, even to the point of murder?”
“This…” Magistrate Liu was rendered speechless, scratching his head. “According to the inquiries made by the yamen, Madam Hu and Bi Chuan had already set a date and were preparing to get engaged. Unexpectedly, Madam Hu suddenly reneged. That’s why the yamen listed Bi Chuan as a suspect.”
Zhong Li nodded. That was certainly a motive, but…
“Did Magistrate Liu investigate why Madam Hu broke off the engagement?”
Magistrate Liu shook his head. He truly didn’t know about that matter. Despite interviewing many people, he had found no answer. When he pressed Bi Chuan, the latter simply retorted, “I wish I knew,” leaving him unable to refute.
“So Madam Hu has no family now, and the body is unclaimed?” Zhong Li asked.
Magistrate Liu nodded. “Her two sons have not yet reached the age of manhood. Her former husband, because of her promiscuity, has had very little contact with her outside of scheduled times. As it stands, that’s the situation.”
“Alright,” Zhong Li felt a slight sense of relief with this answer. Her scalpel landed on Madam Hu’s body, and with a slight effort, the flesh on her abdomen parted as naturally as a carved roast pork belly.
Zhong Li was always meticulous in her work, especially when dealing with challenging corpses, often foregoing sleep and food.
Magistrate Liu, watching by her side, felt his eyes ache from strain and yawned repeatedly. Only after she finished her immediate task did Zhong Li walk to a nearby desk, remove her gloves, and begin writing the autopsy report.
Lu Wuxie walked over to her side, holding a lamp to illuminate her work.
Eager to know the results, Magistrate Liu first glanced at what Zhong Li was writing and then quietly asked Lu Wuxie, “My Lord, how did this person die?”
Before Lu Wuxie could answer, Zhong Li spoke first, “Madam Hu suffered myocardial rupture and pulmonary hemorrhage. I suspect she was poisoned. However, I examined her stomach and the vomit at the corners of her lips, and found no traces of poison.”
“Ah? Then how was she poisoned?” Magistrate Liu was bewildered. The poison hadn't entered through the mouth, yet Zhong Li claimed she died of poisoning. What did that mean?
Zhong Li didn't answer his question immediately. Instead, she walked back to the corpse and picked up two small red objects placed on it.
Magistrate Liu recognized the objects; Zhong Li had retrieved them while examining Madam Hu’s uterus.
“What are these? Are they related to Madam Hu’s death?” he asked, reaching out to take them.
Zhong Li dodged his hand. “These are arsenic pills. Are you sure you want to take them?”
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Liu retracted his hand in alarm.
Zhong Li explained, “The killer likely forced this arsenic pill into her intimate area after raping her, causing acute poisoning through absorption by the mucous membrane.”
“That’s so cruel?” Magistrate Liu had never heard of such a method of killing before and couldn't help but gasp.
Zhong Li glanced at him, continuing to diligently write her report. “The swelling near the deceased’s pubic area would normally lead one to believe it was caused by rape. However, upon closer examination, the deceased showed no signs of struggle or entanglement. I believe this was the work of someone she knew.”
“Someone she knew?” Magistrate Liu frowned, looking somewhat troubled. He had investigated everyone around Madam Hu; had he missed someone?
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Zhong Li finished her work and looked at Magistrate Liu, who was still deep in thought. “Magistrate Liu, didn’t you say there were three suspects earlier? Besides Bi Chuan, Madam Hu’s lover, who else?”
Magistrate Liu answered promptly, “One is Madam Hu’s ex-husband, Old Qiao, and the other is Huang San, Madam Hu’s neighbor.”
“What were their motives for murder?” Zhong Li began packing her medical kit.
Lu Wuxie helped her carry it as the three of them walked and talked.
Magistrate Liu said, “After divorcing Madam Hu, Old Qiao had trouble finding a wife for a long time. He was poor and couldn't afford to visit prostitutes, so he constantly harassed Madam Hu. Madam Hu was also rather capricious. When she was in a good mood, she would sometimes give Old Qiao some satisfaction. The day before Madam Hu’s death, Lin Xiuxiu from the same village reportedly saw Old Qiao leaving Madam Hu’s room.”
“Did they have any conflicts of interest?” she asked.
Magistrate Liu shook his head. “Not really. The only matter involving shared interest was their son, Little Qiao. Madam Hu had money, while Old Qiao didn’t. He often pawned Madam Hu’s jewelry to support Little Qiao.”
“I see!” Zhong Li processed Magistrate Liu’s words. On the surface, his suspicions seemed valid, but upon closer reflection, there were loopholes. After all, not all the valuable items at the scene of Madam Hu’s death had been taken. Moreover, Old Qiao and Madam Hu were still involved in a complicated relationship. He would have known what valuables she possessed, so why would he forget to take the silver bracelet?
“Then… what about the neighbor Huang San?” Zhong Li asked.
“This Huang San is a minor figure in the southern part of An Ding County.”
“What do you mean?” Zhong Li was curious. She had lived in the south before; how had she not known of Huang San?
“Because he married Lin Xiuxiu!” Magistrate Liu blurted out without thinking.
“Lin Xiuxiu, who is she?” Zhong Li asked.
Magistrate Liu smiled. “This Lin Xiuxiu came to An Ding County last year, already married. However, within two months, her husband died, and she became a widow. Because of her good looks, and with many bachelors in An Ding County, many men vied to marry Lin Xiuxiu. Huang San, being slightly wealthy, also fancied Lin Xiuxiu and spent half his fortune to marry her. It’s said he spent five hundred taels of silver on the betrothal gifts alone!”
“Five hundred taels!” Zhong Li’s eyes widened. That was indeed a considerable sum. In her understanding and according to the customs of the Southern Yue Kingdom, betrothal gifts for ordinary commoner families rarely exceeded eighty to a hundred taels. Back then, when A Wu wanted to marry Gu Ling, she had been surprised when he borrowed one hundred taels from her.
“So Huang San became famous around here,” Magistrate Liu continued.
Zhong Li nodded, thought for a moment, and asked, “Then how was he excluded as a suspect?”
“His wife, Lin Xiuxiu, testified that on the day Madam Hu died, Huang San was with her, warming the bed.”