Wife, I need a coroner – Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Glossary

Last chapter Si Qi didn’t say “We can deliberate over dissection later.”, but “Conduct the dissection later on.” My eyes betrayed me, and I ended up writing the wrong thing.

Rereading the chapters and correcting the translations made me realize the kinds of mistakes I’m prone to make when translating. I’ll keep an eye out for them from now on!

Si Qi glanced at Daren Zuo, who nodded and asked, “Will you go?”

Si Qi then turned and walked towards the beautiful official, but halted just before the screen area. Turning to Ji Chan, he said, “Mr. Ji, please carry on. The dissection must proceed until the case is solved.”

Daren Zuo gave a start, looking questioningly at Ji Chan, but keeping his silence.

Ji Chan began peeling off the deceased’s arm and replied, “No problem.”

Two hours later, Ji Chan stood up and announced, “There are no external signs of injury on the victim. In other words, the murderer must have harmed the victim during their first encounter, and then strangled him to death out of fear that he would survive.”

“This seems like a crime of vengeance, Master,” Xiao Ma interjected.

Ji Chan couldn’t confirm this and shook her head, “It’s too early to say. Let me take another look at the body. Senior Wang, please help me move the body for suturing.”

Wang Hu happily agreed. He had recently learned the technique and was eager to practice it.

“Since the adult was strangled to death, it’s likely that the child met the same fate,” Daren Zuo spoke up. “Coroner Ji, it would be best to leave his body intact.”

The boy’s right leg had already been crushed by a beam.

Ji Chan pointed to the severed limb and remarked, “Daren Zuo, the body is already incomplete. His entire family has perished in such a tragic manner. If he knew about it from the afterlife, he wouldn’t mind us damaging his body further in exchange for justice for his family.”

Daren Zuo lost the argument, but he didn’t get angry. He just rubbed his nose and smiled faintly.

Dissecting a child was easier than dissecting an adult.

The boy’s hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage were broken, and his temporal bone showed signs of bleeding. These observations indicated that he died from suffocation.

The three-year-old girl sustained a high cervical injury with a twisted neck, which led to asphyxia.

The adult female also died from strangulation.

The postmortem signs were similar to those of her husband and son, but the contents of her digestive system revealed that she died about half an hour later than the adult male.

Xiao Ma, who was recording the findings, commented, “This appears to be a revenge murder, but it’s also possible that there was financial motivation.”

Wang Hu nodded in agreement. “That’s plausible,” he said. “I heard from the neighbors that the couple was cunning and greedy, despite their successful business. It would have taken some effort to find their money.”

Daren Zuo, despite his initial objection to Ji Chan continuing the dissection, was intrigued by her actions and listened attentively.

“Is there evidence of sexual assault?” he asked.

Ji Chan had already retrieved two handcrafted cotton swabs from the post-mortem kit and spread apart the body’s legs…

Daren Zuo knew what she was going to do and quickly averted his gaze, his phoenix eyes turned downwards and his body turned to the side.

The cotton swabs were soaked with semen, and in great quantity at that.

What a harrowing experience it must have been for her to lose her life; to be violated by the killer right at the side of her daughter’s lifeless body. The depths of despair and hopelessness she must have felt were unimaginable.

Xiao Ma’s eyes welled up with tears as he cursed through his anguish, “Beast! What a savage!”

Even coroner Niu trembled and exclaimed, “Tragic! Truly tragic!”

“What, any new revelations?” Si Qi returned with an exhausted demeanor, yet his eyes carried a glimmer of anticipation.

Daren Zuo clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, stating, “The murderer first killed the child, then raped née Mi before killing her, setting the fire, and escaping. It is an act of sheer brutality and despicable depravity!”

Si Qi’s gaze darkened. “Anything else to report?” he asked Ji Chan.

Seeing Ji Chan diligently suturing the body, Daren Zuo decided to take the initiative and reply, “Nothing new for now, Daren Si. Have you made any discoveries?”

Si Qi felt a tinge of disappointment and rubbed his forehead. “I found two suspects with tall muscular builds, but their grievances with the victims were minor and insignificant. We haven’t made much headway.”

Daren Zuo looked at the dismembered bodies with empathy and let out a long sigh.

Though unspoken, Ji Chan understood that he was protesting on behalf of the deceased.

His intentions were good but misguided.

It was nearly noon, and she hadn’t even had breakfast. Since her arrival, she had been immersed in the dissection process, leaving her famished.

Exhausted and ravenous.

No one bothered to ask about her challenges or try to understand her struggles, which was truly infuriating.

Taking a deep breath, she set down the needle, suppressed her anger, stood tall, and paced back and forth.

“Esteemed officials! My son and his family met such a tragic end! You must uphold justice on their behalf!”

“My parents had always been in robust health, yet they perished in the fire for no justifiable reason! The wretched culprit is too despicable! If captured, they must be skinned alive!”

“Woo, woo, woo…”

“Alas, my son! Your death is full of injustice!”

……

As Ji Chan took a break from the high-intensity work, the voices from outside drifted into her ears.

Peering through a narrow slit in the wall, Ji Chan’s gaze met a captivating pair of almond-shaped eyes.

Startled, the individual leaped back in fright, taking an instinctive step backward. With a discreet cough to clear their throat, they regained their composure, smoothed their sleeves, and folded their hands behind their back, gracefully sidestepping.

Such striking features would ordinarily command attention, but Ji Chan was too engrossed to give him a second glance. Her mind was in turmoil, and she lacked both the inclination and the time to determine his identity. Her attention darted past him, scrutinizing the surroundings.

Outside, the government troops had dispersed and were now directing the flow of pedestrians and carts.

The area was now teeming with curious onlookers, their numbers swollen tenfold since the morning. Wherever her gaze fell, she was met by a sea of faces.

The strain on the authorities was immense, an undeniable reality that Ji Chan could not ignore. And the plight of those who had perished was even more heartbreaking.

Ji Chan convinced herself and decided to engage a bit more, probing a conversation with Si Qi, “Considering the heinous crime of the murderer, who not only took four lives but also set their house ablaze, it stands to reason that they harbored animosity towards the victims. Hasn’t a single viable suspect emerged?”

Si Qi replied, “The victims harbored a reputation for being callous and avaricious, contentious even during minor exchanges, and prone to quarrels during their market outings. Their character left much to be desired. Our investigation so far only points towards inconsequential altercations, no deep-rooted enmity.” 

Ji Chan responded with a simple “Oh.” In that case, a material gain or a case of lust seemed highly probable. “And née Mi,” she asked, “what was she like in appearance?”

A frown creased Si Qi’s forehead as he responded, “Née Mi was pleasing to the eye, but suffered from poor health, having to drink a soothing decoction every day. Our investigation into the herbal shop found no suspects” 

Ji Shan nodded in understanding. No wonder the mistress of the house remained oblivious to the master’s imminent death.

She inquired further, “Where did the tung oil that caused the fire come from?” 

Si Qi replied, “We’ve traced it back to the recent renovation of the fabric store. It must be leftover from that project. The tung oil itself was purchased from the general store.”

The elderly couple who ran the general store also lost their lives in the fire, but the culprit was likely not connected to them.

Ji Chan noted that Si Qi did not display an air of arrogance and did not dismiss her – a coroner’s – questions. Hence, she continued, “This one is uncertain whether to mention certain observations…” 

Si Qi responded promptly, “Our situation is dire, Mr. Ji. Please feel free to share your thoughts.”

Taking two steps closer and hushing her voice, Ji Chan shared, “The perpetrator appears to have left a lot of yang element, leading me to suspect he might not have a woman in his life.” 

Her words caused Si Qi’s complexion to flush immediately, the blush standing out starkly against his pale skin.

Daren Zuo, noticing Si Qi’s sudden change in color, asked curiously, “Are you feeling unwell, Daren Si?”

“I’m fine,” Si Qi replied, brushing off the concern with a hint of embarrassment. Taking a few steps towards the screen, he beckoned Ji Chan to follow, saying, “Please, continue.”

Ji Chan recalled that Daren Si was still a bachelor. Perhaps, he couldn’t help but draw parallels between this situation and his own.

So, he probably had quite a lot in stock as well, right?

She suppressed her teasing thoughts of mockery and continued, “Moreover, the killer entered the courtyard in the early morning without attracting any attention. There was no apparent need to start a fire, yet he did so anyway. This suggests a potential fascination with arson.”

“Daren might consider investigating any reclusive or introverted young men or teenagers in the vicinity,” Ji Chan suggested. “These individuals might live alone or with their parents, rarely interact with others, and have a history of setting fire to woodpiles.”

“Lastly, and most importantly,” Ji Chan emphasized, “The killer displays extreme brutality and appears to derive immense gratification not only from murder but also from arson. I suspect he’s hiding in plain sight among the crowd, blending in since the fire attracted public attention in the morning.”

Si Qi’s eyes narrowed, “And the basis for your assumptions?”

Ji Chan answered, “There is a basis for the matter of the yang element, but it’s experience that guides the rest of my words. Daren is not obliged to believe my conjectures, but it should be clear that once the crowd scatters, pinpointing the killer within two days will become significantly challenging.”

Si Qi remained silent for a moment, deep in thought. Then, without a word, he turned and left the enclosed area.

Ji Chan returned to the autopsy table, joining Xiao Ma in suturing the remaining bodies.

Xiao Ma asked, “Master, we will catch the killer, right?” As a perceptive individual who understood Ji Chan well, he could deduce much from Si Qi’s reaction, even without hearing his words.

With a measured response, Ji Chan declared, “I’d say our chances of success are around sixty percent.”

The murderer’s unmarried status, physical strength, introverted nature, history of arson, potential lingering presence at the crime scene, and possible grudge against the victim should make them relatively easy to locate.

Xiao Ma nodded in agreement, “That’s great! I know you can do it, Master.”

“Has Daren Si gone after the suspect?” Daren Zuo exclaimed in astonishment.

Coroner Niu and Wang Hu exchanged startled glances, rising to their feet. They had yet to uncover any promising leads, so why would Daren Si suddenly rush off in pursuit of the killer?

“Shh.” Ji Chan hushed them, “We’ll have an update shortly.”

Intrigued, Daren Zuo approached the screen and peered out.

Si Qi stood amidst the gathered bukuais and soldiers.

Those who were tasked with traffic control continued their duties, while those engaged in conversation continued to chat, and those gazing about continued to look.

Turning back to Ji Chan, he questioned, “Coroner Ji, your autopsy skills are truly impressive. You must have dedicated a considerable amount of time to honing your craft?”

Ji Chan replied, “It hasn’t been an extensive period. I’ve gained much under my master’s guidance, and I also practice regularly.”

“Practice?” Daren Zuo asked, his expression conveying puzzlement.

Ji Chan clarified, “Yes, I trade meat back home, so I’m also a butcher by profession.”

Daren Zuo rubbed his nose thoughtfully before exiting the enclosed area once more.

Stepping outside, Daren Zuo’s eyes caught sight of the beautiful official emerging from the crowd, and he took two swift strides forward.

Suddenly, Si Qi’s loud command boomed from the outskirts, “Catch him!”

In a synchronized surge, soldiers, bukuais, and Si Qi himself charged toward the south from all directions…

A commotion erupted in response to the command, with an ensuing onslaught of cacophonous shouts and squabbles.

“Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!” Daren Zuo drew his shortsword and lunged towards the beautiful official.

A dozen guards pushed their way through the crowd, forming a protective circle around the official.

Ji Chan paused, “Protect the Emperor?”

Coroner Niu collapsed to his knees, “The Emperor is here!” he gasped.

Wang Hu, having just completed suturing the girl’s body, rushed out to investigate the commotion. However, the guards had swiftly formed a protective cordon around the man, shielding him from view. Wang Hu could only catch a fleeting glimpse of a black-haired head before the guards closed ranks again.

Ji Chan found herself unable to deduce who the emperor could be, so she let it go. 

As a lowly peasant, she was tens of thousands of miles away from the Emperor’s realm. Whoever the man was, mattered little to her.