By mid-afternoon, the main hall of the southern city mortuary was crowded with people.
Wang Gan asked in puzzlement, “Why suddenly bring up something from seven years ago? Back then, our family and the embroidery workshop masters went out of the city to offer incense. My younger sister and Master Hu shared a carriage, but on the road, the axle suddenly broke. The carriage overturned, and both my sister and Master Hu were injured. Master Hu’s leg was broken, while my sister fractured her arm.”
He lifted his right hand to demonstrate. “Her wrist was dislocated, and the bone on the inner side of her forearm snapped. Several physicians said she would be left disabled. Fortunately, we later found a doctor specializing in bone injuries. After more than a month of treatment, she finally recovered.”
Jiang Li pointed to her own arm. “It was this inner bone that broke?”
Wang Gan nodded. “Her wrist and arm swelled terribly. That’s what the doctors said after examining her. She underwent treatment for over a month, then rested another month. Luckily, she was young and healed completely.”
As his words fell, Wang Gan’s face grew tense. “Lord Pei, what does this mean? Why ask about this? Has something gone wrong with my sister’s remains?”
Pei Yan replied calmly, “It is not yet certain. Please wait here a moment.”
Wang Gan hesitated, but then Song Yi’an emerged from the passageway, face covered with a cloth and hands gloved. His voice was muffled: “My lord, from the bones currently exposed, no trace of old injuries can be found. But to be absolutely sure, we must clean the bones of her arm and apply the coroner’s special methods.”
Wang Gan’s eyes widened. “What do you mean—clean the bones?”
Song Yi’an explained, “It means removing all the decayed flesh from Miss Wang’s right forearm.”
Wang Gan’s vision darkened; he cried out angrily, “My sister’s body is already incomplete, and now you would strip her bones? This will only disturb her peace in the afterlife…”
“Master Wang,” Jiang Li stepped forward, “only by catching the killer quickly can Miss Wang truly rest. And the clue we’ve found is extremely important…”
Seeing Wang Gan unmoved, Pei Yan added, “Your sister once suffered a severe arm injury. Yet the bones of this corpse’s arm show no trace of it. That means this body may not be your sister’s at all.”
Wang Gan was stunned. “Not my sister? But—but the clothes and ornaments are hers! If this isn’t my sister, then who is it? Could she still be alive?”
If the deceased was not Wang Yan, then her true whereabouts were indeed a mystery. But for someone to vanish without a trace for five months did not bode well.
Wang Gan understood this, yet even the faintest hope was worth clinging to. “If that’s the case, then examine the bones! Do whatever you must. If my sister still lives, then nothing else matters…”
Pei Yan looked to Song Yi’an, who immediately returned to the morgue. Pei Yan and Jiang Li followed and saw Song Yi’an lifting Wang Yan’s right forearm to begin thawing it.
Wang Yan’s corpse was the most decayed, her limbs in many places reduced to bare bone. Song Yi’an first thawed the bones, then carefully scraped away the rotting flesh clinging to them. Once the bones were fully exposed, he placed them into a clay jar and boiled them over a strong fire.
The sight chilled everyone present to the core. Wang Gan turned away, retching repeatedly. Song Yi’an, expressionless, boiled the bones for a quarter of an hour to remove every trace of filth. When finished, he took mulberry paper to dry and polish them, until the natural color of the bone was revealed. Holding the arm up to the daylight at the window, he examined it closely. Before long, he exclaimed in surprise: “I can confirm this is a flawless, perfect human forearm bone. Its owner never suffered any injury.”
Pei Yan’s face darkened. Wang Gan gasped, “Not my sister—it truly isn’t my sister! Lord Pei, does this mean my sister might still be alive?”
Pei Yan replied, “It is not Wang Yan. Yet the corpse was dressed in her clothes. The killer’s intent was precisely to make us believe this was her. Whatever the case, Wang Yan was indeed abducted.”
Wang Gan’s emotions surged wildly. Jiang Li, meanwhile, turned her gaze to the remains of Kang Yun and Zheng Ran. One had died in midsummer, the other in early autumn. Kang Yun’s head was nearly unrecognizable.
Jiang Li said, “If the killer could trick the authorities into believing that was Wang Yan, then Kang Yun and Zheng Ran’s corpses may also be in doubt.”
Pei Yan shared the same suspicion, but Song Yi’an interjected: “Yet neither of those young ladies suffered major injuries. Their bodies bear no distinctive marks. With decomposition, how can we re-examine them?”
Pei Yan ordered, “Go to the Zheng and Kang households. Bring their personal maids here.”
Shi’an accepted the command and departed. The others stood in grim silence, as though lost in fog. Jiang Li covered her mouth and nose, leaning closer to study the dismembered remains. “The corpse parts do belong to the same person. If not Wang Yan, then this means more victims than we knew. In these months, has no one else reported a missing woman?”
Pei Yan answered, “Of course there have been reports. This case has shaken Chang’an. Whenever a young woman goes missing, it is immediately linked. But in recent months, none matched this body.”
Wang Gan cared for nothing else. “If this isn’t my sister’s body, then where is she? Alive, I must see her; dead, I must see her remains. It makes no sense for her to vanish for so long, with the killer still keeping her. If he truly has, then… that would be a blessing.”
Pei Yan’s brows knit tightly. “The killer is ruthless and cunning. First, he used dismemberment to obscure clues, making us believe he killed out of lust and vengeance. Now even the identity of the corpse has been misled—”
Jiang Li murmured, “The killer delights in misdirection. He seems to anticipate how the authorities will investigate. If he falsified the identity of the first corpse, it must be to conceal something else. And this victim died in June, yet no family ever reported her missing. That is most peculiar.”
She turned to Song Yi’an. “Coroner Song, when the corpse was found, was the time of death determined to coincide with Miss Wang’s disappearance?”
Song Yi’an nodded. “Yes. Miss Wang was reported missing on the seventh day of the sixth month. This corpse was discovered on the twentieth. Though the decay was severe, the internal organs had been nearly consumed by corpse insects. In summer, such insects devour organs within about half a month. So we judged the time of death to match. But now that we know the deceased was not Miss Wang, I believe she likely died before Miss Wang did.”
Pei Yan said in a low voice, “The first victim was not Wang Yan, but this woman. Yet the killer wanted the world to believe she was Wang Yan. Either the first victim’s identity was special, and the killer did not wish it known that she had died—or the killer’s true target was Wang Yan, and he sought to make people think she was already dead…”
From different angles, the conclusions varied, yet Pei Yan’s reasoning was sound. He continued: “For now, three tasks lie before us. First, to uncover this victim’s true identity. Second, to re-examine Wang Yan’s social ties, in case the second possibility holds. Third, to confirm whether the last two victims—whose faces were destroyed—have also been misidentified.”
Wang Gan could not hold back: “My sister only went back and forth between our two shops. I know everyone she knows. Since her betrothal to the Feng family, apart from meeting men at the shop, she never made new acquaintances. I cannot imagine who would kill others just to stage her false death.”
Pei Yan pondered but said no more in Wang Gan’s presence. After half an hour, Zheng Xu, a senior official of the Ministry of Rites, arrived with his wife, Madam Liang, and an old nurse. Soon after, Kang Long and Kang Jingming also came to the mortuary, each with only a servant boy. The families had met before but gathered again today, their faces anxious.
Pei Yan spoke directly: “You have already claimed the bodies. But we now find the procedures too simple. Today I ask you to recall carefully: besides age and stature, did Zheng Ran or Kang Yun have any other distinguishing features—injuries, marks, habits that left traces? The more detail, the better.”
Kang Long and Kang Jingming had just been at the Court that morning, and now were summoned again. Hearing this, Kang Jingming looked bewildered, while Kang Long said, “My lord, what does this mean? Wasn’t it already confirmed?”
Pei Yan’s voice grew stern: “Just answer.”
Kang Long dared not press further. He recalled, “Yun’er had no habits that left marks, nor injuries. We saw her body—there was nothing recognizable on the surface. She made incense, so her hands sometimes bore small cuts, but nothing else comes to mind…”
He looked to Kang Jingming, who added, “My sister never suffered serious illness or injury. She devoted herself to incense-making, spending her time between the shop and the household. I can think of no marks.”
At this, Jiang Li asked, “And her maidservant?”
Pei Yan explained, “Seven days before Kang Yun’s death, her maid Cui Zhu was expelled for theft. She left Chang’an and returned to her hometown in Mizhou. We investigated—she did indeed pawn Kang Yun’s jewelry.”
Pei Yan then turned to Zheng Xu and his wife. Madam Liang said, “Ran’er never suffered illness or injury. The only thing was her premature white hair. That was noted last month. Nurse Su—”
The old nurse who had come along said, “Yes, I often combed the young lady’s hair, always finding ways to hide the white strands. I remember clearly. I was present when her body was identified.”
Pei Yan then asked, “And what of her two maids?”
Madam Liang’s eyes flickered. “When Ran’er met with misfortune, it was because those two failed in their duty to protect her. Later, whenever I saw them, I could not help but recall Ran’er’s suffering, so I had them sold off.”
Pei Yan frowned. At that moment, Kang Jingming spoke: “I mentioned before that two months prior to my sister’s accident, she had been experimenting with tinted balms. Her nails were stained a deep vermilion, and because she often handled beeswax and oils, the color was exceedingly difficult to remove.”
Kang Long nodded beside him, and Pei Yan remembered the matter. Jiang Li pressed on, unrelenting: “Neither of the young ladies ever suffered any bone injuries since childhood?”
Pei Yan said directly, “If you mean to damage their remains for examination, you—”
Before the Kang family could reply, Madam Liang cut in firmly: “Absolutely not, my lord. Ran’er has suffered enough—how could we allow further harm? This case has dragged on far too long. Were it not for your sake, we would already have taken her remains home. She never suffered any broken bones; the yamen need not examine further.”
Kang Jingming added, “My sister also never endured any injuries. Her body is already in such a state… we beg you to spare us further anguish.”
Thus, their stance was clear. In these times, the dead are to be honored, and official examinations often required family consent. Since both families refused, Pei Yan would not force them. He said, “For now, there are no leads. Rest assured, additional guards have been posted at the mortuary; the young ladies’ remains will be well watched.”
With that, the Zheng and Kang families departed. Only Wang Gan lingered, his heart tormented. “Lord Pei, whatever happens, you must find my sister. Even if she has been murdered, I must see her body before I can rest.”
Pei Yan inclined his head. “Do not worry. The Court of Judicial Review will investigate thoroughly.”
Only after receiving this assurance did Wang Gan leave in grief. Once gone, Pei Yan’s expression grew darker still. The case had dragged on for half a year; he had taken charge for two months, yet only today learned that the first victim was not Wang Yan at all. How absurd!
He ordered, “Go to the capital yamen. Have Lord Qi re‑examine all missing persons reports—not only within Chang’an, but also in the two surrounding counties. Pay special attention to brides‑to‑be.”
Shi’an obeyed at once. Jiang Li stepped into the chamber of corpses, her gaze lingering on the mutilated remains. “If a bride‑to‑be disappears, her family would surely be frantic—unless she has no kin in Chang’an. But without family, how could she have been betrothed? The killer deliberately targets women on the verge of marriage. If her own family does not report her missing, would her husband’s family not care?”
Pei Yan was baffled. “The murderer clearly seeks out brides‑to‑be, tearing out their hearts. And now he contrives this deception, making the world believe the victim was Wang Yan—what purpose could that serve?”
This case twisted and turned, growing ever more complex. Seeing the cold depth in Pei Yan’s eyes, Jiang Li knew he was deeply troubled. And now, with the sudden appearance of an unidentified woman’s corpse, the trail seemed more tangled than ever…
“Examine the first body again—thoroughly, even if it means damage.”
Jiang Li was just about to speak, but Pei Yan’s words matched her own thoughts. Song Yi’an, however, remained calm: “Should we not wait for word from the capital yamen? If the woman belongs to a family…”
Pei Yan replied, “The crime has dragged on since the fifth month. If we delay further, the killer will strike again.”
Song Yi’an nodded firmly. “Yes. I will begin thawing at once. Fortunately, the Wang and Kang families paid for ice during the summer—otherwise, by now, only bones would remain.”
He busied himself with the work, while Jiang Li carefully recalled the official reports, fearful of any overlooked detail. The hour was already late; Pei Yan glanced at the darkening sky, knowing Song Yi’an would not finish quickly. He said, “It is bitterly cold here. Lady Jiang, perhaps you should return home and await the findings. Later, I’ll have Jiusi deliver the autopsy report to you.”
Winter nights fell early. As dusk deepened, Jiang Li agreed: “Very well, I shall take my leave.”
Pei Yan turned to escort her, walking her out of the mortuary until she boarded her carriage. Once it rolled away, the warmth faded from his face. He returned to the chamber of corpses. Jiusi followed, murmuring, “It is fortunate Miss Xue went to Jinyun Shop for her garments. Otherwise, we would have remained in the dark much longer. Miss Xue truly has keen eyes—and great courage.”
Pei Yan’s gaze lingered on Song Yi’an’s hands, but he gave no reply. Jiusi blinked and added, “The old madam’s illness has worsened again. In my humble view, there is no physician better than Miss Xue…”
…
By the time the carriage reached the Xue residence, night had fully fallen. Entering the gate, Jiang Li encountered Xue Qin with Cai Wei, standing behind the screen wall. A servant boy in blue held out an invitation, flattering Xue Qin.
Xue Qin smiled. “Very well, I shall attend.”
The boy answered eagerly, bowed, and departed. Spotting Jiang Li, Xue Qin approached: “Elder Sister went out early today, and Father asked after you when he returned from court. Though you practice medicine, remember this is Chang’an—do not let idle tongues spread unpleasant rumors.”
No sooner had she spoken than she covered her nose. “Elder Sister, what scent clings to you?”
Jiang Li’s eyes fell on the invitation in her hand. “This is—?”
Xue Qin’s lips curved. “Fuxiang Studio is hosting a fragrance gathering the day after tomorrow. Even Princess Qingyang has been invited. They say a new scent will be unveiled. If you wish to attend, I can bring you along.”
Jiang Li shook her head. “That won’t be necessary…”
As she spoke, her breath caught a hint of heavy perfume wafting from Xue Qin. She remarked, “The fragrance you wear—it must be Fuxiang Studio’s balm, yes?”
Xue Qin lifted her chin slightly. “Naturally.”
As though afraid Jiang Li might press further, she hurriedly added, “It’s getting late. Father is still occupied with official duties—Elder Sister should return and rest early…”
With that, she left with Cai Wei. Huai Xi touched her nose and muttered, “The Third Miss must have used several pounds of balm—far too strong. Still, the scent is pleasant enough; if it were lighter, it would surely be sweet and charming.”
Jiang Li turned back toward Yingyue Pavilion. Having exhausted herself the previous day distinguishing medicinal fragrances, she now recognized the balm’s ingredients almost at once: “Peony, love‑seed, silk tree blossom, spikenard, musk, and wood incense—a blend suited to a young lady’s taste.”
Huai Xi clicked her tongue. “You can tell all that so quickly?”
Jiang Li smiled. “Only because it is so overpowering.”
Back at Yingyue Pavilion, she bathed and changed, then read her medical texts under the lamp. Before long, Chang Gong returned from the outer court, and soon Huai Xi came upstairs carrying a report. “Miss, Lord Pei truly sent the autopsy findings.”
Jiang Li straightened and took it, scanning swiftly. Her brows furrowed. “Song the coroner dissected the victim’s limbs and found the right knee joint swollen compared to the left, though there was no external injury.”
Huai Xi, recalling her readings, said after a moment, “Could it be crane‑knee wind?”
The disease, marked by swollen painful knees resembling a crane’s legs, was known as crane‑knee wind. She added, “But isn’t that an ailment of the elderly? Wasn’t the young lady only about twenty?”
Jiang Li replied, “It is indeed common in the aged, yet the young may suffer it too, for different reasons. Since there was no trauma, it must be crane‑knee wind. Tomorrow we must visit several medical halls in Chang’an.”
Huai Xi nodded, then asked hesitantly, “Do you think Miss Wang Yan is still alive?”
Jiang Li shook her head slightly. “The killer has slain six women without pause. Though one body is missing, if he killed merely to feign Wang Yan’s death, he should have stopped. His true aim is murdering brides and tearing out their hearts. Yet something went awry between the first victim and Wang Yan…”
Huai Xi’s face scrunched. “But whatever went wrong, the killer should have discarded the body. Surely he didn’t keep Wang Yan’s corpse? That would be some monstrous perversion.”
Jiang Li said quietly, “It is not impossible.”
She tapped Huai Xi’s nose. “Enough. If we keep talking, someone will be too frightened to sleep. Rest early—we must go out tomorrow.”
The night was cold and restless; Jiang Li slept fitfully. At dawn, she rose, ate breakfast, and set out with Huai Xi and Chang Gong straight for Pingning Lane in the east of the city.
Pingning Lane lay near the East Market, where the Ningde Medical Hall was famed for treating crane‑knee wind. When the carriage arrived, Jiang Li instructed Chang Gong, “Ask if, before the fifth month, a young woman of about twenty came here for crane‑knee wind.”
He returned shortly. “Miss, the physician said no. All their patients are elderly; had a young woman come, they would surely remember.”
Jiang Li thought a moment. “Then to Songzi Lane in Yongning Ward.”
Chang Gong obeyed, urging the horses on. After two quarters of an hour, they stopped before the Wang Medical Hall. He went in to inquire and soon returned. “They too have seen no such case. Last year, a young woman came, but she was cured and only recently returned for other medicines.”
Jiang Li sighed in disappointment. “Then to Changshui Street in Anshan Ward, south of the city.”
Chang Gong wondered at her knowledge of Chang’an’s apothecaries, but did not ask. The carriage passed through Zhuque Street and continued south. After half an hour, they arrived at Renfeng Hall.
Crane‑knee wind was difficult to treat, especially in young women, and only three or five halls were known for it. With the first two yielding nothing, Jiang Li chose to inquire herself. As she alighted, two horses galloped up to Renfeng Hall. She looked up, heart tightening.
Huai Xi cried out first: “Lord Pei—!”
It was indeed Pei Yan and Jiu Si. Seeing her there, Pei Yan seemed surprised, yet not entirely. Dismounting, Jiu Si greeted her with delight. “Miss Xue, what brings you here? Surely not to seek treatment.”
Huai Xi answered, “My lady is investigating the nameless corpse.”
Jiu Si looked startled—they were clearly there for the same reason. Pei Yan said, “There are five halls in the capital skilled in crane‑knee wind. The two in the west have seen no young women…”
Jiang Li was about to reply when Chang Gong interjected, “Our young mistress has already questioned the two in the east.”
At Jiang Li’s words, Pei Yan’s gaze grew intent. “You have not been long in Chang’an, yet you seem well acquainted with these old medical halls…”
Jiang Li turned toward Renfeng Hall. “My lord had best pray there is a clue here.”
Inside, they found an elderly physician presiding. Jiang Li explained her purpose. The old man gave a soft sigh. “Was it a young lady, fair of face and slender of build?”
At this, both Jiang Li and Pei Yan’s expressions sharpened. Jiang Li confirmed, and the physician stroked his beard. “I recall her. She came in mid‑April, twice in all. The first time, her knee was badly swollen; by the second, it had eased somewhat. But such an ailment requires four or five visits at least. She never returned, and I confess I worried for her.”
Jiang Li pressed, “Do you know her name? When was the second visit?”
The physician shook his head. “She gave only the surname Yang, no full name. Her illness stemmed from poor diet—she ate much offal and favored sour, chilled fruits. That brought on the flare. The second visit was in late May, when the weather was hot. Why do you ask—?”
Jiang Li said gravely, “She was harmed by another. Her life has already been cut short. Please recall if she had any other distinguishing traits or mentioned family, residence, perhaps a betrothal?”
The physician’s face paled. He thought carefully, then said, “She wore fine silks, not of a poor household, and paid promptly. Her features were delicate. She spoke of no kin, and I did not pry.”
He seemed to have little more, but Jiang Li’s expectant gaze held him. After a pause, his eyes lit. “I remember—she carried a fragrance…”
Jiang Li’s heart tightened. “Do you recall what kind?”
The physician frowned in thought. “It was rather strong. I believe it contained silk tree blossom and musk.”
Jiang Li’s pulse quickened. “And peony, love‑seed, spikenard, and wood incense as well?”
The physician looked startled—she had named it exactly. Pei Yan, too, was puzzled at her certainty. Jiang Li’s expression chilled as she turned to him. “It was balm from Fuxiang Studio…”