Zining County lay on the remote northwestern frontier of the Great Zhou, long renowned as the “Granary of the Northwest.” A clear river known as the Xilin wound around the city, its waters murmuring softly as moonlight danced across the rippling surface.
About a hundred paces from the riverbank stood the nine-story Xilin Tower. Like a spring bamboo shoot rising from the earth, the ancient structure was both elegant and austere.
This area was one of Zining County’s busiest parts. Today was the Ghost Festival, and as soon as night fell, the riverbank filled with townsfolk setting lanterns afloat and praying for blessings.
Street vendors’ cries mingled with children’s laughter. Then, without warning, a loud crash erupted from beneath the tower.
Bang!
A moment later, someone screamed in terror. “Someone jumped from the tower!”
The crowd burst into motion. Some hurried over with lanterns to see what had happened, while others fled home in fright.
Before long, constables arrived, shouting as they pushed through the gathering crowd. “Move aside! What’s all the racket? Out of the way, all of you!”
“Damn it…” The younger constable cursed under his breath when he spotted the blood-soaked corpse on the ground.
The surrounding townsfolk pointed and whispered, trying to identify the deceased from the ruined face. Unfortunately, the victim had landed face-first, making recognition nearly impossible.
Several constables searched the area repeatedly but found nothing suspicious.
“Captain Qin,” a nearby vendor said, “the tower’s been locked for at least eight years. Nobody has a key. No one’s been able to get up there.”
Qin San nodded and ordered someone to summon the coroner. “Examine the body carefully. I’ll take a look inside the tower.”
A thick layer of dust coated the tower’s interior. By lantern light, clear footprints ran from the first floor all the way up to the seventh.
One person’s footprints. Only ascending. None descending.
Qin San studied them several times before concluding, “Looks like suicide. There are tracks going up, but none coming down.”
If a murderer had been involved, the footprints wouldn’t be this clean. Besides, there should have been tracks leading back down.
By then, the coroner had arrived. After carefully examining the corpse, he lowered his voice and said to Qin San, “Captain Qin, the victim did die from the fall. It appears to be suicide.”
“We didn’t find any suspicious individuals either,” the constables reported.
“Fine. Take the body back first.” Qin San waved his hand. “Everyone, disperse. If any family is missing a young man, report it to the county office tomorrow and come identify the body.”
Several laborers brought over a wooden stretcher to move the corpse.
Just then, from within the noisy crowd, a cool and composed female voice rang out. “This body cannot be moved.”
Qiao Lu had always been hot-tempered and rash. He immediately shouted, “Who said that? The authorities are handling official business. Since when do random nobodies get to tell us what to do?”
Only after yelling did he notice a young woman standing among the shifting lantern light. She looked seventeen or eighteen, tall and slender. Her ink-black hair was tied back, and her long brows framed clear, intelligent eyes. Though her clothes were plain and unremarkable, she carried herself with calm steadiness. Ignoring Qiao Lu, she looked directly at Qin San and gave a slight nod. “My name is Ning Yan, Captain Qin.”
Then she pointed at the corpse. “This body cannot be moved for the time being.”
“And why not?” Qin San asked. After several decades as a constable, he had encountered every sort of person imaginable. This was the first time that a young girl had interrupted one of his investigations.
The surrounding crowd watched with great curiosity. Many wondered who she was and what she intended to do.
“Could she be related to the dead man?” someone guessed.
Qin San had heard the same speculation. “You know the deceased?”
“I don’t.” Ning Yan shook her head. “What I mean is that once the body is moved, valuable clues may be destroyed. Investigating this case will become much more difficult.”
“Do you know something about it?”
“I know nothing about the circumstances.” She frowned slightly and continued calmly, “I’m only reminding you that the body shouldn’t be moved. If you solve the case now, while conditions are still intact, it will be much easier.”
In other words, the present moment offered the best opportunity to uncover the truth.
“If solving cases were as easy as you make it sound, everyone could be a constable.” Qiao Lu snorted. “Women really know nothing.”
Ning Yan glanced at him briefly. “Do as you please, then.” She turned to leave, but the young constable became irritated.
“Hold it. What do you mean by that?” His face reddened. “You sound awfully confident. If you’re so capable, solve it yourself.”
Turning toward the crowd, he added defensively, “It’s not that I’m bullying a young woman. She’s the one talking nonsense.”
“Come on, then.” Qiao Lu grabbed Ning Yan’s arm and pointed at the corpse. “You make it sound easy. Go ahead and investigate. If you can’t figure it out, I won’t let this go.”
The crowd immediately began worrying for her.
Everyone in the county knew Qin San’s group were local tyrants. Even the county magistrate tolerated them to some extent. They weren’t people ordinary folk could afford to offend. This young woman looked gentle and scholarly. Surely she would be the one to suffer.
Ning Yan casually brushed away the constable’s hand and raised an eyebrow. “And if I do uncover the truth of this case, what then?”
“I’ll call you Father!” Qiao Lu shouted. Now he was fully committed.
Qin San folded his arms and watched without interfering.
“No need for that.” A faint smile touched Ning Yan’s lips. “From now on, whenever you see me, simply address me respectfully as Master Ning.”
“Fine!” The young constable glared. “I’ll say it if you solve the case. But if you can’t, then you’re the murderer.”
The crowd became even more anxious.
Ning Yan simply withdrew her gaze and walked slowly around the corpse twice. “Whatever you say.”
“Everyone heard that!” Qiao Lu called out. “I’m not picking on her. She’s just too arrogant.” As he spoke, the crowd suddenly parted.
A group of guards approached, escorting a young man on horseback.
The man looked about twenty years old, tall and striking. Dressed in a crimson robe, he resembled a brilliantly blooming flower, bold and impossible to ignore. Seated high on his horse, he looked down on the gathering with effortless authority.
“What’s going on here?” he asked.
The moment Qin San saw him, he hurried forward and bowed. “General Pei. Someone jumped from the tower. This humble servant is investigating.” He quickly explained the situation from beginning to end.
Pei Yan’s narrow phoenix eyes lifted slightly as his gaze settled on Ning Yan.
At the same time, Ning Yan was studying him. So this was Pei Yan, Commander of Qiantan Prefecture. Although she had only transmigrated into this world a few days ago, his notorious reputation had already reached her ears.
The reason was simple. This commander was utterly unruly. Common people often joked that they didn’t fear foreign enemies. They feared Pei Yan. Rumor had it that a man once accidentally stepped on Pei Yan’s foot while walking down the street. Pei Yan had the unfortunate fellow strung up from the city walls and bled for three days. By the time he was taken down, he was little more than a dried corpse. After that, no one dared provoke him again.
“A wager, huh? Interesting.” Pei Yan dismounted with obvious interest.
A servant immediately brought him a chair. He sat down, accepted a cup of hot tea, and leisurely sipped as he observed both the corpse and the unfolding drama. Only after a quarter of an hour did he finally look at Ning Yan. His chin tilted slightly upward, amusement flickering in his eyes.
“So you’re saying this man didn’t jump from the tower and commit suicide?”
Ning Yan nodded. “Indeed.”
“Heh.” Leaning back in his chair, Pei Yan casually pointed at the corpse.
“Then investigate.”
“Yes.” Ning Yan replied.