Sweat beaded on Zheng Wenyàn’s forehead. “Marquis, the pharmacy truly has not been opened for a long time. I never carry the key with me. The duty hall’s study is locked, but many people come and go there. Marquis, no matter how depraved I might be, I would never plot to murder my own elder brother.”
Seeing Huo Weilou’s cold expression, Zheng Wenyàn hurried on: “Yes, that night I went to Second Brother’s study indeed to search for the memorial. Before the New Year, I personally saw my mother writing it in her warm chamber. When she noticed me, she quickly put it away. I thought it strange, but since she did not mention it, I did not ask. Later, when she suddenly died, I panicked. While sorting her belongings, I searched her bedroom and study, but found nothing…”
His face twisted in misery, almost in tears. “I wondered if Mother had already given the memorial to Second Brother. In the days after, we were busy with her funeral, and Second Brother stayed shut in his room. I had no chance. That night, with Second Sister-in-law and Xiao’er outside, and Second Brother nowhere to be seen, I finally had the opportunity to look.”
Desperate to prove himself, Zheng Wenyàn dared not conceal anything further. Huo Weilou’s expression remained unreadable. He only swept his gaze around the pharmacy. “Search it. See if any clues remain.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guards obeyed, but after a while, found nothing.
Huo Weilou’s eyes grew heavy. “Summon all the household servants and stewards for questioning. Leave no one out.”
Then, as if recalling something, he asked: “Who is Nanny Yu?”
Zheng Wenyàn froze, hesitating. “She was Mother’s personal maid brought from the capital, someone Mother trusted deeply. But more than ten years ago, she committed a mistake and was sent to guard the ancestral hall. She has been there ever since.”
“More than ten years ago?”
Zheng Wenyàn nodded. “Yes, about fifteen or sixteen years ago. I don’t know the details. The ancestral hall is in the northwest of the estate. Nanny Yu has not stepped out in all these years. Mother only saw her during festivals, when she offered incense. She is a cold-hearted woman. Even when Mother died, she did not appear.”
A trusted servant from the capital, punished to guard the ancestral hall for over a decade.
Huo Weilou looked at Prefect He. “Send someone to the ancestral hall to confirm this.”
Prefect He nodded.
Huo Weilou then said: “You have no witnesses. From now on, remain in your quarters and do not wander. What you said just now, I will verify.”
Zheng Wenyàn looked troubled. “Marquis, today is Mother’s second-seven day. There will be a small ritual later.”
After a brief pause, Huo Weilou pointed to an Embroidered Uniform Guard. “You will accompany him.”
Zheng Wenyàn breathed easier. Soon, another guard reported: “Marquis, all the household servants have been gathered.”
The Zheng estate had many attendants. Questioning them all would take time. Huo Weilou ordered the pharmacy locked again and returned to the front courtyard.
Bo Ruoyou stepped closer to Prefect He. “Sir, I wish to examine the corpse.”
Prefect He hesitated. “Examine who?”
“Second Master Zheng.”
Bo Ruoyou paused, then explained: “We still do not know why Second Master went to the Yaoyue Pavilion. Though the cause of death is clear, there remain many doubts. I wish to see if the body holds other clues.”
Her voice was not loud, but Huo Weilou, walking ahead, stopped and turned back to look at her.
Seeing this, Eunuch Fu immediately grew animated. “Miss Bo! I’ll go with you!” After speaking, he glanced at Huo Weilou as if seeking approval. Huo Weilou gave a slight nod, then led the others away.
Prefect He said: “Since Eunuch Fu will accompany you, I’ll stay with the Marquis to conduct the questioning.”
Eunuch Fu waved cheerfully, and Prefect He hurried after Huo Weilou. Once they were gone, Eunuch Fu turned to Bo Ruoyou. “Come then, Miss Bo. I so enjoy watching you examine corpses…”
Bo Ruoyou couldn’t help but laugh. “This is the first time I’ve heard someone say they enjoy watching autopsies.”
Eunuch Fu sighed deeply. “Truth is, I was raised in the inner palace. At first, I never saw such things. But ever since His Majesty ordered me to follow the Marquis, I’ve grown used to it. Not only used to corpses, but I’ve even learned the basics of interrogations and trials. Ah, it’s hard on these old bones; following the Marquis is no easy task.”
As they turned toward the western courtyard, Eunuch Fu asked: “Miss Bo, how many corpses have you examined?”
Bo Ruoyou thought for a moment. “Since I was twelve, I’ve been entering the public mortuary. By now, perhaps a hundred or more.”
Eunuch Fu clicked his tongue. “Then, Miss Bo, will you continue as a coroner in the future?”
Bo Ruoyou smiled. “I will continue.”
Eunuch Fu looked at her with some concern. Feeling uneasy under his gaze, she said: “Eunuch, you need not worry for me. Though the coroner’s role is lowly, forensic science allows the dead to speak. People may believe in Buddha or Dao, but I believe more in the knife in my hand. Since I hold this conviction, I do not feel hardship, nor do I despise myself.”
No sooner had she spoken than they saw, not far along the corridor, several servants carrying ritual offerings toward the old madam’s bier.
Eunuch Fu laughed. “Miss Bo, your words are true indeed. If one dies unjustly, neither Buddha nor Dao will help.”
As he spoke, one maid at the rear suddenly stumbled and fell. The tray of fruits she carried tumbled to the ground, one piece rolling right to Bo Ruoyou and Eunuch Fu’s feet.
“Foolish girl! What are you doing! These are offerings for the old madam!”
The steward at the front scolded sharply. Then, glancing at Bo Ruoyou and Eunuch Fu, his face changed. Lowering his voice, he said: “Pick them up quickly. Do you want to alarm the honored guests?”
The maid called Sha Gu picked herself up from the ground, limping as she came toward Bo Ruoyou.
Bo Ruoyou bent down to pick up the fallen fruit, and when Sha Gu reached her, she handed it back.
Sha Gu kept her head lowered. Only when the fruit was placed in her palm did she suddenly lift her face.
Bo Ruoyou’s breath caught. Sha Gu’s eyes were clear, almond-shaped, but the left side of her face bore a palm-sized dark purple scar, covering nearly the entire cheek — an old burn scar. She nodded slightly to Bo Ruoyou, then turned and left. Watching her back, Bo Ruoyou frowned again.
Sha Gu still limped. At first, Bo Ruoyou thought she had stumbled earlier, but now she realized the girl was truly lame.
When the group had gone, Eunuch Fu sighed. “She looks young, yet burned and crippled. Truly pitiful.”
Bo Ruoyou replied softly. “I did not expect the Marquis’s household to employ her.”
In noble houses, servants were usually held to strict standards. Those with disfigurements or disabilities were rarely kept.
Eunuch Fu said: “She may be unfortunate, but in a way, she is lucky.”
As they spoke, they arrived at the western courtyard. Constables guarded the gate. Seeing Bo Ruoyou and Eunuch Fu, they came forward. Yesterday, Bo Ruoyou had only performed a rough examination of Zheng Wenchen’s body. Today, she would conduct a full autopsy, which required more effort.
Entering the mourning hall, after preparations, Bo Ruoyou picked up her small scalpel. With the same precision as yesterday, she opened the abdomen.
Eunuch Fu pinched his nose and stepped back. “I’ve followed the Marquis for a long time, but few coroners are as dedicated as you, Miss Bo.”
Bo Ruoyou’s expression was stern. Without looking up, she said: “The longer time passes, the harder the case is to solve.”
“Indeed.” Eunuch Fu sighed. “Let’s hope the questioning of the servants yields useful testimony.”
Bo Ruoyou replied: “I fear it won’t be easy. But if the body reveals something, it can be worth more than a hundred words of testimony.”
It was the seventh day since Zheng Wenchen’s death. His corpse showed heavy livor mortis, limbs dark purple, mouth and nose with small mold spots, and the abdominal cavity beginning to rot.
Bo Ruoyou bent over, carefully examining inside. After a while, she took a porcelain dish used for offerings and carefully removed a foul-smelling lump from the abdomen.
Eunuch Fu pinched his nose. “What is that?”
Bo Ruoyou shook her head. “I don’t yet know. The deceased has been dead for seven days. There is no food left in the stomach. Yet this has not dissolved.”
Hearing it came from the stomach, Eunuch Fu hurried to the doorway to take a deep breath. Bo Ruoyou stitched and arranged the body, then carried the porcelain dish into the side room. After washing her hands, she poured water into the dish. The foul lump loosened in the water, spreading out.
Eunuch Fu quickly stepped closer. “What is it?”
Bo Ruoyou took bamboo tweezers from a wooden box, carefully lifted the object, and frowned. “It is paper.”
“Paper? What kind of paper?”
Bo Ruoyou’s brows knit. “Gold-flecked stationery.”
Though costly, such paper was common in noble households.
Suddenly, she added: “There are words on it.”
Before Eunuch Fu could ask further, a deep voice came from behind. “What words?”
Startled, Bo Ruoyou looked up. At the doorway stood Huo Weilou. She straightened and shook her head. “The ink is too faint. For now, I cannot read it.”
Huo Weilou stepped closer, standing with the light behind him, his features shadowed, only his eyes gleaming cold as stars. Bo Ruoyou met his gaze without flinching. “But, I have a way.”