“Wen Shaoqing, your case has been transferred to Xu Shaoqing,” the young girl beside her said nervously.
Wen Ningwan responded with an indifferent “Oh,” sitting absentmindedly at the desk, propping her head in her hands.
“Aren’t you angry?”
“Why should I be? Isn’t it better to slack off with nothing to do?”
“Slack off?”
“Just idling away time,” Wen Ningwan said with a look of longing.
The girl seemed to understand and nodded, then added, “But if your performance doesn’t improve, there’ll be no year-end bonus, your monthly pay will be docked, and even your annual leave will be affected.”
“What?” Wen Ningwan immediately panicked. No annual leave was fine, but losing money was unacceptable!
“Let’s go, let’s go! We need to take back the case that belongs to me,” Wen Ningwan hurriedly scrambled to her feet.
The girl happily nodded and quickly followed.
A gentle young woman stopped Wen Ningwan. “Wen Shaoqing, there’s been a murder outside the city. The capital’s magistrate office has handed it over, and they need you to handle it now.”
“Huh?” Wen Ningwan was momentarily stunned wasn’t this a ready-made opportunity for merit? She nodded repeatedly. “Alright! I’ll go right away.”
“You!.” Wen Ningwan turned to look at the girl who had caught up.
The girl quickly smiled. “Miao Shiyi, your personal clerk.”
“Oh, Shiyi, go and take over this case.”
“No need. I’ve already accepted it on your behalf. We can’t lose to Xu Shaoqing and her team,” the gentle girl said with a proud smile.
“And you are?” Wen Ningwan was confused.
“Chief Clerk Liu, Liu Jiaojiao,” Miao Shiyi interjected.
“Ah, yes,” Liu Jiaojiao nodded repeatedly.
Seemed like they were on her side. Wen Ningwan suddenly felt melancholic these were all nameless, faceless cannon fodder from the original story. Her team was truly something: a bunch of cannon fodder, banding together to deliver themselves to their doom.
Wen Ningwan sighed deeply, hanging her head as she walked toward the front hall.
A corpse lay in the side courtyard. Pausing at the entrance, Wen Ningwan hesitated this was her first time facing a dead body, and she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Miao Shiyi looked puzzled at the sudden halt, while Liu Jiaojiao blinked in disbelief. “My lord, you’re not afraid of corpses, are you?”
Miao Shiyi turned and glared at her indignantly. “Impossible! Wen Shaoqing is a high-ranking official. How could a mere corpse scare her?”
“Right?” Miao Shiyi lifted her chin proudly, turning to look at Wen Ningwan’s conflicted expression.
“You go first,” Wen Ningwan gestured for her to enter.
Miao Shiyi walked in without a second thought. Liu Jiaojiao glanced at Wen Ningwan, who was clinging to the doorframe, and chuckled before stepping inside to lift the white cloth covering the body.
“Victim: Zou Yun, 26. Discovered at noon by a passing merchant caravan, brutally murdered by the river west of the city gate.”
“Wen Shaoqing?” Miao Shiyi looked questioningly at the woman still lingering at the door, her face turned away.
Wen Ningwan froze, then turned back with a pitiful expression. “My mom said children shouldn’t look at dead bodies, it’ll give them nightmares!”
“…”
“…”
Ignoring her, Liu Jiaojiao continued, “Killed by a heavy blow from behind. The golden hairpin is still intact, ruling out robbery as a motive.”
“Not a sexual assault either,” Miao Shiyi added, glancing at the victim’s collar. “Though the clothes are disheveled, it seems to be from tugging at the sleeves.”
“Was she fighting over something?” Wen Ningwan asked, puzzled.
Liu Jiaojiao looked at her helplessly: “My lord, come in. Don’t be afraid. She’s already dead, it’s not like she’ll suddenly sit up and hurt you.”
Wen Ningwan shuddered all over. That made it even more terrifying. She swallowed nervously and quickly shook her head: “No, no, I believe you.”
“…”
“…”
The two smiled wryly and continued their analysis. Miao Shiyi looked at the bloodstained rock nearby: “Is this the murder weapon?”
“Mm.” Liu Jiaojiao picked it up and gestured with it a couple of times, then examined the wound: “The impact is slightly to the right. It must have been struck from the front during a struggle, hitting the back of the head.”
Wen Ningwan turned to see someone approaching with a serious expression and stepped forward with a bitter smile: “Isn’t this Miss Youran? Did you catch someone?”
Hearing this, Miao Shiyi and Liu Jiaojiao hurried out. Youran glanced at the corpse inside and said, “By the decree of the Imperial Preceptor, Chief Minister Wen is to take charge of the murder case outside Zouyun City. The case must be solved within three days.”
“…” Wen Ningwan’s mouth twitched. Investigating for the Imperial Preceptor, this was exactly how those cannon fodder died.
Ignoring the stunned trio, Youran walked straight in, examined the corpse, then the rock beside it. Her eyes darkened, and she strode out with a deep frown.
“Zouyun, an advisor from the Imperial Preceptor’s residence. His wife lives on East Street in the western part of the city. You can start your investigation there.” Without another word, Youran left the Ministry of Justice.
“Someone from the Imperial Preceptor’s residence?” Miao Shiyi said with distaste.
Liu Jiaojiao looked at Wen Ningwan’s grave expression: “Three days to solve the case, and no mention of what happens if we fail.”
Wen Ningwan took a deep breath and rubbed her forehead helplessly: “If we fail, we’ll just have to submit to her whims.”
“But that’s assuming I even live to see the third day,” Wen Ningwan lamented.
“Don’t worry, my lord. We’ll start investigating right away beginning with those close to her. We’ll crack the case quickly,” Miao Shiyi reassured her.
“Right. I reviewed the dossier from the Capital Prefecture and found a discrepancy. Zouyun’s wife went to her parents’ home last night, which happens to be outside the city. Maybe we can start there.”
“What do you mean?” Wen Ningwan asked.
“Zouyun and his wife weren’t a love match, it was arranged by their parents. Their marriage was strained, and Zouyun often frequented pleasure houses.”
“I see!” Miao Shiyi exclaimed excitedly. “His wife suddenly returns to her parents, and he just happens to go outside the city and ends up dead there. She must know something.”
“Pleasure houses?” Wen Ningwan grinned suggestively.
“…”
“…”
“Shiyi, check the riverbank for any overlooked clues. Jiaojiao, investigate the wife at her parents’ home, see if she has an alibi.”
“Yes!” the two answered in unison.
“What about you, my lord?” Miao Shiyi asked, puzzled.
Wen Ningwan straightened up and declared righteously: “I’ll go to the pleasure houses to investigate those closely connected to the victim and look for leads.”
The two gave her a disdainful look before turning away resignedly.
Wen Ningwan adjusted her clothes and trotted off eagerly, heading straight for the brothel the deceased frequented Beauty House.
“Beauty House? Not exactly modest,” Wen Ningwan muttered, suppressing her excited grin. She cleared her throat, put on a serious expression, and swaggered inside.
Upon entering, she was immediately captivated by the dancing beauties on either side—their radiant faces like peach blossoms, skin smooth as congealed fat, wearing only the barest of garments as they swayed their slender waists with enchanting grace.
Unable to resist, Wen Ningwan reached out and playfully touched one of the dancer’s waists, drawing a giggle from the beauty.
Just then, the state preceptor upstairs happened to witness this. Her expression darkened, her lips twitched in disdain, and she turned her face away in disgust.