Assistant Prefect Ping raised his brows slightly, studying Su Liuyue for a moment before saying: “The one who handled that case back then was the former Minister of Justice, now dismissed. His Kang family was accused of colluding with the Lu clan—the family of the former empress—oppressing the people and extorting wealth. He is currently under trial at the Court of Judicial Review. Fifteen years ago, he served here at the Prefect’s Office as Assistant Prefect. Miss Su, do you wish to meet this former Minister of Justice?”
Su Liuyue shook her head. “Didn’t Assistant Prefect Ping just advise me to fully understand the case before questioning related persons? I’d like to first examine the records from fifteen years ago, as well as all the documents concerning the recent murders.”
Assistant Prefect Ping cast her a faint glance. If she were truly that obedient, his work would be much easier.
He turned and said: “Very well. Follow me.”
Su Liuyue accompanied him to a quiet, secluded room. Its layout resembled the office where Assistant Prefect Lu had taken her earlier: a desk in the center, two chairs on either side, each with a small table beside it. She had barely sat down when four officers entered in perfect order, each carrying a tray piled high with case files. They stacked them on the small tables beside her until they formed four little mountains.
Su Liuyue silently observed the files for a while, then turned to Assistant Prefect Ping. “Assistant Prefect Ping, with so many records, I won’t be able to finish quickly. Could you send word to my uncle’s household, so they won’t worry?”
The man seated at the main chair gave a soft laugh. “Miss Su, you truly are unlike the usual noble ladies. It’s already late, and yet you’re not only staying alone with a man you barely know, but even planning not to return home tonight?”
So he was deliberately picking a fight?
Su Liuyue resisted the urge to roll her eyes, lifting her chin instead. “When Assistant Prefect Ping asked me to assist in this case, you already knew I was different from other noblewomen. I am simply doing my utmost to help. Is there something you find unsatisfactory?”
Besides, she wasn’t fooled. From the moment they met, he had never come closer than three steps—clearly afraid of any contact with her.
Sharing a room with such a man was no different than sharing one with someone whose inclinations were entirely toward men.
The officers who had delivered the files gaped, staring at her as though she were mad. This woman dared speak to *him* like that? Did she have the courage of a bear and a leopard?
Fengyang, standing nearby, was oddly immune to the shock by now.
Assistant Prefect Ping looked at her with a half‑smile. “Of course I have no complaints. Please proceed, Miss Su. I’ll send word to your family. If you need anything, just ask.”
Su Liuyue cast him a glance but said nothing more, picking up the case files beside her and carefully reading through them.
The case from fifteen years ago involved six deaths. Even if the officials back then had been careless, the amount of documentation was still considerable. Most of the files were related to those old cases.
For Su Liuyue, investigating cases was as natural as eating or drinking. She quickly immersed herself in the details, so much so that she didn’t even notice when Fengyang quietly placed an oil lamp beside her.
Assistant Prefect Ping watched her with deep eyes for a moment before withdrawing his gaze and returning to his own work.
Su Liuyue began with the files from fifteen years ago. After scanning them briefly, she understood why people believed the current murders were connected to those past ones. Whether in the choice of victims or the killer’s methods, the cases were almost identical.
Soon, she noticed something very interesting.
“Fifteen years ago, the first victim was strangled with a long strip of material. The coroner judged from the marks that it was likely a belt. In addition, there were clear finger marks on the victim’s neck. The second victim was stabbed to death with a knife.”
Su Liuyue suddenly spoke in a low, firm voice: “But aside from those two, all the other victims were strangled with hemp rope. And the three recent cases are the same.”
Assistant Prefect Ping raised his eyes slightly in surprise. “That is true.”
He had, of course, read all the files himself.
But Su Liuyue lifted her gaze, her eyes gleaming with a strange light. “Do you know what this means?”
Assistant Prefect Ping was taken aback. What could it mean?
After a moment’s thought, he said: “It means the killer later realized he didn’t want to dirty his hands when killing?”
Su Liuyue: “…”
“That’s your own idea, isn’t it!” Su Liuyue finally couldn’t hold back. She silently rolled her eyes and ignored him, continuing instead: “This shows that the killer initially tried to strangle the victim with his bare hands. But strangling someone to death is not easy—it requires immense strength. During the struggle, the victim may have resisted, so in desperation the killer grabbed whatever was at hand to finish the job—perhaps a piece of cloth, or even his own belt. The second time he killed, he learned from the first experience and used a knife directly. However, stabbing produces a lot of blood, which is difficult to clean and leaves obvious traces. So afterward, he grew smarter. Before killing, he prepared a hemp rope and used it to strangle his victims.”
Her lips curved faintly, and she spoke each word with deliberate clarity: “This shows the killer is not particularly strong in build, and… he is growing.”
The last four words were spoken softly, slowly.
Fengyang suddenly felt a chill down his back. What kind of statement was that? Was the killer some kind of infant or beast, slowly “growing”?
Assistant Prefect Ping unconsciously fixed his gaze on her eyes. “Miss Su, what do you mean by that?”
This woman was truly unusual. Speaking of ruthless killers who terrified everyone else, she seemed almost exhilarated.
“He is growing.” Su Liuyue repeated calmly: “When he committed the first murder, it was clear he had never killed before—he lacked experience. His methods improved gradually over time. But in the three recent cases, fifteen years later, the very first victim was strangled with hemp rope. The technique was already mature, showing no trace of the killer’s growth.”
Assistant Prefect Ping tapped his finger lightly on the desk, pondering for a moment before replying: “If the murders fifteen years ago and those now were committed by the same person, then it’s normal that you don’t see signs of growth after fifteen years.”
“If it truly were the same person, then yes, it would be normal. But what if it wasn’t? If Assistant Prefect Ping is so certain they were the same killer, then why arrest my cousin at all?”
Assistant Prefect Ping raised his brows slightly. He could tell—this woman was openly and subtly mocking him.
Yet Su Liuyue remained composed as she continued: “After all, there’s a full fifteen‑year gap between the two sets of cases. If it really was the same person, why did he suddenly stop back then? Why vanish for fifteen years, only to start killing again now? Generally, serial killers don’t stop without reason.”
Fengyang was already completely lost in her words, his mind spinning.
Assistant Prefect Ping, however, kept his gaze clear. He suddenly gave a soft laugh. “Miss Su, you seem to know quite a lot about such murderers.”
Su Liuyue: “…”
This man—trying to trick her into revealing more.
She smiled thinly, without warmth. “These are merely my guesses and impressions. Whether you believe them or not is entirely up to you, Assistant Prefect Ping. But one thing is certain: there must be some connection between the murders fifteen years ago and those now.”
She paused, then added: “Besides, there’s another very obvious clue.”
Another discovery?
Assistant Prefect Ping’s interest sharpened. “And what is that?”