Chapter Twenty-Five: The Sumptuous Corpse

Seeing their argument growing more heated, Yang Yuan rolled his eyes and snapped impatiently, “Enough! All of you, shut up! As for who the murderer is, the county office will come to a conclusion in due course…”

“I wouldn’t trust the county office as far as I could throw them!”

Fan Youliang, caught up in his agitation, gritted his teeth. “Don’t think I don’t know! Ever since Chief Constable Yang retired, there hasn’t been a single competent person left in the county office! Let’s not even talk about other things—take my wife, for instance, you still haven’t found her after all this time. You expect me to trust you? I’d sooner believe a sow could climb a tree!”

“And you, especially—I know Chief Constable Yang is your father, but you aren’t fit to compare with even a single finger of his!”

Yang Yuan, being singled out, could no longer force a smile. His expression soured as if bitterness oozed from his pores.

Yan Fang was taken aback. Lady Luo was here in the inn—did they not know that?

He opened his mouth to speak, but Yang Yuan’s voice cut in, “You’re not my father. How would you know my abilities better than he does?”

With that, scowling, he ignored Fan Youliang’s twisted expression, instructed the other constables to keep an eye on him, and strode into the room.

Yun Shuang followed closely behind.

Listening to their endless quarrel was far less useful than taking a look at the scene of the crime.

The young soldier who had brought Yun Shuang here paused, startled to see her walk so calmly and briskly into the victim’s room, showing not a hint of hesitation.

Did Lady Yun not realize there was a corpse inside? She walked so quickly, as if she couldn’t wait to get in.

Hopefully she wouldn’t be frightened out of her wits!

Once inside, Yun Shuang swiftly surveyed the entire room.

This was the inn’s finest suite, not only spacious but divided into an inner and outer chamber.

Upon entering, they found themselves first in the outer chamber.

The outer room was mainly for resting. At its center stood a deep red round table with three round stools. On the left was a chaise longue, and on the right, two Wanli cabinets placed side by side for guests to set their belongings.

Everything in the outer room was meticulously arranged. On the table sat a pot of tea and a small plate of refreshments. Beside them, a used cup still half-filled with tea—clearly left by the deceased Lady He.

From the outer chamber alone, there was no trace that it was a murder scene.

The victim wasn’t in the outer room; she must be in the inner chamber.

The two areas were separated by a folding screen door, from which a string of beads hung, now drawn fully aside to reveal everything within.

Inside stood Magistrate Ding and another constable, both wearing grave expressions as they stared at the left side of the folding door, which was just out of sight from the outer chamber, blocked by the door itself.

It was obvious what they were looking at—the corpse.

Yun Shuang quickened her steps and entered, only to see a bath barrel in which lay a slender, fair-skinned woman, her head thrown back, eyes wide and lifeless, unable to rest in peace. Her face retained all its beauty and allure, even enhanced by the tragic circumstances, lending a haunting and seductive quality that sent a chill through the heart.

This was the victim of the case—He Zhenzhen.

Beside her, an elderly man in his fifties with hair already graying was carefully examining her. Clearly, he was the coroner summoned by the county office.

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