Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 83: Without responsibility, how can we shoulder the responsibility of the two capitals and thirteen provinces? (Update )
"suicide?"

When these words were spoken, everyone in the school, including Gui Zai, was stunned.

The deceased, Zhao Chen, killed himself?

This makes absolutely no sense!

Huo Tao didn't want Gui Zai to be the murderer, but he found it hard to accept this answer. He said in a deep voice, "Are you sure?"

Coroner Li Ming met the gaze of the palace master, his expression changed, and he hurriedly said: "It's hard to be sure..."

The title of "Iron Mirror" represents his level of autopsy skills, but the fact that he worked as a coroner in Shuntian Prefecture for more than 20 years also shows that he is well versed in the ways of officialdom.

If he really thought that all cases had to be judged based on autopsy results, he would have been kicked out of the capital long ago, and he might not even have saved his life.

Huo Tao didn't actually mean that, but seeing his men trembling with fear, he couldn't say it out loud, so he could only look at Hai Yue.

This young man was both talented and courageous, and he really caught his eye.

Huo Tao actually trusted what this person said even more.

After Hai Yue finished describing the bloodstains, she stopped trying to convince him based on this point and began looking for the next clue. She turned to Gui Zai and asked, "Excuse me, Master Gui, who was that scream a while ago?"

The shrill scream was heard clearly even by many scholars taking the exam in the examination hall far away. It was not that Haiyue looked down on Gui Zai, but this weak scholar was probably unable to make such a sound.

As expected, Gui Zaidao said, "It was Zhao Qilang who shouted..."

"Then here's the problem!"

Hai Yue asked, "Can a person scream out loudly after their pulmonary artery is severely damaged and so much blood has flowed out?"

The answer is no.

Severe pain, acute hypoxia and hemorrhagic shock can cause people to quickly lose their ability to move and become unconscious, let alone speak with force.

Let alone modern medical knowledge, even those with a bit of common sense in ancient times would know that this wouldn't work. Hai Yue continued, "So, can we conclude that when the deceased screamed, they weren't actually fatally injured?"

Huo Tao said, "According to you, Zhao Qilang first screamed, attracting attention from outside, then stabbed the weapon into his body, injuring his lungs, and finally pulled it out, causing him to spurt blood and fall to the ground and die?"

Haiyue nodded.

"This behavior is indeed consistent with suicide..."

Huo Tao fell into deep thought.

Yan Shifan's eyes rolled around, still unable to believe it.

The key point is, if Zhao Chen really committed suicide, then Gui Zai could just say that he committed suicide. Why did he bring up some invisible murderer and mislead the audience?
Hai Yue had the same question and continued, "Master Gui, I hope you can recall the questions I'm going to ask next and answer them truthfully. This will be of great help in sorting out the case!"

Gui Zai took a deep breath and said, "Brother Hai, please ask!"

"Was it Zhao Qilang who facilitated our meeting at the Imperial College today?"

"Yes."

"How did you bring it about?"

"He wrote a letter slandering my second brother and asked me to meet him today at the Imperial College."

"Is the letter still there?"

"exist."

"What happened after you and Zhao Qilang dismissed your attendants?"

"He took out another letter and showed it to me..."

"He took the opportunity to snatch the dagger from your waist?"

"I don't know if he was the one who took the knife. I was reading a letter when I felt something light at my waist and the knife disappeared."

"Zhao Qilang has practiced martial arts since he was a child. With his martial arts skills, can he do it?"

"can!"

"After taking your sword, Zhao Qilang stabbed himself with it?"

"I...I don't know!"

"Why don't you know?"

"I was still in a daze when Zhao Qilang had already retreated to the other end of the hall and was talking to someone!"

"say?"

"Yes! I really think there was another person in the room. He spoke to that person, and then the knife pierced his body. He screamed and fell down!"

"You didn't go?"

"I was so scared that my legs went weak and I didn't dare to go over..."

"What did he say?"

"He spoke vaguely and in pain. I couldn't hear clearly, but I will never forget that horrible expression..."

When Gui Zai answered this, he shuddered and subconsciously looked at Zhao Chen.

Everyone looked over and their expressions changed.

Zhao Chen's body had begun to stiffen, his face twisted into a heart-wrenching picture, as if he had experienced unspeakable terror and despair in the last moments of his life.

His facial features were almost out of place, his brows were tightly furrowed, veins bulged on his forehead, as if he had used up all his strength to resist some invisible oppression. His eyes bulged out, his pupils dilated, as if trying to break free from the constraints of his eye sockets, staring intently at an invisible murderer.

It's really creepy! Huo Tao listened to this and spoke again: "If Zhao Chen committed suicide, did he have a motive?"

Gui Zai said blankly: "I don't know..."

Haiyue had some guesses in her mind, but they were unfounded. Speaking them out would only cause trouble and would have a counterproductive effect on the case, so she kept silent.

Huo Tao looked at Gui Zai and said, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? If you tell me now, how can you gain people's trust?"

Yan Shifan hurriedly explained on behalf of his companion: "Deyu was in a state of panic just now, which was his reaction after experiencing a sudden murder. Now that he has come to his senses, according to his confession, it does match the distribution of bloodstains at the scene..."

Huo Tao shook his head: "Gui Sanlang is a suspect. It is difficult for others to believe what he said. The Wuding Marquis Mansion will definitely not accept the fact that Zhao Qilang committed suicide for no reason!"

Gui Zai's face turned pale again, and Yan Shifan was speechless. Hai Yue said, "Words are indeed not enough, but fortunately the marks on the body will not lie..."

Huo Tao's expression changed: "Are you going to perform an autopsy?"

"That's right! Because there's a clear height difference between the deceased and the suspect, this can be used as a basis for judgment!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the coroner Li Ming looked at Gui Zai, then at the corpse on the ground. He immediately realized something and nodded, saying, "An autopsy can indeed confirm whether the murder weapon was used by Master Gui..."

Huo Tao asked, "To what extent does it need to be verified?"

Li Ming whispered, "We need to take off our clothes and observe the wound. We can infer the direction of the incision by observing the scars on the body and the bones..."

There was no real dissection in ancient times. Unless the corpse had decayed into bones, it was impossible to open a person's stomach and examine the organs. Such an act was a desecration of the corpse.

Huo Tao frowned.

The autopsy would most likely further anger Marquis Wu Ding, and if no definite results were obtained, there would be no turning back.

Hai Yue looked at Yan Shifan and gave him a look: "If we retreat now, we will fail!"

Yan Shifan received the hint, and after weighing the pros and cons, he finally pretended not to see it: "I'm sorry, I can't bring trouble to my family..."

He originally didn't think that Zhao Chen committed suicide, and thought that the murderer was really someone else. Once Gui Zai's suspicion was cleared and Zhao Chen's revenge was avenged, all parties would be grateful.

But now it seems that if we continue to investigate, we might seriously offend Marquis Wu Ding, so we quickly back off.

Haiyue was not surprised, but just sighed secretly.

The difference between capable ministers in peaceful times and treacherous ministers in troubled times is often not talent. Most treacherous ministers are talented, but what they lack is the sense of responsibility for the country and the people.

Yan Shifan's retreat exposed his weakness of only wanting benefits but not willing to take responsibility.

The two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty will never be borne on the shoulders of such a person!

"drive!"

Just when the atmosphere was solemn, the sound of hurried horse hooves broke the silence.

Xu Gao, the Imperial College's chief academic officer, who was standing at the outermost corner, poked his head out and exclaimed, "Marquis Wu Ding has arrived, bringing his own troops with him!"

A team of more than a hundred soldiers rushed in aggressively.

Armoured with sharp weapons, they marched in unison, and the thumping sound seemed to step on everyone's hearts, frightening the yamen runners so much that they retreated.

Such momentum is definitely not that of an ordinary imperial guard.

Nobles can keep private soldiers. Guo Xun's ancestor Guo Ying was a close confidant of Emperor Taizu, and his family retained the old system of military units for a long time. Although it was rectified during the Hongwu Dynasty and was far smaller than the scale of the past, the phenomenon of nobles protecting private soldiers still existed in the mid-Ming Dynasty.

Guo Xun was one of the nobles who openly kept private soldiers.

As the private soldiers and guards entered and drove away the surrounding students in the most brutal way, the owner of the horse hoof sound finally appeared.

Fifty-six-year-old Guo Xun sat upright on a tall horse, with an upright figure and a rosy face, not looking old at all. His strong body supported the golden python robe, and the cloak fluttered behind him like a flag of arrogance, making him look even more majestic.

As soon as the Marquis of Wuding rode his horse inside, the entire Imperial College was suddenly shrouded in a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

'It's finally here!'

Huo Tao sighed and went to meet him.

Seeing the Shuntian Prefecture Governor, who was also a favorite minister, approaching, Guo Xun sat proudly and did not dismount until the other party was almost in front of his horse.

Huo Tao was extremely displeased with this arrogance, but he kept quiet. The other party's status was indeed higher than that of the Shuntian Prefecture Governor, a third-rank official. However, his hostile attitude was worrying. Not willing to be outdone, he politely said, "Your humble servant greets Lord Guo!"

“Huo Da Jingzhao is polite!”

Guo Xun clasped his fists and said, "I am late because my wife was so grief-stricken when I left the palace that she burst into tears and even fainted. My heart was with her inner chambers, so I had to stay for a while to comfort her. That is why I am late. I hope the Great Jingzhao will forgive me!"

These words seemed quite reasonable in terms of meaning, but coupled with Guo Xun's murderous eyes and tone, they contained tremendous rage that could erupt at any time.

Huo Tao had originally wanted to explain the suspicious bloodstains and the on-site investigation to the other party, but now he could only say, "My Lord, I am deeply saddened..."

"I don't want to hear such words!"

Guo Xun waved his hand and gritted his teeth, "Although Qilang is not my biological brother, he is better than my brother. Now that he has died tragically, I want an explanation!"

Huo Tao was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Let's wait for someone from Gui Mansion to arrive."

"Alright! I'll wait for someone from Guige to come!"

Guo Xun sneered and suddenly looked around. "Qi Lang used to be very close to Gui San Lang, but if I remember correctly, besides them, there was another young master from another family who also came in and out with them? Where is that person? Let him come out. I want to ask him why Gui San Lang was so cruel and brutal as to murder his best friend."

"not good!"

Yan Shifan, who had come to the gate of the courtyard and pricked up his ears to eavesdrop, suddenly turned pale and hurried back to the scene: "Shisanlang, hurry up and perform the autopsy. I will take responsibility for anything that happens!"

(End of this chapter)