Humans in All Heavens: Starting with Detective Dee

"Yes, I can't believe it either."

Another long sigh escaped Di Renjie's lips; he too felt a pang of regret for Liu Chuanlin's death.

What a fine young man! How could he die at such a young age?

Li Yuanfang didn't believe it, and he didn't believe it even more.

"I'm sure there's more to the story than meets the eye when Young Master Liu died."

While hiking with his elderly father, he, a young man, accidentally fell off a cliff and died.

But my father is completely unharmed? Does that make sense?

As he spoke, Di Renjie looked at the Book of Changes.

I'd like to hear his opinion.

Zhou Yi stepped forward: "My lord, Brother Yuanfang, there's no need for you to be sad."

What if I said that young master Liu might not be dead?

"What?" The two were suddenly startled.

I don't understand why the Book of Changes says this.

"Di Chun, what have you discovered?" Di Renjie asked hurriedly.

He had already observed everyone's reactions in the mourning hall.

I also observed the layout of the mourning hall, but didn't find anything.

Li Yuanfang also stared wide-eyed at Zhou Yi.

I want to know what the I Ching will say next.

Meeting their eager gazes, Zhou Yi didn't keep them in suspense but nodded directly: "Yes, it's very likely that Young Master Liu is not dead."

Today at the funeral hall, you offered incense to Young Master Liu, and my brother Yuanfang and I were standing not far behind you.

"Do you remember where we were, sir?"

After a moment's thought, Di Renjie remembered what had just happened: "You were standing to the left of Young Master Liu's coffin."

Yuanfang stood on the right.

"That's right, that's exactly where we stood at the time."

You should know that I am meticulous.

Having been with adults for so long, when they arrive in an unfamiliar place, they instinctively scan and observe their surroundings.

The same was true at the funeral hall.

I stood to the left of Young Master Liu's coffin, surveying the surroundings.

Concentrate and calm your mind.

Since you are in the mourning hall, no one else dares to speak.

Therefore, the environment in the mourning hall was very quiet.

I vaguely heard faint breathing sounds coming from inside the coffin.

If the person lying in the coffin is indeed Young Master Liu, then it's possible he's not dead.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing these words, Di Renjie looked at Li Yuanfang.

Li Yuanfang gave a wry smile: "My lord, please don't look down on me. I am not as meticulous as Brother Di."

Therefore, I stood on the right and was only looking at you.

They didn't even bother to calmly observe their surroundings, nor did they hear any faint breathing sounds from the coffin.

Di Renjie nodded, a smile appearing on his face: "If Young Master Liu is really not dead, that would be wonderful."

But in an instant, a look of doubt appeared on his face, and he muttered to himself, "It's just strange, if Young Master Liu really didn't die, why didn't anyone notice that he didn't die?"

Didn't Liu Chali take his son to a doctor for emergency treatment?

Generally speaking, parents will believe that their children are dead even if they appear to be.

Deep down, I didn't want to believe it.

They would even call a doctor, insisting that the doctor perform emergency treatment.

Liu Family Village is wealthy, not poor. Did Liu Chali not even consult a doctor?

So you've already concluded that Young Master Liu is dead?

Could it be?

Suddenly, Di Renjie's expression changed as he realized a terrifying possibility.

Li Yuanfang noticed this and quickly asked, "My lord, what have you thought of?"

Di Renjie met his gaze and said calmly, "Could it be that Liu Chali murdered Young Master Liu?"

"This? This can't be right!" Li Yuanfang couldn't believe it. "My lord, Young Master Liu is Liu Chali's own son."

As the saying goes, even a tiger won't eat its own cubs.

Liu Chali is so old.

He only has one son, Young Master Liu.

What circumstances could have led Liu Chali to commit such a heinous act?

She murdered her own son.

"Yes," Di Renjie nodded in agreement. "I don't know the reason, and I don't want to think that way either."

But judging from the current situation, it seems that this is the only possibility.

Fortunately, Di Chun was meticulous.

If Young Master Liu is truly not dead, that would be wonderful. We could likely learn the truth from him.

After saying that, he raised his head and looked at the two of them: "It's not good to move around in broad daylight."

So, we'll make our move tonight and explore the mourning hall...

Let's see if Young Master Liu is really not dead.

"Yes, sir." The two bowed and accepted the order.

……

At night, Liujiazhuang was pitch black.

Only a few places were lit up.

Inside the manor, guards from the imperial envoy's personal guard patrolled back and forth, carrying torches.

Zhou Yi led the way, Di Renjie was in the middle, and Li Yuanfang was at the back.

The three of them tiptoed quietly to the vicinity of the mourning hall.

In the mourning hall, several white candles crackled and hissed as they burned.

A vigilant knelt on a prayer mat in front of the coffin.

Its body kept falling.

He straightened his back again.

He looked drowsy.

Outside the mourning hall, Di Renjie and his two companions arrived without disturbing the mourners inside.

Di Renjie looked at Zhou Yi and gave him a wink.

The meaning of the I Ching is: reach out and put your hand into your bosom.

With a whoosh, a steel needle shot out from his chest and pierced the neck of the guardian.

With a thud, the already drowsy vigilant swayed and fell to the ground.

The three entered the mourning hall.

Di Renjie looked at the guardian of the spirit on the ground.

"Di Chun, will he be alright?"

"Don't worry, sir, I don't have the snake venom that Hu Jinghui has."

I replaced the medicine on the steel needle with a sedative.

It also reduced the force of the launch.

He'll be fine; he'll wake up first thing tomorrow morning.

At that point, they'll just think they fell asleep at night.

Zhou Yi walked to the guardian of the spirit, bent down and pulled the steel needle from his neck, took out the box containing the Shadowless Needle, and put the steel needle back in.

"Hmm." Di Renjie nodded, quite satisfied, and then swung his arm.

The three of them quickly walked to Liu Chuanlin's coffin.

With a forceful push, Zhou Yi and Li Yuanfang pushed the lid aside.

Upon seeing Young Master Liu's face, all three of them were suddenly startled.

I can hardly believe it.

Even Zhou Yi, who was prepared in advance.

Inside the coffin lay a person lying quietly.

But his face was disfigured, a bloody mess, too gruesome to look at.

His face was completely mangled from the fall.

Despite his discomfort, Di Renjie rolled up his sleeves and reached into the coffin.

He placed his hand on Liu Chuanlin's neck.

Suddenly, his face lit up with joy.

He raised his head and looked at the two of them: "Hmm? Di Chun is right, Young Master Liu is still breathing."

"Really, sir?" Li Yuanfang was also very happy, as both of them had a good impression of Liu Chuanlin.

Although Liu Chuanlin had a bad impression of Liu Chali, he treated the two of them well.

"Good. Quickly, carry Young Master Liu to my room."

I want to treat him myself.

Di Renjie withdrew his arm and began to give instructions.

"Yes, sir."

The two immediately began to act.

Zhou Yi stepped forward and lifted Liu Chuanlin's body out of the coffin.

Li Yuanfang bent down and carried Liu Chuanlin on his back.

Zhou Yi then restored the coffin to its original state.

Di Renjie waved his hand: "Let's go."

And so, Li Yuanfang carried Liu Chuanlin on his back, and the three of them tiptoed back to Di Renjie's room.

"Come on, slowly, slowly." Inside the room, the two carefully placed Liu Chuanlin on Di Renjie's bed.

Di Renjie quickly stepped forward to examine Liu Chuanlin.

His face gradually turned serious.

"My lord, how is Young Master Liu?"

"The facial injuries are severe, there are multiple fractures throughout the body, and in addition, there are serious internal injuries."