Chapter 9
“Coroner Li!”
Xiao Zhang dashed forward in a flash to support him.
But everything happened too quickly. After only a few rapid breaths, there was utter silence.
His expression, just like Wang Defa and Xu Minghao,
was so serene it sent chills down one’s spine.
A deathly silence filled the ruined temple.
All the Constables turned pale, retreating again and again, as if the air was thick with vengeful spirits.
Suppressing my shock, I crouched down to examine Coroner Li closely.
Moments ago, he had only come into contact with Wang Defa’s corpse and that silver probe.
Carefully wrapping my fingers in cloth, I picked up the fallen silver needle.
At the tip, under the light, there was a faint, nearly transparent sticky substance.
“Poison! Master! Did you hear? Coroner Li said there was poison before he died! Poison on Wang Defa’s corpse!”
At these words, everyone was even more terrified, instinctively scattering.
Captain Yin gripped his waist blade, his sharp gaze sweeping the deserted temple:
“What kind of poison kills on contact? And with such a bizarre death?”
Indeed, even the Coroner investigating the body could be killed so silently-
Just what kind of deadly poison was this?
I looked at the osmanthus blossoms scattered on the ground, my mind drifting to the Old Osmanthus Tree in Su’s Old Courtyard, now in full bloom. Suddenly, a thought struck me-
“Xiao Zhang!” I spun around abruptly.
“Here!”
“Return to the city at once! Report to the Prefect, explain the situation in detail, and request additional trustworthy personnel. Lock down the entire city! Especially all major pharmacies and medical halls-investigate anyone who has recently purchased special medicinal ingredients!”
“Also, quickly summon Doctor Qian from Benevolent Heart Hall! Hurry!”
“Doctor Qian? Is that… the former Imperial Medical Bureau director who retired?” Xiao Zhang was stunned.
“Exactly! If anyone in the world can identify such a strange poison, it must be Doctor Qian! Go, quickly!”
Xiao Zhang mounted his horse and sped away in a cloud of dust.
My gaze finally settled on Captain Yin:
“Captain Yin, this case is grave, involving the lives of officials. I’m afraid I’ll need you to remain here for now and assist with the investigation.”
Captain Yin nodded solemnly:
“Of course.” He paused, then said to me, “Chief Zhao, Brother Xu was a military messenger. His death may not be so simple.”
My heart tightened: “You mean…”
“The border has been unstable lately, with frequent activity from the Northern Di,” Captain Yin lowered his voice, “Brother Xu appeared to be visiting family, but he was on an important mission, carrying a Secret Letter to be delivered here. This matter is highly confidential. I shouldn’t even be telling you.”
Secret Letter!
My heart sank.
If Xu Minghao’s death is connected to the Secret Letter,
then this is no simple murder!
And certainly not some Ghost Manor vengeance!
Wait… where is the Secret Letter?
I recalled the scene of Messenger Xu’s death,
the silver exposed in his travel bag…
That bundle must have been searched!
Damn…
“Quick!”