Chapter 101: Night Reconnaissance

Patrol Head Zhao Shixiong had been in a foul mood these past few days.

First came a case of a missing girl. In the northern district, two households had already reported that their daughters, both under ten, had vanished without a trace. There was no clear lead at all. They did not even know where the children had disappeared, much less how. While examining the case files, Zhao Shixiong discovered that something similar had happened several years earlier, and that case had eventually been closed as a kidnapping and trafficking crime.

Before he could even submit the closing papers, another case had broken out in the north district: a poisoning murder.

What made it even more bitter was that the family involved in this case had been specifically ordered by higher authorities to be treated with special care. Yet when the incident occurred, he was not there. Not only had the prefectural captain's men snatched the credit, they had also left him the target of scorn from all his colleagues.

Now the case had been handed to him, but how to investigate it, where to begin, how to turn the situation around from a disadvantageous position was no easy matter. With such a hot potato in his hands, no matter how he handled it, there was no way to come out ahead.

Those who served under Zhao Shixiong were all seasoned men. One look at his expression told them the case was troublesome and not easy to deal with.

By rights, the matter did not seem difficult at all. The facts were plain, the witness and physical evidence were both there, and it could be reported straightaway. But since the patrol head's face was so grim, it seemed he did not mean to close the case, but to reopen it.

Ding, the constable, had been promoted by Zhao Shixiong himself and was highly valued by him. Before Zhao Shixiong even asked, he had already thought it through carefully. So he replied, "In my view, we should first go to the deceased's home and have the coroner test the poison to see whether it is the same as the poison in the brine. We should also summon and interrogate the drinkers who were seated nearby at the time. After all, they ate and drank together, yet only the others are unharmed. That in itself is suspicious."

The reminder brought Zhao Shixiong to his senses. He hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes. Brother Ding, that was thoughtful of you. You three come with us to the deceased's home. You few, split up and investigate everyone who was drinking at the shop that day."

"Yes."

They divided into separate teams.

Zhao Shixiong led four men to Sheep's Intestine Alley, a narrow lane near the north gate. The people living there were all poor, and the alley was long, deep, narrow, and winding, like an intestine, which was how it got its name.

Near the inner end of Sheep's Intestine Alley stood a household with two white lanterns hanging from its dilapidated doorway. From the crack in the door, where the grief could not be hidden, came intermittent sounds of weeping, and the smell of burning paper drifted out. It was the home of the deceased, Wei San.

Constable Ding stepped forward and knocked on the door ring. After quite a while, a woman came to open it. Seeing the officers, she quickly called inside, "Aunt Wei, the constables are here."

Wei San's father had died early in life, and it was his mother, Aunt Wei, who had worked herself nearly to the bone raising him. Now that her son was gone, Aunt Wei had lost her strength as well, and two older women had to help her as she shuffled out unsteadily.

By rights, Wei San was only in his early twenties, and his mother could not have been more than forty-five or forty-six. Yet the woman before Zhao Shixiong was white-haired and deeply wrinkled, looking more than ten years older than she truly was.

"Sir, has the murderer who killed my son been brought to justice?"

Aunt Wei lifted her face and looked at Zhao Shixiong with hope.

"Well... there are many suspicious points in this case, and it still needs verification."

"What suspicious points? The matter is plain enough. My son drank that tavern's liquor, then came home and died. If the officials are making excuses like this, could it be because that family has bribed you with silver, and now my son is to lose his life for nothing?"

"You old woman, how unreasonable. We came here precisely to find the true culprit so that Wei San may rest in peace. Hurry up and lead the way so the coroner can examine the body."

A constable nearby answered impatiently.

Who would have thought that Aunt Wei would fly into a rage at once? Her eyes bulged, and with a sudden jerk she shook off the hands of the two old women supporting her. She rushed to Zhao Shixiong and sat down on the ground, wailing bitterly. "You refuse to catch the murderer, and now you want to come harm my son's body. My poor son! To think that even in death you cannot find peace. My son, if anyone dares lay a finger on you today, your mother will not live either. I will die right before his eyes..."

Zhao Shixiong and the constables exchanged looks, unable to move. If they really drove someone to death, they would never be able to account for it.

An elderly woman nearby tried to smooth things over. "Sir, this is truly our local custom. Once the coffin has been sealed, it cannot be opened again, or else the child will suffer below. Please, for the sake of the deceased, show us some forbearance."

Things had come to this point, and Zhao Shixiong had no choice but to withdraw and think of another way.

Meanwhile, Liu Qin also thought of the key point: the deceased had to be examined. No matter what, they should at least see the body with their own eyes before deciding what to do next. Just as she voiced the idea, Jiang Li and Little Five said in unison, "I'll go."

The two glanced at each other, both refusing to yield.

"Stop arguing. We'll go together."

"No way."

Again, they objected in perfect unison.

"Brother Ali, let me go. Just one look, only one look." Then she coaxed Little Five as well. "Brother Little Five, you spoil me the most, don't you?"

The two of them were pulled and tugged from both sides until their heads ached, and in the end they had no choice but to nod in silent agreement.

Then they began arguing over who would carry Liu Qin.

"Of course I should carry my little sister," Jiang Li said with complete confidence.

"Junior Brother Jiang," Little Five drawled the title on purpose, "can you run as fast as your senior brother?"

"You..."

Jiang Li was left speechless.

"Can you even get over the manor wall?"

Jiang Li...

Liu Qin looked at Jiang Li with some sympathy. Little Five was truly a wicked one, sly and black-hearted. Look how he was making Brother Ali so angry.

But sympathy was sympathy. Meeting Jiang Li's silent, expectant gaze, Liu Qin turned her head and pretended not to see it. Sorry, Brother Ali, but this really is not the time for jealousy.

That night, when the surroundings had gradually quieted and the lanterns one by one went dark, two figures flashed rapidly across the rear courtyard of the Liu residence, swiftly crossing the court and garden until they reached the wall at the back alley.

One of the figures, wrapped in a great cloak, shook out a sleeve and sent a black rope whistling through the air. It landed precisely atop the wall. Borrowing the rope's strength, the figure quickly climbed the courtyard wall, then looked back and tossed the rope down again, hauling the person below upward. The two jumped down from the wall and ran northward, vanishing quickly into the darkness.

Just as the figures were about to disappear completely, another person leaped down from the wall and chased after them.

The great study in the front courtyard was still lit. Master Liu and the eldest son were speaking in low voices about something when a figure leaped through the window and knelt on one knee. "My lord, the cousin young master and Young Master Little Five have left the residence."

"Oh? The little sister did not go with them?"

"This servant did not see the young lady, but Young Master Little Five was wearing a great cloak."

That made sense. He had said that if his little sister went, he would write the character for Liu backward.

Master Liu nodded. "Send people to follow them, but do not act. Make absolutely certain they come to no harm."

"Yes. Ah Jiu has already followed them."

Liu Qin lay across Little Five's back while he ran swiftly through the streets with one arm supporting her. She had not expected Little Five's martial arts to be so good. Carrying someone on his back, he still ran faster than Jiang Li. When they leaped the wall just now, she had truly felt as if she were soaring through clouds. It was exhilarating. If not for the timing, she would have shouted out loud.

In less than half an hour, they had reached Sheep's Intestine Alley. With the map provided by Changsheng, they found Wei San's home without the least difficulty.

Wei San's household also had a courtyard, though the wall was very low. Little Five and Jiang Li easily vaulted inside.

A mourning shed had been erected in the courtyard with white cloth, and mourning banners hung from it. Inside stood a lone coffin, cold and desolate. A few white candles cast a pallid light. There was no one keeping vigil, and the house beyond was pitch dark. Now and then they could hear the creak of a bed turning in sleep.

The three of them crept quietly to the side of the coffin. Little Five did not set Liu Qin down and kept carrying her on his back.

"Junior Sister, hold on tight," he whispered, then signaled to Jiang Li.

The two men took one end each, gripped the coffin lid, and with a heave, lifted it open.

The three of them leaned in to look.

What they saw made them all gasp in shock, utterly stunned.