Chapter 104: Inspection

"Sister Hongjing."

Liu Qin took an immediate liking to the woman called Hongjing at first sight and happily ran over to greet her.

"The young master has arrived."

Hongjing smiled as well, rising to offer a respectful salute to Liu Qin, Jiang Li, and Xiao Wu, squatting lightly. Although it was her first time seeing Xiao Wu, Hongjing didn’t ask any questions but turned to Liu Qin with a gentle smile. "I’ve summoned you here because there is something very important I must discuss."

As she spoke, she walked to the bed, lifted the curtain, and everyone saw a man lying motionless on the bed, his eyes tightly shut, his skin dark and purple, neither alive nor dead, and quite terrifying to behold.

"Do you know who he is, young master?"

Liu Qin shook her head; she was certain she had never seen this man before.

"His name is Wei San."

Wei San?

Liu Qin nearly cried out in shock.

She couldn’t believe the corpse they had been searching for all along was here. But what could Hongjing’s purpose be in stealing Wei San’s body?

Faced with the trio’s bewilderment, Hongjing did not keep them in suspense but explained directly: "Wei San is not dead, yet he cannot awaken now."

She sighed, led the three to sit by a set of chairs, and as Qing’er served tea, Hongjing began to recount how Wei San came to be there.

It turned out that on that day, Hongjing and Qing’er were out on an errand and happened to pass the entrance of Sheepgut Alley. Suddenly, someone stumbled out of the alley, nearly crashing into Qing’er. Qing’er was about to lose her temper, when someone nearby asked, "Old He, you look beside yourself—what’s happened?"

Old He looked up, terror etched across his face. "D-dead... someone is dead, Wei... Wei San is dead."

"What? Someone died? How did he die?"

"Poison... poisoned, drank wine from Qiongjang, poisoned to death."

"Why are you just standing here? You should report to the authorities!"

As they spoke, the two ran toward the magistrate’s office. Upon hearing the name Qiongjang, Hongjing knew something was amiss. She had been to Qiongjang, met the young master, and couldn't believe anything was wrong with their food or drink. But the situation was urgent, and she had no time to ponder. She decided to first check on the deceased.

Twisting and turning through Sheepgut Alley, she finally found the house of the deceased. Standing outside, she heard loud, mournful cries within, one voice especially shrill.

Pushing open the gate, she saw a crowd gathered at the door, all wiping tears. When Hongjing and Qing’er entered, one person hesitated before stepping forward. "And you two are—?"

Hongjing was unsure how to reply, but inside, someone was comforting a woman: "Aunt Wei, you mustn’t cry anymore. If you hurt yourself, what then? Brother Wei San has passed; however heartbroken you are, you must take care of yourself."

Suddenly inspired, Hongjing answered, "We’re distant relatives of the Wei family—first time visiting, never expected to encounter such tragedy."

She pulled out a handkerchief to dab at her eyes, glancing down at her own clothes—thankfully, she had worn a plain outfit that day; had she donned red, it would have been far too conspicuous.

Upon hearing they were Aunt Wei’s relatives, the man hurried them into the house.

Once inside, Hongjing covered half her face with the handkerchief and threw herself onto the wooden board where Wei San lay, crying out, "Oh, Brother Wei San, how could you leave us so suddenly? How will Aunt live now?"

Most people in the room were clustered near Aunt Wei, who was wailing over the corpse. They paused, moved to the sides, and watched as Hongjing collapsed on the body, sobbing uncontrollably.

Aunt Wei, hearing this, cried even harder. The sound of weeping rose and fell.

Qing’er stood at the back, her mouth twitching, unable to suppress her inner complaint: What is sister up to now?

Using her body as cover, Hongjing first examined Wei San’s complexion. He hadn’t been cleaned yet; blood flowed from his seven apertures, his face filthy with blood and frightening to behold. Most in the room dared not look at his face, but out of respect for Aunt Wei, no one left.

Under cover of the handkerchief, she felt for Wei San’s pulse and was startled—there was still a pulse, faint and delicate.

Hongjing bent low to listen for a heartbeat; after careful listening, she detected a weak beating, growing fainter as if about to cease at any moment.

Those nearby watched the young woman sobbing over the corpse, wondering if she was the bride Aunt Wei had found for Wei San.

Hongjing knew time was running out. She rose and smiled at everyone. "Thank you, neighbors, for caring for Aunt. But I have something I must discuss privately with her. Could you please grant us a moment?"

The others were now convinced of their suspicions. Seeing Hongjing’s beauty, now with tear-stained eyes and a tragically lovely smile, they could only lament—Brother Wei San truly had no fortune.

Once everyone had left, Aunt Wei finally realized she didn’t know this supposed ‘niece’.

Her son’s untimely death, and now a stranger appearing—Aunt Wei’s heart filled with alarm and suspicion, about to call for help, when the woman said, "Your son is not dead yet. If you wish to save him, you must do as I say."

Aunt Wei had lost her husband early, raising her son alone. A widow’s life was hard, but she had persevered, and adversity had made her stronger and more resolute than most women.

On hearing the woman’s words, Aunt Wei immediately abandoned the idea of calling for help and nodded fiercely. To save her son, she would endure any hardship, let alone simply obey instructions.

Hongjing spoke no further, pulled out a pill, placed it in Wei San’s mouth, held his jaw to help him swallow, then channeled her inner energy to protect his heart.

She had no antidote with her, only a heart-protecting pill to clear poison and shield the heart. At least, it would keep him alive for now.

"Your son’s death is suspicious. You must do as I say."

After finishing, Hongjing whispered instructions to Aunt Wei.

Aunt Wei’s fortitude was indeed greater than most; she listened, nodded repeatedly, never asking why, nor about Hongjing’s identity or motives, but simply expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, benefactor, thank you."

She personally saw Hongjing and Qing’er out, watching their figures vanish at the end of the alley, standing dazed for a long while.

Was her son truly saved? Could this person be trusted? She didn’t know, but only two paths remained: believe, and there was hope; don’t, and she could only watch her son slip away. No, whatever the odds, she had to cling to hope.

Determination flashed in Aunt Wei’s eyes. She turned back to ask the neighbors for help in cleaning Wei San. Seeing her return to her senses, several volunteered to assist.

Once everything was set, officers arrived, inspected the body, took notes, and hurried off to Qiongjang.

With many hands, they quickly erected a mourning tent in the yard, arranged incense and offerings, and placed a thin coffin at the center with Wei San inside.

If this were a wealthy household, the coffin lid would remain open, monks or priests would chant for days, and relatives would come to mourn. But the Wei family was poor, and it was an untimely death—there were no such rituals. At Aunt Wei’s request, the lid was closed the very same day.

In these parts, once the coffin is closed, it may not be opened again.