Note: Beware those with weak stomach. A bit of gore.
Original and most updated translations are from volare. Please don’t read elsewhere and stop supporting theft.
Ji Yunshu didn’t dare look at him, afraid she wouldn’t be able to retract her gaze again. Thus, she nodded in response and entered quietly with the sandalwood box sandwiched against her arm. As soon as she entered, her nose was assailed by the strong stench of blood. She wrinkled her nose as her eyes followed the trail of dark blood on the floor, the trail reaching all the way to the bed upon which the corpse lay, covered in a white cloth. The blotch of blood on it was particularly glaring.
She placed her box on the table and took out a pair of gloves which she wore before walking to the bed. When she was close enough, she grabbed the cloth, ready to pull it off, but she was stopped by Su Ziluo’s warning.
“His head was chopped off, so Teacher Ji should be prepared mentally.”
‘Prepare for what?’ Was he afraid that she will vomit? She didn’t respond, and moved to the side instead. Without hindrance, she lifted the white cloth, revealing Yuchi Lin’s corpse, which was still well-preserved.
The body wasn’t particularly gory. The chopped head was placed above the neck and tied to the body with a simple cloth like a scarf, giving the illusion that the head wasn’t separated from the body at all. Yuchi Lin’s body was already rigid. His eyes were open. His face showed signs of discoloration, and his lips were a deep dark color.
“Human life is priceless, so it’s necessary to get to the bottom of the matter before sanctioning. Too often, people deliver judgement based on certain facts whilst being ignorant of the entire truth. In any case, we must find evidence to confirm the truth.” He answered flatly, as if speaking about the weather.
His words made Ji Yunshu’s heart pang in pain, rattling her mind for a long moment. She remembered Ji Pei once asked her why she still kept investigating when there was an eyewitness that could identify the murderer. At that time, she answered him the same things Su Ziluo had just said. Not only that, each word spoken was identical with none missing!
Again, fearing that Su Ziluo might see through her, she avoided looking at him. She still answered him. “Yes, what you say is correct. Usually what the eye sees doesn’t necessarily make up the truth.” Finished speaking, she turned around and walked over to the bed again. Then, she continued her explanations, “I believe that we can find the evidence on the victim.” She suddenly pulled off the cloth on the body’s neck. Without the cloth connecting it to the neck, the head immediately rolled to the side, revealing the cut.
She put back the head to its place and held it with her hands. With great attention, she observed the cut, touched it and palpated. It was a good thing that the blood had already coagulated and dried, only traces of where it spilled out remain.
“The cut is very clean and neat. The edge of the cut is level with no trace of sawing. The force applied halfway through the neck appeared to be even which means that the murder weapon is very sharp and beheaded the victim in one smooth motion. A knife or dagger cannot give that kind of result, so it could only have been made by a sword.” After that, she took the head and placed it on the table. Next, she rummaged in her box and took out a dagger-like knife.
The next moment, her action completely stupefied everyone – she stripped Yuchi Lin from all his clothes as if it was nothing. She was garbed in men’s clothing, as a “man” there was nothing wrong with looking at a naked man. Yet, behind her, Su Ziluo’s expression darkened.
After examining the corpse from head to toes, she discovered no new wounds. There were only old scars acquired from battles long past. She was quite puzzled. “Looking at his bent fingers, he must have struggled before his death, but apart from the slash which beheaded him, there are no other signs of struggle, only old wounds and scars. How can he not fight when his head was being chopped off? That’s impossible. The pain should be enough for him to react, not to mention he wasn’t poisoned before his death. What did he go through before dying? What could make him struggle until his fingers were crooked like this?”
She sighed from the strangeness of this situation.
Su Ziluo listened to her mutterings without interrupting her.
Ji Yunshu clothed Yuchi Lin’s body. She scrutinised the room, but she didn’t discover any signs of fighting. On the table, a rolling bottle of wine and a few dishes dating from last night still remained. It seemed like Yuchi Lin and Ji Li did drink together for a long time.
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