The Delicate Lady Coroner Chapter 78: Sihexiang 18

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Chapter 78 Sihexiang 18

As soon as the coffin lid was opened, the pungent smell of putrefaction overflowed. Xu Wanshu, who had been dead for a month, was lying in the coffin in mourning clothes. At a glance, she could see densely packed maggots and flies crawling all over her body. .

Even though Bao Ruoyou was experienced in many battles, he couldn't help but frown when he saw this scene. The embroiderer on the side looked at each other for a moment, looking at Bao Ruoyou's expression with hesitation and confusion. Sympathizing, Ning Xiao stared at her coldly.

Bo Ruoyou rolled up his sleeves, held fragrant pills in his mouth, covered his face with a silk handkerchief, and put on the gauntlets given by Huo Weilou. Then he stepped forward to check. When Ning Xiao saw the gauntlets, an unexpected flash appeared on his face. Then he passed by and took a quick glance towards Huo Wei Tower.

Xu Kangwei and his wife were standing not far away, not daring to go any closer. Seeing them like this, Huo Weilou walked over to Bo Ruoyou. When he saw the situation in the coffin, he frowned. got up.

The mountain wind was extremely cold. To prevent dirt from getting on her body, Bo Ruoyou rolled up her sleeves quite high. At this moment, two thin white arms were exposed like tender lotus roots. Looking at her made people feel pity, but she A look of coldness and solemnity blocked out all kinds of eyes.

Although Ning Xiao and the embroiderers knew that their Marquis would not bring around someone who was not good at craftsmanship, they were really a little unsure about Bo Ruoyou being a woman. At this moment, they saw Bo Ruoyou among a crowd of maggots and flies. The collar of the corpse's mourning clothes was temporarily removed, and the expressions on everyone's faces were somewhat exciting. Ning Xiao was watching with cold eyes, but when he saw this, the coldness in his eyes could not help but relax.

Huo Weilou looked at Bo Ruoyou bending her slender waist, and the corpse insects were squirming in her hands. Xu Wanshu, who had been dead for a month, was not only putrid and smelly, but also her human form was hard to distinguish at this moment. The corpse she was leaning on was so... It was so close that it was difficult for him to continue watching.

Huo Weilou turned sideways, feeling such emotions for the first time in his heart. He clearly understood that it was not because Bo Ruoyou was a woman that he felt such pity as he had never felt before.

No matter how much she couldn't bear it, it was still a tolerance, and Huo Weilou couldn't make her do it hastily out of pity. Bo Ruoyou obviously didn't mean it. She was alone beside the coffin. This inspection was half For a long time.

When she straightened up, Bo Ruoyou was still covered in sweat despite facing the cold mountain wind. She raised her hand and wiped her forehead with her arm, and then said: "The cause of death of the deceased was strangulation, not strangulation. Hanged."

One word determined the cause of death and also determined the nature of Xu Wanshu's death. If she died by hanging, she might have committed suicide, but if she died by strangulation, she must have been murdered. Xu Kang and his wife heard this from a distance. His face changed slightly, and seeing Xu Kangwei's doubtful expression, Bo Ruoyou reported to Huo Weilou in a cold voice.

"The strangulation marks are very similar to the strangulation marks on the first deceased. The strangulation marks are below the cartilage of the throat of the deceased. If he hanged himself, the strangulation marks will not be so low. The strangulation marks are ring-shaped on the neck and the **** is not high. If she hanged herself, the traces on both sides of the rope on her neck would be diagonally lifted upward. In addition, the marks on her body were deep, and the epidermis was seriously damaged during the period, with many bleeding spots. The same was true on the eye membranes. If she wanted to do an autopsy, Tests believe that there will also be obvious bleeding on the meninges in the brain. If it is self-hanging, there will not be such severe bleeding. There are also many bleeding points in the hanging groove, and the congestion and swelling on the face will not be like this. So serious."

Looking into the coffin, Bo Ruoyou added: "There are obvious scratches on the hands of the deceased, and there is dirt in the fingernails. I haven't figured out what it is yet..."

She was holding another silk handkerchief. There were a few pinpoint-sized black dirt on the silk handkerchief. Because it was stained with corpse water, the color looked quite dirty at the moment. She paused and said: "It's thanks to Mr. Xu that he buried Miss Xu without cleaning her body properly. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to see these stains."

There are many rules for wearing mourning clothes after death, and the most basic one is to tidy up the deceased's appearance, not to mention helping her scrub her body and dress up neatly and beautifully. The Xu family did not even mention her exposed hands. If she could be properly cleaned, one can imagine how Xu Wanshu was hastily wrapped in mourning clothes and wrapped in a coffin when she was brought back to the house that day.

Bo Ruoyou's words were clear and his voice was clear. He didn't even look at Xu Kangwei, but made him blush with what he said.

She added: "She must have struggled violently when she was murdered. This can be proved by the numerous bleeding points on her neck, as well as the contusions on her collarbone and neck side. The murderer was probably in or near the nunnery at that time. She was strangled to death in a hidden place, and the broken beam in the nunnery must be a coincidence. You can judge it by asking the first person who arrived at the place where the crime occurred... It turned out that she saw the trauma on her hands and body. It can be thought that she did not commit suicide, but Mr. Xu deliberately ignored this."

Xu Kangwei looked guilty and frightened, and wanted to explain, but now that the evidence was in front of him, any explanation was powerless. Bo Ruoyou said again: "Except for bleeding and shape, the strangulation marks are similar to those of the first deceased. , the depth of the left and right is also the same as that of the first deceased. If there was a little hesitation about whether he was a murderer earlier, it is now certain that several people in this case were killed by the same person."

"The injuries on the outside of her arms were so rotten that it was no longer possible to tell what kind of sharp weapon was used. However, the obvious boundaries could still be seen, and when the skin and flesh were peeled off, no excess was left. Wounds, again, the murderer is good at exquisite knife skills. Especially this time, Miss Xu has slender arms, but he can use the knife with ease. Most likely, he relies on the knife for a living, or is skilled in some skill that requires the use of a knife. A very good person."

As he spoke, Bo Ruoyou gestured to the autopsy knife in his hand: "For example, if a folk girl uses an autopsy knife, she can also peel off human skin like this."

She was so taboo, Huo Weilou frowned slightly when he heard this, "I had suspected the cook and butcher before——"

Bao Ruoyou didn't answer immediately. Her eyes were serious. It seemed that after a few days, she had different thoughts. But before she spoke, Huo Weilou said, "We'll talk about it on the road. Now I want to I think there may be some omissions or things that need to be checked again. If not, let’s go clean our hands first. It’s time for us to return to the city.”

It is getting late, and the clear weather has turned gloomy at this moment, and the weather may change if we stay any longer.

Bao Ruoyou first put the silk handkerchief wrapped in dirt into the wooden box, and then went to look at the corpse. The body that had been dead for one month had become seriously deformed. It was difficult to find direct evidence about the murderer from it. Perhaps, only the deep scars left on the corpse told what happened that day. Bo Ruoyou determined the location of several more injuries, and then ordered the embroiderer to close the coffin.

The coffin was slowly closed, and Bo Ruoyou frowned as she watched Xu Wanshu slowly disappear under the coffin lid. At this time, Huo Weilou asked them to build the tomb again while walking to Bo Ruoyou. Next to You, "You come with me."

Bao Ruoyou didn't know what he was going to do, but he followed him without thinking. After following him out of the Xu family cemetery from the northwest corner, Bo Ruoyou realized that he was taking her to the valley ahead. Not long after they left, the sound of a gurgling stream reached Bo Ruoyou's ears, and she felt happy, "How did the Marquis know there was a stream here?"

After walking through a field of pines and cypresses, a stream running down the valley came into view. Bo Ruoyou was still wearing a handkerchief on his face, only a pair of eyes were exposed, his hands were stained with dirt, and his body was stained with dirt. There was a bit of corpse stench, but it was a woman, Xi Jie. Before Huo Weilou could answer, she had already hurried over.

Huo Weilou stood under a green pine and looked at her, "I have been here before, so I naturally know."

Bo Ruoyou carefully washed the handkerchief, then took off the upper handkerchief, revealing her sweaty face. Seeing the crystal clear water, she couldn't help but throw it into her face. Phew, in the early spring weather, the mountain stream was still bitingly cold, but she was not afraid. Huo Weilou raised his eyebrows and wanted to say something but held back.

After washing neatly, Bo Ruoyou stood up with a wet face. She now put down her sleeves and her whole body has returned to her gentle appearance. She looks like a lady, but in fact she is very rough. Huo Weilou He shook his head and turned back to the cemetery.

Bao Ruoyou followed him and said as he walked: "The marks of the two strangulations were almost identical, which made the girl guess that the murderer prepared his own rope every time, rather than improvising the murder. I don’t know why I changed my approach when I was the second young lady of the uncle’s house.”

Huo Weilou walked slowly, "Wei Ling's trip is uncertain, maybe it was just a coincidence that day."

Bo Ruoyou followed up, surrounded by towering pines and cypresses, which seemed a little cold, but Huo Wei Tower was beside her, which made Bo Ruoyou feel at ease. She asked, "After returning to the city, will the Marquis still go to the uncle's house?" ?"

Huo Weilou turned to look at her and saw her beautiful eyes looking at him. When he looked back, he nodded, "Go."

After returning to the cemetery, Xu Wanshu's tomb has been rebuilt. When everything is ready, the group returns to the capital and descends to Fengming Mountain. Bo Ruoyou can't help but lift the curtain and head back up the mountain. It seemed that there were many cemeteries and cemeteries on Fengming Mountain, and noble families from the capital also chose geomantic treasures here. Of course Bo Ruoyou remembered that the Bo family's cemetery was among them.

"What did you want to say about the murderer just now?"

When Huo Weilou asked, Bo Ruoyou came back to her senses. She turned around and said, "Before, the girl suspected that the murderer might be a cook or a butcher, but now, I don't know if Lu Wenhe was suddenly involved. After reading many poems and paintings, the girl now feels that the murderer is not a cook."

"The murderers chose girls from wealthy families. The most important features were wearing a red dress and having cinnabar moles. Family background cannot be ignored, and all three of them were in the Lingxiao Poetry Club. What a coincidence for the murderer. It happened that the three of them were chosen, which made Minnu think that the murderer must be a well-versed person, and his hobby for cinnabar moles on women also reminded Minnu of some ghostly painted skin stories that she had read in legendary novels. ."

"Ghosts are born ugly. When they see the beauty of women in the world, they transform into human beings to seduce them and then murder them. The purpose is just to steal the women's beautiful skin, put cinnabar rouge on the women's skin, and then wear it On myself..."

Bo Ruoyou finished his reply and talked about the case, "The murderer's knife skills are exquisite. Perhaps in his own eyes, he regards a woman's skin as a beautiful thing, and his behavior is like spending a lot of money to buy paintings and poems. , It is to peel off the skin and flesh of the woman and use it to appreciate and collect it, or because he himself has such a disability, he becomes jealous and wants to take it away."

What Bo Ruoyou said was no longer a simple inference that day. She even described the murderer's psychology. This seemingly cruel method of harming people that is difficult to find a normal motive. From what Bo Ruoyou said, it seems that There is a reasonable answer.

Huo Weilou stared at her, which made Bo Ruoyou feel a little embarrassed, "Did the daughter of the people make the murderer more glamorous? There are some people in this world who are good at reading, but their character may be bad. , or maybe you look well-dressed, but there are ghosts in your heart, and you have some unimaginable thoughts to harm others based on your own preferences..."

"Why do I say that you are wrong?" Huo Weilou leaned against the car wall, "I think that your autopsy was excellent, and to think so, it seems to be contrary to ordinary people's thoughts, but it is just the right thing to do. The murderer’s motive is accurate.”

Bo Ruoyou breathed a sigh of relief, and Huo Weilou said: "If it is similar to literature, ink, poetry and painting, there are many ways to use the knife, mounting paintings, jade carvings, porcelain and clay sculptures, binding books sold by the library, even selling rice paper In the shop, paper cutting is also a skill. The people who do it are either at least roughly literate, or they deal with elegant things all day long, and they do all the fine work related to knives."

Although the murderer's method of committing the crime was cruel, when he peeled off the woman's skin, it gave people a delicate and delicate feeling. It was indeed like someone who often deals with elegant things. Bo Ruoyou must have felt at ease after hearing this. Weilou opened the curtain and told Ning Xiao, "Go to Xu's house and see how the interrogation went. We must find the maid. I will go to the uncle's house."

Ning Xiao was waiting outside. After the group of people returned to the capital, they separated after a short walk. Huo Weilou took Bo Ruoyou straight to Uncle Zhongqin's mansion. When they arrived in front of the uncle's mansion, the concierge Seeing Huo Weilou coming in person, he immediately went to pass the message in panic.

Before reaching the main courtyard, the old lady came to greet her personally, "It's actually the Marquis who has arrived in person?"

Huo Weilou first asked the old lady to express his condolences, and then said: "Ning Xiao was originally in charge of this case. Today I was free, so I asked a few questions. I came to the house today because I wanted to ask more questions."

While talking to Huo Weilou, the old lady looked at Bo Ruoyou, then at Bo Ruoyou, and then at Huo Weilou. Although there was some surprise in her eyes, it was not obvious on her face, "Master Hou came here despite his busy schedule. , this case will be solved soon, just ask whatever the Marquis wants."

After entering the main hall, as soon as the tea was served, Huo Weilou asked Wei Ling about asking Mr. Wei Ling to teach poetry. The old lady said: "It is indeed said that she likes this and we support it, but she never said that she would like it. Who can I invite? I even ordered someone to invite Lu Jijiu’s classmate..."

Lu Jijiu's classmate was a generation older than Lu Wenhe. Wei Ling didn't get Lu Wenhe's approval, so he pretended not to mention his name. He just saw that the old lady wanted to invite the master, but he didn't really agree. Huo Weilou asked a few more questions. In other words, the old lady had never heard of Lu Wenhe before, so Huo Weilou said, "I want to visit the second lady's boudoir."

The most traces of a person's life are naturally left where she usually lives. The last time Bao Ruoyou came here, she only did an autopsy, but did not go to Wei Ling's boudoir, and Ning Xiao only took away the things mentioned by the maid. After hearing the words, the old lady hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Then go and have a look, but I'm afraid I won't find anything. Ling'er usually only has those hobbies."

Huo Weilou did not mention her admiration for Lu Wenhe for the time being. When they arrived at the courtyard where Wei Ling lived, Wei Jun rushed over after hearing the news. When he saw that Huo Weilou had come in person, he quickly saluted and followed Wei Jun. , and one person.

Bao Ruoyou took a quick look and saw the eldest lady of the Bo family whom he had met before.

Huo Weilou saw her expression was different and looked over. Seeing this, the old lady explained: "Master Hou, this is Yi Xian, the eldest daughter of the Bo family. She has been here to accompany Jun'er these days."

Huo Wei's expression remained unchanged on the floor, and he turned around and headed towards Wei Ling's Boudoir. Bo Ruoyou followed suit with concentration. As soon as he entered the door, he only took a cursory look at the inner room before heading to the study behind Duobao Pavilion. .

Wei Ling does like poetry, calligraphy and painting. Except for the books that were taken away, the shelves in her study are still full. The four treasures of the study are on top of the bookcase. A few of the calligraphy and photo stickers she usually likes have been taken away, but at this moment, there are still books in a corner of the bookcase. Put a thick pile.

They have all read the books brought back to the Hou Mansion. At this moment, they are all looking around the bookcase. Wei Jun is supporting the old lady and standing at the door. Bo Yixian is also standing behind and looking curiously. She looks at Bo Ruoyou from time to time. , eyes full of curiosity.

Soon, Bo Ruoyou saw two piles of gold-sprinkled paper on the bookshelf.

This item is very common in wealthy people, but what makes Bo Ruoyou strange is the number of these two piles of gold-sprinkled paper, one high and one low. Apparently Wei Ling has used it a lot, Bo Ruoyou Ren I kept asking: "I wonder what the second lady uses these gold-sprinkled notes on weekdays?"

Wei Jun knew that Bo Ruoyou was the author, so he said: "It's used to post posts and write letters."

Bao Ruoyou raised his hand to count the number of gold-dusted paper, and then asked, "When did you buy this gold-dusted paper?"

Wei Jun thought for a while, "It was before the Chinese New Year, at the end of the twelfth lunar month, that I added two hundred more."

Bo Ruoyou frowned slightly, "From the end of the twelfth lunar month to the end of the new year, the second lady wrote more than fifty posts?"

She counted out more than fifty. After saying this, Wei Jun couldn't help but step forward, "There was only one banquet at the house after the new year. She only invited four or five friends. It was impossible to spend fifty Multiple pictures, this..."

Even if you write more by mistake, more than ten pieces of paper are enough, but now there are so many missing, so where did Wei Ling use the other forty pieces of gold-sprinkled paper?

Huo Weilou immediately knew what Bo Ruoyou meant, and he asked in a deep voice: "Where do you throw the waste paper she writes on on weekdays?"

Wei Jun hesitated for a moment, and immediately summoned Luxiu, whom he had met before. Hearing this question, Luxiu hurriedly said: "Miss was thrown into the wastebasket earlier. After Miss passed away, the servant Clean up the house and throw away all the scraps of paper."

"Shredded paper?" Bo Ruoyou asked keenly.

Lv Xiu nodded, "Everything Miss wrote that was useless was torn up, and she tore it into pieces." After a slight hesitation, she added: "Miss, I didn't have this habit before, it was only in the summer last year. ”

Last summer? The first time Wei Ling and Lu Wenhe met was at the cultural gathering at Uncle Zhongyi's Mansion in June last year.

Bo Ruoyou and Huo Weilou looked at each other, and Bo Ruoyou asked anxiously: "Where have those scraps of paper gone? Can they be found again?"

Luxiu looked horrified when asked, "Throw away... most of these unwanted papers and other debris in the study that need to be thrown away are thrown into the firewood pile in the kitchen... they are usually used Come to start the fire."

Huo Weilou said in a deep voice: "Lead the way——"

Green sleeves did not dare to delay, and the expressions of the old lady and the others also changed slightly. They all understood that Wei Ling might be writing to someone, and this person might be related to Wei Ling's murder. The old lady looked anxious, with a look on her face. Wei Jun also followed all the way.

When he arrived at the uncle's kitchen yard and saw the pile of firewood, Bo Ruoyou frowned.

The pile of firewood was piled extremely high, and the debris that Lu Xiu was talking about, in addition to shredded paper, also included some large sheets of waste paper, as well as dead branches and leaves mixed together. Looking at it like this, Only a few scraps of paper with fine glittering gold powder could be seen vaguely. The old lady and the others felt that it was a bit difficult to deal with at the moment, but Huo Weilou had already ordered the embroiderer to come forward and search.

"Regardless of whether they have words or not, we collected all the torn pieces of paper sprinkled with gold."

When the embroiderer went to search, Huo Weilou asked Luxiu again, "Is there anything strange about your lady when she wrote the letter?"

Luxiu thought for a while, "Miss, no slaves are allowed to serve here."

Wei Jun and the old lady frowned when they heard this, and the old lady asked: "Why didn't you mention this earlier?"

Lu Xiu is about to cry, "The young lady said she likes quietness, but I don't realize that he is there. And every time I come in, I see the young lady throwing away a lot of waste paper. My servant... I am still a young lady, and I am really diligent in learning and practicing my pen."

The old lady stamped her cane angrily, and when Huo Weilou and Bao Ruoyou heard this, they understood everything. The old lady wanted to ask more questions, but Huo Weilou said: "She did meet someone else outside. It’s just that we haven’t found out clearly yet, so please be patient, Madam. If it is true that she was harmed by this person, I will let Madam know everything in detail.”

Huo Weilou said this, and the old lady had no choice but to sigh and agree. It took half an hour, but she didn't find the latest gold-sprinkled paper. Instead, she found a lot of dirt left in the pile of dead branches. The pieces of paper were probably small pieces of paper that were left out when the servants were lighting the fire.

Huo Weilou naturally wanted to take these away. When he was leaving, the old lady personally sent him to the door of the uncle's house. Just as he was about to leave, the old lady suddenly asked, "How is your mother lately?"

Huo Wei said calmly on the floor, "I feel a lot more relaxed today, Mrs. Lao is concerned about me."

The old lady of the house sighed and watched them leave without saying anything.

Huo Weilou led Bo Ruoyou to the carriage. He was usually the first to lead the carriage. Now he walked up, but did not immediately get into the carriage. Instead, he turned around and stretched out his hand to Bo Ruoyou, "Give me your hand." I——"

Bao Ruoyou turned his back to the old lady and his party, and his eyes widened in surprise.

She wanted to raise her hand, but she obviously obeyed subconsciously, but she didn't understand why. Huo Weilou's eyes flashed with helplessness, he grabbed her wrist, pulled her up, then held her waist and pulled her forward. He was sent away in the carriage, and then he got into the carriage.

This scene not only shocked the three old ladies at the gate of the uncle's house, but also made the driver and the embroidered knights on the left and right horses a little messy. When Huo Weilou's carriage moved slowly, Wei Jun said in surprise : "Isn't this the widowed girl from the government office? How...how..."

Bo Yixian raised her eyebrows slightly, "Didn't you say that Marquis Wu Zhao was not flirtatious with women? It can be seen that he still hasn't met anyone who is beautiful enough."

The old lady also looked at the direction the carriage was leaving and frowned. At this time, Wei Jun said: "I forgot to tell you, this girl's surname is also Bo. She and you passed by each other that day, and she heard someone I feel a little surprised when I call you by your last name."

Bo Yixian blinked, "Hey, is there another Bo family in Beijing?"

Wei Jun laughed and shook his head, "I know, I know, you are the only one who has three ministers, the Bo family. That girl doesn't seem to be a native of the capital."

In the carriage, Bo Ruoyou looked at Huo Weilou suspiciously, "Why is the Marquis like this?"

Huo Weilou raised his hand and tapped the center of her eyebrows, "Don't you want to go back to Bo's to get back what's yours? Then from today on, I will support you."