The first work of the imperial prison

Under the scorching sun, Shen Qianhu walked forward with fear of death, preparing to fight those disgusting insects for [-] rounds, while not forgetting to talk to Ye Baiting: "Then I will leave it to the young master, and you and the commander will help you. The person who found the body asked for a confession—"

Ye Baiting and Qiu Yiqing turned around, and saw Pan Lu who was waiting aside with a sad face, and his head was covered with sweat.

Why is there him again?

Pan Lu himself was also frowning, it was hot and smelly here, there were boatmen everywhere, and there was no chance of promotion, Jin Yiwei...he wanted to socialize, but Shen Qianhu looked very busy, and he couldn't talk when he came over. Before he had time to say a few words, he got busy, and the only thing that could cheer him up was the person who came here now, Commander-in-Chief!

He was able to laugh again, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and walked quickly to this side, saluting as he walked: "It's really fate, Commander, we meet again! But you want to ask questions? The officer will know everything There are endless words!"

Qiu Yiqing's face remained the same as before, expressionless: "Master Pan is very busy."

A sentence that is neither serious nor serious, makes people hear the implied meaning of "you are everywhere".

Pan Lu's heart trembled, and he quickly restrained his expression: "No, no, no, this time it was really an accident. Didn't you think that the new official will take office three times, and since he is Jing Zhaoyin, he will walk around , take a look, familiarize yourself with the environment, take a look around to see if there are any hidden dangers, if there is any problem, just solve it, who knows that you have encountered such a thing...The lower official's duty is to seek the well-being of the people, How can you be perfunctory, you must do your best! Human life is a matter of heaven and earth, and it must be taken seriously. Commanders have orders, just show them!"

The words are pleasant to the ear, but the listeners have to think about it, what is the heart of the people, the responsibility is in the body, the new official takes office three times, he must walk around and have a look, check the hidden dangers and prepare for solutions , it is very likely that he was just going through the motions, and accidentally bumped into a murder case, so he was unlucky and unhappy.

If you really worry about it, want to do something practical, and solve some hidden dangers, you have to look at the wharf. You don’t go to the regular busy cargo wharf, but you come to this corner, and you say you don’t want to save trouble, and you are not perfunctory?

Qiu Yiqing: "Tell me, what's going on."

Pan Lu rolled his eyes, and sighed: "This... I don't dare to lie, I just want to see if the embankments are not firm, whether they are in disrepair, and if heavy rain or flood hits, can they be repaired? I can bear it, the summer flood in the capital a few years ago is still vivid in my mind, and I dare not forget it. When I come here today, I have to carefully check the embankment, especially the wooden road. I saw something happened, hair floating out of the water!"

"I don't talk about strange powers and confusion. Water ghosts can't have water ghosts. The lower officials don't believe this. The lower officials saw the truth, and the subordinates behind them also saw it. It can't be fake. This is an accident. Ah! The officer hastened to seal off the scene, and asked someone to report to Beizhen Fusi—”

Speaking of this, Pan Lu smiled even wider, trying to hide his guilty conscience: "It stands to reason that Jing Zhaoyin has the right to investigate all murder cases in the capital. If there is any suspicion, you can ask the Criminal Department or report to Dali Temple , to cooperate with the case, but this time is different, who told Xiaguan to be familiar with the long jade hairpin with moiré patterns in his hair, it is the color head of Xiefang Pavilion!"

Ye Baiting: "Big head?"

Seeing him talk, Pan Lu's voice became louder: "That's right, it's the lottery! Lady Yao of this flower boat is good at playing tricks, but wherever she handles, no matter the building or the boat, she plays a lot of tricks, three or five Playing games from time to time, such as shooting and throwing pots and Shuanglu games, there are only things you can't think of, and there is nothing she can't play. Every time you play a game, you will add a lottery. Which guest wins the whole game in the end, then this lottery It belongs to him, I know this cloud pattern long jade hairpin, it was probably the most expensive lottery on the Pai Gow game table more than 20 days ago..."

"Since I have seen it and know it, I can't pretend that I don't know it, right? I looked again, and I happened to see the flower boat in Xiefang Pavilion. I thought, this case is being investigated by Jin Yiwei. What chain of evidence is not beautiful, so I immediately went over to tell...or Jin Yiwei is more powerful, after the official said this for a while, Shen Qianhu came and said that the deceased was probably Huangshang Tanggui!"

"Is that so..."

Ye Baiting looked at Pan Lu, the corners of his lips curled up slightly.

Pan Lu wiped his sweat: "That's it... that's right."

The whole process seems to be a matter of course, what he said makes sense, and the logic chain is closed, but he also has suspicions of evasion, and he just doesn't want to get involved in these things.

But that's not the point, the point is...

Ye Baiting asked: "Master Pan knows Tang Gui?"

Pan Lu answered quickly: "I know you, Tang Da Huang Shang. People who communicate with each other are noble people, and they are all engaged in big business. In the circle of the capital, who doesn't know anyone who has a bit of face? Maybe the officials in the capital all know each other. I bought something from him."

"Master Pan also bought things from him? Are you familiar with him?"

"If you buy it, you must have bought it before. It doesn't count if you are familiar with it. Just know more or less."

"How much?"

"This..." Pan Lu smiled a little, "Didn't the lower official go the right way before, he always had to bump into the direction, there are many places to go, and it is inevitable that he knows more things, but it is also very simple, just on the surface , the news that everyone can find out, more or less, more or less..."

Ye Baiting understood that this 'more or less' is absolutely indispensable, it just depends on whether he wants to say it or not.

But regardless of whether the other party wants to or not, if you ask directly like this, you will definitely not be able to ask.

He said, "Tang Gui likes to go on flower boats?"

"It's not just that I like it, it's that I love it very much!" Pan Lu smiled, "What he likes most is the boat in Xiefang Pavilion, and the one he can't live without is Mrs. Yao. All the girls he likes are found by Mrs. Yao. , he is also generous, and spends a lot of money. When he is doing big business, the most important thing he lacks is money... According to the rules, the third floor of Mrs. Yao's business plate is a place dedicated to entertaining distinguished guests. How, the wealthy former imperial merchant was never allowed to go up two years ago. Tang Gui is different. He came to the capital last year, and he outshine Miss Yao here. He can go anywhere, not to mention the third floor of the flower boat. In the past two months, he can even go to Lady Yao's own room..."

"Is he the guest of Lady Yao?"

"Isn't that right? Mrs. Yao doesn't put flower signs in the building now. Counting ahead is the top sign. I don't know how many lovers there are outside. It's just that she hasn't received customers since two years ago. She specializes in plate trading. This soup Isn't it great that you can enter her room?"

Pan Lu spoke logically, looked around, and said in a low voice: "I'm afraid you two don't know, this soup is expensive, his family is not in the capital, his wife and children are not here, and there are only two concubines around him. I don’t even go back home, I basically live on the flower boat…”

Ye Baiting: "Master Pan, do you know if Tang Gui interacted with the people at the bar last night?"

"The wine bureau..." Pan Lu covered his mouth, "Young Master means..."

Ye Baiting: "You mean what you think is right."

Pan Lu's eyes wandered: "This..."

Ye Baiting's expression paled, and he reminded him slowly: "Master Pan is very talkative, but the commander is here."

How could Pan Lu not know, and slipped along his field of vision, and saw Qiu Yiqing's more serious face, how could he dare to evade it casually?

He grabbed his sleeves and wiped his sweat again: "I don't want to talk nonsense about other people's affairs, but once I heard Tang Gui brag that all the high-ranking officials in the capital had bought things from him, and he made friends with these people They are all good, not only the officials, but also the... father-in-laws in the palace."

Qiu Yiqing: "Really?"

Pan Lu shivered, and added: "I also said that I met these people on a flower boat."

"Meet on the flower boat?" Ye Baiting asked, "Are you sure, Tang Gui is talking about the factory owner?"

"This..." Pan Lu's eyes drooped, "So the officials said he was bragging, who are the factory owners, what are their identities, what can they not play if they want to play, and they want to go to the flower boat to play... these things they can't play? Are you really here for fun, or for humiliation?"

Qiu Yiqing: "Jiang Jihong, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, also bought things from him?"

"I bought it..."

Pan Lu lowered his voice: "Commander, you should know that sometimes the government's goods are not distributed in a timely manner. Ice in summer and carbon in winter cannot be matched immediately when the weather is hot and cold. Going through the process, the officials in the various government offices are considerate, and sometimes they will get some things from the merchants' approval notes, use them first, and then make up for them, these kinds of purchases... always need a way."

Ordinary small merchants may not be able to accept such a large order, or they may not have so much money in circulation, and they can accept the payment after a long time. They must be large-scale, have spare capacity, and even wealthy merchants with a certain status. Imperial merchants are the most suitable...

Pan Lu felt a little sorry for betraying others, and finally added two good words: "These superiors are also for the sake of showing compassion to the subordinates, the commander should not be too high-level..."

Ye Baiting asked again: "Do you know Tang Gui and Fan Moyu, who died last night?"

"This, I really don't know about this," Pan Lu narrowed his eyes, thinking in his eyes, "But I think they must know each other, maybe there is still a bit of competition, or cooperation? You see, although they are one One is an imperial merchant, the other is a transshipment envoy, do the paths overlap to some extent? Last night, I was dismissed from office, but I sold myself well in front of Lord Wei and Lord Jiang. I was a little bit more diligent, and he was persuading people to drink and helping, so Lord Fan was a little unhappy. I feel that Xiaguan deliberately compared with him, it was only one night, there is no time for two hours, but Tang Gui, Huang Shang was replaced two years ago, the capital is prosperous, these days come and go, Fan With the small eyes of adults, can you see things pleasing to the eye?"

"Since you are familiar with Tang Gui, when was the last time you saw him?"

"It seems to be on the flower boat too?" Pan Lu rubbed his nose, "It must have been half a month, and the lower official was lucky. It happened that during those days I was asking Tang Gui to help the lower official find something. He found it. The third floor beckoned the lower officials to go up, and the lower officials were lucky enough to go in and toast, at that time..."

Ye Baiting noticed the pause: "Who was there at that time?"

Could it be those people from last night?

Pan Lu swallowed his saliva: "It's also a coincidence. At that time... it was the drinking game of Mr. Xiao Fang's group from the Ministry of Officials. They were playing pot throwing. The atmosphere was very lively. Mr. Shang Shujiang was there, but Mr. Wei Shili, Mr. Wei, He was nowhere to be seen, but after the official left, I heard someone say that Mr. Wei also went there, saying that he was delivering something or something, and he didn't enter the house himself, so he invited Mr. Jiang out..."

Ye Baiting felt a little subtle, this situation seemed very similar to last night?

"How's the atmosphere in the room?"

"The Xiaguan will be happy when he arrives. After the Xiaguan leaves, he will not be clear. After all, there is not much harmony between Lord Wei and Lord Xiaofang."

Suspicious Qing's eyebrows were slightly deep: "You said that you saw Wei Shili or Fang Zhizhu give something to Jiang Jihong in the room during the two wine meetings. Did you see what they gave?"

"This does not."

Pan Lu shook his head: "The lower official just listened a little bit because he was not far away, as if he was giving something."

"you sure?"

"No, no, it's just like, I heard similar words faintly, and thought it was like this..." He was stunned for a while, "Could it be?"

But Qiu Yiqing didn't ask this question any more: "On that day half a month ago, were the two masters of the East Factory and the West Factory here?"

Pan Lu shook his head: "Then I don't know, anyway, when I passed by, I didn't see..."

While this side was asking questions, Shen Jiang's side was also busy in full swing, thinking that the corpses had been touched, so don't pretend to do the rest of the work, so he didn't ask more people to go down, and just stared at him by the way. The scene was surveyed again.

Although the wooden fence has two floors, it is not for putting people and things, but for supporting and fixing. There are many wooden bars in the middle. Even if some of the upper parts are removed, the standing space is still limited. The uppers, calves, and below the knees were all wet by the river water, giving off a not-so-pleasant smell.

The corpse rotted like this, I don't know how long time has passed, there are not many traces at the scene, and there is almost no harvest, Shen Jiang pondered, it is really a murder scene, it can't be so clean, this place may simply be a place to throw corpses...

When he finally tidied up the corpses, watched the scene, and everything was ready to be taken back to Beizhen Fusi, the questioning over there was over.

Ye Baiting looked at him: "Are you going back with me?"

Shen Jiang paused: "Another murder case, investigation and visits must be arranged immediately, the relationship between the deceased, who he knew, who he had hatred with, you have to ask immediately..."

Ye Baiting pointed to his clothes: "You always have to change clothes."

Shen Jiang didn't care: "You can't change clothes anywhere."

But the key problem is not the clothes, but the person. I stayed up all night last night, and today, even the iron man can't hold it. Ye Baiting thought, let him go back and rest for a while.

"The results of this autopsy are very important," Qiu Xunqing simply ordered, "You follow me back, and I will deal with the follow-up here."

"Yes!"

The commander had already spoken, and of course Shen Jiang would not resist. In fact, he was also a little curious. How can such a corpse be tested? Can it really be detected?How to use the little bug?

He immediately turned around: "Young master, let's go! Then what, you... stay away from me a little, so you won't be afraid of smelling."

Ye Baiting: ...

When he got on the horse and was about to push it, he suddenly felt that Qiu Yiqing's figure was a little lonely. Even though there were so many people present, his eyes were still a little gluey, as if he was regretting something...

He simply urged his horse and walked to the man: "Do you also want to see my autopsy? I will definitely not come again in a while, why don't you let Shen Jiang explain it to you carefully?"

Qiu Suiqing: ...

What he regrets is this, what he regrets is the person in front of him.

Xiao Wuzuo is obviously clever and transparent, and can stand shoulder to shoulder with the little fox spirit in the storybook, but as soon as he touches the field of work he is good at, his acuity in this aspect immediately drops.

His big hand caressed the horse's back, and patted Ye Baiting's calf lightly, his blue eyes darkened slightly with hatred: "Take care of yourself, eat dinner, go to bed early at night, I may not go back tonight."

"it is good."

Ye Baiting and Shen Jiang quickly returned to Beizhen Fusi, and the corpse was placed on the mortuary table.

It's different from usual, this time the taste is particularly stimulating, more pokeweed wine and vinegar are prepared than before, fresh ginger slices and Suhexiang pills are also used, apart from them, other Jin Yiwei didn't come to watch curiously, it's really The taste is too strong...

Lian Gouzi knew that the young master was coming back, so he ran over with a patter, his eyes widened before he reached the gate of the courtyard, he took a few steps back, vomited twice, and ran back with his tail between his legs.

The body must first be cleaned.

The purpose of Ye Baiting's cleaning is not to clean up, but to take out those little white wriggling things on the corpse first...

"Let's determine the time of death first?"

"Okay..." Shen Jiang looked at the young master's movements, and he was stunned. How could he have any suggestions? Facing those little white things, his scalp was numb, and he couldn't help swallowing, "Why, how can I be sure? ?”

Ye Baiting looked at Shen Jiang: "You have been a Jinyi Guard for so long, you must have seen a lot of corpses, including those that were not found and disposed of in time after death, and there were bugs?"

"……Um."

"What kind of bugs have you seen?"

"Flies, today's, uh, maggots, and shelled beetles."

"Have you found any rules, such as... who comes first?"

"Then there should be flies first?" Shen Jiang thought for a while, "Insects with shells seem to be slower."

"good."

Ye Baiting nodded: "The phagocytic insects also have their own preferences. The process of invading a corpse is roughly divided into three stages. The first stage is called the invasion stage, mainly flies. The climate changes, and the time also varies. The range is about eight. By 25 days, the second stage of decomposition, dominated by beetles, lasted for more than a month, and in the third stage, the number of beetles also decreased significantly, and no more flies appeared..."

"The hot weather in summer is conducive to the growth of flies. Generally, within half an hour after the death of the deceased, they will attract them to lay eggs. Most of them are located in moist places such as the mouth, nose, and wounds. This time the body was found near the water. If it has been soaked in water, this process may be affected, but the deceased in this case should not..."

Shen Jiang: "Why?"

"Although the corpse is severely decomposed, the residual surface can still be seen." Ye Baiting pointed at the corpse, "There are no scars on the body caused by the collision with the river bank during drifting, no signs of being bitten by aquatic organisms, and no swelling or whitening of the skin , forming a 'drowning glove', he definitely hasn't been in the water for long."

Shen Jiang: "That is to say... even if he was exposed to water, the time is limited. Not long after his death, he went under the wooden fence and attracted flies?"

Ye Baiting nodded: "Yes. Fresh flies hatch in white color and stick to soybean-sized accumulations. They hatch into maggots in four hours, grow to maturity in about four to five days, and gradually turn into pupae. After another week, the wings turn into flies and break. The shell flew out, leaving behind the pupal shell... Generally, in this kind of weather, pupa shells are found near the corpse, indicating that the deceased died within ten to fifteen days or more."

"Yes, there is a chrysalis!" Shen Jiang saw it very clearly, "So this person has been dead for at least ten days!"

Ye Baiting pawed at the small white worm: "It is impossible for the flies that come to lay eggs to come in order at the same time. Some come first and some come later, so we need to take a look at the state of the eggs, the size and length of the small worms, and calculate and compare them." ..."

Shen Jiang: ...

Ugh—no, he can't hold it anymore!

Ye Baiting took out a few dark shells: "Look carefully, these pupae shells, their color and brittleness, whether they are fresh brown red or slightly dark black, and whether they have become brittle or damaged are also important evidence of time."

"There doesn't seem to be a pure black, but it's not a particularly fresh maroon either?"

Shen Jiang watched and comforted himself, don't tell me, I'm used to these things after watching them for a long time... What a fart to get used to!He still couldn't help but want to insert his own eyes!Just such a thing, how did the young master endure it?This kind of proficiency needs to be practiced before, isn't it uncomfortable?

Thinking about how Young Master Jiaogui saw these things for the first time, he felt a little distressed.

"But is it ten days or half a month, or 20 days..." Shen Jiang was a little vague, "Still not sure?"

"Not necessarily."

Ye Baiting pointed at the dead man's chin: "Although the body has been severely decomposed and some traces are not obvious, but if you look carefully, does the dead man have no beard?"

Shen Jiang opened his eyes and looked carefully: "It's true!"

"At his age, it's impossible not to grow a beard. You should be aware of the growth rate of a man's beard. After one night, it will be different," Ye Baiting said, "He looks like he has just shaved."

So clean.

Shen Jiang's eyes lit up: "Young master, what you mean is... as long as you confirm the time and location of his last shave within ten to fifteen days, you can guess the specific time of death and the scene of the crime?"

Ye Baiting nodded: "Not bad."

Looking at this point alone, it doesn't seem very obvious, but coupled with the time chain speculated by the fly eggs, as a punctuation comparison, the time of death can be accurately determined.

"And his clothes."

"What's wrong with the clothes...?"

"Look carefully," Ye Baiting straightened the corners of his clothes, "Does this dress look like going out?"

Shen Jiang just took one look and shook his head: "That's definitely not it."

Although people in the capital are rich or poor, they like different styles of clothes. Usually, when walking on the street, you can see all kinds of gaudy things, but the clothes you wear when you go out during the day are not the same as the regular clothes you wear at home, and the clothes you change when you close the door at night. Similarly, what this person is wearing is a simple pair of breasts, tied with ropes on both sides, no matter how good the material is, no matter how beautifully cut, it is also an evening dress, and it is impossible to go out to wear it!

Ye Baiting: "So, most of the time of our deceased's death was at night."

Shen Jiang's eyes widened suddenly, amazing!How can the young master see and know everything!

"Here... there is a hole," Ye Baiting pressed the left chest of the deceased, his brows slightly frowned, "Arrow wound?"

Shen Jiang also leaned over to take a look, but this time he didn't see it, the person had been dead for too long, the corpse was too decayed, and was eaten by 'little bugs' in a mess, how could there be any holes or scars...

"The body was found by the water. Could it be that when the body was dumped, it hit a branch or a wooden fence?"

"It cannot be ruled out—"

Ye Baiting thought for a moment, then took out a scalpel from the operation box: "Come and test it and you'll know."