flstandardbreds Chapter 317 Lord Xuanwu, can you also perform autopsies?
Chapter 317 Lord Xuanwu, can you also perform autopsies?
Emperor Meiji walked slowly into the Golden Throne Hall, and all the ministers quickly stood up and saluted.
He waved his hand wearily, "You all know that ten officials died in Jingzhao last night, right?"
Everyone nodded. The residences of the ten officials were still under the control of the Imperial Guards, and no one could get any information from them.
Emperor Meiji continued, "Just last night, a concubine died in the harem, and another concubine disappeared, and her whereabouts are still unknown."
Everyone was shocked. How could something happen even in the palace? This was too much of a coincidence!
"Your Majesty, has the murderer been found?"
As he spoke, Emperor Meiji cast his sharp gaze upon the crowd, "Found it."
As a black token was slapped onto the dragon case, the murderer's name was blurted out, "The Ghost-Faced Judge."
Shao Kun stood up in disbelief, staring at the dragon case with a gloomy look, "Your Majesty, can I see the judge's order?"
Emperor Meiji nodded, and Eunuch Wu immediately brought the token to him.
Shao Kun felt the token and found that it was indeed made of ironwood. The texture and carving on it were exactly the same as the genuine judge's token.
"It's the judge's order." Shao Kun looked up and said, "Your Majesty, where did you find this order?"
Emperor Mingzhi coughed, and Eunuch Wu immediately responded, "Master Shao, there are two tokens. One was found on the official who was murdered, and the other was found on Concubine Xue's bed."
"The Ghost-Faced Judge always kills people for a reason. I don't know..."
Shao Kun muttered to himself, holding the judge's order. The Ministry of Justice had been investigating for so long, and they were already familiar with the Ghost-Faced Judge's style of operation. But as far as he knew, the officials killed this time weren't particularly treacherous, and certainly not the concubines involved. Could there be another hidden agenda?
"Shao Kun!" Emperor Meiji shouted, "The one who died was an official appointed by the imperial court."
Shao Kun was startled and immediately responded, "It is I who want to serve. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me. I wonder if you can allow me to go and see the ten ministers who were killed."
He didn't dare ask to see the bodies of the concubines in the harem, but he must know the situation of the ten officials!
As he spoke, he winked at Liang Hongkai. As the Dali Temple's chief, he couldn't avoid getting involved in this case.
As for the missing concubine, judging by the strict security in the palace, His Majesty must have already sent people to investigate.
"The Imperial Guards have thoroughly investigated the matter, and we have the token as proof. There's no room for doubt." Emperor Meiji's solemn voice echoed through the hall. "I command you and Lord Liang to pursue the Ghost-Faced Judge with all your might and execute him on the spot."
Shao Kun and Liang Hongkai exchanged a glance, each confused. Why was the Emperor so anxious? Was he not even going to let them see the murder scene?
Liang Hongkai knew it was his turn to step forward, and immediately said, "Your Majesty, what about the concubines in the palace?"
"It was also the work of the Ghost-Faced Judge." Emperor Meiji suddenly raised his voice three notches higher. "What? Are you doubting the real me?"
Everyone knelt on the ground and said in unison: "We dare not."
"Then what are you still standing there for? Go immediately..."
Before he finished speaking, a sneer came from outside the hall, "Who has upset His Majesty?"
A fully armed woman wearing a veil walked in with light lotus steps.
The woman paused for a moment, as if looking at everyone, and then walked straight towards the emperor's seat.
Everyone's eyes fell on the woman. Apart from being able to see that she was tall and slender, her face and hands were all wrapped tightly, leaving no trace of flaws.
The official standing at the end immediately shouted at her upon seeing her, "Who are you? This is the Golden Palace. How can you just enter as you please? Come on! Get her out now!"
After he finished speaking, a smug look appeared on his face, and it was not difficult to see that he was happy to show himself in front of the emperor.
But... sometimes you shouldn't be happy too early.
Emperor Meiji's pupils suddenly shrank when he saw the newcomer. He quickly strode down to greet him and said, "Lord Xuanwu, why are you here?"
Xuanwu! ?
Everyone looked at the frail woman in front of them in shock. She was actually one of the mysterious four guards?
Xuanwu walked up to Shao Kun, held out his hand calmly, and said, "Sir Shao, could you lend me this thing to take a look?"
Shao Kun dared not refuse and handed over the judge's order with both hands.
Emperor Meiji's face turned pale and blue due to her disregard, but he still maintained his magnanimity and ordered Eunuch Wu, "What are you still standing there for? Go serve tea to Master Xuanwu."
"No need."
Xuanwu interrupted without hesitation, "Is this the judge's order found in the deceased's home and harem?"
"Correct."
Xuanwu gently stroked the texture on the token. What was that...?
"I heard that a concubine in the palace has gone missing. Has she been found now?"
Emperor Meiji sighed slightly, "Not yet. I have already sent people to look for her. She must be hiding somewhere in the palace."
"What if he's dead?"
"This...?" Emperor Meiji seemed to have not expected this result, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.
Xuanwu said directly: "Master Shao, Master Liang, do you mind going with me to see the scene?"
The two men subconsciously looked at Emperor Meiji, waiting for his orders.
Emperor Meiji quickly smiled and said, "With Lord Xuanwu watching over this case, we will surely find the perpetrator soon."
But he didn't know that the eyes under the veil were staring at him intently, staring at the forced smile on the corner of his mouth.
"Since His Majesty has spoken, please come in, my two lords!"
Xuanwu led the way out of the hall, followed closely by Liang Hongkai and the others.
Emperor Meiji clenched his fists at his sides. "As you have all seen, the Ghost-Faced Judge has treated the imperial court as nothing and has been challenging the majesty of heaven for years. I command you to arrest him immediately."
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. The matter of the Ghost-Faced Judge had always been under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, but now it fell to the Six Ministries. Isn't this a bit of a rebellion against the Heavenly Gang?
The two people following Xuanwu didn't dare to speak. They could only communicate with eye contact and gestures along the way, completely unaware that all their little movements were being seen.
Liang Hongkai: What should we do now? Should we follow Lord Xuanwu to investigate the missing concubine?
Shao Kun shook his head. "How should I know? We should investigate those ten officials!" A judge's order alone doesn't tell us much.
Liang Hongkai: Why didn’t you say this just now?
Shao Kun: Is it me who doesn't say it? It's the Emperor who doesn't let me speak.
Liang Hongkai couldn't help but fall into silence. The emperor's performance was also very intriguing.
Looking up, they found that the person in front had already distanced themselves from them. The two hurriedly chased after him, and in a short while they arrived at the courtyard of the murdered concubine.
The body had been covered with a white cloth. After Liang Hongkai and Shao Kun examined the body, the cause of death was no surprise: a sword wound on the neck, a fatal blow.
Seeing this, Liang Hongkai couldn't help but sigh, "If only Qin the coroner was here, he would definitely be able to find more clues on the body."
"The deceased is stiff, with livor mortis on his back. He died at midnight last night. The body has not been moved. This is the murder scene."
Xuanwu began to turn the body over, saying word by word, "The deceased's face was pale, her pupils were dilated, and there were traces of sweat soaked and then dried on the ground. She had suffered a severe shock before her death."
? ?
"Master Xuanwu, can you also perform autopsies?"