Miss Truth
Chapter 93 - 58: Make-Up on a Dead Man’s Face_2

Chapter 93: Chapter 58: Make-Up on a Dead Man’s Face_2

Pausing briefly, Ran Yan continued, "The edges of the secondary wounds showed no sign of the skin curling up, indicating no signs of life, and there was depressed comminuted fracturing. The wounds were clean-cut in a triangular shape, which suggests that these injuries were inflicted after death with a forceful blow from a sharp metal blunt instrument."

Liu Pinrang nodded thoughtfully, "Then how do you determine that there were two perpetrators?"

"From the sequence of the wounds inflicted on this body, the murderer initially struck the victim from the front with a wooden blunt object. However, due to insufficient force, the victim experienced only momentary discomfort. Seeing that she had not died, the murderer immediately pushed her into nearby water filled with flower petals. At this point, the victim began to struggle desperately. In a fight for survival, a person can tap into greater potential than usual. Judging from the wounds inflicted, this murderer did not have great strength, certainly not that of a strong and muscular man. Therefore, it’s very likely that there was another person aiding the perpetrator in the crime."

"After drowning the victim, the murderer then began to hide the body. In the summer’s heat, where could the body be hidden to prevent it from rapidly decomposing?"

"During the tea party, everyone was gathered in one place. How could the murderer be sure that Qin Silang would walk away alone? And how did they calculate the timing to move the body and set up the scene?"

One by one, Ran Yan’s questions all pointed towards the Yin residence.

Why did Yin Miaomiao propose the game of hide and seek that day? Could she truly be connected to this murder case?

Ran Yan exhaled, feeling a sense of weakness all over. She had a vague sense that she was about to see the truth of the matter, "I feel that I’ve lost part of my memories, and I dream of a woman every night, her face covered with a plain cloth, her body sunk in water. It seems to be Yin Siniang, Yin Wanwan... Inspector Liu, you might want to look into her cause of death."

Liu Pinrang was surprised by Ran Yan’s words, but he also harbored extreme suspicions towards Yin Miaomiao’s potential for murder. However, although she was suspicious, there wasn’t sufficient motive for her to kill.

Yin Miaomiao represented the paragon of gentlewomanliness in the Yin family, always living quietly and simply, modest and gentle. She seldom had the chance to meet men in private, and had even fewer encounters with Qin Silang.

Now it seemed that Han Shan’s death in Cai Xiu Hall was also related to the main culprit from the Yin residence. It might make sense for Yin Miaomiao to kill her own maid, but why would she have a reason to kill Qin Silang and Han Shan?

Ran Yan quietly processed the two bodies. She had already mentioned all the clues she could provide. In the Great Tang, she had neither the right nor the conditions to investigate the case. All that remained was to go home, ponder what the weapon that caused Fan Chun’s wounds could be, and then quietly wait for the government’s investigation results.

"Why would that courtesan harm herself?" Suddenly, Xiao Song’s magnetic and elegant voice resonated beside Ran Yan.

Only after donning her mask did Ran Yan remove her face covering, slightly sighing, "Those who self-harm are usually in a state of extreme emotion, such as regret, resentment, hatred, and so on. Cui Mei found herself inexplicably pregnant and also suffered from syphilis, which must have disfigured her face tremendously. No doubt she was someone who cared deeply about her appearance and harbored some sort of extreme emotion; self-harm is not astonishing under such circumstances."

After speaking, Ran Yan nodded slightly towards him and turned to take her leave from Liu Pinrang and the others. The bodies had been examined, and everything that needed to be said had been said; there was no reason to stay any longer.

Once she had left the Morgue, she realized that a fine drizzle had started to fall outside. Ran Yan, wearing her mask, didn’t mind and walked straight into the rain.

Shao Ming followed her, his face pale and ashen, entirely blank until the rain soaked him, snapping him out of his daze. He hurriedly excused himself to Ran Yan and ran to the carriage to fetch an umbrella.

Ran Yan walked unhurriedly towards the alley where her carriage was parked.

After a while, she suddenly noticed the light dimming and instinctively looked up.

Through the soapy gauze of her mask, she unexpectedly met a pair of dazzling, starry black eyes. The handsome face carrying a light, elegant smile was holding an oil-paper umbrella over her head.

"Wife, didn’t you say you would find time to discuss the meaning of ’pathogen’ with me? Fortunately, I am free today," Xiao Song said with a smile.

"I am not free," Ran Yan replied indifferently.

With a slight lift of his eyebrows, Xiao Song pressed, "Whatever Wife wishes to do, I can accompany you, and we can discuss while we’re at it."

Ran Yan frowned and stared at him silently. His voice had made her think he was a calm and reserved man, but meeting him in person, she realized he was indeed steady but also quite impudent!

"I have to do embroidery, sew clothes, and chat with my sisters about makeup and charming gentlemen," Ran Yan dropped this line and turned to leave.

Xiao Song stood still, not following her. He held the umbrella, watching her figure meet up with Shao Ming and then disappear into the alley where the carriage was parked.

After Ran Yan got into the carriage, she removed her mask and couldn’t help but glance outside the window. She saw the figure in a red robe holding an oil-paper umbrella painted with landscapes still standing in the distance. He tilted his head slightly as if listening to a Guard reporting matters. The sword-like eyebrows were slightly furrowed, the straight nose, the strong jawline all matched Ningniang’s description—he truly didn’t have a single flaw.

Just as Ran Yan was about to look away, she saw him glance towards the carriage and suddenly smile, as if he knew she was watching him.

Ran Yan’s eyebrows knit together, and she leaned back against the cushions.

As the sky outside grew darker and because of a recent rain, the road in the outskirts was difficult to navigate. So soon after leaving the city, the carriage began to speed up. Once they were in the countryside, it slowed down. (To be continued... If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)