It went without a doubt in regards to the extreme complication of investigating everything that happened throughout an entire night in such terrible weather.
The place of the unfortunate incident was not far off from City of Six Crafts, so news of the Khotan ambassador's murder while he was on his way here spread throughout the city. The County Magistrate was scared out of his wits, terrified that he would be looped in.
Coincidentally at this time, from the capital, came a few people on the Emperor's orders to receive the Khotan Ambassador. Who could've guessed that before they could receive him, they had run into a murder case instead?
The County Magistrate of the City of Six Crafts was trembling with fear, posing inferiority, and he wanted nothing more but to toss the responsibility away like a hot sweet potato. Yet, what surprised him was that this important guest from the capital wasn't easy to get along with at all! He said nothing about it, but accepted the case and brought people out to investigate.
The County Official Liu Lin raised his head, watching as the wind gradually died down and the snow coming to a halt. He exuded a breath.
As a County Official of the City of Six Crafts, it would be difficult for him to avoid taking responsibility if the Imperial Court wanted to investigate the death of the Khotan ambassador outside their city. As he mused over it, he had no idea which bandit was so bold as to murder the ambassador of another country. But so to speak he had never heard of any bold bandits in City of Six Crafts. Those who only seek fights would not have dared attempt to create such a big scene.....
He thought nonsense as he flipped the corpse around to take a look.
The guards were all busy sweeping away the snow that had gathered, revealing seven to eight corpses that were buried underneath the snow. Most of them looked like the previous corpse, having their throat punctured was the wound that claimed their life.
Only the man dressed luxuriously in the horse carriage had a hole punctured in his chest.
Liu Lin naturally bent down to pull out a knife from the snow and abruptly exclaimed: "A long knife of the Göktürks!"
"There's a long knife here too!" another constable shouted.
As the knife was being lifted, blood was still present on it. This was a weapon that had killed many people.
Could it be the Göktürks who did it?! Liu Lin felt astonished.
The more he thought about it, the more likely he felt it was a possible theory.
Everyone knew that if the Göktürks and the Great Sui engaged in a war, those who were at the sidelines would dare not sleep in peace either. For a long time, the Göktürks were displeased at the fact that Khotan decided to flee and hide under the banners of the Sui Dynasty, so they might have used this opportunity to murder the ambassador to cause a dispute between Khotan and the Sui Dynasty, turning them into enemy countries.
Many people came to the same conclusion as Liu Lin.
At this moment, the case was nearing its conclusion, ready to be wrapped up and determine the cause and reason of the ambassador's murder, but Liu Lin could not brace himself for the next headache that was to come: If the Göktürks appeared near the City of Six Crafts, they might have also entered the city by now. The Linlang guild recently wanted to hold their annual auction event in the City of Six Crafts. People across the lands—the wealthy, pugilists from all clans and sects—would gather there. Yet at this moment, they had to deal with a murder case.
He could already foresee the fate that awaited him. If he did not handle his duties well and allowed the responsibility of Göktürks infiltrating the city to clamp down on his head, he would be doomed.
As he humoured the idea of losing his job soon, Liu Lin could see a foreboding black cloud before his eyes. He felt his hands and legs weaken.
Among the important guest's subordinates, there was a young man by the surname of Pei. He got out of the carriage, holding a small cabinet.
The model of that cabinet was one that was growing popular in the capital as of late. It was small and had three layers. Behind the third layer, eight columns were present. It was convenient to put things such as cosmetics and little titbits inside. Placing it in the carriage was indeed convenient and loved by women. Some wealthy women would even place jewellery and expensive treasuries in them.
Pei Jingzhe held the chest in his hands. Although it was not as lavish as the ones they saw in the capital, it was still made of good wood and crafted with excellence. Looking closer, one could even see an engraving of a woman dressed in Khotan traditional clothes dancing.
The third drawer was pulled out.
In the first drawer dried peaches and apricots were placed. In the second, some jewels and hair ornaments. They discovered some veneer used by women as they opened the third drawer. There were patterns of fishes, insects, stars and moons cut out using a golden foil.
It would seem like there were women among this company, Liu Lin thought.
This was not surprising. According to rumours, the ambassador of the Khotan Kingdom was a relative of its king. It was perfectly natural for them to bring a concubine or two when they travelled out of the kingdom. However, it was regretful that before they could even witness the grandiose of Daxing City, they had already lost their lives.
"Look around for female corpses." At the same time, the man also spoke.
When he gave the order, everyone listened to him immediately, dismounting their horses to embark on the search.
The expensive coat that previously belonged to the man, at this moment, was discarded on the ground amidst the snow. Liu Lin watched in heartache and muttered to himself, before gathering his attention and joining the search.
Among this company, except for the mounted bodyguards, there were four carriages present. The Khotan ambassadors shared one. One was used to carry provisions. Another contained tributes meant for the Sui Emperor. The last, a smaller carriage, must have been for the female servants of the ambassador. Soon they discovered two female corpses buried deep in the snow near that carriage. The very same deep gash across their throats that claimed their lives was observed.
The two maids were quite beautiful. Liu Lin thought that they might both have been the ambassador's bed warmers as well as his servants.
But as the man knelt over, his nose nearly touched one of the deceased female maids, almost as if he was going to kiss her. Watching such handsome features near the face of a deceased that had splotches of green and black, Liu Lin could not help but shiver.
But the man didn't seem to care much and remained in that position. He examined the corpse closely, sniffing all the way down and even reached out to undo the corpse's collar with his fingers. He looked exactly like a perverted man! The young man who previously looked very calm also could not bear the sight before him and shouted, "My Lord!"
"What are you shouting at?" the man replied and walked over to the other corpse and knelt once again, sniffing for a long time before declaring, "There is another woman. Search for her."
Was there an extra person like that? Liu Lin was stunned.
The man, a little impatiently, explained, "Inside the carriage, I smelt a scent that I did not find on the body of these two women. They are not the same. So, there is another woman around. Find her!"
Everyone quickly moved to search, but in the end, they only managed to uncover twenty-one bodies; other than the two female corpses, the rest were males.
The man spoke to Liu Lin, "Leave one team here to attend the crime scene. Bring the rest of the bodies back."
So, is it done already?
The Khotan king would want to investigate the murder of his ambassador here. If the bodies were removed and the sun rose again, all evidence would be wiped out. Then, how would they still investigate the case?
Liu Lin looked confused. He wanted to ask but dared not to, so he could only look at Pei Jingzhe and gave him a few hints with a few glances.
Pei Jingzhe sighed. He picked up the expensive coat that was discarded to the ground and braced himself for a good scolding. "My Lord, are we going to leave? We're not bothering with the carriages and the horses?"
The man asked him back, "Tell me, by remaining here, what more can be done?"
Liu Lin was stammering as he intercepted, "Shouldn't we bring the carriages and the weapons back to be solid evidence? In the future, if people asked, at least we have something to show them."
The man replied, "There is no need for the carriages, but the weapons can be brought back together with the bodies."
He did not explain himself much as he got up on his horse and turned around. His white robes fluttered in the wind as he went. The remaining men looked at each other, unsure of what to do.
The constables situated in small regions were not as trained and skilled as those in the capital. To compare them with men from the Jiejian Bureau, even lesser things could be said. Pei Jingzhe could only remain behind and give Liu Lin instructions on how to clean up the crime scene. A team of men would send the bodies and weapons back to the city before returning to Qiushan Manor.
Qiushan Manor was situated in the Southeast of the City of Six Crafts and surrounded by mountains and bodies of water, offering a sense of quiet amongst restlessness. County Magistrate Zhao's wife belonged to a very wealthy family among the locals; thus, this manor had been his wife's wedding gift. Every spring break, he would bring his family there to live for a few days. This time, before the ambassador from the capital had yet to arrive, he had already assigned servants to tidy up the manor. Once the important guest arrived, they could lead him here directly. If the guest was comfortable, he would also have fewer troubles to face.
Pei Jingzhe quite enjoyed being in Qiushan Manor, especially when the snow hadn't fully melted and branches and new leaves were already beginning to sprout. It had an elegance which he could not find in the capital, so every time he visited, his mood would automatically turn for the better.
Even if he knew that the Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau's mood would be foul for the next few days.
The copper bell chimed as the man who moved ahead and went back to Qiushan Manor first, arrived. He looked drawled and lazy, yet his fingers were deft and skilled as they rolled up a letter before inserting it into a bamboo tube.
Pei Jingzhe could not help lightening his steps, but the other man's eyelashes quivered as if he already noticed his presence.
"Send out some men to investigate the woman that ambassador brought with him." Feng Xiao said as he passed the bamboo tube containing the letter to Pei Jingzhe.
The county of Qiemo was a place situated between the City of Six Crafts and the Khotan Kingdom. On the surface, it belonged to the Sui Dynasty. However, the Göktürks and Southern Dynasty were at war with the county of Qiemo. Hence they had not given much thought to this place.
From the Central Plains to the Western Regions, Qiemo County was a place they inevitably had to pass. After a long time, this had become a place to restock supplies. People from all across the lands would gather there to take a breather. The Jiejian Bureau had long since placed a stronghold there so they could send letters containing information conveniently.
Pei Jingzhe taking the bamboo tube could not help but ask, "Do you have a lead on this case at the moment?"
Feng Xiao taking a document tossed it towards him.
Pei Jingzhe catching it clumsily opened it. The ambassador's name was Yuchi Jinwu, the nephew of the Khotan King. In the letter, the Khotan King expressed his sincerity and admiration for the Sui Dynasty, hoping that they could form an alliance and help each other defeat the Göktürks.
The truth was finally out: The Khotan King had wanted the Sui Dynasty to assist them in dealing with the Göktürks, yet they were also afraid that the Sui Dynasty would impose their rule upon them. So on one side, the Khotan King strived to form a relationship with the Sui Dynasty, but on the other hand, they were also wary of the Sui Dynasty.
The royal edict was only meant for the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty, but since the ambassador was now dead, to solve the case, it had become part of the evidence; therefore, it was entrusted to their care.
The assassination of Yuchi Jinwu and his company was neither for riches nor belongings. Yet the imperial edict was still left in the carriage. Everything was in its place.
Pei Jingzhe closed the royal scroll and after finishing reading spoke to Feng Xiao: "My Lord, a Khotanian was murdered within Sui lands. This would bring shame to the Sui Dynasty's pride as well as creating a discourse between Khotan and the Sui Dynasty. This does seem like something the Göktürks would do."
Feng Xiao twitched an eyebrow, "They came into our lands and murdered someone. Why did they have to use a long knife? If they had just used a sword made in the Central Plains, we would not have a lead to work on."
Pei Jingzhe touched his chin, "Göktürks have always been impulsive and violent. If they had murdered under broad daylight, it wouldn't be unusual. Other than that, now the Göktürks and the Central Plains are crossing swords. So if they took our weapons, we would've known?"
Feng Xiao: "Did you not notice, in that carriage, something else was missing?"
Pei Jingzhe thought long and hard. The royal scroll, which was the most important evidence, was still left there. What else could have been missing? The tributes brought in by the Khotan ambassador were all there as well….
Suddenly, a light of knowing flashed across his eyes, "The tribute list! We did not find any list concerning the tributes."
Feng Xiao let out an 'Mn' as if he felt that Pei Jingzhe wasn't entirely beyond hope.
Pei Jingzhe had long since gotten used to the Second Commandant's queer mannerisms, so he was surprised to receive approval from Feng Xiao. He added further, "The murderer took away the tribute list, could it be that they took one of the tributes and didn't want us to know? But then we only need to ask the Khotan King, and all will be clear."
Feng Xiao, "The time which takes for travelling to and fro would be enough for a lot of things to be done. Fetch me that cabinet you found earlier."
Pei Jingzhe obeyed and brought out the cabinet, pulling each drawer open.
Feng Xiao, "Something is missing."
Pei Jingzhe looked shocked. He hadn't noticed anything missing even though he looked for a few times now.
But if he dared speak that thought out loud, he would certainly be scolded. So Pei Jingzhe only answered honestly, "I apologize for my slowness. My Lord, please enlighten me."
Feng Xiao, "Cosmetics."
People who were able to remain by the Second Commander's side would never be too stupid. Pei Jingzhe immediately connected the dots.
"There are veneers in the cabinet, so there should also be lipstick and perfume. But the perfume and fragrance in the carriage are not of the same scent found on those two maidservants. Thus there should've been another woman; in fact, it is likely a beloved concubine of Yuchi Jinwu. Was she kidnapped? No, that's not right. The cabinet is neither messy nor haphazard. Everything is neatly placed. When she was taken, it surely wasn't out of force…"
When he reached at the end of his analysis, he exclaimed, "The murderer is the missing woman?!"
Feng Xiao flipped his sleeves, "She might not be, but she is certainly related to the case. The murderer used long knives, but they might not be Göktürks. Look into the matter and report to me in three days."
Pei Jingzhe nodded in shock, "Yes, sir."
…..
Three days is not a long time, but it's not a short time either. The days went by lazily, and it was arduous to sit through them.
Pei Jingzhe knew Feng Xiao's mannerisms. Three days meant precisely three days. He would not stand a delay of even an hour. So at Feng Xiao's order, he sent messenger pigeons and at the same time sent out men on horses. The pigeons he sent out in Qiemo were met with a windstorm and never returned. Thankfully, he had prepared backup plans. On the third day, the men he sent out returned with letters.
Feng Xiao spoke with half-lidded eyes, "Speak, speak."
Pei Jingzhe replied with sincerity, "Yuchi Jinwu came to the Central Plains a few years ago; he met a woman in the City of Six Crafts by the surname of Qin. After many pursuits, he took her as his concubine and brought her back to Khotan. Yuchi Jinwu highly treasured Maiden Qin. Whenever he came to Central Plains to offer tributes, he would bring her along. After the travelling group was annihilated, it is very likely that it was this Maiden Qin who went missing."
Feng Xiao, "Is that all?"
Pei Jingzhe continued, "As to where this Maiden Qin lives, we have investigated into it. It was a long journey there, but I've managed to find something. Her parents are both deceased; thus, she lived in the house of her aunt. After she left with Yuchi Jinwu, her aunt also moved with her. According to her neighbours, she's very religious. Before she got married, she would always go to the Jade Buddha Temple and Zixia Daoist Temple. Every month on the first lunar day and the fifteenth lunar day, she would go there to pray in person."
Feng Xiao finally widened his eyes, "Ha! After speaking for so long, this was the only useful information!"
Pei Jingzhe replied, feeling wronged, "Then, I also need to finish saying the first part before I can proceed to the last part! The Jade Buddha Temple has been greatly welcomed and usually always crowded, but the Zixia Daoist Temple is a bit strange. Abandonment has filled this temple for quite a long time. You would seldom see any soul there. If this Qin lady wanted to pray, why not look for a more rowdy temple?"
Feng Xiao remained quiet, so he continued on, "It's quite strange though that two months ago the Zixia Daoist Temple received a new Temple Master. Immediately after, it became crowded again. Everyone says that the healing arts of the Zixia Temple are excellent, and the new Temple Master there is generous and kind. As long as there's a call for help, he would answer it."
Feng Xiao, "What is the name of this new Temple Master, and what of his background?"
Pei Jingzhe, "His surname is Cui, his full name is Cui Buqu. I heard he's a travelling Daoist, although his real background remains unknown."
Cui Buqu1.
To refuse to go where? And why?
The earth beneath the heavens is vast, is there a place forbidden to go?
Feng Xiao clicked his tongue at the name, the corner of his lips curved upwards in a smirk.
Indeed, this is very interesting.
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[1] Cui Buqu: Cui is a surname. Buqu (不去) literally means 'refuse to go' or 'not going'. It's a very unusual / strange way to name someone in that manner.