The First Quarter of the Chen Hour

Xiao Michang's study was located in a quiet courtyard on the eastern side of the Left Vice Minister's estate, and it was currently under the strict watch of the Golden Feather Guards.

On the ground in front of the study door, splinters of wood and chipped paint from when the door was forced open still remained, the glaring damage starkly out of place within the otherwise elegant surroundings.

Zhu Qi led Gu Chengyin and Wang Gangfeng through the doorway.

The room was spacious and tidy. Books were neatly arranged on the antique display shelves, a few landscape paintings with a profound and tranquil artistic conception hung on the walls, and the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk were set in perfect order.

If it were not for the crossbeam above, from which the rope had been removed but still bore the distinct marks of bearing a heavy weight, this study would look no different from the place where any ordinary official handled their daily affairs.

The scene was exactly as Zhu Qi had described: the doors and windows were intact, the inner latch had been locked, and there were no signs of forced entry or destruction.

A chair lay overturned on the carpet not far directly beneath the beam, its position appearing entirely natural.

On the desk, the writing materials were arranged as usual, as if the master of the house had only stepped away temporarily.

Everything pointed to a single, logical conclusion: this was the scene of a suicide committed out of fear of punishment.

Gu Chengyin stood in the center of the study, his gaze slowly sweeping over every detail.

He quietly circulated the true qi within his body, his five senses becoming exceptionally sharp under its enhancement.

His sight, hearing, smell, and even his faint perception of the airflow transformed into an invisible web of awareness that meticulously covered every corner of the room.

However, there was nothing unusual.

There were no special dust imprints left by an outsider's footsteps, nor were there any slight shifts in the furniture caused by a struggle or collision.

Even on the rope that served as the murder weapon, apart from the area near the hanging point, the dust and fiber conditions on the rest of the rope appeared natural, showing no signs of extra friction or struggling.

Either the perpetrator's methods were extraordinarily clean and decisive, leaving behind absolutely no physical evidence pointing to murder, or Xiao Michang truly had committed suicide out of fear of his crimes coming to light.

Cui Zilu followed closely behind Gu Chengyin, her large eyes filled with curiosity and a trace of fear as she surveyed this legendary murder scene.

The study was much more elegant than she had imagined, not nearly as terrifying or bloody. Yet, when her eyes involuntarily darted toward the faint ligature mark on the ceiling beam, she could not help but give a small shudder. Subconsciously, she moved closer to Gu Chengyin and quietly pinched a small corner of his outer robe, as if she could draw some courage from doing so.

This subtle movement did not escape Zhu Qi's experienced eyes.

Zhu Qi raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Lu Zhi's overly slender and fair fingers, as well as the clearly tense and stiff lines of the neck and shoulders.

Finally, his eyes seemingly casually brushed past the throat, which was smooth and flat, lacking the prominent Adam's apple of an adult male.

A woman disguised as a man.

Zhu Qi instantly understood.

Connecting this with Lu Zhi's overly delicate facial features and the reserved mannerisms in every gesture, he was already seventy or eighty percent sure of his guess. He could not help but secretly curl his lip.

This Marquis Gu, investigating such a major case, actually brought his female confidante along. It really was...

It was hard to say whether it was the boldness of a highly skilled expert or simply the frivolity of youth.

However, Zhu Qi was well-versed in the rules of officialdom and criminal investigation.

With Gu Chengyin's high status pressing down on him, a lowly Ministry of Justice head catcher like himself had absolutely no right to interfere.

As long as this Lu Zhi did not touch things randomly or interfere with the investigation process, turning a blind eye was the wisest choice.

If the sky fell, Gu Chengyin would be there to hold it up. Why should he talk out of turn?

Furthermore, for someone to be able to cross-dress and follow Gu Chengyin into a place like this, her family background was likely far from simple. She was absolutely not someone he could afford to offend.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Zhu Qi had already withdrawn his gaze, his face maintaining its polite expression as if he had noticed nothing at all.

Seeing that Gu Chengyin had finished surveying the room, he appropriately spoke up and asked, Did you find anything, Marquis Gu?

Gu Chengyin slowly withdrew his perception, his heart sinking slightly.

The scene was abnormally clean, which in itself was a clue.

But he did not show it on his face. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head, Based on what I have seen so far, the scene matches Lord Zhu's description.

Gu Chengyin turned to Wang Gangfeng, What does Lord Wang think?

Wang Gangfeng had also carefully inspected the area, paying special attention to the door and window latches and the angle of the overturned chair.

Hearing the question, he also shook his head, I have not seen any flaws either. The scene is... too orderly.

Since the scene is like this, Gu Chengyin said decisively, Zhu Qi, take us to see the body.

Yes, Marquis Gu, Lord Wang, please follow me.

Zhu Qi immediately stepped aside to lead the way. The body was kept in a quiet side room not far from the study, which was also guarded by Golden Feather Guards.

On the way to the side room, Cui Zilu gripped the corner of Gu Chengyin's clothes even tighter.

The thought of facing a real corpse made her heart pound like a drum. She felt an uncontrollable fear, but also an unprecedented sense of thrill and curiosity. This was a massive case that reached the ears of the Emperor himself!

Brother Chengyin was bringing her right to the scene, and they were even going to examine a corpse!

This kind of experience was something not even the wandering knights in the storybooks had gone through!

Sure enough, Brother Chengyin is the best in the world! Unlike my father and mother, who only know how to lock me up in the estate.

Zhu Qi caught a glimpse of Cui Zilu's increasingly nervous demeanor, making him even more certain of his guess, but he continued to pretend he saw nothing.

Outside the door of the side room stood an old man with a full head of white hair and a white beard, yet he looked hale and hearty. His face was covered in weather-beaten wrinkles, but his eyes were clear and sharp.

Seeing Zhu Qi leading Gu Chengyin and the others over, he quickly bowed.

Marquis Gu, Lord Wang.

Zhu Qi stepped forward and formally introduced him, This is the most senior and experienced coroner in the Ministry of Justice, Elder Zhang.

Elder Zhang has been in this profession for over fifty years and has handled countless bizarre and major cases. He has a very sharp eye. Because this case is of grave importance and I dared not be negligent, I specially invited Elder Zhang to personally handle it.

Hearing this, Elder Zhang quickly waved his hand, his voice carrying the steady and humble tone typical of an old official, Lord Zhu praises me too highly. This old man is merely following protocol and doing his duty.

This case is of great importance, and this old man will naturally do his utmost.

Although his words were modest, the professional confidence and seriousness between his brows could not be hidden.

Gu Chengyin nodded slightly, his tone gentle and polite, You have worked hard, Elder Zhang. I wonder if you have found anything in your examination so far?

At the mention of his profession, Elder Zhang's expression immediately became solemn, and a sharp light gathered in his cloudy old eyes.

He stepped aside and pushed open the door to the side room, letting out a rush of cold air.

He led the group inside. The furnishings in the side room were simple. In the center lay a wooden bed covered with a white cloth, under which a human form could vaguely be seen.

Elder Zhang did not immediately lift the white cloth. Instead, he first cupped his hands and reported, To reply to the lords, this old man has already conducted a preliminary examination of the corpse.

The distinct ligature mark on the neck is consistent with the characteristics of hanging. The width, depth, and direction all match the hemp rope found in the study.

This old man has carefully examined the rest of the body, including the head, face, chest, abdomen, limbs, and back, and found no fresh external injuries, defensive wounds, or restraint marks.

The fingernails are clean, with no skin flakes, bloodstains, or other materials. The preliminary judgment is that the deceased did not suffer any violent assault or engage in a physical altercation with others before death.

Zhang Shan paused, then continued, "As for the time of death, based on a comprehensive assessment of the rigor mortis, the distribution of lividity, and the cloudiness of the corneas, it was today at the exact start of the Chen hour."

The start of the Chen hour!

Gu Chengyin's gaze narrowed slightly.

That was the exact moment he had arrived at the gates of the Cui Manor.