CHAPTER 150: CHAPTER 150: MURDER CASE (PART 1)

What?

Someone died in the White Cloud Temple?!

County Magistrate Lei was taken aback, reflexively turning his head to look at the Commandery Princess. He saw the Commandery Princess’s expression turn somber, her voice slightly cold, "What exactly happened? Explain in detail!"

The leading Government Official, suppressing his panic, quickly said, "Just now, the Guest Monk from the White Cloud Temple reported that last night a thief sneaked into the White Cloud Temple, intending to steal a Buddha statue. However, he was discovered by the temple monks, caught, and locked in the woodshed."

"Originally, it was planned to keep him locked for two or three days as a minor punishment, and then let him go. Unexpectedly, when they opened the door this morning, they found the thief was dead."

"The Guest Monk was greatly frightened and immediately came to the county government to report the case. Please Commandery Princess, discern wisely. Surely someone is secretly sabotaging, intentionally killing the thief to frame the White Cloud Temple..."

County Magistrate Lei listened, thinking to himself that this was not good.

Sure enough, the Commandery Princess’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, anger lacing her voice, "According to what you say, the person died in the White Cloud Temple, yet it has nothing to do with the temple at all?"

The leading Government Official, a devout and passionate follower of Buddhism, instinctively defended the White Cloud Temple, "Commandery Princess, I am thirty-eight this year, born and raised in Zhi County. From the time I could walk, I would follow my parents to the White Cloud Temple to burn incense and worship Buddha. Master Pusuan of the White Cloud Temple is benevolent, and the Guest Monks and Martial Monks are all compassionate figures, they would never unjustly execute someone or commit murder."

Several other Government Officials nodded in agreement, "That’s right, perhaps the thief had some acute condition and died during the night. It really has nothing to do with the White Cloud Temple."

Jiang Shaohua glanced at County Magistrate Lei, who was sweating profusely, "County Magistrate Lei, what do you think about this homicide?"

County Magistrate Lei bit his lip, responding loudly, "The truth will be revealed once we investigate. There’s a forensic doctor in the county government; let’s first examine the body to determine the cause of death. Everyone from the White Cloud Temple who came into contact with the thief needs to be interrogated!"

This is the proper attitude to take when investigating a murder case.

Jiang Shaohua’s expression softened slightly, nodding, "What County Magistrate Lei says is reasonable. Someone, pass my command that the White Cloud Temple is to be sealed first. Only after the full details of the murder case are discovered, confirming that the White Cloud Temple is innocent, shall it be unsealed."

With this order, several Government Officials became anxious.

The leading Government Official, surprisingly bold, stepped forward and said, "Commandery Princess, the White Cloud Temple must not be sealed! For both big and small matters, the villagers of Zhi County go to burn incense in front of Buddha. If the White Cloud Temple is sealed, the villagers won’t be able to get by."

"Nonsense!"

Usually congenial, County Magistrate Lei suddenly erupted in anger, "A murder occurred at the White Cloud Temple, and it’s very likely the killer is within the temple. Shouldn’t the temple be sealed? Or should they let the murderer remain at large? Yue Gang! You’ve served in the county government for over ten years, don’t you understand this much? How dare you utter such arrogant words in front of the Commandery Princess, disregarding the court’s laws! Even if the Commandery Princess spares you, I won’t!"

"From today onwards, you will no longer serve as the leader of the Government Officials."

Yue Gang was also taken aback.

County Magistrate Lei had been the parental official of Zhi County for five years, usually speaking and acting moderately. He never stopped Government Officials from going to the White Cloud Temple, and even specifically dispatched County Magistrates to accompany them. It had a bit of the air of ’a strong dragon can’t suppress a local snake’.

Today, County Magistrate Lei’s thunderous fury was truly shocking.

Jiang Shaohua, observing the vigorously performing County Magistrate Lei, was somewhat satisfied, saying calmly, "Matters within the county government are for County Magistrate Lei to decide, I won’t interfere. The White Cloud Temple must be sealed. In addition, post a notice to inform all the villagers that once the case is resolved, there will be a public trial. At that time, all villagers are welcome to come observe the trial outside the county government hall."

"Qin Hu, immediately return to the Prince Mansion and convey my verbal command for Yang Shi to hastily come to Zhi County to examine the case."

...

The White Cloud Temple holds an extremely high status in Zhi County, more respected than the county government. No Government Officials were willing to carry out the sealing of the temple.

Jiang Shaohua, not bothering to look at County Magistrate Lei’s increasingly grim demeanor, directly ordered Meng Dashan to lead the people to seal the temple.

Meng Dashan, following orders, led two hundred personal soldiers to the White Cloud Temple, clearing out all the villagers who were burning incense, then sealed the main entrance of the temple. The scene of the murder, the woodshed, naturally also needed to be sealed.

The thief who died was still in the woodshed, the body already cold. No obvious fatal wound could be seen for the moment, but there were traces of baton hits on the arm exposed outside his clothes.

There are more than a dozen temple monks in the White Cloud Temple. Being religious people, they don’t use blades or guns; their weapons are wooden sticks. Regardless of how the person died, the source of those baton marks couldn’t be wrong.

The Guest Monk who reported the case was a forty-something pale-faced monk, with the Buddhist name Ci’en. He firmly asserted that the thief’s death had nothing to do with the White Cloud Temple: "...Our Buddha is compassionate, the White Cloud Temple captures a few thieves each year trying to steal items, and mostly they’re locked in the woodshed for two days before being released. They have never truly harmed anyone, let alone taken a life."

Meng Dashan sneered, "The person was clearly dead in the White Cloud Temple, the woodshed door locked, only people from the temple could enter the woodshed. There was no outsider sneaking in. If it wasn’t you who killed him, then who did? Could someone have the ability to fly in and out unnoticed?"

Ci’en’s expression was sour, but he stubbornly maintained, "There must be someone secretly causing trouble, quietly sneaking into the temple to harm the thief and then framing the White Cloud Temple. Please investigate thoroughly, sir!"

Meng Dashan said coldly, "Rest assured, the Commandery Princess has already ordered a thorough investigation of this case. If the White Cloud Temple is indeed innocent, once the truth is found and the real murderer caught, the sealing will naturally be lifted."

Conversely, the White Cloud Temple would have to remain sealed.

A matter involving human life cannot be concealed and will quickly spread. Regardless of whether the temple’s inhabitants killed the person, since the person died at the White Cloud Temple, the temple’s reputation was tainted.

After sealing the White Cloud Temple, Meng Dashan left a hundred personal soldiers to guard outside the temple, then returned to the county government to report.

As for Ci’en, worried and sweating profusely, he had no choice but to consult with the abbot in his Zen room.

Abbot Master Pusuan, over seventy with a face full of wrinkles and white beard, had been meditating with eyes closed. After hearing Ci’en’s account, he opened his eyes and sighed, "Our Buddha is compassionate! A life was lost just like that, sealing the temple to investigate is correct. The innocent will clear themselves, just let them investigate."

Ci’en’s face turned crimson with frustration, eyes full of unwillingness: "The White Cloud Temple is a sacred site of Buddhism, and Master is a revered and accomplished monk, how can we allow them to humiliate us like this."

"Moreover, what if the government deliberately delays, investigating for months and refusing to close the case, what shall we do then? Are we to remain sealed forever?"

Master Pusuan clasped his hands together, uttering, "Buddha is compassionate. The Commandery Princess, young and reckless, does not understand depth, yet Chief Historian Chen is experienced and capable, knowing weight and balance. He won’t let the Commandery Princess act recklessly. Be at ease, the sealing will be lifted in at most ten days or so."

He then added, "I will write a letter for you to promptly send to Old Lady Yin at the Jingzhou Governor Mansion."