CHAPTER 609: CHAPTER 397 DESPICABLE PERSON

Regarding the forensic standards of the Great Tang, the results Ran Yan produced had already surpassed the levels of all other Forensic Doctors, but for solving the case, it was still too little.

He Sizheng did not dare to persuade Li Shimin to agree to an autopsy, so he could only ask Ran Yan repeatedly, "Did Lady Xiangliang only discover this much? Last time, this official remembered, Lady deduced the position and specific time of injury based on the scars... what about this time?"

Ran Yan looked at him, her gaze cold and her voice flat, "Did I not say that? I suspect that the body was moved. Since this isn’t the original crime scene, it means the murderer has tampered with it. How can we know whether the scars haven’t been tampered with? Last time, I deduced because I was the victim and knew the whole story well enough to devise a way to overturn the blame others tried to pin on me. This time, please forgive my helplessness. This is all that can be certain."

He Sizheng felt Ran Yan’s suppressed anger and was afraid of offending Xiao Song but was more frightened of being implicated by this incident. If he handled this poorly, the lives of his entire family could be at stake. Thus, he could only muster his courage to continue asking, "Didn’t the Crown Prince’s illegitimate son have any fatal wounds? Could it be possible that the wounds were too hidden, thus hard to notice?"

Not hidden at all, Ran Yan had noticed them early on; she simply chose not to say.

"Wrap the body, let everyone disperse," Li Shimin frowned as he glanced at the corpses on the ground and stood up to leave.

The crowd bowed deeply to send him off. Li Shimin walked to the door and stopped, turning his head to say, "Whoever dares reveal a word of today’s matter will be dealt with for treason!"

The crowd shivered in their hearts and promptly responded in unison, "Yes."

Ran Yan and Liu Qingsong both sighed in relief. Having conducted the examination once, they should not be called for a second one, they hoped! Liu Qingsong lifted his sleeve to wipe the profuse sweat on his forehead, turned to He Sizheng with a smile, and said, "Junior Minister, this recommendation by you, Lady Xiangliang and I are deeply grateful from the bottom of our hearts. The Grand Lady always teaches us to be decent people. One day, we will return the favor. If there’s anything you need, just let us know."

Watch me kick you when you’re down! Liu Qingsong’s smile was carefree, but he was full of grievances inside.

He Sizheng joined his hands and smiled, "Dr. Liu, you are too polite. The Emperor will value both of you highly, all thanks to your exceptional skills. I merely raised my hand, it was nothing, I dare not expect anything in return."

Ran Yan gave He Sizheng a cold glance and turned to leave.

Liu Qingsong slightly bowed and then followed her out.

"Minister, it seems Lady Xiangliang holds a grudge against you," a young official whispered nearby.

He Sizheng snorted lightly, "Guilty conscience."

The other officials, listening to his ambiguous remark, began to speculate wildly. Could it be that he was implicating that Dr. Liu and Lady Xiangliang were involved in something scandalous? It was hard to believe. Compared to Xiao Song, Liu Qingsong was far behind, and even if Lady Xiangliang was to have an affair, she wouldn’t stoop so low, right? But in these matters, who knows? Perhaps that’s exactly what she liked...

Ran Yan and Liu Qingsong were already near the palace gate, unaware that He Sizheng’s remark had tarnished their reputations. Ran Yan was simply displeased, and he immediately latched onto that.

Who could accept being dragged into such a matter without any reason? Even if Ran Yan and Liu Qingsong did not show it, He Sizheng would never think they would just let it go, so it was a calamity that came without cause.

"I had originally thought that He Sizheng at least had some decency, but I didn’t expect him to be so despicable." Ran Yan felt that her psychology study was still lacking; He Sizheng had indeed acted normally before, reporting her saving Sang Chen to the Emperor, seemingly just to gain favor and be viewed differently by the Emperor. Seeking honor was not a shameful matter, and since Ran Yan too had gained recognition because of it, she hadn’t minded, but this time, she saw him clearly—utterly unscrupulous!

Above He Sizheng were the Minister and Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, but actually, they were not responsible for solving cases. Whether it was the Minister of the Ministry of Justice or the Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, their main tasks were to perfect and manage the law and oversee the laws’ enforcement across the nation. Additionally, the Tang Dynasty implemented a system of triple confirmation. A local death penalty case needed to go through the Ministry of Criminal Justice, the Ministry of Justice, and the Imperial Censorate for verification before it could be finalized.

And the head of the Ministry of Justice, the highest official responsible for adjudicating cases, was such a character, leaving Ran Yan somewhat in disbelief, "How can such a person be fair!"

"Different issues ought to be addressed separately. Every official in the court has their calculations. He has been the head for so many years without fault, which shows he has some capabilities." Liu Qingsong had developed a dislike for him, hence he could rationally evaluate the opponent’s abilities.

Ran Yan fell silent, which was taken as acquiescence to Liu Qingsong’s words.

The two walked silently on the winding path and were just about to turn a corner when they saw the eunuch Zhong Rui waiting there. He slightly bowed upon seeing them and said, "Lady Xiang Liang, Doctor Liu, the Emperor summons you."

Ran Yan and Liu Qingsong were stunned.

Seeing their reaction, Zhong Rui spoke with a soft tone, "The Emperor is very concerned about this case. There are some matters he cannot openly discuss in front of others, which is why he has summoned you again."

"Thank you for the mention," Ran Yan expressed her gratitude. When the Emperor summons, who has the leeway to refuse?

Zhong Rui politely uttered a phrase and then led the two on a secluded path to the front of a pavilion.

Ran Yan looked up slightly, the plaque above had three characters with a Zen meaning — Duster Realm.

"Please enter," Zhong Rui stood at the door, apparently not intending to go in himself.

Ran Yan and Liu Qingsong walked in with their heads bowed. In the Tang Dynasty, rituals were not as rigorously observed as in later dynasties like the Qing Dynasty; it was more natural for subjects and the Emperor, and although one should not carelessly look around, it was normal to look up at the Emperor.

Inside the room, besides Li Shimin and the two of them, there was no fourth person.

Li Shimin’s expression was normal, sitting and sipping tea at a table.

"We pay respects to the Emperor," Ran Yan and Liu Qingsong saluted.

"Dispense with the formalities, please sit," Li Shimin said casually.

Ran Yan and Liu Qingsong sat down at the table. Li Shimin put down his teacup and looked at them with a calm gaze, saying, "Lady Xiang Liang, explain the autopsy in detail. This matter is known only to me, you need not worry about any repercussions."

Even as composed as she normally was, Ran Yan suddenly felt a chill of sweat down her back. There was no need to measure anymore; since Li Shimin had already discovered her concealment and had resolved the concerns that might follow, she definitely could not hide it a second time.

Ran Yan was sure that Li Shimin was not familiar with autopsy matters, his realization of her concealment must have been from her words and actions. It was normal for her, unskilled in deceit, not to fool someone like Li Shimin.

"Yes. I have children at home and did not wish to be involved in this, so I concealed some facts. This is a woman’s vision; please forgive me, Your Majesty," Ran Yan bowed deeply to beg for forgiveness. This issue could be big or small; if Li Shimin did not take it seriously, it would be nothing, but if he did, even accusing her of deceiving the throne could be ordinary.

Li Shimin was originally surprised by Ran Yan’s involvement in the autopsy. Now, observing her composure, he was even more astonished. Others, having their deception of the sovereign exposed, would have been frightened out of their wits, but this woman remained as calm as still water, serene and composed, and her words were quite skillful. (To be continued. If you like this work, please feel welcomed to visit qidian.com to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)