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墨書 Inktalez
"Are you saying that among those who kept vigil last night, someone conspired to steal the items buried with your husband? Your husband, not truly dead, wanted to prevent you from being deceived, so he staged a resurrection to warn you?" Li Zimu said, half-amused and half-bewildered.
A look of helplessness crossed his face.
Aunt Li forcefully wiped her nose. "Who told them to not even spare the belongings of the dead? Those old geezers have always been up to no good; everyone in Jinyang Town knows that! If it weren't for my late husband coming back himself, who would bother to reopen a coffin nailed shut just to check if the offerings inside were missing?"
An Siyang discreetly glanced at the people Aunt Li was referring to—the eight individuals responsible for carrying the body that morning.
His gaze was scrutinizing, seemingly observing their expressions and reactions.
"Aunt Li, are you implying that your husband walked back on his own?"
He Xinluo's expression turned a bit excited. Having grown up watching her father solve cases, she had seen her fair share of corpses and was not afraid of such things. However, hearing about a corpse that could come back to life was something entirely new to her.
Li Zimu noticed her enthusiasm and whispered in her ear, "How about I find an excuse later to take you to see?"
"Really?" He Xinluo's voice rose in pitch with excitement. Ever since Su Meng's case, An Siyang had been quite wary of her acting alone or stepping out of his sight at a crime scene.
But with An Siyang around, she hardly had any opportunities to investigate on her own, so she hadn't felt that thrill in a long time. A smile of anticipation lit up her face.
"Just wait for the show!" Li Zimu winked confidently. His eyes sparkled with assurance.
He Xinluo nodded vigorously but suddenly noticed An Siyang frowning at her. Realizing that she and Li Zimu had leaned in close while speaking softly, she quickly stuck out her tongue and stepped aside, oblivious to the affectionate smile that crept onto Li Zimu's face as he watched her.
An Siyang then turned his gaze towards the group of people. "You are all old hands from Jinyang County's Eight Immortals. Although this case did not involve any loss of life, the items for burial represent the living's sentiments towards the deceased. If you truly took them, I hope you can discuss it with Aunt Li yourselves. Once the authorities get involved, it could mean at least ten days or half a month in jail, or even three to five years in prison. You all need to think this through!" His tone was serious yet sincere.
Elder Zhang, presumably the leader among the Eight Immortals, waved his hand impatiently. "Captain An, we are all old neighbors here, and I won’t hide it from you. When we handle funerals for wealthy families, we do take a little something for ourselves! But Li Da Tou and Madam Li are like our own brothers; everyone knows that we are responsible for carrying coffins. Li Da Tou and Madam Li are renowned filial children in Jinyang County, dedicated to helping families mourn! We may not be virtuous, but we would never turn on our own people, would we?" As he spoke, he shook his head as if to emphasize his innocence.
"Bah!" Aunt Li immediately stopped her wailing upon hearing this. "We help others as good children and virtuous wives to ensure the elderly can depart happily. You heartless lot don’t even spare the dead; digging up graves and disturbing corpses—who would consider you their own?" Her face was filled with anger as she pointed at Elder Zhang and the others, her voice growing louder.
Elder Zhang and the others instantly began to argue back, turning the large hall of the county office into a scene louder than a marketplace. Li Zimu could no longer stand it and sat down in the hall, striking the wooden block forcefully twice. "Silence! Silence!" His voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Captain An, who is this pretty boy? What right does he have to sit in Master He's place?"
"I am Prince Anle, bestowed by His Majesty himself. Can I not even occupy this mere county magistrate's seat?" Li Zimu snorted coldly, suppressing his usual playful demeanor; there was now a hint of royal authority in his eyes. His voice turned icy, making it difficult for anyone to meet his gaze.
Hearing this, An Siyang was taken aback but still respectfully knelt and saluted. "Long live the prince!" His attitude was exceedingly respectful, and his tone was solemn.
Seeing this, Aunt Li and the others' expressions changed; they hurriedly knelt down as well, shouting for long life.
"Actually," Li Zimu continued, "rather than being curious about the stolen burial items, I am more intrigued by how Li Da Tou managed to arrive at his coffin with a dead body! Therefore..." He slammed the wooden block down heavily. "I have decided to personally visit the Li Family to examine the corpse closely and see if I can uncover anything! Captain An, you stay here and handle this matter of the stolen items properly!" With that, he stood up and pulled He Xinluo along as they exited through the back of the hall.
"Hey, Your Highness..." Aunt Li called out anxiously as she saw Li Zimu leaving. "What about my case?"
"Brother Si Yang, hurry up and finish what you're doing so you can come too!" He Xinluo's voice faded away as they were clearly being taken away by Li Zimu.
An Siyang shook his head and turned to look at those still kneeling on the ground, his gaze settling on Aunt Li.
When He Xinluo was pulled into the Li Mansion by Li Zimu, a torrential downpour was pouring outside. The rain fell heavily, splashing high as it hit the ground. As soon as they entered, He Xinluo noticed a Paper Crane, soaked by the rain, leaning against the lid of the Spirit Coffin that stood in the main hall. Inside the coffin lay a corpse.
Since the entire Li Family had gone to the county office, the large mourning hall was empty, adding to its eerie and desolate atmosphere. The dim light made the hall seem even more sinister, and a gentle breeze rustled the white banners inside.
He Xinluo didn’t think too much about it; standing beside the coffin for a long time, he couldn’t believe that this corpse was indeed the one he had seen earlier that morning. However, the Shroud and Cloth Shoes on the body were caked with mud, clearly indicating that it had walked through the rain. Yet…
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