Chapter 107: Opening the Coffin to Inspect the Body

“What do you want?” Zhao Xuwei stammered, his body trembling. “On what grounds do you stop us from leaving? You have no respect for the law!”

Lin Hongda merely sneered, paying him no mind. “Brothers, keep watch here today. If any of them dares to take a step outside, don’t hold back—just beat them!”

“Got it!” Guo Er and the others immediately chimed in.

They had anticipated this. Ever since Aunt Gao was taken away, they suspected Zhao Xuwei and Xue Meier would try to run.

So Lin Hongda and Guo Er had asked Yu Jingxiao for a day off, coming here especially to block their path.

And sure enough, their guess was right.

“What are you lot still doing here? Get back inside, now!” Guo Er barked, his tone fierce. “Didn’t you hear what my big brother said? Or are you itching for a beating?”

“You…” Xue Meier clung to Zhao Xuwei’s sleeve, terrified. “Husband, what do we do now?”

“If you’re so indignant, you could report us to the authorities,” Lin Hongda said with a faint smile.

Zhao Xuwei dared not reply, only glaring at him with hatred.

Go to the authorities? The magistrate’s men were already investigating Aunt Gao. How could he willingly walk into their hands now?

“We’ll go back for now and think of another way,” Zhao Xuwei muttered, leading Xue Meier back into the courtyard.

They thought of escaping through the back door, but Lin Wenyan was already there with another man, blocking their way.

Zhao Xuwei’s face instantly turned ashen. This was the end—now everything depended on whether Aunt Gao could hold out.

…

Before her mother’s tomb, Zhao Lan’er swayed unsteadily.

Her face was bloodless, her gaze fixed intently on Aunt Gao.

Aunt Gao seemed to wilt under her stare, unable to meet her eyes.

“Lan’er, are you all right?” Lin Sangqian steadied her, concern in her voice.

“I’m fine.” Zhao Lan’er shook her head, gripping Lin Sangqian’s hand. “At a time like this, when we’ve come so far… I must hold on, and bring my mother’s killer to justice!”

Lin Sangqian found herself quietly admiring Zhao Lan’er.

After all, she was not yet fifteen—a young girl, yet her family had faced such calamity. Her mother was murdered, and now she had to witness the coffin being opened for examination. Still, she managed to stay calm and face it all.

“Miss Zhao, are you sure you want to open the coffin?” Di Qing asked, still uncertain.

Zhao Lan’er closed her eyes, then nodded heavily. “I must trouble you, sirs…”

“Open the coffin!”

Shovelfuls of earth were cast aside, bit by bit. Zhao Lan’er did not avert her eyes.

She believed her mother would not blame her.

Once justice was done, her mother’s spirit could rest in peace.

Lin Sangqian strolled over to Aunt Gao’s side, her voice icy. “Aunt Gao, are you afraid?”

Aunt Gao seemed lost in thought just now, and Lin Sangqian’s words startled her so much that she shuddered before forcing a reply. “With so many people here… what is there to fear?”

“So many people, yet only you are the murderer who took her life…” Lin Sangqian’s words drifted like a chill.

“You’re talking nonsense!” Aunt Gao retorted at once. “I told you, I didn’t kill Madam! She killed herself! The arsenic I bought was just for killing rats!”

“Is that so? And that bowl of noodles—wasn’t it the last meal you so thoughtfully prepared for Madam? You took Zhao Xuwei and Xue Meier’s money, used Madam’s trust in you, Aunt Gao… in truth, you are the one most deserving of death.”

Lin Sangqian’s tone suddenly turned chilling, a sinister smile curling her lips. “If I were Lan’er’s mother, you would be the first I’d return to haunt for vengeance.”

Aunt Gao’s face twisted in horror; her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.

But Lin Sangqian had already walked away, unhurried.

By then, the grave had been uncovered.

The coffin was revealed.

Just as they were about to open it, the sound of galloping hooves rang out in the distance.

A carriage sped toward them, fast enough to make Lin Sangqian’s heart skip a beat.

When the carriage stopped before them, Lin Sangqian looked at the driver and found him vaguely familiar.

Wasn’t he one of Guan Yanqing’s guards? If she remembered correctly, Lin Hongda had mentioned his name: An Yu.

An Yu leapt down and approached Di Qing, bowing.

“Aren’t you Guard An?” Di Qing recognized him at once and greeted him respectfully. “What brings you here?”

Lin Sangqian watched with curiosity.

After all, Di Qing was a local constable, and apparently a respected one at that.

Yet he was so deferential to this guard.

It seemed Guan Yanqing’s background was far from ordinary.

“Master Guan heard you were opening the coffin for examination, so he specially sent me to bring the best coroner from the capital,” An Yu explained, then called toward the carriage, “Master Chen, please come down.”

After a moment, an elderly man with graying hair and beard tottered down from the carriage.

“You rascal… My old bones were almost shaken to pieces by that ride!” Master Chen grumbled as he found his footing.

“I was just worried we’d be late,” An Yu replied with a grin.

Then he turned to Lin Sangqian. “This is Master Chen, formerly of the Metropolitan Court.”

As fate would have it, Master Chen had always been close to the Guan family.

He had just retired with the emperor’s blessing due to his age. Upon hearing that Guan Yanqing was coming to stay in this small town for a while, he’d decided to come along for the change of scenery.

He had been idling about the town these days, finding it charming in its own way compared to the capital, and so he had not left.

When Guan Yanqing heard that Lin Sangqian and the others were to open the coffin for an inquest, he had An Yu fetch Master Chen and bring him here.

“With Master Chen here, there’s no chance of error in today’s inquest,” Lin Sangqian said with a smile.

In truth, she could have performed the autopsy herself without issue.

However, with two coroners present, and one from the capital at that, the results would be all the more convincing.

What she hadn’t expected was that Guan Yanqing would send An Yu to fetch Master Chen especially.

He really was a good man.

After a moment’s rest, Master Chen stroked his beard, assuming a dignified air.

He glanced at Lin Sangqian. “Is it appropriate for such a young girl to be present at a scene like this?”

“Master Chen, I don’t mind,” Lin Sangqian replied with a gentle smile. “In fact, I’d like to assist you in the examination.”

Master Chen’s eyes widened in surprise, but before he could speak, Di Qing interjected, “Miss Lin is no ordinary young lady.”

Master Chen gave Lin Sangqian another look and said no more.

“Open the coffin!”

At Di Qing’s command, several constables lifted the lid.

After two months, the body was a ghastly sight, and the stench was overwhelming.

The constables could not help but cover their noses, but Zhao Lan’er rushed forward, crying, “Mother…”

Aunt Gao shrieked in terror and fainted dead away.