Chapter Forty-Two: The Identity of the Female Corpse

Page 1/3

On the surface, there were no wounds. Wen? speculated that perhaps mechanical asphyxiation was to blame and shifted her gaze to the deceased’s head. There were no marks around the mouth or nose, nor on the neck. Opening the mouth, Wen? discovered a strand of hair inside. She took it out with tweezers and examined it: short and curled, not resembling head hair, possibly body hair from elsewhere. She placed it in a small compartment of her case.

Gently shaking the deceased’s teeth with tweezers, Wen? found all but two teeth were secure; two dropped out with the slightest touch. This strongly suggested the victim’s mouth and nose had been forcibly covered while alive, though the severity left no marks visible on the skin.

Wen? picked up the dead woman’s hand. Her fingernails were painted bright red, not the usual color produced by garden balsam favored by women in the boudoir, but seeming to be mixed with some other dye—though this was only a guess. Wen? clipped a piece of nail and placed it in her case.

Examining the lower half of the body, Wen? observed that the uterus and rectum had been forced by gas to protrude from the lower body and anus. What puzzled her was a cylindrical wooden object wedged in the rectum. She picked it up and immediately understood its purpose—it was shaped somewhat like a male genital organ. Could it be that even in ancient times, such items were already in use?

Ji Changge looked at the object in Wen?’s hand. Though he wasn’t quite sure what it was, its shape gave him a clue, and his cheeks flushed. But seeing Wen? place it in the case with an expressionless face, he thought to himself that she probably hadn’t realized what it was.

Wen? paid no attention to Ji Changge’s reaction and continued her examination. She noticed the deceased even had nail polish on her toes, was barefoot, and had no injuries on her feet.

Wen? wrote a few lines on a slip of paper. Ji Changge picked it up and read aloud from behind the screen: “Deceased: female. Time of death over six days ago. Age between sixteen and eighteen. Has not given birth. Courtesan. Not a native of Hanjiang. Suffocated by someone covering mouth and nose. After death, stuffed into a burlap sack and thrown into the river.”

Wen Qiran paused for a moment, then mused silently: perhaps he’s just bluffing; words can be fabricated, anyone could do it. After all, the corpse can't speak for itself. These charlatans are masters at reading faces and spinning tales, and most times they get it right, deceiving the ignorant. But he wouldn’t be fooled so easily. Perhaps this person feigned muteness—the less said, the fewer flaws exposed. A shrewd one.

Wen? took a needle and thread from her case and patiently stitched the abdominal wound with meticulous care. She then dressed the corpse in its foul-smelling clothes, bowed respectfully, and wiped her tools clean before packing them away.

Ji Changge watched quietly as she finished, his thoughts whirling. Wen? was now drenched in sweat, her bangs clung to her fair forehead, beads trickled down her temples, her heavy black robe draped over her shoulders, the black cloth on her face moist with perspiration, her eyes weary. Compared to Su Mu, who had fled in panic, Wen?, this woman, inspired greater respect. Of course, he hadn’t forgotten the reward he’d promised her.

Wen? took a pellet of musk and placed it in her mouth, then handed one to Ji Changge. He had, after all, inhaled a fair amount of corpse fumes; this musk pellet would purge the toxins, and it was harmless—these corpse fumes were potent.

Ji Changge, without waiting for Wen? to write, placed it in his mouth and swallowed.

Page 2/3

Wen? put her veiled hat back on and headed out, intending to leave when suddenly Wen Qiran called out.

“Forgive me for being rude, but I must ask you to stay a few days until the case is clarified. Afterward, I will see to your reward.”

Though his words were courteous, it was clear to any discerning listener: this was tantamount to soft confinement. Only after proving you aren’t fabricating will you be “thanked.” If it’s proven you are, you won’t be allowed to leave.

Wen? halted, sighing.

Wen Qiran stroked his beard and glanced at Ji Changge, noticing he wasn’t displeased; instead, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes. So the young lord is so magnanimous? Even when he’s making things difficult for the coroner he brought, he remains composed?

In the next moment, Wen Qiran understood the meaning behind Ji Changge’s look.

Wen? turned around, removed her veiled hat, and knelt before Wen Qiran.

“Seventh Daughter?!”

Wen Qiran was so shocked he nearly dropped to the ground, staring in disbelief at the sweat-soaked face of Wen?. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that this “man,” whom he’d taken for a charlatan, was in fact his own daughter!

“Father, please punish me,” Wen? said, bowing low. From the moment she entered, she had felt uneasy. She did not wish to deceive her father, nor could she for long; it was better to confess and relieve her mind. If he wished to punish her, so be it.

Wen Qiran’s expression changed several times; for a long while, he said nothing, only sighing heavily.

Ji Changge could tell Wen Qiran had suffered a blow. In ancient times, the coroner’s profession was despised, only the lowborn would do it, and their descendants were barred from the imperial examinations. Society shunned coroners. Even he himself only approached them when necessary for solving cases, and otherwise avoided contact. Wen Qiran’s feelings were understandable. Imagine discovering your own sister had become a coroner, dissecting bodies—what would you think? A woman’s reputation was worth more than her life. If it became known that Wen Seventh Daughter had cut open corpses for autopsies, not even commoners would marry her, let alone the elite.

Page 3/3

Wen? kept her head bowed. She didn’t feel she’d done anything wrong—even if she had concealed it from Wen Qiran, it was only because the era forced her hand, not out of malice. But after all, this was ancient times, and she had caused her father distress. She felt sorry for that—he was, after all, her father; his sorrow, anger, and worry came only because she was his daughter. If it were someone else’s girl, he wouldn’t care at all.

The two bailiffs and Uncle Xun were also dumbfounded. No one would have guessed the mysterious coroner shrouded in black was a woman, let alone the legitimate daughter of Magistrate Wen, Wen Seventh Daughter.

“You all leave now. Remember to keep this secret. You know the consequences if word gets out,” Ji Changge instructed.

They nodded repeatedly. Magistrate Wen was their superior; only a fool would risk their livelihood by leaking this, and none were so stupid as to harm themselves for nothing.

After they had left, Wen? spoke: “Father, please allow me to say a few words. The coroner’s work is not a disgraceful profession. Human life is sacred; we speak for the dead, help clear their grievances, and find their killers so they may rest in peace. This is accumulating virtue for our Wen family.”

Seeing Wen Qiran remain silent, Wen? paused, then continued, “If you do not wish for me to continue, I will obey your wishes.”

Wen Qiran lifted his head and looked at Wen?: “Then tell me, how did you reach those conclusions just now?”

Wen?’s eyes lit up, knowing this was a test from Wen Qiran—there was still hope for a change of heart.

Page 3/3