Chapter Eighty-One: Reporting In

Page (1/3)

Thanks to "Sea Monster" and "zvxzcvxz" for your pink tickets and rewards~

——————————————

With the arrival of autumn, the fierce heat gradually faded amidst the continuous autumn rains, and there was even a hint of chill in the morning air.

After breakfast, Qingliu helped Wen Jing change into a narrow-sleeved Hu-style outfit. She only applied a touch of light makeup and styled her hair in a simple Lingxu bun. This look made Wen Jing appear especially neat and crisp. Coupled with her naturally cool demeanor, she exuded a grace that seemed almost unladylike, a certain flair rarely seen in women.

"Madam, are you sure you don’t need me to come along?" Qingliu asked as she stood at the doorway.

Wen Jing glanced back at her, her voice faint. "Have you ever seen an eighth-rank minor official bring a maid with her to work?"

With that, she shook her head and climbed into the carriage. Zhou Quan took a seat next to the coachman, who gave a shout, and the carriage set off slowly toward the Court of Judicial Review. The roads were slick from the rain, and the stone-paved streets were difficult to traverse.

...

After alighting from the carriage, Wen Jing found Ji Changge already waiting at the gate, speaking to Ding Wu at his side.

Wen Jing approached, moving with familiarity and not the slightest trace of nervousness on her face. To the unknowing, it would seem as though she was already an old hand at the Court, and for her, it was indeed much like reporting to a modern police station. Before she had crossed into this world, she had spent nearly a decade as a forensic doctor, so she did not feel the anxiety of a sheltered young lady venturing out for the first time. On the contrary, she felt a joy at being able to return to her old profession—a joy she could not hide.

"Good morning, Lord Ji. Good morning, Brother Ding," Wen Jing greeted with a bow.

"Good morning. Ding Wu, take Official Wen to the archives room and let her review the case files first," Ji Changge replied calmly.

"Yes, sir." Ding Wu turned and said to Wen Jing, "Official Wen, please follow me."

Hearing this rather odd official title, Wen Jing frowned slightly. It sounded far less pleasant than "Doctor Ji" in her previous life.

Ding Wu sneaked a glance at the two of them. Even he, as thick-skinned as he was, could sense that the atmosphere today was different from usual. Before, Lord Ji had always been "enthusiastic" toward Lady Wen, but today he was as cold as frost, treating her as he would any new subordinate. Ding Wu still remembered that not long ago, Ji Changge had said, "Why are you looking at me? Just listen to Lady Wen."

That phrase had been the talk of the guards for quite some time. They all thought their Lord Ji had truly "fallen head over heels" this time. Could it be the two had quarreled?

"Official Wen, here is the archives room," Ding Wu said with a grin.

"Brother Ding, when there’s no one else around, just call me Qiniang. This title of 'Official Wen' feels awfully awkward," Wen Jing replied. The so-called "Official Wen" was mainly responsible for reviewing cases.

"Alright, Official Wen," Ding Wu said without missing a beat.

Wen Jing’s lips twitched. She thought to herself, What could he possibly be thinking?

Inside the archives room sat an elderly man, sweeping the floor. Seeing Ding Wu bring someone in, he came over to greet them.

"This is Elder Nian, who manages the case files. This is the new official, Official Wen," Ding Wu introduced.

Page (2/3)

Elder Nian rubbed his eyes, as if he could hardly believe the newcomer was a woman. Were female officials now being appointed?

"Hello, Elder Nian. Please just call me Qiniang," Wen Jing said with a gentle smile.

"Alright... alright..." Elder Nian managed a strained smile.

The archives room was lined with shelves, each one piled high with thick case files. Weak sunlight filtered in through a small window. Fortunately, the room was not too dusty, a sign that Elder Nian kept it well-tended. The files were also neatly organized.

"Brother Ding, you may go about your work. I’ll look through these case files here," Wen Jing said to him.

"Alright. If you need anything, just ask," Ding Wu replied.

"Of course. Thank you, Brother Ding."

"Then I’ll leave you to it," Ding Wu said, and turned to leave. Only Wen Jing and Elder Nian remained in the room.

Elder Nian still eyed Wen Jing with suspicion, as if he could not quite accept the idea of a female official—especially one who looked barely of age.

Wen Jing made a circuit of the room. All the files were categorized by year, then further divided into two types: solved cases and unsolved mysteries. The shelves were packed—at least a dozen large cabinets full. It was a daunting workload; to read them all would take years, maybe even a decade...

Best to start with the recent unsolved cases, Wen Jing decided. The older the case, the harder it was to solve. The golden window for solving a case was within seventy-two hours after the crime. After that, the longer it dragged on, the harder it became. Cases years or even decades old, in a time without photographs and with primitive investigative techniques, often vanished without a trace, their truths buried forever.

There were not that many unsolved case files, and Wen Jing knew the reason well enough: tricks like scapegoating and covering up abounded. If everyone investigated cases with the tenacity of Zhao Shenghua, there would hardly be a case left unsolved.

Wen Jing picked up one of the files and laid it on the desk to read carefully. The date indicated it was from five years ago. Some of the ancient phrasing puzzled her, so she stood and asked Elder Nian, "Elder Nian, do you recall this case?"

Elder Nian glanced at the file, then handed it back. "Vaguely. I’m getting old—my memory isn’t what it was."

Seeing his indifferent manner, Wen Jing understood. He was unwilling to discuss cases with a young woman he deemed "incompetent"—or perhaps he had been silent for so long, he had simply lost the habit of conversation.

"Does anyone usually come here?" Wen Jing asked with a smile.

"Very rarely," Elder Nian answered, continuing to sweep. He replied only when prompted.

"How many years have you worked here, Elder Nian?" Wen Jing continued, making idle conversation.

He paused. "Almost thirty years now."

Thirty years... Wen Jing was astonished. To endure in this gloomy place, day after day for thirty years—what persistence that must take!

"Do you have any grandchildren, Elder Nian?" Wen Jing asked casually.

"A little grandson, Xiao Man. He just turned six," Elder Nian replied. His gaze softened at the mention of his grandson.

Page (3/3)

"Xiao Man must be very adorable," Wen Jing said with a smile. It was simple human kindness—she was not trying to use Elder Nian, only hoping to open him up and learn more about the cases.

A faint smile appeared on Elder Nian’s face, and before they knew it, he began to talk more. Wen Jing listened with interest, warmed by the stories of grandfather and grandson. She was reminded of her own grandfather in her previous life, who had raised her in much the same way. The thought left her moved.

Elder Nian seemed to realize he’d let his guard down. Seeing Wen Jing’s pensive look, he thought perhaps she was growing impatient.

"My grandfather was once just as proud of me," Wen Jing said sadly. "Since he passed, no one has ever cherished me as he did."

Elder Nian sighed sympathetically but soon steered away from the somber topic. He picked up the case file from the desk and asked, "Why are you asking about this? No one’s mentioned this case in years. I’d nearly forgotten it myself."

"This case must have drawn considerable attention at the time—why was it never solved?" Wen Jing asked.

"I really don’t know," Elder Nian replied. "The head of the Court of Judicial Review arrested many suspects, but ended up releasing them all. The case dragged on for over a year, then faded away. I suppose the culprit was simply too cunning."

"Could you describe what happened at the time?" Wen Jing asked earnestly.

Elder Nian looked at her, puzzled by her keen interest, but the brutality of the case five years ago was hard to forget.

"Five years ago, the Court received a report that a young woman had gone missing. The report came from the eldest daughter of the Shen family—the wealthiest household in the capital—so the Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Prefecture all mobilized, searching the city for three days and nights, but still couldn’t find Miss Shen," Elder Nian recounted.

All three agencies working together, yet unable to find a missing heiress? Usually, such kidnappings were for money or for lust. Wen Jing asked, "Did the perpetrator leave any note demanding ransom?"

Elder Nian shook his head. "That’s just it—there was nothing. Master Shen nearly went mad with worry. If it had been for money, things might have ended differently. Even if the ransom had been for the Shen family’s entire fortune, Master Shen would not have refused. He doted on Shen Ying more than anything."

If it was for lust, and Shen Ying had resisted to the death and been murdered, that would make sense, Wen Jing thought.

"Four days later, Shen Ying’s body was found discarded on the street, dismembered into three parts: the head in one place, the torso to the waist in another, and the lower body elsewhere. Master Shen and Madam Shen fainted on the spot. The emperor was furious—such a heinous crime, right under his nose, with the Ministry, the Court, and the Prefecture all searching around the clock. You can imagine how shocking it was," Elder Nian said, his face darkening, the lines on his brow deepening.

Dismemberment... Even Wen Jing felt a chill crawl up her spine—not because of the act itself, as she’d seen even more gruesome cases in her previous life, but because the murderer’s nerve was extraordinary. To commit such a crime with the whole city under watch, then toss the body parts onto a crowded street—this was a blatant challenge to the authorities. Otherwise, he could have easily hidden the body in the wilderness or buried it on the spot, and it would not have been found so quickly.

"The emperor gave a ten-day deadline to solve the case, or heads would roll. But ten days passed quickly—suspects were arrested and released, again and again, and in the end, the murderer was never found," Elder Nian went on.

Wen Jing wondered why the officials back then hadn’t simply found a few scapegoats for the crime, as they had in the recent examination case.

"In the end, the head of the Court, the Minister of Justice, and the Prefect all lost their posts, stripped of rank by the emperor. Their successors fared no better—no one could solve the case. Master Shen put up public notices with a reward of one hundred thousand taels for anyone who could provide useful information. The whole city was in an uproar, and rumors and tips flooded in. That might have been part of the problem—great rewards attract not only heroes, but also scoundrels," Elder Nian said with a sigh.

Wen Jing fell silent as well. The case file was thick, but it seemed there was little of real value inside—mostly speculation and fabrication.