Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

When the case was mentioned, Bai Bingbing's brows immediately furrowed.

That fleeting smile from just moments ago has vanished completely.

"This matter is too strange. I have investigated for three whole days and have not been able to find a single piece of evidence."

Bai Bingbing is known as the "Goddess Detective," and this is the first time she has encountered such a situation in her career.

For her personally, it was a disgrace.

Chen Shao had only asked casually, but she became interested after hearing what she said.

A case that could stump even the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard must be no ordinary murder.

He gestured for Bai Bingbing to talk as they walked.

"The deceased's surname was Huang. He was an ordinary merchant from Huangjiazhuang in the western suburbs of Beijing. He traded cloth and grain, and also secretly sold smuggled salt."

"Um?"

Chen Shao frowned. Selling smuggled salt was a serious crime in every dynasty.

Salt was a necessity of life, and the revenue from its monopoly was the lifeblood of the imperial court's finances.

Although punishments varied across dynasties, the core principle remained the same: severity.

"Selling smuggled salt, and you call that an ordinary merchant?"

"They resell small quantities, which is not unusual in the suburbs of Beijing. The Huang family is considered kind-hearted and often helps the villagers."

"They've done a lot of work building bridges and roads, and even set up soup kitchens during famine years, so the government turns a blind eye to their smuggled salt trade."

"I see. The Huang family is quite righteous." Chen Shao nodded slightly.

"A few days ago, the entire Huang family of twenty-three was wiped out overnight."

"The Huang family compound caught fire on all four sides at the same time. By the time the neighbors arrived, the entire compound had been reduced to ruins, and there was no time to put out the fire."

"Only Huang Chao, the young master of the Huang family, and a few servants who were away escaped the calamity. Huang Chao was studying at Luming Academy to prepare for the imperial examinations and stayed in the school dormitory that night, which is how he escaped the disaster."

"Yellow...yellow what?"

Chen Shao's tongue was practically tied in knots. Smuggled salt dealer, Huang something... and still preparing for the imperial examination.

Damn it!

Could this be that person?

Chen Shao felt a little uneasy.

The Song Dynasty was so similar to that world that it's not surprising that a Huang Chao emerged from it.

I'm not sure I'm a match for this guy.

This guy is a ruthless man who turns people into military rations!

"Huang Chao, this young man from the Huang family studies very hard, but he has repeatedly failed the imperial examinations."

"It's over!"

"What's over?"

"No...it's nothing."

"Are you alright?" Bai Bingbing looked at him with surprise and continued:

"Fire broke out on all four sides at the same time, which would have wiped out an entire family, yet no clues of arson could be found, and no one escaped after the fire started."

"The corpses were all members of the Huang family, and there were no assassins among them, which is very strange."

"Since I have nothing to do today, take me to see him."

...

A moment later, Bai Bingbing led Chen Shao to the morgue of the Northern Garrison.

On the chopping board against the wall, there were more than a dozen charred corpses neatly arranged.

Each body was covered with a white sheet, with only charred hands and feet visible.

"Have they all been tested?"

Bai Bingbing was taken aback. What did that mean?

Is this a sign that they doubt my professionalism?

She walked to the nearest corpse, lifted the white sheet, and revealed a charred body curled up in a ball.

Without batting an eye, she picked up a sharp knife.

A cut was made in the abdomen of the corpse.

He called over one of his men.

His subordinate immediately reached into the stomach sac.

He took out a dark, lumpy thing and put it in his mouth to taste it.

"The deceased ate ordinary millet porridge and pickled cabbage before his death, accompanied by half a wheat cake."

He clicked his tongue, as if confirming the taste that had long since dissipated in his throat, as he recounted each flavor:

"The millet porridge was sweet and clear, without any burnt smell, which indicates that the heat was controlled properly when the porridge was cooked, and that nothing had happened in the family when the deceased ate it."

"The pickled cabbage was salty and slightly sour, without any putrid odor, and there was no sour or churning smell in the stomach and intestines. This shows that the deceased still had an appetite when he ate it, and was definitely not forced to eat it or was not in a state of delirium."

"The wheat cakes are chewy, have a rich wheat aroma, and a sweet aftertaste, indicating they were made with this year's new wheat..."

"stop!!!"

Chen Shao felt a churning in his stomach and almost vomited.

That's amazing!

Bai Bingbing was completely unaware, saying, "Don't doubt our professionalism."

"The Great Yan is fortunate to have you all."

Chen Shao clutched his stomach and praised.

However, it is not advisable to stay here for long, otherwise one may easily go hungry.

"Take me to the scene and see for myself."

...

Chen Shao stood before the ruins of the Huang family's house, surrounded by charred, blackened walls and rubble.

The Huang Family Compound, originally a three-courtyard house, is now nothing but scorched earth.

Bai Bingbing led him on a walk around the ruins.

"The fire started simultaneously from all directions, with one ignition point in each of the four cardinal directions, and they were ignited almost at the same time."

"Sigh, there's not a single sign of arson."

"But if it spontaneously combusted, how could it possibly wipe out the entire family..."

Chen Shao was also having a headache, as he was not a criminal investigation expert.

I originally wanted to use my modern mindset to see if there were any limitations in Bai Bingbing's thinking.

Looking at it this way, I realize I'm young.

Just as I was deep in thought, a heated argument suddenly broke out outside the fire scene.

"What happened?"

"It's Huang Chao. He insists it belongs to Zhao Jiaqian and has been causing trouble every day for the past few days."

"Let's go take a look."

A crowd of people had gathered outside the fire, and in the middle, a young boy dressed in plain white mourning clothes was being held by the arms of two elderly men.

But he struggled forward like a stubborn donkey.

He cursed loudly at a fat, big-eared man in a brocade robe in front of him.

Bai Bingbing continued her explanation:

"Zhao Dehou, a wealthy man in the capital and related to Han Cao by marriage, has been coveting the Huang family's ancestral home for quite some time."

"He is the prime suspect in this case, but there is no evidence against him."

Chen Shao was taken aback and asked in return:

"Can't you arrest someone without evidence? Why is the Embroidered Uniform Guard getting worse and worse?"

"The Six Doors need evidence to arrest someone, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard only needs coordinates."

Bai Bingbing remained unmoved.

"Imperial permission is granted, but only for political matters. I will not abuse my power in ordinary cases."

"Moreover, if this kind of thing involves the death penalty, my reputation as Bai Bingbing will be completely ruined."

"You're quite... upright."

Chen Shao feigned disdain, but inwardly he felt a sense of satisfaction.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard should indeed act in this way.

Otherwise, with so much power, who can guarantee that everyone is like Bai Bingbing?

Sooner or later, something big will happen.

Learn from history, learn from excrement!

Chen Shao didn't necessarily want her to cross the line.

He turned to look at Huang Chao.

Name: Huang Chao.

Age: 40.

[Military Strength: 110, Domestic Affairs: 98, Intelligence: 88, Ambition: 150.]

[Status: Family destroyed, furious, on the verge of losing control, yearning for a chance to rise through the ranks via the imperial examinations.]

I rely on!

A 40-year-old young master? Pshaw, a 150-year-old with ambitions!

Chen Shao was stunned.

Still on the verge of going berserk.

The domestic situation in 98 was off the charts.

Damn it, these dozens of people are either Huang Chao or Huang Chao!

No, we have to save this biggest failure in history.

This case must be solved no matter what.

They all owe Huang Chao justice.

Another option was the imperial examination, Chen Shao secretly made up his mind.

Even if it means using special privileges, we have to make him the top scholar!

"Huang Chao, you need to provide evidence for your words. My Zhao family are legitimate merchants, and we will not tolerate your slander."

"If you keep shouting like that, believe me, I'll send you to the authorities!"

Huang Chao has reached a state of near-berserk.

He broke free from the people trying to break up the fight.

Pointing at Zhao Dehou's nose.

"You, surnamed Zhao, listen up!"

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; never underestimate a poor middle-aged person!"