I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

Page 291

"This is because when a living person is roasted over a fire, acid rises to the surface, and saliva increases dramatically in the mouth. When this saliva mixes with the smoke and ash that enters the mouth and nose, it becomes a paste."

As Lu Huaide listened, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

"And the ashes in Magistrate Gu's mouth were as dry as dust."

The lynx that had initially picked up the cigarette ash rubbed it lightly, and it poured down like grains of sand.

"From this perspective, it was by no means an accident, but rather a murder where the body was burned to cover up the crime."

"..."

Lu Huaide took a big gulp of tea, then his face lit up with a look of sudden realization.

"It's true what they say, the devil is always one step ahead of the saint."

Old Li Boli put down his tea and slowly got up, taking a few steps around the room like an old man whose back ached from sitting for too long.

"Lord Lu."

"..."

"Lord Lu?"

"Oh. Look, look."

Lu Huaide looked at her and said in agreement:

"I've long suspected that this corpse has been tampered with. Let's go to the county government office quickly, open the coffin and take the ashes! This is the only evidence!"

"No need, Lord Lu."

Kal'tsit withdrew her hand from the teacup, shook her head, and said:

"A day and a night is enough time for yesterday's dry ash to dissolve in the putrid liquid."

"Tsk... Mr. Kal'tsit, is there any other evidence besides this?"

"Lord Lu."

Kal'tsit took a sip of tea and asked him:

"Magistrate Gu has just taken office and is located on the frontier of Meicheng. He has neither old enemies nor new grudges. So, who would want to commit such a heinous act?"

"Yes."

Lu Huaide sat down again, looking puzzled, and sighed:

"I, too, cannot understand this principle."

"The reason is very simple."

Kal'tsit put down her tea and looked at Lu Huaide.

"A year and a half ago, didn't a county magistrate surnamed Mei also die under mysterious circumstances?"

"Mr. Kelsey, is there any connection between the death of Magistrate Mei and the death of Magistrate Gu?"

Lu Huaide seemed not to understand why the magistrate Mei should be mentioned.

"They are related."

"What connection?"

"It was precisely because Magistrate Gu made a solemn pledge to the imperial court to overturn Magistrate Mei's case and have it retried that he met his demise."

"Lord Lu."

Kal'tsit straightened up and looked at Lu Huaide.

"I believe that as long as the case of Magistrate Mei is investigated, the case of Magistrate Meng's murder will be easily solved."

“Mr. Kal’tsit, speaking of Magistrate Mei, I truly regret my actions.”

Lu Huaide looked ashamed.

“When Magistrate Mei came to the prefectural government to discuss matters, after the meeting, I wanted him to stay for lunch before leaving, but he was in a hurry to go back. However, on the way there... at that Luoma Slope, he fell down the slope and died.”

"If I had insisted that he stay for lunch before leaving, and thus avoided that fierce and malevolent spirit, perhaps this tragic event would not have occurred."

After saying this, Lu Huaide sighed sadly.

"Sigh, let's not talk about Magistrate Mei anymore, let's not talk about him anymore."

He waved his hand, picked up his tea, and slowly sipped it.

"..."

"Mr. Kal'tsit?"

Upon hearing the call, Kal'tsit immediately looked at Lu Huayde.

"Mr. Kal'tsit, what are you thinking?"

"nothing……"

Kal'tsit shook her head, then said:

"Lord Lu, I have a question for you."

"What's the matter?"

"Lord Lu, there should be a county official in Meicheng County who was a coroner, right?"

"What does this have to do with Magistrate Gu?"

Lu Huaide asked, puzzled.

"If there wasn't a highly skilled coroner, who could have come up with the ingenious trick of pouring ash into the mouth of a mummified corpse to cover up the truth?"

"..."

Lu Huaide, his mask concealing a thoughtful expression, muttered to himself after a few moments:

"Yes, yes... Could it be... him?"

"Is that what Lord Lu is saying?"

Upon hearing Kal'tsit's question, Luweid replied to her:

"Speaking of people who came from the profession of coroner, there really is one."

Chapter Thirty-One: Intricate Interpersonal Relationships

"Registrar Yang!" "Registrar Yang!"

Two voices rang out simultaneously, both calling out the same person's name.

"Mr. Kal'tsit, you also suspect this person?"

Lu Huaide looked at her in surprise.

"No. I was just guessing."

Kal'tsit did not admit it.

“Mr. Kelsey, I would not be surprised if you suspect that he framed Magistrate Gu.”

"What do you mean by that, Lord Lu?"

Lu Huaide added:

"To be honest, Mr. Kal'tsit, I have long suspected this man."

“In recent years, there have been bandits causing trouble near Meicheng. Magistrate Mei had devoted himself to suppressing the bandits during his lifetime, and the results were quite effective. However, after Magistrate Mei died, they became rampant again. This Registrar Yang has also raised funds to suppress the bandits many times, but every time after suppressing the bandits, news of people being robbed can be heard again in just seven or eight days.”

“But each time they also brought back a batch of corpses, proving that they were indeed going to suppress bandits, so that I couldn’t find any evidence against them.”

"Lord Lu."

Kal'tsit stood up, cupped her hands in a gesture of respect to him, and advised:

"Until I find conclusive evidence, I hope Lord Lu will consider this all as my speculation."

"Rest assured, sir, I will not do anything that would alert the enemy."

Lu Huaide nodded in agreement.

"It's getting late, farewell, Lord Lu."

"Okay, please."

After leaving the prefectural government office, Kal'tsit stopped Bai Zhi from asking questions and silently led her back to the side room of the county government office.

"..."

Before him stood the delicate and graceful Li Boli, but Yang Baocai simply couldn't bring himself to lift his gun.

"Ugh……"

He released the girl, sat up, and sighed sadly.

“Hong Gu, these days, I, Yang, have lost all interest in everything.”

"..."

The girl sat up and stretched out her fair arms to take his hand.

"What's wrong, sir?"

"Don't call me 'head of the household'!"

As if provoked by something, Yang Baocai flung her hand away and shouted at her.

"Did you hear me! Don't call me 'the boss'!"

After shouting, he stood there for a while, then sighed and muttered dejectedly: