At this time, Sikyong and Emperor Zhou Sheng also came to the pavilion. They talked quietly as they walked, and their expressions were somewhat serious, as if they were discussing troublesome issues.
After they walked in, Li Huaiyun vaguely heard a sentence about how to abolish the elders and establish the younger ones, but judging from Sikyong's expression, he didn't agree with it.
Li Huaiyun was a little confused. He touched the back of his head and thought that the Demon Slayer Division could not participate in government affairs. Why did the Emperor take the initiative to talk to Sikyong about this?
Or maybe the people in the court were so outrageous that the emperor had to consult the Sikyong.
Emperor Zhou Sheng and Sikyong came to the pavilion, and then shouted behind them, "Okay! You can come out! I have finished saying what I shouldn't have heard!"
At this time, a figure walked out from the shade of the trees outside the pavilion. The man had good features and a dignified appearance, especially the pair of righteous eyebrows.
He was wearing a brocade Hanfu, with wristbands on his wrists, and a gold-threaded token around his waist, which showed that he was of high status.
"Your Majesty! Sikyong!" The man knelt on one knee and bowed in salute.
"Pingshen, no need to be polite!" Emperor Zhou Sheng raised his hand gently, and then looked at Li Huaiyun, "This is Li Huaiyun of the Demon Slayer Division. I believe you should have heard of his name!"
"I heard that in the murder case of the princess more than ten years ago, the real culprit of the case was found among such messy clues, which shows that his level of solving the case is high!"
"That's too modest! It's just that I'm more attentive than ordinary people!" Li Huaiyun said modestly, "I dare to ask this brother, how do you call him!"
"In the lower punishment department, Wang Ziqian!"
"People from the Criminal Department?" Li Huaiyun was a little curious. Could it be that the emperor asked them to come here and investigate the case with me?
He didn't quite understand what this emperor meant by his behavior!
Emperor Zhou Sheng saw that Li Huaiyun had some doubts, so he explained, "Let the Ministry of Punishment investigate the case with you, so that you can have a helping hand, and in the palace, the people from the Ministry of Punishment can let you go unimpeded."
After Li Huaiyun understood this intention, he nodded, "I would like to thank you, Your Majesty!"
He actually had some doubts about the other party's true motives. After all, he was from the Ministry of Punishment, and he was probably quite good at investigating the things behind the case.
However, when I think about what happened before, it was people from Dali Temple who came to help. Therefore, it is reasonable and reasonable for people from the Punishment Department to come this time, highlighting that everyone is affected by rain and dew.
"Next, the case will be handed over to you. Don't let me down. Otherwise, you will know the consequences."
Li Huaiyun and Wang Ziqian bowed their heads and saluted at the same time, "My subordinates will definitely get to the bottom of the case."
Emperor Zhou Sheng smiled when he saw this, "When the time comes, you can go on your own and report to me if there is any situation. If the situation is urgent, you must wait patiently."
He turned around and left with the help of the eunuch.
Sikyong stood there with piercing eyes. He said to Li Huaiyun, "In this case, you can't be as careful as you were before. This case is extremely dangerous. You will know it soon!"
"You'd better stay vigilant at all times!" He turned around and followed Emperor Zhou Sheng away.
Li Huaiyun, Mu Yuan and Wang Ziqian looked at each other for a moment, and finally Mu Yuan broke the silence first, "Hey! Why were you chosen as a helper on the case?"
"This..." Wang Ziqian lowered his head, and then a strange smile appeared on his face, "I don't understand why I am so lucky to be able to work with you two."
"With my official resume, if I can add a particularly glorious sentence, following the princess and the demon catchers of the Demon Slayer Division to investigate the cases in the palace, I will eventually rise to the top in the future,"
"Perhaps this is what people often say, that our ancestors have accumulated great virtues."
These words made both Li Huaiyun and Mu Yuan feel a little embarrassed. After all, they were just cooperating with each other to investigate the case together.
When it came to this person's mouth, it seemed to become a supreme glory, which was really unacceptable.
The modesty of such a young official now made him a little uncomfortable.
"You don't have to be so modest!" Li Huaiyun said. If this person's character is born like this, it would be a good thing. I'm afraid he is just pretending, and it would be quite unnatural to get along with him.
Wang Ziqian clasped his fists and saluted, "No! No! This is not me being humble. Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment have all heard of your name, and they are basically trying to find ways to get you to join them."
Mu Yuan has always preferred straightforward people, but she doesn't like such humble and courteous people. "Don't say such useless things! Please tell me the general situation of the case!"
Wang Ziqian came to the stone table and briefly explained the case.
The situation is similar to what the emperor said here before, but it is much more detailed. The only question now is how these corpses were discarded in the sewers of the palace.
"Then your criminal department has done an autopsy?"
"I haven't tested it, so I don't need to test it!" Wang Ziqian said helplessly, "Because it's of no use at all!"
Li Huaiyun disagreed, "This is wrong! Why do you say it's useless?"
"There was too much moisture in the sewers of the palace all day long, and the location of the body was washed away by the water. Therefore, the results of the autopsy were inaccurate."
"Even so, there should be an autopsy. Otherwise, how can you solve the case if you don't even know the basic condition of the body!"
Wang Ziqian had a bitter smile on his face, "So, the people from the Criminal Department have heavily guarded the sewers, hoping to catch the guy who dumped the body directly."
"Sit back and wait!" A smile flashed across Mu Yuan's face. She felt that these two films were out of ideas. "In the past, I would have agreed, but after staying with this guy for a while, I don't agree with your kind of behavior." The approach is too rigid! Instead of taking the initiative, we procrastinate."
"There is nothing we can do about it. The main reason is that no one in the Ministry of Justice can do it. Like Li Huaiyun, he has the ability to dissect the corpse! Otherwise, why would we adopt such a rigid idea."
So, this is why I was asked to investigate the case. I finally understood that this emperor had good intentions, Li Huaiyun thought, and he completely regarded me as a tool.
"In that case, don't say so much and go for the autopsy!"
Wang Ziqian raised his hand politely and walked aside.
"I said, you didn't even bring those corpses, did you?"
"Indeed, we and the people in Dali Temple think it is not necessary! However, if Mr. Li needs it, we will definitely send people down and bring the body up,"
"Also, there are other reasons why we didn't bring the body up!"
"Oh! I really want to hear what the reason is?"
"Every time we perform an autopsy, the firelight in the lantern placed near the body will suddenly surge and become brighter at a certain time. This situation also leads to the autopsy personnel becoming suspicious and fearful. It's something unclean that's watching me nearby, which makes the autopsy quite difficult."
"Is all this kind of thing?"
"Yes! Because of this, having to do an autopsy in the sewer is really a bit disturbing."
Since you are a coward, why are you still afraid of these things! Li Huaiyun didn't know what to say, so he could only shake his head, "Forget it! Forget it! It's also good to be there. At least it won't damage the on-site environment. Maybe, there will be some unexpected discoveries."
He said this, but he still criticized these two departments in his heart. The people from Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment seemed a little too lazy this time. In fact, as long as part of the body was taken out of the sewer, the process required for the autopsy would be It will be easier, after all, the lighting is better here.
This can be considered to be different. Adding a few tons of water and releasing it into the sewer is not impossible to do a good autopsy!
Li Huaiyun sighed heavily as he walked, feeling a sense of helplessness in his heart.
Seeing this, Mu Yuan touched his arm with her elbow and said softly, "You are really good at comforting people! You have already attributed the responsibility to yourself.
"They seem to be qualified now. If you don't reflect on it, your own problems may be your own problems from time to time!"
"What you said is a bit confusing. Why is it my fault again?"
"Your ability is too strong!" Mu Yuan said with a smile, "Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment are waiting for you to work! They just need to wait for the end!"
Li Huaiyun spread his hands, "What? Is being strong a sin?"
"Of course it is! They all want to rely on you! No one wants to bother to investigate the case."
"I'm talking about the heroine, but when the body was found in the sewer, I hadn't even come to the palace yet. You really didn't have any reason to do this."
"Look what you said is a bit confusing."
Wang Ziqian led the two of them to the place where they entered the sewer of the palace, which was a wooden house built not far from the Jinluan Palace.
It is located in a remote forest, surrounded by tall courtyard walls and lush woods.
Wang Ziqian stood in front of the wooden house, took out the prepared key, and opened the door of the wooden house. It rained last night, and the wooden door of the house was covered with water drops.
He walked into this room of more than ten square meters, then reached for the lantern hanging on the wall, and lit it with a fire stick.
Li Huaiyun and Mu Yuan each had one, in order to make the inside brighter so that they would not be unable to perform certain tasks because it was too dark.
Wang Ziqian bent down and pulled up the wooden lid on the ground. As the chain carried the lid, there was a crisp creaking sound.
Then a particularly unpleasant smell rushed upward from the pitch-black night below.
Wang Ziqian seemed to be quite adapted to the smell and was not affected by anything else. He just frowned slightly, and then he walked directly downstairs with the lantern in hand.
As soon as you step on the steps, you can hear some weird sounds in your ears, like the harsh shouts of someone trapped in the cellar, which is quite miserable.
However, this sound is mixed with a lot of subtle noises, which makes people feel quite weird.
"Zi Qian, do you know what this sound is about?"
"Don't worry, this is some kind of sound made when the wind blows upward from below! The palace sewer is a very large project with a quite wide space inside, so it is not surprising that such a sound is produced. Listen to more Once you get used to it.”
The further down Li Huaiyun went, the more he felt uncomfortable with his body. In this inexplicable darkness, in this environment, it was as if he had been deprived of his six senses, leaving his brain in a relatively chaotic state.
Wang Ziqian walked in front, holding a lantern in his hand, and walked down the steps. His eyes kept looking into the darkness around him.
When his body was completely engulfed by darkness, leaving only the light in front of him, the further down he went, the more chilling the darkness became.
They followed the winding steps to the sewer floor. When the soles of their shoes stepped on the ground, water splashed from below.
At this time, the voice that has always been in your ears has become a bit ethereal, as if someone has been calling you softly in the distance.
The dark and humid environment made people's hair stand on end, with a slight rancid smell.
Li Huaiyun was walking in the sewer with a lantern. He used the lantern to shine on the ground from time to time. The ground was uneven and dirty black water was flowing everywhere. At the same time, there were green growths growing in the dry places on the ground. moss.
Mu Yuan followed behind, asking Li Huaiyun from time to time, for fear that the person in front of him would become someone he didn't recognize.
"I'm here, Mu Yuan, don't ask!" Li Huaiyun was a little curious. "What's wrong with you? Why have you asked so many times! Didn't I make it clear before?"
Mu Yuan explained in a low voice, "I can't help it. Who told me to walk at the end? If there is any danger, you may not notice me!"
"How could it be! You're such a big living person, why couldn't we notice you!"
Mu Yuan curled her lips and said, "I hope."
Li Huaiyun lifted the lantern and looked up. He was attracted by this wide sewer.
This sewer is more than ten meters high. The rock walls above are jagged and wet all day long, and there are several places covered with green grass.
Wang Ziqian took the two of them through several ditches on the road and walked towards the defense line where the body was!
"Quick! It's right in front." He pointed forward.
After a while, they came to a special ditch. The dirty water outside was constantly leaking out and flowing to other places along the ground.
After arriving at the destination, Wang Ziqian put the lantern forward. Seeing the tragic situation in the ditch, a strange signal suddenly appeared in his heart, and hope appeared in their eyes.
Although he had seen many other disgusting scenes, Li Huaiyun was still shocked, and Mu Yuan behind him even screamed.
The screams echoed in the empty sewer, making the sound even more shrill and terrifying.
Since Wang Ziqian had been here several times, he was already very clear about the tragic situation in the ditch, so he seemed unusually calm in his heart.
"You will see it soon, it is quite a terrifying scene!"
Li Huaiyun held the lantern and complained in his heart, since he knew the horror, why didn't he take the body out when there were many people? It was a waste of time.
He turned to look at Mu Yuan, "How about you, can you come and help me?"
Mu Yuan frowned and looked a little dull. She didn't know where to look for a while. She also seemed a little hesitant about Li Huaiyun's request. She was also afraid of this thing! "this..."
never mind! This woman must be scared! Li Huaiyun said to the person in front of him, "Since the princess is unwilling to help, then you are the only one who can help me!"
This request really made Wang Ziqian feel embarrassed. Although he had been here several times before and had seen those disgusting scenes, he only looked at them from a distance.
Even Wu Zuo couldn't help but look directly at that scene, let alone him. If he had to step forward to help, it would make him even more frightened.
"Ah! This..."
"Aren't you afraid too?"
Wang Ziqian was quite polite and honest, not hiding anything, "Yes!"
oops! Then there is no one who can use it! Li Huaiyun couldn't help but sigh, "Forget it, I'll do it myself!"
He took out the boxing gloves from his pocket and put them on his arms. "Then you two, one on the left and one on the right, help me carry the lantern. That's no problem!"
"Yeah!" The two of them said in unison, as long as they didn't touch those things, everything would be fine.
Li Huaiyun walked forward. The closer he got to the ditch filled with corpses, the more he could smell a special smell emanating from the air. There was a pungent smell in the putrid smell. He speculated that it was possible It is some ammonia gas fermented by corpses after being piled up for a long time. However, people of this era may not understand it very well.
"During the autopsy, when the lantern is close to you, the flames in the lantern will suddenly rise or intensify! There may even be a small-scale, slight explosion, right?"
"Yes!"
"Sure enough, it should be related to a smell!"
"odor?"
Wang Ziqian had a surprised look on his face. He never imagined that the other party knew such a thing. He was quite curious about the circumstances under which it happened.
"Master Li, you said it is true. What kind of smell is it?"
"You are here, and you occasionally smell a pungent smell? And the smell is quite unpleasant to the mouth and nose, with a sense of severe pain."
"Yes! That's true." Wang Ziqian slapped his thigh fiercely. After hearing this answer, he immediately responded, "That's it, so the autopsy is difficult to perform."
"This smell is caused by the corpse being stored in such a cold environment! This is a special gas and is caused by the fermentation of food residues in the intestines of the corpse. Normally, this smell It’s unbearable.”
Li Huaiyun continued, "This illustrates a very intuitive problem! It should not be ignored in the investigation."
"Oh! What's the problem?"
"The decomposition of these corpses is far beyond imagination. I remember you said that there are several corpses here that are relatively fresh, and some of them have just entered the palace, right?"
"Yes!" Wang Ziqian frowned, "The rotten situation is far beyond imagination. What does this mean?"
