“The coroner, Dugu Yang, is dead!”
“Heard he was killed by his own clay figure!”
“How is that possible? A clay figure killing someone?”
“Why wouldn't a clay figure kill? I heard he made many clay figures that killed tomb robbers!”
…
In the eerie and dimly lit shop.
Filled with countless clay figures.
One clay figure stood tall, clutching a sharp sword, looking down at Dugu Yang.
The sword was stained with blood.
A large hole gaped in the chest of the coroner Dugu, blood splattered everywhere, a gruesome sight.
Just then.
The newly appointed county magistrate of Shiyang, Dugu Di Shu, stepped forward.
Looking at the cold body, he was both frightened and heartbroken:
“Brother!”
He simply couldn't believe it.
Dugu Yang, the coroner who was still sharing drinks with him last night.
How could he be a cold, lifeless corpse?
Xu Xian Cheng, the county assistant, stammered: “Your Lordship, this case… it’s a bit strange…”
“Strange?”
Dugu Di Shu glanced at the clay figure, then at his deceased brother: “The sword is in the clay figure’s hand, there must be something fishy!”
“Hmph!” Niu Qi Chang, the security chief, snorted with disdain, “What? Is there anyone else in Shiyang County besides me who can investigate a case?”
His arrogant demeanor.
Clearly showed he didn't take the newly arrived magistrate Dugu Di Shu seriously.
His words.
Were laden with intent to bully Dugu Di Shu.
He said with a sneer: “Since you, the magistrate, are personally here, I have nothing to do here.”
Then.
He stood up, preparing to leave.
Clearly, he saw the new magistrate as easy to bully and wanted to give him a warning.
Qi Chang, in plain language, was the captain of the security force.
A Qi Chang giving the magistrate a warning?
Absolutely outrageous!
Lao Zhou, the old and amiable catcher, seeing this, immediately couldn’t stand it:
“Hey! Niu Qi Chang, how can you leave? You should help the magistrate solve this case!”
But.
Niu Qi Chang was furious: “Do you have any say in this?”
Lao Zhou was speechless, but dared not say anything more.
Seeing Niu Qi Chang’s formidable presence.
Xu Xian Cheng dared not say anything either, could only ask Dugu Di Shu anxiously:
“Magistrate Dugu, where should we start the investigation? Please give us guidance.”
Dugu Di Shu wiped away his tears.
His face full of helplessness: “We should… probably start with the autopsy?”
Clearly, he wasn’t sure about the investigation process himself.
Seeing this.
Niu Qi Chang continued to mock: “Looks like Magistrate Dugu knows how to perform an autopsy? Excellent, let us witness it.”
In the Tang Dynasty.
Coroners were considered lowly, Niu Qi Chang’s words were clearly a veiled insult to Dugu Di Shu’s low status.
Such arrogance.
Even all the officials present in the county office were surprised.
Being insulted repeatedly, Dugu Di Shu’s blood was boiling.
He opened his mouth, speechless.
He might be a seventh-rank magistrate.
But it seemed like no one here was listening to him.
Just then.
Dugu Di Shu saw a familiar face in the crowd, Su Wu Ming!
Instantly, he felt like he had found his savior: “Wait a minute!”
Walking out.
He respectfully addressed him: “Mister Su! Mister Su, it really is you! Am I dreaming?”
Seeing the scholar who he saved in the Huangmei murder case in the past, now a magistrate.
Su Wu Ming smiled with comfort: “Of course it’s not a dream, Magistrate Dugu. You passed the imperial examinations, and even topped the palace exam, congratulations!”
“It’s all thanks to you, Mister, clearing my name in Nan Zhou that I am where I am today.” Dugu Di Shu was teary-eyed.
“You’ve just entered the officialdom and directly become a magistrate, this is unprecedented in our Great Tang.”
“This wouldn’t have happened without the new emperor’s ascension.”
Su Wu Ming nodded: “This must be a test for you too?”
Hearing this.
Dugu Di Shu thought back to the events that just transpired.
He couldn’t help but complain: “Yes, being an official is different from what I imagined, although Shiyang is small, it’s difficult to manage, even my subordinates don’t fear me.”
Then.
He told Su Wu Ming about how he had shared drinks with Dugu Yang last night and how Dugu Yang became the victim today.
He also told Su Wu Ming about what happened in the shop.
But at this moment.
Shouts arose from the crowd.
A man in a long black robe, incredibly handsome, was leading a magnificent steed and a beautiful woman towards them.
The horse was fierce.
The crowd instantly made way for him.
Wang Lin arrived and asked Su Wu Ming: “Su Wu Ming, your old friend? Why don’t you introduce us?”
Su Wu Ming smiled.
First, he addressed Wang Lin: “This is Dugu Di Shu, we met last year in Nan Zhou, he was caught up in a murder case, I cleared his name, and now he is the magistrate of this county.”
Then.
He introduced the curious Dugu Di Shu: “This is Wang Lin, the junior minister of the Imperial Ministry of Rites, also known as the ‘Kirin Son’ in Chang’an, we are…”
Wang Lin: “Good friends.”
“So it’s the Kirin Son!” Dugu Di Shu was instantly amazed.
He was a scholar.
Naturally, he had read Wang Lin’s poems.
He was even more admiring of the legendary Kirin Son.
He never thought.
He would actually meet this legendary figure.
He was so excited, he couldn’t express himself.
Moreover.
Since the reign of Li Er Feng, in the Great Tang, a third-rank official was the peak, a fourth-rank official was already considered a high-ranking official. The Imperial Ministry of Rites was not a powerful institution, but because of its special nature, it was one of the most influential ministries that could directly communicate with the emperor.
In a way.
Wang Lin was even more powerful than a high-ranking official!
At this time.
Wang Lin simply asked: “I heard that a clay figure killed someone? Alright, take me to see it.”
Dugu Di Shu was instantly overjoyed: “Excellent, please!”
Shiyang County was located in Yongzhou.
Not far from Chang’an.
One could say.
The story of the demon transformation in Chang’an had already reached Shiyang.
Everyone knew that the Kirin Son was considered a man of both talent and prowess, with wisdom in investigating cases!
And Su Wu Ming, needless to say.
With these two backing him.
What was there for him to fear?
Wang Lin: “Go in first, this horse is ferocious and likes to hurt people, I’ll settle it.”
So.
Su Wu Ming and Dugu Di Shu entered the shop first.
Su Wu Ming went straight to the body.
However.
Just as he was about to start the autopsy.
Niu Qi Chang shouted: “Who are you!”
Dugu Di Shu was about to explain: “He is my…”
Su Wu Ming had lost his official position, and had been expelled from Chang’an for being a whistleblower, now an ordinary citizen.
Feeling inferior, he didn’t want to reveal his identity: “I am his advisor.”
Dugu Di Shu quickly confirmed: “Yes, he is here to perform the autopsy for me!”
However.
“Advisor?” Xu Xian Cheng questioned, “Wait a minute! Magistrate Dugu, this is no joke!”
“Xu Xian Cheng, what do you mean?” Dugu Di Shu was unhappy.
You can bully me, but you can’t bully my benefactor!
Xu Xian Cheng questioned: “Looking at his appearance, he’s just arrived in Shiyang, right? May I ask, when did you hire this advisor?”
Clang!
A sharp blade was unsheathed.
Niu Qi Chang pointed his sword at Su Wu Ming: “I think you are no good! What evil sorcery did you use to deceive the magistrate in a moment?!”
Xu Xian Cheng questioned again: “The autopsy requires a coroner, are you a coroner?”
Su Wu Ming shook his head: “Not really.”
Niu Qi Chang: “Get out of here!”
Just then.
Wang Lin walked in and said coldly: “You’re so bold, who do you think you are? How dare you disrespect the former junior minister of the Great Ministry of Justice, Su Wu Ming.”