Chapter 36: Emerging! The Suspects!

The biting cold wind whipped up the accumulated snow, lashing against his face with a stinging, chilling sensation.

Cheng Chumo wiped the snow from his face, swallowing hard as he replayed Liu Shuyi’s words in his mind, feeling a sudden sense of vertigo. He had truly never suspected the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. After all, during the days the coffin of the Prince of Xi was held there, high-ranking monks had chanted scriptures without interruption by day, and guards had stood watch by night. With people coming and going in such numbers, he felt it would be impossible for thieves to find an opportunity, and certainly, no one would be audacious enough to steal a corpse from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Yet, the reality was that the thieves had struck precisely there. Liu Shuyi had presented ironclad evidence; no matter how unbelievable it seemed, he had no choice but to believe it.

"How could these thieves be so utterly reckless, daring to strike at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?" Cheng Chumo couldn't help but exclaim.

Du Gou’s brows were locked in a deep furrow, his own mind equally shaken. Like Cheng Chumo, he had been among the first to rule out the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Little did he know they had almost veered off in the wrong direction, completely losing sight of the truth. While Du Gou was awestruck by Liu Shuyi’s deduction, he also felt a lingering sense of dread.

As for Zhao Feng, he looked at Liu Shuyi with even greater admiration. The more he followed Liu Shuyi in investigating cases, the more he felt the man’s power and magnetism. Meanwhile, Wang Kun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, looked at Liu Shuyi as if he were a monster. He couldn't help but remark, "No wonder the rumors say you are a god at solving cases. Damn it, you really are a god!"

Liu Shuyi smiled and said, "Not a god. I simply observe more meticulously and think more deeply than you do."

*Is that just a difference of "thinking more"?* Wang Kun muttered to himself, *That is the difference between a blind man and someone with eyes that can see for a thousand miles.*

Du Gou took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and asked, "Shall we go to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices now?"

Liu Shuyi took one last look at the black coffin and said, "General Cheng, lift it up. We are going to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. If nothing goes wrong... that place should give us the truth!"

***

The Court of Imperial Sacrifices, one of the Nine Courts of the Tang Dynasty, was the highest administrative organ in charge of rituals, music, and funerals. As soon as Liu Shuyi entered, he heard the sound of drums and music, smelled the scent of burning incense, and caught a faint undertone of medicinal herbs in the air.

"Who are you?" an official from the Court approached them.

Liu Shuyi gave Zhao Feng a look, and Zhao Feng stepped forward to identify them. The official realized who they were and hurriedly said, "So it is Director Liu. Please forgive my lack of hospitality. The Minister is at the palace, Vice Minister Liu is at the Ministry of Rites, Vice Minister Sun and Assistant Minister Han are supervising the construction of the imperial mausoleum, and Assistant Minister Wu is resting due to illness. I am the only one available to host you for the time being."

He introduced himself as Hong Wenlu, a Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, a middle-ranking official.

Liu Shuyi had not expected such poor timing; not a single high-ranking official was present. Without their cooperation, investigating with only a middle-ranking official might prove difficult. He asked, "Do you know when Vice Minister Liu or Vice Minister Sun will return?"

"This..." Hong Wenlu shook his head. "I am not sure, but I can have someone send word to Director Liu."

Liu Shuyi frowned, about to speak, when a resonant and authoritative voice rang out from behind him: "Who has come to my Court of Imperial Sacrifices?"

"It is Vice Minister Liu! He has returned!" Hong Wenlu’s eyes brightened. He hurried over to explain their identities to Vice Minister Liu Yuanming.

Liu Yuanming nodded in understanding. He looked at Liu Shuyi and said, "Director Liu, have you come to investigate the theft of the Prince of Xi’s remains?"

Liu Yuanming was about forty years old, with a stern face and deep horizontal lines etched between his brows from years of frowning, making him appear unapproachable. Liu Shuyi had known countless people and understood how to deal with different temperaments. For someone as humorless as Liu Yuanming, he skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point. "Yes. I ask for your cooperation, Vice Minister."

As expected, seeing that Liu Shuyi was efficient and without idle chatter, Liu Yuanming’s brow relaxed slightly. He nodded and asked, "How does the official need to cooperate?"

Although he seemed difficult to approach, he was quite straightforward once engaged.

Liu Shuyi asked, "I would like to know, where was the coffin of the Prince of Xi kept before the reburial?"

Liu Yuanming frowned. "Is that relevant to the case?"

"Yes."

"Then let’s go." He led the way without a wasted word.

Hong Wenlu hurriedly explained, "Vice Minister Liu has always had this temperament. He is the same with everyone. Please do not take offense, Director Liu."

Liu Shuyi smiled and shook his head. "I like those who do not waste words and only focus on the work."

Before long, they stopped in front of a very spacious hall.

Liu Yuanming said, "For those seven days, the coffin of the Prince of Xi was kept here... whenever a member of the royal family passes away and requires a wake, they are placed in this hall."

Liu Shuyi nodded and looked up. The hall was quite large, at least a hundred square meters. Two thick red-lacquered wooden pillars stood before it. Inscribed on the pillars were the words: "The Jade Leaves Wither, Mourning the Phoenix Palace" and "The Golden Branches Fall, Weeping at the Dragon Tower." The doors of the hall were wide open.

Standing outside, one could see a table inside covered in white cloth, upon which sat an incense burner and offerings. Behind the table, it was empty, presumably where the coffin had been placed.

Liu Shuyi walked in and found the hall to be spotless, the floor so polished he could see his own reflection. As he observed the hall, he asked, "I heard that during the seven days the coffin was held here, guards were stationed outside the door, never leaving day or night?"

Liu Yuanming nodded, his tone serious, as if everything deserved his solemn attention. "Correct. The Mausoleum Guard was stationed outside the hall throughout. During those seven days, we never heard the guards report any abnormalities."

*The Mausoleum Guard...*

Liu Shuyi nodded. "I heard that high-ranking monks were chanting scriptures continuously? Where were they stationed, and for how long?"

Liu Yuanming didn't need to think. "Forty-nine high-ranking monks from five temples, including the Gan'ye Temple and Ci'en Temple, chanted for the Prince. They chanted here, beginning at the hour of the Dragon (7–9 AM), resting for one hour at the hour of the Horse (11 AM–1 PM), and resuming at the hour of the Sheep (1–3 PM) until the hour of the Dog (7–9 PM). Seven days without interruption, in a continuous cycle."

"Did all forty-nine come and go together? Was there ever anyone left alone to chant?"

"No," said Liu Yuanming.

Liu Shuyi rubbed his chin, pondering. "During those seven days, do you know if anyone ever stayed alone in this hall?"

"Alone..." Liu Yuanming thought for a moment. "His Majesty stayed here alone for two quarters of an hour on the first day before leaving."

Du Gou, Cheng Chumo, and the others thought: *...You don't need to mention His Majesty.* Even if they wanted to, they wouldn't dare suspect the Emperor!

Liu Yuanming added, "That is all."

"That's all!?" Cheng Chumo’s eyes widened. "How could that be?" The thieves stole the remains from here; how could no one else have been here alone besides the Emperor? If not, how did the thieves manage to pry out the coffin nails and hammer them back in?

Liu Yuanming was displeased by Cheng Chumo’s questioning. His brows knit together, his expression turning sour. "If I say there was no one, there was no one. If General Cheng does not believe me, you may ask the others. They all know this. Why would I lie?"

Liu Yuanming was the type of person like Wei Zheng—stern and unyielding—which made someone as spirited as Cheng Chumo wary. At this moment, with his brows furrowed and his tone reprimanding, Cheng Chumo felt a chill down his spine and immediately backed down.

Liu Shuyi stepped in to mediate with a smile. "General Cheng does not doubt you, Vice Minister; he is simply surprised. After all, based on the clues we have gathered, it is very likely that the thieves stole the remains of the Prince of Xi right here."

"What?" This was the first time Liu Yuanming’s expression changed. "You say the remains of the Prince of Xi were stolen here?"

Liu Shuyi nodded. "We have evidence."

"How is that possible?" Liu Yuanming’s brows locked again. "During those seven days, the Mausoleum Guard was stationed at the door, and no one entered alone except His Majesty. How could the thieves have stolen the remains here?"

"That is exactly what I find so baffling. How did the thieves get in, and how did they evade the ears of the guards to steal the remains?"

Liu Shuyi rubbed the jade pendant at his waist—which had been missing for half a year—his eyes flashing with deep thought. Suddenly, he asked Liu Yuanming, "Do you know who decided the date for the reburial of the Prince of Xi? And whose suggestion was it to keep the coffin for seven days?"

"That..." Liu Yuanming did not hesitate. "The auspicious date for the reburial was calculated by Assistant Minister Wu himself. Keeping the coffin for seven days was also a suggestion made by Assistant Minister Wu in accordance with the regulations, which was then confirmed by His Majesty."

"Assistant Minister Wu?"

Hong Wenlu hurriedly added, "That is Wu Qi, the Assistant Minister who I mentioned is resting at home due to illness."

Liu Shuyi nodded in understanding. "Is Assistant Minister Wu very skilled at divination?"

Hong Wenlu laughed. "Divination is Assistant Minister Wu’s specialty. He has performed divinations for many nobles, and they have always been very accurate. Moreover, it is not just Assistant Minister Wu in our Court who can perform divination; Vice Minister Liu’s skills are no less than his, though he has rarely practiced since being promoted to Vice Minister."

Liu Shuyi looked at Liu Yuanming with some surprise, not expecting such a stern and rigid official to possess such a skill.

Liu Yuanming replied coolly, "Those who can enter the Court of Imperial Sacrifices all have some special skills. This is nothing."

Cheng Chumo heard this and looked at Hong Wenlu. "Are you the same?"

Hong Wenlu laughed sheepishly. "I studied under Yuan Tiangang; I know a little about physiognomy."

*A disciple of Yuan Tiangang?* Liu Shuyi gave Hong Wenlu a second look.

"Do you know when Assistant Minister Wu performed the divination and when it was decided to rebury him on the thirteenth of the first month?" Liu Shuyi continued.

Liu Yuanming said, "At the beginning of the twelfth month of the first year of Zhenguan, the mausoleum of the Prince of Xi was completed. His Majesty ordered our Court to calculate the date for the reburial. Assistant Minister Wu performed the divination and finally determined the date."

*The beginning of the twelfth month?* That was not long before the thirteenth of the first month. The reburial of a former Crown Prince was a matter of great importance, requiring massive amounts of manpower. Not to mention, a New Year fell in between...

"Was choosing the thirteenth of the first month too rushed? Were there no other suitable dates?" Liu Shuyi asked.

Liu Yuanming shook his head. "Assistant Minister Wu said that within six months, this was the only day. If not this day, it would have to be after the sixth month."

That would have been too long. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he ordered the rapid construction of Li Jiancheng’s mausoleum to demonstrate his benevolence and magnanimity to the world, thereby improving his image after the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Therefore, Li Shimin could not wait that long.

And with only one choice, the reburial of the Prince of Xi became a certainty.

His eyes flickered. "Do you know what illness Assistant Minister Wu has? Can I see him?"

Liu Yuanming frowned. "I would have to ask the Imperial Medical Bureau about the specific illness, but it shouldn't be too serious. If you need to see him, Director Liu, I can have someone summon him."

Liu Shuyi had wanted to visit him himself, but his time was limited. "Thank you for the trouble."

"It is nothing." Liu Yuanming was not one to linger; he turned and ordered someone to send word.

In the meantime, Liu Shuyi paced the hall. He went to the table with the incense, candles, and offerings. He saw that the two candles were intact and thick, never having been lit. There was some blue incense ash on the burner. He pinched a bit of the ash with his fingertips, felt its texture, and nodded slightly.

"General Cheng." Liu Shuyi looked at Cheng Chumo. "Have someone bring the coffin here. Place it exactly where it was before, without the slightest deviation."

He wanted to reenact the scene.

Cheng Chumo did not hesitate. He soon had the Jinwu Guards bring the coffin into the hall, and under Hong Wenlu’s direction, placed it exactly behind the table.

Liu Shuyi stood before the table, looking at the black coffin behind it. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in from outside, lifting some ash from the incense burner; it drifted through the air and landed on the coffin.

He turned around and looked toward the hall doors. The windows were sealed, fixed wooden lattices that could not be opened. There was only one main door, and guards were stationed outside. No one could have entered the hall without being seen by the guards. And the monks, coming from five different temples, were highly unlikely to have colluded.

*How did the thieves enter the hall? And when they hammered the coffin nails, how did they avoid the ears of the guards outside?*

He thought for a moment and then said to Du Gou, "Assistant Minister Du, please have someone go to the prison and ask the Mausoleum Guards who were on duty that day a few questions for me."

"What questions?"

"Ask them how they organized the guard duties, how they changed shifts, if there was ever a moment they left the hall, and if they heard any loud noises—no matter how insignificant they might have thought it was at the time."

Liu Shuyi did not yet know how the thieves entered the hall. But he knew that the thieves must have pried open and hammered back the coffin nails, and as long as there was hammering, there would be sound—that was unavoidable! As long as the thieves were forced to do something, there would be an opportunity to find them! He was never afraid of what his enemies did; he only feared they would do nothing. As long as they acted, there would be traces!

Du Gou was sharp; he understood Liu Shuyi’s meaning immediately. He nodded and said, "The Court of Judicial Review is not far from here. I will go myself!" With that, he hurried away.

Liu Shuyi let out a slow breath and looked at the hall again. He looked up toward the ceiling. The hall was very high, with thick wooden beams providing sturdy support. The roof, made of glazed tiles, was airtight and luxurious.

After pondering, Liu Shuyi looked at Cheng Chumo and whispered something in his ear. Cheng Chumo’s eyes flashed; he immediately ordered a ladder to be brought in and climbed up. Zhao Feng looked at Cheng Chumo in confusion, wondering why he was climbing the beams.

Soon, Cheng Chumo climbed down and whispered something into Liu Shuyi’s ear.

Liu Shuyi narrowed his eyes, then went to Liu Yuanming. "Vice Minister Liu, do you know who stayed at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices at night during the seven days the coffin was held here?"

"Stayed at the Court at night?" Liu Yuanming thought for a moment. "Many! The reburial of the Prince of Xi was a matter of great importance; we did not dare to be the least bit lax. We barely left the Court day or night. Besides our officials, the high-ranking monks and the Mausoleum Guards all stayed at the Court. During those seven days, the number of people in the Court was more than ten times higher than usual."

*That would be nearly a thousand people?* Liu Shuyi frowned. The number of people was too high.

After thinking, he added, "Did Assistant Minister Wu also stay at the Court at night during those days?"

"Assistant Minister Wu?" Liu Yuanming nodded. "Of course! The reburial was calculated by him, and he proposed the seven-day wake. How could he not be here?"

"Did Assistant Minister Wu rest alone at night, or did he work and rest with others?"

"Assistant Minister Wu was responsible for the specific arrangements. It was exhausting work. To ensure he could rest well, we provided him with a separate room."

"In other words... he was alone, and no one knew what he did at night?"

Liu Yuanming frowned at Liu Shuyi’s words. "Is Director Liu suspecting Assistant Minister Wu? Assistant Minister Wu has been diligent and serious for all these years, never showing the slightest slack. He could never have committed the theft of the Prince of Xi’s remains."

Seeing that Liu Yuanming was displeased by his suspicion of a colleague, Liu Shuyi smiled. "I am not suspecting him. I am simply making reasonable deductions based on the thieves' long-term planning and the conditions under which they acted. This does not mean Assistant Minister Wu necessarily has a problem."

Seeing Liu Shuyi put it this way, Liu Yuanming’s stern expression softened slightly.

"This is bad!"

Who would have thought, at that moment, a panicked cry would ring out from outside? They all felt a jolt and turned to look. An official from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices ran toward them, shouting in terror: "I went to find Assistant Minister Wu, and I found..."

"Assistant Minister Wu is dead!"

"He is bleeding from his seven orifices, dead in his own residence!"

"What!? Assistant Minister Wu is dead!" For the first time, Liu Yuanming lost his composure.

And Liu Shuyi’s pupils contracted, his eyes narrowing sharply. "Dead?"