Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 711 - 641 Dali

Wu Shiqi’s thoughts raced as he rapidly filtered through various possibilities in his mind.

The Zhong Family was a rather special entity, having bred and raised dogs for the garrison for three hundred years. Every hunting dog used by the garrison offices within Yu Country originated from the Zhong family courtyard.

Beyond that, the Zhong Family also sold a small quantity of special breeds externally, such as large and formidable guard dogs that could tear apart wolves and small, lively, and adorable toy dogs. These were quite popular both within and outside Yu Country.

Through this side business, the Zhong Family earned at least a hundred thousand strings of coins each year. Yet this family with a long history still followed tradition, squeezing into an old mansion in Peace Square on the southwest side of the city.

Families like the Zhong Family were numerous, deeply embedded within the garrison, specializing in one or several matters. They sought long-term protection through their discretion and loyalty, like vines clinging to a towering tree.

If it really was a hunting dog from the Zhong Family that inexplicably died in the workshop well...

Wu Shiqi kept a poker face and quietly gestured with his hand, signaling his subordinates to stay silent while he echoed the Alley Chief’s clerk’s words.

"Fortunately, it was discovered early. Otherwise, eh, half the square’s residents would have drunk the spoiled water."

The Alley Chief’s clerk, rambling on, called over the residents to line up with buckets to bail out the fouled water from the well first. They would have to dredge the bottom of the well with fishing nets afterward to prevent any decayed skin, bones, and such from remaining.

"Oh, and there’s this dog’s corpse."

He slapped his forehead and said to two young men in the square, "Zhang Wulang, Qian Liulang, please take this dog’s corpse to Butcher Wang in Huai Zhen Square. He has a large furnace there specially for disposing of diseased livestock. Pay him a little to help burn this thing..."

"Hold on."

Wu Shiqi interjected with a smile, "This dog’s corpse is evidence, so let’s take it back to the government office."

The Alley Chief asked in confusion, "Evidence?"

Wu Shiqi explained, "Yes. According to pamphlets published by the Imperial Medical Bureau, a dead animal from disease is considered a source of epidemic contamination. Throwing a corpse into a well is akin to spreading disease, no different from poisoning."

"Right, right, right, we must investigate thoroughly to see which worthless scoundrel is responsible."

The Alley Chief nodded repeatedly and enthusiastically summoned the neighbors, fetching two large pieces of waterproof oilcloth to help wrap up the decaying dog carcass.

Worried that the cloth wouldn’t sufficiently mask the odor, Wu Shiqi wrapped it in several more layers of cloth before taking the package and heading straight for the Wannian County Government Office.

By this time, it was nearing evening. The Wannian County Magistrate had just finished a day’s official business and was about to go home when Wu Shiqi interrupted him. He was dragged to the backyard of the county government office to be briefed about the incident.

After hearing Wu Shiqi’s statement, the Wannian County Magistrate frowned and asked in a low voice, "Are you certain it belongs to the Zhong Family?"

"It’s very likely."

Wu Shiqi nodded his head. "Some years ago when I was patrolling the streets, I saw the female members of the Zhong Family out in Furong Garden. The dogs they were leading then were of this same breed. Their hair was braided and groomed with exceptional care."

The Wannian County Magistrate paced back and forth, stopping and starting as if to speak, then sighed, "Why go through all this trouble? Return the lost property to its owner’s house, or notify the garrison if it comes to that. Why bring it back to the government office?"

"These are unusual times, we must be cautious," Wu Shiqi replied calmly. The Zhong family was essentially a branch of the garrison. Informing the garrison would be like having heroes investigate heroes, having brave men investigate their own kind.

"...All right then."

Perhaps persuaded by Wu Shiqi, the magistrate finally nodded in agreement. "Go call the forensic doctor."

Wu Shiqi called for the county government forensic doctor. Moments later, the old coroner emerged from the morgue, dressed in a butcher’s coat, a puzzled look on his face.

The County Magistrate asked, "What was the result?"

"Dead for about three days. Died of... a beast attack?"

The old coroner took off his coat. "The wound is shattered and messy, yet it somehow forms a whole. It looks like something bit off the abdominal cavity in one go. But even lions or tigers don’t have such large mouths."

The old coroner hesitated a moment, then muttered, "Could it have been bitten by a pig-dragon?"

Wu Shiqi and the County Magistrate looked at each other.

A pig-dragon? Where would Chang’an get a crocodile from?

Wait, there actually was one. There was a royal garden east of the Great Ming Palace...

DANG DANG DANG.

At the Mao Zheng hour, the sound of the Haotian Bell rang out. Song Shaoyuan, dressed in an official uniform, twisted his sore shoulders and continued writing in the register.

This place was the office of the Ministry of Justice, and his current position was the Ministry of Justice Chief Clerk.

"Is Song Dalang still busy?"

A middle-aged man with a goatee pushed the door open and entered the room. He rubbed his hands together with a slightly embarrassed and sycophantic smile. "Why don’t you head home to be with your wife and daughter? I can take care of the remaining paperwork."

"It’s Chief Clerk Liu. No need, no need. There’s not much left."

Song Shaoyuan looked at the visitor and couldn’t help but find it funny. The other person held the same rank as him; they were both principal clerks of the seventh rank. However, in their daily interactions, the man constantly exuded a sycophantic aura. Just a few days ago, he had even brought a gift to his home—a jade longevity lock for the baby.

"Then I’ll make some tea."

Chief Clerk Liu was reluctant to leave. He busied himself making tea, pouring water, and grinding ink. Finally, he sat at the desk, looking as if he wanted to say something but was hesitating.

"Is there something I can help you with, Chief Clerk Liu?"

Seeing him like this, Song Shaoyuan simply put down his pen. Chief Clerk Liu wasn’t a bad person. He was diligent in his work and skilled in his duties. However, his character was just too rigid, unable to properly give gifts or flatter. This was why he hadn’t been promoted all these years.

"Er..." Chief Clerk Liu didn’t expect Song Shaoyuan to be so direct and paused before speaking haltingly, "It’s like this. My son, Er Lang, is seventeen this year, and he was taking the exam for the Imperial Medical Bureau, right? He ended up tied in score with someone. But because his exam paper wasn’t as neatly written, he was disqualified. It was the same last year, just one point short. My wife and I are so worried, seeing him at home not eating well, not sleeping well..."

As the sick house grew bigger, the new student quotas at the Imperial Medical Bureau became more and more precious. In Chang’an, it was second only to the Academic Palace and Imperial College.

"This..."

Song Shaoyuan intended to decline tactfully. But seeing Chief Clerk Liu’s awkward, sycophantic expression pleading for help, he was suddenly reminded of how his own mother had helped him get into the Yizhou State School years ago. His heart softened. He changed his mind, "All right, I’ll go ask for you. But I can’t guarantee anything."

Chief Clerk Liu’s anxiety instantly turned into joy, and he stood up excitedly, bowing repeatedly in thanks.

Song Shaoyuan had to stand to steady him. He was about to tell him not to spread the word when suddenly they heard a commotion outside the courtyard. Several Government Officials of the Ministry of Justice hurriedly ran toward the direction of the prison.

Song Shaoyuan and Chief Clerk Liu also walked outside and followed them down to the underground prison, only to find the place noisy and chaotic.

A prisoner dressed in prison clothes, chained in shackles, lay in the corridor of the jail cell, eyes rolled back, limbs twitching and vomiting continuously.

The prison guards formed a circle around him, not daring to step forward to help—partly because they didn’t know how, and partly because of the prisoner’s identity.

This man was one of the most violent Haotian believers, someone the higher-ups had ordered to be strictly guarded.