Chapter 52 of 100
Chapter 52
14 min read3,509 words
This student murder case occurred at the Donglin Academy, which is quite prestigious in the Great Qin. Many students witnessed the crime scene firsthand, and the news quickly spread, causing a great stir among the students...
This year is the year of the imperial examinations, and the capital is filled with students from all over the country who have come to take the exams. If this case is mishandled, it will certainly tarnish the court's reputation. Moreover, both the murderer and the victim have significant backgrounds. After receiving the report, the authorities immediately reported it to the higher-ups, and the Emperor ordered the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishments to jointly investigate the case.
With the evidence and witnesses present, Gu Chengyi himself could not clearly state whether he had committed the murder. As expected, the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishments would rule that Gu Chengyi was the murderer. This is also why the old Grandfather Gu did not intervene.
If this case is indeed as Gu Qiancheng said, and the murderer is not Gu Chengyi but someone else, then the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishments would have made a wrongful judgment.
Given the influence of this case, if Qin Jiyang can present evidence to prove that the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishments made a wrongful judgment, the Emperor will certainly severely punish the relevant officials.
At that time, Qin Jiyang can not only use this case to clean up the officials in the Ministry of Punishments and establish a firm foothold there, but also leave a good impression of being meticulous and fair among the students...
Both sides would benefit, and only in this way can the truth of the case be revealed.
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Gu Qiancheng gathered her spirits and pointed out the suspicious points on Zhang Yuan's body one by one: "In addition to the fatal wound on his head, I also found bruises and stab wounds on Zhang Yuan's body."
"The bruises are marks left by punches, indicating that Zhang Yuan struggled with the murderer before his death. Look at his hands; the joints are scratched and bruised. During the struggle, he must have hit the murderer and left marks on the murderer's body." Gu Chengyi had no injuries, which was very advantageous for him.
"Hmm." Qin Jiyang nodded, almost forgetting his original purpose as he listened to Gu Qiancheng's detailed explanation.
"Your Highness, look at the stab wounds on Zhang Yuan's body. The wounds are large and not caused by a sharp weapon. From the shape of the wounds, it is the same type of weapon used to strike Zhang Yuan's head, a rectangular blunt object."
The judgments made by Gu Qiancheng were based on what could be seen on the body, making her statements more credible. Qin Jiyang was already inclined to believe Gu Qiancheng's deductions, but this was not enough...
After pointing out all the suspicious points, Gu Qiancheng concluded: "Your Highness should know that compared to a sharp knife, a blunt object requires much more force to enter or injure the human body. Gu Chengyi is just a twelve-year-old boy; he could not possibly have injured Zhang Yuan. Moreover, the injuries on Zhang Yuan's body could not have been inflicted by a young teenager."
Her ultimate goal was to make the King of Qin believe that Gu Chengyi was not the murderer and that the real murderer was someone else.
"The King of Qin, I admit that you are indeed skilled in investigating cases and have more knowledge of corpse examination than a coroner." Qin Jiyang praised her without reservation, but then he changed his tone: "However, what you have said is only based on deductions from the corpse. There is no actual evidence to prove that these injuries were definitely left by the murderer. You should understand that these injuries could also have been left by someone Zhang Yuan fought with before his death, and that person may not necessarily be the murderer."
Qin Jiyang raised his doubts and proposed a possibility: "It could be that Zhang Yuan fought with someone outside, returned to his room, and fell asleep. Gu Chengyi, after drinking heavily, used a blunt object to knock him unconscious and then killed him with a sharp knife."
Without evidence, the case could have many possibilities, and Qin Jiyang could not make a decision based solely on Gu Qiancheng's words.
And this was the opportunity Gu Qiancheng was waiting for.
"Your Highness, if possible, I hope you can arrange for me to go to the Donglin Academy. There will certainly be more to see at the crime scene."
Qin Jiyang sneered: "Are you so sure that I am interested in this case and will believe what you say?"
This case was indeed beneficial to him, but even without it, Qin Jiyang could still clear the obstacles in the Ministry of Punishments; he just needed to wait a bit longer.
"Your Highness is wise and valiant; how could you bear to see a young and promising child wrongfully imprisoned?" Gu Qiancheng understood that Qin Jiyang had many options, and this case was an opportunity but not the only one.
"These words... are not sincere at all." Qin Jiyang glanced at Gu Qiancheng, and just as she thought he would refuse, he said: "It's not that I can't help you."
"What are your conditions?" Gu Qiancheng, being a smart person, asked without needing Qin Jiyang to say more.
"When I need you in the future, you must be available at my command." Qin Jiyang saw the value in Gu Qiancheng and would not let her go.
"Is that..." Gu Qiancheng hesitated; she did not want to sell herself.
"What? Not willing?" Qin Jiyang snorted, with a hint of dissatisfaction.
This was the second time Gu Qiancheng had refused him. This woman's boldness was truly extraordinary.
Although he was not the emperor, it would take only a word for him to take Gu Qiancheng's life.
His mood changed in an instant, befitting a member of the royal family. Gu Qiancheng was inwardly dissatisfied but did not dare to show it, quickly shaking her head: "I dare not."
"Good that you dare not." It didn't matter if she was outwardly compliant but inwardly resistant; Qin Jiyang did not care. One day, he would make Gu Qiancheng submit wholeheartedly.
"I lead the Six-Fan Gate in the Ministry of Punishments. There will be many occasions in the future where I will need your help." Qin Jiyang did not know why he was explaining himself, but by the time he realized it, he had already finished speaking and could not take it back.
"Six-Fan Gate? What is that?" Gu Qiancheng blinked, wondering if it was the same as the Ming Dynasty's crime-solving institution.
"A place where others cannot solve cases." Qin Jiyang gave a mysterious explanation and then stopped, clearly not intending to say more. Gu Qiancheng naturally did not press the issue.
Both fell silent, and the morgue became eerily quiet. The flicker of the candle flame startled Gu Qiancheng, drawing a mocking remark from Qin Jiyang: "I thought you were fearless, but it turns out you can be scared."
"I am a girl, you know." Gu Qiancheng replied irritably.
"You don't look like it." Qin Jiyang glanced at Gu Qiancheng, and for some reason, the image of her in the water came to his mind...
His handsome face turned red, and he awkwardly turned away. Gu Qiancheng also felt uncomfortable and, to break the awkwardness, asked: "By the way, Your Highness, why did you come to the morgue so late at night?"
Gu Qiancheng regretted asking as soon as she finished, realizing she had asked an inappropriate question, but Qin Jiyang answered: "To find something."
Find something? What could be so important that the King of Qin would personally come to the morgue in the middle of the night to find it?
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---