Chapter 91

Zhou Wang runs a brothel, engaging in dirty and despicable business. The girls in the building are all tragic figures, but with Zhou Wang's power, no one dares to speak up even if they suffer, let alone if they die...

The reason this case came to light is largely thanks to Qin Yunchu. Without Qin Yunchu, this case would have remained a cold case.

The scholar doesn't have to pay with his life, but he will never be happy for the rest of his life, and his grievances will never be known...

The details of the case are clear. The scholar detailed the plan and process of the crime, but there was one point that Gu Qiancheng couldn't understand: the source of the murder weapon was not recorded in the case file.

"Where did the scholar get the murder weapon? Who taught him to kill?"

"Can't get it out of them. All eleven suspects have been identified, and without exception, the killers were close to the victims—fathers, brothers, maids, and sisters-in-law. They all admitted to the killings, but none of them admitted to the source of the weapon, only saying they used ice needles, with no mention of any mechanism."

"Not a single one was willing to reveal the mastermind?" Gu Qiancheng's fine brows furrowed, seemingly surprised. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Have you checked if the twelve killers have any common acquaintances?"

"We have." It was certainly investigated; otherwise, Qin Jiyi wouldn't be this busy.

"Their social circles have no connections, right?" Gu Qiancheng knew what was going on at a glance.

Qin Jiyi nodded, "We have one month to close this case."

The killers have been found, so logically, the case should be solved. However, Qin Jiyi doesn't think so. Without finding the mastermind, the case will never be truly solved. Even if it is closed, he will feel uneasy.

One month is the time he gave himself, and also the time given by the Emperor. If the mastermind is not found within a month, the case must be closed regardless.

"One month? The mastermind is not simple; we may not find him in a month." Finding someone who has left no trace in a vast world is not an easy task.

The mastermind is hiding too deeply.

"Ten days from now, the thirteenth victim will appear." This is their last chance. If they still can't find the person, he will have to close the case.

"What will be the identity of the thirteenth victim?" Gu Qiancheng knows about the murder case ten years ago, but she hasn't seen the case files.

Those confidential documents from various departments are not accessible to just anyone, at least not to her now.

"North Qi merchant, dead at an inn." This is inferred from the case ten years ago, but Qin Jiyi can't guarantee that the perpetrator will act. So he added, "The specific details will have to wait until the incident occurs."

This is the most frustrating part of the yamen. They can only wait for the incident to happen and cannot prevent the killer from acting beforehand.

"We don't need to wait. We can send people in advance to closely monitor inns where North Qi people are staying. I'm not sure if this case is planned by the same person as the one ten years ago, but I can confirm that the mastermind has a severe replication complex. He is reenacting the case from ten years ago, and he is very confident. He won't stop just because the first twelve killers were caught."

Clearly, the mastermind has serious psychological issues. Generally, the motives for murder are either passion, revenge, or money, like Zhao Gao killing Zhang Yuan, or the scholar killing Mei.

But the mastermind of this case is clearly not motivated by any of these. He creates murders to showcase his intelligence, to enjoy the process and the thrill of killing, and to satisfy his own twisted desires.

A high-intelligence killer likes to use sophisticated methods, leaving some vague clues, and enjoys leading the investigators in circles.

Clearly, the mastermind of this locked-room murder case not only has serious psychological issues but also has a high IQ. Capturing him is not an easy task.

Qin Jiyi also knows this, but he is unwilling to let the mastermind go. However, he cannot keep focusing on this case; he has many other things to do.

So he gave himself one month. If he can't catch the mastermind within a month, he will have to declare the case closed, even if he is unwilling.

"I will have someone monitor the inns and inform you if there is any news. Additionally, in three days, find a reason to go to the Xuyu Nunnery outside the city, and it would be best to stay there for three to five days."

"Is there a case?" Gu Qiancheng raised her eyes, her eyes bright...

Qin Jiyi was taken aback for a moment, then turned his face away uncomfortably, "Yes. A deep pit was discovered near the Xuyu Nunnery, filled with bones."

As expected, a case like this, with no leads, was again assigned to Qin Jiyi.

"Examine the bones?" Gu Qiancheng hesitated. Just with her hands, it wouldn't be easy to determine much from the bones, at most she could tell if they were human or animal bones, and the age of the deceased.

"Can't do it?" Qin Jiyi asked, with a hint of disappointment.

He had previously asked a forensic examiner to look at it, but the examiner could only identify a few things, which were of no use in solving the case.

"Not that, but there's very little that can be determined from just the bones." Without advanced instruments, she couldn't identify a complete set of bones belonging to one person or determine the identity of the deceased.

"How much can you determine?" Qin Jiyi frowned, clasping his hands on the table and leaning back slightly.

This was a gesture he made unconsciously when he was unhappy, perhaps without even realizing it.

"Mostly, I can determine the gender, roughly how many people, and the age of the deceased. If I'm lucky, I might see the injuries the deceased had in life."

As for the identity of the deceased?

Sorry, she doesn't have that ability with just a pile of bones.

"That's enough." Qin Jiyi's frown relaxed, his black eyes gleaming with a hint of light.

Is that enough?

Prince Qin's requirements are quite low.

However, since Prince Qin asked her to do this, shouldn't he give her some benefits first?

"Your Highness, my dowry..." Gu Qiancheng looked up at Qin Jiyi, hesitating.

After so long, can it be handled now?

Qin Jiyi paused for a moment, then remembered what Gu Qiancheng was talking about and agreed readily, "Tomorrow evening, I will arrange for someone to come and collect it."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Gu Qiancheng stood up and bowed, expressing her gratitude, making Qin Jiyi feel a bit embarrassed.

This was something he had already promised. Waiting for Gu Qiancheng to ask made him seem petty.

"When will you see Yunchu's illness?" Qin Jiyi changed the subject. Gu Qiancheng replied, "I'll go as soon as I return from the Xuyu Nunnery. The medicine needed has not been prepared yet."

"Um... Be more careful next time. This is the capital." Qin Jiyi warned, then stood up to leave, but he forgot about his injury. The movement pulled at his wound.

"Ouch..." Qin Jiyi drew in a breath, his upper body curling, his hand supporting him on the table...

Clearly, Qin Jiyi's injury was severe. He had been enduring it all night...