NOVPUB45: Chapter 32 Revelation of Mountains and Waters_2
45 -32 Revelation of Mountains and Waters_2
Among the noble ladies present, seeing Ran Yan actually reach out to touch the corpse, beyond being shocked and scared, they also harbored plenty of disgust.
Ran Yan straightened up, pointed to the bloodstain on the pillar, pondered for a moment, and said, “Because I’ve realized that the bloodstains on the pillar are on the side, and are simply not caused from these two directions.”
In a state of panic, most people seeking death would just dash toward the pillar robustly.
Would they even consider whether the direction lacks enough momentum to be lethal and then choose another suitable distance and angle instead?
What’s more, if it were from the two directions Ran Yan just mentioned, the momentum would be even greater.
Additionally, when one hits a pillar, due to the force of the impact, the body generally bounces back to some degree, and the head and the pillar shouldn’t be directly opposite each other like they are now!
If we talk about hugging the pillar to smash into it fatally, let alone whether a frail woman has the strength to kill herself instantly in such a manner, the positioning of the body is completely incorrect.
As for the time of death of the body, Ran Yan believed that even if she didn’t mention it, the forensic doctor could infer it.
The body was stiff, neatly fallen at the intersection of the corridor and the staircase, with the head and neck rigidly dangling towards the staircase.
The first phenomenon that appears in a dead body is not the stiffness of the corpse but the looseness of the entire body’s muscles.
If the place where the victim is currently prone was where she lay when she died, then due to the immediate looseness of the muscles after death, the head and neck of the body dangling over the stone steps of the staircase would necessarily fall to the ground because of gravity, and not remain rigidly suspended as it is now.
That is to say, the maid had been lying flat on the ground for about five to six hours (10~12 hours) after death, and rigor mortis had spread throughout her body, suggesting that her time of death was approximately five hours earlier, and moreover, this was not the original crime scene.
According to Ran Yan’s estimation, the maid was struck on the front of the head with a blunt object such as a wooden stick.
After the first hit, possibly due to insufficient strength from the murderer, the maid wasn’t killed instantly, which led to her struggle.
But because she was hit in the brain, her strength was clearly no match for the murderer.
After a bout of struggling, another blow was dealt to her head, and following that, she died.
She was then immediately moved to a flat and cold spot, where she was kept in this prone position.
Once the body became rigid, it was difficult to bend, hence the murderer hurriedly arranged such a flawed scene.
To be able to strike at the maid from the front, it was highly likely to be someone she was familiar with.
Who could this person be?
“Seventeen, Lady!” Yan Fangfei pushed Ran Yan slightly.
Ran Yan came back to her senses, only to realize that so many people were staring straight at her.
Yin Wenshu coughed once and asked, “Does Lady Ran Shiqi have an insight?”
Ran Yan quietly glanced at Yin Wenshu, paused for a moment and said, “No, doesn’t what I’ve just said count as a question mark?”
Although Yin Wenshu was just a scholar, and relatively experienced with significant events, he was chilled to the bone by that look from Ran Yan, surprised within, he couldn’t help but gave Ran Yan a few more glances.
The expressions of the people looking at Ran Yan at this point varied; the women mostly felt fear and disgust, while the men generally had a curious mindset.
Normally, those bold or gentle ladies would sometimes shiver even at the sight of a dead insect.
The ladies present all stayed far away from her, each pale-faced, except Ran Yan, who was not only fearless but also extraordinarily clear-headed, indeed bold.
If Ran Yan knew their thoughts, she would probably have scoffed.
The ladies of noble households fought fiercely; they knew how to utilize every power at their disposal, killing people in intangible ways.
Some might never have seen a dead body with their own eyes, but had numerous blood on their hands.
Compared to them, who was bolder: they, or someone like Ran Yan, who regularly dealt with corpses but had never actually killed anyone?
During the waiting period, Yin Wenshu led everyone to the front hall, with men and women each occupying a side hall.
Qin Musheng was then invited by Yin Wenshu and a few other elders to the main hall, waiting for the government to arrive.
The Tang Dynasty was a period that adhered strictly to the law; even if as lowly as a slave, one could only beat, but not personally kill the slave, unlike before the Wei and Jin Dynasties, where killing a household slave wasn’t considered a big deal.
After the earlier events, the ladies significantly distanced themselves from Ran Yan, even Yan Fangfei, who had been keen to befriend her, kept a certain distance, whereas Qi Yuxiu looked at her with twinkling eyes, seemingly very interested.
Ran Yan had long been accustomed to it, even in the past, when others heard she was a forensic doctor, their expressions were mostly of these two types, only that the latter was more common than the former.
“Mother, I don’t feel well.” Yin Miaomiao’s face had been pale since she saw the corpse, and even after such a long time, there was not the slightest hint of color, but instead, her complexion looked worse.
“It’s all my fault, rushing over there without considering all of you young ladies.” Lady Ling reproached herself, then turned to the Maid by Yin Miaomiao’s side, “Help the Third Lady go back and rest.”
“Yes.” The Maid replied and then supported Yin Miaomiao.
Lady Ling stood up and apologized to everyone, “Today’s tea party was supposed to be a pleasant gathering for all the ladies, but unfortunately, this tragedy occurred, spoiling everyone’s mood.
On behalf of the Yin Family, I apologize to you all.”
Lady Ling bowed deeply in apology, and several ladies quickly came forward to help her up, softly consoling her with gentle words.
Especially Ran Yan’s stepmother, Mrs.
Gao, who spoke beautifully and hearteningly, prompting Lady Ling, who had been frowning tightly, to finally smile.
After consoling her briefly, Lady Ling then called on the Servant to help the ladies and wives leave.
After all, whether it was testifying or anything else, it was the men’s burden; if the Government Office needed to inquire, they would naturally send someone to their respective residences.
Since Wan Lu had not yet arrived, Ran Yan had no choice but to have the Maid take her to the back garden to look for her.
Amid the drifting scent of flowers and the low-hanging vines like floating green ribbons, Ran Yan felt little interest in appreciating them.
Qin Silang had encountered trouble today, and although he would most likely not be convicted after a thorough investigation, this was the perfect opportunity for the Ran family to broach the subject of calling off the engagement.
Ran Yan was somewhat certain she could persuade her father, so she needed to hurry.
“Ran Shiqi, where are you rushing off to?” Suddenly, a high-pitched voice floated over.
Ran Yan slightly furrowed her brow, turned her head, and unsurprisingly saw Ran Meiyu on the path to her right.
Without any intention of dealing with her, she continued walking forward.
Ran Meiyu, unwilling to let her go, sprinted forward in a dash, blocking Ran Yan’s path, and stared at her angrily with her hand outstretched, “Give me back my hairpin!”
Ran Yan’s lips tightened slightly, and a thin layer of anger already clouded her dark eyes.
Ran Meiyu felt a shiver in her heart but, thinking that Ran Yan couldn’t really do anything to her, she boldly reached out and tugged at Ran Yan’s clothing, disdainfully saying, “You didn’t sell my hairpin to buy this piece of junk, did you?”
Ran Yan suddenly grabbed Ran Meiyu’s slender wrist, pulling her forward, and with her other hand swiftly and covertly jabbed hard at the nerve on her wrist joint.
Ran Meiyu shrieked, instantly feeling her entire arm go numb and weak. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
“Let me tell you, these past two years, I haven’t just been passively bullied, so you better be careful!” Ran Yan’s voice was light, floating by her ear, but Ran Meiyu felt a chill start from the soles of her feet.
Ran Yan pushed her into the bushes by the path, not even glancing back once as she continued with the Maid towards the fragrant osmanthus trellis.
Ran Yan was a black belt in Taekwondo.
Although her athletic nerve and medical talent were disproportionate, having only gained her black belt from grade three in elementary school to completing her doctorate, it was solely because she knew the human body intimately and understood how to target vulnerable spots that she managed to scrape through.
But dealing with someone like Ran Meiyu, who was as weak as a noble lady, was more than easy.
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The backstage was somewhat problematic~~~~ finally managed to post it.
