NOVPUB47: Chapter 33 Flower Kill_2
47 -33 Flower Kill_2
Ran Yan strived to rid herself of all distracting emotions and quickly surveyed the scene.
The wooden frame for aromatic plants was not particularly high, about eight or nine feet, the ground scattered with petals and broken footprints, evidently left behind by a group of women who had passed through earlier.
There was a toppled stool nearby, which, based on its height, could have just reached Wan Lu’s feet.
Wan Lu’s hair was disheveled, her clothes loosely open, revealing her worn, patched-up undergarment, which was intact.
Ran Yan’s gaze landed on the cloth strip hanging her, which likely was Wan Lu’s belt.
This kind of situation in forensic medicine is known as mechanical asphyxiation, which refers to suffocation caused by respiratory impairments due to mechanical force.
Strangulation, smothering, throttling, choking, and drowning can all be categorized as mechanical asphyxiation, a term more commonly applied to homicide.
The situation of Wan Lu clearly indicated that she had been killed using the aforementioned methods and then staged to look like a suicide by hanging.
The arrangement of the scene was significantly more meticulous than that at the Yulan Residence.
However, the murderer seemed to have forgotten to manufacture the most crucial element—motive.
Whether it’s suicide or homicide, there needs to be a reason!
Why would a perfectly fine person commit suicide, and more so in someone else’s house?
A trickle of fresh blood streamed down Wan Lu’s leg, staining the petals red.
Ran Yan walked around to her back, looked up, and could clearly see a large area of blood soaking through on the back of Wan Lu’s neck.
Ran Yan’s eyes subtly trembled, her heart involuntarily rising with a glimmer of hope.
The blood was still flowing profusely—Wan Lu might not have been hanging for long, and it was even more likely that blood was still circulating.
Realizing this, Ran Yan started to feel an anxious urgency.
If Wan Lu was still alive, every moment she remained hanging increased her peril, and alone, Ran Yan could not guarantee a rescue without error.
As to why Wan Lu’s neck was injured, Ran Yan didn’t have the mind to guess; she figured it wasn’t too late to investigate after getting the person down.
Time seemed to pass exceedingly slowly, Ran Yan’s composure increasingly wavering, yet she maintained a fraction of rationality knowing that attempting a rescue alone would more likely fail.
Thus, she agonized inwardly while also calculating the probability of Wan Lu’s survival based on various signs.
Finally, disordered footsteps sounded in the jasmine pergola, and a group of people hurried over, including Government Officials, constables, and some aristocrats who hadn’t left.
Leading them was an elder in a scarlet official uniform and Yin Wenshu.
“Come over here and help!” Ran Yan couldn’t care less about formalities at this point, the priority was saving lives.
She randomly grabbed a constable, “carry her down…”
“Nonsense!
The officials haven’t inspected the scene yet.
How can we disturb the body!” The elder in the scarlet uniform, already displeased, and convinced of Ran Yan’s superficial views, could not help but shout in anger.
Liu Pinrang, who had struggled for decades and only recently been appointed as the Inspector of Suzhou, was facing a major case within his first year.
It was grave enough that a murder had occurred at the Yin estate, and now, not even an hour later, another death was reported—naturally, he couldn’t neglect it.
“I am a doctor; she isn’t dead yet.
If she can be saved, won’t that be more valuable!” Ran Yan spoke calmly.
The last time she encountered a dead friend, it was beyond saving, so she had to desperately search the body for clues to aid the criminal investigation.
This time, however, the opportunity was right before her eyes, and she was determined to snatch Wan Lu back from the clutches of death!
“Please don’t hesitate any longer!
Life is slipping away!” Ran Yan knew that if she couldn’t persuade this high official, the constables would dare not act on their own.
Liu Pinrang frowned silently as he watched her, his small eyes radiating fear and fury.
Ran Yan met his gaze, showing no sign of weakness.
For a moment, the pergola filled with an invisible tension.
They locked eyes for about five seconds, but everyone felt it was closer to an hour.
“Fine!
I approve.” Liu Pinrang, inexperienced in background, but having climbed to his position by astute judgment of character, saw in Ran Yan’s eyes a sincerity and determination he’d never encountered, which inexplicably gained his trust.
“Inspector Liu!” Yin Wenshu immediately objected, seeing it as madness to trust so readily a young maiden barely of age!
The others were visibly shocked, while a few elders remained thoughtful, neither voicing objection nor showing approval.
“Thank you.” Ran Yan was already prepared for further persuasion but didn’t expect Liu Pinrang to agree so quickly.
She promptly thanked him and turned to a nearby constable, “Lift that stool up, stand on it, and be careful not to touch her body.
Then carefully hold her and have another person slowly untie the knot.
Don’t move, and wait for my command.”
