NOVPUB49: Chapter 34 Inspector Liu
49 -34 Inspector Liu
Soon, the servants of the Yin estate brought some sanqi powder, which Ran Yan ordered to be applied directly to the wound on Wan Lu’s neck.
Although the wound had reached a major artery, it was not very large, and after the sanqi powder was applied, the bleeding slowly stopped.
The treatment had been going on for an hour, and despite the restlessness of the dignitaries standing to the side, Ran Yan dared not slacken even a little, continuously directing two constables to perform massages.
At first, the dignitaries were somewhat curious, but as time passed and Ran Yan kept repeating those few actions, they grew tired of watching.
Consequently, their gazes gradually shifted onto Ran Yan herself.
Fine petals of the wooden incense flower fluttered down.
In a purple dress, the beautiful woman, with her snow-white cheeks beaded with bright sweat droplets that shone translucid in the light coming from the exit, flushed slightly red, lips tightly pursed, and dark eyes seemingly isolated from the world.
For her, nothing else existed but saving the person before her.
Therefore, even though Ran Yan’s actions were quite unseemly, and even though they had already anticipated an outcome, none stepped forward to stop her.
Qin Musheng stared intently at Ran Yan.
This aspect of her fascinated him deeply, as if something in the depths of his heart was slightly touched, sending a tingling sensation throughout his body.
He had never felt this strange sensation towards any other woman before, but he knew he had never wanted someone so much as he did now.
“She’s breathing!” the constable massaging Wan Lu’s neck and throat exclaimed in surprise.
He was only following orders from Inspector Liu, without any real expectation of saving a life.
Who would have thought that this beautiful young wife would actually succeed?
“Really?” Inspector Liu and the other groggy dignitaries crowded forward, especially Yin Wenshu, who widened his eyes and came to the front.
When he saw Wan Lu’s steady breathing, the expression on his face was one of disbelief.
Actually, Wan Lu had been breathing all along, albeit very oppressively and faintly.
After such treatment, she started to exhale air from her mouth and gradually resumed normal respiration.
Ran Yan breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the two constables, “Thank you both.” Then she turned to Liu Pinrang and said, “Thank you, Inspector Liu, for your trust.”
“Lady Seventeen,” Qin Musheng said, seeing Ran Yan appear somewhat weary and feeling a pang of distress.
He quickly stepped forward to support her.
“No need,” Ran Yan stopped his hand from reaching out to her.
Looking down at Wan Lu, who had yet to regain consciousness on the ground, a trace of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes.
Someone had actually dared to attack her!
If she gave up on pursuing the perpetrator this time to keep herself hidden, how would she face Wan Lu in the future!
“Inspector Liu, may I have a word with you?” Ran Yan looked straight at Liu Pinrang.
Liu Pinrang, gazing into her deep eyes, felt growing astonishment.
This young lady, who seemed barely of age, had a calmness that made her seem cold.
In her gaze, there was no typical modesty or reservation of a woman, nor arrogance, just a straightforward look into one’s eyes, as if she could see through all the secrets hidden in their heart.
“Certainly,” Liu Pinrang agreed once more to Ran Yan’s request.
This time, the crowd did not object much, although they looked at Ran Yan with diverse expressions.
Liu Pinrang turned to the crowd and said, “I will be away for a moment.
Please forgive me for any neglect.”
“Please do as you wish, Inspector Liu,” the crowd replied politely.
Liu Pinrang glanced at the surroundings, walked around Wan Lu, who lay on the ground, and headed towards the Water Pavilion.
The Water Pavilion still had the half-finished tea banquet spread on the table, and the small waterfall, like a white ribbon, cascaded down into the pool, creating waves on the water’s surface.
“Lady, what do you wish to discuss?” Liu Pinrang stood at the railing and turned his head to ask.
Ran Yan held a certain admiration for this unremarkable-looking older man wearing a Fourth Rank official uniform.
Faced with the situation earlier, not everyone could make such a decisive decision as he had.
“Wan Lu has lost too much blood.
Though she has been saved, it will take some time before she awakens.
Therefore, as her mistress, I feel it is my responsibility to tell Inspector Liu everything I have witnessed,” Ran Yan weighed her words internally.
She was not planning to pretend to be naive and innocent anymore, but she was also not planning to fully expose herself.
In a strange environment, it is wise for a smart person to hide their strength.
“See?
What did you see?” Liu Pinrang’s small eyes were level and steady, without a ripple of fluctuation, neither showing interest nor conveying disregard.
Ran Yan was unfazed and calmly stated, “The person who murdered Wan Lu was a woman.”
Liu Pinrang did not continue to ask questions; he just looked at her, waiting for her to continue, his mind filled with doubt.
How had she come to the conclusion that the murderer was a woman?
Understanding his question, Ran Yan pursed her lips slightly as if making some kind of decision, took a deep breath, and said, “While I was attempting to save Wan Lu, I noticed marks on her neck from being strangled by a hand.
However, since the murderer did not use enough force, it only resulted in suffocation for Wan Lu.
Furthermore, the murderer had long, sharp fingernails which, during the strangling, pierced Wan Lu’s neck and damaged the major artery.
In the murderer’s panic, she did not notice and immediately hung Wan Lu’s body from the canopy.
Moreover, I believe the person who killed Wan Lu and the one who killed Yin Wenshu’s maid are the same.”
Even with Liu Pinrang’s composure, as if “Mount Tai might collapse before him without his face showing any change,” Ran Yan’s words still managed to surprise him, “Even so, how can you be sure that the murderer is definitely a woman?”
The corners of Ran Yan’s lips lifted slightly, revealing a cold smile.
She reached into her sleeve, pulled out a handkerchief, and spread it on her palm, “I found this on the wound on Wan Lu’s neck.”
In the sunlight, a red crescent-shaped object lay on the snow-white brocade handkerchief, “This is a fingernail stained with rouge.”
Liu Pinrang extended his hand to take it and examined it closely, holding it before his eyes.
This fingernail was not only coated with rouge, but the protruding crescent part had been trimmed very smoothly.
It was clear that the owner of this nail fragment was not just a woman, but a woman of high status!
Maids, due to their need to perform manual labor, would not find long fingernails convenient; their fingernails are usually not long, and most certainly not painted with rouge.
Liu Pinrang nodded, naturally wrapped up the fingernail, and tucked it into his sleeve.
Ran Yan’s mouth twitched slightly.
After all, that was a young lady’s handkerchief; how could this old man so shamelessly take advantage of that?”
“Just now, I took the opportunity to examine Wan Lu’s head; there is a swollen area on the back of her head, as if she had been struck with a wooden object or something similar,” Ran Yan continued, bringing back her focus.
“Following your analysis, does that mean all the ladies and wives present today who have rouge on their hands are suspects?” Liu Pinrang no longer reacted with astonishment to Ran Yan’s analysis, but rather felt like he was discussing the case with a colleague instead.
However, no one in the official circles would speak as directly and straightforwardly as she did.
Ran Yan reminded him, “Perhaps we can narrow down the suspects.
This person was able to find a high stool and place it at the scene in a very short time, which clearly indicates extensive familiarity with the Yin household.
Even if she is not a member of the Yin household, she must be a regular visitor.
Moreover, the rouge is commonly made from a mixture of hibiscus and alum, and even with the same color of flowers, the resultant shade can vary slightly due to differences in the timing and proportions.
Rouge is difficult to remove, but it can be reapplied.
The shortest time it would take to recolor is one and a half hours…
so Inspector Liu must act quickly.”
This analysis had indeed narrowed down the range considerably.
There was another point Ran Yan did not mention: if the murderer did not even have the strength to strangle Wan Lu, it would be difficult to hang her quickly, which suggested that the murderer must have had an accomplice.
Ran Yan knew that, even if she did not mention this, she could not hide it from Inspector Liu.
Yet, Ran Yan still couldn’t understand the murderer’s motive.
Why kill Yin Wenshu’s maid and frame Qin Musheng?
And why kill Wan Lu in haste?
Even if Wan Lu had offended some lady or wife, at most she would be disciplined, not murdered to silence her, unless…
Wan Lu had come to know some secrets she shouldn’t have during this time.
Liu Pinrang saw Ran Yan’s eyes darken with slight shifts and did not interrupt her thoughts, amusing himself by enjoying the scenery instead.
After a while, he suddenly said, “The Yin Family’s back garden is indeed tranquil.”
Indeed, tranquil enough to be an excellent place to kill someone and silence them.
The sound of water was loud here, so even if some unusual noises were made, they wouldn’t be readily noticed.
“Which family’s wife are you?” Liu Pinrang couldn’t help feeling regretful; if this young lady were born a man, she could have been a great assistant.
“Ran Family’s seventeenth lady,” Ran Yan replied indifferently.
