Chapter 30: What’s Your Opinion?

Hearing the commotion, Ma Bing looked out of the boat window and witnessed Ji Fang being dragged away. Ji Fang seemed to sense something, and upon meeting Ma Bing’s gaze, she was overwhelmed with shame and despair. Eventually, she gave up struggling and was dragged away with a look of utter hopelessness on her face.

For a young man harboring affection, the most unbearable pain is losing face in front of the person he admires. And to make matters worse, this humiliation came from an imagined romantic rival.

The cabin of the small pleasure boat wasn’t particularly spacious. Huo Ping and others who had followed Ma Bing greeted him but remained ashore temporarily.

Xie Yu boarded the boat, and Ma Bing, surprised, asked, “Why are you here?”

Shouldn’t he be patrolling the northern part of the city today according to the rotation schedule? Besides, he arrived too quickly. There simply hadn’t been enough time to travel from Jinze back to the city of Kaifeng.

Xie Yu avoided answering directly and went straight to examine the corpse. “How is the situation?”

With official duties at hand, Ma Bing no longer dwelled on why Xie Yu had arrived so quickly. He explained his earlier observations and deductions. “I’ve already sent someone to fetch the steward and the boatman. They should arrive shortly.”

Xie Yu nodded and examined the bloodied area. “Well done.”

The murder weapon could reveal many things—such as the strength of the killer, the size of their hands, and certain unique physical characteristics. More importantly, tracing its origin might lead directly to the killer.

Therefore, finding the murder weapon was often the first priority in solving a case.

Circular wounds were not uncommon. Xie Yu could immediately name several weapons that could cause such injuries, but in everyday life, very few objects would leave such marks.

He considered for a moment. “A hairpin?”

But he immediately shook his head in negation.

Ma Bing said, “At first, I thought the same. But look at the edges of the tear in his clothing—they’re very neat. If it were something like a hairpin, there should be signs of tearing.”

After all, hairpins were meant to be inserted into the hair. Though they had sharp tips, their ends were usually very smooth; otherwise, people would be bleeding every day while doing their hair.

It might work well for stabbing vulnerable areas like the neck or eyes, but considering the weather was neither hot nor cold and the lakeside was even cooler, the victim had worn at least two layers of clothing. To pierce through the clothes and then into the heart would be quite unlikely.

Xie Yu’s eyes scanned the cabin and finally settled on one spot. “A candlestick.”

“Yes,” Ma Bing pointed to an empty corner of the cabinet on the other side. “There should have been a candlestick here originally, but it’s missing now.”

It was very likely that the killer had used it to commit the murder and then discarded it into the lake afterward.

In the center of the cabin stood a square table with four chairs, meant for passengers to enjoy meals and games. On the slightly inward right-hand side of the cabin was a cabinet filled with various items.

With these pieces of furniture in place, the already limited space of the cabin had become even more cramped.

Ma Bing was pointing at a tall, narrow compartment on the far right of the cabinet. It was empty, while the left compartment held two folded lantern shades. On the shelf directly above were several spare candles.

For the convenience of the guests, the items were neatly categorized. For example, several compartments in the center of the cabinet held the Four Treasures of the Study, obviously prepared for young scholars and ladies who might feel inspired to write or paint. At the far end, centered around a fixed copper basin stand, there were many hand towels, perfumed soaps, and hand creams.

Based on this arrangement, it could be inferred that the right compartments likely held lighting-related items.

The empty compartment had been wiped clean with little dust, but there were noticeable old friction marks on the bottom board, roughly square in shape.

This led to the conclusion that something heavy had been placed there for a long time, and this item had been frequently taken out and put back year after year, day after day, leaving clear pressure marks on the hard wooden board.

So, what in daily life would be used so frequently?

Combined with the height of the compartment, the depth of the marks, and the location, the answer became obvious:

A candlestick.

Moreover, to hold a candle securely, the tip of the candlestick was extremely sharp, making it no less effective than a proper weapon. Even a woman of slight build could easily use it to inflict injury.

Xie Yu nodded, clearly showing his admiration for Ma Bing. “You definitely deserve double pay.”

Ma Bing quickly responded, nodding seriously. “I think so too.”

When it came to money, there was no room for modesty.

For a moment, Xie Yu’s expression was difficult to describe.

Accustomed to people around him valuing humility, suddenly encountering this kind of person was quite hard to handle.

But this directness, stripping away all unnecessary pretenses and revealing genuine thoughts… the feeling wasn’t bad at all.

Xie Yu even thought that if everyone in the world were as straightforward as Ma Bing at this moment, he might not dislike socializing so much.

So he looked at Ma Bing and said meaningfully, “I hope you always remain this honest.”

Ma Bing was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and said, “In life, who doesn’t have a few secrets? Even you, sir, can’t guarantee that you will always speak freely and fully to others, can you?”

Xie Yu already knew she was good at arguing and hadn’t expected any particular answer when he spoke. Now, hearing this, he wasn’t disappointed either.

A candlestick…

So the killer might have acted on impulse, otherwise they would have prepared their own weapon. However, this was only their current speculation. Whether it was true or not would have to wait for the coroner’s thorough examination later.

On the table were six kinds of dried and fresh fruits, including pear slices, apricot preserves, tiger-skin walnuts, and mulberries. The teapot was half full, and the teacup was upside down.

Because of the boat’s inevitable swaying, the teapot was never filled to the brim to prevent splashing and burns. Therefore, the amount of tea couldn’t determine whether someone had touched it or not.

There was a noticeable arc-shaped scratch between the leg of the chair where the victim sat and the floor. Although most of it had been soaked in blood, fresh wood splinters could still be seen.

The other parts of the boat were very carefully maintained. If the scratch had been left before, the renters wouldn’t have left it so carelessly.

Therefore, it was very likely that this scratch had been made during or around the time of the murder.

Xie Yu carefully examined the four chairs and paused thoughtfully. “There were at least two people at the scene.”

Upon hearing this, Ma Bing was first startled: wasn’t that obvious? Could the victim have possibly stabbed himself with the candlestick?

But she quickly realized what Xie Yu meant—that there had been at least two people dining and chatting at the table.

In other words, someone familiar!

At first glance, the armchair opposite the victim seemed to be in its original place, as if no one had touched it. But upon closer inspection, it was slightly more skewed inward compared to the chairs on either side.

Therefore, it was not difficult to deduce that someone had indeed sat there, but later pushed the chair back.

However, due to either carelessness or haste, the chair was not placed neatly.

Ma Bing agreed with this assessment.

Certainly, the victim might have changed seats to enjoy the scenery, and it wouldn’t be strange for him to sit in several different chairs.

But if he were alone, there would be no need to go through the trouble of dragging the chair back.

What if he wanted to sit there again later?

Another most convincing point:

When looking at the scenery outside the window, what position could be better than the one directly facing the boat window?

The two chairs along the longitudinal sides of the cabin could indeed offer views of both sides, seemingly having the best of both worlds. However, the table was in the center, at least a step away from the windows on both sides. When sitting down, a large part of the view would be blocked by the window frames and the boat walls.

If the victim were alone, why bother with such inconvenience?

After all, he could change seats. Why not face the window directly, enjoy one side and then switch to the other, gazing freely at the wide sky and open water?

Only when two people were sitting at the table would sitting facing the window cause mutual obstruction, forcing them to settle for the longitudinal seats.

This verified Xie Yu’s speculation:

The killer didn’t come and go hastily but had once sat opposite the victim and conversed with him!

Moreover, the two were of similar status; otherwise, the dominant party could have disregarded the other’s feelings and directly claimed the best seat.

Later, the steward and the boatman arrived and found the cabin already guarded by the Kaifeng Prefecture officers, which made them feel uneasy.

Before coming, they had still harbored some hope, but now, seeing the situation with their own eyes, their hearts sank.

People often say, “Which stretch of water doesn’t have a few drowned ghosts?” meaning that deaths near water aren’t particularly unusual. But dying by drowning oneself and being murdered are two entirely different matters.

If the killer isn’t caught soon, who would dare to come here for a boat ride?

What if the next victim is oneself?

Moreover, summer was the peak season for lake boat rides. They had originally planned to work hard and make a big profit this year, so how could they have encountered a murder case!

What bad luck.

So much bad luck!

Upon inquiry, it was learned that the pleasure boat could be rented in two ways. Most required advance booking, while a small portion could be rented short-term on a whim, like Yuan Yuan and Ma Bing had done.

The victim, Zhou Xun, had booked the boat two days earlier, saying he wanted to go boating.

Xie Yu casually closed the registration list. “Who else was on the boat at that time?”

Whether Zhou Xun was his real name remained unknown.

The boatman shook his head. “Your honor, at that time, there really was only himself. These fruits were also brought by him. Later, when approaching the Bingzi Wharf, he said he wanted to be alone for a while and asked me to wait at the Genghao Wharf. Seeing that he wasn’t drinking, I left.”

As mentioned earlier, these pleasure boats were small and could be operated by a single person. Some guests, wanting privacy or disliking the presence of others, would make similar requests.

Zhou Xun was an adult male, so the boatman agreeing to leave wasn’t unusual.

With the Kaifeng Prefecture officers already present, there was no need for Ma Bing to overstep her role anymore. As Xie Yu continued questioning, she strolled to the window facing the center of the lake and looked outside.

This area was sparsely populated, with lush vegetation. Countless lotus leaves spread from the shore towards the lake’s center, creating a picturesque yet grand scene.

As Yuan Yuan had mentioned earlier, although the lotus flowers had not yet bloomed, countless lotus stalks held delicate buds standing gracefully on the water’s surface. Occasionally, a breeze would come, causing the thick lotus leaves to rustle and sway, creating a uniquely charming scene.

However, because the trees were too dense, even though it was clearly nearing noon, the scorching sunlight was blocked by the tree shade, adding an eerie chill to the atmosphere.

Indeed, a perfect place to commit a murder and discard a body.

After a brief questioning, Xie Yu ordered the boat to be brought to shore and summoned the constables. “Put these fruits back into the food box exactly as they are. First, have Physician Wang and others check whether they are poisoned. Then, find out where they were purchased, whether the seller mentioned anything about their intended use or the people involved.

Additionally, verify the authenticity of the name Zhou Xun, locate his relatives and friends, and inquire about any enemies or disputes he had while alive. Find out if he liked these foods or, if not, whether anyone close to him had a preference for them…”

With these orders issued, everyone sprang into action, busy yet orderly.

Ma Bing also disembarked.

As personnel rotated in and out, the pleasure boat bobbed up and down on the lake, sending ripples across the water and gently swaying nearby clusters of lotus flowers.

Though the flowers had not yet bloomed, their fresh fragrance was already present.

Xie Yu didn’t walk far, merely standing by the shore with his hands behind his back, seemingly gazing at something intently.

With a person as graceful as jade and a scene as picturesque as a painting, it would indeed be very pleasing to the eye, if one could ignore the fact that a still-warm corpse was floating in the lake.

Ma Bing quietly admired the view for a moment before turning to leave. Suddenly, she heard him ask, “What are you thinking about?”

Ma Bing was slightly taken aback. After a moment’s thought, she decided to be honest.

“I was thinking about the exact position the killer stood when he struck.”

She casually picked a handful of unknown seeds from the shore and tossed them into the lake. Soon, many fat fish came swimming up to feed.

There were many visitors at Jinze Lake, and people often fed the fish, so the fish here were extremely plump, almost resembling pigs.

At first glance, Ma Bing’s words seemed to make no sense at all.

The wound was on the back, so naturally, the killer must have attacked from behind. Could there be any other possibility?

But… there actually was.

First, consider Zhou Xun’s posture when he was killed.

Many traditional novels, in an effort to portray heroic figures, often depict scenes where a hero, despite being wounded multiple times, still fights valiantly.

However, unless the person was a well-trained soldier or assassin, or was in an extreme state where their spirit overcame physical pain, a person would lose the ability to resist the moment they were stabbed.

After the heart was pierced, the person wouldn’t last long—perhaps only a breath or two before losing consciousness. It would be most accurate to describe it as instantaneous death.

Therefore, Zhou Xun must have been near the chair when he was killed, though it was unclear whether he was standing or sitting.

The scratch marks between the chair legs and the floor could have been caused either by him dragging the chair in a hurry to stand up before being wounded, or by him falling back onto the chair after being injured.

The wound was on his back, so the first reaction was that the killer had attacked from behind.

But Ma Bing hesitated because there was another possibility:

They might have been embracing each other in farewell.

In such a situation, the killer could strike completely out of Zhou Xun’s line of sight.

In either case, it indicated the same thing:

The killer and the victim were familiar with each other, and their relationship might have been very intimate. Otherwise, Zhou Xun would never have let his guard down so completely.

Was it a crime of passion or a crime of revenge?

Xie Yu let out a light laugh. “If you don’t become a doctor, you’d make an excellent constable.”

Ma Bing replied seriously, “I can be both a doctor and a famous constable!”

Earning two salaries.

Xie Yu: “…”

Alright then, forget I said anything.

“Sir!” Huo Ping called out from the cabin window. “We found some spattered blood on the curtain!”

Both Xie Yu and Ma Bing simultaneously raised their eyebrows in relief. “Excellent!”

Huo Ping scratched his head. “You two are quite in sync.”

As a physician and a soldier, they both understood well that blood flows at different speeds from different parts of the body, with the heart area being the fastest.

Zhou Xun had been stabbed through the heart, and the moment the weapon was pulled out, blood must have spurted out.

Earlier, they hadn’t seen any obvious traces, which meant part of it had been blocked by the killer’s body—possibly splattered forward if it was a backstab, or onto the arm if it was a reverse strike during an embrace.

In any case, now that they had found the blood spatter, they could determine the positions of the two people at the time of the murder, and thus deduce the motive and identity of the killer.

Half an hour later, the coroner arrived with the corpse cart. After a brief examination, everyone worked together to transport the body away.

Before leaving, Huo Ping once again told the steward, “This case has been taken over by the Kaifeng Prefecture. Until the case is solved, you two are not allowed to leave Kaifeng without permission. This pleasure boat must be isolated separately, and no damage or unauthorized access by unrelated individuals is permitted.”

The steward and the boatman both responded unhappily but obediently.

Well, it seemed that their business for this summer was over ahead of schedule.