Chapter Eighty-Four: Nothing But Secrets

"Heh heh," Song Wen chuckled, moving the large stone he’d been holding under a nearby tree. Then he continued, "There are indeed plenty of case files stacked up in your office, but there's always an order to things. When you were absent, I went looking for you. Seeing the files piled on the right side of your desk, I picked up the top one and flipped through it. It wasn’t hard to guess where you’d head next."

"Is that all?" Di Ying smiled in response. "I only placed this case file on top yesterday."

Song Wen understood. The stone he picked up again nearly slipped from his hands and landed on his foot. He fumbled to hold it tightly, trying to express the bitterness he felt. "You're digging another pit for me."

Di Ying's smile deepened, encouraging him, "Let's hear your guesses first."

"Alright," Song Wen smacked his lips, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby before confessing his thoughts as he moved stones. "You didn’t dig deeply into the identity of the big boss behind the 'Kexin Tooth Shop.' That suggests you already have a direction in mind. The person you suspect must be someone you can't afford to provoke yet. As for Wu Chengsi, after we braved all those dangers, he ended up with the greatest benefit. You kept your distance throughout, never showing your hand or voice; I don’t believe that was mere resignation. At the time, I thought: Wu Chengsi, that prime minister, won’t last long. But a month passed and you made no move, focusing only on your backlog of cases. That puzzled me. I was always ready, waiting to back you up at any moment. Then I heard about Wu Chengsi arranging a tribute of jade. That night, I stationed myself near the palace gate closest to your office. Squatted there all night for nothing...

At morning court, I did nothing but watch you. Sure enough, when everyone gathered to admire the jade, I saw your hand brush against Wu Chengsi’s. It was fast, just a fleeting touch, as if accidental. Wu Chengsi, proud and oblivious, noticed nothing at all. I couldn’t believe someone as upright as you—someone who dislikes Wu Chengsi so much—would purposely get close enough to touch him."

Afterward, I saw you head to the cloakroom at the corner of the hall. To wash your hands, I suppose? I waited gleefully for the drama to unfold." At this point, Song Wen leaned closer to Di Ying, whispering, "You were the last to enter the hall that morning, tripped at the top step, and steadied yourself on the outermost column on the right. That thunder..." He swallowed the rest of his words and pulled his neck back.

Song Wen continued, "When Wu Chengsi collapsed, I immediately ducked behind a pillar to see if you’d finished him off. If he died, you’d have trouble escaping; I wanted to stay, just in case I could help you. But then His Majesty was startled. Sir, you truly have courage. Everyone else fled as if they’d sprouted eight legs, but you—only you advanced instead of retreating, risking yourself to save the emperor. I was deeply impressed. My heart in my throat, legs trembling, I admired you completely. When the Imperial Medical Institute arrived, I slipped out of the hall and dashed straight to your office. I thought to help you pack, then help you escape. But after the panic subsided, I wondered: are you one to court death? Saving the emperor is your nature, but you also have the ability to handle the consequences of your own recklessness. So I didn’t worry. I started guessing what you'd do next—surely you'd keep solving cases, right? I flipped through the files and figured out where you’d go next, changed into practical clothes, and waited ahead of time. Though I was anxious, at least I managed to wait for you, heh heh heh."

Di Ying glanced at Song Wen and asked, "The hall was under strict guard by the Imperial Guards at that time. How did you slip out?"

"Oh, that?" Song Wen set down the stone, catching his breath. Carelessly, he replied, "Hands raised, hugging the wall, I slipped along the edge. I was so scared by you my legs were shaking. Others wouldn’t know, would they? Anyone seeing me would think I’d been frightened silly and couldn’t retreat in time. That’s reasonable enough, and since I looked so harmless and was far from the throne, the Imperial Guards had no time for me. They were all watching you."

Di Ying: "..."

He thought: truly, this is the odd survival instinct of a fool.

Looking at his simple-minded companion, now sweating from exertion, Di Ying finally raised his hand, signaling the guards fifty meters away to come closer and help Song Wen move the stones. Song Wen wiped his face and smiled, thanking them. Peng Liang glanced at Song Wen, his eye twitching.

With more hands, the stones were quickly cleared, revealing a corpse beneath, exposed to the sunlight. Di Ying opened his toolbox, preparing the necessary protective gear for the autopsy and gestured for Song Wen to do the same. He specifically reminded Song Wen, "Corpse vapors are highly harmful to living beings and extremely difficult to dispel. When examining bodies, we must be properly protected—not a bit of laziness here. Later, I'll send you some leather gloves and write a prescription. After each autopsy, you must follow the instructions: drink the decoction, soak in the medicinal bath."

Song Wen nodded vigorously. Once he had finished preparing, he eagerly reached for the skull. He remembered: this man died from a heavy blow to the head. The imagination was vivid, but the reality of touch overwhelmed him. Despite his intention to feel carefully, his organs rebelled—especially his stomach. As soon as the sensation triggered an association, his stomach revolted.

Watching Song Wen retch off to the side, Di Ying smiled softly. Coroners must use their imagination during autopsies. Only by examining every detail of the body, every bone, and envisioning the related scenes, can one better reconstruct the victim's experience before death. Song Wen was always imaginative, so what he had to endure was more intense than others.

Di Ying sympathized with him, but there was little time to teach; he had to seize this opportunity for Song Wen to learn as much as possible. So, seeing Song Wen vomit, Di Ying stood his ground. Thus...

After vomiting, Song Wen forced himself back, compelled himself to touch again, then vomited again, then returned for another try... In truth, the turtle’s nature is the most enduring. After four repetitions, with limbs weak and trembling, Song Wen finally managed to adapt. Not much, but enough.