A female coroner arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Chapter 23 Identification of the Corpse
"master--"

The steward of the Li family was brought over to identify the body. Before he even got close, he burst into tears and wailed.

Due to the effects of putrefactive gases, the deceased's heart was compressed, causing blood to be squeezed out; the lungs were compressed, causing bloody fluid to flow to the throat and overflow through the mouth and nose; the stomach and intestines were compressed, causing food in the stomach to overflow out of the mouth, resulting in post-mortem vomiting; and even feces in the rectum overflowed due to compression of the pelvic floor.

In this situation, it's really difficult to see anyone.

Mu Qingcheng gestured to the butler to wait a moment.

She picked up a bucket and poured clean water onto the corpse, washing away the maggots, filth, and foul water. Then she took a piece of cotton cloth and carefully cleaned the deceased's entire body.

"Alright, we can identify the body now."

Upon receiving permission, the butler staggered to the bamboo mat. Although the deceased's features were distorted, the old man who had served Li Mu for decades recognized him at a glance. "It's Master! This is my Master!"

Lin, the clerk, then handed over a quill pen, saying, "If the deceased's identity is confirmed, sign and affix your fingerprint to the case file."

The old steward was sobbing uncontrollably that his trembling fingers prevented him from writing for a long time, so Lin Shuban patiently waited a while longer.

Mu Qingcheng then ordered people to continuously bring fresh water and sprinkle it around the body. The deceased's clothes were tattered, some due to swelling and others due to tearing. Mu Qingcheng examined each piece and found a black clump the size of a thumb on the hem of the dark blue outer robe. Because it was similar in color to the robe and was soaked in water, it was easy to miss if one did not look closely.

Mu Qingcheng rubbed the black mass between her fingers, then lowered her head to smell it. She had a guess in her mind, but she wasn't sure because the smell of the black mass wasn't pure; it was a mixture of the stench of corpses, blood, and feces.

So she asked, "Old butler, where was your master before he disappeared? Or rather, who was the last person to see the deceased, and where did they meet him?"

"Master disappeared six days ago. The night before he disappeared, he stayed alone in his study for two hours, not allowing anyone to disturb him, until nearly midnight before returning to his bedroom to rest. Before he went to sleep, the maid Qingshu and I served him. The person on duty in the outer room that night was Master's personal attendant, Li Fuxiang. The next morning, Qingshu went to wake Master, but found no one in bed. She asked Li Fuxiang, who said that Master had not gone out. After hearing the news, I immediately mobilized everyone in the mansion to search for Master, but it was as if Master had vanished into thin air. No one had seen Master, and even the servants guarding the mansion gate swore to heaven that they had not seen Master leave the mansion!"

At this point, the old steward knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face. "Sir, my master is a perfectly healthy man. How could he have fallen asleep and ended up in the courtyard of the back garden? And...and died such a gruesome death! I beg you, sir, you must find the murderer and avenge my master!"

Mu Qingcheng pondered, "Did you and the maid Qingshu witness the deceased falling asleep in the bedroom? What were the deceased wearing at the time? Was it the same clothes they were wearing now?"

“We left after the master fell asleep; that’s the usual procedure.” The old butler looked at the pile of tattered clothes, a look of doubt in his eyes. “The master took off his outer garment before going to sleep and wore a white undergarment. The style and color of this garment do not belong to the master.”

Mu Qingcheng's expression hardened. "Are you sure?"

(End of this chapter)