If they saw that there was no one in the coffin at this time, everyone might not be so surprised.
In fact, there was indeed a person lying there.
To their surprise, the other party's face, neck, and even the hands exposed outside the clothes had traces of burning, the body was charred black, and they could vaguely identify the other party's facial features that were somewhat similar to Lin Fengyuan.
Since Lin Zhen was hanged, why are there still signs of being burned like now
Xiao Wu knew little about the ins and outs of the case, and she had never seen the bodies of the five reviewers. She just said that because she felt that the corpses were too terrifying, and there was an unpleasant smell when they got close, so she couldn't help but retreat. After a few steps, he quickly retracted into the carriage, staring at Tang Fan and the others.
Lu Lingxi frowned: "Strange, why is it Lin Fengyuan or Shen Kunxiu, no one has mentioned the section of burning? Could it be that Lin Zhen didn't commit suicide, but was burned to death?"
But if this is the case, the problem will be even more. Shen Kunxiu is heavily suspected because of Lin Zhen's death. If Lin Zhen was burned to death, why did he keep silent and defend himself? Could it be that the grievances between the Lin and Chen families are so great that Shen Kunxiu wants to kill Lin Zhen
Looking at the corpse, everyone felt that there were many mysteries in their hearts that could not be solved.
Although the corpse had not been buried for a long time, because of the hot weather, it had begun to emit a faint stench. Not to mention Xiao Wu, everyone else covered their noses and took a few steps back, but Tang Fan was still standing there without saying a word. , staring at the corpse as if a flower could bloom on it.
He not only watched, but also personally went to examine the corpse.
Everyone saw his long white and slender hands touching the corpse, and even reaching into the mouth and nose of the deceased, the corners of his mouth could not help but twitch slightly.
Just looking at it like this, they all felt that their hearts should respond, but Tang Fan did all this without changing his face, which was really admirable.
"He wasn't burned to death." After a while, Tang Fan suddenly said.
After he finished speaking, he stood up, stuffed the Yuchan that he had taken out from the mouth of the corpse, and took the wet handkerchief handed over by Xiaozhou to wipe his hands carefully.
Without waiting for everyone to ask questions, he took the initiative to answer the question: "There is a big difference between being burned after death and being burned before death, that is, if a person is burned before death, soot should be inhaled through the nose and mouth, but I just used my hands to inhale soot. After investigating, I found that his mouth and nose were clean and there was no trace of soot."
"There is a more important point, if you are hanged to death, because the tongue is stuck in the throat, the tongue will stick out, so the tongue should be longer than usual, and it should be pressed against the upper teeth. However, Lin Zhen's tongue is not as long as ordinary people. There is no abnormality, which means that he probably did not hang himself either."
Lu Lingxi was determined to learn more, so he resisted the nausea, and also imitated Tang Fan's appearance, lying beside the coffin, leaning forward with his upper body, pinching his nose and looking at it: "Brother Tang, his neck is burnt black, and he can't see it at all. How can we judge the cause of his death?”
Tang Fan said: "Since he didn't hang himself, and he was burned like this after he died, then it is very likely that after he was murdered, someone pretended to be the trace of his hanging in order to deceive Shen Kunxiu and then worry about someone else. Like us, the coffin will be reopened for autopsy, so the body will be burned beyond recognition to cover up the real cause of Lin Zhen's death."
"If someone else started to burn the corpse directly, it would be fine, but he didn't do it, only burned half of it, and even dressed it and stuffed jade, and buried it solemnly, so that we can find it from the corpse. The flaws are only the relatives of the deceased who knew that they wanted to destroy the corpse, but couldn't bear it, and finally gave up halfway. So the person who burned the corpse should be Lin Fengyuan."
Lu Lingxi frowned: "In this way, Lin Fengyuan must know that Lin Zhen did not hang herself, but he still helps the murderer to burn the body and destroy the traces. Is he the murderer himself?"
Tang Fan shook his head: "If he is the murderer, since he already has the heart to kill his parents and children, he won't even be able to burn a corpse, but judging from the signs above, he definitely knows who the murderer is. And deliberately conceal it for him…”
Speaking of this, he paused and suddenly said, "Not good!"
Everyone looked at him in disbelief.
Tang Fan: "Quick, put the coffin back, and hurry to the Lin's house!"
When others heard this, they thought it was Tang Fan who wanted to go to the Lin family to find Lin Fengyuan to settle accounts, but only the maid Xiaozhou heard what he meant: "Master Biao thinks Lin Fengyuan will be in danger?"
Tang Fan: "Yes, I remembered that when I came to the door that day, Lin Fengyuan's behavior was strange and unusual. First, he was thin and frightened like a frightened bird, and then he glanced at the paintings on the wall from time to time. I thought it was because he was threatened, he had to keep his mouth shut again and again, but he wanted to tell What am I, there must be some mystery hidden in the painting, something he wants to tell me but can't say clearly. But if we can think of this, the murderer can definitely think of it!"
The implication is that Lin Fengyuan is likely to be targeted by the murderer and then silenced.
As soon as everyone heard it, without saying a word, they quickly accelerated the movements in their hands, filled in the soil and leveled the hole, and then went directly to Lin's house.
The city gate was open all night, and the Lin family and the others had just been here two days ago, and they would be there soon.
The neighborhood was quiet, not because everyone had rested, but because everyone went out of the city to see the lights, and it was estimated that they would not come back for an hour. There was a loud noise, and soon there was movement inside, and the other party hurried over while shouting "Who?"
Because he didn't know the identity of the outsider, the other party naturally did not dare to open the door without authorization, Xi Ming said: "The imperial commissioner is handling the case! I just came here two days ago!"
"You, what proof do you have?" The person inside seemed to be unconvinced and asked timidly.
Xi Ming was too lazy to talk nonsense with him, so he just looked back at Tang Fan, and when he saw him nodding, he went straight to the wall next to him, jumped up, jumped directly over the wall, and jumped into the yard.
There was an exclamation from inside, and after a while, Xi Ming opened the door from the inside.
The servants of the Lin family were terrified. He really thought he had run into a robber who came to loot. Before he shouted, Han Jin stepped forward and covered his mouth.
"Don't call, it's me. Do you still recognize the imperial envoy who came to your house two days ago?" Tang Fan said to him.
The servants of the Lin family were unable to speak again. With wide eyes, they looked at the dimly lit lantern at the door for a while before nodding.
Han Jin let go.
The servant was gasping for breath, terrified and undecided: "Da, why did your lord come here?"
Tang Fan said, "Where's your master, I need to see him urgently!"
The servant of the Lin family: "My master is not here, do you dare to ask the lord what's the matter?"
Forcing a door in this late night, how strange it is.
Tang Fan didn't have the heart to explain more to him, so he lowered his face and said, "Where did he go?"
While talking, Xu Shi heard the movement here, and several servants rushed over. They thought there was a thief, and they all carried sticks in their hands.
The servant said: "Master said he wanted to see the lights..."
"Lao Lin, what's the matter?" The housekeeper hurried out from inside and looked at Tang Fan and the others in surprise.
The servant told him the identities of Tang Fan and others, and the housekeeper was relieved. When Tang Fan came to the door that day, the housekeeper had seen it, and he cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to my lord, my master did go out to look at the lights, so far Haven't come back yet."
Tang Fan: "How many people did he go there, and when did he go out?"
Butler: "This..."
Tang Fan: "I came to the door in the middle of the night. I didn't mean to embarrass me, but I actually came to save your master's life. If you don't tell me, then your master will have three strengths and two weaknesses. Don't blame me for not knowing in advance!"
The housekeeper saw that he was serious, his face changed slightly, he thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "To be honest, we also think that the master is a little strange tonight. But he refused, until someone sent a letter, the master went out in a hurry, and has not come back yet."
Tang Fan: "When did he go out? He went out alone?"
Butler: "About Xu, the master only brought Laiwang, oh, the master's long attendant."
Tang Fan: "Where did they go, do you know? Is that letter still there?"
Butler: "Master never told us where he was going, he burned the letter after reading it, and when the master went out, his face was solemn, and he didn't seem to be in a good mood, so we didn't dare to ask more, sir, you means?"
Tang Fan: "What about his long follower, Laiwang has been working in the Lin family all the time?"
Butler: "No, Laiwang was brought back by the master himself a few months ago. He said that he would replace the original Changsui Jixiang, and Jixiang was sent to take care of the study. At that time, he was sad for a while..."
He looked at Tang Fan nervously, not knowing what happened.
Tang Fan said, "I'm afraid something has happened to you, sir. You should send someone out to look for it now. If you find it, come back and report it. I will also notify Fan Zhifu and let the officials go out to find it together!"
The butler's face turned pale: "Da, sire, what happened?"
Tang Fan said coldly, "If you keep delaying, maybe your master won't be able to come back."
The housekeeper was taken aback and didn't dare to ask any more, so he hurriedly sent the Lin family up and down to look for it, while Tang Fan said to Lu Lingxi and Xi Ming, "Now you all go to the magistrate's office and the magistrate's office, and let the prefect of Fan and brother Ziming help dispatch them. If you find someone, come over and tell me, I'll be waiting at the Lin house! Also, drop by and invite Shen Xuetai, whether he wants to come or not, be sure to invite him over!"
Xi Ming responded, but Lu Lingxi said hesitantly: "Brother Tang, we walked two at a time, and Miss Qiao is not good at martial arts, so Han Jin is left by your side, which is not good..."
Before he could finish speaking, Tie Zhu patted his chest and said, "Am I not human, Brother Lu, don't worry, I'm here with Xiaozhou, everything will be fine!"
Lu Lingxi said in her heart that it was because of you that I was even more worried.
Unexpectedly, Tang Fan also said: "Come on, time is short, there is no delay, I'm fine here!"
It was one thing to joke on weekdays, but now that he was serious, Lu Lingxi naturally did not dare to refute any more, agreed, and hurriedly left with Xi Ming to act separately.
With such a big movement, the Lin family members were naturally alarmed. The mistress of the Lin family also sent a maid to inquire about the situation. After hearing about this, she didn't care about the inconvenience of seeing a husband, so she went out to see Tang Fan.
Chen's face did not hide the panic: "Sir, is it true that you said about my master?"
Tang Fan didn't answer and asked: "You husband and wife are one body. If Lin Fengyuan has an abnormality recently, as a wife, it must be easy to detect."
Chen shi frowned: "Yes, since Ah Zhen's death, my father-in-law's words and deeds have been a little weird. I only think that he is doing this because he is too sad, and I didn't ask in detail. The last time I wanted Ah Jue to come back, he also No, it is better to let Ajue stay in the academy."
Tang Fan: "Ajue?"
The housekeeper helped to add: "It's the second young master!"
Tang Fan: "Then he is still in the academy now?"
Butler: "Yes, when the eldest young master died, the second young master was called back, but he was sent back to the academy by the master in a few days, saying that he should not delay his homework."
It stands to reason that the eldest son died, and it was too late to be a parent. How could it be possible for the second son to rush back to school, not to mention the situation of Lin Zhen's burial, it was not that Lin Fengyuan did not love this son.
In any case, this kind of behavior, even outsiders of the Lin family find it very strange.
Tang Fan frowned and thought for a while, and said, "Now you can find two more servants and go to the academy to see if your second young master is still there."
The housekeeper and Chen shi's eyes widened at the same time: "Sir, you mean..."
Tang Fan: "It's nothing, don't panic, I just want to make sure he's safe, just go!"
But when he said this, everyone could hear a bit of ominous meaning. Chen said to the housekeeper: "Quick, do as your lord ordered!"
The Lin family was in turmoil, and Chen's family, a woman in the house, had encountered such a situation, and was at a loss for a while, so he could only stand there anxiously, just as Tang Fan still had something to look for, he asked: "I remember coming back to visit At that time, there was a painting hanging in your main hall, Lin Tongju said that he did it by himself, is that painting still there?"
Chen shi thought for a moment: "You mean... that painting that flows eastward?"
Tang Fan: "Not bad."
Chen Shi: "It seems to be there. I saw it this morning."
Tang Fan: "Take me there."
Mrs. Chen: "Sir, please come here."
She brought Tang Fan and the others to the main hall, looked up, but said, "I saw it this morning, why did you change it?"
I saw that place in Tang Fan's memory. At this time, another picture of the empty mountain and bright moon was hung up, and the signature was not Lin Fengyuan.
Tang Fan didn't find any problems in the painting, so he lifted the scroll up again, and there was an ordinary wall below, and no abnormality could be seen.
The maid Xiaozhou also walked over, raised her hand and tapped, and groped for a while. "No problem," she said.
There was no problem with the wall, that's the problem with the painting. Tang Fan recalled the painting carefully, and he didn't even notice that someone hurried in from outside.
"Sir, Shen Xuetai, Fan Zhifu, and Jizhi County have arrived." Han Jin reminded beside him.
Tang Fan raised his head and stood up to greet him: "I didn't intend to alarm everyone, but Tang is really sorry."
"My lord, the lower official has already summoned people to find Lin Tong for sentencing, is there something wrong?" Fan Zhifu was a little depressed, but he didn't dare to attack.
Today is the Qixi Festival, not to mention ordinary people, even he is lying comfortably in his yard watching the stars, eating snacks, chatting with his wife and children, and having a good time. However, the people sent by Tang Fan took his rare leisure. If it was destroyed, he was naturally depressed, but he couldn't say anything to Tang Fan, and he inevitably had an idea in his heart.
Shen Kunxiu still had a dark face, as if someone else owed him a lot of money and had not paid it back.
In fact, when Xi Ming went to the door, he was originally unwilling to come, but Xi Ming used force and directly "invited" people to come over. It's strange that his face looks good. "Does Tang Yushi come with his mouth open? There is absolutely no need for real evidence. You said that Lin Tongshen might have an accident, and Ji'an Mansion will be exhausted. If Lin Tongshen returns safely, how do you explain it? Besides, Lin Tongshen has an accident. , what does it have to do with this school?"
Tang Fan waved his hand: "Shen Xuetai, don't be impatient, please take a seat."
Shen Kunxiu waved his hand: "No need, if Tang Yushi has anything to say, please make it clear as soon as possible, I'm still rushing back to look at the lights!"
Tang Fan smiled: "Shen Xuetai is really generous, Young Master Ling has caused such a big disaster, you still have time to watch the lights, I heard that Young Master Ling has been taught by you to lie in bed for several days, he must not be able to Shall I watch the lights with you?"
Shen Kunxiu said angrily, "What does this have to do with you, you are in charge of the sky and the earth, and you are in charge too much!"
Tang Fan's smile faded, and he shouted abruptly, "Shen Kunxiu, if you allow your son to commit murder, what's your fault!"
Shen Kunxiu was stunned for a moment, then furious: "Tang Fan, don't spit out blood, Fan Le is afraid of you, I'm not afraid of you, don't think that you can turn black and white when you are ordered to investigate the case, what does Lin Zhen's death have to do with me!"
Tang Fan sneered: "When did I say that Lin Zhen's death was related to you? I'm talking about the death of the five judges, including one's wife, a total of six lives, you dare to say that you didn't even know about it? !"
At that moment, a strange look flashed across Shen Kunxiu's face very quickly, and his eyes wandered for a moment involuntarily.
Many people often react like this when they feel guilty. Although the duration is very short, Tang Fan's eyes have been fixed on each other, and naturally he will not miss any subtle changes in his expression.
Neither Fan Zhifu nor Ji Min thought that Tang Fan would choose to turn against Shen Kunxiu at this time.
Shen Kunxiu's face flushed red, and he pointed at Tang Fan and said angrily, "If you talk nonsense again, believe it or not, I will impeach you tomorrow!"
As soon as he got angry, Tang Fan laughed instead: "How many times have you impeached me? If it wasn't for your report, why would the imperial court send another imperial conscript here? Shen Kunxiu, let me ask you, you knew the five judges at the beginning. It has something to do with the imperial examination case, why did you hurriedly let them go before the imperial court sent them over?"
Shen Kunxiu was reluctant to answer, and he had to answer, so he could only muffled: "Because according to my verification that day, the five judges did not participate in cheating!"
Tang Fan: "You can only coax five-year-old children. Before the hospital exam that day, a total of 16 candidates spent 100 taels each in Qingfenglou to buy news, saying that as long as the article is mixed with 'Dacheng' 'Three words, you can get high school. If this news is false, then it is impossible for all these people to be on the list. But the situation at the time was that when the academy exam was released, all the 16 people were on the list. The judges are colluding with each other, just relying on these three words, what ranking can they get?"
He paused: "The matter has developed so far, Shen Xuetai, you didn't find out in time, at best it was a crime of oversight, and later you gathered those candidates who were suspected of cheating and asked them to take the test again. This is enough to prove that you have achieved the truth. unknowing."
"However," Tang Fan changed his words: "Since I came here, you have been in trouble with me everywhere, not only refusing to cooperate, but also obstructing everything. You know that among those judges, there must be people who accept bribes. , I also knew that when I came, I would definitely check on them, but I had to let them go. I would rather let myself be more suspicious. Even after those six people died, you still refused to reveal the slightest truth. , will only deny it blindly. This can only show one fact: the person who sold the news to the candidates must have a close relationship with you. Even if you give up your fame and future, you have to keep him, right or not?"
Shen Kunxiu sneered: "What nonsense!"
He got up and was about to leave with a swirl of his sleeves. Xi Ming and Han Jin, who had been standing outside the door for a long time, stepped forward and looked at him coldly.
Shen Kunxiu turned back angrily: "Tang Fan, what do you mean, are you still forcibly convicting me and imprisoning the court officials!"
Tang Fan ignored him and continued to talk: "Previously, Fan Zhifu said that the mountain chief of Bailuzhou Academy is old, and the position of mountain chief is vacant. There are not a few people who want to be the next chief, but the most qualified. There are no more contestants than the five reviewers. Because they are all the academies in the Ji'an Prefecture, they are comparable in terms of qualifications. More sure. You have a noble nature, and you love a clear name. You must be disdainful of listening to their flattery, and you may not even accept bribes. But you will not, it does not mean that others will not, you can represent your opinion, and let that A few people listen to what they say and believe it is true, who else is there other than Young Master Ling?"
Shen Kunxiu's face was blue and he didn't say a word. He was not a person who was good at words, and he couldn't think of refuting Tang Fan's words at this time.
But Tang Fan didn't allow him to think carefully, and quickly said: "I guess, Young Master Ling may have wanted to know the exam questions from you in advance, so that he could sell them, but he was scolded by you, so he If you can't figure it out, you have another plan, and you simply use your name directly, contact those mountain chiefs privately, promise them a lot of benefits, and then make an appointment with them in advance. will always be admitted.”
"Unfortunately, when you know about this, it will be too late, but you can't watch your only child have an accident, so you deliberately make trouble with me everywhere, in order to keep me from investigating, and let me pay attention to it. on you."
"If the case ends here, the big deal for you will be a result of ineffective investigation and resignation, and the son will lose his reputation. If it happens because of colluding with the examiner and selling test questions, even if the crime of death can be avoided, the crime of living will not escape. That's why you Do everything possible to justify your son, even sabotaging your own reputation and making others think you are a stubborn and confused official!"
Fan Zhifu and Ji Min were stunned to hear all this. They didn't know how Tang Fan deduced it, but as soon as these coherent words came into their ears, they couldn't help but believe it seven or eight points. To see the answer in his face.
Shen Kunxiu's expression was fluctuating, and his eyes on Tang Fan were also very complicated.
Because of his personality, he is unavoidably self-righteous. Even if he has a literary name, his official career is not very good, and his popularity is only mediocre. If he can become a provincial school and politics, it is almost the end. If you want to go up directly to the Rites , I'm afraid it's difficult.
Compared with Shen Kunxiu's fame in the literary world, many people say that he is difficult to get along with behind his back, but Shen Kunxiu doesn't care, he still does his own thing, he is very strict with himself, and bribes are common in officialdom, but he does not accept it at all. I am proud of this, but I didn't expect that the name I cherished all my life would end up on my son in the end.
He didn't even think that the one who knew him best was his enemy.
At this point, Tang Fan has already guessed Shen Si, even if Shen Kunxiu refuses to admit it, it is useless, as long as Tang Fan grabs Shen Si and asks, with the character of the other party, he will definitely admit all of them in a short time.
Rather than that, it would be better for Shen Kunxiu to speak for himself.
He sighed: "I didn't kill those six people, and Lin Zhen's death has nothing to do with my father and son."
Tang Fan raised his eyebrows: "But you should know who the murderer is."
Shen Kunxiu was silent.
At this moment, someone hurried in from outside, but it was a yamen from the prefect yamen.
"Sir, we have found Lin Tongju!"
Fan Zhifu stood up abruptly: "Where is it, let him in!"
The yamen hesitantly said: "It's in that old city god temple, people are already dead."
At this moment, another member of the Lin family ran in panting and said to the Lin family housekeeper and the Chen family, "Madam, I waited to go to Bailuzhou Academy, but I didn't see the second young master. The second young master's classmate said that the second young master was coming back for a funeral. After that, I never went back!"
The house leak happened to be raining overnight, and the others were just shocked, but Chen shi's eyes were darkened and he passed out.
The author has something to say:
small theater:
late at night.
Knock knock knock!
Tang Fan opened the door, and the maid Xiaozhou stood outside.
He was stunned for a moment: "Is something wrong?"
Xiaozhou was expressionless: "Master Biao, it's late at night, my girl asked me to warm the bed."
After all, he also pulled down the collar, and there was no powder under the neck, revealing the bronzed complexion and the strong chest muscles below.
Tang Fan: "... No, no need, I don't think I can bear such a blessing."
Xiao Wu: I swear I never said that!