Imitation
Yu Shoudao's face turned solemn as he hurriedly asked Butler Liang to lead the way.
The palace was tall, broad, and winding, with a pleasant garden. Yu Linlang followed her father and saw a crowd gathered along the flower-lined paths near the rockery in the distance.
Night snow drifted past the flowers and cast shifting shadows. Prince Mu stood amidst the deep, lush grass and towering trees, clad in a white fur cloak. The silver frost shimmered faintly around him, and a soft haze spread through the air. His relaxed demeanor made him seem like a figure from a dream.
His beauty was striking, but even more so because beauty always stood with beauty—the sight of him complemented by the elegance of those around him. Though Yu Linlang's heart remained calm, she couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.
Her gaze happened to meet that of Mu Zhao, Lu Qian, and the others. Yu Linlang accepted their attention without flinching, maintaining a composed expression as she followed Governor Yu forward and bowed without a word.
Mu Zhao smiled slightly, his gaze lingering on Yu Linlang as he nodded. "Miss Yu is here with the governor."
"That's right." Governor Yu quickly stepped forward and bowed with a laugh. "My daughter worked through the night to sketch a likeness of the murderer. I hope it can assist the prince's mansion in its investigation."
"I heard that the murderer entered the governor's mansion last night, took a corpse, and fled?"
Yu Linlang turned toward the speaker—a sharp-faced old man with sunken eyes and a turbid gaze.
"The servant greets the old prince," she said respectfully. "I regret that we failed to stop the intruder in time. The assassin used the opportunity to abduct the elderly matron of the Niu family, catching us off guard with their speed and audacity."
"The two officers from the Demon-Suppressing Department were also present. Wei Ling and Lord Wei, both esteemed figures, displayed their remarkable skills—swift and precise, like the legendary Judge Chitu. Yet, despite their efforts, the murderer still managed to escape. At two o'clock this morning, the officers departed the city in search of Lady Niu, hoping to find a lead."
King Liang snorted coldly. "I hear that murders have been rampant lately. What kind of governor are you? The murderer remains at large, and now he dares to commit his crimes in Prince Liang's mansion?"
"Yes, yes, it is a failure in governance," Governor Yu admitted humbly, lowering his head. His eyes, however, glinted with coldness as he handed the scroll to Prince Mu's attendant.
"Miss Yu's sketch may not capture every detail, but the figure is lifelike. It will help narrow the search considerably," Mu Zhao praised as he studied the drawing.
Lu Qian also commended Yu Linlang's intelligence and skill, which caught the old prince's attention.
Initially indifferent to Yu Linlang, the old prince now gave her a second glance. A plain-looking girl with the ability to impress the prince—such fortune was rare.
King Liang, however, remained unimpressed. He had little patience for unremarkable faces, so he dismissed her without a second thought and instead urged Yu Shoudao, "Since you have a general idea of the murderer's appearance, lock down the city and search for him. There are also many sick refugees outside the gates—ensure that none sneak in. If an epidemic spreads, it will be impossible to control."
Governor Yu acknowledged the order with a hint of reluctance, though he sneered inwardly.
An exiled prince of Weizhou City, yet he dares to dictate orders to me? He thought scornfully. Prince Mu hasn't even spoken, yet you presume to command.
"Governor Yu, the body is behind the rockery," Liang Quan reported as he led the group down a secluded path. "The deceased is Hong Liang, a trusted servant of the old prince. The murderer was audacious enough to enter the palace and kill at will."
"When the body was discovered, it lay on the lawn behind the rockery," Lu Qian explained. "From a distance, his abdomen appeared to have been gutted, similar to the other victims."
"Old Li is conducting the autopsy. The findings should be ready soon."
The group moved forward. King Liang hesitated briefly before slowing his pace and following Prince Mu and Lu Qian.
At that moment, Old Li limped toward them and reported his findings.
"The deceased's abdomen was cut open, and the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs were removed. However, the fatal injury was to the neck.
"He died of asphyxiation. Strangulation marks extend from the throat to the back of the ear, with varying depths—four or five distinct grooves."
"Though the organs were removed, it was done postmortem," Old Li concluded.
"A strangulation followed by an evisceration?" Lu Qian frowned. "The previous victims were all disemboweled. Chen Ergou and Niu Ersao had no visible wounds. Though Niu Daji and Niu Erji showed signs of abuse, those injuries were not fatal."
"Correct. Niu Erji was flogged postmortem. His fatal injuries were from the disembowelment," Governor Yu confirmed. "The murderer's methods seem inconsistent."
Yu Linlang glanced at the corpse briefly before averting her gaze.
Old Li, however, suddenly turned to her. "Miss, could you take a look?"
At this, Mu Zhao, Lu Qian, and the others focused on Yu Linlang.
Yu Linlang, dragged into the matter unexpectedly, shot Old Li a silent glance. "This was not the first crime scene."
Governor Yu's eyes lit up. "Linlang, have you noticed something? Speak."
"Do you have a pair of gloves?"
Old Li, ever thoughtful, retrieved a pair from his kit and handed them over.
Yu Linlang stepped forward, examining the body swiftly. She spoke concisely:
"The deceased has traces of mud on his face, with sediment inside his mouth and nose. There's also fine white sand beneath his fingernails."
"We walked through the garden just now, and past the pond, we saw similar fine white sand."
"The wear marks on the deceased's shoes suggest he was dragged here postmortem."
"He died of suffocation—but he wasn't just strangled. He was first pressed into the mud by the pond and then garroted with fine silk or cloth. There are signs of struggle, which explains the abrasions on his fingers."
"We initially assumed the murderer was skilled in martial arts, capable of inflicting internal injuries without external wounds. But the postmortem abuse suggests something else."
Lu Qian's eyes flashed with realization. "Miss Yu, are you saying there was a second murderer inside Liang Palace?"
Yu Linlang nodded slightly.
This was a clear case of imitation. However, the technique was crude—easily distinguishable from the original killer's work.
"Excellent."
A soft clap came from behind the flower trees. A servant pushed a wheelchair forward, its wheels rolling over the gravel path.
Everyone turned their gaze toward the newcomer—a young man with dark, piercing eyes, his blue hair neatly tied back.
Seeing him, King Liang immediately smiled. "This is my grandson, Ye Wuchen. Wuchen, what brings you here?"
Governor Yu quickly stepped forward. "I greet the young prince."
But Ye Wuchen paid no attention to the governor. His sharp gaze remained fixed on Yu Linlang.
"In your eyes, Miss Yu," he asked, his voice calm yet deliberate, "who is the real murderer?"