Imperial Treasure-Chapter 1008 - 602: Wine Jars and Shier Victims

Inside the wine cask, there is wine, but it’s not just wine; there’s also a lump of something unknown, sticky and emitting a pungent stench.

"Is this meat?" Cao Sheng curiously squatted down to look, only to hear a refreshing voice behind him.

"That’s a liver."

"I think you should help me report this to the authorities, Mr. Cao."

"A murder case occurred at a lakeside residence in the east of Qiantang, with human liver hidden within a wine cask." Such shocking news stirred the entire Yuhang County City, attracting a mass of people, along with merchants and traveling martial artists, surrounding the place tightly.

Government officers were guarding the area, at the moment, inside the wine cellar.

Spread out on bamboo planks on the ground were various pieces of flesh.

Eyeballs, livers, chunks of meat, ears, and more.

Not to mention Cao Sheng, who saw the liver earlier, his face pale and legs weak; most of the officers present also looked grim.

Fu Zhuo observed his subordinates opening the wine casks and pouring out the contents, and a moment later, the Wu Zuo stepped forward and said:

"Sir, all one hundred casks have been opened. Inside were twelve pairs of ears and various organs, indicating that twelve people were murdered and dismembered, then hidden in these wine casks."

"Can you estimate the time?"

"Afraid not, as being soaked in wine, the flesh was affected by the alcohol, making it impossible to determine the exact time, hence difficult to investigate."

"Is there anyone possible to discern?"

"No." The Wu Zuo shook his head with a wry smile: "The livers are naturally undiscernable, and the flesh pieces are stripped of skin and mixed beyond recognition, impossible to reassemble. Naturally, if an expert from Dali Temple were to come, they might reconstruct the corpses, but I lack such skills."

Dali Temple?

By the time Dali Temple takes over this case, how long would that take?

Besides, Fu Zhuo has always disliked having his cases investigated by others.

He looked at the body parts, walked out of the wine cellar, and approached Sui Yi and Lin Zhong.

The former had a calm expression, gazing out the window, while the latter appeared pale.

Both had identified themselves from the start and explained their findings regarding the wine cask, and there wasn’t much else interesting; the government officers just had them wait here...

Fu Zhuo glanced at Sui Yi and said to Cao Sheng: "Someone died in the wine cellar of this house, who is the original owner?"

"It’s Zheng Long, a wine merchant. A month ago, he approached me saying he wanted to sell this house. How was I to know such horrors were hidden inside... Zheng Long has implicated me," Cao Sheng regretted bitterly.

"Where is he now?"

"Because he was relocating to Luoyang, his family went ahead, and he himself stayed at the East Willow Inn due to the house transfer matter. I heard he went on business recently."

Fu Zhuo nodded, dispatched someone to find him, and then looked at Sui Yi.

Apparently, there’s nothing entertaining about Sui Yi.

The man is indeed unlucky!

The government officers all felt Sui Yi was unfortunate, spending a hefty sum to buy the house, only for the house to...

So unlucky!

Because of Sui Yi’s refined and solitary demeanor, being a woman, naturally eliciting sympathy, yet Fu Zhuo scrutinized her deeply, "What is your identity, why suddenly buy this house? Where did the money come from? Was it you who shattered this wine cask before?"

Businesslike.

"I happened upon Yuhang as a hermit and bought this house because it seemed suitable. As for the money, it came from selling an accessory I wore."

Sui Yi answered simply.

"How did you know there was a problem with the wine casks in the cellar? Don’t tell me it was accidentally shattered; being a swordsman, your skills should be good, how could you easily break a cask? Especially since these casks are mostly covered in dust, usually wouldn’t be touched, yet you did! Tell me, how did you know!"

Fu Zhuo’s expression was stern, his voice cold, shocking everyone present!

Could this woman be,...

Sui Yi glanced at Fu Zhuo; this man is indeed impartial, yet...

Her gaze swept across the ground, faintly saying: "The smell is too strong, the floor has issues, too many things."

What kind of answer is this?

Present were not just Fu Zhuo and these officers, but also the Prefectural Governor who had just entered, hearing Fu Zhuo’s interrogation, thinking a suspect was found, only for the suspect to give such a response.

Moreover, most astonishingly, Fu Zhuo immediately said: "An old, uninhabited house indeed has the odor of decay and dust, yet this house is by the lake, with cold winds blowing by day and night, tightly closed doors and windows should disperse the odor, yet this house is different; the smell inside is too heavy, indicating deliberate scent placement, no one would arbitrarily age a house, surely to conceal something! And some floorboards are newer than others, different wood colors, indicating replacements, in addition, these problematic floorboards extend toward the wine cellar direction, as for too many things, with a house being relocated and put up for sale, how could the owners not take most personal items away, how could there be so many collectibles left, such as these, even set perfectly! That’s too many things!"

"You determined the house was problematic from these three suspicions, and that the issue lay with the wine cellar!"

Fu Zhuo’s explanation enlightened everyone, taking a closer look, indeed.

The Prefectural Governor stepped forward, looked at Sui Yi, and said: "This young lady doesn’t seem ordinary, her observation is remarkable, and she’s so calm, I suspect she’s from the martial arts world."

Martial artists?

"No, I’m an antique dealer." Sui Yi glanced at the wine cellar, saying: "Let me remind you, the living room’s furniture and fixtures are made of pine wood, of poor quality, a complete set, with ordinary designs." (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)