Chapter 015: Investigating the Cause

Someone had died under suspicious circumstances at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—a matter of utmost gravity, unprecedented in recent years. The scholars-in-training were abuzz with gossip, their minds far from their studies; save for Guo Heng, who remained in his corner, the rest had abandoned all pretense of diligence.

What puzzled everyone was the absence of Peng Ying, who usually came to the archives room to nap each day. Some even speculated that Peng Ying might be the victim; his reputation was hardly stellar, and it wasn’t inconceivable that someone might have dispatched him in passing.

Xue Rui listened to these conjectures with a growing sense of unease.

“Master Cui has returned!”

About half an hour later, Chen Li, who had gone to inquire after news, hurried back.

“What’s the situation? Speak quickly,” urged the crowd, gathering around him.

Chen Li’s expression was grave. “I heard from Master Cui that not just one, but three people have died in our bureau!”

“Three!” they exclaimed in shock.

At first, they’d assumed only a single person had died, but three? If it had been just one, perhaps it could be dismissed as a chance occurrence. But for three officials of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to die at once, the matter was anything but simple.

Liu Jin asked curiously, “Who died, and how?”

“It was Clerk He, who served the Chief Astronomer, and two menial workers. According to Master Cui, all three had their throats crushed by a blunt weapon, suffocating to death!”

“Their throats crushed?”

Instinctively, everyone touched their own Adam’s apples. Such a method was rare; Clerk He and the two workers were in the prime of their lives, not frail scholars. The identical manner of death suggested the killer acted with ease and skill—clearly not an ordinary person.

Some speculated this was a premeditated attack targeting officials of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Why else single out Clerk He and his companions, and dispatch them so efficiently that they had no chance to cry for help?

Others believed that Clerk He and the two workers had left the city during their duty hours to engage in something illicit, only to provoke an enemy and be killed in retribution.

There were even those who suspected the murder was the work of rebels hiding in the capital. Clerk He and his companions might simply have been unlucky, stumbling upon a plot and being silenced.

Of course, this theory was met with derision. The Ming dynasty had enjoyed longstanding peace, and rebels were scarce. Especially here, in the capital—the seat of virtue, beneath the Emperor’s feet—rebels would scarcely dare linger, much less act; it would be madness.

Listening to the analysis, Xue Rui interjected, “Did Clerk He and the two workers leave on orders from any superior?”

“Probably not. If the officials had given orders yesterday and Clerk He and the others failed to report back today, it would be obvious something had happened to them. Why complicate matters by investigating who was absent today?”

“That makes sense,” the others agreed.

As they spoke, Zheng Debiao hurried into the archives room. Seeing Xue Rui among the crowd, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Clerk Zheng, your haste—does it pertain to the murder?” The crowd was full of anticipation; they’d only tasted a morsel of gossip and were eager for more.

“You all know already?” Zheng Debiao paused, then sighed helplessly. “Gentlemen, the Chief Administrator is summoning all bureau scholars to the main hall for questioning. Come with me, quickly!”

“Let’s go, let’s go, hurry!” The crowd was unashamedly eager for spectacle. Clerk He was a known lackey of Peng Deqing, whose father and son were infamous in the bureau. Now that the henchman had been killed, not only was there no sympathy, but an air of schadenfreude; all were impatient to witness the drama.

When the scholars reached the main hall, the courtyard was already packed with a dense crowd—official astronomers of the bureau, some one hundred and fifty or sixty in total. Even those who had been on night duty at the observatory and should have been resting had been called back.

On the steps before the main hall stood several bureau officials, led by Chief Administrator Xu Dun, with the others arrayed to his left and right, their expressions solemn as they surveyed the assembled personnel.

Once the scholars had joined the end of the queue, Xu Dun cleared his throat and announced loudly:

“Everyone, you must have heard by now. Yesterday afternoon, an incident occurred at Zhushi Kou in the outer city. The victims were Clerk He, who had served our bureau for years, and two workers. Their bodies were found this morning in a pigsty at Zhushi Kou.

Given the involvement of our bureau and the gravity of the case, Wanping County has transferred the matter to Shuntian Prefecture, which is now investigating in earnest. The murders of Clerk He and his companions are fraught with suspicion. I have summoned you here to ask some critical questions in hopes of solving the case quickly. If any of you know anything, you must report it truthfully. Those who conceal information will face my full displeasure!”

The astronomers were struck dumb with fear. Most worked on astronomical calculations and rarely interacted with clerks or workers; some didn’t even know who Clerk He was, let alone offer clues.

Seeing no one speak, one of the astronomers called out, “Sir, we don’t know where to begin. If you have any questions, could you please tell us? It might prompt someone’s memory.”

Xu Dun glanced at him, then said to Autumn Administrator Gao Mian at his side, “Master Gao, you take the questioning.”

“Very well.” Gao Mian accepted without hesitation. “After the incident, I and the other officials convened. None of us had assigned tasks to Clerk He or his companions. No official tokens were found on their persons. It can be concluded that the three left for personal reasons during their duty hours. Since they have perished, we cannot know why they went out. If any of you heard them mention anything, or know what they intended to do, you must report it to the administrators at once.”

“So they left without permission…”

The astronomers began discussing in a jumble, but their talk yielded little of substance.

Xue Rui craned his neck to look toward the front of the queue. At its head, Peng Ying stood straight and silent, uninterested in discussing the murder; he uttered not a word, lost in his own thoughts.

Seeing Xue Rui watching Peng Ying, Liu Xin beside him rolled his eyes and whispered, “This is a good opportunity—just the moment to deal with him.”

“What do you mean?” Xue Rui asked, puzzled.

“Watch me!” Liu Jin cleared his throat and said loudly, “Sir, I have an important clue to report.”

Only then did Xue Rui realize what Liu Jin intended; his face changed as he tried to cover Liu Jin’s mouth, but it was too late.

All eyes instantly fixed on Liu Jin, and the officials on the steps looked at him with delight.

Xu Dun, recognizing Liu Jin as the son of a colleague, descended the steps, followed closely by the other officials.

The astronomers parted to make way, exposing Liu Jin to everyone’s gaze.

Xu Dun knew Liu Jin well. Seeing his composed demeanor, Xu Dun encouraged him, “Liu Jin, speak quickly if you know anything. If your information aids the investigation, I will recommend you for commendation to the Chief Astronomer!”