I Wish to Ride the Wind

Chapter 6 – A Captain

Xie Chengfeng took a closer look and saw that Shen Bukuai was back. The tall and sturdy big man was currently furious as he raised his saber wanting to slash. Seeing the cold piercing glint of the saber edge rushing towards his head, Xie Chengfeng jumped off the windowsill and hid under the table.

Shen Bukuai was reluctant to chop down the window that was doing just fine, so he restrained his saber and stood outside the window shouting, “Come out for me!”

Xie Chengfeng thought to himself, am I such a fool?

Shen Jiajia asked her father through the window, “Father, it’s currently not the time to be off duty yet. With you being home right now, could it be there is an urgent matter?”

Shen Bukuai patted his head. “I almost forgot about official business, all because this crazy bird making me angry. Let’s pluck its feathers and roast it tomorrow to eat,” Shen Bukuai said as he walked into the house, poured himself a big cup of tea water[1], then sat down.

Shen Jiajia also came out from her bedroom and while walking she said, “It usually plays around the streets and alleys, so it inevitably learnt a few nonsense. I’ll go back and give it a lecture later… Father, did something happen in the yamen?”

“Sigh, something big really happened.” Shen Bukuai put down his teacup. “Sanniang, Father wants to ask for your help.”

“Oh? What can I help with? There is no harm in telling me what’s in your mind, Father.”

“It’s like this, early this morning, Imperial Censor Qian Tai was found dead by hanging in his house, and his family reported the case. After an autopsy, the coroner believed that Imperial Censor Qian did not commit suicide by hanging himself but was strangled first and then hung on the beam, making it as if it was a suicide.”

Shen Jiajia asked, “How did the coroner come to this conclusion?”

“The wound resulted from hanging oneself is different than the wound caused by strangling, and the state of their death is also different. A person who died by hanging themselves usually sticks their tongue out, like this—” Shen Bukuai said as he simply imitated by rolling his eyes and sticking his tongue out, making Shen Jiajia amused with a ‘pfft’ laugh.

Xie Chengfeng had gotten out from under the table long ago. He stood silently behind Shen Jiajia and pricked up his ears to listen to the story. He truly had nothing better to do.

Shen Jiajia asked, “Since it is judged to be a homicide, then is there any suspect? Does Imperial Censor Qian have any personal enemy?”

“Imperial Censor Qian’s duty is to supervise hundreds of officials—that is, to pick faults with the current officials, and hand over memorials scolding them to the Emperor from time to time. He had offended too many people. Just the day before the incident, he impeached Assistant Minister Zhou and scolded Assistant Minister Zhou bloody[2], and Assistant Minister Zhou even threatened to kill him! Who would expect that Imperial Censor Qian would really be killed the next day, so Assistant Minister Zhou became the biggest suspect and has been called by the authorities for questioning.”

Shen Jiajia listened quietly then asked, “Father, what does this have to do with me?”

“The crime scene was very clean, and no evidence was left behind. What’s even more bizarre is that the doors and windows of the room were bolted from the inside. This is a locked room murder case. I couldn’t find any additional clues and thought about the last incident where we had a closed room theft case in our house. You are cautious and meticulous, maybe you can help something out this time.”

“Me? Can I? Will other people in the yamen mind…”

Shen Bukuai waved his hand and interrupted her, “Sanniang you don’t know, the old Captain is late in his age and no longer worked—his son wants to take over his position, but he has to be a sheriff first, so the captain’s seat is vacant. Our superior said that this case involved two court officials, so whoever solves this case will be promoted…” Talking to this point, Shen Bukuai also felt a little embarrassed. “Other bunch of people and I are all thinking about this position, and now each of us are bringing out a whole group of people. Although I’m not fully certain, I still have to look for you to try it out.”

Hearing this, Xie Chengfeng was a little dumbfounded. Using all kinds of means and methods just to be a captain? It’s truly aiming high.

[1] Literally tea water, the bulk tea kind.

[2] Literally pour dog’s blood on head; meaning is scolding so hard with lots of abuse.