Wufu sensed something was amiss and hurried toward the encircled crowd.
As she drew nearer, a pungent stench of blood wormed its way into her nostrils. Wufu’s complexion shifted, and upon seeing Liu Jin constantly pushing through the crowd, she quickly pulled him back.
"Miss?" Liu Jin looked at her, puzzled.
Wufu shook her head, signaling for him not to enter any further. It was at that moment that the Yamen Runners arrived, loudly dispersing the onlookers.
"Move aside, move aside."
"Disperse, the Government Office is handling official matters."
Seeing the government officials arriving, the commoners automatically made way. Wufu took the opportunity to look ahead and saw several people on the ground, pounding it and weeping bitterly. Before them lay a corpse covered with a white cloth, emanating a particularly chilling aura.
"My son, you’re going to be the death of me, my Lady Rong."
"Sister, second sister, wuah..."
Listening to these sobs and seeing that exposed, naked leg peeking out from under the white cloth—slender and pale—Wufu was certain it must be a woman’s.
"Damn Flower-Picking Thief, you’ll never die a good death..."
The wailing woman fainted on the spot, and the crowd, in a panic, called out and pinched her philtrum to revive her.
"It truly is a sin, another young lady gone."
"They say she was on her way back from visiting relatives yesterday afternoon. No one knows when she was abducted."
Was it the hand of the Flower-Picking Thief again?
Wufu watched as the Yamen Runners lifted the white cloth, prompting a collective gasp from the crowd.
Upon seeing the dreadful state of the deceased woman, Wufu instinctively covered Liu Jin’s eyes while her lips formed a tight line.
Hearing about the Flower-Picking Thief’s brutality in the restaurant was one thing, but witnessing it with her own eyes was another.
The upper body of the female corpse was bare, her womanly features completely excised, leaving behind only two bloody cavities. It was intolerable to behold, not only for her family but for strangers as well.
Wufu’s hands clenched into fists. The Flower-Picking Thief’s depravity had gone too far, absolutely heartless and deranged.
"Make way, the Official has arrived."
The sound of horse hooves approached, then someone on a tall horse rode forward and came to a halt with a "whoa".
A young man in official robes and a cap dismounted briskly and walked forward.
"Official, the same method of crime, it must be the work of the same person," a Yamen Runner informed the Official, his face dark.
The Official replied, "Clear the people away, hang the curtains around this area, and call for Coroner Ma to hurry over."
That voice sounded familiar.
Wufu craned her neck to get a better look and caught a glimpse of the man’s profile, pausing in surprise. Was it him?
This man was none other than Fourth Young Master Wen from the Hundred Treasures Silver Building, whom she had dined with before.
He was an Official now? What kind of official?
Wen Congrui took a white cloth handed to him, wrapped it around his face, and then approached the body to lift the white sheet, his handsome brows furrowing deeply.
Shortly after, he put the cloth back down and pursed his lips tightly.
"Official, Official, you must seek justice for our Lady Rong," the woman who had awakened pleaded as she crawled and knelt before Wen Congrui, grasping the hem of his official robe and begging, "I bow to you, I’ll dedicate a Longevity Plaque to you."
Her family members, too, were knocking their heads on the ground in tears.
Wen Congrui helped her up, his voice resolute, "Old woman, rest assured, I will not consider myself the Parent Official of Huayang County if I don’t capture this deranged and heartless villain."
Parent Official, so he was the county magistrate here? So young.
Sensing Wufu’s intense gaze, Wen Congrui glanced over subconsciously and showed slight recognition upon seeing her, nodding subtly.