In the early morning at Ganquan Temple, the winter sun was bright but not warm. Frost still lingered on the temple's outer paths, occasionally disturbed by the footsteps of monks, leaving behind damp traces. The ancient bell of the temple resounded with a deep, distant chime in the quiet morning.

As Ye Nanqiao, accompanied by Mu Jin, made her way through the courtyard to the back of the temple, they found Chen Geng and others already waiting.

Chen Geng, dressed in a dark brocade outfit instead of his official robes, looked stern and efficient. Wei Zhaoyang, wrapped in a layer of hemp cloth, was peeking around the coffin, while Cheng Wuyue, still in his green attire, held a scroll, occasionally reading but often glancing outside.

A gentle breeze wafted through, carrying away the stale air of the temple and gradually spreading a faint scent of incense. The temple's stone floors and walls, eroded by time and covered in moss, showed ancient bronze carvings.

Chen Geng stood solemnly beside the body of Luo Tianqi, donning white cloth gloves. When Ye Nanqiao arrived and apologetically greeted everyone, Chen Geng nodded slightly and then turned his wary gaze to Mu Jin.

"This is my friend, who just arrived from Shangjing yesterday," Ye Nanqiao introduced.

Mu Jin stepped forward, offering a respectful gesture to Chen Geng: "I am Mu Jin. It's an honor."

Mu Jin's manner was somewhat rigid, prompting Ye Nanqiao to quickly add, "Sister Mu has traveled the martial world for years, experienced and knowledgeable. I thought she might be helpful on this occasion, so I invited her along. I hope you don't mind, sir."

"From Shangjing?" Wei Zhaoyang asked, puzzled.

Chen Geng raised an eyebrow but didn't object. Taking this as a silent consent, Ye Nanqiao approached the coffin with Mu Jin and inquired, "Any discoveries?"

Instead of answering directly, Chen Geng turned to Cheng Wuyue: "Brother Cheng, your thoughts?"

Cheng Wuyue, upon being called, put down his scroll and circled the coffin before standing next to Ye Nanqiao. "Although the body is charred, the fingers are relaxed, showing no signs of struggle. It doesn't seem like he died in the fire."

Chen Geng nodded, wiping Luo Tianqi's mouth and nose: "No ash inside, he must have been dead before the fire."

Ye Nanqiao pondered, "But the body was well-prepared for the funeral, maybe the Luo family cleaned it. They said Tianqi died from an overturned candle, but the burn marks don’t seem to originate from the side, do they?"

Chen Geng smiled and signaled to Wei Zhaoyang.

"Do I have to do it again?" Wei Zhaoyang complained, reluctantly turning the body to reveal the back, "Here it is."

"Fascinating," Ye Nanqiao observed, frowning slightly. "Usually, clothes melt and stick to the skin due to continuous high temperatures and flame contact. The burning of clothes usually starts from where they first contact the fire source and spreads as the fire grows."

"If the burning was to disguise a murder, the fire might have started from the back or where the body was placed," Chen Geng agreed, pointing at the traces on the body's back. "Despite the posthumous preparations, it’s clear that the clothes melted and adhered at the point of direct contact with the fire source."

Wei Zhaoyang slapped his forehead, "So, the fire must have spread from Luo Tianqi's back – if he accidentally overturned a candle in his sleep, the fire would have started from the side or even the front, causing more severe damage there."

Ye Nanqiao smiled at Wei Zhaoyang's enthusiasm: "A quick learner! So, it means—"

"Luo Tianqi was killed before the fire started, then someone set his body on fire, creating the illusion of an accident!" Wei Zhaoyang exclaimed.

Chen Geng nodded, "However, we need to confirm this theory. The Luo family's haste in handling the body is indeed suspicious."

Wei Zhaoyang wondered, "With such a flawless deduction, what more is there to verify?"

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"Let's open him up and see," Mu Jin suddenly suggested.

Wei Zhaoyang looked at her in surprise, intrigued by her unusual demeanor, but responded, "That might be too intrusive... And hard to explain to the Luo family. It will surely cause trouble for the magistrate."

"No worries," Chen Geng decided, "He was a righteous man in life; he shouldn't be wrongly accused in death. If we can clarify the truth through his body, it will be worthwhile. Bring me the knife."

Wei Zhaoyang, in silence, pulled out a dagger from his bosom and handed it to Chen Geng. But Cheng Wuyue intercepted it, saying softly, "Fortuitously, I've learned some skills from my master. Though I'm not as proficient, I can dissect without leaving traces. This should suffice for the Luo family's examination."

Chen Geng looked at Cheng Wuyue in surprise but nodded in agreement.

Ye Nanqiao, a bit concerned, whispered to Cheng Wuyue, "Are you sure about this?"

"Don't worry," Cheng Wuyue reassured her with a relaxed smile, then began to examine the body with focused attention.

After a moment, Cheng Wuyue paid his respects to the coffin and apologized before meticulously examining Luo Tianqi's body. He lifted the eyelids to reveal protruding eyes and unbuttoned the clothing to expose a swollen abdomen.

The dagger delicately touched Luo Tianqi's body, each incision precise and careful, penetrating the flesh just right without damaging the internal structure.

His technique resembled a dancer's graceful movements on stage, displaying an incredible elegance in the face of death. Everyone watched his every move, and soon, the truth unfolded before them—

Despite the external charred appearance, the organs inside retained their original color. The lungs were a pale red, free from significant scorching or soot. However, they were still congested and swollen, even showing signs of bleeding.

"How can this be?" Chen Geng mused. "In a fire, the lungs would inhale smoke and ash, leading to visible damage, swelling, and even charring. But here, the lungs show no signs of charring, yet they are abnormally congested..."

Chen Geng turned to Cheng Wuyue and Ye Nanqiao, "Any thoughts?"

Ye Nanqiao closely examined the body and finally spoke, "It doesn't seem like death by fire."

"Indeed, not due to smoke inhalation," Cheng Wuyue agreed, "Some poisons can have the same effect. However, the exact cause of death still needs further investigation."

The onlookers nodded in agreement. Although this examination confirmed Luo Tianqi's murder, the identity of the perpetrator remained unclear.

Chen Geng pondered and said, "Luo Tianqi was known for his kindness and unlikely to have enemies. His wife's behavior at the funeral, wearing red under mourning clothes, was particularly odd."

"I made some inquiries as you instructed yesterday," Ye Nanqiao added. "The townspeople only mentioned that Luo Moonsheng, the family head, is critically ill and may not live long. Luo Tianqi was supposed to be the rightful heir. Rumors suggest someone might have murdered him for the family fortune."

Ye Nanqiao, familiar with Luo family dynamics, continued, "Luo Moonsheng has three children: eldest son Luo Tianqi, second son Luo Tianjiao, and youngest daughter Luo Caihuan. Luo Tianqi was well-regarded in the community and the presumed heir. Now with his death, the mentally unstable Luo Tianjiao and the young Caihuan are unlikely to manage the family affairs. It's obvious who benefits from Tianqi's death..."

Concluding the discussion, Ye Nanqiao proposed, "We should investigate the Luo residence."

"Let's go together, Miss Ye," Chen Geng agreed, then turned to Wei Zhaoyang, "We need a discreet investigation of the Luo house."

Wei Zhaoyang, understanding Chen Geng's intent but feeling lonely about going undercover alone, turned to Mu Jin with a slight smile, "Would you like to join me?"

Mu Jin, initially intending to accompany Ye Nanqiao to the Luo house but wary of Chen Geng's caution towards her, merely grunted in agreement.

Wei Zhaoyang, pleasantly surprised by her swift consent, eagerly observed her, but Mu Jin ignored him, standing aside with her sword in arms.

As the conversation concluded, Cheng Wuyue had restored the body to its original state and said, "Further investigation is needed for Luo Tianqi's death. I shall remain here and await good news."

Mu Jin nodded to everyone and left first.

Wei Zhaoyang bowed to Chen Geng and hurriedly followed Mu Jin—

"Miss Mu, why the hurry? We're not in a rush..."

Luo Mansion.

The gates were tightly closed, with strips of white cloth on the walls reflecting the glaring sunlight, adding a bizarre touch of serene beauty to the mournful atmosphere.

Luo Moonsheng's study, located in a side hall of the mansion to escape the bustle, now seemed even more isolated from the world. He sat upright at his heavy rosewood desk, holding an unfinished letter as if time had frozen at that moment. A faint ray of sunlight pierced through the crevices of the study, casting on his face, accentuating his aged and profound features.

On the other side of the garden, the Luo family's young master, Luo Tianjiao, was merrily rolling on the grass, his laughter crisp and oddly out of place in the gloomy estate.

The entire Luo Mansion appeared like a deep, secluded world, with each individual immersed in their realm, undisturbed. The white cloth, sunlight, and laughter in the garden painted a picture of sadness yet tranquility.