Chapter 159 - 158: The Secret Hidden in the Corpse (2 - s)

Chapter 159: Chapter 158: The Secret Hidden in the Corpse (2 Chapters)

It was noted under the cause of death that the victim died from excessive bleeding.

However, there were no severe external injuries on the victim’s body. From where did this excessive bleeding originate?

Xu Jing quickly scanned the document and noted that the excessive bleeding mentioned occurred when the victim was discovered, with significant bleeding from the lower body soaking through her entire skirt. This is why the forensic doctor at the time determined the cause of death to be excessive bleeding.

Yet, if it was just a normal sexual encounter, how could a woman bleed so excessively?

Not to mention that at the time, the victim likely didn’t resist much!

Although it is possible the perpetrator was inexperienced or had some perverse torture hobby, any scenario would have left clear traces on the victim. However, the autopsy report indicates signs of violation in the victim’s lower body but no visible injuries elsewhere.

The issue is not external, so it likely lies within the body.

Xu Jing quickly formed an idea, put down the scroll, and said, "Bring the body over."

Then, under Mrs. Yu’s shocked and unwilling gaze, Xu Jing undressed Wang Wuniang, picked up a scalpel, and skillfully performed a T-shaped incision to cut open the body before her.

Even though Xiao Yi had previously prepared Mrs. Yu mentally, she still couldn’t accept it, covering her mouth with her hand, tears welling up in her eyes, and stepping back unsteadily.

If it were anyone else with a less determined mind, they would have fled in fright by now.

Yet, Xu Jing and Xiao Yi were busy with the autopsy. Even if they noticed her discomfort, they couldn’t afford to be distracted by it.

Though the body had been deceased for more than half a year, due to careful preservation, the victim’s internal organs hadn’t decayed too seriously. Apart from the pancreas, which tends to self-dissolve first, other organs could still be clearly outlined.

With her theory in mind, Xu Jing first examined the victim’s abdominal and pelvic cavities. When she incised the uterine cavity, she paused, her face involuntarily darkening.

While Xiao Yi wasn’t knowledgeable about human anatomy, he focused intently on Xu Jing’s expression and asked, "Did you discover something?"

Xu Jing pressed her lips together and did not immediately reply. Instead, she picked up a pair of forceps and lifted a small piece of dark brown soft tissue slightly larger than a man’s thumb. Using a scalpel, she separated it from the adhesion on the uterine wall and placed it in a clean tray before speaking in a somber tone, "This is an undeveloped embryonic tissue resulting from an incomplete miscarriage."

Though Xu Jing’s words weren’t particularly clear, both Mrs. Yu and Xiao Yi understood.

Mrs. Yu’s face turned ashen, her body suddenly weakened, and she sat down on the ground as the long-held tears in her eyes finally fell. She kept repeating, "No, it can’t be, it can’t be..."

Xu Jing sighed inwardly, looked at Mrs. Yu with an unspeakable heaviness, "Before the victim was murdered, she evidently had a recent miscarriage, incomplete, leaving uncleaned embryonic tissue inside. Consequently, during the last violation, she likely hemorrhaged excessively, an outcome neither the perpetrator nor the victim anticipated...

I remember, the maidservant attending the victim mentioned she sought to stay at a temple before the snowfall. I suspect the victim discovered her pregnancy and used the temple visit as a pretext for an abortion..."

"No!"

Mrs. Yu suddenly yelled, overcome with grief, tears streaming down her face, "I don’t believe it! Why my Zhen’er? Why?!"

Though she claimed disbelief, Mrs. Yu’s demeanor showed she had already accepted it, unable, however, to come to terms.

Xu Jing sighed again, saying, "Despite the victim’s discreet actions, there would inevitably be some traces. Furthermore, an incomplete miscarriage would cause abdominal pain, a sense of heaviness, and bleeding..."

The maidservant by her side couldn’t have been unaware, though she might not have connected the symptoms with miscarriage.

Mrs. Yu, however, seemed no longer open to listening, shaking her head repeatedly, muttering, "Impossible, why my Zhen’er, why..."

Even Xiao Yi felt the weight of the situation, looking at Xu Jing, "If that’s the case, why didn’t the victim resist? She would have understood the gravity of her condition, knowing she wouldn’t survive without resistance."

Of course, perhaps the victim was already in despair, a person disheartened and void of survival instincts, which makes sense too.

Xu Jing shook her head, "I don’t know, but the investigation isn’t over. Perhaps there are still matters unknown to us."

She gathered her thoughts and continued examining.

Yet, she found no farther clear abnormalities elsewhere. Finally, she carefully isolated the heart, even Xiao Yi, familiar with her autopsies, couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Previously, Xu Jing hadn’t conducted this level of dissection because she had clear goals in past cases.

However, this case contains unresolved mysteries that external clues alone cannot clarify.

She placed the victim’s heart onto a tray, used a six-cut method to open the heart, and suddenly, her eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the four chambers closely.

The victim’s coronary arteries showed clear atherosclerotic plaques—signs of coronary blockage. Near the myocardial infarction site, there were distinct hemorrhage and congestion, both indicating a heart attack before death.

No wonder, no wonder...

This could explain why Wang Wuniang didn’t struggle much in her final assault.

Perhaps in overwhelming agitation and despair, she suffered an acute myocardial infarction, too pained to muster any strength to resist! Thus, she perished completely.

This likely was the genuine cause of death.

This pitiable girl, in her sixteen years on this earth, truly experienced all the most agonizing events.

Xu Jing shared her conclusions with Xiao Yi and Mrs. Yu. Despite Mrs. Yu’s resilience, upon hearing Xu Jing’s analysis, her clenched fist tightened with emerging veins, and she suddenly laughed bitterly, "That old hag of the Wang Family who sullied my Zhen’er, calling her promiscuous and indecent, ha! I should drag her here, make her kowtow and apologize to my Zhen’er! The Wang Family isn’t worthy; they’re unworthy of my Zhen’er!"

Xu Jing suddenly spoke, "Mrs. Yu, you actually already suspect someone, don’t you? Do you think Wu Sanlang is the one responsible for these deeds?"

Mrs. Yu was taken aback, weakly curling her lips, "How did you know?"

"Guessed from your demeanor; even if Wu Sanlang wasn’t the real culprit, it doesn’t matter to you, as you decided long ago to drag him down with you whether or not the truth comes out."

Xu Jing calmly said, "Thus, if Wu Sanlang is indeed the culprit, you would achieve justice for Wang Wuniang. If not, Marquis Wushun’s residence, angered by losing an heir and the disgrace, wouldn’t let it slide. Likely, they’d demand a retrial for Wang Wuniang’s case, making it highly probable under their pressure."

Mrs. Yu couldn’t help but stare at the woman before her in shock.

This woman was truly beyond her imagination.

She remained silent for a moment, mockingly curling her lips, just about to speak when she heard Xu Jing, "However, Mrs. Yu, you won’t need to resort to that. I already know who the perpetrator is."

After saying this, she ignored Mrs. Yu’s renewed shock, and looked at Xiao Yi, "Vice Minister Xiao, I’ve thought of a way to uncover the culprit, but it requires you to take action."

By the time Xu Jing and the others emerged from the riverside quarters, nearly two hours had passed.

The moment they exited, the restless crowd outside fixed their gaze upon them, and Chen Xi impatiently asked, "Vice Minister Xiao, have you, have you identified the perpetrator?"

Saying this, he couldn’t help glancing at Wu Youbing beside him, making his implication clearly understood.

Wu Youbing could barely refrain from exploding, but Xiao Yi’s voice timely intervened, "I have identified the perpetrator’s identity; however, I would like to ask everyone some questions before revealing it. Shortly, I’ll invite you into a room one by one for questioning.

First..."

He raised his eyes to the ashen-faced Wu Youbing, his tone calm, "Please, Wu Sanlang, come with me."