Following the Shadows of Di Renjie's Mysteries

During the Yifeng era, the chill of early spring lingered. Luoyang, the most prosperous city under heaven, was now blanketed by a rare heavy snowfall. The streets were deserted, the marketplaces silent. Night had fallen, and the wind cut like a knife. Inside the imperial city, the clappers from the drum and bell towers rang out clearly, announcing the arrival of midnight. Yet in the stillness of the night, a woman's piercing scream rang out from deep within Anren Ward, shattering the silence. Di Renjie, then Prefect of Luozhou, was discussing a recent puzzling case in the city with his trusted aide, Li Yuanfang. At the sound of the scream, Di Renjie immediately set down the bamboo slips in his hand and looked out the window. The candlelight flickered, and a sharp glint flashed in his deep-set eyes. “Yuanfang, gather the men and come with me to Anren Ward,” he said gravely. Li Yuanfang rose at once, put on his cloak, and summoned his men. Before long, the party set off on horseback, their hooves thudding as they crushed the snow. Anren Ward lay barely two li from the prefectural residence, but in the darkness, its high walls and tightly shut gates made it seem almost deserted. As soon as they entered the ward, Di Renjie caught a faint whiff of blood drifting from the east. Following the scent, they reached a secluded residence in the ward. The courtyard gate stood half open, and a trail of disordered footprints led from outside into the snow-covered grounds. Di Renjie raised a hand to halt the party, then instructed them in a low voice, “Yuanfang, be careful. Keep watch on our surroundings.”