In the late spring of the twenty-seventh year of Yong'an.
It rained lightly for three days in a row in the capital, turning Zhuque Street into a cold place.
At dawn, the Imperial Guards were already surrounded in front of the House of the Minister of Household Affairs. Bright yellow cordons were raised, and the air was filled with the smell of rain and blood.
Shen Yan, the minister of Dali Temple, was wearing a crimson official robe, standing in the corridor, his fingertips gently stroking the fish charm on his waist.
Inside the house, Su Jin saw a corpse lying in front of the desk, with a bruised face, wide eyes, and a strange death state.
The account book spread out on the table was clean, except for one page that had been torn out, and the remaining edges were neat, not like something done in a panic.
"Mr. Shen, there are no signs of intrusion at the scene. It seems that an acquaintance committed the crime."
Subordinate Su Jin reported in a low voice, with an unconcealable solemn tone.
Shen Yan lowered his eyes, scanning a drop of very faint ink on the ground, and then landed on an almost invisible fingerprint on the window lattice.
An ordinary murder case would definitely not lead to a night-long blockade by the imperial army, nor would Zhao Song issue three urgent orders in succession, ordering him to conduct a thorough investigation personally.
He slowly raised his eyes and looked toward the deep palace.
The raindrops flew sideways, covering the eaves of the imperial city and the shadows hidden deep in the court.
The death of a servant is just the beginning.
This chess game, with the country as the balance board, has already been settled.
Concept: costume detective