Under the Bamboo Parasol

As the cloth that covered a human outline was gently lifted, Xu Fei came face to face with the corpse of Ya Lei Tang for the first time.

Even he, who was once a seasoned veteran that guarded the borders of Qing Cheng and was accustomed to bloody battles was disgusted by the corpse of the eldest young master Yan.

Perhaps it had something to do with the unflattering orange brocade robes that had specks of dried blood from when his lungs were coughed up in pieces, staining his lips with dried blood that had darkened, perhaps it was those wide open bloodshot eyes that appeared to stare into the nothingness of one's soul or the veins that threatened to burst from his forehead, under the skin of a bluish and purple tint that made him look monstrous.

Yet, official Tong looked at the body without batting an eye, not even showing the slightest expression of being appalled by the scene. It seems that he was quite used to seeing such scenes.

"Constable Xu, come and see this." Official Tong said as he slid a tin bucket out from under the table on which the corpse laid.

"What is that?" Xu Fei was about to ask when he saw the contents of the bucket, which were a bush of blood and pieces of flesh, he would most likely have the urge to retch if it were not for the smell of ginger that filled the room.

It seemed that he would never look at ground up meat the same way again.

"The contents that were found in eldest young master's stomach, he threw this up before his death. As you can see, this is what's left of his internal organs." Official Tong told Xu Fei in a very informative manner.

"So, how did he die?" Xu Fei was unclear of what the thrown up mush of internal organs represented.

Was this something that could happen naturally, if so, then he only had himself to blame for this misfortune.

Official Tong was looking at him as if he was talking to an illiterate cow. "No, this lowly official believes that eldest young master Yan was poisoned with something that turned his organs into mush, which is how he died. As for the type of poison, forgive this official for not knowing." Official Tong said slowly, annunciating every single word as clear as day.

"Believes? What you don't have any confidence?" Xu Fei asked.

"Young master Yan is of noble descent, for a mere coroner of an eighth rank to mar his noble body, wouldn't that be akin to asking for death?" Official Tong asked. Although his tone was telling that he was afraid, yet the way he presented himself made one feel as if he did not fear what might happen if he carried on with the autopsy.

But in the darkness, with the only source of light being the flickering candle, Xu Fei did not catch on such actions, only hearing the voice filled with fear.

"Forgive me for being rude official Tong." Xu Fei apologized to the old coroner.

The old coroner's lips slightly tilted upwards as he replaced the white sheet back over the body.

Xu Fei finally felt a peace of mind, once he saw the cover being placed over those wide open eyes. It was a feeling one felt after camping in the woods alone for the first night, and the relief of seeing the sunrise once again.

"Wait here a moment Constable Xu." Official Tong said as he scurried off somewhere, without even so much as asking for Xu Fei's opinion. Leaving Xu Fei alone with the many white sheets.

The poor constable was frightened as he stood in darkness with so many soulless bodies to accompany him.

However, official Tong seemed to be caring enough to hurry back at his quikest pace, holding with him the detailed report of the autopsy that had been conducted.

"I thought it would be best if ihis was given to mister to read over." Official Tong said as he handed over a file that was bound in hard leather, seemingly about twenty pages thick.

"Thank you!" Xu Fei said as he took the file from official Tong's old and withered hands, giving him a polite smile. "I should get going now." He added.

"Please." Official Tong guided him o the door, and passed him the lantern. To which he politely declined, and made his way back to Ruan Wang manor.

Official Tong's murky brown eyes followed the rushed constable, as he quickly got out of there. By his actions, it would seem that he no longer wished to remain there a second longer, yet, who could blame him.

Official Tong shook his head as he closed the heavy wooden doors behind him as if closing the veil between the living and the dead.