Chapter 496

Early morning.

Chang'an was shrouded in a clear coldness.

Fine snow foam drifted slowly from the lead-gray sky, falling silently on the bluestone road, covering the towering city with a thin layer of frost.

The air was cold enough to breathe out white mist.

Three riders stood side by side in front. Chen Yan was dressed in dark martial attire, covered by an ink-colored cloak. The hem of the cloak swayed gently with the rise and fall of the horse's hooves, and the snowflakes fell on it, instantly melting into tiny water droplets.

Gao Jiong and Liu Muzi served on both sides.

The snow became denser, and a few snowflakes fell on Gao Jiong's eyebrows. He raised his hand to brush them away, looked at Chen Yan beside him, his tone carrying a hint of doubt: "My Lord, do you think this case will be like what Prefect Liu said, a curse at work?"

Chen Yan heard this, raised his hand toward the air, a hexagonal snowflake fell gently on his fingertips, and the coldness spread instantly.

He looked at the snowflake melting slowly in his palm, a look of contempt appeared on the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of disdain, and he played with it: "How is that possible?"

After a slight pause, he flicked his fingertips, flicking away the remaining water droplets, his voice carrying the spirit of decisiveness: "Where in the world is there any curse that comes out of thin air?"

"It's just someone playing tricks!"

This is not a high-martial world, where does any curse come from?

In Chen's view, it's just the murderer deliberately creating a bizarre atmosphere...

It's just wanting people to associate it with ghosts and gods, so as to cover up their tracks and disrupt the direction of the investigation!

The snow foam fell on Gao Jiong's shoulder, his gaze followed Chen Yan's side profile closely, there was no hesitation in his brows, he slowed down the reins, leaned closer, his tone carrying a hint of probing and curiosity, his voice lowered slightly: "You are so certain, could it be that you have already discovered something?"

His own Lord's expression was too confident...

Chen Yan tilted his head, a faint arc of a smile on his lips, a flash of cunning and deep meaning in his eyes.

Snowflakes fell on his eyelashes, trembling slightly.

He didn't answer directly, but instead asked in a light and slow tone, with profound meaning: "Do you still remember my question to Prefect Liu just now?"

Gao Jiong blurted out: "I remember!"

As soon as the words fell, he followed the train of thought and continued: "You didn't ask about the traces at the scene, nor did you ask about the testimony of the witnesses, but instead focused on asking about the origin and resume of Military Advisor Han, Military Advisor Zhang, and Junior Prefect Li, family background..."

But halfway through the words, he paused abruptly, as if struck by a thunderbolt, his pupils contracting sharply.

His hands unconsciously gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and the horse under his crotch seemed to feel the movement, snorting gently.

"Wait!" Gao Jiong's voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling, his eyes full of shock and sudden realization.

Seeing this, the smile in Chen Yan's eyes deepened, and he said loudly: "It seems you have already associated it..."

Gao Jiong took a deep breath of cold air, suppressed the agitation in his chest, and analyzed in a deep voice: "Military Advisor Han was from a provincial soldier, Military Advisor Zhang started as a guard at the county office. Both were from ordinary families and had no prominent clan background."

"Although they accumulated some family property because of being officials for many years, their family financial power definitely cannot be called wealthy..."

He paused, his gaze swept over the sky full of flying snow, the topic changed, and he continued: "And Junior Prefect Li, although he was from the Longxi Li clan, a famous family, he was from a branch lineage, his family had long since fallen, and he had always been honest in office, never using the clan's name and power to accumulate wealth..."

"If we talk about family background, it won't be much different from the previous two!"

Liu Muzi took the topic, his tone steady as a rock: "And the biggest common point of these three who died..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze swept over the sky full of flying snow, carrying a hint of sharpness: "Is that although they had guards accompanying them, they were mostly ordinary servants, or old soldiers who had retired, with average skills, definitely not experts with keen observation skills—"

"It's just having the name of protection, but no reality of protection!"

Speaking of this, Liu Muzi's peripheral vision glanced at the back without a trace, just falling on Zhu Yi and Hongye who were riding and following.

In other words, with the financial power of these three, even the second-rate ones are difficult, let alone top experts like these two...

Chen Yan heard this, nodded slowly, bent his index finger and middle finger, flicked them lightly, and a crisp "pop" sound rang out in the cold air: "Exactly!"

Immediately, he sneered and continued: "The murderer only dared to pick them to take action!"

"Choosing these three who have protection but are not top-notch, have status but no strong support, is both easy to succeed, and can cover up eyes and ears with the name of a curse. The calculation is really precise!"

Between the lines, it was full of disdain.

In Chen Yan's view, the murderer who plays tricks is a typical person who looks at people to serve dishes, picking soft persimmons to pinch!

If he really let him touch those clan cores and powerful families, the top experts raised in their mansions are like clouds, the private soldiers and guards are layered, is there any chance of success?

When is the white silver money scattered for nothing?

Gao Jiong and Liu Muzi beside him looked at each other and said in a deep voice: "Since it's not a curse, there must be traces after killing someone!"

Liu Muzi nodded in agreement: "It's impossible to have no flaws!"

In the wind and snow, the vermilion gate of Jingzhao Prefecture gradually came into view.

As the sound of horse hooves approached, the guards at the gate first gripped the sabers at their waists vigilantly. When they saw the dark cloak and straight posture at the head, as well as the person who got off the carriage behind, their eyes lit up.

"The Prefect is back!" A young guard with sharp eyes reacted first, unable to suppress the excitement in his heart, and shouted loudly.

The voice pierced through the flying snow foam and echoed in front of the mansion gate.

The guards around heard the sound and gathered around one after another. Their gaze swept over the front of the team, and when they saw Chen Yan walking side by side with Liu Bingzhong, they were full of surprise.

"Also returning together is Lord Chen Yan!" An older guard stroked his beard that had been wet by the snow, his tone full of unbelievable ecstasy, his voice even carrying a hint of trembling.

Chen Yan's prestige, who in Chang'an doesn't know, who doesn't know?

Seeing him come in person at this moment, the clouds of sorrow on the guards' faces dissipated, replaced by indescribable excitement and peace of mind.

After Liu Bingzhong stepped into Jingzhao Prefecture, he ordered his personal attendants to pass the order to all officials to gather in the front courtyard immediately.

Before long, officials dressed in various official robes arrived one after another, gathering in the courtyard in twos and threes.

Although the wind and snow had not stopped, it could not stop everyone's whispers, their tone full of doubt and unease.

After all, three murder cases in a row had made people panic, and the Prefect suddenly summoned everyone, not knowing if there was a new change or progress.

Low discussions spread in the courtyard, and everyone had a solemn look on their faces.

Liu Bingzhong walked up the steps, his gaze swept over the officials below with different expressions, raised his hand to press, and shouted loudly: "Quiet!"

Immediately, the courtyard was silent, leaving only the rustling sound of snowflakes falling.

Liu Bingzhong looked around at everyone, his tone carrying undisguised excitement: "Tell everyone, I have already invited Lord Chen Yan back this time when I went to Wannian County Office!"

Chen Yan stepped forward, a faint and calm smile on his face, raised his hands, cupped his hands toward the officials and guards in the courtyard, and said loudly: "Everyone, I have been invited by Prefect Liu to come and be fully responsible for the case of the three lords being murdered!"

The courtyard instantly boiled over, and many officials and guards were full of excitement, their previous panic swept away, and some couldn't help but shout loudly:

"Lord Chen Yan is here!"

"There is hope now!"

"With Lord Chen Yan presiding, the real murderer will definitely not be able to fly!"

Discussions rose and fell one after another, full of excitement and expectation.

However, there were also those in the crowd who were worried. A few older officials had tightly locked brows, thinking of the bizarre nature of the bodies and the "no traces to be found," and couldn't help but mutter in a low voice: "But no matter how great Lord Chen Yan's ability is, he is ultimately a person..."

"This is so evil, it's a curse at work, can people deal with a curse?"

The tone was full of hesitation, and the worry was overflowing.

As soon as these words fell, an official dressed in a green official robe stepped forward, his gaze firm, and said decisively: "I believe in Lord Chen Yan!"

The voice was loud, suppressing the whispers around, "Have you forgotten? Lord Chen Yan is the Military Immortal who killed his way back from the battlefield, from the mountain of corpses and sea of blood!"

The more he said, the more excited he became: "Even a curse will fear Lord Chen Yan!"

As soon as the words fell, several officials immediately echoed: "That's right! With Lord Chen Yan sitting in town, what is there to be afraid of an ethereal curse!"

Chen Yan took this scene into his eyes, his expression returned to solemnity, turned to look at Liu Bingzhong beside him, and opened his mouth: "Old Liu, take me to the morgue first."

Liu Bingzhong heard this, immediately raised his hand and made a respectful "please" gesture, turned to lead the way: "My Lord, please this way!"

The group set off immediately, stepping on the thin snow in the courtyard, and walked toward the morgue in the office.

The morgue was located in a remote place, cold all year round, and even though it was daytime, it carried a bone-chilling cold.

The bodies of Zhang Yinxian, Han Zihao, and Li Shuren were all covered with white cloth, lying quietly on three wooden beds against the wall, their postures consistent with when they were murdered.

Liu Bingzhong walked up, reached out and gently lifted the white cloth on the outermost side, revealing Zhang Yinxian's face, and then said to Chen Yan in a deep voice: "My Lord, their bodies are all here..."

Because he felt something was wrong before, Liu Bingzhong did not rush to let the family members take Zhang and Han back for burial.

Chen Yan heard this and nodded slowly, saying in a deep voice: "Good."

He turned to look behind him, his gaze falling on an old man with white hair and beard carrying a black lacquer tool box.

The old man was about fifty years old, with a thin figure but a straight back, and he was Tang Jingwen, the best at examining corpses in the Bright Mirror Bureau.

"Old Tang, you come to examine the corpses." Chen Yan ordered, "Zhu Yi, you assist from the side!"

Tang Jingwen and Zhu Yi bowed in unison and responded in unison: "Obey!"

As the words fell, Tang Jingwen carried the tool box forward, opened the box and took out the examination tools, preparing to start the examination.

Chen Yan did not stay any longer, turned and walked out of the morgue, the wind and snow outside remained.

He looked at Gao Jiong and Liu Muzi waiting outside, and ordered: "A-Jiong, Muzi, you two go and bring the witnesses who saw the three die suddenly, I want to ask them questions myself!"

——

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This foreshadowing is also coming to an end, and the peak showdown with Gao Changjing and the Qi State is about to begin!