Chapter 56: Sudden Upheaval, A Gruesome Crime Emerges

However, this calm and peaceful atmosphere was abruptly shattered by a sudden commotion.

Outside the county yamen, a loud and boisterous uproar surged forward like a roaring, violent tide. Intermingled within it were heart-wrenching cries of grief, filled with boundless sorrow and despair. These wails pierced straight into everyone's eardrums, instantly completely destroying the previous tranquility.

Xiaofeng and Li Chengyin exchanged a look of shock, both seeing profound astonishment and deep anxiety in the depths of each other's eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, they stood up almost simultaneously and walked briskly outside, eager to find out what was happening.

When they stepped out through the main gates of the yamen, they saw that a massive, dense crowd had already gathered in the open space outside.

The crowd surged like a tide, buzzing with discussion as chaotic voices rose and fell. In the very center of the crowd, a lifeless woman lay motionless on the cold ground. Her face was as pale as paper, and she had long since breathed her last.

Judging by her condition, it was evident that she had been dead for several days before being discovered.

Her relatives were huddled in a group nearby, all of them collapsed on the ground, overwhelmed by grief.

An elderly man with white hair trembled as he cradled her corpse in his arms. Turbid tears streamed down his face like a breached dyke, and continuous, miserable wails escaped his lips. The cries echoed through the air, sounding every bit like weeping blood, as he begged the authorities to bring the ruthless murderer to justice, to clear his family's name, and to grant the deceased eternal rest.

Li Chengyin's gaze slowly fell upon the woman's corpse. Her garments were terribly ragged, with tears and rips everywhere, as if she had undergone a fierce struggle and physical confrontation.

Her body was covered in bruises and injuries, overlapping one another in a shocking manner. Around her neck was a deep strangulation mark, resembling a ferocious venomous snake deeply embedded into her flesh. Clearly, she had suffered unimaginable, inhumane torture and persecution before her death.

The scene was so tragic and terrifying, resembling a canvas straight from hell, that Li Chengyin's heart tightened violently, as if gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand.

Almost instinctively, he took a swift step forward, shielding Xiaofeng entirely behind him and building a solid barrier with his own body. At the same time, he said softly:

"Xiaofeng, do not look."

His tone was gentle yet unquestionable.

Xiaofeng nodded obediently, hiding tightly behind Li Chengyin. Although she had not witnessed the cruel sight with her own eyes, the sorrowful atmosphere all around and the faint snatches of overheard words were enough to fill her heart involuntarily with profound pity and unease. It felt as though a heavy boulder was pressing upon her chest, making even her breathing somewhat laborious.

Li Chengyin looked at everything before him, his brows locked tightly together like a solemn mountain peak.

A flash of anger and determination crossed his eyes, sharp as a streak of lightning cutting through the night sky.

He pondered silently to himself that within the territory under his governance, such a heinous and outrageous murder case had actually occurred. This was a blatant provocation against the laws of the state and public order and morality, and it could not be tolerated or condoned under any circumstances.

He swore inwardly that he would ferret out the killer, bring the truth to light, secure justice for the deceased, and give a satisfactory account to the local people.

Therefore, he immediately turned around, his expression as cold as winter frost, and commanded the guards at his side to rapidly launch a comprehensive and thorough investigation. He instructed them to track down the murderer's trail with all their might and to leave no stone unturned.

At the same time, he methodically arranged for the coroner to carefully examine the corpse, ensuring that every single detail was repeatedly inspected without the slightest omission, in order to extract key clues for solving the case from the body.

Li Chengyin stood before the cold corpse of the woman, his face as gloomy as the sky before a violent storm.

The coroner was meticulously examining the body, every movement filled with professionalism and caution. His voice echoed through the silent morgue:

"Your Highness, look at this woman's body. The bruises and wounds are dense and overlapping—truly horrific. That deep strangulation mark around her neck is like an evil viper biting fiercely into her tender skin. Judging by these signs, she undoubtedly suffered unspeakable torture and persecution before her death. Such methods are certainly not the work of a stranger; it is highly likely that she was murdered by someone she knew. Perhaps at the time of the incident, a fierce conflict broke out between them, prompting the killer to harbor murderous intent, and then abandon the corpse in the outskirts in an attempt to cover up the crime."

Li Chengyin stared intently at the female corpse, his brows tightly furrowed, his heart churning like a turbulent sea. He mused inwardly: What kind of hatred could possibly drive someone to be so cruel to an acquaintance? And what unknown secrets were hidden beneath the surface?

Just as Li Chengyin was lost in deep thought, fully analyzing the ins and outs of the case, a guard rushed over with a panicked expression, his voice tinged with a hint of terror:

"Your Highness, terrible news! In a tavern in the city, another dead woman has appeared."

Li Chengyin's heart sank abruptly, and an ominous premonition welled up within him.

With hurried footsteps and a burning anxiety, Li Chengyin rushed toward the tavern.

Along the way, his mind was filled with worry and doubt. The wretched state of the first female corpse kept flashing through his mind as he silently pondered what connection existed between these two cases.

Upon stepping into the tavern, the noisy main hall instantly quieted down somewhat, and everyone's gazes converged upon the stern-faced Crown Prince.

Disregarding the gazes around him entirely, Li Chengyin walked straight toward the private room where the incident had occurred.

At the doorway of the private room, the guards on duty bowed respectfully. He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment and stepped inside briskly.

A pungent stench of blood and death rushed toward him. Li Chengyin frowned deeply, his eyes instantly turning razor-sharp.

The woman lay quietly on the floor, resembling a withered flower battered by a storm.

Her garments were slightly disheveled, and her hair was scattered about her like seaweeds, with a few strands entangled around her bloodless neck.

Li Chengyin slowly squatted down to examine the tragic scene before him carefully.

He discovered that this woman's method of death bore numerous similarities to the first victim. There was also a deep strangulation mark around her neck, glowing purplish-blue and acting as a grim brand left by the grim reaper, testifying to the immense agony she endured before perishing.

However, there were also some differences: her hands were tightly clenched, and bits of skin seemed to remain trapped beneath her fingernails, as though she had engaged in a fierce struggle and brawl with the killer in her final moments.

Observing her facial features, Li Chengyin felt a shock run through his heart. This woman unexpectedly shared a facial contour similar to the previous victim, especially the expression and charm between her eyebrows, which looked as though they had been crafted by the very same hand. His doubts grew heavier, and he concluded in his heart that this was by no means a coincidence.

At this moment, the tables and chairs inside the private room were overturned, clearly indicating that a fierce conflict had taken place during the incident.

Broken wine cups and dishes were scattered across the floor, where spilled wine and fresh blood had mixed together to form a sickening dark-red stain.

On the wall nearby, there were some faint scratches, seemingly left behind as the woman desperately tried to cling to life.

Li Chengyin stood up, determination and resolve radiating from his eyes.

He knew deep down that he must unravel these intertwined mysteries as quickly as possible, capture the murderer lurking in the shadows, secure justice for these two women, and bring the truth clearly to light.