Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 130 - 129: The Fifth Person

"General Situ," as Situ Jing was deep in thought, Lu Qing spoke to him, "The Holy Emperor transferred you here from Runzhou, and now has sent me with others. It’s likely for the same purpose.

Earlier at your residence, there wasn’t enough time to inquire clearly. Before and after your arrival, who were the people involved in the incidents here in the camp? Have you found out, General?

Excluding those implicated by association, could there be ordinary soldiers dying like Pang Centurion did?"

Situ Jing froze for a moment. Until now, he had a grasp on all who had died in this camp, but to speak of whether ordinary soldiers were involved, he hadn’t separately considered.

Now, with Lu Qing’s question, he suddenly had the answer in his mind, his expression growing more solemn, his gaze darkened: "Among those who died earlier, there was a Squad Leader, squad leader, a Centurion, a Yu Hou, and a Vice Commander, the highest rank being the former Commander. Uniquely, no ordinary soldiers were involved."

Lu Qing laughed, a cold, mocking laugh: "It seems this was indeed meticulously planned, with great intent.

I suppose Your Majesty transferred General from Runzhou based on the esteemed family background of General Situ. Right now, Li State Camp needs someone absolutely trustworthy to stabilize the situation, hoping for a quick resolution.

General Situ, right now you must first find out whether the people involved had any interactions or shared any common traits.

Otherwise, in a camp of thousands, why were only these people chosen as targets?"

Situ Jing furrowed his brows in thought. He had been recently transferred for only two months, and because the former Commander died unexpectedly, after taking over Li State’s imperial guard, aside from a rough understanding of the previous incidents, due to busy military affairs, a large mess awaited him to manage, he hadn’t had the chance to thoroughly think about any commonalities among these people.

As he fell into thought, Yan Daoxin beside him reached out and grabbed Situ Jing’s wrist, startling him, almost instinctively reacting to counter, but fortunately, he quickly restrained himself. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Yan Daoxin soon released his hand: "His pulse is steady, his body unharmed."

Zhu Yu, listening to this, had to admit, every time Yan Daoxin pretended to use that aloof and worldly sage-like cold tone, saying slightly airy words, coupled with concise phrasing, inexplicably gave a sense of this person being profound and unfathomable, making disbelief impossible.

Yet, having seen his normal demeanor, seeing this pretentious façade made one unable to resist wanting to kick him.

"Can poisoned or unpoisoned states be detected through pulse taking?" Situ Jing, unaware of Yan Daoxin’s private demeanor, naturally felt no particular way about it, now fully absorbed in thinking that if the other could ensure his own safety through pulse-taking, perhaps poisoning could also be identified this way. "There are five Medical Officers in the army, although they mainly specialize in treating blade wounds and bone injuries, they are competent in pulse-taking."

"Only through pulse-taking, I’m afraid it can’t be distinguished." Yan Daoxin bluntly disregarded Situ Jing’s feelings, akin to pouring cold water over him, answered, "Including you, I merely stated you’re currently unharmed.

As to whether you’re mildly poisoned, not yet reflected in the pulse, I cannot yet assert, let alone the army’s Medical Officers."

Situ Jing wasn’t particularly surprised by this answer, he anticipated the matter wouldn’t be easy, otherwise, while the former Commander was alive, people in the Li State army wouldn’t have died one after another without any clue even after two months into his tenure.

"This matter is indeed bizarre." With a furrowed brow and a confused expression, he said, "Since I stationed in the Li State Camp, four people have incidentally died, and Pang Centurion is the fifth.

Yet, the previous four, although each had peculiarities before death, none reacted as significantly as Pang Centurion, nor were the manner of deaths similar. Some died suddenly without signs, others died quietly in sleep.

It’s the first time encountering something like what happened to Pang Centurion today."

"This matter shouldn’t be hastily concluded." Lu Qing interjected Situ Jing, "Unless you believe the deaths were caused by evil spirits disrupting, if you carefully investigate, you’ll surely find clues."

Situ Jing, raised beside his father, General Situ, never believed in ghosts and spirits, detested those invoking them for malicious deeds. With Lu Qing’s statement, he pondered and nodded thoughtfully.

"What are your plans for tonight, General?" Lu Qing asked.

"I intend to stay in the camp." Situ Jing replied without hesitation, "After the incident with Pang Centurion, the soldiers are quite frightened. If I’m not there, someone might seize the chance to wreak havoc.

Esteemed guests, in Dongchuan County, there’s a post station, a safe place.

Your visit to the camp today exposed your presence, with the adversary in the dark and us in the light, you must remain cautious."

Lu Qing nodded: "Thanks for the reminder, General. I heard General Situ previously escorted Prince Yi back from the Jie Country border to the Capital.

Did the old general know of your reassignment to Li State from Runzhou by the Holy Emperor?"

This sudden shift in conversation didn’t disconcert Zhu Yu beside Lu Qing, who, through time spent together, found herself increasingly attuned to Lu Qing’s unpredictable thought process.

Yet, encountering him for the first time, Situ Jing was visibly unsure, looking puzzled at the man in the golden mask before him, seemingly contemplating why the other would suddenly inquire about his father.

But having been raised closely by General Situ, receiving his teachings, despite his young age, he wasn’t reckless. He calmly met gaze with Lu Qing through the mask’s eyeholes and answered: "Certainly, but the order was urgent. Father was on the way, so I wrote him, informing him of the matter, but departed without waiting for his reply."

Upon hearing this, Lu Qing didn’t press further, stood up: "Time is late. Everyone has worked hard tonight, General should rest early, the coming days might require much attention."

Seeing him ready to leave, Situ Jing frowned, stood up: "Earlier, you mentioned the outside was not a place for conversation, so I brought everyone inside.

Now it seems there are words you haven’t shared with me, sir."

"Mutual, mutual." Lu Qing’s voice was blunt, cold, though he didn’t deny Situ Jing’s suspicion: "As it stands, no need to force disclosure. What’s necessary, I’ll inform you."

With that, he turned to leave, striding quickly, seemingly somewhat displeased with Situ Jing.

Situ Jing didn’t escort them out, stayed put, frowned, watching their departing backs contemplatively.