While waiting for the coroner and the unclaimed corpses, the officials from the Ministry of Justice had already had several discussions with Song Que.
The methods used by Song Que were not strange, but many of them were unheard of. Seeing that he spoke confidently and his demeanor was calm. The officials of the Ministry of Justice believed him to a certain extent and were more eager than the people in the audience to see Song Que’s performance. If Song Que’s methods were truly proved effective, they would be the happiest.
The coroner and officers from the Ministry of Justice arrived at the scene with several corpses, and a foul stench of corpses began to spread throughout the scene. Although the scene was open and much better than being in a closed space, it was still difficult to ignore the smell.
In the previous discussion, Song Que mentioned a few prescriptions. The emperor was very cooperative and asked someone to fetch the medicine, which came in handy at this moment. Although it couldn’t completely eliminate the stench, it did provide immediate relief, making the air much more bearable.
The pickled white plums and wine vinegar were set to one side, and newly made oiled-paper umbrellas were also presented. The coroner stood nearby, adjusting his sleeves, waiting for Song Que’s instructions.
Song Que stepped forward, and the coroner first lifted the white cloth covering the first corpse. The body showed some purple and black bruises. Song Que knew that now was not the time for a thorough examination. As long as he could prove the validity of his method, there would be plenty of opportunities later to uncover the truth for these unclaimed souls.
Song Que asked the coroner to put the body on the ground, and opened the oil-paper umbrella. It was a bright, sunny day, with the sunlight shining beautifully. Holding the umbrella, Song Que positioned it so that the light filtered through and illuminated the corpse. The bloodstains caused by the injuries to the body during the person’s lifetime became visible. The coroner’s eyes widened. Those officials had frequently performed examinations, so they didn’t shy away but gathered around to observe.
“There really are bloodstains!”
“A full examination is needed to make a judgment. If such marks appear with the use of the oiled-paper umbrella, it wouldn’t prove anything”
“You see, these marks are not fixed, and their locations match the results of the external examination of the body. This poor woman had many injuries on her lower body, and most of the bone injuries were also concentrated there. It all aligns perfectly.”
Song Que smiled slightly, not caring about the argument among the officials. He turned around and told the coroner to apply the white plum paste to the bloodstains that had just emerged on the corpse. When Song Que turned around, he saw the officials arguing so fiercely that their faces were red, completely ignoring the emperor and were about to fight. Song Que spoke, “My lords, would you care to join me in examining the next corpse?”
Only then did the officials realize the situation they were in, and they awkwardly responded.
The next corpse showed obvious symptoms of poisoning. Song Que walked around it with an umbrella, but unlike the previous female corpse, no bloodstains appeared. The typically meticulous official fell silent.
Song Que examined each of the following corpses one by one. For those with obvious causes of death, Song Que used the oil-paper umbrella to detect hidden injuries, proving the effectiveness of his method. For those with unclear causes of death, the umbrella still played a crucial role in assisting the investigation.
The coroner followed Song Que’s instructions, applying the white plum paste to each of the bodies as he went along. After Song Que finished examining the last corpse with the oil-paper umbrella and turned back, another coroner wiped off the white plum paste from the corpse’s surface, and the bloodstains clearly emerged.
Song Que opened the oil-paper umbrella again. With the two methods combined, the bloodstain became even clearer. The wound that seemed a little blurry before was now very easy to identify.
The officials were at a loss for words. They looked at each other and had no choice but to admit that these unheard-of methods were indeed effective.
After Song Que had examined all the bodies, the coroner carried the bodies back and sprayed some vinegar according to Song Que’s instructions.
The officials of the Ministry of Justice no longer asked Song Que to prove himself. Instead, they began to ask more questions. If the previous questions were aimed at assessing Song Que’s ability, the current questions were intended to hear more of his experience and methods.
Song Que paid no mind and answered each question one by one, hoping to promote these methods as soon as possible.
“Can the difference between a person burned alive and a body thrown into a fire after death be distinguished?”
Noticing the changes in the expressions of those around him, Song Que began to subtly introduce the concept of dissection: “In fact, the examination of burns and drownings has many similarities. There was a method earlier that sounded a bit shocking, so I didn’t mention it. But now seems like the perfect time to bring it up.”
Song took a few steps forward and said, “My Lords, may I ask what it is that you use to breathe?”
The one with the longest beard replied, “Naturally, we breathe through the nose.”
Someone standing nearby thought for a moment and said, “Sometimes, when the nasal passage is blocked, one can also breathe through the mouth.”
Song Que nodded and said, “The nose has its own path, and the mouth has its own route. My lords, please take a moment to feel the difference between breathing through the nose and breathing through the mouth.”
The officials exchanged glances. Although they found the request somewhat silly, seeing that Song Que didn’t seem the type to mock them, they went along and tried it one by one
Song Que smiled and began his subtle persuasion: “When you breathe through your nose, don’t you feel a coolness deep in your mouth? And when you breathe through your mouth, doesn’t it feel like swallowing something, as if something is entering your body in a certain way?”
Several people nodded. Song Que continued, “That’s because the nose is connected to an air passage inside the body, which links to the nasal cavity but doesn’t directly connect to the outside world. Meanwhile, the mouth is connected to a larger passage, through which food normally passes. We can call it the esophagus. The esophagus is also connected to the mouth, but it doesn’t directly connect to the outside either.”
Song Que’s statement wasn’t meant to be completely accurate, but rather easy to understand. Sure enough, after some discussion and trying it themselves, the listeners found it quite reasonable. One bold scholar finally asked, “Young Master Song, may I ask what this has to do with the examination of burns?”
Song Que gave the scholar a satisfied glance and said happily, “That’s a good question. In a fire scene, there’s smoke and ash that irritates the nose. Since both the nasal and oral passages naturally connect to the outside, so whether a person enters the fire alive or dead, ash can settle in either place. The trachea and esophagus are different. Only the living can inhale and draw smoke into both. The same logic applies to drowning and sediment in water.”
The scholars were amazed, murmuring in awe. Everyone was so absorbed in this method that they didn’t immediately realize it would require dissection to fully confirm. Song Que naturally didn’t remind them deliberately. Some of the officials of the Ministry of Justice had already started to consider this point. Although they usually only performed external examinations on corpses, they would also remove the flesh and examine the bones when they encountered a corpse that was too damaged. Therefore, they had a certain degree of acceptance and didn’t point it out immediately, but thought about it silently.
Next, Song Que began his performance again, avoiding directly mentioning dissection and instead introducing simpler, easily explainable techniques: “Examinations of the body must start with a change in procedure. An autopsy isn’t just about determining the cause of death; it’s also about identifying the deceased. Factors such as height, body width, and hair quantity must all be noted. Any markings on the body should also be recorded, to prevent deceitful tactics like switching bodies or concealing the truth.”
“First, conduct a simple examination of the body, noting all the wounds, bruises, and other injuries. Then, apply heat to the body and use wine vinegar for washing and compressing, so that the injuries will become fully visible”
“All corpses show signs of decay, but these changes vary with the seasons, age, and body type. In the hot summer, they decay quickly, in the spring and autumn, they decay slowly, and in the cold winter, it is even more delayed. Younger and fatter bodies decompose faster, while older and thinner ones tend to persist. The examiner can use this to estimate the deceased’s age, body type, and approximate time of death.”
Song Que treated this makeshift platform as his stage and performed with great enthusiasm. His words flowed smoothly, leaving both sides utterly impressed and conceding in admiration.
The officials of the Ministry of Justice had initially thought him young and impetuous, full of eloquence but perhaps lacking practical knowledge. Now, they felt like they had found a treasure after listening to him, and only regretted that they could not take notes.
The students from the academy were proud and arrogant. Initially, they had viewed him as merely a minor assistant with only the title of a scholar, and if it hadn’t been for Ge Gu inviting the scholars and forcing them to attend, they wouldn’t have come willingly. Now they could only lower their heads, slightly covering the embarrassment on their reddened faces.
The emperor on the throne was the most satisfied person besides Song Que. He looked around, his eyes swept across everyone’s faces, and revealed an imperceptible smile. With such a grand event and such a good story, why worry about the autumn imperial examination?
The emperor finally spoke: “The Song family produces talents, and heaven has blessed you with fine abilities. I now offer you two choices. First, you can join the Minister of Justice, overseeing all matters of criminal justice. Even the official in charge of the Minister of Justice cannot overstep your authority in criminal matters. But since you did not take the imperial examination, you will not have the title of a jinshi. You will leap directly into office, but as punishment, you must not be promoted or granted any titles for the next fifteen years.”
The condition of not being promoted or granted titles for the next fifteen years caused many present to look up in surprise. Everyone could see Song Que’s talent and abilities. If he were to take the imperial exams, it would be a sure thing to receive an official position. Although the starting point of the Ministry of Justice was high, if he could not be promoted…
Regardless of the thoughts running through everyone’s minds, the emperor continued, “Second, this autumn I will open an additional round of the imperial exams, allowing you to participate and compete alongside others. The appointments will be based entirely on the results.”
To be honest, granting Song Que an official post would benefit the emperor the most right now. But since the emperor valued talent, he couldn’t help but offer Song Que a chance.
Upon hearing this, Song Que immediately knelt and thanked the emperor.
“Your Majesty is wise, I choose the first option.”
As soon as the words were spoken, the scene erupted into a buzz of confusion. The scholars couldn’t understand his choice. Everyone could see Song Que’s talent, and it was obvious that the emperor had a very good impression of him, which would likely protect him from the influence of powerful officials who might sabotage his exam results. Even if he didn’t win the top honors in this special exam, just gaining the title of jinshi would benefit him. If he were to win first place and enter the Hanlin Academy, wouldn’t his future be limitless?
Song Que quickly clarified for everyone. “My only desire is to clear the unjust and avenge the wronged. The position His Majesty grants me is perfectly suited to my purpose. Not being promoted for fifteen years is a balance to my immediate promotion, and it will also prevent me from the distractions of seeking advancement. Instead, I can devote all my energy to handling cases, hoping that in the coming decades, I will have written something of value, something that will be passed down through the generations. Fame is of no benefit to me, and my background is more of a burden. It would be better to leave this opportunity to other worthy talents.”
Song Que had somewhat figured out the emperor’s intentions, which is why his words touched all the right points.
The emperor was very pleased, and Song Que was appointed to his new position.
It was not known whether it was because this grand event had gathered together the emperor, his close ministers, and the future pillars of the academy, the system’s progress bar was moving forward rapidly. After Song Que finished his righteous speech and was officially appointed, the progress bar jumped to 75%.
After hearing the system’s report, Song Que remained silent for a long time. Finally, he could only sigh and mutter: “Vulgar, too vulgar.”
The system was too lazy to pay attention to him.
After Song Que brought his family to the capital, he began to put his words into action. He investigated cases while writing books, and whenever he had time, he would study traditional Chinese medicine. Although traditional medicine wasn’t much use for treating acute diseases, it was quite effective for health maintenance, and the diagnostic methods of looking, smelling, asking, and feeling were worth learning. Moreover, there were not many cases involving direct violence in the capital, but there were plenty of cases involving poison or suspicious deaths that drove Song Que to learn medicine as a way to better assess these situations.
Here, life was a continuous cycle of learning for Song Que, and none of the children in the Song family could escape this fate. They could only look at the books and sigh in helplessness.
Song Que worked on his book for many years, revising and editing it over a span of more than a decade. During this time, Gao Fenglin and Ji Qiong entered the Ministry of Rites, and the three of them served as officials in the court. Song Shu got married, Song Yi passed the imperial examination, and then Song Yuerong got married. Soon after, both Old Master Song and Aunt Song passed away.
In the third year of his mourning, Song Que finally completed his book and named it “Record of Unjust Deaths”. In the preface, he referenced many famous works, such as “The Collection of Unjust Executions”, “The Record of Clearing Injustice”, “The Book of No Injustice “. The day the book was completed was the day Song Que left.
