Familiar white fluorescent powder circled the locations of vital evidence. The room was surprisingly cluttered; Li Zizhuo was evidently a man of flamboyant tastes. Even for a mere three-day stay, he had instructed his attendants to decorate the bedroom with meticulous refinement. Layers of various ornaments and playthings were piled so high that the tabletops were barely visible, and even more lay scattered across the floor. Aside from the Demon Zither, the room also held another Ming Dynasty guqin, a jade flute, a jade xiao, and a Jiegu drum—rounded at both ends and narrow in the middle like a wasp's waist—which lay quietly on the floor. It looked as though it had been rolling just a moment ago, only coming to a halt because of the arrival of death.
Wei Qingming examined every piece of decor with such painstaking detail that everyone grew restless. Even I had never seen her work so slowly. Finally, she rose from before the Jiegu drum and cast a light-spell with a flick of her hand to inspect the formations within the room.
The difficulty of this case lay in the subtlety of the poisoning. The specific toxic object had yet to be identified, the room had been sealed from the inside with no one entering or leaving, and the victim had minimal contact with others—none of whom showed any abnormalities. On the night of the incident, Li Zizhuo had been frightened out of his wits by the illusions the Demon Zither had forced into his mind; he had refused to open the door for anyone.
The confirmed timeline was as follows: On the night of the eighteenth, the banquet had ended on a sour note due to the Demon Zither’s interference. At approximately the second quarter of the Hour of the Dog (approx. 7:30 PM), Duan Qimo had agreed with Li Zizhuo through the door to store the Demon Zither in the Xixi Tower’s storehouse. Around the second quarter of the Hour of the Boar (approx. 9:30 PM), I left the tower with Wen Jiang and Wen Qi. Fifteen minutes later, Xia Ji moved to seize the Demon Zither and quickly fled. The Misses He and Zhou were also abducted during this period. Furthermore, the fierce brawl between Yan Mingqiu, Lu Kaifeng, and Xia Ji had long since awakened the nobles throughout the tower. The scene had been chaotic, and in the end, less than twenty or thirty percent of the guests chose to stay overnight at Xixi Tower. Li Zizhuo was one of them.
"After the banquet, I... I escorted the Young Master back to his room. All along the way, I heard him muttering incoherently, saying the Demon Zither wanted to kill him..." Li Pei, Li Zizhuo’s trusted personal servant, said with lingering fear. "After entering the room, he bolted the door from the inside with the family’s specially made lock. Even I couldn't get him to open it. When the chaos broke out in the tower, I hammered on the door in a panic. When the Young Master heard that the Demon Zither had been stolen, he actually calmed down. He said he wouldn't go anywhere else in this tower, that nowhere outside was safe. He unlocked the door and ordered me to bring water for him to wash his face."
"When was the last time you heard movement inside the room?"
"I didn't sleep soundly. To be honest, I didn't really dare stay in this tower anymore, but the Young Master wouldn't leave, so there was nothing I could do," Li Pei replied. "The last time I heard anything was around the start of the Hour of the Rat (approx. 11:00 PM). The Young Master was beating the drum and smashing the furniture. He never let that drum leave his side; when he was agitated, he would beat it to vent. At those times, no one dared to cross him, or they’d face endless scolding and beatings."
Hearing this, Wei Qingming’s expression shifted slightly, a faint smile appearing. She asked a question that seemed almost too trivial: "That night, what tune was he playing on the Jiegu drum?"
"Usually, he would play a few sets of Great Music from the Sui and Tang dynasties. But that night, he was truly panicked. There was no melody to speak of; he was just bashing it blindly."
Wei Qingming nodded. She stepped out of the room and stood beside the area marked by fluorescent powder near the door. She asked Chu Jiangheng, "Are you certain this poison caused the death?"
"Yes," Chu Jiangheng said. "'Ghost-Breath Orchid.' It is colorless and odorless. It begins to volatilize the moment it touches water, seeping through any crack. Even several yards outside this door, it can easily kill a person within a few breaths." If that were the case, it truly was as if a female ghost had exhaled a breath as fragrant as an orchid; a single gust of yin wind was all it took to claim a life.
The coroner stepped forward. Since Li Zizhuo’s body had already been moved to the magistrate's office, he could only briefly describe the state of the corpse, which matched the toxicity of the "Ghost-Breath Orchid" perfectly. The most crucial evidence was a reagent specifically designed to test for Ghost-Breath Orchid. When the two met, they would emit a green glow. This glow had been detected here at the doorway and by the bedside inside. These professionals from the Yingzhao Bureau were naturally experts in toxins. Without needing further explanation, Wei Qingming nodded and said, "It seems correct. Master He, I must trouble you to use the reagent here at the doorway."
"This..." Coroner He said, "It is no great difficulty, but if I splash the reagent everywhere, it will ruin the physical evidence..."
"It matters not," Wei Qingming said. "Every half-inch, use the tip of a needle to apply a single drop. That will be sufficient."
"Lord Wei is brilliant indeed!" Coroner He praised. He leaned down and meticulously dipped a needle into the viscous reagent, dotting rows of mung-bean-sized spots within the square area marked by the fluorescent powder. Once finished, the green light clearly revealed the traces of the poison, allowing one to roughly deduce the specific coverage and shape.
"Everyone, look," Wei Qingming said. "Ghost-Breath Orchid is a drug that only volatilizes into toxic gas upon contact with water. If used from a distance, it is best to mix it and apply it evenly; the gas would then seep in more densely and reliably. However, the toxic liquid here is splashed and splattered without any rhyme or reason. Unless it was done in extreme haste, there is no logic to this. Furthermore, judging by the splash marks, the volume of water was significant, falling from about waist-height or even extending several paces away. Those who use poison to kill are often the weak who lack martial prowess; they act with sinister precision. It is rare to see such crudeness."
As she spoke, she looked toward Manager Lin and smiled faintly. "Call the two attendants who first discovered Li Zizhuo, and we shall know the reason."
The two men were quickly squeezed out from the crowd. One of them said hurriedly, "I know! I know! That was me! I was carrying the overnight washwater out when I heard the fellow inside clearing the tea sets say that Young Master Li was dead. I slipped and dropped the basin on the floor!"
In that case, the true poison had already entered Li Zizhuo’s room with that basin of water. It should have taken effect shortly after the second quarter of the Hour of the Boar, when Xia Ji escaped and Li Pei brought in the water for the Young Master to wash up!
The scheme was actually simple. After volatilizing all night, almost no toxic gas would remain. In a luxurious establishment like this, there were usually dedicated staff to clear away overnight tea and water in the morning. If the servant changing the water had poured the residue into a slop bucket and then dumped it into the river, the evidence of the poison would have vanished without a trace. Unfortunately, another attendant discovered the body just as this servant was carrying the basin out. In his panic, his grip slipped, and the toxic liquid was left at the doorway.
"Then, how do you explain the drumming?" Yan Xiangjun actually had the leisure to joke. "That was over an hour after the poison took effect. Could it be that the musician was the very ghost who blew away Young Master Li’s life, which is why there was no melody?"
Wei Qingming also smiled. "If you are interested, you might as well try and see if this drum will sound."
I found it rather amusing. It turned out the truly bold one was the "Big Fool's" sister. She was a specialist in exorcism and suppressing evil, yet she seemed quite excited by the talk of ghosts. It seemed this noble lady read quite a few pulp novels in her spare time!
Yan Xiangjun actually entered the room and reached out a finger to tap the drum. Even Li Pei couldn't help but smile helplessly. "Miss, this drum requires two mallets. You won't get a good sound out of it like that." As he spoke, he began searching around. "Eh? Where are the mallets? The Young Master usually keeps them right here..."
Wei Qingming pointed with her sleeve. Li Pei ran over and found the pair of drumsticks under a table near the easternmost window, far from the bed, lying haphazardly among some clutter.
Even I began to catch the scent of the truth. "The drum is by the bed, but the mallets are ten paces away. If Young Master Li were playing music, how could he forget to take the mallets? It truly is a ghost beating the drum!"
"Even with the mallets, it doesn't sound very loud; it's quite muffled," Yan Xiangjun concluded after a cheerful attempt.
"That is because there is something unusual inside the drum," Wei Qingming said calmly. She picked up the Jiegu drum using a handkerchief and walked to the closed window. She then lightly propped up the two mallets, one end of each braced against the window frame, while the other ends supported the drum, catching in the smooth grooves on either side of the drum's rim. Thus, she balanced the drum on the desk beneath the window. The plane formed by the two drumsticks, the window, and the tabletop created a precarious, crumbling triangle. It was an extremely unstable structure, but Wei Qingming brushed her hand over the drum, fixing it in place. With another brush, the drumsticks collapsed, and the drum went rolling across the floor, bouncing off the room's decorations and emitting sharp, frantic sounds...
This was the "ghost" beating the drum. After it bounced four or five times, Wei Qingming beckoned with her hand to stop it, avoiding further damage to the evidence.
"There are two Thunder-Clappers inside the drum," Duan Qimo, who had been watching silently, remarked. These things were most commonly used in the underworld; essentially, they were items that would burst and scatter like fireworks upon impact. If someone was losing a group fight, they would throw one. Their function was similar to the lime powder used by common thugs, except they could be reused and wouldn't wear out.
"The technique I just used to fix the Jiegu drum was the most common Suspension Art, and the mechanism was the simplest kind. A more refined version would be even more effective," Wei Qingming said. "As time passes, the spell gradually dissipates, and it triggers randomly. If one wished to fix a specific time, it wouldn't be hard; one could use a Freezing Spell. In a warm room, the rate at which ice melts is predictable."
"In that case, we need to investigate everyone who entered or left the room before Li Zizhuo returned," Chu Jiangheng said, catching the main point and realizing his duty. Wei Qingming nodded and added, "The killer used the drum sound as a mechanism to blur the time of the crime; they are clearly familiar with Li Zizhuo’s habits. The method was likely to smear the toxic powder inside the washbasin beforehand. Once hot water was poured in, it would be ready in moments. Even if they used a cloth to protect themselves, it would be hard to avoid their fingertips touching the poison. This person..."
"Will likely have red, swollen, and itchy pads on their fingers," Chu Jiangheng finished her sentence. He cupped his hands in a respectful salute. "Previously, we only strictly interrogated those who entered or left after the Hour of the Boar, which is why we found nothing. Thank you. I shall go and investigate immediately."
He then led his men downstairs in a flurry, likely to summon the attendants who served on the east side of the second floor that night, as well as Li Zizhuo’s own servants. Li Pei followed behind him, looking quite composed, showing only a hint of frustration and annoyance—likely because he would have to repeat his testimony for the ten-thousandth time. Manager Lin bowed respectfully to Lord Wei, and upon receiving her nod, followed Chu Jiangheng as well.
With the crowd significantly thinned, Wei Qingming spoke: "To the first-floor banquet hall." She gestured with her sleeve for Duan Qimo and the others to lead the way. I finally found my chance and gleefully sidled up to Wei Qingming, wrapping my arm around her waist and showering her with exaggerated praise all the way down. This finally coaxed a smile out of Lord Wei, and she no longer brooded over the incident where her sleeve was nearly torn...
Upon entering the main hall, Duan Qimo took over the role of narrator from Manager Lin, briefly stating the situation of that night. Two more witnesses were added: Shen Yinian and Xie Bin, who had been in the closest contact with the Demon Zither. Since Duan Qimo had not personally experienced the scene of the zither's bewitchment, this part was recounted in detail by Shen Yinian and Xie Bin. In truth, these accounts had already been recorded in depositions, and the Official was already intimately familiar with them; asking again in person was merely to confirm the details.
"Could you two gentlemen tell me what visions were evoked in your minds when the zither music played?"
Xie Bin was the first to speak frankly. "As the performer, what was evoked was merely the artistic conception of the piece 'The Pheasant's Morning Flight,' though the pheasant was replaced by a crow—cold, eerie, and sinister. It actually gave me a deeper insight into the strange and wondrous nature of the original melody."
Wei Qingming smiled faintly and engaged in casual conversation. "Brother Xie is perceptive and elegant. It makes me yearn to hear it for myself."
Xie Bin had not expected this mysterious Lord Wei—who appeared cold and imposing, commanding awe even without official robes—to speak so cordially. He laughed heartily. "Haha, insight is one thing, but my skill hasn't necessarily improved. I can't say for sure if I've made any progress!"
Wei Qingming smiled and said no more, turning her gaze toward Shen Yinian. This gentleman had been frowning deeply, his anxiety visible to the naked eye. After hearing the casual chat between the two, he—being a lover of music—managed to temporarily set aside his suspicion and unease. Gaining some composure, he spoke slowly: "I do not possess Brother Xie’s clarity of mind. All I thought of were terrifying things... It was me, holding a blood-stained blade, killing all nineteen members of my household one by one."
He paused, as if summoning the courage to make a decision. He gave a bitter smile and bared his soul: "With every note that rose, I stabbed another person. The sensation of the blade piercing human flesh felt so real. The faces of the dead won't leave me; they keep flashing back, torturing me until I'd rather be dead. The reason... the reason I am so afraid is also because... when I was young, an old man read my fortune. He said I bore the omen of destroying my family and that I must not become an official. That is why I... I lived a dissipated life, immersing myself in wine, women, and music. I never thought I would still... I would still... I actually truly..."
He could not go on, covering his face with his hands as he broke into bitter sobs.
Xie Bin comforted him instead. "Why should you be afraid, Brother Yinian? If you do not grasp the knife, who can force your hand? Are your parents and beloved wife not all well? Although 'all things are appearances,' illusions only arise from the person. 'If you see all appearances as non-appearances, then you see the Tathagata.' Brother Yinian, do not let these upside-down dreams delude you."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
鬼呵兰 | Ghost-Breath Orchid | A colorless, odorless poison that volatilizes upon contact with water.
羯鼓 | Jiegu drum | A double-headed drum used in ancient Chinese music, often associated with the Tang dynasty.
雷震子 | Thunder-Clappers | Small Daoist/martial arts devices that burst or make noise upon impact.
英招寺 | Yingzhao Bureau | The official organization/department Wei Qingming belongs to (lit. Yingzhao Temple).
悬浮术 | Suspension Art | A basic levitation or telekinetic spell.
寒冰术 | Freezing Spell | A spell used to create or manipulate ice.
雉朝飞 | The Pheasant's Morning Flight | A famous ancient Chinese zither (guqin) melody.
见诸相非相，即见如来 | If you see all appearances as non-appearances, then you see the Tathagata | A famous quote from the Diamond Sutra regarding the nature of reality and illusion.
