Two Bizarre Cases

Lord Jiang looked at Chen Ankang and said, "Chen Ankang, a fourth-rank Assistant Surveillance Commissioner? That's quite impressive."

Zhou Wanwan said, "Since he's so good, why don't you keep him by your side? He's an expert at solving cases. If he can't figure it out, I'll help you investigate, how about that?"

Lord Jiang smiled faintly and said, "You? Can you investigate cases?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "You're a bit better at investigating than me. Anyway, I can find out cases that you can't."

Lord Jiang shook his head and said, "I don't believe you for a second. You're not just making a living by swindling and cheating, are you?"

Madam Jiang glared at him and said, "What nonsense are you spouting? How is that person a fraud?"

Lord Jiang coughed and said:

"I was just saying! I actually have two tricky cases."

If these two cases are handed over to Chen Ankang, Chen Ankang can really solve them, then he'll work directly for me from now on."

Chen Ankang nodded, Lord Jiang immediately had someone fetch the case file.

The first case involved a wealthy family in the Upper Capital who lost their five-year-old son overnight.

That night, all the doors and windows of the house were bolted shut from the inside. The courtyard wall was tall and flat, and there were no signs of climbing or prying from the outside, as if the child had vanished into thin air.

The Court of Judicial Review sent people to investigate for several months, questioning household servants, neighbors, relatives, merchants, and wandering thugs. Even kidnappers who roamed the area were all arrested and interrogated.

However, they could find no evidence of an intruder, no motive for the crime committed by the family, and no trace of the child.

There were no extortion letters, no trace of a body, and all the clues eventually went cold.

The case has been under investigation for over a year with no leads, and it has been relegated to the archives as a cold case ever since.

In the eastern part of Beijing, there is a street-facing opera stage that has been idle for many years, and no one usually goes near it.

One morning, patrolling soldiers discovered a male corpse lying in a private room on the top floor of the opera house.

Strange things began to happen one after another: the doors and windows of the private room were locked from the inside, the walls were solid, and there were no signs of digging or climbing over, making it a veritable secret room.

The deceased was unidentified, with no external injuries or signs of poisoning, and the coroner's examination could not determine the exact cause of death.

Even more bizarrely, watchmen patrolled the streets and alleys around the theater all night, yet no one was seen climbing up or approaching the building.

The Court of Judicial Review sealed off the building for a thorough investigation. The building was covered in thick dust, and apart from the location of the body, not a single extra footprint could be found on the floor, beams, or pillars.

A thorough search of the entire city revealed no one who recognized the deceased, nor did anyone know when he entered the secret, empty room.

The four major mysteries of the death, the identity of the victim, the murderer, and the whereabouts of the perpetrator remain unsolved, leading to widespread rumors that the perpetrators are haunted by ghosts.

This case was eventually sealed away at the Court of Judicial Review, becoming the most famous mysterious headless case in the capital.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review looked at them and said, "If you solve these two cases, Chen Ankang will work for me from now on!"

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "What's so difficult about that? Alright, let's head back now."

Once home, Chen Ankang looked at Zhou Wanwan and asked, "Master, why did you send me to the Court of Judicial Review?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "The court is currently short-handed. I'm trying to find better positions for you so it will be easier for you to get things done!"

Chen Ankang didn't ask any more questions. Zhou Wanwan looked at the two cases and said:

"This first case should be easy to investigate, right? And it was just two months ago, let's take a look."

As for this second case, it is indeed somewhat strange.

Yingyue, standing beside her, whispered, "Master, could it really be a ghost?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said:

What are you thinking? Where did all these ghosts and monsters come from?

This must have been done by someone. Let's take it one step at a time.

Zhou Wanwan asked a few trees to check on the boy's house. She was also curious about how the boy had disappeared into thin air.

When the Old Scholar Tree returned, it said:

"It's a very strange story. I was originally planning to go to his house to ask about those trees."

But when they got there, they discovered that there wasn't a single tree in their yard.

Zhou Wanwan frowned and said, "There must be some flowers and plants, right?"

The Old Scholar Tree nodded and said:

There were indeed a few blades of grass, but those blades of grass said they had never seen anyone come or go.

Anyway, that boy just disappeared.

Hey! Who doesn't have a tree on their property?

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said, "Chen Ankang, it seems we'll have to investigate ourselves. Let's go to the boy's house first thing tomorrow morning."

Early the next morning, Chen Ankang and Zhou Wanwan led a group of yamen runners directly to the little boy's house.

They were indeed a wealthy family; their house had more than 20 rooms. Zhou Wanwan found the house and said, "Your son disappeared in this house?"

The wealthy man nodded and said:

"That's right. He was sleeping alone in the house that day, with two people guarding the door."

When it was time for dinner that evening, they felt something was very strange.

"Why hasn't the young master called them yet?" she thought, then pushed open the door and discovered the child was missing.

Zhou Wanwan frowned as she looked at the furnishings in the room and said, "That's strange, why don't you put any green plants in this room?"

The wealthy man explained:

"My child is very delicate; he has never been able to smell flowers since he was little."

If you smell flowers, you'll get rashes, so there isn't a single tree in this courtyard.

So that's how it is. No wonder there isn't a single tree in this yard.

Zhou Wanwan asked, "Does that child have a wet nurse?"

"Of course."

Soon a woman walked in from outside, bowed, and said:

"I am the young master's wet nurse, and I have served him since he was a child."

I happened to be out that day. If I hadn't gone out that day, the young master wouldn't have had this accident.

The woman wiped her tears with her sleeve.

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "Hmm, this case is quite interesting."

Chen Ankang walked around the room a few times but didn't find anything unusual.

Zhou Wanwan then looked at the wealthy man and asked, "And what about your wife?"

The wealthy man said, "My wife has been bedridden for many years and has difficulty moving around; she simply cannot go out."

Zhou Wanwan said, "Then take us to see it!"

The wealthy man led her into a courtyard, Zhou Wanwan discovered that the courtyard was filled with blooming flowers.

Pushing open the door, I saw a woman lying on the bed inside, resting with her eyes closed.

The maid beside them looked at them and asked, "Who are you?"

The woman opened her eyes, and the wealthy man said with a smile, "Madam, these are people investigating a case; they just came to see you."

The woman looked at Zhou Wanwan and remained silent.

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and asked, "I wonder what illness Madam has?"

The wealthy man said helplessly:

"I don't know what illness she has, but she can't move her legs now, and she's not in good spirits either."

Sometimes when she gets really angry, she even hits me; it's terrifying, so most kids don't dare come near her."

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said, "I know how to take a pulse. Shall I take a look at Madam?"

The wealthy man hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, thank you for your trouble, young lady."