Chapter 44: Autopsy

  After parting with Wu Jun, Hualang and others did not enter the county government office because they were worried that Bai Butong would see something.

  At this time, the sunset is about to end, and the remaining light in the distant sky still has a faint red glow, giving people a very peaceful feeling. A gentle breeze also makes people feel comfortable. Solving cases is necessary, but buying a house is also essential.

  The four of them walked along the main street in front of the county government office from head to toe, and finally settled on a large courtyard with a north-south orientation. The gate of the courtyard faced the street, and behind it, there were two suites of wing rooms on either side of the central hall, a well in the middle of the courtyard, and everything was complete. In addition, several flowering trees were planted in the courtyard, which were now in full bloom, making people very fond of them.

  The owner of the courtyard is an old woman named Liu, accompanied by a 7 or 8-year-old grandson. They want to sell the courtyard because they are going to the capital to find their son, who has become an official there and has sent someone to pick them up to live a life of luxury.

  The old woman was still quite reasonable and didn't raise the price because of Hualang's fondness. After a final negotiation, they bought it for 300 taels of silver. Hualang immediately took out the silver, and the old woman handed over the deed. Then, she told them that they could stay one more night, and they would leave early the next morning.

  This is naturally no problem, convenient for others and oneself!

  After returning to the Wen Mansion, Hua Lang immediately had Hua Wan'er and Wen Mengyin pack their things. After Madame Liu left the next day, they moved their belongings over in the evening and lived there from then on. Although Wen Meng didn't want to leave her father, she thought that following Hua Lang would allow her to live an exciting and interesting life, so she agreed happily in the end.

  When moving house, it's natural to be lectured by the father-in-law a few times. As he was going to marry his daughter, he respectfully accepted a few words of advice from him.

  The next day, Hualang and others went to the county government office immediately after eating breakfast, because they had discussed with Wu Jun that today they would put on a big show.

  When they arrived at the county government office, there were already many onlookers gathered in front of the gate. Wu Jun had lost his lawsuit yesterday and was back again today, so these people who loved to watch a spectacle wouldn't miss it for anything.

  The flower lads squeezed to the front, and Bao Zheng saw the flower lads after that, immediately made a gesture to them, asking them to come into the main hall. The flower lads understood and were also very happy, so they brought Wen Meng and several others into the main hall. Those onlookers among the common people saw the flower lads like this, all secretly discussing and speculating, thinking that these flower lads really had some genuine skills, saying that the case of Dong Cheng being killed was actually solved with the help of the flower lads.

  Bao Zheng saw that Hualang had arrived, and only then did he put his mind at ease. After yesterday's events, he had already wanted to go find Hualang for help. He promised to help Wu Jun clear his name, but after a thorough investigation, he found the evidence to be insufficient. If so, wouldn't he lose the trust of the people?

  Perhaps only a clever person like Huā Láng can think of a way to break it.

  Now that Hualang has arrived, Bao Zheng can rest easy.

  The sound of majesty rose, and Wu Jun was brought up by the bailiffs. Later, Bai Butong also came to the main hall. However, after coming to the main hall, Wu Jun knelt down, while Bai Butong stood up, because according to the imperial rules, those with meritorious names or appointed officials of the imperial court had this privilege.

  When the sound of the stick stopped, Bao Zheng looked at Wu Jun and asked: "Are you going to sue the chief clerk Bai Wutong?"

  Wu Jun nodded: "That's right, Xiaomin must confess."

  Bao Zheng nodded and said, "It was already clear yesterday. Now your father has been buried, and you have no evidence to prove that your father died from a kick by Bai Tong. How can I, as the judge, make a ruling?"

  Wu Jun's sweat rained down, his heart was extremely tense. After Bao Zheng finished speaking, he slightly raised his head and glanced at Hua Lang, who winked at him. Then, he bowed to Bao Zheng and said: "Lord Bao, since that's the case, why not open the coffin and examine the body?"

  After Hualang said the words "open coffin and examine the corpse", the people in the hall and the commoners outside were suddenly stunned. To bury a person and then dig up their body again, this is a great taboo! If it weren't absolutely necessary, how could they do such a thing?

  Bai was not afraid to hear that the coffin would be opened for autopsy, and he hastily said: "Lord Bao, it's not that I'm afraid of opening the coffin for autopsy being unfavorable to myself, but this opening of the coffin for autopsy can't be decided by just one word from this young master Hua, if Wu Jun, the scholar, disagrees with you, how can you open the coffin for autopsy?"

  Bai Bao Tong thought that opening the coffin to examine the body was a very shameful thing, Wu Jun respected his father and would definitely not agree to let Bao Zheng and others open the coffin to examine the body. As long as they didn't open the coffin to examine the body, he would be safe, without evidence, who could do anything to him?

  It was just that this white didn't know, the opening of the coffin for autopsy was a method that Hualang and Wu Jun had discussed long ago. The reason why Hualang said it was because he wanted to make his name even more famous, and another reason was that opening the coffin for autopsy was something that Wu Jun, as a son, couldn't say out loud first, or else people would think him unfilial.

  Bai Butong had just finished speaking when Bao Zheng's expression also changed slightly. He then looked at Wu Jun and asked, "Are you willing to exhume the body for autopsy?"

  Wu Jun hesitated at first, then spoke up: "My father died unjustly. As his son, I couldn't avenge him, which is unfilial. I'm afraid my father can't rest in peace under the nine springs. If I can avenge my father, I think he won't blame me. I agree to exhume and autopsy."

  When Wu Jun finished speaking, Bai Bu Tong was suddenly panicked. He had not expected Wu Jun to agree to open the coffin and examine the body. If they really opened the coffin and examined the body, and it turned out that Wu Jun's father had indeed died because of his own kick, what would happen then?

  White Not Through suddenly smiled coldly: "Bao Daren, I don't object to opening the coffin for autopsy, after all, the one lying in the coffin is not my father. But if we really open the coffin and nothing is found, then who will take responsibility?"

  Exhuming a corpse for autopsy is not a trivial matter. If nothing is found, the person in charge will be punished with flogging or exile. This is not something that just anyone can block. Bai Butong understands this point clearly, so he wants to intimidate everyone. If no one dares to take on this responsibility, exhuming the corpse for autopsy would be impossible.

  Hualang didn't know that the Song Dynasty had a rule about opening coffins for autopsy, but he was absolutely confident in his own skills and believed that Wu Jun wouldn't deceive him. So after Bai Butong finished speaking, Hualang immediately stood up and said: "If nothing is found out, I'll take all the consequences, but if something is found out, you're dead!"

  Bai Butong wanted to intimidate Hua Lang, but Hua Lang was no pushover either, he also made Bai Butong nervous.

  Wu Jun felt a surge of gratitude in his heart when he saw Hua Lang willing to take responsibility, for his own affairs, Hua Lang had not spared any effort.

  Since everything was ready, Bao Zheng ordered: "Go to the outskirts of the city, open the coffin and examine the body."