Chapter 115: Thrice Steaming Bone Tes (1/2)

I put on my gloves and picked up the bones, then repeated the whole process I did earlier. Only this time, instead of pouring white vinegar, I placed the wormwood under the bones and covered it with the straw mat.

This technique was an extremely advanced autopsy procedure that was recorded in The Collected Cases of Injustices Rectified. It was invented by one of the most outstanding members of the Song family. Through this technique, it was possible to detect the scars left on the victim’s body caused by the injuries that killed the victim and also extract drug components in the victim’s body from the bone marrow.

As we waited, my eyes were glued to the straw mat. The temperature inside the pit was very high and steam continued to rise from under the mat. I didn’t notice it at the time, but I was soaking in sweat. Xiaotao surprised me when she wiped the sweat on my forehead with a tissue.

I then removed the straw mat. The scent of wormwood filled my nostrils. When I removed the wormwood leaves, I found the bones underneath still completely unchanged.

I noticed that Xiaotao’s expression turned sullen. I knew that she trusted me to solve any case as long as I put my heart into it, but at that moment, even I had doubts about my own capabilities.

I resolved not to show any signs of worry or anxiety to Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao, for fear that they might feel too discouraged.

“Yuanchao, help me pick up the bones,” I commanded, trying to sound confident. “We’ll repeat the process one last time.”

“Can’t you test it more than three times?” Xiaotao asked.

“I can,” I replied, “but it wouldn’t yield any results. White vinegar is acidic, and wormwood is basic. That means when both are used, drugs that are acidic and basic can be detected. If both of them detect nothing, then that means there really is no drug residue in the victim’s body.”

I proceeded to do the third testing. This time, the procedure was slightly different from the previous ones. I sprinkled both vinegar and wormwood leaves over the bones, then covered them with the straw mat. We then waited anxiously.

“It’s alright,” Xiaotao comforted me. “If this method doesn’t work, then we’ll just find another way to gather evidence.”

I sighed. I knew that there would be no other way. This skeleton was the only evidence left. If this method didn’t yield any results, the murderer would most likely go unpunished forever.

The Collected Cases of Injustices Rectified stated that human bone marrow could retain drug residues for a long period of time. Even corpses in ancient tombs could be tested this way, and it would be possible to deduce what kind of medicine the deceased took before their death.

Please help your descendant bring justice to the murderer, Song Ci! I silently prayed.

When we uncovered the straw mat, Xiaotao couldn’t wait until the steam had completely dissipated before checking the bones.

“Nothing happened to the bones, Song Yang,” she stated, trying to conceal the disappointment in her voice.

I was slightly shocked. I went over to pick up the bones.

“Don’t be discouraged,” Xiaotao comforted me. “I believe in your method. Perhaps the murderer didn’t use any drugs on his wife.”

“Wait!”

I picked up a rib bone and noticed that there were many small yellow dew-like droplets on its surface. I held it under my nose and sniffed.

“It smells like an anesthetic! Quick! Bring me the plastic vial!”

I collected the drops into the vial and sealed the ribs inside an evidence bag. It would later be handed over to the forensics team for further testing.

“Awesome!” cried Xiaotao with joy. “We’ve got key evidence!”

“Are you sure this isn’t just the preservative applied to the bones after the victim’s death?” asked Wang Yuanchao uneasily.

“I’m sure it isn’t,” I replied. “If it was just the preservative, it wouldn’t seep out of the bone’s pores the way these droplets do. We can conclude that the drug was ingested before the victim’s death.”

“How can this be used as evidence in court?” Wang Yuanchao wondered.

“The techniques used by Traditional Coroners have a lot in common with modern forensic science,” I explained. “Let Xiaozhou test the bone marrow. He should be able to detect the anesthetic contained within it. If he writes up a formal report about it, that can be used as evidence in court.”

“You’ve been acting weird today, Wang Yuanchao,” remarked Xiaotao. “Why are you so skeptical all of a sudden?”

Wang Yuanchao smiled. In truth, I knew exactly how he felt, because I felt the same way too. Both Wang Yuanchao and I were worried that if this all went wrong, Xiaotao would get suspended. Xiaotao was important to Wang Yuanchao, because she was his Bo Le.