After leaving the Celestial Monitoring Bureau, Lin Ji inquired all the way and found the residence of the Minister of Personnel, Luo Xuan Yi.
Before reaching the steps of the Luo Residence, Lin Ji was stopped by the guards.
"What's your business here?" The guard looked sternly at Lin Ji, ready to strike with his sword at any sign of trouble.
"I am from the Celestial Monitoring Bureau, seeking an audience with Lord Luo," Lin Ji said, taking out a sachet from his bosom and handing it to the guard.
"Present this item, and Lord Luo will understand," the guard instructed.
"Alright, please wait here," the guard nodded and hurried into the residence.
After a brief wait, hurried footsteps were heard from the other side of the gate.
Soon, an elderly man in elegant attire with white hair rushed out.
He spotted Lin Ji waiting at the entrance and quickly approached him, "Did you bring back the sachet?"
"Yes," Lin Ji replied.
"Come inside," Luo Xuan Yi said, grabbing Lin Ji's wrist and leading him into the residence.
Upon entering the main hall, Lin Ji immediately detected an overpowering scent in the air.
It was a fragrance reminiscent of rouge or incense, but the intensity was somewhat suffocating.
The source of this fragrance was a weeping woman holding Miss Luo's sachet.
Seeing Lin Ji frown, Luo Xuan Yi explained, "My wife has been acting strangely since hearing of our daughter's death. We called a physician, who diagnosed her with excessive melancholy affecting her heart meridians."
"Is it just madness?" Lin Ji remained composed outwardly but found it peculiar.
After a brief explanation, Luo Xuan Yi invited Lin Ji to sit down and dismissed the attendants before asking, "Are you a representative from the Celestial Monitoring Bureau?"
"I am Lin Ji, the constable of Qingyang County," Lin Ji bowed, "On my way to the capital, I encountered the ghost of your daughter, who wished for this sachet to be returned. I merely helped fulfill her wish."
"My daughter's spirit lingered? Then I..." Luo Xuan Yi's voice trailed off.
"I awakened her, and by now, she should have reincarnated," Lin Ji shook his head slightly, stating, "Lord Luo, the dead cannot be brought back to life."
"I see." Upon hearing this, Luo Xuan Yi let out a long sigh, his eyes reddening.
To him, his daughter Luo Miss was more precious than a gem in his palm.
There were even princes who sought to marry Luo Miss, but Luo Xuan Yi adamantly refused, unwilling to let his daughter marry.
Now, a visit ended in tragedy, separating the living and the dead.
This tragedy would be hard for any parent to accept.
"My poor daughter... fate is cruel," Luo Xuan Yi lamented.
However, Lin Ji's attention was focused on Madam Luo sitting beside him.
Narrowing his eyes, Lin Ji scrutinized every corner of Madam Luo's appearance.
He was not interested in Madam Luo; even the beauties of the Minghua Pavilion in Qingyang County failed to captivate him, let alone this middle-aged woman.
What caught Lin Ji's attention was a faint dark red mark behind Madam Luo's neck.
While red marks on the body were not uncommon, birthmarks were a normal occurrence.
However, amidst the overpowering fragrance emanating from Madam Luo, Lin Ji faintly detected a hint of decay.
Though well concealed, as a cultivator at the Third Realm of Opening Spirit, his senses surpassed those of ordinary people. While the fragrance might deceive others, it couldn't fool him.
"Spiritual Eye, activate!" Lin Ji secretly activated his Spiritual Eye but found nothing unusual.
"Strange, still in human form, vitality not extinguished. Three souls and seven spirits intact. What kind of entity is this?" Lin Ji pondered, recalling the various supernatural occurrences documented in the "Records of Ghosts and Demons" found in county yamen across the land.
When Lin Ji first became a constable, he sought to acquire cultivation techniques to become a demon hunter quickly.
His second task was to study the "Records of Ghosts and Demons."
After a moment, a realization struck Lin Ji.
"A Changeling?"
The implications of this term sent a shiver down Lin Ji's spine.
At that moment, Luo Xuan Yi, who had tried to speak to Lin Ji several times without success, nudged him.
"Constable Lin?"
"Luo, what is it?" Lin Ji snapped out of his thoughts, his expression still showing disbelief.
"I've asked a few times, but you seemed lost. You fulfilled my daughter's wish, so consider it a favor owed by Luo Xuan Yi. If you desire any reward, speak freely," Luo Xuan Yi offered.
"For now, let's set aside the matter of rewards," Lin Ji shook his head, pointing towards Madam Luo, who was still weeping while clutching the sachet, "Lord Luo, may I ask a few questions about Madam Luo?"
"Regarding my wife?" Luo Xuan Yi was puzzled but nodded, "Feel free to ask, Constable Lin."
Lin Ji nodded and inquired, "Before Madam Luo's transformation, did she leave the Luo Residence for more than seven days?"
This question widened Luo Xuan Yi's eyes in astonishment.
"How did you know?" Luo Xuan Yi exclaimed, "It was the day we received news of my daughter's murder that my wife returned from her family's home, having been away for about ten days."
"Is it related to Miss Luo?" Lin Ji's expression faltered.
But now was not the time to delve into these matters.
So Lin Ji continued, "After her return, did Madam Luo speak at all?"
"Never! As soon as she returned and heard of our daughter's death, she lost her voice," Luo Xuan Yi said, shocked.
"Did she bathe or change clothes?"
"Never!" Luo Xuan Yi stood up, "She even kept the servants away. If I hadn't brought my daughter's sachet, she wouldn't have come out to see anyone."
"And after coming out, she remained silent, only weeping while holding the sachet, correct?" Lin Ji was now ninety percent certain.
"Indeed!" Impressed by Lin Ji's accuracy, Luo Xuan Yi hurriedly asked, "Constable Lin, do you have a way to cure this condition?"
"This is not an illness." Lin Ji sighed deeply, looking at Luo Xuan Yi.
Luo Xuan Yi, a third-ranking Minister of Personnel, was appointed by the Emperor to handle official matters.
All memorials from the Nine Provinces had to pass through Luo Xuan Yi's hands before reaching the Emperor.
Although he held a high position in the capital, he now exuded no air of authority, only concern for his wife.
"What a pity."
"Luo, instruct the steward to bring a live poultry, be it a chicken, duck, or goose."
Luo Xuan Yi dared not delay and immediately gave the order.
Soon, the steward brought in a live chicken.
"Sir, the chicken is here."
Luo Xuan Yi looked at Lin Ji.
Taking the live chicken from the steward, Lin Ji plucked a few feathers, let the blood flow, and threw it directly at Madam Luo.
"Rogue, how dare you disrespect the lady!" The steward's expression changed, "Guards, seize this rogue!"
"Hold on!" Luo Xuan Yi's voice trembled, tinged with fear.
He pointed shakily at Madam Luo, who was now unable to speak.
Lin Ji nodded, watching as Madam Luo tore off the chicken's head, consumed its flesh, and drank its blood hot.
"Report this to the authorities, go to the Celestial Monitoring Bureau headquarters," Lin Ji sighed lightly. Such incidents in the capital were beyond his jurisdiction.
"Daring to transform the wife of a current third-ranking official into a Changeling, truly audacious."
(End of Chapter)