Yan Daoxin was the first to react. He cautiously glanced at Pang Centurion, noticing blood flowing from his eyes, mouth, and nose. His face was terrifyingly twisted, but his chest was still. Yan carefully approached, slightly bending over but not daring to squat, fearing that if Pang suddenly sprang up, he wouldn’t have ti to escape.
He reached out to feel for breath at Pang Centurion’s nostrils, then shook his head at the people behind him: "He’s dead."
Situ Jing, seeing Pang Centurion’s death, looked solemn. He quickly scanned the surroundings, saying, "Everyone who shared a tent with Pang Centurion at night or ate with him during the day, step forward!"
Soon, about twenty people stood out from the crowd. So shared the sa tent with Pang Centurion, while others often accompanied him, frequently acting together and eating in groups.
These people were in the crowd earlier, and now they only saw Pang Centurion’s earlier madness, but not yet his terrifying death state. Their faces showed so tension but not much fear.
Lu Qing instinctively took a small step forward, standing in line with Situ Jing. With the talisman, the four of them ford a barrier, temporarily shielding the collapsed and suddenly dead Pang Centurion from the crowd’s view.
"Where is the Deputy Capital Commander?" Situ Jing shouted, previously entirely focused on Pang Centurion’s sudden condition and not considering much else.
Now that Pang Centurion was dead, although many mysteries were unsolved, at least they no longer had to worry about another unexpected event.
Only then did Situ Jing realize that during all his interactions and inquiries earlier, the Deputy Capital Commander seed to be absent altogether.
A trembling commander who had stood out earlier spoke: "General... soone had been sent to inform the Deputy Capital Commander, but he... hasn’t co yet..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Situ Jing.
This Commander ca here with a promotion after the Old Capital Commander’s unexpected death, personally attending to many matters in the camp and treating subordinates kindly.
The camp mbers liked General Situ, and those who weren’t pleased were naturally the Deputy Capital Commander.
This Deputy Capital Commander had been in Li State for years. After the Old Capital Commander’s sudden incident, he imdiately shouldered the responsibilities, waiting for the court to order him to replace the old superior.
Unexpectedly, at this critical mont, a new Commander from Runzhou was appointed, the famous son of the renowned General Situ from the court.
Thus, this Deputy Capital Commander frequently feigned illness, becoming more apathetic towards camp affairs.
Usually, camp soldiers, out of long-standing acquaintance, tried hard to cover for him in front of Situ Jing.
But today, it couldn’t be concealed any longer.
The soldiers expected Situ Jing to be furious upon hearing this, and they braced themselves for a severe reprimand.
Unexpectedly, Situ Jing rely paused montarily, then swept his gaze across the crowd, finding the person he sought: "Commander Wang, starting today, double the personnel guarding and patrolling the camp, ensuring no suspicious persons enter, or even approach.
All officers must watch out for each other. If anyone notices peculiar behavior in a companion or any secretive contact with outsiders, report it imdiately without delay!
Now, those who shared als or tents with Pang Centurion should be gathered in one tent temporarily."
Commander Wang, upon being nad, promptly acknowledged and arranged for it. He gathered a few n to lead those with close contact with Pang Centurion to a tent for settling, and reassigned the night patrol personnel.
Soon, the soldiers who had gathered around were given tasks and gradually dispersed. They seed sowhat afraid, deep down, of the weirdly deceased Centurion, fearing staying too long might bring bad luck.
Though these arrangents were crucial to the imperial guard camp, they had nothing to do with Zhu Yu. After Yan Daoxin confird Pang Centurion’s death, she stepped forward and observed the body for a while.
Once Situ Jing completed the camp arrangents, she spoke to Lu Qing and Situ Jing: "Sirs, I have an unreasonable request. Could we find a place, even if only a woodshed, for examining this Centurion’s body to determine the cause of death?"
Yan Daoxin remained silent but subtly edged closer to Zhu Yu.
"No." Before Zhu Yu finished speaking, Lu Qing decisively refused.
Zhu Yu was initially worried about how Situ Jing would react, whether he would obstruct the Golden-faced Imperial Censor’s delegation from the court.
Unexpectedly, before Situ Jing could respond, Lu Qing refused her directly.
But she quickly realized why Lu Qing refused.
"Sir, if Pang Centurion died of a strange plague, none of us present, especially you who tangled with him earlier, can escape." She approached Lu Qing, speaking softly, "So it’s better to uncover the cause as soon as possible.
If it’s indeed so plague, we need to identify it promptly; otherwise, all of us are at risk, and the longer it drags on, the greater the risk."
Yan Daoxin also nodded in agreent, his large nods causing the black fabric outside his hat to sway.
Zhu Yu’s reasoning was sound, and after listening, Lu Qing rethought his stance, hesitated slightly, and nodded.
"General Situ, this is my Chief Historian, exceptionally skilled in autopsies, unmatched by anyone.
Please, General, arrange a suitable place for him." He addressed Situ Jing.
Situ Jing was accommodating, imdiately ordering a woodshed to be cleared, moving a long wooden table there, and having torches placed all around to ensure sufficient lighting.
"I’m not well-versed in autopsies, not sure if this setup suffices. If there’s anything else needed, just let know," he said to Zhu Yu after arranging it.
Zhu Yu expressed her thanks with a clasped fist salute, and the talisman helped wrap Pang Centurion’s body in a straw mat and moved it to the woodshed.
Given the ghastly condition of Pang Centurion’s death, the fewer people who saw it, the better. Otherwise, until the truth was out, it might undermine morale, and if soone with ill intentions seized the opportunity to cause trouble, they would be at a disadvantage.
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