Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 448 - 399: Body Temperature

Chapter 448: Chapter 399: Body Temperature
The term ’forensic doctor’ specifically referred to constables in the service of the officials, tasked with examining the bodies of victims in murder cases.
In the past, being a forensic doctor was considered a lowly and demeaning profession; practitioners were not only meagerly compensated but also widely subjected to discrimination.
It was not until Li Ang authored books on forensic medicine, demonstrating the crucial role and importance of forensic science, that public perception gradually began to shift. This, in turn, prompted the imperial court to improve the compensation and status of forensic doctors.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the normal body temperature of a living person is approximately thirty-seven degrees.
The thermometer on the table in this room indicates the current temperature is sixteen degrees. Considering Yuan Jia is covered with a thin silk blanket, let’s assume it’s about seventeen degrees."
Su Xinghuo said urgently, "According to ’Forensic Pathology,’ under these conditions, the body of a deceased person of average build cools by one degree every hour.
This means if I killed Yuan Jia between Haichu (9 p.m.) and Hai Zheng (10 p.m.), his body temperature right now should be around twenty-seven to twenty-eight degrees.
And if Yuan Jia was killed at Chou Zheng (2 a.m.), his body temperature should now be approximately thirty-two degrees.
We just need to measure it with a thermometer to determine the exact time of death!"
The corridor buzzed with people, all of whom had heard Su Xinghuo’s words.
The crew members restraining Su Xinghuo hesitated, looking towards the captain of the SS Sea Charm.
"..."
The captain frowned deeply. According to Yu Law, while a ship navigated unregulated waters beyond national jurisdiction, the captain possessed discretionary authority equivalent to that of Yu Country officials.
How to handle Su Xinghuo, and whether to believe his words, rested entirely on his decision.
"Captain."
A middle-aged man with sharp eyes, wearing a gray robe adorned with the badge of the Philosophy Society, stepped forward and said gravely, "Why not give it a try?"
"Dai Fu Master, you also believe him?"
The captain appeared hesitant. The middle-aged man, Dai Xu, was a Cloud Patrol Realm Talisman Master from Luoyang College. He had served on the ship for many years, crafting essential talismans such as Wind Talismans and Liliang Talismans, making him an important figure onboard.
"The Heir Prince was a friend of mine," Talisman Master Dai Xu stated. "He often mentioned his good friend Su Xinghuo, praising him as an exceptional Doctor. Since the Heir Prince trusted Su Xinghuo, I also believe he is trustworthy."
He continued, "Furthermore, the theory he just described regarding the decrease in body temperature is indeed accurate. It is recorded in ’Forensic Pathology’ and cannot be fabricated."
"Alright."
After brief consideration, the captain agreed with Dai Xu’s assessment and gestured for the crew to unlock Su Xinghuo’s handcuffs.
Su Xinghuo breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to reach for the thermometer on the table, he suddenly realized something and drew his hand back.
He turned to the captain and said, "Sir, I require a thermometer that is not from this room—as new as possible, preferably."
"Hm? Why is that?"
"This room was a sealed chamber before we entered, correct? This implies that anything within it could be evidence, potentially bearing the murderer’s fingerprints or other traces. Thus, the thermometer on the table cannot be used."
Su Xinghuo quickly added, "Actually, I have a medical thermometer in my medicine kit. However, given that I am currently the prime suspect, it would be best to use a different thermometer from the ship."
"Very well. Go fetch him a thermometer."
Following Su Xinghuo’s reasoning, the captain instructed a crew member to retrieve a thermometer. He then turned to disperse the idle onlookers gathered at the door—Xia Yuanjia’s murder was no small matter and required careful handling to prevent anyone from compromising the crime scene.
This kid... is quite clever indeed.
Li Ang silently retreated with the crowd, a certain admiration for Su Xinghuo growing within him.
His ability to leverage his status as a Doctor in such a short time, finding a path to avoid imprisonment and entrusting his fate to others, already set him far apart from those scholars who had studied themselves into a stupor.
"Manager An, please wait a moment."
Just as Li Ang was about to walk further away, he heard the captain call out to him.
Li Ang asked, "Hmm? Is there something you need?"
"There is."
The captain nodded. "The cabin numbers on this deck range from seven to twenty.
However, due to strong winds yesterday, passengers in cabins fifteen through twenty all remained ashore overnight.
This means that last night, the only people present in the cabins on this deck were those in rooms seven through fourteen.
Considering the receptionist ed not seeing any unauthorized individuals entering or exiting throughout the night, therefore..."
Li Ang stated, "So you suspect the murderer of Xia Yuanjia is among the occupants of cabins seven through fourteen."
The captain nodded, then summoned the other passengers who had been on this deck the previous night, instructing them to wait in cabin ten, opposite cabin nine, until they could be questioned.
Cabin ten’s interior was similarly luxurious, only marginally less opulent than Xia Yuanjia’s cabin nine.
Besides Li Ang, there were five other people in the room:
A young man in rich attire from cabin seven, accompanied by his Kunlun Slave. They introduced themselves as Feilian and Yan Fu. Feilian was a nobleman from Jing Country.
Wu Yunjun from cabin ten, a portly and exceedingly wealthy merchant from Zhou Kingdom.
Shi Yajing from cabin twelve, a young and beautiful singer aboard the SS Sea Charm, who frequently stayed in that cabin.
And Dai Xu, the Talisman Master from cabin fourteen.
As for cabin eight, it was occupied by Sikong Ji and Sikong Qiu. They were retainers from the Prince of Zhou’s Manor, entrusted by the Prince to escort Xia Yuanjia back on the SS Sea Charm.
With Xia Yuanjia now dead, Sikong Ji and Sikong Qiu would undoubtedly bear some responsibility. Thus, they stood in the corridor with grim expressions, coldly observing Su Xinghuo employ his forensic expertise to examine Xia Yuanjia’s body.
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the room as everyone silently observed one another.
Li Ang was the first to break the silence. "I thought this journey would be uneventful; I never expected such an incident.
Did any of you know the Heir Prince?"
"I knew him."
Singer Shi Yajing pursed her lips, her expression mournful. "I am from Wu County in Zhou Kingdom. I received considerable kindness from the Heir Prince aboard the SS Sea Charm and even saw him last night. I never imagined something like this could happen so suddenly."
"Indeed, who could have foreseen this?" Zhou Kingdom merchant Wu Yunjun sighed. "The Heir Prince was kind-hearted and gentle, with scarcely an enemy. I cannot imagine who would harbor such intense malice as to murder him on this ship."
"Oh?"
The youth calling himself Feilian leaned against a bookshelf, a smirk playing on his lips. "Why do I get the feeling," he said, "that all of you had a motive to kill him?"
"What?"
Hearing this, Wu Yunjun (who was also the occupant of cabin ten) paled, his voice stern. "Young man, you can be careless with what you eat, but not with what you say."
"Is that so? Then why did I see you on deck yesterday afternoon, desperately pleading with Xia Yuanjia?"
Feilian tilted his chin towards Wu Yunjun, then flicked his gaze towards Shi Yajing.
"And why did I overhear you arguing with Xia Yuanjia last night?"