Grand Song Investigator (Mystery of Mei City)

Author: Qian Linsen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: This play is based on Song Ci, the pioneer of forensic medicine in the world, a renowned Song Dynasty forensic medicine master, and tells the story of his life dedicated to criminal investigation and examination. It fills two gaps in ancient dramas about Qing officials solving cases: Song Ci's pioneered forensic examination and logical reasoning. With these two "knives," Song Ci unravels the truth behind one mystery after another in baffling and suspenseful headless murder cases. He makes the dead speak and lets the bones cry injustice. His extraordinary investigative methods and storylines that are surprising yet reasonable leave audiences in awe. Song Ci served as the Director of Criminal Investigations in Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan, and the capital region, and was later known as Song the Judge. He devoted his life to criminal investigation and judgment, being resolute and prioritizing the lives of the people. Through long-term efforts in investigating and punishing injustices, Song Ci accumulated experience and compiled the first legal monograph in history, The Washing Away of Wrongs. Song Ci's father committed suicide by poison after wrongly judging a case, taking responsibility for his actions. Determined not to repeat his father's mistakes, Song Ci resolved never to engage in criminal investigations again. However, his close friend, the magistrate Meng, died in a fire on his way to Meixian. Upon arriving in Meixian to pay his respects, Song Ci discovered that Meng had been murdered and then burned, with the crime scene cleverly disguised. Suspecting that the killer was once a highly skilled forensic examiner, Song Ci noted that the power in Meixian was held by Yang, the chief clerk, who was himself a forensic examiner. Song Ci wondered how a mere clerk could dare to murder the magistrate and hold absolute power in Meixian. He resolved to uncover Yang's. After successfully solving the Meixian mystery, Song Ci resumed his path as a judge and was appointed as a Director of Criminal Investigations by the court. In Jiazhou, two hundred thousand taels of treasury silver were stolen, and the treasury official, Sun Jun, committed suicide out of fear. Song Ci and Yuan Jie, the co-judge of Jiazhou, worked together to solve the case, recovering a large amount of stolen silver at the home of the prefect. At first, the case seemed like a success, pleasing the court and earning Song Ci and Yuan Jie promotions. However, Song Ci was not satisfied. He believed that Sun Jun's death was suspicious and that the stolen silver found in the prefect's home was embezzled funds, not the treasury silver. Yuan Jie was suspected of embezzlement and negligence. But where was the missing two hundred thousand taels of treasury silver? Over the past decade, Song Ci had solved countless cases. Yet, to his surprise, he himself became the accused, with Wu Miaoquan, the prefect of Lin'an, presiding over the trial. Wu had once been punished by Song Ci for reckless disregard for human life years ago. To defend the Minister of War, Shi Wenjun, who was falsely accused of treason, Song Ci himself was imprisoned. Song Ci's wife, Xue Yuzhen, had a close friendship with the princess since childhood, who helped Song Ci secure a chance to defend himself in court. Thus, Song Ci, shackled and in prison, continued to judge cases, causing those who had falsely accused him to restlessly. A skeleton led to the discovery of a mysterious estate, whose owner, though a commoner, had extensive connections. In his home, there were eight large chests filled with secrets that high officials could not reveal. The powerful figures in the capital bowed to him in fear and respect. Song Ci used all his wits to present these eight chests to the court, but a fire reduced all evidence to ashes. Song Ci finally realized that the court was the greatest behind the backs of corrupt officials. Disheartened, Song Ci resigned from office, but his The Washing Away of Wrongs became a timeless classic, revered by forensic experts in later generations. This volume includes: The Mystery of Meicheng, The Injustice of Taiping, The Case of the Li Family, The Urban Death Case, The Headless Case of Maozhuwu, and The Case of the Stolen Fan.