Chapter 115: The Song Family’s Mastery — The Threefold Bone Steaming Test

I put on my gloves and carefully picked up the bones, repeating the previous procedure. This time, however, I didn't sprinkle white vinegar. Instead, I laid mugwort leaves beneath the bones and covered them with a straw mat.

The "Threefold Bone Steaming Test" is an extremely subtle postmortem examination technique recorded in the authentic Washing Away Wrongs manuscript. It's the signature legacy of the Song family's greatest ancestor — Song Ci, the famous grand judicial inspector of the Song Dynasty! This method can reveal trauma marks from before death and even extract drug residues from the bone marrow. It was my first time performing it.

After a long wait, I kept my eyes fixed on the straw mat. The pit's temperature was high, and steam steadily seeped through the mat. I didn't even realize how drenched in sweat I had become until Huang Xiaotao pulled out a tissue to wipe my face.

When I lifted the straw mat, a strong scent of mugwort filled the air. But after removing the leaves, the bones underneath showed no visible changes.

Huang Xiaotao's hopeful expression instantly fell. I knew she always believed that whenever I got involved, no case was unsolvable — but this time, even I wasn't confident.

Not wanting to shake the team's morale, I kept my inner doubts to myself and instructed, "Yuan Chao, help me gather the bones again. We'll test one last time."

Huang Xiaotao asked, "Why can't we test more than three times?"

"It's not that we can't, but further tests would be meaningless," I explained. "White vinegar is acidic, mugwort is alkaline. Together, they detect residues of acid- and base-based drugs. If both fail, then there's truly no drug residue."

The third method differed from the previous two — this time, I sprinkled white vinegar and placed mugwort underneath. As we waited, anxiety gnawed at me. Huang Xiaotao quietly comforted me, "It's okay. If nothing shows, we'll find another way."

…

…

I gave a soft hum of agreement. If nothing showed up, then there was likely no other way. These bones were the only evidence we had, and that meant the wife's murderer might walk free.

The Washing Away Wrongs text says bone marrow can retain drug properties for a very long time; even ancient tomb skeletons can reveal the medicines their owners took in life. I silently prayed: "Ancestor Song Ci, please bless us to clear this poor wife's name!"

When we uncovered the mat again, before the steam fully dispersed, Huang Xiaotao rushed forward. She tried to hide the disappointment in her voice: "Song Yang, there's nothing here."

My heart sank. I picked up each bone carefully to inspect it. Huang Xiaotao encouraged me, "Don't lose hope. I trust your method. Maybe the killer truly never used drugs."

"Wait!" I suddenly grabbed a rib bone and noticed numerous pale yellow droplets like dew on the inner surface. Bringing it closer to my nose, I sniffed and said, "This is anesthetic from the bone marrow. Quickly, get a bottle!"

I collected some droplets into a small plastic vial and sealed the rib bone in an evidence bag, ready to hand it over to the forensic team.

Huang Xiaotao beamed, "This is fantastic! We've got the key evidence!"

Wang Yuanchao looked skeptical. "Are you sure it's not preservative applied during specimen preparation?"

I explained, "Impossible. Preservatives wouldn't appear only in one spot like this. These droplets seep out from the bone joints, so they must have been absorbed before death."

Wang Yuanchao frowned. "So how can we use this as court evidence?"

"The work of forensic examiners and mortuary scientists overlap," I said calmly. "Let Xiao Zhou extract the bone marrow for chemical analysis. If he detects anesthetic components, he can issue an official report — that can be admitted as evidence."

Curious, Huang Xiaotao teased, "Wang Yuanchao, you're unusually cautious today. What's going on?"

He smiled, though inside he felt the same as me — worried that a mistake might lead to Huang Xiaotao being suspended. In some ways, she was his protégé.

We packed up and rushed back to the bureau with the evidence. Xiao Zhou worked through the night analyzing the bone marrow. He wasn't aware of the case's gravity but praised us when handing over the report: "Detective Song, I'm impressed — analyzing bone marrow like this is ingenious."

I smiled faintly. "Bones aren't just the body's frame; they're organic systems. Bone marrow contains blood-forming cells and exchanges with the bloodstream, so drug residues remain."

"Impressive, you could write a paper on this and fill a gap in forensic science," Xiao Zhou said admiringly.

I thought to myself, finally some credit for those five credits at school. Little did I expect that paper would later revise forensic textbooks across universities and even earn me a lifetime honorary Red Cross medal from Boston University.

Xiao Zhou's analysis identified the drug as isoflurane — a medical inhalation anesthetic that causes full-body nerve paralysis upon inhalation.

The next day, Huang Xiaotao prepared to arrest Zou Wei. I advised her to get an official arrest warrant first to legitimize the operation. She said the warrant had to go through Captain Lin, who would definitely reject it. So they decided to make the arrest first and report later. I agreed reluctantly.

That day, I had no mood to do anything. At the bureau, I anxiously waited until afternoon when Huang Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao returned — but Zou Wei was not arrested. Shocked, I asked what happened. Had the evidence been invalidated?

Before Huang Xiaotao could answer, Captain Lin stepped out and said, "Enough standing there. Come to my office."

Passing by me, Huang Xiaotao whispered, "That guy is slippery — he came prepared with evidence to counter us."

I tried to follow them in, but Captain Lin politely stopped me, "Song Yang, you don't need to be involved. I'll discuss the case with them."

As the door shut, I heard Captain Lin's furious voice: "Huang Xiaotao, what do you think you're doing investigating Zou Wei? Ignoring my orders like that? And you, Wang Yuanchao — no discipline at all. How dare you call yourselves police officers? If everyone acted like you, how are we different from criminals?"

His scolding went on for half an hour. I felt heartache for Huang Xiaotao standing outside.

When they finally came out, Huang Xiaotao forced a bitter smile: "I've been suspended."

I felt guilty. "This is my fault. If I hadn't found the case's weak points…"

She cut me off, "I don't blame you. Let's go get some coffee and clear our heads."

At a Starbucks, I asked what evidence Zou Wei had presented. Huang Xiaotao said it was a medical record of her deceased wife, showing a sinus surgery three days before death. Zou Wei claimed the anesthetic seeped into the bone marrow then.

I underestimated him. Why would a guilty man keep his late wife's medical record for a year? Though it could also be forged. He used to be an insurance claims agent — connections with doctors wouldn't be surprising.

Our confident evidence had been shattered. Huang Xiaotao and Wang Yuanchao were temporarily stripped of police duties. It was a total defeat.

I suggested calling Sun Laohu for help, but Huang Xiaotao shook her head. "That's like a child coming home crying after causing trouble. I can't bear that kind of shame."

I insisted, "The case is the priority. We can set aside pride."

She nodded. "I will contact him — but first, I must find the key evidence to bring Zou Wei down. Then I'll use Sun Laohu's power to bring him to justice."

While we discussed the case, Wang Yuanchao kept making calls. Huang Xiaotao scolded, "Are you even listening? This is just a suspension. Are you planning to look for a new job already?"

Wang Yuanchao hung up. "My informant says Zou Wei recently saw a traditional Chinese medicine doctor…"