Chapter 5: To Solve the Riddle


    # 5. To Solve the Riddle


    About fifteen minutester, two servants brought in the items requested, and ced them in the hall.


    The three investigators looked at the instruments brought, before turning their heads to look at Xu Qian.


    Governor Chen began sternly, Everything that you wanted is here. I expect a satisfactory conclusion.


    His attitude was somewhat changed.


    In that fifteen minutes, this fourth rank official racked his brains, and could not but admit, that Xu Qians deductions had merit, however there was still much left that needed to be exined - such as the fact that the silver did indeed fall into the water.


    What hidden mysteries lie within, he could not figure out.


    Xu Qian nodded, squatting down in front of his items. In front of him, was a candle, salt, bowl, and iron wire. What he wanted to do was very simple, merely high school chemistry: extract metallic sodium.


    Being in an ancient era, there was basically no way to extract sodium, due to two main points: electricity, and the melting point of sodium chloride.


    However in this world, Xu Qian knew that there was one ss of people that could do the job: the sixth rank of arcanists of the Sitian Jian: the Alchemists!


    The Masters of Alchemy were well known by all throughout the Great Feng, their many numerous inventions and creations have long enteredmon use.


    Xu Qian wasnt sure if the exploding silver was really metallic sodium or not, but this was not important. What was important was opening a new direction of thought that could exin all the events that had happened.


    In solving a case, making bold assumptions and careful deductions were essential. Then, one must prove ones assumptions, and find evidence.


    In his previous life, he had gone through a murder case that left a particrly deep impression on him. The investigators worked overnight, finding new approaches and new leads, making many different predictions, and using these as a basis, went out to look for evidence.


    Then, it was again back to reasoning and deduction.


    There was a chance that the tax silver was not metallic sodium, however it was very much within an alchemists ability to do such a thing.


    And thats all thats needed.


    To guide these important people back onto the right path, he had to do this. As long as the path was right, one could follow the trail to its end, and find the real perpetrator behind the crime.


    If they were still struggling in the theory that it was yaoguai, then the case would never be solved. Even if it were eventually solved, he would already be sent far far away by the crown.


    He dissolved the rough salt in the water, stirring it, before covering the bowl opening with paper, and pouring the salt water into it.


    After filtering, he put the bowl on top of the candle to heat, using a bamboo slip to stir it constantly.


    Soon after, the saltwater had evaporated, and the crystals that grew within the bowl was purified sodium chloride. In essense, recrystallising salt to remove impurity.


    Governor Chen, Li Yuchun, and the extremely beautiful Caiwei stood beside him, looking at his work with full concentration.


    Xu Qian raised his head, cracking a smile at the yellow-skirted girl, Madam, you must be a disciple of the Sitian Jian, right?


    He had noticed the feng-shui te at her waist. This little thing, apart from the Sitian Jians disciples, no one would ever use.


    She mmed affirmation, before saying grinningly, My teacher is the Grandmaster of the Sitian Jian.


    That fine, beautiful oval face, like a shiny round egg, white with not an imperfection.


    *A disciple of the Sitian Jian how big her breasts are I guess doesnt matter as much* Xu Qian carried on with a kindly tone, If you wouldnt mind, could you help me melt these crystals.


    The melting point of sodium chloride was roughly 800 degrees celsius.


    The yellow-skirted girl pursed her lips, Controlling fire is only an ability that the Masters of Alchemy have. Im only a Feng-Shui Master.


    However, I have this magical item that my teacher gave me. She suddenly switched tones, and from her waist pulled off her feng-shui te, and yed with it a bit with jade-like fingers, sending qi into the te. The character for fire suddenly lit up.


    Stand back!


    Xu Qian immediately retreated, as soon after, a eye-wateringly bright tongue of me burst from the te, consuming the bowl.


    Stop! Xu Qian immediately yelled for her to stop, before quickly inserting the two metal wires into the bowl, shouting Now electricity - no - lightning! Make sure to control the voltage  um  this step is rather difficult, maybe well fail several times.


    She turned her feng-shui te, and tapped the lightning character. The air suddenly cracked with a few bolts of lightning, as they crashed into the metal wires.


    Hissss. the melted sodium chloride underwent a violent chemical reaction.


    Stop!


    Xu Qian held his breath, leaning forward to look into the bowl, as a nugget of shiny silver metaly within, surrounding it some not yet melted crystals, and impurities.


    *We seeded first time the voltage was perfect* Xu Qian was pleasantly surprised.


    To extract metallic sodium using electrolysis, the voltage must be between 6 to 15 volts. He had already made mental preparation to fail several times.


    But he never thought that heaven was smiling on him today, and let him seed on the first run.


    Governor Chen and Li Yuchun couldnt resist any longer, rushing over to look. In the cup,y a nugget of silvery metal. At first nce, it had some simrity to white silver. Chens pupils shrank, as he felt a deep shock and disbelief. Li Yuchun forcefully closed his hands into a fist, staring nkly at the silvery metal nugget, as in his mind, there was as if a bolt of lightning had shot through it, and scattered all the mist.


    Good sirs, please look. Xu Qian picked up the metallic silver, wrapping it in paper, and weighing it in his hand.


    This is much lighter than silver, however on the outside it looks extremely simr. If a person were to try pass these off as real silver, could they not seed in his aim? Please, hold it and see.


    He gave the metal to Governor Chen. At this time, the shininess of the metallic sodium had faded, and it looked almost identical to silver.


    Li Yuchun took it from Governor Chen, weighed it, and with shing eyes eximed It really is much lighter. Supposing that they were escorting a shipment of this, then everything lines up. Miss Caiwei, try it.


    The yellow-skirted Caiwei took the metal from Li Yuchun, and made a simr motion, before staring at Xu Qian with a strange look on her face. You- youre an alchemist?


    *No, Im not, Im just following the principles of chemistry.*


    Schrly minds were after all sharper, as after Governor Chens surprise faded, he suddenly shook his head, No, no, even if the silver was swapped with this thing, then whats exining the explosion? Unless there were yaoguai in the river, why would this fake silver explode?


    Xu Qian didnt respond, merely reaching out and taking the metallic sodium, waking over to the desk, and dropping it in the pen-washing cup.


    An intense me shot up, smoke rolling through the air.


    Boom!


    The metallic sodium reacted violently with the water, as many small cracks formed on the container that held the liquid.


    This- this- Governor Chen was stunned.


    When this fake silver touches water, it will explode. This can exin why when the silver fell into the water, it exploded with such vigour. Xu Qian exined.


    The middle aged man muttered, From the start, we were misled. The perpetrator behind this used magical wind and the explosion, to make us think it was yaoguai causing this, shifting the investigation to catching these monsters.


    No wonder the qi-seeing magic did not see any trace of them.


    Xu Qian added, After the silver fell into the water, the escorting soliders only recovered just over a thousand taels of silver. If my guess is correct, this silver was all on the outermostyer, to fool people.


    A perfect fit, and a perfect conclusion. All fell into ce.


    Xu Qian! the middle-aged man eximed approvingly, good, very good!


    Suddenly he frowned, his gaze fixating on Xu Qians crooked cor. he made to pat Xu Qians elbow, simultaneously pulling his cor straight.


    Xu Qian felt somewhat shocked and ttered, that this man would praise him like so.


    With a furrowed brow, Governor Chen piped up, If the silver was fake, where did the real silver go?


    Hearing this, Caiwei let out a serious look, From when the silver left the storehouse to entering the capital, it changed hands many times. If we were to find who was responsible, numerous officials would have to be put into jail. The difficulty of recoving the silver now is no less than finding a needle in a haystack. Plus, this is beyond our given scope, we must report to His Majesty.


    Chen nodded, he had the same idea.


    Li Yuchun however had a different opinion, On the path the silver took into the capital, it changed hands many times. If the silver was fake, then it should have been discovered ages ago. The only possibility could be that it was swapped recently.


    Governor Chens eyes lit up; this drastically reduced their area of investigation.


    Servants! Prepare the pnquin, quickly, prepare the pnquin, this official must set out. he hurriedly ran into the inner hall.


    The middle aged man swiftly followed.


    Xu Qian quickly shouted, Governor Sir! Please, dont forget your promise to this lowlymoner!