However, Judge Dee is not satisfied with this explanation. Through the help of Ma Joong, a former boxer and one of his trusted assistants, he embarks on an investigation and brings Sheng Pa, a lowly ruffian disguised as a mendicant monk, to justice for having committed the crime. .
At the same time, he solves the case of the secret door to the Buddhist Temple. His assistant Tao Gan brings it to his attention that the temple of Boundless Mercy has become the wealthiest entity in the city due to the supposed miraculous power of the goddess Kwang Yin to grant offspring to childless couples who spend the night meditating at the temple. The judge and his lieutenants are highly suspicious of the temple, but are unable to find anything until the judge employs the help of two former prostitutes from another district, Apricot and Blue Jade Yang. By going undercover as the wide of a rich official from the capital, Apricot discovers the secret door to the ladies" chamber through which the monks would enter and rape the women, and then demand large sums of money and gifts in order not to expose and dishonour them. .
Finally, Judge Dee solves the case of the skeleton under the bell, where an ancient family feud leads to a nine fold murder and the killing of the evil merchant Lin Fan's son by his own hands. The case reveals a twisted tale of revenge and bloodshed. The plaintiff, who presents herself as Mrs. Liang, turns out to be none other than the wife of the accused. Mrs. Lin nee Liang, had held a grudge against her husband ever since he cold-bloodedly killed her brother and raped her sister in law, and then proceeded to have her entire family destroyed. Judge Dee convicts Lin Fan on a legal technicality and Mrs. Lin commits suicide. .
The book contains a survey of the three cases by neutral observers after all is solved; in chapter 24, p. 229, officials in the capital discuss the cases and the verdicts.