“Carry it over there.” Coroner Qian pointed to a shaded area.

Opening a coffin for autopsy was, after all, an extremely taboo matter, with many particulars that ordinary people didn’t know about.

Shao Mingyuan nodded to Chen Guang as a signal.

Chen Guang carefully looked at the exposed coffin and hesitated somewhat: “General, this coffin board looks quite thin. Moving it carelessly might cause problems.”

Hearing this, Qiao Zhao could no longer restrain herself and rushed around Shao Mingyuan to the edge of the open grave.

That was the coffin containing her father, Lord Qiao’s remains, made of the most ordinary wood. In just a few short months, it already showed signs of decay.

Qiao Zhao was overcome with great grief.

Although her parents and relatives were not extravagant people, they were still from a scholarly family. Not only did they suffer tragic deaths, but their final resting place was so desolate – how could their children bear this?

In front of everyone, Qiao Zhao grieved without showing any emotion. Shao Mingyuan saw this and felt pain in his heart, but could only comfort her quietly with his eyes.

“General?” Chen Guang hadn’t received instructions from the general and called out again.

Shao Mingyuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the village chief.

The village chief sighed: “There was no other way. The Qiao family was suddenly burned clean by that fire. Lord Qiao’s coffin was one that Old Wang from the village gave up – he had been preparing it for himself. At the time, they managed to gather seven or eight coffins total. Many of the Qiao family servants were just wrapped in straw mats and buried directly…”

The more Qiao Zhao listened, the worse her expression became. Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, trembled constantly, and if not for holding onto one breath, she would have nearly collapsed.

The Qiao family had few members, and many servants were like half-relatives.

She still remembered the two senior maids by her grandmother’s side. Although they had reached marriageable age, they were unwilling to marry. They had once said that they were fortunate to follow their mistress in reading and writing, understanding many principles. They were unwilling to randomly marry some fellow and muddle through life. In the future, if they met someone who understood their hearts, they would marry. If not, they would serve their mistress for life, reading when they wanted to read, practicing calligraphy when they wanted to write, and when free, teaching the girls from nearby villages to read would also be good.

Those two maids were both proper and well-mannered people who had always been proud to be part of the Qiao family. Now their fragrant souls had vanished like jade, yet they ended up with the fate of being wrapped in straw mats.

Why was this? Why did such a calamity befall her relatives?

Coroner Qian stepped forward and peered into the pit, then said to Shao Mingyuan: “Then don’t move it. Borrow some large umbrellas to block out the sun completely.”

Shao Mingyuan nodded and asked the village chief to borrow umbrellas.

Umbrellas were quickly brought, but who would hold them became a big problem.

One Imperial Guard turned pale and waved his hands: “Your Lordship, we can dig graves, but we really can’t hold umbrellas for this.”

These Imperial Guards came from good backgrounds and joined the Imperial Guard to gild themselves for future positions as generals in various camps. They had no objection to doing what they could within their abilities due to Shao Mingyuan’s status, but closely observing an autopsy was something no one could bear.

As soon as this Imperial Guard said this, all the other Imperial Guards stared hopefully at Yang Houcheng with pleading expressions.

Captain, we really can’t do this!

Yang Houcheng rubbed his forehead with a headache and looked at Shao Mingyuan.

Although he was the captain, these guys all had decent family backgrounds. It was already good that they usually listened to him. If he forced them to do something, not only would he offend people, but the key was that he couldn’t force them anyway.

The Imperial Guards were different from the Jinlin Guards – they were all young masters inside. Who was afraid of whom?

Shao Mingyuan’s sword-like eyebrows knitted together.

For this southern trip, to avoid making his superiors suspicious, he had openly only brought Ye Luo as his guard. These Imperial Guards weren’t his subordinates, so he had no authority to command them.

“I’ll do it.” Qiao Zhao suddenly spoke, breaking the brief silence.

Everyone’s gaze fell on her, their expressions surprised.

Qiao Zhao stood straight and repeated: “I’ll do it.”

“You can’t.” Coroner Qian suddenly said. Seeing everyone look at him, he smiled without warmth: “You need to assist me, just like that time at the morgue.”

Before Qiao Zhao could speak, Shao Mingyuan firmly refused: “No.”

Coroner Qian looked at him in surprise and raised his eyebrows in dissatisfaction: “Why not? I need an assistant, and I’ve taken a liking to this girl. If she doesn’t assist me, then I can’t proceed. Do you think opening a coffin for autopsy is that simple?”

Sweat beaded on Qiao Zhao’s forehead, dripping down in large drops. She steeled her heart and said, “Fine, I’ll assist you!”

This time was, of course, different from the time at the morgue.

At the morgue, she had felt more disgust and fear, but now, thinking that the person in the coffin was her father, that she would see his current state, and might even be directed by Coroner Qian to examine his entire body like at the morgue, she felt a sensation worse than death.

However, none of this would make her retreat. She didn’t even fear death – how could she fear moving forward while alive?

“No.” Shao Mingyuan turned his head, this time speaking to Qiao Zhao.

“General Shao—” Qiao Zhao began.

“You go wait over there.” Shao Mingyuan’s expression was solemn.

Qiao Zhao stood motionless: “General Shao, let’s listen to Coroner Qian on this matter.”

Coroner Qian had an eccentric temperament. If he walked away in a huff, that would be troublesome.

“Listen to me on this matter.” Shao Mingyuan said without hesitation, then said flatly: “A’Zhu, Binglu, help your young lady to wait in the shade.”

Qiao Zhao’s lips moved, but Shao Mingyuan had already turned his head away and said to Coroner Qian: “If Coroner Qian needs an assistant, I can do it.”

Coroner Qian frowned and said nothing.

Shao Mingyuan chuckled lightly: “Does Coroner Qian think I’m inferior to Miss Li? You can rest assured about this. When I was in the Northern Territories, I saw not ten thousand corpses then, at least eight thousand. I think assisting shouldn’t be a problem.”

Coroner Qian reluctantly nodded: “Very well, but if there are problems, immediately switch to her.”

That girl was Li Zhenhé’s disciple after all. Exposure to these things was originally a rare opportunity, but unfortunately the world was ignorant.

Shao Mingyuan looked at Coroner Qian with a slight smile: “Coroner Qian can rest assured, there definitely won’t be any problems.”

Qiao Zhao watched helplessly as Shao Mingyuan blocked her view completely. Her expression kept changing, and finally, she turned and walked toward the shaded area.

Although that fellow’s domineering manner was somewhat annoying, she appreciated his good intentions.

Frankly speaking, she felt a hidden sense of relief deep in her heart.

“Hurry and find people to hold umbrellas. There are so many corpses to examine.” Coroner Qian said impatiently.

“Tingquan, let me do it.” Yang Houcheng said, steeling himself.

Although he felt apprehensive inside, for his friend’s sake he could only grit his teeth and step up.

To cover the coffin completely, at least seven or eight people holding umbrellas would be needed. Shao Mingyuan simply gave up the idea of troubling his two friends and directly said to the village chief: “Please trouble the village chief to ask if any villagers are willing to help.”

“This—” The village chief looked troubled.

No one was willing!

“This Marquis will reward each person with a hundred taels of silver.”

The village chief’s eyes immediately lit up.

A hundred taels of silver? Many people had never seen so much money in their entire lives!

“Very well, this old man will go ask!”