By the time they arrived at Linshan, it was already the hour of Xu!

This had originally been a desolate area, but now it was surrounded by government officials.

On the ground all around, dozens of torches were planted, illuminating this pitch-black ruined place quite brightly.

Capital Magistrate was there, the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was there, and even the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice who had only recently assumed office was also there.

Even stranger, even Vice Minister Shen Changqin of the Ministry of Rites was present.

Did this case have something to do with the Ministry of Rites?

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong descended from the carriage, and those officials came forward to bow.

“Why has Your Highness come?”

The one who spoke was Lord Yu, the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

This person was a smiling tiger, spoke in extremely smooth bureaucratic tones, and was also very slippery in his dealings.

He had originally been just a minor clerk in the Court of Judicial Review who wrote records!

His path to promotion—just half a year.

Impressive!

Even the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was somewhat wary of him, afraid that this person would climb all the way up and even seize his position as the actual head, which would be absolutely disastrous.

Therefore, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was the master on the surface, but secretly, he ingratiated himself with this Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review who was two ranks below him.

Jingrong glanced at him but didn’t like this person, turning instead to ask Capital Magistrate.

“Approximately when will it be finished?”

“Probably have to wait until noon tomorrow. At the earliest, tomorrow morning.”

“Move a bit more quickly. The weather hasn’t been good lately. If the coffins get rained on, it’ll be troublesome.”

“Yes.”

Capital Magistrate turned his head and called out to his subordinates to hurry up.

Lord Yu standing nearby had a stiff expression!

Ji Yunshu stood quietly beside Jingrong, watching those people use knives to cut down the tangled branches on the grave mounds one by one, then seeing some people holding torches preparing to burn the scattered grass more cleanly.

She suddenly called out—

“Wait!”

A command to stop!

The several people holding torches trembled, nearly dropping their torches.

Everyone turned strange looks toward Ji Yunshu.

This… was that Master Ji?

Wasn’t she the one who wore a mask?

That fair face really did look like a woman’s!

Ignoring these strange looks, Ji Yunshu calmly walked over.

She said to the several people holding torches: “The bodies have been buried underground for fourteen years. The corpses have long since decomposed, leaving only a pile of white bones. Although human bones are relatively hard, they’re also quite fragile. If you use fire to burn the grass above, once the ground catches fire and the temperature rises, it will affect the white bones inside the coffins. It will become much more difficult to examine the corpses and identify their appearances.”

With this explanation, everyone suddenly understood!

“So there’s such a consideration!”

Capital Magistrate hurriedly had people withdraw the torches—they could just dig up the earth and raise the coffins directly.

“Fortunately Master Ji reminded us, otherwise it would have been terrible.” Capital Magistrate was extremely impressed.

The title “Master Ji,” after the disappearance cases and the recent Qujiang incident, had already made a name for itself.

How could the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Lord Yu, stand idly by when faced with such a figure?

He came forward ingratiatingly: “I’ve long wanted to speak a few words with Master Ji, but you’ve been too busy, and this official didn’t want to disturb you. Today is truly fortunate.”

What fortune, my foot!

She smiled in response but didn’t answer!

Then she turned her gaze toward Shen Changqin.

Her future second brother-in-law.

“This must be Lord Shen?”

Shen Changqin was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, so naturally his temperament was more rigorous and gentle. He nodded and cupped his hands politely: “Indeed.”

“I’ve long heard that Lord Shen is honest and upright as an official, handles affairs methodically, and moreover has a dignified bearing. This is indeed true.”

“You flatter me, Master. This official is actually not as good as you. Watching you investigate cases is truly admirable. As for dignified bearing, that’s just an outer shell.”

Someone from the Ministry of Rites was indeed from the Ministry of Rites.

The way he spoke and his choice of words were different!

When Ji Wanxin married this man in the future, their days would surely be harmonious and joyful!

Ji Yunshu nodded and didn’t respond further.

During their conversation, Jingrong’s face had turned dark and sour!

The thousand-year-old vinegar jar was just like this—no matter when or where, it could be overturned.

Having just sent off Su Ziluo, how had another Shen Changqin appeared?

However, Jingrong wasn’t annoyed.

At this moment, someone shouted: “It’s out.”

Looking over, at the leftmost spot, a coffin had been dug up and was being pulled up with thick ropes.

Everyone surrounded it, torches moving closer as well.

The heavy coffin was slowly pulled up and placed steadily on the ground.

In the air, there immediately spread the smell of decayed wood and aged medicinal herbs.

Ji Yunshu walked two steps in front of the coffin. While others wrinkled their noses, she was completely unaffected, using her curved finger to lightly tap the coffin a few times.

“This is nanmu wood, relatively thick and solid, with very low density. Inside, there should be no water seepage.”

“Density?” Capital Magistrate didn’t understand.

“For now, use paper dipped in water to seal the opening of the coffin lid, then carry it back. Tomorrow we’ll open the coffins.”

She instructed.

Jingrong’s brow furrowed: “Why use paper dipped in water?”

“To prevent the white bones inside from being contaminated by air. Moreover, carrying them back all the way through this late night will surely expose them to moisture. So, using paper dipped in water to seal the opening—fighting poison with poison, so to speak.”

What?

It was like listening to clouds and fog!

Others scratched their heads in confusion, but Jingrong was already used to it. He’d heard plenty of those strange and unusual terms.

Capital Magistrate’s people, following Ji Yunshu’s instructions, quickly dealt with this coffin and carried it to the idle residence in the west part of the city.

Immediately after, several more were dug up.

Time passed bit by bit. On the deep mountain at night, it naturally grew much colder.

But Ji Yunshu didn’t dare leave, afraid these rough men would handle the coffins improperly, causing problems inside.

So she could only remain at Linshan all night.

Of course, if she wouldn’t leave, Jingrong wouldn’t leave either. And if Jingrong didn’t leave, those officials didn’t dare leave either.

Until the next morning at dawn, all sixty-seven coffins had been completely dug up.

Ji Yunshu went to the residence in the west part of the city along with the last coffin that was dug up.

Before this, Jingrong pulled her aside: “Rest for a while.”

“I’m not tired!”

“Stubborn woman.”

“…”

This was how she investigated cases!

She’d gone three days and nights without eating or drinking before.

In the end, Jingrong could only follow along with her.

The residence in the west part of the city was called Bamboo Creek Garden. Though its area was only half the size of Prince Rong’s manor, its layout was excellent.

Like the residence’s name, it had bamboo and a small stream.

Extremely quiet!

The environment was also good!

It was just that in the rear courtyard, sixty-seven coffins were arranged neatly in rows, which was truly rather eerie.

Ji Yunshu dismissed all of Capital Magistrate’s people, saying: “Before the portraits come out, you don’t need to come over.”

“Don’t you need help?”

“Not for now.”

“Oh, alright!”

Capital Magistrate cupped his hands toward Jingrong and then left with everyone.

Lord Yu and Shen Changqin naturally left as well.

Back to sleep!

In the spacious rear courtyard, only Ji Yunshu, Jingrong, and his few personal guards remained.

“Sixty-seven coffins, fourteen years buried, all burned to death. If I have to draw them all out one by one, even a year’s time would be difficult.”