“Why?”

“Because in this coffin, there’s ginger powder. Ginger powder can effectively preserve a corpse from dampness,” Ji Yinshu replied.

Jingrong didn’t understand.

“Among all the coffins excavated from Linshan, it seems only these skeletal remains had ginger powder placed inside. Could it be that someone deliberately put it there?”

Ji Yinshu shook her head. “When we opened all the coffins for screening last time, I smelled the scent of ginger powder. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, assuming it was because the burial location of this coffin was different, which caused the skeletal remains in this coffin to decompose more slowly. But the more I think about it, the stranger it seems. Among all the coffins, only these skeletal remains have the scent of ginger powder, and this scent emanates from the clothing the skeleton is wearing.”

After hearing this, Jingrong looked carefully into the coffin several more times.

That tiny bit of clothing clung tightly to several ribs of the skeleton.

Jingrong’s sharp brows pressed together as he pondered. “The fire at Duke Yuguo’s manor—even if clothing could remain, it should have been burned black. But this garment doesn’t seem to have any traces of being burned. It doesn’t look like the person died by fire at all. Furthermore, the deceased was a servant from Duke Yuguo’s manor—why would they be wearing silk? Something’s not right.”

In Ji Yinshu’s sharp eyes, a subtle gleam slowly gathered.

Her fingers touched the edge of the coffin as an idea took shape in her mind.

“Someone tampered with this coffin after it was buried.”

“Hm?”

“If my guess is correct, there’s only one explanation—after this coffin was buried, someone reopened it, changed the deceased into clean silk clothing, and sprinkled ginger powder to preserve the corpse.”

Someone reopened the coffin?

Jingrong was astonished!

Ji Yinshu continued, “That person specifically changed the clothes for the person in this coffin, which indicates a significant relationship with this individual. That’s why they would reopen the coffin after burial, change the clothes, and scatter ginger powder. And that person didn’t do it openly—it appears they absolutely didn’t want to be discovered.”

Analysis complete!

It didn’t sound like empty speculation.

Jingrong asked, “Has the deceased’s portrait been completed?”

“Not yet.” She drew a light breath and continued, “Never mind. For now, I’ll first complete this person’s portrait, then investigate this matter. Perhaps that person who came to change the deceased’s clothes and scatter ginger powder is the one who escaped from the fire.”

“If that’s truly the case, it would make things easier.”

“Once this portrait is complete, I believe the ‘Linjing Case’ should make some progress.”

Jingrong nodded, expressing agreement.

Ji Yinshu wiped her hands, turned around, and gestured to the two servants who had been standing nearby, having them carry the coffin into the room. They also lifted the skeletal remains out of the coffin and placed them directly on the coffin lid, covering them with a white cloth.

By now, the sky had darkened!

Jingrong also didn’t mention the Yufu County disaster relief matter to Ji Yinshu.

Seeing it was getting late, Ji Yinshu invited Jingrong to stay for dinner.

Four small dishes were served on the table—no meat.

Greens!

Coriander!

Tofu!

Winter melon!

All vegetarian—looking at it killed one’s appetite.

Seeing this made Jingrong’s heart ache. This woman living here eating this every day—how could her health improve?

So—

“You still need to eat better to nourish your body.”

As he spoke, he prepared to have people remove everything from the table, ordering, “Go bring some nutritious things. Stew a pot of chicken, and bring some bird’s nest soup as well. Quickly now.”

“Yes!” The maids busily prepared to clear everything away.

But just as they picked up the cabbage, Ji Yinshu stopped them. She brought all the dishes that had just been removed back to the table.

While saying, “Although these vegetables can’t compare to the deliciousness of meat and fish, they’re still nutritious. On the contrary, all that meat and fish is greasy and bad for the body. Moreover, eating it so late at night is bad for the stomach and can easily cause illness.”

Cause illness!

Eating this so late at night!

The corners of Jingrong’s mouth twitched as he swallowed his objection.

The four small dishes were placed back, and Ji Yinshu leisurely picked up her chopsticks and began eating.

Jingrong watched without speaking!

“Not eating?” She raised her eyes to ask.

Jingrong swallowed a few times before picking up his chopsticks to eat.

At this moment—

A maid at the door said, “Master Ji, Miss Ji has arrived.”

Ji Wanxin?

Just as these words were spoken, Ji Wanxin walked to the doorway with gentle steps. Her tender, water-like gaze lifted lightly, her curved eyes first settling on Jingrong, with a slight look of bashfulness.

She actually appeared somewhat shy, then quickly looked away, her hands within her clothing tightening involuntarily.

And she concealed this inadvertent moment extremely well!

Neither Ji Yinshu nor Jingrong noticed.

Seeing Ji Wanxin arrive, Ji Yinshu quickly stood up and walked to the doorway, grasping her hand.

“Why did you come so late?”

She lowered her head, the corners of her lips lifting slightly as she said, “I just wanted to come see you.”

“Come in quickly, it’s cold outside.”

Ji Yinshu hurried her inside, and the maids removed the cloak from her shoulders.

“Have you eaten?”

Ji Wanxin shook her head.

Ji Yinshu pulled her to sit down and had someone fetch a bowl and chopsticks.

From beginning to end, Jingrong didn’t glance at Ji Wanxin even once, picking up a piece of winter melon and putting it in his mouth. After chewing a few times, his brow relaxed.

Mm, it actually has flavor!

Ji Wanxin secretly glanced at him, asking cautiously, “Why is Your Highness here today?”

Jingrong acted as if he hadn’t heard.

Instead, Ji Yinshu tossed out, “He just came over to mooch a meal today.”

Mooch a meal?

What does that mean!

Ji Wanxin generally understood the meaning.

But her heart felt dejected. Her peripheral vision kept glancing toward Jingrong. She bit her lip, maintaining a faint smile throughout.

Ji Yinshu glanced at Jingrong. That fellow was eating heartily in big mouthfuls, savoring those supposedly “non-nutritious” vegetables in his bowl.

It looked quite delicious!

Ji Yinshu couldn’t help but kick him under the table.

Ah—

Jingrong cried out softly in pain.

He looked up, glaring at Ji Yinshu and demanding, “What? Upset that I’m finishing your vegetables?”

“No!”

“Then what’s wrong with you? Itchy feet?”

“…”

“Then eat properly.”

Having finished speaking, he resumed eating.

The corners of Ji Yinshu’s mouth twitched in exasperation.

Brother, my sister is here! At least show some acknowledgment, right? At the very least, you should say something!

As it was—

Ji Yinshu could only turn to Ji Wanxin, saying, “You should eat more. This winter melon is good for you.”

As she spoke, she placed a piece of winter melon in her bowl.

“Yinshu, you don’t need to take care of me.”

The two exchanged pleasantries, treating Jingrong as though he were invisible.

“By the way, I’ve prepared some medicinal herbs. Take them back with you later,” Ji Yinshu said.

“Medicinal herbs?”

“Your body is weak. There happens to be a medicinal herb in this courtyard called qingjie that’s good for your constitution. Remember to soak it in water for several days, then crush it and brew it with dew water. Drink one cup daily.”

Qingjie was a medicine for dispelling cold!