“Do you want something to eat?” Ji Yunshu asked her.

Little Xiyue’s gaze remained fixed on the book in her hands, but she nodded. “Yes, I do.”

So she instructed Qiao’er to go fetch some pastries.

After flipping through a few pages, Xiyue looked up and asked, “Big brother, can I borrow this book? My home is right next door. I’ll return it to you after I finish reading it. My father locked the door to his study and won’t let anyone in. I haven’t looked at this book in so long.”

“Of course you can.”

“Then after I finish reviewing this one, can I also borrow these other books on the table?” She pointed at the other books on the table, her eyes full of longing.

Ji Yunshu smiled gently. “If you like reading them, you can take them anytime. When you finish, just come borrow more from me. Tell me what books you want to read—make a list if you like—and I’ll have someone find them for you.”

“Thank you, big brother.” She was so happy she couldn’t stop smiling. She closed “The Hundred Records” and placed it neatly in front of her, treating it with great care.

Though they had only met twice, Ji Yunshu inexplicably liked this little girl. She always felt… she was very much like herself. Not that they looked similar, but in personality. She remembered when she was ten years old, she was the same way.

Xiyue also tilted her head to look at him!

This big brother was truly handsome. The gaze that fell upon her was so gentle, immediately causing a shy feeling to bloom on her face, faintly reddening, as if it would burn all the way to her throat.

She opened her mouth to ask, “Big brother, will you always be here?”

“Probably… not.”

She became somewhat disappointed, her gaze dropping slightly. “This residence has been empty for many years. Today someone finally moved in, and such a good-looking big brother at that, but you’re going to leave. Why can’t you stay?”

“This is only temporary lodging.”

“Oh!” She drew out the sound, her voice somewhat sad.

Ji Yunshu raised her hand and lightly tapped her forehead with a finger. “Does no one play with you?”

She shook her head. “No. Although they all like me and say I’m clever, but… they don’t like being around me. The people at the private school don’t like talking to me either.”

How pitiful!

Looking at that little face, Ji Yunshu felt some heartache for her and said, “If you’re bored in the future, come over anytime. I happen to have nothing to do either.”

“Really?”

“Don’t you like kicking shuttlecocks? I like it too.”

“Big brother, I like you.” She beamed with a refreshing smile.

This confession came so unexpectedly!

And from a little girl no less. Ji Yunshu laughed softly, finding this little girl too adorable.

Outside the courtyard, Qiao’er was carrying pastries in when, before her feet could step through, she was suddenly blocked by Tang Si who appeared out of nowhere.

Without a word, Tang Si seized the plate of pastries from her hands.

“Miss Tang?”

“This is for A-Ji, right? I’ll take it in for you.” How righteous.

She strode inside.

Just in time to see Ji Yunshu rubbing Xiyue’s head.

She quickly walked over and set down the pastries.

Then she stared at the adorable little Xiyue and reached out to pinch her cheek hard. “Little girl, who are you?”

Her tone carried the harsh flavor of someone used to fighting and killing!

Little Xiyue’s face hurt a bit from the pinching. She quickly rubbed it a few times and looked strangely at this suddenly appearing strange woman, her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows furrowing.

“My name is Xiyue.” She answered honestly.

“Xiyue? What a nice name. But little girl, whose family are you from?”

“I live next door.”

“Then what are you doing running over here?”

“Looking for big brother to play.”

Question and answer, like interrogating a criminal.

Ji Yunshu quickly pulled Tang Si to sit down. “Don’t scare this little girl.”

“A-Ji, how am I scaring her? This little girl is quite cute. I like her very much.”

Then she reached out and pinched her cheek again.

Little Xiyue had a very good temper and didn’t get angry at all.

Tang Si seemed to become addicted and pinched her several more times.

Over the next two days, little Xiyue kept climbing over the wall to find Ji Yunshu to play, but each time she was caught by Tang Si, and naturally, little Xiyue was bullied again.

On the third day, she didn’t come anymore.

But Zuo Yao had someone bring news saying that tomorrow they would open the coffin—it was an auspicious day.

Ji Yunshu didn’t say much and agreed, then had the messenger return.

The next day!

Early in the morning, Zuo Yao brought people over to wait, planning to take everyone together to the cemetery to dig up the coffin. He had also informed Jingrong, but because he had other important matters, he didn’t go along.

When Aunt Xie learned yesterday that the coffin would be opened today, she had been anxious all night without sleep. This morning she insisted on going along.

After arriving at the burial ground, the people from the yamen received their orders and began digging up the earth with the tools they had brought.

The group worked very hard!

After all, Master Ji beside His Highness was watching right there. Perhaps if they dug the grave diligently and she was pleased for a moment, she might mention them favorably to His Highness, and it was possible they’d be rewarded with silver.

Thinking this way, those people worked even harder, digging until they were drenched in sweat.

Aunt Xie stood to the side, quietly sobbing.

During this time, Ji Yunshu offered a few words of comfort.

Seeing that they had already dug halfway, she walked over to instruct them, “Be careful. It’s fine to go slowly. Most importantly, don’t damage the coffin inside. That would be disrespectful to the deceased.”

Someone looked up and said, “Master Ji, rest assured. We all know what we’re doing. Moreover, we’re all very professional and won’t damage what’s inside.”

Professional?

Do you think you’re an archaeological team?

Ji Yunshu nodded slightly and said nothing more.

One incense stick’s time later!

They finally dug out the coffin.

It was a coffin made of red wood, very cheap. Not only was it not waterproof, it wasn’t rot-resistant either. The coffin wood even had a somewhat damp and stuffy feel. A corpse placed inside would decompose within a month.

So she didn’t hope for the body inside to have left much behind. Most likely even the bones had been affected.

Zuo Yao came up and asked, “Master, shall we open the coffin here? Or carry it back?”

She walked a circle around the coffin, observing it.

“Carry it back.”

“Then shall we carry it to the charity mortuary? Or the yamen?”

“My residence.”

“This…” Zuo Yao broke into a sweat. “Better to put it at the yamen. After all, His Highness and Master Ji, you live there. If we carry the coffin there, it would be rather inappropriate.”

“Just do as I say.” Her attitude was firm.

Zuo Yao didn’t dare say more!

He ordered people to carry the coffin away.

When the coffin was carried to the courtyard where she lived, she took out some atractylodes and scattered it around the coffin.

“Open the coffin.”

The yamen people untied the ropes wound around it, and several people worked together to push the coffin lid open and place it on the ground.

The moment it opened, putrid odors and thick, foul stenches wafted out from inside, rather pungent.

Those people covered their noses and quickly jumped back.

Ji Yunshu brought out the fresh ginger she had prepared early on and gave it to everyone to hold in their mouths.

Indeed, the foul smell lessened considerably.

She put on gloves, walked to the coffin, and looked inside. The skeletal remains inside had already come apart, and moreover were piled together in a very damp state.

Unlike ordinary skeletal remains, the color of these bones was not the normal light gray.

But rather dark gray verging on black!