“It was nothing.”

The woman, to express her gratitude, quickly said, “Young master, won’t you come sit in our humble home and have some water?”

Ji Yunshu replied, “Thank you for your kind offer, but there’s no need. I still have matters to attend to shortly, so I won’t intrude.”

“In that case, we won’t see you off.”

She smiled and nodded, smiled at the little girl, then turned to leave.

Unexpectedly—

The little girl suddenly grabbed her hand, tilted her head up enthusiastically and said, “Big brother, don’t leave! Let’s watch the sand rain together.”

“Sand rain?”

“Yes, very beautiful sand rain.” She drew an arc in the air with her hand.

The woman quickly said, “Young master, don’t listen to the child’s nonsense.”

Xin’er protested, “Mother, I’m not talking nonsense! It’s true! That night when I came out to use the outhouse, I really saw sand rain. And Brother Liang next door also said he saw it. Xin’er isn’t lying. If you don’t believe me, go ask Brother Liang.”

“You silly child, how could sand fall from the sky? You saw wrong.”

“I didn’t see wrong! It’s true!” Xin’er pointed in the direction of Kongfu Inn, pouting. “I really saw it. The sand rain came flying from over there, floating in the sky. It was very beautiful.”

Huh?

Ji Yunshu looked in the direction Xin’er’s finger pointed, her gaze falling precisely on the window of the room where Jiao Shiniang had been killed.

At that time, she had also seen sand on the windowsill. Could it be related to the “sand rain” Xin’er mentioned?

The woman said, “Young master, don’t listen to the child’s wild talk. Children always think up all sorts of nonsense. The sky only rains water or snows—it’s impossible for sand to fall.”

“Indeed!” Ji Yunshu smiled slightly, then looked down at Xin’er and asked, “Did you really see sand rain?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“In the middle of the night.” The child couldn’t give a precise time.

Ji Yunshu asked again, “Do you remember which direction the moon was in at that time?”

“Overhead.”

That would be around the hour of the rat.

“Did it come drifting from that direction?” Ji Yunshu pointed at Longfu Inn.

“Yes.” Xin’er nodded affirmatively.

Ji Yunshu was thoughtful. Sand? The sand on the windowsill? The sand on Jiao Shiniang’s body?

What exactly did that sand mean?

Her sudden behavior and questions immediately put the woman on alert. She thought to herself that this refined-looking person might be a bad person, and instinctively pulled her daughter behind her, saying in a less than friendly tone, “Young master, if you’re unwilling to visit our humble home, then we won’t see you off.”

An order to leave!

Then she dragged the little one into the house.

With a “bang,” she closed the door.

Ji Yunshu didn’t pay much attention, continuing to stare at that window.

A question suddenly popped into her mind: Did the murderer really take Jiao Shiniang out of the inn to kill her?

But if not, then why was there no blood in the room?

How exactly… did the murderer manage it?

The driver, seeing her lost in thought, called out, “Lord Ji?”

She came to her senses, her train of thought interrupted!

“Lord Ji, shall we go?”

“Let’s go.”

She boarded the carriage, continuing to ponder her earlier speculation along the way.

That evening, she sat in the courtyard, holding in her hands the ox demon mask that had been removed from Jiao Shiniang’s face.

The oil paint on the mask reflected the translucent red candlelight, appearing even more terrifying at this moment!

Like a lifelike ox head covered in blood vessels, staring at her with eyes as big as gongs.

She wasn’t the least bit afraid; instead, she became increasingly absorbed in examining it!

Although the eighth month was hot, fortunately a breeze rose in the evening. Ancient times didn’t have much pollution either, so no matter how hot it got, you couldn’t fry an egg.

Several shade trees were planted in the courtyard. Their leaves swayed gently in the wind with rustling sounds, brushing through the air and bringing some coolness.

The little maid leaned against a pillar. However long Ji Yunshu had been staring at that mask, she had stood there that long.

Yawning continuously.

Her eyelids battling each other!

Her head rested against the pillar as she dozed lightly.

“Zhulan.” Ji Yunshu suddenly called out.

The little maid immediately perked up upon hearing this, and trotted over to her, asking, “Miss Ji, what is it? Do you need something?”

She shook her head. “It’s already very late. Go rest.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry about me. Just go rest first. I’ll sit a while longer then return to my room myself.”

Zhulan yawned again, covering her mouth, looking exhausted. “Then Miss Ji, I’ll return to my room first. If you need anything, just call me directly.”

“Mm.”

After the maid went to sleep, Ji Yunshu sat in the courtyard a while longer.

Before she knew it, it was the hour of the rat.

She lifted her head to look at the sky. That round of pure white moonlight fell precisely overhead, perfectly round.

“Sand rain at the hour of the rat?” she murmured.

There were too many inexplicable things about this case.

The more she thought about it, the more her brain ached. She supported her head, rubbing her temples. After it felt slightly better, she forced herself to stand and return to her room.

The next day, she rose early and fell once again into endless troubled contemplation.

At this time, the sun had already risen high.

Extremely hot!

Zhulan came in with a small palm-leaf fan, also carrying a bowl of cool cake in her hands.

“Miss, on such a hot day, have a bowl of cool cake.”

Cold air emanated from the cool cake, forming white mist that swirled upward.

She took a spoon and scooped a bite to her mouth. The cool sensation instantly drove away the heat from her body.

“Did you go out early this morning to buy this?”

“No, I bought it back yesterday.”

“Yesterday? Does the residence have an ice cellar?”

Zhulan said, “The residence doesn’t have an ice cellar. We refrigerated it ourselves.”

Hmm?

Ji Yunshu was curious. “Without ice, how do you refrigerate?”

“Using sand.”

“Sand?”

“You take two wooden buckets of different sizes, fill sand in the bottom of the large bucket, place the small bucket inside, then pour sand into the narrow gap at the edge between the two buckets, mix in some water, then directly place the cool cake in the small bucket. Cover it with a cloth—it’s just like putting it in an ice cellar. It’s not strange that you don’t know about this, sir. This kind of thing is all done by us servants.”

Zhulan explained in a rush!

But Ji Yunshu was so shocked she froze completely.

“Clang, thud!”

The spoon fell loose, dropping into the bowl.

“I understand now!”

She suddenly stood up!

Zhulan was startled. “Miss Ji? What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”

“You didn’t say anything wrong.” She grabbed Zhulan’s hands, saying happily, “You helped me solve something I couldn’t figure out no matter how hard I tried.”

“Ah? What thing?”

“When I return, I’ll treat you to cool cake.”

“Ah?”

Zhulan was dazed.

Ji Yunshu strode out the door, just in time to run into Jingrong coming in.

He asked, “Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”

“To the Ministry of Justice to examine the corpse.”

…

A quarter hour later, Ji Yunshu and Jingrong arrived at the Ministry of Justice and headed straight for the morgue.

Before entering—

Ji Yunshu somehow produced a piece of ginger soaked in sesame oil.

“Open your mouth.”