The adviser’s reasoning convinced the county magistrate that it made sense.

After pondering for a moment, he nodded. “That could actually work! Alright, go meet with her and speak properly.”

“Yes.” The adviser was about to leave when the county magistrate grabbed the corner of his robe again, instructing: “We mustn’t make things difficult for a young lady, and we absolutely cannot put on official airs. Speak to her calmly and reasonably. If she truly doesn’t want to, then let it be. Don’t force the issue under any circumstances.

After all, this is a government office, not a marketplace.”

The old man, given his age, naturally spoke slowly!

The adviser listened carefully to every word.

Nodding repeatedly.

“Sir, you can rest assured. I’ll handle this properly.”

“Mm, go on then.”

“Yes.”

The adviser tidied himself up, then went to ask the bailiffs who had previously brought Ji Yinshu to the yamen, inquiring about her residence.

Only then did he hurry off.

The county magistrate sat in the pear wood chair on the court platform. Having probably tired himself out from judging cases, he kept yawning.

A young servant working in the yamen brought him a pot of tea!

After drinking a few sips, the old man dozed off while sitting.

The servant called softly: “Sir? Sir?”

Only after quite a while did the county magistrate slowly open his eyes and ask: “Is there another murder case?”

“No, how could there be so many murder cases in one day! This humble one sees that Sir is too tired. Why not return to the rear courtyard to rest?”

“Mm, that’s good!”

At this moment, it happened to be noon.

Drowsiness was heavy.

Moreover, the county magistrate had judged cases all morning and was already exhausted.

He had the servant support him as he went to the rear courtyard.

To take an afternoon nap!

Meanwhile, not long after Ji Yinshu left the yamen, she ran into Coroner Zhou from earlier.

“Elder sir?”

Coroner Zhou wore a kind expression as he bowed to her.

Seeing this, Ji Yinshu quickly returned the courtesy: “Elder sir, what are you doing?”

Such unprovoked politeness made one’s heart flutter with alarm.

Moreover, she had no previous dealings or connection with Coroner Zhou.

Coroner Zhou studied her carefully and asked: “Miss, actually when we were in the yamen earlier, I had something I wanted to ask, but it wasn’t very convenient.”

“Oh? What does sir want to ask me?”

“I won’t hide it from you—actually, four or five years ago, I once went to the capital of Da Lin and heard tell of someone in the capital who could examine corpses to solve cases and even reconstruct faces from bones. Everyone called her Mr. Ji, and though young in years, she became the Director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau in the Ministry of Justice. I’ve heard of the cases she’s solved—truly admirable! Regrettably, I never witnessed it personally. But later I heard from people that she was actually a woman, and for some unknown reason, she suddenly resigned from her official position and left the capital. To this day,

no one knows where she went?”

Ji Yinshu understood!

She said: “Elder sir, please speak plainly if you have something to say.”

“Just now in the yamen, seeing miss so clever—clearing yourself of guilt and finding the culprit in such a short time! And miss happens to also be surnamed Ji, in her twenties as well, it’s really…” Too much of a coincidence.

Before he could ask the last few words, Ji Yinshu took over the conversation, saying: “Elder sir, I was merely lucky, happening to know about nux vomica’s toxicity and vital points, so I showed off a bit in front of you. If you think I’m that Mr. Ji you mentioned,

you’re really giving me too much credit. Besides, I’ve never been to Da Lin.”

“Truly?”

“I have no need to lie!”

Coroner Zhou was half-convinced.

He sighed.

“It’s just a pity. That Mr. Ji was a capable person. Every case she handled was a major one. If it were someone else, it would probably be difficult!”

“Actually, there’s no such thing as a capable person in this world. Even the most able person will have times of difficulty. Elder sir, you’ve been a coroner for most of your life. I see that the county magistrate also trusts you greatly, which shows you have quite a reputation in Jiahe Town. As the saying goes,

dragons have their seas, fish have their ponds. No matter how brilliant or capable that Mr. Ji is, there’s no way to compare with you.”

“Miss really knows how to talk.”

“As a coroner, walking among the dead, speaking for the deceased, voicing their grievances—this duty isn’t one everyone can perform. Please accept this junior’s courtesy, elder sir.”

Ji Yinshu bowed to him.

Throughout history, the work of coroners in ancient times has always been considered extremely lowly. Those who could engage in this profession had to endure loneliness and bear their fears.

Coroner Zhou’s eyes grew moist—this was the first time anyone had spoken to him this way.

Deeply moved.

He didn’t know what to say.

Since Ji Yinshu had urgent matters, she bid farewell and left.

Watching her departing figure, Coroner Zhou actually knew in his heart.

That woman was the Mr. Ji Yinshu famous throughout Da Lin.

…

After returning to the inn, Ji Yinshu immediately packed her belongings to leave.

But the adviser came looking for her!

Hadn’t the case already been concluded?

Why was someone from the yamen here again!

Ji Yinshu’s head throbbed. She was desperate to pursue Li Chuan and really had no time to waste, so she asked: “Wasn’t the case solved? May I ask what this is about?”

The adviser smiled, very respectfully: “Miss Ji, don’t misunderstand—this has nothing to do with the case.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’ve come on behalf of Sir to persuade miss.”

“Mm?”

“We know miss has urgent matters and naturally wouldn’t want to detain you or delay your important business. It’s just that Jiahe Town rarely encounters someone like miss. Sir is very sincere in wanting to invite miss to work at the yamen, but not asking you to take up the position now, rather saying… after you’ve finished your urgent matters, could you perhaps return? As long as you agree, any amount of time is fine.”

The adviser spoke politely.

Clearly sincere in wanting to invite her.

However—

Ji Yinshu said: “Thank you for Sir’s appreciation. I’ve already said everything I need to say and won’t change my mind. Moreover, my current undertaking has no fixed timeline. I cannot promise.”

“Miss…”

“You need not say more! My mind is made up.”

The adviser sighed: “Since that’s the case, then… I cannot make things more difficult for miss.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing her holding a bundle in her hands, the adviser asked: “Where is miss hurrying off to?”

“Yanjing.”

“Going now?”

“Yes.”

The adviser glanced outside, then quickly approached Ji Yinshu with his mission.

“Miss is going to Yanjing?”

“Yes.”

The adviser looked outside and said with furrowed brows: “If you leave the city at this hour, I’m afraid…”

He hesitated to continue.

Ji Yinshu asked: “What’s wrong? Is this time not suitable?”

“It’s not that it’s not suitable, just that miss probably doesn’t know yet—recently some bandits appeared from somewhere outside the city, blocking the road to Yanjing. When there are many people, they don’t dare cause trouble, but if women and children travel alone, they’ll meet with disaster. I

see miss traveling alone, which definitely isn’t safe.”

“Bandits? Doesn’t the yamen do anything about it?”

“Handle it? Of course we handle it. It’s just that those bandits are too cunning to catch them all. It’ll probably take some more time to deal with properly. Moreover, if you leave the city now, by the time you reach that road it’ll be dark, making it even more unsafe!”