The frightened one was Huo Ning.
In the gloomy mortuary that early morning, with ghostly winds whistling, Huo Ning huddled together with Fei Quan and Nan Feng in a cramped storage room filled with old funeral clothes, spirit money, and soul-guiding banners jumbled together.
“Young Master, do we have to hide like this? Never mind the smell in here, but next door is where Miss Song’s body lies, and in the other room, aren’t there two unclaimed corpses?”
“Yes, Young Master, these things… have they been used before or not?”
Huo Ning’s face alternated between pale and flushed, but he tried to appear calm, “Father won’t let me inquire about this matter, as if he’s hiding something from me. Of course, I have to come to see who this expert is and what abilities they have.”
Moving further into the corner, he continued, “Some of these things have been used, some haven’t. The mortuary often takes in unclaimed bodies. After examination, they need to be buried, and Uncle Kuan here keeps the extra unused items for these nameless corpses.”
Fei Quan swallowed hard, “Young Master, I’m scared.”
Huo Ning was already uneasy, and Fei Quan’s complaints only added to the eeriness in his heart. He kicked out at Fei Quan, “Just endure it even if you’re scared! Are you a man or not?! I’m not asking you to kill anyone! What are you afraid of!”
As he spoke, his voice was already trembling.
Fei Quan, having received the kick, stumbled backward and fell, causing a cascade of soul-guiding banners and funeral clothes to crash down on him. Fei Quan panicked—the putrid smell made him feel as if countless corpses were pressing down on him. He immediately began howling, “Young Master, help! Help—”
Huo Ning lunged forward and covered Fei Quan’s mouth, nearly stuffing the used funeral clothes into his mouth, “Shut up! What are you yelling for? There’s already movement outside! People must have arrived!”
Fei Quan was nearly crying as he scrambled out from under the pile of funeral clothes. Listening carefully, indeed, voices and the sound of carriages could be heard outside the mortuary. Gritting his teeth, Fei Quan quickly fell silent.
The storage room’s location was perfect. Though cramped, it had a small window that overlooked the mortuary entrance. To the left of the storage room was the side hall where Song Rou’s body lay.
Hidden here, Huo Ning could see who the expert was and also secretly hear the autopsy process next door. As long as the mortuary guards didn’t talk, Huo Huaixin would never know he had been there.
“Shh, Father’s here—”
Looking through the small window, a carriage slowly stopped at the mortuary entrance.
The driver was Huo Huaixin’s most trusted servant. As the curtain lifted, Huo Huaixin and Xu He stepped out. Huo Ning frowned, “Father came with minimal escort, not even bringing guards.”
“Oh?” Huo Ning was surprised, “The Anyang Marquis came too!”
Behind Huo Huaixin’s carriage followed an unremarkable blue-cloth carriage, from which Yue Qiong was the first to emerge.
Fei Quan and Nan Feng crowded in the window corner with limited view. Nan Feng said, “This case must be connected to the Anyang Marquis’s household, that’s why he came?”
Huo Ning thought the same, but soon exclaimed in surprise again, “The Marquis’s Second Young Master came too!”
Fei Quan and Nan Feng exchanged glances, with Fei Quan saying, “Why isn’t it the Marquis’s heir? What’s the Second Young Master doing here?”
Huo Ning raised his eyebrows. He enjoyed refinement and most of his friends were cultured scholars in Jinzhou City. Though he knew Yue Qing, they weren’t particularly close. He remained neutral about Yue Qing’s appearance, just quietly listening to the conversation outside.
“Alright, you all withdraw now, come back in two hours.”
As soon as Huo Huaixin spoke, he was dismissing the mortuary guards. Huo Ning raised his eyebrows, incredulous.
“Why is the Master sending away all the guards?”
“Probably because that expert doesn’t want anyone to know they’re examining the body…”
Huo Ning’s heart stirred with curiosity; he was even more eager to know who the expert was.
“Should be here soon?” Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin stood at the mortuary entrance with the others, all looking toward the end of the street.
“It takes only about half an hour from there to here. If she’s willing to come, it’ll be quick.” Huo Huaixin exhaled, still uncertain, “Don’t know if she’ll be willing. If she’s not, then this case…”
Huo Huaixin smiled bitterly, but Yue Qiong said, “Prince Chi is right, she will surely be willing to help. Last time with Qing’er’s matter, we didn’t even know she could examine corpses, yet she stepped forward on her own. She has a kind heart, and later when she spoke, we learned she had even read Shen Yi’s writings. Her words showed a strong sense of justice, so she will come.”
Huo Huaixin sighed, “It’s truly surprising when you think about it. Who would have thought that she, a woman…”
Huo Huaixin’s voice suddenly dropped, and Huo Ning couldn’t hear clearly. But from Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin’s conversation, this expert not only had a special status but was also highly skilled in examining corpses and was a person of great righteousness. What surprised Huo Ning was that the trouble Yue Qing had caused before was resolved by this person’s investigation!
No wonder it was solved so quickly!
Though Huo Ning didn’t know who the expert was, based on what he heard, he already felt some respect.
“That’s why we say she’s a pearl in the dust. At her age, such accomplishment in medicine is already remarkable, who knew she could also examine corpses? What a pity that all these years, no one knew.”
“Indeed, in all my years I’ve never seen such an extraordinary person as her.”
“Her life has been difficult, yet remarkably her spirit hasn’t been broken by hardship. Not only does she maintain her kind nature, but her character is also extremely resilient. My wife was quite concerned when she learned we were asking for her help again today. If it weren’t at the mortuary, she would probably have come to accompany her personally.”
Huo Huaixin smiled, “I can see how much your wife cherishes her. She truly deserves such affection. Even I’ve grown fond of her—both her character and appearance are outstanding!”
Huo Ning listened in confusion. Since coroners were typically men, he automatically assumed this expert must be a man, and not just any man, but an older one—few young ones were skilled, as evidenced by Xu He. But listening to the conversation outside, why were they discussing appearance?
While a handsome man could be pleasing to look at, why would the Anyang Marquis’s wife cherish an older, good-looking man? This was truly bizarre…
As Huo Ning’s scalp tingled with confusion, Yue Qing suddenly called out, “They’re here!”
Huo Ning’s attention snapped back as he hurried to look toward the end of the street. Indeed, a single rider and a carriage were slowly approaching. The carriage was an ordinary blue-curtained small cart, but that single rider was particularly eye-catching. Huo Ning focused his gaze and his pupils immediately contracted—Yan Chi’s presence was recognizable even from several hundred yards down the street!
Looking again at the carriage, Huo Ning frowned.
Who was this expert that made both the Anyang Marquis and his father, the Prefect, wait so long, and more surprisingly, had Yan Chi personally escort them? Taking a deep breath, Huo Ning became fully alert.
If Huo Ning could hear, naturally Fei Quan and Nan Feng could too.
The two squeezed together at the side, unable to see outside. Fei Quan wanted to look, Nan Feng wanted to look, and as they silently pushed against each other, someone’s hand slipped—with a “creak,” the half-closed window was pushed open—
Instantly, the three people standing inside froze like stone.
Yue Qiong’s expression turned severe as he shouted, “Who’s there?!”
Both Yue Qiong and Yue Qing were martial artists with keen senses. Though the sound wasn’t loud, in the breathless silence it was conspicuous. Huo Huaixin also turned with an angry expression!
He had already ordered all guards to withdraw, how could there still be someone hiding in the mortuary?!
“Who’s hiding in there?!” Before Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin could move, Yue Qing had already leaped down the steps toward the window!
Seeing Yue Qing approaching with tiger-like strides, Huo Ning’s face alternated between red and white. Knowing he couldn’t hide anymore, he gave Fei Quan a hard kick and pushed the window fully open. He grinned sheepishly toward Huo Huaixin, “Father, Marquis—”
Yue Qing stopped in his tracks, crossing his arms with an ambiguous smile, “So it’s Young Master Huo.”
Smelling of strange odors, Huo Ning walked out of the storage room straight to the entrance where Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin stood. Fei Quan and Nan Feng followed, their faces deathly pale, immediately kneeling upon exit. Huo Ning stood dejectedly beside them, “Father, it was my suggestion to invite that expert to help, yet you wouldn’t let me come along, so…”
Discovering it was Huo Ning, Huo Huaixin looked quite embarrassed, but Yue Qiong laughed tolerantly, “Huo Ning wants to share your burdens. Since he has such intentions, letting him watch won’t hurt. You’re being too cautious.”
With Yue Qiong providing this way out, Huo Huaixin naturally took it, though he still glared fiercely at Huo Ning, “If you wanted to come, you could have just told me directly. What’s the point of hiding there like some miscreant?! Always causing trouble!”
After this scolding, he spoke more seriously, “Since you’re here, I’ll allow you to watch. But few people know about this matter—whatever you see today, you’re not to speak of it outside!”
“Father, rest assured, I understand. Thank you, Marquis—”
Joy appeared on Huo Ning’s face as he bowed to Yue Qiong in gratitude, then glared at Fei Quan and Nan Feng. The two quickly stood and retreated to the side, secretly sighing in relief.
Huo Huaixin shook his head helplessly and turned back to watch the street.
The mortuary was located in the desolate southern part of the city. This area was already remote, and with the mortuary’s presence, the street in front was usually deserted. On the empty morning street, the single rider and carriage were now very close.
Yue Qiong and Huo Huaixin unconsciously stepped forward. Yue Qing also wore an expectant smile, and even Xu He stared at the carriage with reverent eyes. Seeing the four like this, Huo Ning’s curiosity grew even stronger, and he also took two steps forward.
Huo Ning recognized Yan Chi, and given his intimidating presence, Huo Ning turned his attention to the carriage instead.
The driver was Bai Feng—Huo Ning vaguely felt he had seen him somewhere before but couldn’t quite remember where. Soon, Yan Chi reined in his horse before the mortuary, and the small carriage also stopped steadily. Huo Ning watched wide-eyed as the handsome white-robed guard dismounted and stood aside, while Yan Chi dismounted to lift the carriage curtain himself.
Huo Ning found this scene quite bizarre, but before he could process it, a sky-blue gown appeared beneath the curtain.
In the early autumn desolation, this gown was like a clear spring, instantly washing away the cold gloom before the mortuary. The dim morning haze dispersed, and the sky seemed to become bright and clear.
Huo Ning’s pupils gradually dilated—this expert was a woman?!
His blood began to boil, and his heart filled with shock and amazement, but as the curtain lifted completely, his boiling blood instantly froze, his mind going blank—
He stared fixedly at that familiar, delicate face beneath the curtain, wondering if he was dreaming.
How could it, how could it be Qin Wan?!