Du Mubai’s skeletal remains were very complete, just somewhat disarranged!

But this had no real impact.

The entire morgue was still filled with a lingering smell of corpse odor.

Though it was faint, for those officials it was still somewhat pungent and unpleasant.

However, they saw that Ji Yunshu, a frail scholar, approached the coffin without any concern for the smell. Moreover, Li Cheng had already removed the cloth covering his nose, so naturally they felt too embarrassed to be so affected. They all removed the cloths covering their noses and gathered somewhat closer inside the room.

Waiting for what would happen next.

The old coroner who had previously questioned Ji Yunshu also quietly entered at this moment.

He too wanted to know how Ji Yunshu would examine the bones.

He came to learn and observe!

But he saw that Ji Yunshu was currently staring motionlessly at the white bones in the coffin, as if trying to see something remarkable from that filthy set of bones.

Li Cheng was also somewhat puzzled. He nudged Jingrong beside him and asked: “What is she doing?”

Jingrong glanced at him.

He didn’t want to answer.

He was simply too lazy to explain.

After all, he had grown accustomed to watching silently from the side whenever Ji Yunshu examined corpses.

Seeing he wouldn’t answer, Li Cheng moved slightly closer to Ji Yunshu himself.

While inquiring: “Master Ji, what should we do now? How do we investigate?”

His heart was full of confusion.

If Jingrong wouldn’t say, couldn’t he ask himself?

Really!

Although he had personally witnessed Ji Yunshu examine white bones in the courtroom back in Yiwu, these bones were already six years old. When the coroner examined the corpse back then, he couldn’t detect any abnormalities on the body. What more could be discovered now?

This wasn’t doubting Ji Yunshu’s abilities, but no matter how he imagined it, he found it hard to believe these bones could yield any clues!

Ji Yunshu glanced at him and replied faintly, “Examine the bones.”

“How do you examine them? It’s been six years.”

“…I’m well aware of that.”

“Then you…”

“Are you investigating or am I, Young Master Cheng?”

Come, come, you do it!

You’re the most capable.

You investigate!

Li Cheng’s lips twitched slightly. “You investigate. I trust you!”

Finding himself an excuse.

Good grief!

Ji Yunshu had no time to argue with him, nor time to explain how she planned to examine the bones.

She silently retrieved gloves she had prepared from her sleeve.

Put them on!

Seeing this preparation, Li Cheng instinctively stepped back several paces, no longer interfering with her examination.

Because the coffin was placed on the ground, its height was not great. Ji Yunshu bent down slightly, her hands braced on the edge of the coffin. Those beautiful almond-shaped eyes were open, her gaze fixed on the set of white bones lying in the coffin.

Her eyeballs moved slightly, examining the characteristics of those bones from top to bottom.

Her body remained motionless for a long time.

Apart from her eyeballs moving, everything else was still.

The surrounding people couldn’t help but hold their breath, as if afraid their breathing might be too loud and disturb Ji Yunshu’s investigation.

However—

Hadn’t Master Ji said he would examine the bones?

Why had he been looking down into the coffin at those white bones for so long?

As if those bones were alive, mutually gazing at her.

That scene was both somewhat beautiful and somewhat eerie.

Time passed bit by bit. Finally, someone couldn’t help but speak up: “Master Ji, is there something wrong with Du Mubai’s bones?”

Otherwise, why would you stare for so long?

That voice came from somewhere in the crowd—that much was certain.

Hearing this, Ji Yunshu gradually focused her gaze. Her wrists exerted force as she pushed herself upright, straightening her somewhat wrinkled gloves, responding to those words: “Whether there’s a problem or not, the bones will naturally tell us everything.”

No one spoke again!

Ji Yunshu finally prepared to examine the corpse.

But just as her hand was about to reach in, she stopped.

She stared at those bones and said very seriously: “Du Mubai, if you want me to find the murderer who killed you, you must tell me. So I can find clues from your body.”

Uh!

Everyone listening felt a chill run down their backs.

Their hair stood on end!

Was she just now speaking to the bones?

What a strange man indeed.

But no one dared to mutter anything, only listening.

Just as Ji Yunshu took a deep breath and was about to touch the bones—

Suddenly sounds came from outside the door.

Chaotic footsteps, stopping at the entrance!

“Greetings to the Second Prince.”

Nayan had arrived at some point.

The old and young officials in the room all bowed: “Greetings to the Second Prince.”

Why had this fellow suddenly come?

In any case, his arrival boded ill.

There would certainly be trouble!

Nayan’s lips held an inscrutable smile. Standing at the doorway, he first saw Jingrong, whom he intended to win over.

The two men’s gazes collided when no one was paying attention.

Each held deep meaning!

Jingrong instinctively took two steps toward Ji Yunshu’s direction, making a protective gesture.

Because he knew that Nayan’s true target wasn’t actually himself, but Ji Yunshu.

Nayan observed his movement but pretended not to see it.

His expression was bland.

He also looked away.

As if the two didn’t know each other at all, as if their previous tea-drinking meeting had been an illusion!

This was for the best—it avoided unnecessary trouble!

When Nayan entered, his gaze swept over everyone in the room. He said: “This prince heard that today the City Patrol Department would open a coffin to examine a corpse, to investigate Du Mubai’s case from years ago. This prince was also curious and wanted to see what kind of cruel person would dare to persecute even the then-renowned scholar of Nanshen.”

Li Cheng had never dealt with Nayan before. Moreover, this prince had been away at war for years after reaching adulthood. Only after peace was achieved throughout the land did he finally return to Gaoding, so Li Cheng didn’t understand him very well either.

But the spawn of imperial families were all the same. Whatever Natuo was like, this fellow would be the same!

That’s what Li Cheng thought!

And he was very firm in his opinion.

He said: “Second Prince, Du Mubai’s case has now been fully entrusted to our City Patrol Department. There’s no need to trouble the Second Prince with concern. Please return.”

“Now that the King lies ill in bed, many court matters have already been handed over to this prince and the Third Prince to handle. This case has far-reaching implications—even Minister Huang of the Ministry of Justice was dismissed because of it. The matter is of great importance, so naturally this prince must come personally. If there’s anything requiring this prince’s assistance, I will naturally help resolve it all.” Nayan said.

“The Second Prince is thoughtful, but…” Before he could finish speaking, Nayan directly interrupted: “Young Master Cheng, we haven’t seen each other in many years, and you’ve truly made considerable progress. Back then, everyone in Gaoding City called you a little tyrant. Now you’ve taken charge of the City Patrol Department, handling two major cases. In time, you’ll surely surpass your father, the Marquis of Pingyang.”

Ha ha!