Li Cheng was no three-year-old child. Hearing such “wild flattery,” he knew his own capabilities well enough.

“The Prince honors me too much with such words. I’ve only just taken up my post at the City Patrol Department and still don’t understand many procedures. Ultimately, I’m just a new official. Whether I’m capable or not can only be known after this case is concluded. Besides, how could I compare to my father?”

He didn’t want to wear that tall hat!

Moreover, he knew that the two brothers Nayan and Natuo were currently locked in fierce rivalry. His own father stood on the Third Prince’s side, naturally making him a covert enemy of Nayan. As the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang’s household, he should naturally be counted among Natuo’s faction as well. Therefore, Nayan’s visit this time surely had ulterior motives.

He claimed to be helping, but who knew what medicine he was selling in his gourd?

One must remain vigilant.

What Li Cheng didn’t know was that previously Natuo had helped him at the Ministry of Justice, which allowed Du Mubai’s case to be reopened for retrial. Afterward, Natuo went to the palace to lodge a complaint, ultimately causing both Minister Huang and Vice Minister Zhong to fall from grace. Nayan, the master behind Huang and Zhong, had thus received a blow. How could he tolerate this?

His visit today was to see what was so strange about this case, so he could find a loophole and turn the tables.

Nayan smiled. “Young Master Cheng is too modest.”

Ha ha!

Then Nayan turned his gaze sideways to look at Ji Yunshu, who had been interrupted from examining the bones. This was his first time seeing this Master Ji!

He felt this person exuded an air of refined elegance throughout.

A clean face.

More scholarly than scholars.

If this were a woman, she would certainly be a peerless beauty!

What a pity!

He was a coroner!

His lips holding a smile, he said to Ji Yunshu: “Actually, this prince came today mainly wanting to meet the legendary Master Ji who can reconstruct faces by touching bones. Hearing that she would open the coffin to examine bones and find the true murderer of Du Mubai, this prince also wanted to see exactly how Master Ji examines bones and how she makes the dead speak!”

Ji Yunshu met his gaze.

Unmoved.

She knew about Jingrong’s meeting with him.

Therefore, this person before her was someone she absolutely could not get involved with!

Before she could say anything more, Nayan had already moved to one side, planning to remain and watch carefully.

“Master Ji, this prince won’t disturb you. Just proceed with your examination.”

Ji Yunshu remained silent, glancing at Jingrong!

Jingrong nodded at her.

Indicating she should focus on examining the bones for now.

Ji Yunshu set these concerns aside and prepared to examine the bones.

But Li Cheng looked at Nayan with apprehension.

After all, he was a prince—he couldn’t send people to drive him away.

At this moment, Jingrong thought of a clever plan.

He said softly to Li Cheng: “Immediately send someone to fetch the Third Prince!”

The Third Prince?

Why summon him here?

Wasn’t it chaotic enough already?

Li Cheng was about to refute him when his brain whirred rapidly.

Oh! This was actually a good idea!

One thing suppresses another, one thing overcomes another.

The only one who could restrain Nayan was Natuo.

Li Cheng received the signal and immediately gave his guard standing outside the door a meaningful look.

The guard was clever enough and understood immediately.

Taking advantage of when no one was paying attention, he quietly departed.

Ji Yunshu examined Du Mubai’s skeletal remains with great focus.

No one spoke to disturb her.

But the atmosphere in the entire morgue had somewhat changed.

From the moment Nayan entered the room, things became strange. Apart from Ji Yunshu who still had the mind to examine the corpse, everyone else’s thoughts seemed thrown into chaos.

Nayan suddenly walked up behind Jingrong at some point and said softly: “You said before that this prince intended to compete with Young Master Cheng for talent, which was why I deliberately invited you to become a retainer at my residence. You also said something about those with such intentions being unable to achieve great things. This prince pondered all night, and to prove this prince is not such a person, I specifically came today to assist a bit.”

The weasel paying New Year’s respects to the chicken—harboring evil intentions!

Jingrong smiled slightly and simply replied: “As the Prince wishes.”

“Will Young Master Jing truly not reconsider?”

“Not being a caged bird, I naturally won’t remain in a cage.”

“I hope one day Young Master Jing will view this matter with a different perspective.”

“Perhaps!”

The two conversed soundlessly like this.

No one else heard them.

Ji Yunshu was also carefully and attentively examining the bones.

She first gently lifted out the skull, holding it in her hands.

Seriously and carefully examining whether there were any abnormalities on the skull!

From time to time pressing on it with her fingers.

This left the officials of the City Patrol Department stunned.

They had never seen anyone hold a skull like this to examine it, as if it were an exquisitely carved work of art.

The old coroner on the side found nothing strange about it. After all, he had been in this profession for so many years—what was holding a skull in one’s hands?

What was strange about it!

He only asked: “How is it, Master Ji? You can reconstruct faces by touching bones—is this person truly Du Mubai himself?”

Previously, the old coroner would never have asked such a question.

After witnessing Ji Yunshu’s abilities, he was filled with admiration.

If he were thirty years younger, he would definitely take her as his master.

Ji Yunshu replied to him: “The height and build of this skeleton match Du Mubai’s. Moreover, after burial that year, no one disturbed the coffin again. Plus, based on the general features of this skull, it’s undoubtedly him.”

“What about the rest?”

“There are no wounds or any abnormalities on the skull. As for the rest, we’ll see from the remaining bones.”

Saying this, Ji Yunshu placed the skull to one side.

Then she indicated with her eyes to someone standing outside the door. After seeing this, that person immediately came in from outside, carrying an exquisite sandalwood box in hand.

It was one of Ji Yunshu’s precious treasures for her work.

She took it, placed it on the table nearby, and opened it before everyone.

Inside were arranged various small knives.

Flat ones, wide ones, long ones, short ones, pointed ones, round ones…

And all these small knives were crafted with great precision.

Looking at them, one might think they were works of art.

Little did they know—

Ji Yunshu selected a leaf-shaped knife from inside, preparing to reach into the coffin.

Everyone was puzzled.

The coroner asked: “Master intends to?”

“The bones still have clothing that hasn’t completely rotted attached to them. I must first remove the clothing before I can examine the bones.”

“You can just gently brush aside the clothing with your hands directly. Surely Master doesn’t need to use a knife?”

“Hands?” Ji Yunshu was extremely shocked. Her large black eyes looked incredulously at the old coroner’s serious face. “Does the old gentleman mean you previously examined corpses this way?”

“Ah?” The old coroner was momentarily stunned by the question. “Isn’t that the way? Then how should it be done?”

Everyone else wanted to know too.

The clothing on the bones could just be brushed aside with hands!

Why would one need to use a knife?

The observer Nayan was also full of curiosity.

He would certainly listen carefully with pricked ears.

Ji Yunshu was truly speechless. She never imagined that this experienced old gentleman examined corpses so carelessly.

Today she would give him a lesson.

She began to explain in detail…