When Jingrong mentioned Wei Yi eating meat, Ji Yinshu merely smiled faintly.

She didn’t know when it started, but Jingrong’s treatment of Wei Yi seemed to have improved a tiny bit!

No, it was currying favor!

Regarding the Linjing Case, Ji Yinshu’s heart now held some doubts. She put the tassel back in her sleeve, raised her eyes, and asked Jingrong.

“To investigate the Linjing Case, we naturally need to open the coffins. Seventy-two sets of skeletal remains—each one needs to have its likeness drawn from before death to determine who the missing person is. But…”

Before she finished expressing her concern, Jingrong picked up her words.

“You’re trying to say that this case is, after all, not a minor case. Duke Yuguo was imperial clan. Opening coffins and drawing bones would inevitably involve widespread implications. So you’re worried that opening the coffins simply won’t be feasible.”

He had spoken aloud everything in her heart.

She nodded, moistened her dry lips, and said, “If it were just opening one coffin, it could still be negotiated. But seventy-two—does Your Highness have confidence? Will His Majesty agree to issue an edict to open the coffins?”

“This prince has no confidence.” He answered very straightforwardly, his brow furrowing. “Moreover, it’s not seventy-two coffins—only sixty-seven need to be opened.”

“Mm?”

“Among them, five are Duke Yuguo and his wife and children. They’ve already been placed in the imperial mausoleum, so it’s absolutely impossible to exhume them. Therefore, the missing person is only a servant who worked in the manor. We only need Father Emperor to issue an edict to open the other sixty-seven coffins.”

“I see!”

“Moreover, when this case was first investigated, no one thought there would ever be a need to open coffins. After all, before meeting you, this prince also didn’t know that in this world, there was someone who could draw the likeness of a pile of white bones from before death.”

Was this a compliment?

Yet it was undoubtedly throwing her a difficult problem. If the Emperor didn’t issue an edict to open the coffins, no matter how skilled she was at drawing, she would only have an empty brush!

“Then, what are Your Highness’s next plans? Opening coffins is no trivial matter—it’s absolutely not child’s play.”

Jingrong frowned. “We won’t discuss it today. Tomorrow, I’ll go see Minister Qin and discuss it with him before making a decision. In any case, those coffins must be opened.”

Extremely resolute!

Having expended so much effort to bring Ji Yinshu from Jinjiang to here, even if it meant digging three feet into the ground, those sixty-seven coffins had to be dug up.

The next day.

Jingrong went to the Qin manor.

Qin Shiyu was fifty years old. In his early years, he had also been a great general. Now he held the position of Minister of Military Affairs, having transformed from a military official to a civil official.

He was close friends with Duke Yuguo. Since Duke Yuguo’s family was massacred, he had been thoroughly investigating the matter for fourteen years, until over half a year ago, when he finally discovered three suspicious points and petitioned to overturn the case.

The three suspicious points in the petition were as follows:

First, on the day of the great fire at Duke Yuguo’s manor, the manor’s soldiers received orders from Duke Yuguo and were all transferred to the Ministry of Military Affairs. Logically, for the master to order manor soldiers transferred to the Ministry of Military Affairs, there were only two reasons: either something unusual had occurred in the capital, or the Emperor had ordered it. But neither was the case, so Duke Yuguo’s order was abnormal.

Second, the general who carried Duke Yuguo’s command token and transferred to the Ministry of Military Affairs suddenly died shortly after the incident. This certainly seemed suspicious.

Third, Duke Yuguo’s manor had seventy-three people, but one body was missing. According to the coroner’s examination and checking the manor’s personnel records, it was learned that the missing body might be a young servant from the manor who escaped. If the missing person could be found, perhaps the truth of what happened that year could be known!

For all these reasons, after Qin Shiyu’s vigorous petition, the Emperor finally agreed to order a thorough investigation.

At this moment, Jingrong had just arrived at the entrance to the Qin manor when Qin Shiyu welcomed him in.

“Why did Prince Rong need to come personally? You only needed to send someone to notify me, and this official would have gone to Prince Rong’s manor.”

“It’s no trouble, and besides, Minister Qin, you have difficulty moving about.”

Because Qin Shiyu had injured his leg during a military campaign, his movement was somewhat inconvenient. Moreover, after kneeling outside the Southern Zhe Gate for three days and nights previously, the leg injury had become even more severe. If he stood for too long, the pain was unbearable.

The two sat cross-legged, and a young servant brought two cups of hot tea.

“Prince Rong, what you mentioned in your letter about bringing back a person—can this person truly solve this case?” Qin Shiyu asked.

Jingrong sighed softly and picked up his teacup, taking a small sip.

Seeing him like this, Qin Shiyu pondered but couldn’t understand, asking tentatively, “Prince Rong’s thoughts seem heavy. Could it be that this case has other complications?”

“To be honest with Minister Qin, during this past half year, this prince, based on the personnel roster of Duke Yuguo’s manor registered with the Ministry of Revenue, visited quite a few places. It was nothing more than trying to find the one missing person, but it was like fishing a needle from the ocean—impossible to investigate.”

“So Your Highness’s meaning is?”

“That year, the great fire burned Duke Yuguo’s manor for a day and night. All seventy-two bodies became charred corpses, impossible to identify. Based on some accessories, we could identify Duke Yuguo and his wife and children—five people—who were buried in the imperial mausoleum. The remaining sixty-seven people were all buried at Lin Mountain. To know who the missing person is, there’s only one method—opening the coffins.”

“Opening the coffins?”

“The extraordinary person this prince brought back can draw bones into likenesses. Whether decomposed corpses or a pile of bare white bones, she can draw what the person looked like before death. Only by opening the coffins and drawing the portraits one by one can we naturally know who the missing person is.”

Jingrong’s words were precise and resounding!

Upon hearing the two words “opening coffins,” Minister Qin’s expression had already paused, showing slight surprise!

He leaned forward, his voice trembling slightly. “Your Highness should know that this matter is of great importance. If we cannot obtain His Majesty’s approval, opening the coffins is simply impossible.”

Yes, how could it be possible?

To have Emperor Qi Zhen overturn the case he had closed himself had already made him resentful. Now to also open coffins and draw bones?

Wouldn’t all under heaven know about it?

It would simply be making him slap his own face—one slap not enough, slapping twice!

Jingrong naturally understood this reasoning!

He said, “It’s precisely because of this that this prince came to discuss with you, Minister Qin.”

“This…” Qin Shiyu was truly stumped.

Should he go kneel outside the Southern Zhe Gate for another three days and nights?

This thought had just sprouted when Jingrong nipped it in the bud!

He said, “Father Emperor has always been wary of those who wield suspended authority—using the power of public opinion to pressure someone to do something. Regarding Duke Yuguo’s manor case, you, Minister Qin, have already been the first person to do so. Requesting Father Emperor to open the coffins—you need not come forward again.”

“Then does Prince Rong have confidence?”

He shook his head. “For now, let’s wait until after Consort Xiao’s birthday tomorrow before discussing it further.”

When Qin Shiyu heard “Consort Xiao’s birthday,” he immediately asked, “Could it be His Majesty’s intention? He wants to meet this extraordinary person?”

It must be said, Qin Shiyu was a clever man.

Jingrong’s knuckles lightly tapped on the table, his eyes holding implications no one could guess.

He said slowly, “After all, it involves the imperial family. That Father Emperor wants to meet her is inevitable.”

Qin Shiyu stroked his beard, his brows showing thoughtful curiosity.

“Actually, this official is also quite curious. In this world, is there truly such an extraordinary person? Who can draw the likeness of a pile of white bones from before death?”

If she told him that Ji Yinshu studied archaeology and had knowledge spanning five thousand years, would it scare him to death?