“A person’s corpse may lie, but bones do not.”

As the words fell, Ji Yunshu had already pried open the person’s mandible. The charred skin crackled crisply, fragments falling to the ground.

“The hyoid bone is damaged, curled upward, and the coronoid process also shows obvious fractures. This was caused by someone striking the mandible with a heavy object.”

Having said this, she tilted the person’s head slightly to the side and pressed her hand against the posterior neck groove.

“There are traces on the back of the neck from being struck with a round bladed weapon. The bone tip is fractured with massive hemorrhaging. Although the burned flesh makes it impossible to determine the time of death, the bone matter inside the teeth remains intact. Loosened by three feet, this person should have died yesterday at the hour of the Rat. But the fire occurred two hours ago. Clearly, these five people all died first and were then carried to the dwelling. They died without any struggle.”

Jingrong was intrigued and wanted to hear her continue.

Ji Yunshu walked to the second corpse to examine it, pinching the throat bone of the corpse.

“An ordinary person’s throat bone is slightly soft above and below, hard in the middle. But this corpse’s throat bone, like the first one, is soft in the middle and hard above and below. In such a situation, there is only one possibility—death by poisoning. This is also why they showed no signs of struggle in the fire.”

“Poisoning?”

Jingrong’s eyes darkened.

Ji Yunshu furrowed her elegant brows, reasoning: “All five have exceptional bone structure—they should all be martial artists. To kill them all simultaneously would be very difficult. The two sides must have exchanged blows, which is why their bones are damaged. The opponent must have been defeated and thus chose to use poison. Since poison was used, it must have entered through the mouth, which caused the abnormality in the throat bone. If you want to investigate, you must start with food, or… their place of lodging, such as an inn.”

“What else did you observe?”

Ji Yunshu shook her head, stood up, removed the white gloves, and dusted the black ash from the corners of her robe.

“Are you not a coroner?” Jingrong asked again.

This man’s questions were truly as numerous as the stars!

“I am merely a painter who knows something about bone structure and vital meridians. I examine bones. Coroners cut open bodies to examine the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and brain. The two are entirely different. If the young master wishes to investigate further, send the corpses to a coroner for autopsy examination. If not, then let it be.”

She had no strange compulsion to force others. Whether this murder case was investigated or not, ultimately, had nothing to do with her.

Jingrong’s scrutinizing gaze fell upon Ji Yunshu.

In the small city of Jinjiang, such a person was hidden!

And this scholar had said so much—if he still cremated those corpses, neither emotionally nor rationally could it be justified.

Moreover, his own subordinates had died from poisoning. Now he was also urgently wanting to know what truth lay behind all this.

Could it be… related to the capital?

It seemed this return to the capital would have to be delayed again!

“Lang Bo, have someone send these five corpses to a coroner for examination. Report immediately once there are results.”

“Yes.”

The burly man called Lang Bo immediately ordered people to carry the corpses away.

Jingrong looked toward Ji Yunshu: “How may this young master address you?”

Ji Yunshu’s expression was indifferent, still maintaining that unsmiling, profound appearance.

“A humble painter does not leave his name. The hour is already late, and I must return home to care for my ailing father who has been bedridden for long. I take my leave.”

Ailing father bedridden for long?

Ji Shuhan, standing to the side, twitched slightly at the corner of his eye.

At this moment, Ji Yunshu had already picked up her lantern, tucked her sandalwood box under her arm, and walked to the county magistrate’s side, lowering her voice.

“Today I went out on two assignments, worked three extra hours, got a pair of shoes wet, and ruined a pair of white gloves. Next month’s salary—add ten taels.”

Such precise calculations—she really knew how to manage!

The county magistrate counted on his fingers, rolling his eyes as he calculated: the Zhou family gave forty taels of private silver, the court allocated seventy taels, the East Suburb Village murder case could claim twenty taels, his own monthly salary was forty-five taels. Deducting miscellaneous expenses, sixty taels remained.

Oh hey, still enough!

Now this was true precise calculation!

“This official will add fifteen taels for you. The weather is cold—get yourself a warming pot.” The county magistrate smiled—this ancestor needed to be served well.

Ji Yunshu’s expression remained cool. Without responding, she took her leave, disappearing into that patch of darkness, with only that lantern faintly trembling with an orange-colored halo.

One person, one lamp, one sandalwood box—quite aesthetically pleasing.

Behind her, Jingrong’s face revealed a trace of intriguing depth. Though that scholar had a thin frame and seemed like a weak scholar of no consequence—

Since ancient times, capable people have hidden in the marketplace. Not simple at all!