In the pavilion—

Tranquility was restored once more, but the rich tea fragrance that had permeated the air now seemed somewhat faint, as if even the tip of one’s nose could detect a bitter taste!

Jingrong bent down to sit, raising his hand. His finger joints curved up and tapped on the table.

Was he signaling for her to sit down?

Forget it, she was more comfortable standing.

“This humble one will just stand.”

“This prince didn’t ask you to sit.” That imposing manner seemed as if he wanted to swallow Ji Yunshu alive. His knuckles tapped lightly on the table again: “This prince means that this cup of tea has gone cold. Pour this prince a fresh cup.”

Hey, hey, hey, are your hands broken? Can’t you pour it yourself?

“This prince’s hand is injured. It hurts when I lift it. Master hasn’t forgotten, has she?” As if he had seen through her thoughts.

“…”

Right, she really had forgotten.

Who told him to remove the bandage from his neck?

Seeing Ji Yunshu freeze, Jingrong’s expression showed displeasure!

When she faced Wei Yi, she seemed so enthusiastic, but facing this prince, why so cold and icy?

Thinking this way, he felt even more displeased.

“This prince is thirsty. Why is Master so slow in her movements?”

Ji Yunshu had already rolled her eyes at him countless times in her heart, but still obediently stepped forward, picked up the teapot, and grasped an empty teacup.

Just as she was about to pour the tea—

The mouth of the teacup was firmly covered by Jingrong’s large palm.

“Forget it, this prince doesn’t want to drink anymore.”

“Then Your Highness…”

“This prince’s shoulder is a bit sore. Master understands bones so well, you should know which position to press on the shoulder that’s most comfortable, right?”

How insatiable!

Ji Yunshu put down the teapot and teacup, saying, “Your Highness, these hands of mine are used to serving the dead. I’ve never served the living. I’m afraid I might not do it properly.”

Jingrong frowned, a chill running down his spine!

Ji Yunshu felt triumphant inside. Little thing, can’t I deal with you?

Who knew…

“This prince doesn’t care. Move quickly. This prince’s shoulder is terribly sore!”

Fine, she’d endure!

She walked around behind Jingrong and raised her hands, but inadvertently pulled at the painful spot on her back again. She bit her lip and endured it.

Her pale, slender fingers extended from her sleeves and had just placed them on Jingrong’s shoulders.

Just as she was about to apply pressure—

Her right hand was suddenly grabbed by Jingrong’s backhand. His palm applied force, pulling her to his front, and Jingrong also abruptly stood up. One hand gripped Ji Yunshu’s pale, slender fingers tightly, while the other hand steadily wrapped around her slim waist.

“Ugh!”

Ji Yunshu cried out in pain almost simultaneously with the action!

The wound on her back that had originally been healing split open again. Her inner garment seemed stained with blood, damp and wet.

Probably not expecting Ji Yunshu’s reaction to be so intense, Jingrong froze slightly for a moment, then released her.

Ji Yunshu reached back to touch her own back, her lips turning pale.

Jingrong’s eyes gathered light, his brow furrowing sharply: “What’s wrong with your back?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Let this prince see.” Jingrong was extremely worried.

“No need.” Ji Yunshu stepped back, raising her hand to wipe away the cold sweat that had emerged on her forehead, her brow lowered: “Today, this humble one came to report to Your Highness about those five charred corpse cases.”

“No need to report. Lang Bo already told me. This prince already knows. Let this prince see your back.” His expression grave and anxious, he was about to reach out and pull her.

Unexpectedly, Ji Yunshu retreated another step, nearly backing out of the pavilion!

“Since there’s no need to report on the five charred corpse cases, then let’s discuss the ‘Linjing Case’ instead.”

Mentioning the “Linjing Case,” Jingrong paused slightly again.

But…

“No rush to discuss that now. First, let this prince see your back—that’s more important.”

Why was this prince so stubbornly persistent?

Ji Yunshu raised her gaze, meeting his anxious, worried eyes, and said firmly, “Your Highness, this humble one is truly fine. My back just has a scrape, nothing serious.”

“A scrape?” He didn’t believe it: “If it’s just a scrape, how could such a light touch make you hurt this badly?”

“I told you it’s a scrape. What’s more…” Ji Yunshu paused, taking a deep breath: “What’s more, this humble one’s body is lowly. I fear it would defile Your Highness’s noble eyes.”

Men and women should not be too familiar with each other. Your Highness, please conduct yourself with propriety!

Just as Jingrong was preparing to say something, Lang Bo suddenly came running over.

“Your Highness, something’s wrong.”

Reaching them, Lang Bo’s face was grave.

Jingrong asked, “What is it?”

Lang Bo bowed: “Your Highness, Young Master Wei fell from a tree, and then…”

Hearing that Wei Yi had fallen from a tree, Ji Yunshu forgot about the pain in her back and asked urgently, “How did you let him climb a tree? Where did he hurt himself? Is he all right?”

Jingrong’s expression was not good.

Lang Bo shook his head anxiously, “Young Master Wei wasn’t hurt, but… when he fell from the tree, beneath the tree… a skeleton was exposed.”

A skeleton?

Ji Yunshu’s keen nerves always tensed up when she heard the word “skeleton.”

“Quickly take me to see it.”

Lang Bo glanced at his own lord, still needing to ask for instructions.

Jingrong glanced at Ji Yunshu’s back. Though worried in his heart, he still nodded: “Go have a look.”

Lang Bo led the way, and the three went to the side courtyard.

From a distance, Ji Yunshu saw Wei Yi holding something in his hands, his neck shrunk down, hiding behind a guard, his eyes fearfully looking at the towering tree before him.

Beneath the large tree, fresh earth had been turned up, revealing a skeleton.

Several guards surrounded it, not letting anyone approach.

When Ji Yunshu drew near, Wei Yi quickly shuffled over, still somewhat shaken.

“Brother, there’s a dead person there. Just now… I fell from the tree and landed on top of it.” He pointed at the skeleton.

Ji Yunshu had no time to attend to him. The next moment, she pulled out a handkerchief from her waist, wrapped it around her hand, walked to the skeleton, and squatted down to examine it.

After examining it for a while, her expression grew serious. She said softly, “This skeleton should be about two years old.”

Jingrong behind her said nothing, wanting to hear her continue.

“Based on the skull, the deceased’s cranium is thick and large, the cranial base is also large and rough, the bone surface uneven, and the bone mass rather heavy.” Looking again, she said, “The muscle ridges are also very pronounced. The frontal bone has a large degree of slope, the glabella and superciliary arches are prominently protuberant, the eye sockets are deep, the superior orbital margin is thick, the temporal bone mastoid process is notable, the posterior margin is long, the circumference is large, the cheekbone is high and large, the zygomatic arch is thick and large.”

“The deceased is male.”

The string of terms left those nearby stunned and confused.

But…

“Why would there be mammary bones? A male corpse shouldn’t have mammary bones!”

Ji Yunshu’s gaze moved to the pelvis.

She was startled: “The pelvis is smooth, rather thin and light. The superior pelvic aperture is round or oval, wide and shallow, cylindrical in shape. The inferior pelvic aperture is wide, the pubic bone is wide, short, and low, rich in elasticity, the pubic arch angle is large, and the acetabulum is small.”

“It’s a woman?”

Was it male or female in the end?

Jingrong and the others didn’t understand. What were all these technical terms?

“What have you discovered?” Jingrong asked.

Ji Yunshu’s thoughts deepened. Her brow and eyes lowered, she examined it carefully for a while and already had an answer.

“This is a… hermaphrodite corpse.”

A hermaphrodite corpse?