The wound on her back no longer hurt. Ji Yunshu rubbed between her brows and carefully sat up from the bed.

Taking care not to pull at the wound and make it split open again.

“Luan’er!”

She called twice with no response.

Where had this girl run off to so early in the morning?

She got out of bed, took a large blue cloak from the screen frame and draped it over herself. Going outside, she still didn’t see Luan’er.

Just as she was about to return to the room, she heard crisp footsteps approaching from far to near, landing behind her.

Turning around, she saw Luan’er out of breath, holding a long box in her hands. The box was wrapped in a layer of striped brocade cloth, appearing very grand and elegant!

“Miss, why are you up? Does your back still hurt?” Luan’er’s face was full of concern.

“Where did that thing in your hands come from?”

Ji Yunshu’s gaze fixed on the brocade box in her hands.

Luan’er lifted the brocade box in her hands slightly, saying: “It was brought by that honored guest from the capital last time. He said there’s one for each young miss and young master in the household. Right now, he’s still in the front hall talking with the master.”

“Honored guest? From the capital?”

“Yes.” Luan’er nodded.

Could it be Jingrong?

Suspicion rising in her heart, Ji Yunshu took the brocade box from her hands and instructed: “Go to the front hall and find out what that honored guest is saying to Father.”

What? Spy! Eavesdrop!

Luan’er was puzzled: “Miss, this…”

“Hurry.”

“Oh, oh, oh…”

Luan’er took a few steps, then rushed off to the front hall to spy!

Ji Yunshu held the box and entered the room. Opening it, she found inside a white cloud herb.

White cloud herb wasn’t particularly rare medicine, just extremely expensive.

This kind of medicinal herb had miraculous effects in treating whip wounds!

Vaguely, she seemed to sense something in her heart.

That honored guest from the capital, sending help in the snow—this was altogether too coincidental!

Shaking her head, while her back wound didn’t hurt now, she should attend to important matters.

Walking to the shelf behind the desk, she took down her sandalwood box, opened it, and spread a sheet of white paper on the desk.

Carefully deliberating in her mind for a moment, she took out a golden phoenix brush from the box, dipped it in the ink from the inkstone, and began sketching on the paper.

In a short while, on the paper surface appeared blocks of human bone outlined in black ink. Looking more carefully—a complete decomposition diagram of a skull!

It was precisely the decomposition diagram of that hermaphrodite corpse’s skull!

The skull consists of twenty-three flat bones and irregularly shaped bones of different sizes!

And she had carefully divided out each small piece.

Generally when reconstructing a skeletal portrait, Ji Yunshu’s habit was to decompose the skull, then based on size and shape, first mold small models with clay, before drawing out the skeletal features.

This was different from the method of drawing from decomposed corpses with flesh!

Even in modern times, using high-tech computer synthesis techniques, she would still need to expend considerable effort.

Not to mention this place, which didn’t even have electricity!

So she could only use this method.

Setting down the golden phoenix brush in her hand, her fair fingers lightly tapped on the edge of the paper.

A hermaphrodite?

This was also her first time encountering one.

After thinking for a while, she seemed to think of something else.

Her expression pausing slightly, she rolled up this skull decomposition diagram, set it aside, and spread out a new sheet.

Arranging the paints from the sandalwood box one by one, she mixed in a bit of water, held the brush, and began painting on the paper.

On the other side, Luan’er followed her instructions and had just arrived at the front hall.

Tiptoeing carefully, not daring to get close, she listened from behind several maids.

In the hall, Ji Shuhan stood with his body bent slightly downward. His originally fierce and menacing appearance had transformed into one of great flattery, full of respectful smiles.

Jingrong, seated in the place of honor, had a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth, yet it made people’s hearts uneasy!

Plus the rough man Lang Bo standing to one side, like a barrier, forming a circle around Jingrong.

Strangers keep out!

Jingrong’s sharp yet indifferent eyes swept up and down over Ji Shuhan.

He snorted: “Minister Ji, you should still sit. This prince really doesn’t like looking up at others.”

In his tone seemed to carry a harsh edge.

Calling him Minister Ji was indeed not excessive—in his youth, Ji Shuhan had been Vice Minister of Rites!

But Ji Shuhan’s face merely twitched, lowering his head: “This humble official would rather stand.”

“This prince tells you to sit, so you sit.”

“Yes.”

He had no choice but to gather his robe and sit down to the side.

“Prince Rong has come today and even brought some precious items for this humble official’s family members. I wonder… what is the reason?”

What? Did you think he, Jingrong, had something to ask for?

He, a dignified prince, really didn’t need to come begging you.

Smiling slightly, eyes half-narrowed, picking up his teacup, Jingrong said leisurely: “This prince has heard that years ago when Minister Ji served at court, my imperial father bestowed upon you a golden satin jade-topped vine horse whip. Is this true?”

At this mention, Ji Shuhan’s face showed pride.

“That was this humble official’s great fortune in three lifetimes to receive the Emperor’s bestowal.”

“Oh? This prince has also heard that vine horse whip was a tribute item from Persia, top-quality leather with gold carving. I wonder if this prince might have the honor of viewing it?” His brow bones furrowed tightly!

Hearing this, Ji Shuhan quickly said: “If Prince Rong wishes to see it, this humble official will naturally fetch it.”

He turned to instruct a servant: “Go fetch that vine horse whip.”

The servant rushed off and immediately brought the whip back.

It was even contained in a yellow brocade box—truly particular!

Ji Shuhan took it from the box, respectfully presenting it: “Prince Rong, this is the vine horse whip bestowed by the Emperor.”

I know it was bestowed—no need to mention it again!

Jingrong set down the teacup in his hand, raising an eyebrow. That smile became somewhat sinister.

Taking the whip, he held it in his hand and examined it, wrinkling his nose, saying: “This whip is indeed very exquisite, but why does it have a bloody smell?”

“This…” Ji Shuhan was somewhat flustered.

After beating Ji Yunshu with this whip, it had clearly been cleaned thoroughly with not a trace of blood visible, and had even been fumigated with sandalwood incense. How could it have a bloody smell?

Prince Rong, are you part dog by chance?

Seeing Ji Shuhan choked and speechless, Jingrong raised his chin and continued: “Not only does it have a bloody smell, the handle of this whip also seems to carry a beast’s scent.”

Beast?

The person who gripped that whip handle was none other than Ji Shuhan!

When it came to pointing at the mulberry to curse the locust, if Jingrong stood second, no one dared stand first.

At this moment, Ji Shuhan’s complexion had truly turned utterly livid. Swallowing, he trembled as he leaned forward: “Your Highness, how could this whip have a smell? This humble official fumigates it with sandalwood daily.”

“Minister Ji, then you really should go see a physician and properly treat that nose of yours.” Though his face was full of smiles, his words had changed flavor.

Feeling unsatisfied, Jingrong directly held up the whip and asked Lang Bo: “Lang Bo, you smell it and see if this prince’s nose is malfunctioning.”

“Yes.”

Lang Bo took the whip and sniffed it at his nose, nodding: “Your Highness, there is indeed a bloody smell, and the handle of this whip indeed has a beast’s scent.”

“Mm.” Jingrong was very satisfied. His eyes suddenly darkened, his smile vanishing as he became serious.

“Burn this whip!”