Tang Si silently committed this to memory—this was all valuable knowledge.

“A’Ji, what on earth is inside that head of yours? If only I could be half as clever as you.”

“If you read more books, you’d naturally understand.”

“Read books?” She shook her head. “A’Mo already stuffed me with so many medical texts that I still haven’t finished reading them. You want me to read your books about studying dead people too? No way.”

She didn’t have that kind of free time!

Ji Yunshu glanced at her, utterly helpless.

Just as she withdrew her gaze, she noticed two people entering the courtyard.

One was Wen Xian!

The other was Zhao Huai!

They had just walked in openly like that.

Uncle Liang noticed them and hurried out to stop them, asking, “Who are you people? Why wasn’t anyone notified?”

Wen Xian and Zhao Huai halted their steps, but their gazes remained fixed on the dozen or so coffins inside.

A moment later, Ji Yunshu spoke up, “Uncle Liang, let them in. They’re my friends.”

Oh my!

“Who would’ve thought that Master Ji would make so many friends on this trip.”

Hmph!

So only you people can have friends, while I’m destined to die alone and lonely, is that it?

Really!

Uncle Liang smiled warmly and stepped aside to let them pass.

The two entered, said nothing, took incense sticks, lit them, bowed three times in respect, and inserted the incense into the incense burner.

Afterward, Ji Yunshu sent Tang Si away.

Inside, only the three of them remained.

“Are these all the coffins?” Wen Xian asked.

Ji Yunshu nodded. “As long as we can finish drawing portraits from the remaining skeletal remains, we’ll be able to find the missing person. The truth will be getting closer and closer.”

“I really hope it can be revealed soon.”

“Let’s hope so.” Ji Yunshu added with concern, “You two should leave quickly. If you don’t want the matter of Duke Yuguo’s manor to be discovered by others, you must be extremely careful whenever you show yourselves.”

“We know, but…” Zhao Huai paused slightly, speaking seriously and earnestly, “Master Ji, although I’m a rough man who doesn’t understand grand principles, I still must remind you—it would be best… not to get too close to Prince Rong.”

Uh!

Ji Yunshu understood the meaning behind his words.

If, fourteen years ago, it truly was Emperor Qizhen who had ordered Duke Yuguo’s manor to be burned down, then the Emperor would be her father’s murderer, and Jingrong, as his son, would naturally also be an enemy.

Ji Yunshu’s gaze wandered between the two of them. She composed herself and asked, “So you came here deliberately to remind me of this?”

The two fell silent!

That was as good as an admission.

She let out a heavy breath and didn’t continue with this topic, only saying, “I’ll remember what you’ve said, but right now, you should leave quickly. This is the capital, not Yu Manor. Perhaps at this very moment, many pairs of eyes are watching my place, so it’s best if you don’t show yourselves.”

That made sense!

The two nodded.

“Then we’ll leave first, but we won’t go far—we’ll stay somewhere nearby.”

“Alright.”

Thus, the two stopped lingering and left.

As soon as they were gone, Tang Si immediately came in. Looking in the direction the two had departed, she asked, “A’Ji, what did they come to see you about?”

“Nothing.”

She didn’t want to say more!

Tang Si shrugged and stopped asking.

Afterward, Ji Yunshu ordered someone to reopen another coffin to draw a skeletal portrait.

The entire skeleton was laid out on the table. Sometimes she would pick up the skull and examine it from left and right, sometimes she would inspect the deteriorated bone fragments on the skeletal body.

She was having the time of her life!

Tang Si wasn’t afraid of these things, so she also watched from the side, though her mouth never stopped asking questions.

“What’s this?”

“Pelvis.”

“What’s this?”

“Scapula.”

“And this?”

“Sternum.”

“What about that?”

“…”

Ji Yunshu’s patience was worn thin.

It must be said, Tang Si and Wei Yi were truly a match for each other.

After dusk fell.

A young servant from Yuhua Pavilion suddenly arrived.

He was running and covered in sweat.

“Shimu, Master is calling you home for dinner.”

Pfft—

Ji Yunshu, who was holding a skull, stiffened in her hands and feet. The skull nearly dropped to the ground.

Shimu?

She looked at Tang Si across from her in disbelief. That girl looked smug and incredibly proud of herself.

She lifted her chin and said to the young servant, “Alright, right away.”

“When did you become Shimu?”

“The day we arrived in the capital! The moment I stepped through the gates of Yuhua Pavilion, I became Shimu.”

Shameless!

Ji Yunshu shook her head and dismissed her gossiping thoughts.

Tang Si finally lifted her bottom and left.

Peace and quiet at last.

Ji Yunshu brought the skull back to the study, placed some clay to one side, took out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and began drawing anatomical diagrams of the skeleton on the clean white paper.

Because the deceased had been burned to death and it had been fourteen years, the bones had undergone changes. If one relied only on the naked eye and touch, it would be difficult to be precise. She needed to organize the separate pieces of the skull and then adjust them one by one through drawings.

And with this drawing, she produced over a dozen anatomical diagrams!

The separate bone fragments of the skull were detailed and precise.

Perhaps because she hadn’t been feeling well lately, she couldn’t hold out any longer. After just a short while, she put down the brush in her hand, propped up her head, and fell asleep.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when a cold wind blew in, causing her brow to furrow tightly.

Her body felt cold!

Just then, she vaguely felt someone lifting her up.

It felt very real!

She nestled in that warm, comfortable embrace, her whole body becoming warm and cozy, warming from the outside all the way to her heart. At the tip of her nose, a familiar scent lingered.

Was it Jingrong?

She nuzzled her face against that scorching chest and opened her eyes, slowly lifting her head.

But—

What met her eyes was Jing Yi’s smiling face.

The smile grew deeper and deeper…

Uh!

She was shocked beyond measure, frightened.

Jing Yi suddenly released his hands, and her body fell straight down.

In her ears, the phrase “the next Jing Yi” echoed repeatedly.

She seemed to be falling into an enormous abyss.

Without end.

Ah!

She woke up suddenly.

The moment she opened her eyes, she was still sitting in her original position.

Her forehead was covered in sweat.

It turned out to be just a dream.

She gasped lightly and wiped away the sweat.

Her soul still unsettled.

“Why, why is it like this?” she murmured aloud.

She still remembered the dream she had in Yu Manor. Though it was different from this one, in her ears, the phrase “the next Jing Yi” still echoed.

Was it hinting at something?

She shook her head and glanced outside. At some point, rain had begun to fall—not heavy, just a light drizzle.

Truly continuous autumn rain.

A maid entered, carrying a bowl of ginseng soup in her hands.

Seeing her frightened appearance, she quickly asked after setting the item down, “Master Ji, what’s wrong with you?”

She shook her head.

“Nothing.”

“Oh.” The young maid pointed to what she had brought in and said, “Master Ji, this is ginseng soup that the Prince had me prepare for you. Please drink some.”

Hmm?

“The Prince came?”

“He came an hour ago, but he didn’t want to disturb you, so he went back to his room. He asked this servant to prepare some ginseng soup for you and said to bring it in when you woke up.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly and took a breath. “Just leave it there.”

“But you must drink it.”

She nodded.

The maid then left.

Gazing at that bowl of steaming hot ginseng soup for a long while—

She stood up and went out.