Young Madam Qi’s spirits remained as vibrant as ever—no, she looked even more radiant than she had the past few days, clearly having suffered no reprimand whatsoever.

No wonder she had someone come to say they could prepare for surgery and ask for Coffin Boy to come.

“Master, seeing you in person finally puts me completely at ease…” Hu San said, wiping his nose with his sleeve.

Qi Yue laughed heartily.

Coffin Boy stood to the side, completely dumbfounded.

He had been guarding the morgue since childhood, seeing countless extraordinary things among the dead and living, thinking there was nothing left in this world that could move him.

He never expected to witness such things so quickly, twice even, and from the same person.

A woman with skills superior to his own, and this woman was beautiful, and this beautiful woman treated men in ways that other women would consider blasphemous.

But her manner of treatment appeared so natural and proper in the eyes of others, without the slightest impropriety.

Just who was she?

“Young Madam, you’ve come.” Liu Pucheng hurried out, his sleeves still rolled up, clearly having been treating patients. He spoke excitedly, the weight on his heart finally lifting.

Young Madam!

Coffin Boy’s eyes widened again.

The Young Madam of the Marquis Dingxi’s mansion!

Oh! That one! Who could perform surgery by opening up the abdomen! Who could make Wang Qingchun crawl all over the ground in defeat! That Young Madam!

So it was her!

“You recognize me?” Qi Yue laughed, “I’ve known about you for a long time too.”

Sitting in Liu Pucheng’s room, Coffin Boy’s initial awkwardness had either dissipated or been hidden away. Hearing this, he smiled.

He had said before that knowing him wasn’t anything special—not knowing him would be what’s strange.

Qi Yue naturally understood his meaning.

“Oh no, not that kind of knowing. That kind of knowing I really don’t know…” she laughed.

Coffin Boy smiled again. This woman’s way of speaking was truly… interesting.

Qi Yue also laughed.

“I sound like I’m speaking in tongue twisters.” She laughed, then continued, “You went to the Marquis Dingxi’s mansion before, remember?”

Coffin Boy paused. He remembered.

“That maid’s matter.” Qi Yue said.

Coffin Boy coughed lightly.

“So when I saw you at the morgue, I was so delighted.” Qi Yue said.

Delighted? Coffin Boy was stunned. This word…

“Listen, I know of someone who was very capable. He was a judicial officer, very skilled at investigating cases. To sum it up in one sentence, he could make dead people speak.” Qi Yue said with great enthusiasm, “He was proficient in anatomy and pathology, valued crime scene investigation, and through autopsy, he believed in listening only to heaven and not to conventional wisdom. He overturned countless wrongful cases. He also wrote a forensic treatise called the Washing Away of Wrongs… So when I heard you were specifically requested that day, and the Prince said you were skilled at this kind of diagnosis, I immediately thought of him…”

The more Qi Yue spoke, the brighter her eyes became, and Coffin Boy’s eyes gradually lit up too, from his initial polite smile.

Autopsy? Making dead people speak? Washing Away of Wrongs?

These half-understood terms sounded so stirring to the heart!

Coffin Boy couldn’t help but stand up.

“Young Madam, please, please introduce me to this person.” He bowed deeply, his voice trembling with excitement. “I would be willing to serve under him as slave or servant, forever grateful.”

Qi Yue was startled and laughed awkwardly.

Where could she introduce him…

“Well… I can’t see this person anymore either.” She had to say.

Coffin Boy was very surprised and puzzled. Liu Pucheng on the side, however, understood.

This woman’s miraculous medical skills and techniques, medicines that could only be possessed by immortals, everything came from the vaguely mentioned master or masters she spoke of.

So this person she claimed to know was also a sage like the masters she mentioned.

What a pity, had such a sage withdrawn from the world?

Coffin Boy’s interest was piqued, and he persistently inquired about this sage. Unfortunately, Qi Yue hadn’t studied forensic medicine and didn’t know much about investigative methods. Apart from fragments she’d seen on television, she couldn’t explain much more.

Even these few fragments had Coffin Boy, Liu Pucheng, and the others listening with rapt attention.

“Dead people don’t lie, dead people don’t lie, so that’s how it is.” Liu Pucheng murmured repeatedly.

“Master, is it really true? If a living person is killed by a knife, the flesh around the wound contracts, but if they’re cut after death, the flesh remains unchanged?” Hu San asked curiously.

Qi Yue didn’t answer, but Coffin Boy nodded.

“That’s right, exactly so, and there’s no blood flow, the color is white…” he said seriously, his eyes shining with excitement.

He knew this too, he knew this too. How honored he was that he thought the same as that sage.

Qi Yue chuckled, then suddenly noticed the water clock and reacted.

“Oh my, I almost forgot, we need to prepare for surgery.” She said, “Hu San, how’s the surgical table you made coming along?”

Hu San nodded quickly.

“No problem, it’s ready, and the surgical… lamp… is almost done too. Master, didn’t you say it needed to be bright and shadowless? Those craftsmen figured out a way and added bronze mirrors… but the effect still needs your approval, Master.”

“That’s not urgent. That’s mainly for emergency night surgeries. Yan’er’s procedure will be done during the day, so lighting shouldn’t be a big problem.” Qi Yue smiled, then looked at Coffin Boy, who was still deep in thought, “Hey, Little Coffin, I called you here today to ask how you’ve considered being my assistant?”

This person was always sensitive about his identity. After all, habits run deep, and it would indeed be difficult for him to change his thinking about doing such things overnight…

“Ah?” Coffin Boy looked up when questioned, “No problem, I’m of course willing.”

Qi Yue’s prepared speech went completely unused. She twitched her lips.

“That’s wonderful…” she said with a dry laugh, then looked at Liu Pucheng, “About the anesthetic…”

Liu Pucheng also nodded immediately.

“It’s all ready. I also did… experiments… on mice as you suggested,” he said, “Young Madam, please come with me.”

This involved secret formulas, so outsiders couldn’t enter. Of course, Coffin Boy wasn’t interested anyway—he remained immersed in the story of the sage Qi Yue had just told.

When Qi Yue returned home, A’Ru was carrying a cloth-covered cage.

“…Don’t grab it with your hands… and don’t turn your head away in fear while grabbing… let the servants do it… don’t get bitten…” Hu San followed behind A’Ru, chattering endless instructions.

“I know.” A’Ru said impatiently, glaring at him.

“Good that you know, good that you know. I’m just worried you’d be scared. What girl plays with mice?” Hu San laughed.

“Is this playing?” A’Ru snorted.

“Not playing, not playing.” Hu San quickly agreed.

“You’re working for the Young Madam, so be smart about it. The Young Madam trusts you, so conduct yourself properly. Don’t use that money to do things you shouldn’t.” A’Ru warned in a low voice.

“Am I that kind of person?” Hu San said aggrieved.

“Aren’t you?” A’Ru glanced at him.

Hu San laughed sheepishly again.

“I’ve changed, I’ve changed. I used to lack… security… Now I have Master to rely on, and Sister A’Ru to guide me. I stopped doing those foolish things long ago.” He said, patting his chest.

A’Ru gave him a sideways look.

“Really.” Hu San hastily reaffirmed.

A’Ru was about to say more when she turned and saw Qi Yue standing by the carriage, smiling as she watched her. Her face immediately flushed red. She quickly ignored Hu San and hurried over.

“Remember, don’t grab it with your hands.” Hu San called out another reminder from behind.

“Then grab it with my feet?” Qi Yue asked with a grin.

Hu San was stunned by the question.

“Master, you’re teasing me again.” He said with a bitter smile.

Qi Yue laughed heartily as the coachman cracked his whip and the horses galloped down the street.

Though Chang Yuncheng wasn’t home, Madam Xie’s lunch table still had a dish made by that cook, making Madam Xie feel grateful for a long time. Just after eating, Chang Yuncheng returned. Hearing that he came straight to her, Madam Xie was very pleased, watching the maids serve Chang Yuncheng as he washed his hands and face.

“You’re so thoughtful, having dishes sent to me even when you’re not home.” She smiled, looking at her son with gentle expression, “You don’t need to do this anymore. How could I stay angry with you? Put your mind at ease.”

Chang Yuncheng smiled upon hearing this, asking for sobering soup as his wine was wearing off.

Madam Xie was naturally happy to have it prepared, calling for maids to bring pillows and bedding for him to lie down and rest.

In the midst of this bustle, a maid outside reported that the Young Madam had come to pay her respects.

Chang Yuncheng’s face lit up with joy as he sat up. Madam Xie’s expression darkened.

“What perfect timing.” She said coldly, “The moment he walks in, she comes to put on her act?”

Chang Yuncheng felt somewhat embarrassed by these words.

“Yueniang really is coming to pay respects to mother.” He said hesitantly.

Madam Xie looked at him with a disdainful smile.

“What have you seen? You’re a man—how would you know these women’s little tricks? All their singing and acting is just to fool you men. How could you know their true thoughts behind the scenes?” She said coldly, “This woman says she’s paying respects to me, but she’s just putting on a show for you, to make you think she’s so filial. In the end, I’m the evil mother-in-law while she’s the wronged one, winning your sympathy.”

Chang Yuncheng felt even more embarrassed. Actually, she really is putting on a show for me, but I asked her to…

Seeing her son’s displeased expression, Madam Xie was more satisfied.

“…You have no idea about these women’s devious minds. Let me tell you, she didn’t come this morning. I was originally going to give her some face, but the moment you weren’t home, she didn’t come. This shows it wasn’t for my benefit.” She sighed and shook her head.

Chang Yuncheng was startled and sat up straight. Mother was originally going to give her face? But Yueniang, as agreed, why didn’t she come this morning? This made mother misunderstand even more!

This woman… was she really not taking it seriously?

Watching Chang Yuncheng’s expression, Madam Xie smiled slightly.

Wretched servant, no matter how you bewitch my son, it’s only temporary.