The Delicate Lady Coroner

The red-robed man’s voice was bright and sonorous. While his pair of phoenix eyes bore some resemblance to Huò Wēi Lóu, the tails of his eyes were raised slightly, like it was typically lined with a mischievous smiling expression. His current remark contained even less scruples, as if he was used to being this impertinent even in front of Huò Wēi Lóu and the embroidered emissaries.

Fu gonggong walked up to the door from the back, smiling helplessly as he uttered: “Shizi’ye, words cannot be indiscriminately spoken on the grounds of Buddhism, Yōu Yōu is a coroner that Hou’ye found from Qingzhou.”

世子爷 (pinyin: shi zi ye) – the address used for an officially acknowledged heir apparent of a high-ranking aristocratic residence.

Bó Ruò Yōu had already straightened her posture, and she bowed with womanly obeisance before she said: “One pays her respect to Shizi.”

She restrained her gaze, already aware of the newcomer’s identity at the bottom of her heart.

Huò Wēi Lóu’s father was originally the heir apparent of Duke Huò, and after he became the Elder Princess’ fuma (husband), he was given the additional title of Duke Ding, and the original position of Duke Huò was given to his younger brother to inherit. The current individual in front of her, was naturally the current heir apparent of Duke Huò, Huò Wēi Lóu’s paternal younger male cousin.

“Yōu Yōu?” Huò Qīng Hóng’s lower jaw raised slightly as he walked inside with crossed arms, “Coroner? This kind of young beauty is actually a coroner?”

Having said that, Huò Qīng Hóng looked at the human remains that was splayed out on the long table, his complexion changing as he leapt out of the door like a rabbit, “Gonggong… what’s that… that couldn’t be human bones right…”

Fu gonggong’s smile deepened, as if he was no longer surprised by strange sights, “Shizi’ye, the official business that Hou’ye came here for, is precisely because of this set of skeletal remains. Apart from this skeleton, this left wing-room is also storing Féng daren’s corpse. If ȳou are afraid, perhaps going outside to roam around would be better?”

Huò Qīng Hóng’s facial colour paled visibly. He stared at Bó Ruò Yōu briefly with furrowed brows, as if he was wondering how a young lady like Bó Ruò Yōu managed to stand beside a dead person’s bones with such composure.

Lower jaw lifting, Huò Qīng Hóng raised his head and said: “I’m not afraid, I just feel that these things are not clean. Speaking of which, Guī Lán came down south, wasn’t it to help Older Brother conduct the post-mortem examinations? Why did Older Brother bring another young beauty to act as the coroner? Hey, do you really know how to examine corpses? Examine a corpse for me to see—”

Huò Qīng Hóng’s status was respected and noble, his speech unrestrained, whilst Bó Ruò Yōu felt her scalp numb. She was not good at dealing with this kind of noble son from a prominent and illustrious family.

“Once you arrive you start making trouble.”

Suddenly, a deep and low voice rang out.

Everyone looked towards the right wing-room, and promptly saw Huò Wēi Lóu walking out from the room before he stood at the entrance to frown at Huò Qīng Hóng. In an instant, the unbridled air that permeated Huò Qīng Hóng’s words and actions was extinguished like a flame beaten down by frostlike powder.

“Older, Older Brother—”

Huò Qīng Hóng straightened his posture in a well-behaved manner. At this moment, the white-robed gongzi, who hadn’t spoken the entire time, chose to open his mouth, “Hou’ye.”

Huò Wēi Lóu walked towards them, “Guī Lán, this is a coroner I found in Qingzhou. She handled the Marquis Anqing case superbly, so I brought her over to examine the corpses with you this time around.”

Míng Guī Lán had been observing Bó Ruò Yōu the whole time just now, and he could not resist looking at her again at that moment, as if he was harbouring some doubts. Huò Wēi Lóu then said: “Her skill in post-mortem autopsies is rather brilliant; though she is tender of age, she has been a coroner for a number of years.”

This was the first time Huò Wēi Lóu had praised Bó Ruò Yōu, and upon hearing his words, Huò Qīng Hóng gazed at Bó Ruò Yōu, curiosity emerging in lieu of his receding doubts. Míng Guī Lán proceeded to laugh softly, “For being able to receive Hou’ye’s praise, it is reckoned that her skill in post-mortem autopsies is extraordinary. I am a physician to begin with, in the future, it will no longer be necessary to follow Hou’ye everywhere and be on the constant move.”

Internally, Huò Wēi Lóu thought that Bó Ruò Yōu would not be constantly following him in the future, but he did not vocalise it in the end. Instead, he simply said, “You are proficient in medicine, which is something she falls short in. For the post-mortem autopsies, you will be conducting it with her this time around.”

Míng Guī Lán heaved a sigh, “One solemnly obeys Hou’ye’s orders.” Having said that, he glanced at the servants who were standing a short distance away, “Lift me inside.”

Once his voice landed, the two servants behind him stepped forward, lifting his chair across the raised threshold. Míng Guī Lán manoeuvred his wheelchair, going close to the long table where the human bones were placed. Huò Wēi Lóu did not express an opinion, merely waving his hand at Huò Qīng Hóng. Huò Qīng Hóng dawdled over to Huò Wēi Lóu’s side, his head hanging down slightly, and looking rather well-behaved.

Huò Wēi Lóu stated: “This is official business, if you make trouble, you’re going back to the Capital immediately.”

Huò Qīng Hóng raised his head, wearing a miserable expression, “Older Brother, I was merely stunned by the fact that the young beauty actually knew how to examine corpses, it wasn’t making trouble…”

Huò Wēi Lóu’s brows knitted upon hearing that, and when Huò Qīng Hóng saw the change in his expression, his brows jumped as well, but he looked visibly lost because he did not know what he had said wrongly.

Huò Wēi Lóu stared at this younger brother of his, shaking his head before turning around to return to the wing-room.

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Inside the wing-room, Liǎo Fán and Liǎo Jué had yet to finish answering all the questions.

Once Huò Wēi Lóu departed, Huò Qīng Hóng’s gaze, which was upright and honest for a moment, brightened again, and he returned to the central hall with arched eyebrows. Inside the room, Míng Guī Lán was already conversing with Bó Ruò Yōu, and he only heard Míng Guī Lán say mildly, “Guniang, in every instance that Hou’ye handles a case, they have all been important cases, and it is exceedingly rare that he brings a person whose origins he’s unclear of to examine the corpse. The fact that he brought you along sufficiently proves that he trusts you a lot. You don’t have to be nervous. While I am well-versed in medical knowledge, I am by no means proficient in the skills of a coroner; the examination of the skeletal remains will still mainly depend on you.”

Standing at the door, Fu gonggong added with a smile, “Míng gongzi belongs to an aristocratic family of imperial physicians. His father is the current Yuanzhen of the Imperial Hospital, and he is also deeply entrenched in the handed-down teachings, thus becoming a divine doctor within the Capital at a young age.”

院正 (pinyin: yuan zhen) – I think it means ‘dean’ or ‘director’, but I can’t be fully certain since I have tried to find the title in other sources, but it does not seem to exist.

Míng Guī Lán chuckled, “Gonggong has erred in his praise.”

Bó Ruò Yōu’s expression changed slightly when she heard the words ‘aristocratic family of imperial physicians’. She raised her eyes to peer at Míng Guī Lán, only noting that his countenance was handsome and leisurely, his brows and eyes elegant, especially those light-coloured irises of his. From afar it looked estranging, but close up, it only seemed like it contained a clear spring; when it was looking at you, it was akin to a spring wind brushing past your face. Bó Ruò Yōu relaxed by a few degrees, “Being well-versed in medical knowledge is important in post-mortem autopsies. Min’nü’s qualifications are superficial, and she asks for Gongzi’s guidance.”

Míng Guī Lán laughed out loud, “Guidance is too a strong word to use. I only hope that you can help Hou’ye share the burden and resolve his difficulties, while also sparing me some trouble.” Noticing the hesitation that coloured Bó Ruò Yōu’s gaze, he raised his hand and patted his kneecaps, “I was crippled during my childhood which makes travelling inconvenient, and while there are boats and carriages for long distances, and to overcome mountains and cross waters, it is really arduous. Despite that, one does not dare to resist when Hou’ye has orders.”

Even though his words were as such, it could be seen that he was extremely familiar with Huò Wēi Lóu, which gave him the courage to bluntly state his thoughts. Moreover, he did not refrain from bringing up the fact that his legs were crippled, showing that he was a rather open-minded person.

Thus, Bó Ruò Yōu had no misgivings as well, “Since that’s the case, min’nü will examine the bones and Gongzi can watch on from the side. If there’s anything inappropriate, please bring it up.”

Huò Qīng Hóng blinked his eyes, inching closer, “It looks like you really know how to conduct post-mortem autopsies, and you’re not offering more modest remarks.”

Although one of their identities was more respected and honoured than the other, the relationship that the two newcomers shared with Huò Wēi Lóu was not shallow for one, and secondly, neither of them were domineering or bearing any malice, so Bó Ruò Yōu did not try to be overly prudent. She promptly replied: “Min’nü does not dare to lightly declare that her autopsy skills can win against all the coroners underneath the heavens, but she has expended a great deal of effort into intensely studying this discipline.”

And because she had expended the effort to study intensely, her chest was braced by bamboos, and she was not afraid of the difficulties that the post-mortem autopsies might bring. Therefore, regardless of whether it was a divine doctor from an aristocratic family or another coroner with far-flung fame that she was confronted with, she had sufficient confidence; if she were to blindly offer modest remarks and make concessions, she would appear diffident and fake instead.

Huò Qīng Hóng raised an eyebrow, “That would explain why Older Brother brought you along…”

Fu gonggong said smilingly, “Under normal circumstances, Yōu Yōu appears to possess a mild temper, seeking neither wealth nor fame, but when she’s examining the corpses, she has a tenacious temperament. If she wasn’t skilled in this field, she wouldn’t be able to accomplish that.”

Míng Guī Lán chuckled, “Hou’ye dislikes presumptuous and unqualified people, nor does he like people who are skilled but cowardly, Guniang’s personality does happen to match Hou’ye’s appetite.”

Bó Ruò Yōu had never contemplated that much. Upon hearing the interrogative voices sound from the right wing-room again, Bó Ruò Yōu said: “Since Gongzi has just arrived, perhaps min’nü should inform Gongzi of the results from the autopsy last night, lest it delays the official business.”

Míng Guī Lán’s smiling expression deepened, “Hou’ye also likes people who handle their duties with due diligence. Hou’ye must be wholly satisfied with Guniang.”

Bó Ruò Yōu thought in her heart, just this morning, Huò Wēi Lóu had been angry at her for some inexplicable reason. He was satisfied, but it definitely wasn’t ‘wholly’.

Since she brought up the topic, she did not dally any further. Although Míng Guī Lán hadn’t seen the corpse, she still enumerated the results of last night’s post-mortem autopsy in full detail. When Míng Guī Lán heard that Bó Ruò Yōu managed to find so many clues, his expression became a touch stricter, though more admiration seeped into the bottom of his eyes. Huò Qīng Hóng’s slender finger was initially leaning against the door frame, but gradually, his posture straightened…

Bó Ruò Yōu continued to recount, “The place where Féng daren met his demise has been confirmed, but no other direct clues were discovered. Hou’ye is currently questioning Great Master Jìng Kōng’s two internal disciples, but as to whether this set of skeletal remains belongs to Great Master Jìng Kōng, has yet to be determined.”

Bó Ruò Yōu pointed at the skeleton and said: “This skeleton belongs to a man, the deceased’s height should be around 5’8 feet, give or take a few inches, around fifty years old at the time of death, but just basing it off these facts is not enough to verify that this deceased is Great Master Jìng Kōng.”

Huò Qīng Hóng could not help but ask: “How did [you] know that he’s in his fifties?”

Bó Ruò Yōu answered: “As humans grow with age, their bones and nerves will experience changes: bones grow at a young age, so a lot of changes occur then, and the changes become slower around forty to fifty years old, but it is not impossible to deduce. For instance, teeth will wear down, inside the bones, obvious changes will start to manifest at the pubic bone and other areas. By the ages of fifty, the pubic symphysis face will go from having a coarsely textured, central depression to a smooth surface with exceedingly small holes, then the rim will become duller while the face becomes pitted, and the area surrounding it will also be the same…”

As Bó Ruò Yōu was speaking, she picked up the deceased’s pubic bone, which made Huò Qīng Hóng’s lip corner twitch involuntarily.

Bó Ruò Yōu continued, “If it was a deceased in their sixties, the holes here will become bigger, taking on an irregular ossification, and subsequently the outer edges will become a lot sharper.”

Huò Qīng Hóng did not understand what he was hearing, but he got the sense that Bó Ruò Yōu was extremely knowledgeable. At the side, Míng Guī Lán questioned: “You have a deep understanding of the human bones, did someone teach you?”

Normal physicians only know how to give prescriptions at most, and the ones who have a thorough understanding of the skeletal and nervous system were not many. According to what Bó Ruò Yōu asserted, her main discipline was forensics, not medicine, but the things she was speaking about were only recorded on extremely precious and ancient books from physicians, and even he only came to gradually comprehend these after he was seventeen.

Bó Ruò Yōu said: “Yifu taught about it once.”

Míng Guī Lán posed another question: “Your foster father? Is he a renowned physician?”

Bó Ruò Yōu shook her head, “Yifu is a coroner as well.”

Míng Guī Lán pondered briefly, “Since that’s the case, it can be imagined that your foster father is an extremely skilled coroner as well.”

Bó Ruò Yōu declined to comment as she shifted back to the case again, “Only a set of human bones remain of the deceased’s corpse today, but apart from two broken bones on the skeleton, there are no obvious injuries elsewhere. Presently, min’nü has yet to conclude what the mortal wound was, and the only fact that she can ascertain is that, after the deceased died, the murderer had used cruel methods to dismember the corpse first, and then place the corpse chunks inside the golden Buddha statue.”

“Put it inside a golden Buddha statue? Could it be that… it’s this Buddha statue?”

Huò Qīng Hóng asked as he pointed at the Buddha statue in the room, to which Bó Ruò Yōu nodded.

Huò Qīng Hóng’s complexion changed instantaneously. He did notice that there was a Buddha statue in the room, and saw the cracked pattern on the lotus seat, which made him assume that the Buddha statue was being temporarily stored here because it was damaged, but he did not anticipate that the Buddha statue was where the corpse was hidden. His complexion changed a few times, and at the end, he said: “I heard that Lín Zhāo is also in the temple, I’ll go and look for him instead—”

Lín Huái, who had been standing at the side the entire time, chuckled, “Zhāo’er is in the library pavilion, Shizi just needs to ask an embroidered emissary to lead the way.”

Huò Qīng Hóng promptly left, following an embroidered emissary out of the door.

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Míng Guī Lán laughed, “Shizi has a straightforward personality, Guniang need not pay attention to him.”

Bó Ruò Yōu nodded, but she was thinking in the bottom of her heart: the Shizi has a noble and respected identity, how could she ignore him? Her thoughts turned and she continued to say: “This Buddha statue was made ten years ago. Min’nü deduces that when the deceased was murdered, the Buddha statue was half-moulded, and the murderer had dismembered the corpse before placing it inside the Buddha statue. The people crafting the statue didn’t realise it… or perhaps, under the circumstances where they were cognizant, they still thoroughly sealed the corpse chunks inside the Buddha statue, which was why no one managed to discover it for so many years.”

Míng Guī Lán looked at the Buddha statue, and Bó Ruò Yōu added, “Besides this, there were bit of fabrics and other material evidence, like a Buddhist prayer bead, but wanting to verify the deceased’s identity still requires iron-clad evidence from the skeletal remains.”

Each and every word and sentence spoken by Bó Ruò Yōu was orderly and clear. After Míng Guī Lán was done listening, he gazed at Bó Ruò Yōu, “Guniang, is it true that many cases have passed through your hands?”

Bó Ruò Yōu faltered momentarily, “It can’t be considered as many.”

Míng Guī Lán smiled slightly, then he seemed to suddenly recall something as he said: “[I] haven’t asked you what your name was?”

“Min’nü’s patronymic is Bó, name Ruò Yōu.” Bó Ruò Yōu answered.

“Ruò Yōu…” Míng Guī Lán mumbled before suddenly saying, “Your name does remind me of a poem line… ‘a serene colour bursting into the mundane world’, it does match your name and your person.”

一袭幽色出凡尘 (yi xi you se chu fan chen) – The poem being referenced here is The Academy’s Two Small Pines (书院二小松), a seven-character verse poem written by Li Qun Yu in the Tang Dynasty, which establishes the image of a growing tree inside an academy of classical learning, alluding to the learning of scholars.

Míng Guī Lán’s manner of speaking was warm and cultured. Though his words were clearly a compliment, Bó Ruò Yōu stiffened slightly, “Min’nü does not deserve such praise.”

    ……

Liǎo Fán and Liǎo Jué could also hear the low voices conversing next door, but it sounded vague. Very quickly, however, the pair realised that Huò Wēi Lóu’s mien was congealing more and more. After Liǎo Jué finished talking about the situation after Great Master Jìng Kōng’s disappearance, he asked: “Therefore, you’re saying that the current Great Master Jìng Míng usurped your Shifu’s position as the Temple Head very quickly?”

Liǎo Jué hesitated, whereas Liǎo Fán immediately said: “That’s precisely the case. Not only did he immediately usurp Shifu’s position as the Temple Head, but he also revoked the managerial positions of this small monk and two more shixiong within two years. At the very end, it was all changed into his own disciples.”

In a place with people, there was bound to be a struggle for power. Huò Wēi Lóu could not be more understanding of this saying, “Apart from that? What else did he do?”

Although his demeanour was less than stellar, Huò Wēi Lóu continued to sit stably like a lofty mountain. Liǎo Fán shook his head, “There’s nothing else. Shishu and Shifu are fellow apprentices, when Shifu was chosen by Tai Shizhu to be the Temple Head, Shishu found it rather unfair. Hence, it delayed his cultivation, and when Shifu was met with an accident, Shishu did try to find Shifu, but he was just going through the motions. He swiftly presented a memorial to the Ministry of Rites, stating that Famen Temple cannot be without a Temple Head for a day, and afterwards, his position as the Temple Head was thus settled.”

师叔 (pinyin: shi shu) – essentially means ‘Sect/Teacher Uncle’, in reference to Jìng Míng. Since Jìng Míng was apprenticed under the same teacher (or ‘father’ so to speak) as Jìng Kōng, Jìng Kōng’s disciple refer to him as such.
太师祖 (pinyin: tai shi zhu) – Great-grand teacher in this religious/disciplinary context.

Ridicule emerged on Liǎo Fán’s visage, “Though Shishu did expend more thought on practicing the Dharma after becoming the Temple Head.”

Huò Wēi Lóu continued to ask: “Which is why both of you feel that your Shifu’s disappearance is related to him.”

Liǎo Jué faltered. Liǎo Fán said decisively, “It must be related. Even if Shishu isn’t the murderer, he also wishes for Shifu to disappear.”

Huò Wēi Lóu muttered irresolutely to himself briefly, “Both of you personally experienced the Grand Śarīra Ceremony that year, do you still remember if anything abnormal happened?”

The Śarīra Grand Ceremony happened ten years ago; wanting to remember the details of what occurred ten years ago was rather difficult. Liǎo Fán pondered briefly before replying: “At that time, this small monk and a few of the disciples under Shifu’s seat were mostly leading the inner monks in rehearsing, preparing the sacrificial offerings, and chanting sutras. There were no perceivable abnormalities, and the only abnormality would be the disappearance of the Śarīra—”

Huò Wēi Lóu interrupted, “Talk about it in detail. At that time, how was the Śarīra brought out, and how did it return, whose hands did it pass through at that time, and who was holding the keys to the doors of the underground palace.”

Upon hearing Huò Wēi Lóu’s meticulous inquiries, and having heard of Marquis Wuzhao’s military achievements, he inwardly knew that he could only rely on him if he wanted to find out the reason for his Shifu’s disappearance. He tried his hardest to think back. “The Śarīra is usually enshrined inside the underground palace, and the doors are always locked shut and never opened. There are a total of five heavy doors to the underground palace, and the keys are held by the Temple Head, passed down in successive generations, and it is only during the Grand Ceremony that happens once every thirty years where the keys will be used to open the underground palace.

“As the spiritual bones of the Buddha, the Śarīra has always been stored inside the Five-Fold Treasure Chest, with the clear glass bottle containing the Śarīra being stored in the innermost layer, then in a golden coffin, pure silver coffin, and sandalwood case, in that order, with the outermost copper coffer being last. It was the day of the Grand Ceremony when the Śarīra was brought out, and this small monk recalls that the auspicious time was midnoon back then. Shifu was the one who personally opened the heavy doors to the underground palace, and he also personally sought out the copper chest. The main hall ceremonial stage was constructed in front of the Hall of Great Strength, and the copper coffer was raised on the lotus flower seat on the main hall ceremonial stage for presentation. Following that was the grand religious ceremony which lasted for the entire day, and it was at the start of the first night watch (7PM) where Shifu personally sent it back to the underground palace.

“In that span of time, the copper coffer was never opened, and it remained within everyone’s sights, so there was absolutely no chance of it being lost, but when Shifu was about to send back the Śarīra at night-time, he suddenly realised that something was wrong, stating that the copper coffer had become lighter.”

Owing to the earth-shattering, unforeseen event, Liǎo Fán’s memory of that instance was particularly deep, “Back then, the bystanders had yet to understand why Shifu would utter such words, but Shifu said that he was the one who brought out the copper coffer at noon, so he was the most cognizant of its weight, before reiterating that the copper coffer had really become lighter. His Majesty was still present back then, and upon hearing his words, he summoned Shifu into the palace hall, not allowing anyone to know of this development. After hearing Shifu’s urgent pretext, he ordered for the opening of the copper coffer, followed by the sandalwood case and pure silver coffin. Once the pure silver coffin was opened, the gold coffin that was supposed to be there was gone… Naturally, the clear glass bottle storing the Śarīra was gone as well.”

Liǎo Fán heaved a sigh, “Everyone was shocked back then, and His Majesty immediately dispatched people to search for it, but nothing came out of it. Since Shifu was the only person who held the copper coffer, he was naturally suspected as well, and it was even to the extent where His Majesty wanted to punish Shifu. However, under the consideration Shifu was a senior monk that had achieved enlightenment, and had carried out the copper coffer under a thousand eyes, he didn’t convict him immediately, only retaining a few court officials to investigate, but Shifu unexpectedly disappeared three days later.”

“The keys to the underground palace were within Shifu’s hands, hence there were some that said that Shifu had embezzled and plundered the Śarīra a long time ago… But how could that be possible, the noise generated during the opening of the underground palace is not small, and someone within the temple would have noticed it. Moreover, it is Shifu, it’s not possible for him to open the underground palace noiselessly and take away the Śarīra…”

Liǎo Fán’s expression was etched with pain, while Huò Wēi Lóu squinted his eyes, “That day, did anything irregular occur?”

Liǎo Fán thought about it again. At this moment, Liǎo Jué spoke up: “It rained in the evening that day, does that count as irregular?”

Huò Wēi Lóu’s pupils dilated, “Talk about it in detail.”

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Liǎo Jué then said: “The ceremonial stage didn’t have any shelter. At that time, it was the fourth month of flourishing spring, and there was a light drizzle that came pitter-pattering down in the evening, lasting for only the smaller part of a double-hour at most. The copper coffer would never be allowed to be soaked in the rain, hence, Shifu ordered for someone to prepare a large umbrella to cover the copper coffer, and the religious ceremony also stopped briefly because of it.”

With that exposition, Liǎo Fán also recalled it, “Yes, there was indeed a drizzle, but it did not last for a long time, so this small monk forgot about it in the moment.”

Huò Wēi Lóu’s eyes narrowed, “Where is the copper coffer from that year right now?”

Liǎo Fán replied: “Inside the underground palace. This accident had to be kept under wraps all these years, so everyone pretended that the Śarīra was still inside the Famen Temple, and that copper coffer, naturally had to be placed back to continue the pretence.”

“The keys to the underground palace didn’t disappear with your Shifu?”

Liǎo Fán shook his head, “It didn’t. That is also one of the oddities. When Shifu disappeared that year, he should have taken all his personal possessions if he was stealing the Śarīra and running away, or at the very least, brought along some items to maintain his livelihood.”

Huò Wēi Lóu muttered irresolutely to himself before instructing an embroidered emissary outside, “Go and invite Great Master Jìng Míng, and tell him to bring the keys to the underground palace, benhou is going to the underground palace to have a look—”

Liǎo Fán and Liǎo Jué exchanged glances, looking equally alarmed. The underground palace could not be opened just because someone wished for it, and it was only the arrival of this thunderously swift and decisive Marquis Wuzhao that could move the Temple Head.

In time that they were waiting, Huò Wēi Lóu stood up and walked out of the door, turning towards the entrance of the central hall. Before he even reached the doors, he could hear an ensuing conversation.

Míng Guī Lán remarked, “No symptoms of poisoning can be discerned from the bone colour, but for the two broken ribs, it’s possible that his death was caused by an object piercing his heart from a slanted angle.”

Bó Ruò Yōu chimed in, “Gongzi’s words are reasonable, except the breakage of the ribs are level, and they must have been cut into by a sharp weapon. Just the excessive blood loss alone can result in death; there are too many possibilities, it’s difficult to conclude right now.”

Before Huò Wēi Lóu stepped through the doors, he saw Lín Huái coming over to greet him, so he instructed, “Go and check, when Great Master Jìng Míng obtained the seat of Temple Head that year, who was on duty within the Ministry of Rites and Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and whose hands did the request passed through.”

Lín Huái nodded and complied. At this moment, the voices within the room ceased.

Míng Guī Lán turned his wheelchair towards the entrance, “Hou’ye is done questioning?”

Huò Wēi Lóu nodded, “Will be heading to the underground palace in a short while.” He glanced at the bones on the table. “How is it?”

Míng Guī Lán said: “Congratulating Hou’ye on finding a coroner like Bó guniang, I see that she’s much more capable than I am, though there aren’t a lot of clues on the skeletal remains, and it will require more time.”

Huò Wēi Lóu said in a calm tone: “There’s no need to rush the moment.” He looked into the room before adding, “[I] will be going to the underground palace to inspect that copper coffer from that year. Bó Ruò Yōu, come together with benhou.”

Raising her head, Bó Ruò Yōu verbally agreed without any delay. Míng Guī Lán peered at Huò Wēi Lóu, the corners of his lips curving slightly, “Then I will stay behind to examine the bones.”

Huò Wēi Lóu declined to comment as he nodded his head. Once Bó Ruò Yōu came out, he started using the strange gaze from the morning to scrutinise Bó Ruò Yōu again. Bó Ruò Yōu’s heart jolted, not understanding how she had displeased him again.