“Think about it—you’d have to spend money renting a place outside, but here you don’t pay rent. His Highness goes to the Court every day, so riding in his carriage saves you time. Our cooks prepare delicious meals, far better than living outside. And since your parents have passed, even if you don’t want to marry His Highness, we should still take care of you. Isn’t that right, my lord?”
Nanny Ou spoke at length until Fu Xiujin finally stirred. He tucked the jade pendant into his sleeve, stood, and glanced at Yao Shu. She worried for a moment that he might force her into marriage like Cao Hongfa had done with common women, but instead, he simply tossed out one line before leaving:
“A junior coroner at the Court of Judicial Review earns only two taels of silver a month. After food expenses, you might be fit only to sleep on the streets.”
Wasn’t that just a roundabout way of persuading her to stay? His words said one thing, but his meaning was another. After weighing her options, Yao Shu reluctantly agreed to remain.
That night, lying on the soft bed in Prince Su’s residence, she dreamed.
A black figure burst into a small cabin in the woods, where a couple and their daughter were eating. The intruder suddenly stabbed all three, leaving them covered in blood and lifeless. When the man in black left, the daughter crawled to her parents, slapping their faces in desperation. The mother was already gone, and the father, with his last breath, pointed under the bed and told her to find Shao Susu before falling silent. The girl fainted soon after.
“Help!” Yao Shu cried out, waking in terror. The daughter in the dream was her—or rather, the original coroner Yao Shu, whose beautiful face she now wore.
When she had transmigrated the day before, she already sensed the original’s memories were incomplete. Perhaps they hadn’t fully transferred yet. But now it seemed clear: her parents had been murdered, and the killer was still at large—no wonder she had joined the Court of Judicial Review.
“Miss Yao, are you alright?”
The door opened and a tall, delicate maid hurried in. Yao Shu remembered her—He Xiang, the maid Nanny Ou had assigned her last night.
“I’m fine. Just a nightmare. Do you have paper and brush? I need them.”
He Xiang nodded, set down her basin, and went to fetch them. By the time she returned, Yao Shu had washed up. Taking the paper and brush, she quickly sketched.
Though her memory wasn’t complete, she recalled the black-clad man’s wrist as he stabbed—the wrist bore a tattoo like four flames. She drew it from memory.
“He Xiang, do you recognize this symbol?” Yao Shu asked, pushing the paper toward her.
He Xiang tilted her head, thought for a moment, then shook it. “It looks a bit like the emblem of the Sacred Lotus Sect, but theirs has five flames. This one is missing a petal.”
Yao Shu decided she would have to ask Fu Xiujin. The Court of Judicial Review handled countless cases—perhaps someone there would recognize it.
He Xiang dressed her hair and brought breakfast. After eating, she led Yao Shu to the gate, where a carriage was already waiting.
Only then did Yao Shu remember she had a job. She was probably already late. She hurried aboard—only to find Fu Xiujin inside.
“Your Highness, what a coincidence. You haven’t gone to the Court yet?”
“If someone hadn’t overslept, I would already be there.”
He emphasized the word “already,” making Yao Shu flush with embarrassment. She had indeed delayed him. Still, she hadn’t expected him to wait for her, obediently following Nanny Ou’s arrangement.
“Have you seen this symbol before?” Yao Shu asked, ignoring his jab and handing him the paper. Since she now occupied the original’s body, she felt obliged to avenge its blood feud.
Fu Xiujin glanced at it. A sharp glint flashed in his dark eyes before quickly fading back to calm, but Yao Shu caught it.
“It resembles the Sacred Lotus Sect’s emblem, but it’s not the same. I’ve never seen it.”
The same answer as He Xiang’s—still no clue.
Yao Shu folded the paper and leaned against the window, lost in thought. Fu Xiujin remained silent, reading quietly beside her. Only when the carriage stopped did she realize they had arrived at the capital’s magistrate office.
“Your Highness, aren’t we going to the Court?”
As Fu Xiujin rose and passed her, he suddenly leaned close, one hand braced against the carriage wall. His breath brushed her ear. Yao Shu, who had never been so near a handsome man in her life, felt her face burn.
“Coroner Yao, you truly are forgetful. Forgetting childhood matters is one thing, but yesterday you were supposed to collect remains from the magistrate. How could you forget that?”
Yao Shu blinked. Why did he seem so resentful about her forgetting childhood memories? Had the original made some promise to him long ago?
“Your Highness, why aren’t you getting out?” Zhao Shaobai’s loud voice interrupted. He poked his head inside.
“Yao—Coroner Yao? You’re here too? No wonder I didn’t see you at the Court this morning. Avert your eyes, avert your eyes…”
From outside, Fu Xiujin’s posture looked like he was kissing Yao Shu. Her heart nearly exploded.
“She’s an old acquaintance. From now on, she’ll live in my residence.” Fu Xiujin dismissed it casually, then stepped out. Yao Shu pressed a hand to her racing heart before following.
But she noticed his ears were red. So the cold prince was just a paper tiger after all.
At the gate, the clerks hurried to greet them, bowing and leading them inside. “The remains and case files are ready.”
“Registrar Liu, Prince Su has arrived.”
The three were brought to a side hall, where Registrar Liu sat beside two chests. Seeing Fu Xiujin, he immediately stood.
“Your Highness, forgive us. Prefect Pei is presiding over a case today, so I was sent to receive you. The remains of Chen Suqing and the case files are prepared. They only await verification and signatures from the Court’s coroner and assistant minister.”
Fu Xiujin didn’t even lift his eyelids. He strode past Registrar Liu and sat in the grand chair. “Your prefecture has quite the thick skin. The case of the Chen family’s daughter has drawn much attention. You’ve investigated for three years without results and refused to hand it over to us. If not for Marquis Yongning’s pressure, you’d have dragged it out until the world forgot.”