Registrar Liu hadn’t expected the cold-faced “jade Yama” to be so blunt, scolding him immediately without giving any courtesy. Forced to smile and change the subject, he said: “May I trouble the Court’s coroner to verify the remains, so as not to waste Your Highness’s time.”
Yao Shu could tell that Fu Xiujin didn’t care much for Prefect Pei.
She introduced herself, then stepped to the table and asked which chest contained the bones. Registrar Liu pointed to the larger one and began explaining: “The deceased, Chen Suqing, female, sixteen years old, was kidnapped and burned to death. As the case happened three years ago, only bones remain. Please verify them—if there’s no issue, you may stamp and take them away.”
Without hesitation, Yao Shu rolled up her sleeves and skillfully examined the scattered bones, starting with the pelvis to determine sex and age. Suddenly, her movements froze. She placed the skull on the table, then retrieved the pubic bone and compared the two. Her expression darkened.
“These aren’t the right remains. Judging from the tooth wear and the pubic symphysis, the deceased was at least twenty-five years old. And the skull shows blunt-force trauma as the cause of death.”
“Impossible! The bones were sealed and labeled. The seal was intact until you broke it just now. If you can’t manage, we’ll find someone else to recheck. I may be only a registrar, but I can swear this is absolutely correct!” Registrar Liu protested anxiously. A mistake in such a major case would ruin the prefecture’s reputation.
How dare he question her? Yao Shu knew he was in trouble.
“Registrar Liu, do you dare doubt the Court of Judicial Review?” Fu Xiujin’s brows furrowed, his voice chilling, his gaze sharp as a blade.
Yao Shu chuckled inwardly—he was fiercely protective of his people.
Registrar Liu panicked, sweating profusely. Suddenly inspired, he explained: “There was only one body at the scene, burned to a charred corpse. Master Chen and his wife personally identified it. We examined it before them, sealed it, and even placed the jade bracelet Madam Chen gave, engraved with the character *Qing*. It cannot be mistaken—this is indeed Chen Suqing’s body.”
Fu Xiujin glanced at Yao Shu. She searched the chest and indeed found a jade bracelet. In the light, the character *Qing* was clearly visible. There was no doubt—the body had been collected from the crime scene as “Chen Suqing.”
Zhao Shaobai, who had been listening, suddenly spoke: “I just reviewed the case file. The killer took the ransom, then killed Chen Suqing. When her parents came to identify the body, the scene was in chaos, nothing remained—except this charred corpse. How could they recognize their daughter from that?”
“This body cannot belong to sixteen-year-old Chen Suqing. But it is the corpse you retrieved as her. I believe Master Chen misidentified it from the start,” Yao Shu said firmly, confident in her skills.
“Or perhaps Master Chen knew it wasn’t his daughter, but deliberately deceived everyone,” Fu Xiujin added. He rose from the grand chair, strode past Yao Shu and Zhao, and left the hall.
His cold voice carried back: “Bring the remains and the case file. To the Chen residence.”
As Yao Shu and Zhao followed, a graceful figure appeared at the moon gate. A young woman stopped Fu Xiujin.
“Your Highness, leaving so soon? Yingxia heard from my brother that you were here, so I came to see you. And this woman—who is she?” Her smiling face faltered as her gaze landed on Yao Shu.
“She is a coroner of the Court. I have official business, Miss Pei. Farewell.”
Fu Xiujin didn’t even glance at her, striding past. Zhao Shaobai nudged Yao Shu to follow, and she reluctantly turned away from the girl.
“Oh, sister, such a pretty face wasted as a coroner. Does the Court even accept women? I heard their standards are strict. Did you pull strings to get in? Next time I’ll recommend my friends. Don’t be angry—I speak bluntly, don’t take offense.”
Such obvious flattery—Yao Shu shook her head.
“Read more books if you have nothing to do. Knowledge is how one enters. Doubting me is fine, but don’t doubt the Court’s standards. If you anger His Highness, that won’t end well. He isn’t as forgiving as I am.”
With that, Yao Shu walked off. Fu Xiujin’s protectiveness meant Pei Yingxia wouldn’t dare retaliate. Zhao Shaobai followed, stifling laughter, while Pei Yingxia stormed away, venom in her eyes.
“Find out who that woman is. To follow Prince Su and speak so boldly—I won’t let her go.” Her gaze was poisonous, a stark contrast to her earlier sweetness.
Zhao Shaobai was delighted to see her thwarted. “That’s Pei Yingxia, Prefect Pei’s daughter. She’s liked His Highness since childhood, but her father dislikes him, so it won’t happen.”
“Does His Highness like her?” Yao Shu asked curiously. Fu Xiujin seemed so pure—could he be swayed by such a schemer?
Zhao Shaobai rolled his eyes. “He’d never. She’s only pretty. Her temperament is vile. Any woman prettier than her, she’ll find a way to spite. She was jealous of you just now, that’s why she lashed out.”
So she thrived on rivalry. Yao Shu immediately gave Pei Yingxia a negative score in her mind.
When the three arrived at the Chen residence, Master Chen and Madam Chen were in the back garden. The gatekeeper, seeing Prince Su, rushed to summon them and led the visitors to the hall.
The couple hurried in as Yao Shu sipped tea. Madam Chen fell to her knees before Fu Xiujin, tears streaming down her face.
“Your Highness, you judge cases like a god, seeing truth in the smallest detail. Please, find the killer of my daughter. Every day, I dream of her restless spirit. Three years, and still no justice—I am consumed with hatred!”
“Rise and speak. Marquis Yongning is an old friend of Master Chen. He pressed the prefecture to hand the case to the Court. I will pursue the killer with all my strength.”