Chapter 62: Who’s the Culprit?
Bone Painting Coroner
Pulling Wei Yi out of the autopsy room, Ji Yunshu borrowed an umbrella before leaving the yamen.
After opening the umbrella, she handed it over to Wei Yi. âYouâre taller, so you hold it.â
âOkay.â
He appeared quite pleased to do so as they walked through the snow.
âWei Yi, can I ask what do you like to do? Do you like reading, or perhaps writing?â Ji Yunshu asked as they walked together.
After thinking for a bit, he shook his head and replied, âI donât like any of those.â
âThen, did you like that pile of white bones just now?â
âWhite bones?â Wei Yiâs expression sank as he hurriedly waved his hand, âNo, no, I didnât like it.â
Due to his hand shaking, the umbrella also shook. Ji Yunshu immediately reached out to grip his hand, her gaze stern. âYouâre not allowed to shake your hand. Look, you let the snow fall on my shoulders.â She looked at her shoulders.
However, Wei Yiâs attention was not focused on her shoulders but rather on the pair of hands holding onto his. Her fingers were a clean white colour, long and elegant. The feeling of her hands clenching onto his was very warm and comfortable. For a while, Wei Yi simply went into a daze while looking at her hands.
Noticing this, Ji Yunshu immediately put her hands back into her sleeves and turned. âYou brat, where did you get this weird habit of looking at other peopleâs hands.â
âBig Brother, your hands look very similar to Big Sisterâs hands!â
âIn what way?â
Wei Yi smiled as he spoke, âWhen big sister took a knife to scare me, I saw there was a small mole on the back of her hand. Itâs exactly the same as the one on Big Brotherâs hand.â
âUh?â Ji Yunshu lifted her hand to have a look and saw a mole in her purlicue. It was small to the point that Ji Yunshu had not noticed its existence at all in the five years she had been here.
âThis guy has an eye for detail!â
Placing her hands back into her sleeves, she continued forwards while speaking, âAlright, itâs time to send you back to the Wei mansion.â
âAh?â Wei Yi was clearly a bit unwilling. âBig Brother, can you bring me to Big Sister? I have something to give her.â
âWhat is it?â
âI canât show it to Big Brother, I have to give it to Big Sister myself.â
This piqued Ji Yunshuâs interest. She paused her steps and spoke with a hint of threat in her tone, âIf you donât tell me, I wonât take you to see her ever again.â
Wei Yi became anxious, so he spoke with haste, âAlright, Iâll tell you.â His hands reached towards his waistband where he took out a pouch.
âI wanted to give this to Big Sister.â
Ji Yunshu took the pouch from his hand. Opening it, she found a jade pendant, orange blood in color, that was very translucent.
She was quite confused. âWhere did you get this jade pendant from? Why do you⦠want to give it to your big sister?â
âMy father gave me this. He said it would keep me safe, so I want to give it to Big Sister.â
âBut your big sister might not even like it!â
âMother says all girls like expensive things. This jade is very important to me, so Iâm sure Big Sister will like it too.â
âSilly guy. You could actually bear to give away such a precious object! Your big sister is scared by you so many times, why are you being so affectionate when she gives you the cold shoulders?â
Giving the pendant back, she spoke, âKeep this pendant properly. This was given to you by your father so you canât give it to anyone else, understand?â
He didnât understand! âItâs nothing to be worried about. Big Brother, bring me to see Big Sister please. If I go alone, Big Sister might not even see me.â Towards the end, his tone turned very upset!
Ji Yunshu stilled for a moment, not knowing what to say.
Wei Yi seemed to have turned into a smooth talker all of a sudden as he continued, âBig Brother, please say âyesâ. I really want to give her this jade pendant. I like Big Sister so I want to give it to her. Big Brother, can you pretty please take me to see her?â
âWhere did you learn how to beg so shamelessly! This little fool sure knows how to give one a headache!â
Unable to deny him, Ji Yunshu could only take back the jade pendant. âYour big sisterâs body hasnât been too well lately so I canât bring you to see her. Iâll help her receive this jade pendant and give it to her when I see her.â
âButâ¦â
âWhat? Are you worried Iâll keep it for myself?â
âNo, no, itâs not that.â He shook his head fiercely. âThen, you must help me give the pendant to big sister.â
âGood boy.â Ji Yunshu said with a slight smile as she kept the pendant in her sleeve. Without further ado, the two were back on their way and soon Ji Yunshu was bidding goodbye to Wei Yi at the gates to the Wei manor.
Wei Yi was a bit unwilling to part as his eyes darted around. âBig brother, why donât you follow me inside. I have lots and lots of good food to eat in my house.â
She took the umbrella back from Wei Yi. She indicated for him to get inside, âNo need. I still have some matters to take care of.â
Without tarrying any further, she turned and left. On the way back to the Ji mansion, there was a section that passed through the more bustling parts of the city though, once she exited the main road, it got much quieter.
However, Ji Yunshuâs footsteps got slower as she walked until she finally stopped. âCome out, you can stop following me now.â
A person popped out from the seemingly innocuous background.
He appeared around 50 to 60 years old and was completely clothed in rough linens. The hair at his temples was turning white. He kept his posture low and he appeared quite apprehensive!
âYouâve been following me since I departed from the yamen. What do you want?â Ji Yunshu asked.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
He walked several steps forward and first made a careful scan of the surroundings before lifting his gaze to look at Ji Yunshu. âTeacher Ji⦠I followed you because I have something that I need to tell you.â
âGo ahead and speak old mister. Thereâs no one else here.â
âItâs about⦠about that yin yang corpse.â
âWhat?â Ji Yunshuâs expression tensed up as she pressed him, âWhat do you know?â
The old man got even more tense as his head lowered even more. âI k-know who that yin yang corpse was.â
âWho was it?â
âI-Itâs Master Jiang. The Grand Canal Manor used to be Master Jiangâs house.â His voice was shaking.
The doubts in Ji Yunshuâs heart intensified. âHow do you know this? That skeleton is already 2 years old and the portrait is still not drawn yet.â
The old man rushed to explain, âI know because Master Jiang is a yin yang person.â
âThen who might you be, old mister?â
âI was one of the servants of the Jiang household. Few people know that Master Jiang had a yin yang body.â Speaking thus, the old manâs body trembled.
âThis is not normal at all!â Ji Yunshu furrowed her brows, âSince you know the skeleton was Master Jiang, why didnât you go report it to Lord Liu at the yamen instead of following me just for the sake of telling me this?â
âIâ¦â His hesitation to answer was quite apparent.
âIf you have any difficulties that prevent you from going to the yamen, then come with me.â
The old manâs gaze met Ji Yunshuâs. His body trembled for a while before he finally spoke, âItâs because⦠I know who the murderer is. However, I donât dare to go to the yamen otherwise if Madame Jiang were to find out, Iâm a-afraid Iâll be silenced.â
These words managed to finally shock Ji Yunshu.
âWhoâs the murderer?â She asked.