Bone Painting Coroner

Chang Yiyan’s testimony dramatically altered the direction the case was heading in; everyone involved in the investigation thus far fell deep in thought at her words – if what she had witnessed were true, then weren’t all their leads thus far rendered useless?

With Chang Yiyan’s and Li Mingzhou’s statements, Fang Mingsan could only order his release, as well as Miss Yuyin’s. Ji Yunshu made the trip personally to deliver the news, but Yu’in instead questioned, "Why am I being released so suddenly?"

Did you want to remain here? Ji Yunshu replied, "It’s not out of the blue. Your bosom buddy, Li Mingzhou, helped vouch for your innocence."

"Mingzhou?" She was startled, her hands covering her bracelet instinctively.

Her actions were not lost on Ji Yunshu. "You don’t have to hide it; we already know everything, otherwise, we wouldn’t let you go."

Yu’in’s chest tightened. "How did you find Mingzhou?"

Mingzhou, Mingzhou – every sentence she spouted from the moment they spoke began with his name. Fortunately, Ji Yunshu had plenty of patience to spare. "He went to excavate Chang Shiliang’s grave in the middle of the night and was arrested. He was brought back here to the yamen for questioning, and told us everything."

"He dug up his coffin?"

Ji Yunshu nodded. "He said it was because he wanted to retrieve that jade ring of his from Chang Shiliang’s hands."

Realisation dawned upon Yu’in’s face, before she lowered her head, seemingly baffled about something as she spoke no further. Ji Yunshu carefully observed her every expression, etching all of them into her memory. By the time the two of them left the prison, the morning sun was already peeking through the clouds.

Once Yu’in left, Ji Yunshu returned to the yamen. She took a short nap in her room before looking for Mo Ruo. Mo Ruo was relaxing and having his wine in the yard. As soon as he saw her, he asked, "Wasn’t Teacher Ji busy with interrogations through the night? Don’t you need to rest?" What a superwoman! I take my hat off to you!

Of course she was there for a reason. "Have you discovered what that stain on those clothes is?"

"Not yet."

"You can’t identify it?"

"That’s not it," he replied.

Ji Yunshu was frustrated. "Then what is it? It’s already the third day today, if I still have nothing, then…"

"Why are you so impatient? Don’t you have two more days?"

It’s not your life at stake – of course you’re not worried! Ji Yunshu dabbed at the sweat on her brow haplessly.

Mo Ruo languidly pulled out a sheet of paper from his sleeve as he handed it to her, "There’s a medicinal herb mixed into that stain. You’re lucky I know what that herb is – it’s the Eclipta prostata, or false daisy, and it has many medicinal properties. It’s good for clotting blood, reducing inflammation and heatiness, and…"

"Get to the point."

"Ink."

"Hmm?"

Mo Ruo shrugged his shoulders as he took another gulp of wine, "You were the one who told me to get straight to the point, that’s what I did."

Hey, hey, hey, can’t you set that attitude right, brother? It’ll be difficult to continue playing this game if you act this way. Ji Yunshu waved her hand, "Fine, take your time."

Mo Ruo closed his eyes as he recounted, "The false daisy is one of the commonest herbs that practically anyone can buy; those who can’t afford it can just harvest some from the mountains – it’s everywhere, but they usually grow on cliffsides, so it’s still a challenge to harvest it." His voice faded away as his wine jar began to slip away from his fingers. His body began to sway as he continued, "But, that stain on Old Master Chang’s clothes was made by ink, a kind of ink that contains the extract of false daisy."