The Imperial Coroner

Xiao Jinyu then realized that the blood staining the front of Mu Yao's robe hadn't come from external sources—it was flowing from his own body.

Mu Yao seemed completely unaware of the two bleeding wounds on his body, frowning slightly as he looked at Xiao Jinyu. "How did you know I'd be taken to where Shi Niang was held?"

Xiao Jinyu offered a faint, bitter smile. "His habit... when he acts, he either doesn't do it at all, or he takes it to the extreme... Since he tortured Shi Niang, he wouldn't just stop at physical torment..."

Mu Yao furrowed his brows more deeply and nodded. "I'll guard Shi Niang... You attend to your duties. Shi Niang said she won't see you until you've captured Xue Rucheng."

☆ 124 The Manchu Han Imperial Feast (16)

Before returning to her room, Chu Chu felt her heart pounding like a little rabbit thumping in her chest. Although Xiao Jinyu rarely mentioned Shi Niang in daily life, Chu Chu knew that having grown up without parents, the woman who raised him was profoundly important to him. So she worried about Xiao Jinyu's grief, but even more about the matter Shi Niang had entrusted to her. Though she had agreed, she truly didn't know how to bring it up to Xiao Jinyu.

Chu Chu ran all the way back, arriving at the door breathless. Xiao Jinyu was sitting at the table writing something when he heard footsteps and looked up. Seeing Chu Chu rushing to his side, he immediately set down his brush. "What's wrong?"

Chu Chu studied his calm face repeatedly but detected no trace of sorrow. Only then did she release a long sigh of relief. "Wang Ye, don't worry. Shi Niang is badly injured... but Mr. Gu said her life isn't in danger. She's just too weak and needs to rest in bed for some time."

Xiao Jinyu gave a soft, wry smile, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the fine sweat beading at her hairline. "Then why were you in such a hurry?"

Chu Chu stared blankly at this person who remained as serene and gentle as moonlight filtering through grapevines on a summer night. She didn't even blink, making Xiao Jinyu unconsciously touch his own face before curling a faint smile at her dazed expression. "Am I really that good-looking?"

Chu Chu felt her head spinning faintly. How could it be that not only was he not grieving, but he actually seemed to be in rather good spirits...

She lowered her gaze to what Xiao Jinyu had been writing—an ordinary official document. How could he still have the mind to review documents at a time like this?

"Wang Ye... have you figured out what to do?"

"I have a way..." Xiao Jinyu took Chu Chu's hand, gently kissing those palms that had soothed his pain countless times. "But earlier, Qi Lian, Xue Ming, and Shi Niang were all under his control. If I had acted recklessly, none of them would have survived... Now, as long as you're willing to trust me, I dare to try..."

Before Xiao Jinyu finished speaking, Chu Chu broke free from his hand and threw her arms around his neck. "I knew you'd have a plan! I trust you—I'll trust whatever you do!"

Xiao Jinyu laughed helplessly and patted the impatient woman's head. "You need to think carefully... This method is still a gamble. I don't have complete certainty. If we lose, even if we escape death, we can forget about peaceful days afterward..."

Chu Chu chuckled. "Wang Ye, the way you say it makes it sound like we ever had peaceful days before!"Xiao Jinyu felt embarrassed. Though the words sounded heartless, he had to admit she was stating facts. He sighed softly and gave a faint bitter smile. "My mistake... Would you be willing to help me with something now?"

"Willing," Chu Chu answered without hesitation.

"Examine Shi Niang's injuries."

Chu Chu's eyes widened instantly. "Your Highness... did you eavesdrop on my conversation with Shi Niang?"

Xiao Jinyu was taken aback. "Hmm?"

"Shi Niang came to me precisely to ask me to examine her injuries. She said her body is the evidence to avenge herself, along with Grand Tutor Xue's three previous wives. Those three women have turned to bones, so only through her body can justice be sought for them..." Chu Chu pursed her lips, watching Xiao Jinyu cautiously. "I told her I couldn't decide this matter and needed to discuss it with you. She said this is your duty, and you have to agree whether you want to or not..."

Chu Chu's voice grew softer as she spoke, but Xiao Jinyu listened quietly until she finished, then nodded gently. "Shi Niang is right."

Suddenly, Chu Chu cupped Xiao Jinyu's face and gave him a firm kiss, startling him. "I think so too!"

When Chu Chu entered Shi Niang's room, Shi Niang was in a deep sleep after taking medicine. Mu Yao had changed into proper clothes and was carefully wiping Shi Niang's face with a warm towel, his movements as gentle as spring water, soothing to behold.

Seeing Chu Chu enter, Mu Yao didn't avoid her but stood up slowly and quietly, as if afraid of disturbing the sleeping figure on the bed. "Imperial Concubine."

Chu Chu glanced at Shi Niang on the bed. "You should rest for a while. I need to examine her injuries."

Mu Yao remained standing. "I can help."

After a moment's thought, seeing his determined expression that he wouldn't leave her side no matter what, Chu Chu nodded. "Alright, you can record for me. Just write down whatever I say."

"Alright."

Chu Chu added two more charcoal braziers to the room. Only when the room was warm enough to make one sweat did she carefully lift the quilt covering Shi Niang.

For ease of care, Shi Niang wore no clothing. As the quilt was lifted, scars like crawling insects were revealed, starkly contrasting against her pale skin. Chu Chu couldn't help but gasp sharply. Mu Yao, gripping the pen tightly, kept his eyes fixed on the paper without looking up.

Steadying herself, Chu Chu looked again at Shi Niang's body and realized that aside from her dignified, noble face, her smooth and well-proportioned neck, and her fair, slender hands, every area that could be covered by clothing was marred by ugly scars of varying depths. Several triangular burn marks on her lower abdomen and inner thighs were particularly glaring, sending chills down Chu Chu's spine.

Those were the most pain-sensitive areas on a woman's body, and burns were among the most unbearable injuries. To be branded there would have caused immediate, excruciating unconsciousness.

Pursing her lips, Chu Chu reported in a clear, steady voice, "Female victim, thirty-six years old, height approximately five chi. One heavy blunt force injury below the left breast, one broken rib..."