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After scanning through a few pages, Xiyue finally looked up at Ji Yunshu and asked, “Brother, can you lend me this book? I live just next door. I’ll return it to you once I’m done with it. My father’s study is always locked and everyone including me is barred from entering it, so I haven’t read this in such a long time.”

“Of course you can.”

“Then when I’m finished with this one, can I borrow these books as well?” Xiyue pointed towards the other books on Ji Yunshu’s desk, her eyes practically begging.

Ji Yunshu chuckled, “If you like them so much, you can have them any time. If you’ve finished, then borrow some more. Let me know if you have any others you want to peruse, or even better, make a list and I’ll have someone procure them for you.”

“Thank you, Brother!” Xiyue’s grin lit up from ear to ear, caressing the ‘Hundred Annals’ before her tenderly. Although Ji Yunshu had only seen Xiyue twice, she wasn’t quite sure why she took such a liking to the girl. Somehow, Xiyue reminded her of herself - the little lass behaved just like she did when she was ten years old.

Xiyue likewise had her own opinions of Ji Yunshu; this young man was undeniably handsome, and his gentle eyes made her flush. “Will you be living here forever, Brother?”

“Most likely... not.”

Xiyue was disappointed, “This mansion is now finally seeing some life after being left empty for so many years, and Big Brother is even so kind and handsome! Why do you have to leave? Can’t you stay?”

“We’re only staying here temporarily.”

“Ohh ...” Xiyue had hoped for a different answer.

Ji Yunshu scruffed her hair, “Don’t you have any playmates?”

Xiyue shook her head pitiably, “I don’t. Everyone likes me and says that I’m clever, but... they don’t like playing with me, not even at school.”

Ji Yunshu could not help but feel for the young girl, “Feel free to come over whenever you’re bored. I’m free anyway.”

“For real?”

“Didn’t you like kicking shuttlecocks? So do I!”

“I like you very much, Big Brother.” Xiyue grinned.

This confession definitely caught Ji Yunshu off guard as she held back her laughter; Was this little girl flirting with her? How cute!

Not far from the courtyard, Qiao’er was making her way into the yard, but not before she was intercepted by Tang Si, her snacks very quickly snatched away. “Miss Tang?”

“These are for Ah Ji, right? I’ll bring them in on your behalf.” Tang Si proclaimed, stepping in to see Ji Yunshu patting Xiyue’s head. She quickly placed the snacks aside, her gaze trained on the adorable Xiyue before her. Tang Si pinched Xiyue’s cheeks roughly, addressing her as if she were an enemy, “Who are you, little brat?”

Little Xiyue’s cheeks were almost bruised, and she rubbed them carefully. She frowned as she scanned the strange lady before her, answering, “My name is Xiyue.”

“Xiyue? What a pretty name, but where have you come from?”

“I’m your neighbour!”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I was looking for Big Brother to play with him.”

Their back-and-forth banter resembled an interrogation scene.

Ji Yunshu hurriedly pulled Tang Si aside, sitting her down, “Don’t scare this poor girl.”

“When did I even scare her? This little girl is quite clever, I think I quite like her.” Tang Si stretched out to pinch her cheeks again; this time, Little Xiyue let her do as she pleased, as Tang Si squeezed her adorable cheeks even more.

In the days following, Little Xiyue took Ji Yunshu up on her offer - she visited daily, but each time she fell prey to the Tang Si’s merciless hands. Little Xiyue learned her lesson, and on the third day, not even her shadow could be seen. On the other hand, Zuo Yao brought news that he wished to open the coffins on the day after. Ji Yunshu acknowledged the messenger briefly, before sending him on his way.

The next day.

Zuo Yao had arrived at their residence bright and early with a sizeable entourage, planning to bring them together to the burial site. He had earlier informed Jing Rong but he was busy with other matters. Only one person was waiting there before Zuo Yao - Aunty Xie. She had not been able to sleep a wink the previous night, after she knew that they would be opening the coffin, and insisted on going along with them.

When they had arrived at the cemetery, the yamen runners began tackling the soil beneath them, hacking away. Knowing that Teacher Ji was watching, they dug away with even more enthusiasm, all in the hopes of catching her attention. Who knows, maybe she would put in a good word for them in front of His Highness and they could receive a few silver taels as reward!

As they toiled, Aunty Xie quietly sobbed. Ji Yunshu soothed her carefully but she still kept an eye on the yamen runners. Once they had dug about halfway, she instructed, “Please be careful, take as much time as you need. The most important thing is to preserve what lays inside these coffins, lest you disrespect those already fallen.”

Someone looked up from the crowd, “Don’t worry, Teacher Ji. We know what to do - we’re all professionals. Of course we won’t damage anything.”

Professional? Did you take yourselves for an archaeological team? Ji Yunshu nodded, keeping her snide comments to herself. The entire thing took no more than forty-five minutes or so, and the coffin was swiftly unearthed.

It was a coffin built from sturdy, but cheap, wood. It was neither waterproof nor prevented rot - any corpse would rot completely within a month. Ji Yunshu knew this clearly; she did not reserve any hope that the corpse would remain intact, and was already prepared to find even the bones affected.

Zuo Yao came forward, “Teacher, should we open it here or bring it back?”

Ji Yunshu took a closer glance, “Bring it back.”

“Then should we bring it to the funeral home, or the yamen?”

“To my residence.”

“This...” Zuo Yao was agast and sweating, “How about we leave it at the yamen? It would be inappropriate to bring the coffin back to where His Highness and Teacher Ji are staying.”

“Just do as you’re told.” Ji Yunshu was firm.

Zuo Yao could only obey, and his men steadily marched back, the coffin raised upon their shoulders.

They brought the coffin to Ji Yunshu’s courtyard. She sprinkled some rhizoma around it and commanded, “Open it.” Zuo Yao’s men unravelled the ropes securing the coffin, and a few of them worked together to push off its lid.

As soon as the lid fell, an acrid, revolting odour permeated the yard. Those men sprung back immediately in disgust. Ji Yunshu handed out some raw ginger slices that she had readied for them to hold in their mouths, and the odour became much more bearable.

Ji Yunshu put on her gloves and peered into the coffin. The corpse had already disintegrated into damp clumps of rotting flesh and bone. However, these remains were not ordinary - instead of their usual colour, they were grey, almost black!