Chapter Three: Bloodshed and Forced Marriage Chapter Nineteen: Opening the Coffin for Inspection

The master of ceremonies, his voice ringing out amid the crackling of firecrackers, announced, "The newlyweds take their places, the ceremony begins!"

"First, bow to the heavens and earth!" Despite her thousand protests, Ye Kaixin, dressed in brilliant red, endured for the sake of her father.

"Second, bow to the parents!" Xu Liang, seeing the beaming smile on his mother's face, felt a joy beyond words.

"Third, bow to each other, then proceed to the bridal chamber! The ceremony is complete!" With the final call, the master of ceremonies watched as the couple departed. He squeezed the small paper packet in his hand, his resolve strengthening as he saw the bride shoved unceremoniously into the wedding room by the Xu family's servants. Turning, he went to the place where the wedding wine was stored, glancing around...

Seeing that no one was watching him, he opened the packet and gently shook its powder into each wine jar...

Near the end of the noon hour, just outside Yixiang Town, at the burial ground.

“There, that mound ahead,” the village head led the way, pointing toward a nearby grave.

“Did the deceased have no family?” Jade Ice found it odd. If the magistrate arrested Ye Qing because his pollen killed someone, surely there would be someone to accuse on behalf of the deceased!

Was this person unrelated to the deceased? Otherwise, why would the body be abandoned at the burial ground? If they weren’t connected, why accuse at all—merely for some benefit promised by the Xu family’s young master?

“He did!” The village head answered, his feet moving swiftly. “The deceased’s wife was indeed beautiful, many wanted her, though most didn’t dare act. Only the Xu family’s son openly demanded her as a concubine, threatening to break the deceased’s legs otherwise.

As for the deceased, he could have divorced his wife and married another—there are plenty of women in the world! But he was stubborn, running out of town to seek justice from Master Xu, which was tantamount to courting death. After his mysterious demise, his wife was taken away by the Xu family’s servants. Now, she’s the thirteenth concubine of the young master!”

“So that’s how it is!” Jade Ice nodded, realizing the deceased was forced to seek help and was silenced by Xu Liang’s men on the way. When trouble struck the Ye family, Xu Liang seized the opportunity, sent the widow to accuse Ye Qing, framed him, and then took her as his thirteenth concubine. The deceased was left as a discarded victim.

Now, only by uncovering the method of the killing and finding the true murderer would the truth come to light!

“We’re here, this is the place…” The village head stopped before a fresh grave, lush with grass, its mound uneven and collapsed, lacking a tombstone.

“Dig!” The magistrate commanded directly.

“Yes, sir!” The chief constable obeyed, directing some bailiffs to clear debris, while others began digging with farming tools.

Soon, the grave was opened, revealing a rotting straw mat. A wave of putrid stench spread.

Everyone instinctively stepped back, even the magistrate covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve, taking a cursory glance before retreating further, fearing any unlucky contamination. He signaled to the chief constable: the rest was his responsibility.

“Someone, uncover the mat!” The chief constable ordered several bailiffs, but they were all frightened by the stench, each pushing and shoving, unwilling to step forward.

---

“If you avoid foulness and refuse to observe personally, mistakes are inevitable! I read this in a treatise—you really ought to study it, Magistrate!” Jade Ice could no longer bear the scene. Seeing the subordinates, she surmised the magistrate wasn’t very capable. She did not wish to waste more time and asked for the coroner: “Where is the coroner? He isn’t sick again today, is he?”

“Of course not!” The magistrate looked awkward, hastily clarifying, “I just saw him! Where did he go?” After searching, he finally spotted the coroner, dressed in official robes and carrying his kit. He called out, “Coroner Han, over here…”

Once Coroner Han approached, Jade Ice extended her hand, “Ginger slices, sesame oil!”

“I only have dried ginger, will that do?” Coroner Han rummaged in his bundle, pulling out a dried slice and asking cautiously.

Jade Ice looked at the shriveled slice, speechless. “Fine! It’ll do. Do you have sesame oil?” Time was precious; dried ginger wasn’t as effective as fresh, but it was better than nothing.

She took the ginger slice, placed it in her mouth, dabbed some sesame oil between her nose and mouth, and strode toward the pit without hesitation.

Coroner Han, compelled, also placed two ginger slices in his mouth and followed Jade Ice to the pit.

“Bring some atractylodes and soapberry,” Jade Ice instructed. “You know how to use them?”

“Yes!” Coroner Han put down his kit, took out dried atractylodes and soapberry, then used a fire striker to ignite them in a nearby hollow.

“Proceed with the examination!” Jade Ice wasted no words, entering the pit and lifting the rotting mat, scrutinizing the highly decomposed corpse: “Male, early forties, head south, feet north; hair fallen, muscles liquefied; skin like a coat, comes off easily! Clothes: short brown jacket, waist tied with a rotted black sash. Judging by the decomposition, buried for over a month.”

“With such decay, surely the cause of death can’t be determined?” The magistrate relaxed. If nothing could be found, he wouldn’t be caught between the Xu family and the Crown Prince—a blessing for him. He cared little for the fate of the deceased and had no interest in uncovering the truth.

“Who said so?” Jade Ice retorted without turning. “I have another method! Wait and see!” She climbed out of the pit, instructed the village head, “Fetch several buckets of clean water, plenty of firewood and charcoal, two pints of good wine and five pints of vinegar. Also, bring a clean straw mat and one rush mat!”

With the village head dispatched, she told Coroner Han, “Prepare a red oil umbrella, keep burning atractylodes and soapberry, the more smoke, the better!” Giving orders, she wasted no time.

She grabbed a branch, stabbing the corpse. The decayed skin broke easily, and bluish corpse fluid spilled out, flooding the pit.

A stench ten times worse than before filled the air. Onlookers recoiled, some so overwhelmed they vomited their undigested meals onto the ground.

The corpse fluid soon drained, leaving only an empty skin draped on the bones, a terrifying sight. Jade Ice showed no fear, continuing to peel away the skin with her branch until the bones were fully exposed.

Just then, the village head and several strong men arrived with buckets of water.

Seeing the skin nearly peeled, Jade Ice discarded the branch and instructed several bailiffs, “Bring the water over, rinse the corpse, clean off all maggots and filth. Then lift the bones and mat out together, be careful not to drop any bones!”

---

Those selected turned pale, each reluctant to be first, as though headed for execution.

Seeing their hesitation, Jade Ice turned to the magistrate, “Have them each apply sesame oil and chew ginger slices!”

With the magistrate’s signal, Coroner Han opened the oil jar, distributed ginger slices, and the men, finding the smell less intense, carried the water and rinsed the corpse repeatedly. When the odor faded, they carefully entered the pit, avoiding the corpse fluid, and gently lifted the wrapped bones.

With the fluid drained, the mat was lighter, revealing clean bones, soon laid out on the ground.

Meanwhile, several farmers brought the remaining items Jade Ice requested.

She instructed the bailiffs, “Select a clean spot beside the pit and dig a new hole: five feet long, three feet wide, two feet deep. Begin!” With the orders given, she herself began carefully washing each bone.

Once the new pit was ready, the bones were cleaned and arranged on a fresh mat.

Seeing the bailiffs had finished digging, Jade Ice continued, “Now throw all the firewood and charcoal in, light it until the pit glows hot!” Though puzzled, the men followed orders, tossing in firewood and charcoal, covering with dry grass, and igniting it until flames roared.

When the pit was red-hot, Jade Ice ordered them to extinguish the fire, then place the bones in the hot pit, cover with the rush mat.

After a careful inspection, she turned to the impatient magistrate, “Don’t worry! Wait one more hour, and the truth will be revealed!”

---

Mid-afternoon, Xu Manor.

A gentle knocking sounded, startling Ye Kaixin. Steadying herself, she tapped a rhythm in her palm.

As expected, the second knock followed, and she smiled slightly. The rhythm matched both times—it must be the master of ceremonies!