Madam Qi looked as radiant as ever; no, even more so than in the days prior, clearly untouched by any reprimand. It was no wonder she had sent word that preparations for the surgery could begin, requesting the "Coffin Boy" be summoned.

"Master, seeing you finally puts my mind entirely at ease..." Hu San wiped his nose with his sleeve. Qi Yue burst into loud laughter.

The Coffin Boy, standing nearby, was utterly dumbfounded. He had guarded the funeral parlor his entire life, witnessing countless strange sights involving the dead and the living, long believing nothing in this world could genuinely move him.

He hadn't expected to witness such a thing so quickly, and twice now, both concerning the same person. There was a woman with skills superior to his own; this woman was beautiful, and this beautiful woman treated a man in a way that, to other women, would seem like desecration.

Yet, the way she conducted herself was utterly poised and dignified in the eyes of any observer, without the slightest impropriety. Who exactly was she?

"Young Madam, you've arrived." Liu Pucheng rushed out, his sleeves still rolled up—evidently, he had been attending to a patient. He spoke with excitement; the stone in his heart had finally lifted.

Young Madam! The Coffin Boy’s eyes widened again.

The Young Madam of the Dingxi Marquis’s Estate! Oh!

It was that Young Madam! The one capable of opening up bellies!

The one who made Wang Qingchun crawl across the floor in defeat! So it was her!

"You know me?" Qi Yue smiled. "I've known you for quite some time, too." Sitting in Liu Pucheng's room, the Coffin Boy's initial constraint had vanished or was carefully concealed.

Hearing her words, he chuckled. He had always said that knowing him wasn't rare; it was not knowing him that would be strange.

Qi Yue naturally understood his implication. "Oh, not that kind of knowing.

I truly don't know that kind of knowing," she laughed. The Coffin Boy smiled again.

This woman’s way of speaking was truly… amusing. Qi Yue smiled too.

"My words sound like tongue twisters," she chuckled, then continued, "You've been to the Dingxi Marquis's Estate, haven't you? Remember?" The Coffin Boy froze; he did remember.

"The matter with that girl," Qi Yue stated. The Coffin Boy coughed lightly.

"That's why I was so surprised to see you at the funeral parlor," Qi Yue explained. Surprised?

The Coffin Boy paused. That word… "Ah, I know a person.

He is incredibly skilled; he is an officer of the judiciary, brilliant at solving cases. In short, he can make the dead speak," Qi Yue said, her voice animated.

"He is an expert in anatomy and pathology, emphasizes scene investigation, and through autopsy, he believes only in listening to heaven, not human testimony. He has overturned countless unjust verdicts and even wrote a specialized forensic text called Xi Yuan Lu [Record for Clearing Injustices]...

So I heard you were specifically invited that day, and the Heir Apparent mentioned you were very adept at this kind of diagnosis, so I immediately thought of him..." As she spoke, Qi Yue's eyes sparkled, and the Coffin Boy’s polite smile slowly transformed into shining eyes. Autopsy?

Making the dead speak? Xi Yuan Lu?

These half-understood terms sounded so exhilarating to his core! The Coffin Boy couldn't help but stand up.

"Young Madam, please, please, introduce me to this man." He bowed deeply, his voice trembling with excitement, "I am willing to serve under him as a slave or servant, to repay the kindness tenfold." Qi Yue was startled and managed an awkward laugh. Where was she supposed to introduce him to this person…?

"Well... I can't meet this person either," she had to admit.

The Coffin Boy was surprised and confused, but Liu Pucheng, standing by, understood. This woman's miraculous medical skills, her elixirs comparable only to those of immortals—all of it must originate from the master or masters she vaguely referenced.

Then the person she knew must be as profound a master as those she mentioned. What a pity, has such a master gone into seclusion?

The Coffin Boy’s curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't let go, pressing for details about this master. Unfortunately, Qi Yue had never studied forensic science and didn't know much about the examination techniques, only recalling snippets seen on television, so she couldn't offer much more.

Yet, even those few details were listened to with rapt attention by the Coffin Boy and Liu Pucheng. "The dead do not lie; the dead do not lie.

So that is how it is," Liu Pucheng murmured repeatedly. "Master, is that truly the case?

If a living person is killed by a blade, is the flesh around the wound contracted, but if they are cut after death, the flesh remains the same?" Hu San asked curiously. Qi Yue didn't answer, but the Coffin Boy nodded vigorously.

"That's right. Exactly so, and there is no bleeding; the color remains pale..." he explained earnestly, his eyes alight with spirit.

He knew this too; he knew this! It was an honor to think alike with that master.

Qi Yue chuckled, suddenly noticing the water clock and realizing something. "Oh dear, I almost forgot!

We need to prepare for the surgery," she said. "Hu San, how is the operating table coming along?" Hu San quickly nodded.

"No problem, it's ready. And the surgery...

light... is almost done too.

Master, you said it needed to be bright and shadowless, so the craftsmen devised a solution—they added copper mirrors... but you need to see it to decide the effect," he reported.

"That's not urgent. That's mainly for emergency surgeries at night.

Yan'er's procedure will be done during the day, so the light source shouldn't be an issue," Qi Yue said with a smile, then turned to the Coffin Boy, who was still deep in thought. "Hey, Little Coffin, the reason I called you here today was to ask how you've considered becoming my assistant?" This man was always bothered by his identity.

After all, ingrained habits are hard to shake; it takes time for his mindset to adjust to such a role... "Ah?" The Coffin Boy looked up when addressed.

"No problem, of course, I am willing." All the arguments Qi Yue had prepared were useless; she could only twitch the corner of her mouth. "That's wonderful..." she said with a dry laugh, then turned to Liu Pucheng.

"About the anesthetic..." Liu Pucheng immediately nodded as well. "It's all ready.

I also experimented on rats, just as you instructed..." he said. "Young Madam, please follow me." This involved a secret formula now; outsiders were not welcome.

Of course, the Coffin Boy didn't care; he remained immersed in the story Qi Yue had just told about that master. When Qi Yue returned home, A'ru held a cage covered with cloth.

"...Don't use your hands to grab it... and definitely don't dare look away while grabbing it crookedly...

have a servant do it... Don't let it bite you..." Hu San trailed behind A'ru, nagging relentlessly.

"I know," A'ru replied, rolling her eyes impatiently. "It's good that you know, it's good that you know.

I was just worried you'd be scared. You're a young lady, who plays with rats?" Hu San grinned.

"Is this playing?" A'ru snorted. "Not playing, not playing," Hu San quickly followed up.

"When you work for the Young Madam, be sharp. The Young Madam trusts you, so mind your conduct.

Don't use that money to do things you shouldn't," A'ru warned in a low voice. "Am I that kind of person?" Hu San said aggrievedly.

"Aren't you?" A'ru gave him a sidelong glance. Hu San grinned sheepishly again.

"I've changed, I've changed. I used to lack...

security. Now, with the Master to rely on, and with Sister A'ru teaching me, I stopped all those absurd things long ago," he declared, thumping his chest.

A'ru gave him another look. "Really," Hu San quickly stressed once more.

A'ru was about to say more when she turned and saw Qi Yue standing by the carriage, smiling at her. Her face instantly flushed crimson, and she quickly stopped paying attention to Hu San, hurrying over.

"Remember, absolutely do not use your hands to grab it," Hu San called out again from behind. "Then should I use my feet?" Qi Yue asked playfully.

Hu San was momentarily stunned by the question. "Master, you're teasing me again," he replied with a bitter smile.

Qi Yue burst into laughter. The coachman snapped the reins, urging the horses into a swift gallop down the street.

Though Chang Yuncheng was not home, there was still a dish prepared by the cook on Madam Xie’s lunch table, causing her to dwell on it for a long time. Shortly after she finished eating, Chang Yuncheng returned.

Hearing that he had come straight to her, Madam Xie was quite pleased. She watched the maid serve Chang Yuncheng, helping him wash his hands and face.

"It was thoughtful of you to order an extra dish for me even when you were out," she said with a smile, her expression softening as she looked at her son. "You don't need to act this way.

How could I possibly be angry with you? Ease your mind." Chang Yuncheng smiled at this and asked for hangover soup while he still had some lingering effects from the alcohol.

Madam Xie was naturally happy to send someone to fetch it and simultaneously told the maid to fetch pillows and bedding for him to rest. Just as things were bustling, a maid returned from outside reporting that the Young Madam had come to pay her respects.

Chang Yuncheng sat up with visible joy, while Madam Xie's face darkened. "She certainly knows how to pick her timing," she sneered.

"The moment she settles in, she comes over to put on a show?" Chang Yuncheng looked somewhat embarrassed by the comment. "Yue Niang, she truly came to pay respects to Mother," he said after a hesitation.

Madam Xie looked at him and scoffed dismissively. "What do you know?

You're a man; how could you understand these feminine tricks—the posturing, the dramatics. It's all just to coax you men.

How can you know their true intentions behind closed doors?" she said coldly. "This woman says she is paying respects to me, but it's purely for appearance before you, so you think she is so filial.

In the end, it will be me, the mother-in-law, who seems petty, and she will appear wronged, earning your pity." Chang Yuncheng grew even more awkward. In fact, she was doing it for appearance before him, but...

it was at my request... Seeing her son's expression turn sour, Madam Xie felt even more satisfied.

"...You really don't understand the twisting thoughts of these women. I tell you, she didn't come this morning.

I was prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt, but now that you aren't here, she doesn't come at all. It just shows it wasn't for my sake," she sighed, shaking her head.

Chang Yuncheng stiffened, sitting upright. Mother was going to let it slide this morning?

This Yue Niang, she promised, why didn't she come this morning? Now it’s caused Mother to misunderstand even more!

This woman... is she truly unreliable?

Observing Chang Yuncheng's expression, Madam Xie allowed a faint smile to grace her lips. Base maid, even if you beguile my son now, it will only be temporary.

Recommended: Gui Gui Meng You’s Joy as Before An imperial edict married Hua Ruchu, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader's daughter, to the legitimate heir of the General’s Estate. Should she obey or resist?

Hua Ruchu was a pragmatist, so she obeyed. Life within the grand manor was a daily spray of joy and melodrama.

Ruchu often watched plays, occasionally participating, and sometimes getting drawn into the roles; it was rather diverting. She also possessed a grand life goal, but being trapped in the manor, achieving this goal seemed impossible.

"What? You ask what my life goal is?" "Hmph, listen closely: My lifelong ambition is for my spending rate to never catch up to my earning speed." "What?

Impossible? Hmph, then I'll show you!"

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