Chapter 41: Tofu Pudding
Bone Painting Coroner
Wei Yi was pleasantly surprised to learn that âBig Brotherâ had informed âBig Sisterâ, but he still felt a bit at a loss. Now he was like a deflated balloon.
Ji Yunshu indifferently sipped her tea while looking at him with her narrowed eyes.
âWei Yi, I donât want that handkerchief. When your body is warm, Luanâer will send you out.â
That wouldnât do. He had taken a long, long time to wash this handkerchief. He put the little box on the table, and then very carefully, he poked the box with his index finger until it slowly arrived in front of Ji Yunshu. âBig Sister, itâs not dirty anymore. Itâs very clean. I washed off all the mud on it. Itâs true. Look, look!â
His enthusiasm was enough to make people feel bad. Ji Yunshu caved in and opened the box. Then, she deliberately showed a pleasantly surprised expression.
âItâs so clean.â
âI washed it for a very long time. Do you like it?â
âYes, I like it.â
âDo you like the flowers on it?â
âYes, I like it!â She had no choice but to nod and smile at him.
Wei Yi became very excited and stared foolishly at her smile. Her teeth were neatly aligned and as white as silver pearls.
Ji Yunshu closed the lid, pushed the little box to the side, and asked him, âAre you warm yet?â
He shook his head. âMy legs are still cold.â
âI hope itâs not because he wants to continue sitting here that he wonât leave..â
Ji Yunshu studied him. He obviously had cool eyes, but they kept jumping around, giving off a warm feeling.
Her womanâs intuition told her that he was looking at her!
Suddenly, an evil idea surfaced in her mind. She pulled her sandalwood box near her, neatly placing it between them. Then, she stroked the word âcaseâ1 on it.
She wore an unfathomable expression as she asked him, âWei Yi, do you know whatâs in my box?â
âI want to know!â His voice resonated quite clearly.
She smiled inwardly and opened the box. Inside, there were eight sharp knives with blades that glinted with a silver hue, piercing oneâs eyes.
Wei Yiâs hair almost stood on its end. Since he was a child, he was properly protected, not to mention he was the only son. Thus, never had he received even the slightest injury at home, and he was kept away from sharp objects at all times.
Right now, seeing these many knives at once greatly frightened him!
His whole body nearly collapsed; he breathed heavily, yet he didnât dare to show how startled he was!
âVery good!â That was the reaction she wanted from him.
After a moment, it seemed like she was shopping at the market as she picked up objects from inside her box. She took out a knife with a broad blade. Her fingers stroked it. Then, she twirled the knife twice.
âDo you know what this knife is used for?â
He shook his head.
âThis kind of knife with a broad blade and flat shape is used to chop off the neck. Once it hacks it off, the skin and flesh will be split opened cleanly. Itâs very efficient!â
Next, she picked a hook-shaped knife. âDo you know what this knife is used for?â
Once again, he shook his head.
âThis one is used for disemboweling. You slice it across the abdomen and it will easily rip open the skin like paper. Then you can clearly see all the guts inside. Therefore, itâs very convenient to use this knife in that situation.â Immediately afterwards, she picked up a knife with the shape of a bamboo leaf. âHow about this one?â
Like before, Wei Yi shook his head.
âThis knife is used to open the head. Because the inside of the skull is very fragile, you can neither use a big knife nor can you use a knife thatâs too sharp. Therefore, you can only use this knife. When you open the skull with it, you can see the brain nestled inside. But thereâs a lot to learn about the brain. Especially how piping hot it is when you touch it, or how its texture is quite similar to tofu pudding.â
Thump!
A chair fell to the floor following the words âtofu puddingâ. The sound resounded loudly in the room. Wei Yi was now sitting on the floor. He was scared to the point that his complexion had gone completely white. His wide eyes stared at Ji Yunshu in fear. His cheeks were cramped and his eyebrows were scrunched together in abject terror!
His hands supported him from falling completely, and he kept shaking like a leaf!
âWho told you to fancy me! You deserve it!â Ji Yunshu didnât plan on stopping there. She rummaged inside of her box and took out a particularly pointy knife. Subsequently, she held it near her eyelids and revealed a sinister expression. Then, she leaned toward Wei Yi who was on the floor.
âDonât! Donât kill me! Donât kill me!â
He used his legs to push himself back, frantically scrambling away.
âWei Yi, do you want to know what this pointy knife is used for?â Ji Yunshu faintly hooked her lips and spoke in a creepy tone.
Wei Yi shook his head like his life was at stake. âI donât want to know. Donât kill me! Donât kill me!â
Ji Yunshu approached him slowly, like a predator staring down prey. Wei Yi retreated until his back hit the pillar. Unable to back up anymore, he used the pillar to struggle to his feet. Then, as if heâd gone mad, he bolted.
âSave me!â His scream was deafening, gradually dying out into the distance.
Ji Yunshu had her hand raised and was still holding the pointy knife. As she watched him disappear into the distance, shehe laughed. She laughed and laughed until her belly hurt. Then, she instructed Luanâer. âHurry and follow him. Send him back to the Wei Mansion before he falls into the pond in his panic.â
âYes, Miss.â
In fact, Luanâer was also on the verge of vomiting as she listened to her missâ description. It was only with great difficulty that she had held herself back. Thus, she scrambled outside quickly and chased after Wei Yi.
Finally, sheâd sent away that troublesome fool. When she was done laughing, she swiftly tidied up the knives on the table. She put them back one by one in the box, but then the back of her hand bumped onto Wei Yiâs small box. She became displeased as she looked down at it.
She opened the box and looked at the handkerchief neatly folded inside, with several red and yellow flower petals sprinkled on top. It was quite beautiful.
She couldnât deny that she also liked these kind of things. She took out the handkerchief and examined it. The handkerchief was really well washed, and it even emitted a faint fragrance of Chinese honey locust.
That foolish guy really had washed it for a long time? Surprisingly, he even went as far as to put it in such a pretty box and added flower petals on top of it.
âHow romantic!â Ji Yunshu smiled, and for a brief moment, warmth showed in her eyes.
After she put things in order, she sank into contemplation.
She propped her cheeks with her hands and pondered for a long time. Suyunâs words kept resonating in her ears.
âIf a person wasnât killed with poison and the body doesnât show any signs of injury, then how did that person die?â Ji Yunshu continued to mutter as her mind endlessly theorized. But she couldnât find a clear lead anywhere.
If she could thoroughly unravel this puzzle, then the case would be solved!
When Luanâer returned after sending Wei Yi to his home, two hours had already passed.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw her young miss still sitting there with a frown. She approached her and said in a small voice, âMiss, this servant has returned after sending back Young Master Wei.â
It seemed like Ji Yunshu didnât hear her.
âMiss?â
Luanâer received no reply as Ji Yunshu fully concentrated on solving the matter at hand.
Luanâer stared at her miss blankly. Earlier when her miss was playing around with Young Master Wei, her mood was quite good, but why did she become like this upon her return?
Luanâer scratched her head, not understanding what was going on.
Ji Yunshu suddenly stretched her arm and grabbed the teapot. She proceeded to pour herself a cup of tea while muttering, âIn the end, what could kill someone without leaving any injuries?â
Her words entered Luanâerâs ears, and like a student eager to answer the teacher, she shouted, âA quilt and a pillow!â
Clang! Crash!
The teapot in Ji Yunshuâs hand slipped free and fell onto the table. The lid crashed to the floor and broke into pieces!
She abruptly turned around and looked at Luanâer. She leaped and grabbed her maidservantâs arm. She pressed her for an answer. âWhat did you just say?â
Luanâer trembled in shock. Her arm was grabbed, forcing her shoulder to be raised unnaturally. She replied in a small voice, âT-this servant s-said⦠a quilt and a pillow.â