Nan Yue Kingdom, Anhe Year 28, Summer.
The arrival of the plum rain season washed clean the county of An Ding, which had just entered the peak of summer heat.
A clap of thunder echoed, filling the not-so-wide street with people rushing home and vendors packing up their stalls. Moving against the flow was the slender figure of a woman, holding a paper umbrella. She stopped unhurriedly before the side gate of the yamen and gently knocked on the brass ring, now cold from the rain.
"Creak."
The door opened, revealing a man with a bristly mustache. "Miss Zhong Li, you're finally here. My lord has been waiting for you."
Zhong Li nodded and bowed, her voice faint. "Steward Diao, where is she?"
The man called Steward Diao seemed accustomed to her cool demeanor. His smile remained unchanged as he gestured towards the backyard. "The usual spot. You may proceed."
Zhong Li scraped the mud from the bottom of her embroidered shoes on the threshold and walked into the yamen, familiar with the layout.
Before her transmigration, she was a postgraduate student in forensic medicine at A City Medical University. Due to circumstances, she worked as a forensic doctor while also moonlighting as a mortician at a funeral home. She had four to five years of experience serving the deceased. Unexpectedly, after collapsing from overwork, she found herself in this Nan Yue Kingdom.
Yesterday, Magistrate Zhang of An Ding County had sought her out. He said a case had occurred two days prior, and now that it was solved, they urgently needed her to restore the body of the female victim. She had agreed and come.
In fact, Zhong Li knew a bit about the case. After all, An Ding County only had tens of thousands of residents. Furthermore, this murder case was the wife-slaying and suicide of the Jia family, the wealthiest magnate in An Ding County. The news had already spread throughout the streets.
She reached the door of the autopsy room and pushed it open. She saw a body covered with a white cloth lying on a wooden bed not far away. Judging by the shape, it was a woman's body.
Zhong Li did not enter immediately. Instead, she took out something like a "mask" from her embrace and hooked it over her ears. She had made this herself after transmigrating, inspired by modern masks. Then, she took a bottle of vinegar from the box she carried and poured it into a brazier prepared by the door.
As the acidic smell slowly rose, she walked around the brazier three times before lifting her skirt and approaching the body.
The white cloth slowly slipped away under her practiced fingertips.
Zhong Li had heard about the tragic state of the deceased, Xie Xiao Yun, beforehand, so she was somewhat prepared. However, when she saw the face that was half missing, with one eyeball hanging precariously from its socket, her eyebrows twitched involuntarily.
She shook her head slightly, lamenting the ruin of the deceased's beautiful face. She took out a porcelain bottle, dipped it in some medicinal liquid, and began carefully treating the wounds on the female corpse to facilitate subsequent restoration.
After treating the wounds, Zhong Li put down her tools and gently placed her hands on Xie Xiao Yun's jaw, feeling for the seams of the bone structure to restore her horrifying expression to its original state.
Knock, knock, knock.
Just as she was concentrating, a clear knock sounded from outside.
This was followed by the decaying sound of the autopsy room's wooden door opening and the appearance of a middle-aged man's face, peeking in with a hint of curiosity.
"Miss Zhong, you're finally here."
Magistrate Zhang immediately spotted the young maiden standing by the female corpse. He entered with a smile.
Zhong Li's actions were interrupted. She did not respond, merely casting a cold glance at the man opposite her.
Magistrate Zhang understood instantly. He quickly moved to the foot of the corpse, withdrew, walked around the brazier, and then approached again.
"This... this is so gruesome. Can it be repaired?" Magistrate Zhang observed her beside the corpse for a good while. Seeing Zhong Li slowly removing the white cloth and beginning to clean the corpse's neck and upper body, he couldn't help but ask worriedly.
"As long as it's not ground into meat paste, even if half the head is missing, it can be done," Zhong Li replied casually, without looking up.
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Zhang let out a dry laugh. However, he dared not show his displeasure too much. After all, in the entire Nan Yue Kingdom, the only person capable of restoring a corpse to look exactly as it did in life was likely this young girl opposite him.
As for how he discovered her, it was a coincidence from a faceless skin case two years ago. At that time, no one in the county yamen could identify the victim. In desperation, he had offered a reward for clues. Fortunately, Zhong Li appeared and helped by restoring the victim's features, which brought clarity to the case.
Since then, he had received commendations from his superiors, and a promotion was likely in the near future.
"Then, can it be restored to look like this?" Magistrate Zhang's eyes rolled in their sockets. He took out a scroll from his embrace and asked.
Finally, Zhong Li looked up. She gazed at the portrait of the lady in Magistrate Zhang's hand. The woman was slender, with bright eyes and white teeth. Her slight smile carried a hint of bright vivacity. Was this not Xie Xiao Yun, who now lay before her, disfigured beyond recognition?
She put down her tools, scanned Magistrate Zhang from head to toe, and said, "It can be done, but it will require additional payment."
"Oh dear, as long as Miss Zhong can do it, money is not a problem. At worst, I'll provide it myself," Magistrate Zhang said gleefully upon hearing Zhong Li's immediate response.
After all, everyone knew Zhong Li's background. She was an orphan whose father had died. She also had heavy corvée duties, and the burial plot her father had bought, Chen, was rented. The rent increased monthly. Otherwise, who would take up this profession of dealing with the dead if not for money?
Hearing this, Zhong Li was unusually curious. Everyone knew Magistrate Zhang of An Ding County was stingy. When had he ever spent money generously for others?
"If I recall correctly, the Jia family is the richest in An Ding County and not short of money. Moreover, the Jia family masters are likely all dead, and no one has requested that the body be restored so lifelike. When did Magistrate Zhang become so earnest?" she asked nonchalantly.
When Magistrate Zhang heard this, the smile that had been on his lips vanished, and he sighed. "Miss Zhong lives in seclusion and may not be aware of some court matters. Although Xie Xiao Yun was merely the wife of a wealthy local magnate, her maternal family is not insignificant. She is related to the current Princess Consort of the Wise Prince's estate in Nan Yue Kingdom. That's why...
Ever since the news of Xie Xiao Yun's tragic death spread, the Princess Consort of the Wise Prince could not sit still. She has already dispatched the Heir Apparent, Lu Wuxie, to handle Xie Xiao Yun's posthumous affairs. I estimate he will arrive around today, which is why I rushed to find Miss Zhong to help restore the body."
Lu Wuxie?
Upon hearing this name, Zhong Li froze for a moment.