She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 30: Scholar-officials may be late, but they will not fail to arrive.

Chapter 30: Scholar-officials may be late, but they will not fail to arrive.

"I feared you’d freeze to death," the Crown Prince said, noticing her unclear expression, and huffed coldly, "You don’t recognize a good person’s heart."

Yan Wanqing suppressed the anger in her heart, reminding herself that defying a superior could lead to the extermination of nine generations of her family, and managed to squeeze out a smile that wasn’t impolite.

At the same time, she cursed herself for carelessly leaving her personal sachet in the room unnoticed.

Just as she was carefully hiding the sachet, Xiao Hongshen’s voice followed.

"Someone mentioned that the Commandery Princess had a clash with Wang Shujian in public the day before yesterday. Is that so?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Wanqing slowly turned around, "Wang Shujian had previously proposed to my fifth sister and was rejected. He persisted on Southern Mountain, and when his speech became disrespectful, I felt compelled to teach him a lesson. Afterwards, my sister and I went to attend the Empress’s plum appreciation banquet."

She meticulously recounted everything about the previous quarrel and added, "Many people were present at the time, and Prince Seven could easily verify the facts by asking two of them. After that, we had no further interaction with Wang Shujian."

Xiao Hongshen noted how her whole body was wrapped in a black cloak, which only highlighted her delicate and fair appearance even more.

"Prince Seven might ask young master Zhao from the Zhao Family, as he and Wang Shujian are quite close," Yan Wanqing suggested, "But the pressing matter is to find a coroner as soon as possible to examine the body and determine how Wang Shujian died."

Any ordinary woman confronted with this scene might have fainted from fear, yet she was able to discuss it freely. Xiao Hongshen’s eyes were filled with obsession, and his hands under the robe were clenched tightly.

"This isn’t a good place to talk. If the Commandery Princess is willing, please accompany me to another location," he said.

He didn’t want to see the Crown Prince near Yan Wanqing.

And that damned cloak, so distracting it almost drove him mad.

Yan Wanqing had no objections, ready to clarify things and retrieve her sister as soon as possible, "Of course, I can."

"Please, Commandery Princess," Xiao Hongshen stepped aside, and Yan Wanqing, without any hesitation, stepped forward.

Xiao Hongshen’s thoughts were slightly heavy. Just as he was about to follow, a purple robe brushed past him. He frowned, "Brother Emperor!"

The Crown Prince didn’t stop walking, "Hurry up, Seven. Finish the inquiry and don’t delay our return to the capital."

Xiao Hongshen, enduring the pain of his injuries, followed, "Are you also going, Brother Emperor?"

The Crown Prince stopped, his handsome eyebrows slightly raised, leaving it unsaid, "Can’t I go?"

"...Of course, Brother Emperor can go," Xiao Hongshen didn’t expect Xiao Pingfeng to have so much free time. Usually surrounded by a crowd of scholar-officials, even when visiting Southern Mountain he barely rested. Why was he free today?

Where in the world were those damned scholar-officials today? Couldn’t they manage him a bit?

The three walked slowly to a secluded temple hall.

The body covered with a white cloth was placed in the center of the main hall, under the fierce gaze of the Buddha. It was a cloudy day, and fog wafted throughout the mountain, creating an indescribably eerie atmosphere.

Several people were standing in the temple hall, exactly those who had been arguing.

The few prodigal sons, weakly postured, felt uneasy as soon as they saw the Crown Prince approaching and hurriedly came over to pay their respects.

"No need for formalities," the Crown Prince casually waved his hand, signaling for everyone to rise, and then adopted an indifferent attitude as if he was uninvolved.

Watching from the side, Xiao Hongshen’s expression darkened a bit.

As Yan Wanqing entered, she immediately saw Yan Hongzhao, who was usually carefree but now sat quietly in a corner, her little face deathly pale, but her eyes sparkled when she saw her.

Seeing her unharmed, Yan Wanqing felt relieved and asked, "How much longer till the coroner arrives?"

"At least two more days. The most capable coroner in the capital has been sent to a nearby town and will need time to return," Xiao Hongshen said grimly.

"That won’t do," Yan Wanqing couldn’t afford to waste much more time on Southern Mountain, as time was particularly precious to her, "Many things can happen in two days, and the golden period for an autopsy is within twelve hours after death."

"But... no one present knows how to perform an autopsy," Xiao Hongshen was not unaware of these facts, but the people who came to Southern Mountain were mostly nobles, who all lived a life of luxury. How could they know how to perform an autopsy?

Yan Wanqing’s gaze was clear and determined, "If Prince Seven doesn’t mind, I could give it a try."

Xiao Hongshen’s eyes were shadowy and indecipherable, "Princess Anping can perform an autopsy?" How many more surprises did she have that he didn’t know about?!

Yan Wanqing nodded, "I learned it when I was young and bored."

"Better not, Commandery Princess has only learned the basics, and now she wants to perform an autopsy. If the body is damaged and the evidence is lost, who will we talk to?" Zhao Qi said dryly from the crowd. After speaking, he realized that it might not sound appropriate and quickly added, "It’s not that the Commandery Princess isn’t proficient in her skills, but this is a matter of life and death. There are so many people here who have had interactions with the Tanhuai Scholar, including Commandery Princess’s own sisters, it might be better to avoid any suspicion."

Xiao Hongshen was hesitant inside and did not speak first.

Yan Wanqing felt helpless inside, "Since that’s the case, then let it be..."

"I recall, didn’t Princess Anping learn autopsies from Song Huaxu?" The Crown Prince, who had been silent, finally spoke. His voice had a soothing quality, and after he spoke, the entire hall fell silent.

Xiao Hongshen couldn’t help but roll his eyes behind his back.

Yan Wanqing nodded, "Replying to Your Highness, that’s correct."

At this statement, everyone was shocked.

Although Song Huaxu held no official position, he was deeply favored by the Emperor and was proficient in eighteen martial arts. There was a story widely told about how he had solved a ten-year-old case with a single needle, so he had always been respectfully called the State Preceptor by everyone.

If Yan Wanqing was a disciple of Song Huaxu, then her skills in autopsy could not merely be dismissed as minimal.

Zhao Qi hid himself in the back of the crowd, covering his mouth with his hand.

Trouble arises from careless talk.

At this moment, the Crown Prince leaned elegantly against a column, looking graceful, "Princess Anping truly is extraordinary, Seventh Brother, it’s up to you."

Xiao Hongshen felt that the beating he took last night was not as painful as his chest felt at that moment.

"If I remember correctly, Elder Brother was also a disciple of the State Preceptor, right?"

Yan Wanqing heard this and hurriedly looked toward the Crown Prince; she had never heard Song Huaxu mention this.

The Crown Prince, supporting his chin with one hand, smiled with narrowed eyes, "Does Seventh Brother want me to personally dissect the Tanhuai Scholar?"

This shouldn’t be!

That is the Crown Prince, the future heir to the great unification.

What significance is Wang Shujian that he should warrant the involvement of His Highness in a hands-on autopsy?!

Everyone felt this was improper.

"No, absolutely not! His Highness has a body worth a thousand pieces of gold, he should not engage in such a filthy act!" Suddenly, a group of white-bearded elders entered from the doorway, the leader with a faltering step but a booming voice, belonging to the group of scholar-officials who usually followed the Crown Prince.

Scholar-officials might be late, but they never fail to arrive.

The Crown Prince sighed with regret, patted Xiao Hongshen on the shoulder, "Seventh Brother, this is hard on you. I have to go and discuss state affairs with Grand Tutor Zhao now. The death of Lin Pingzhi has been resolved, but the commerce in the South of the River is in disarray..." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

With that, he walked out of the temple hall, followed closely by a crowd of elderly men who feared being left behind.

Xiao Hongshen pursed his lips thin, and his eyes were cold.

The matter about Lin Pingzhi... he was warning him again!

Damn it!

"If Princess Anping is a disciple of the State Preceptor, naturally she is the most capable of performing the autopsy right now, but her..." People couldn’t help but worry, especially since it was evident from the day before yesterday when Yan Wanqing had rendered Wang Shujian unconscious with her scolding.

Since that was the case, Yan Wanqing did not insist.

Just then, a monk in a robe entered from the door, his face full of kindness.

It was none other than Abbot Xun Wu, who had left early the night before.

"I am willing to give it a try."