"The Internal Affairs Bureau had a massive fire, so we can only access the rosters from about twenty years ago. Over these years, around two hundred people went missing, excluding men and eunuchs, leaving ninety-six."
Dongfang Li glanced at the roster.
"Ninth Prince, you might be able to determine which one of these is Prince Wu’s wet nurse’s remains."
Feng Bailing looked towards Dongfang Mosheng.
Dongfang Mosheng smiled without saying a word and walked among several skeletons.
Moss had grown over the pure white bones, some of which looked terrified in their death, but Dongfang Mosheng, unable to see, just felt them with his hands.
He first touched the skull, then the leg bone.
"Counting from the left, the third one is that of a married woman. She was about five foot five, with a flat, sunken in occipital bone, of low birth, with a low-sloping nose bridge, and discord with her husband. She is identified through bone diagnosis as ’Cat Bone’, destined generously, yet with weak affinities for children, her fortune dispersed as her life came to an end. She should be Prince Wu’s wet nurse."
Dugu Wu and Feng Bailing were both shocked; the skeleton Dongfang Mosheng described was missing a finger, indeed belonging to the Ying Family.
"Is there really such a thing as Bone Diagnosis?"
Feng Bailing subconsciously looked at her own hands, uncertain if Dongfang Mosheng could discern her fate.
Beside her, the man coldly huffed, pulling Feng Bailing beside him with a look that dissuaded her thoughts.
"Ninth, you’re truly remarkable. Now, try analyzing the remaining skeletons."
Dongfang Li’s face lit up with delight.
He truly found a treasure this time; if he could solve this major case, how could he worry about gaining the Father Emperor’s favor?
"Brother, do you really want me to continue?"
Dongfang Mosheng showed a troubled smile.
He had simply felt the bones but had gained a rough understanding of the several corpses present.
"Go on, Ninth, don’t say Brother doesn’t give you opportunities. You’ve been celibate all these years, not even touching a woman’s hand, and now you get six, all beauties from the palace."
Dongfang Mosheng’s face turned red.
"Seventh Prince, Ninth Prince is doing this for your own good. If you truly delve into this matter, you might stir up trouble that benefits none."
Feng Bailing had somewhat figured this out from Chen E’s identity.
"Look, we must investigate; so many lives have been lost in the palace, who knows what could happen if we don’t."
Dongfang Li, intent on making an impression in front of Emperor Yongye, pressed Dongfang Mosheng to continue.
Dongfang Mosheng shook his head, stepped forward, and touched the first skeleton on the left.
"This woman, identified as ’Whale Bone,’ around seventeen, with a height of about five foot four. Her hip bones are round, her fingers slender, a very intelligent person, destined for wealth and prosperity, unfortunately indecisive, her many studies becoming wasted effort. I remember, Brother, among the list of missing people, there was a palace maid named Chen E, once in charge of writing in the Father Emperor’s Imperial Study."
Feng Bailing was taken aback; Dongfang Mosheng was indeed uncanny.
To identify a person so accurately just by their bones.
"There was such a person, I have some impression. About ten years ago, Father Emperor was very fond of this palace maid, wanted to bring her into the harem, then suddenly, no more was heard from her. She used to be a palace maid in the Empress’ quarters."
Dongfang Li recalled.
"But that’s not the point; the point is, Chen E, she was pregnant when she died. If I’m not mistaken, this child would be of the Royal Family’s lineage, just like us."
Dongfang Mosheng stated gravely.