They were, after all, only women, and the manual labor of digging up a grave proved somewhat slow. Moreover, the area was desolate and uninhabited; the wind caused the trees and grass to rustle, creating an unsettling sound. Hongxiu was startled from time to time, and even though it was not yet dark, the atmosphere felt bone-chilling.
When they finally reached the coffin, with the assistance of Coroner Zhang, they gathered the courage to pry open the lid. As the burial had taken place only a few months prior and it was currently summer, the stench of decay was pungent. Coroner Zhang, ever the professional, donned a mask and, with practiced movements, took up his tools and climbed into the coffin to begin the examination.
Hongxiu dared not look inside at all, leaving only Mei Gongxue to remain by the side of the coffin. After waiting for quite a while, Coroner Zhang finally climbed back out.
Chapter 303