The Junior Coroner of the Court of Judicial Review

Yao Shu, a forensic doctor from the modern era, is stabbed to death and transmigrates into the body of a junior coroner with the same name in an ancient empire. Her new identity is penniless and newly recruited by the Court of Judicial Review, the empire’s central investigative authority. On her first day, she is involved in a carriage collision that reveals a corpse hidden beneath a vehicle. The man who rescues her is Fu Xiujin, the cold and capable Prince Su and head of the Court. Yao Shu quickly establishes her professional competence by determining that the victim, Cao Hongfa, was strangled a day prior to the accident, not killed in the crash. Her examination uncovers ligature marks and a heel bruise, leading to the identification of two killers within the victim’s household: Concubine Chen, who strangled her abuser in self-defense, and her lover, the guard Liu Dali, who moved the body. The case is resolved, but Yao Shu finds herself with no residence and limited funds.

Seeking help from a family friend using a token left by her deceased parents, Yao Shu arrives at Prince Su’s residence, discovering that Fu Xiujin is the friend her parents once saved. A childhood betrothal between them is revealed, though Yao Shu initially resists, preferring to focus on her career. Fu Xiujin, however, insists she stay, citing her meager salary and offering her shelter. That night, Yao Shu experiences vivid dreams of her original body’s parents being murdered by a figure with a four-flame tattoo, a symbol resembling that of the Sacred Lotus Sect. Determined to uncover the truth behind her past life’s death, she integrates her personal quest with her duties at the Court.

Yao Shu’s forensic skills are soon tested by a cold case involving the kidnapping and burning of Chen Suqing three years prior. The local magistrate had concluded the case based on charred remains, but Yao Shu’s examination of the bones reveals discrepancies in age and sex, indicating the remains belong to a different woman. She deduces that Chen Suqing may still be alive and that the killer severed a foot to facilitate a misidentification. Her analysis prompts Fu Xiujin to reopen the investigation, leading them to Wang Baichuan, a steward who harbored secret affection for the victim, and Niu Daguai, a former butcher and cook at a charity hall who had assaulted Chen Suqing’s maid.

Following the trail to Han County, the team discovers Niu Daguai hiding in Pozi Village with a woman missing a leg. During a tense confrontation, Niu Daguai takes Yao Shu hostage, but Fu Xiujin rescues her, subduing the criminal. They rescue Chen Suqing, who had been held captive and mutilated for three years. The case concludes with Chen Suqing reuniting with her true love, Wang Baichuan. However, the investigation leads Yao Shu to Marquis Changning’s estate, where she accidentally witnesses a private encounter between Deng Xunfeng and his sister, Deng Lingyun, uncovering a forbidden romantic secret within the noble household. This encounter hints at deeper political and familial entanglements that may connect to the larger conspiracy surrounding Yao Shu’s original murder.

As Yao Shu continues her work at the Court, she navigates the complex dynamics of her new life, balancing her professional responsibilities with the growing mystery of her past. Her relationship with Fu Xiujin evolves from one of professional respect to a deeper, albeit complicated, bond. The dreams of her parents’ murder persist, driving her to seek justice for the blood feud that brought her to this world. With each case she solves, Yao Shu gains insight into the criminal underworld and the hidden agendas of the empire’s elite, bringing her closer to the truth about the four-flame tattoo and the forces that seek to silence her.