From the prison entrance, they walked all the way to the innermost area.

The pervasive dampness and stench grew increasingly heavy, seemingly mixed with the rusty smell of iron chains.

“We’re here.” The jailer spoke and stopped outside a cell.

Through the wooden stakes, Ji Yunshu saw Lin Duan inside. Probably because she had slipped the jailer some silver, the cell Lin Duan occupied was unusually clean and even had a quilt.

That man sat on the bed, head hanging, hair disheveled, yet his eyes could not conceal his despair.

Su Yun was dead—Lin Duan’s heart had probably died as well.

“Open the door.” Ji Yunshu said.

The jailer appeared very troubled.

“Master Ji, I really can’t open the door for you to go in this time. Last time with Su Yun…”

Yes, if she hadn’t gone in to see Su Yun and left her an oil lamp, Su Yun wouldn’t have used the lamp’s oil dish to commit suicide.

She didn’t want to make things difficult for him.

So instead…

“Never mind, then you go out first.”

“Alright.”

The jailer obediently went out.

Ji Yunshu knocked on the wooden stakes and called out: “Lin Duan.”

Lin Duan still showed no reaction.

“This case has been investigated. Although you and Su Yun didn’t commit murder, you should know that destroying evidence and disposing of a corpse—the death penalty can be waived, but punishment is unavoidable. When the documents from the Ministry of Justice arrive, you’ll ultimately be sentenced.”

After saying this, Lin Duan still showed no reaction.

Luan’er at her side tugged at her sleeve, asking quietly: “Miss, has he gone mad?”

“He hasn’t gone mad—his heart has probably died.”

These words Ji Yunshu actually said for Lin Duan’s benefit.

Perhaps it had an effect, as Lin Duan’s body moved. He raised his head and looked toward Ji Yunshu. In those eyes were both despair and overflowing hatred.

“It’s you. You caused her death.”

His tone was heavy, heavy as a block of ice!

“I’m sorry.” Ji Yunshu apologized.

“Yun’er is already dead—what good is your apology?” With that, he suddenly sprang up and charged over, his entire body directly colliding with the wooden stakes. His face fierce, he shouted loudly at Ji Yunshu: “It’s all you! All of you people should die! All of you must die, to accompany my Yun’er in death!”

Just as Lin Duan charged over, fortunately Luan’er was quick, pulling Ji Yunshu back two steps.

Otherwise at this moment, her delicate neck would probably already be trapped in Lin Duan’s palm.

“Lin Duan, I know you harbor resentment, but if it weren’t for the old butler’s appearance, Miss Zhou would certainly have drunk that poisoned medicine. You truly intended to kill someone. As for Su Yun’s death, I admit it was my fault, but do you know? She committed suicide for you.”

“You’re lying! It was you people who drove her to death!”

That roaring voice echoed throughout the entire prison!

Hearing the noise, the jailer naturally came in as well. Seeing Ji Yunshu was unharmed, he didn’t approach.

At this moment, Lin Duan was so ferocious!

Love could truly grant life and death, destroy one’s sanity.

She didn’t know—when Ji Pei’s life also hung by a thread, would she be like this too?

Coming back to herself, Ji Yunshu pulled out a handkerchief from her waist and passed it to him.

“You shouldn’t be unfamiliar with this handkerchief, right? You shouldn’t be unfamiliar with Su Yun’s handwriting either, right?”

In his urgency, Lin Duan grabbed it. The handkerchief in his hand—he couldn’t be more familiar with it.

Those two sangqi flowers, one red and one blue, were truly eye-catching.

And those few lines written in blood, printed on the white handkerchief, were even more striking.

After Lin Duan finished reading, his body slumped to the ground. Clutching that handkerchief, he began to sob.

While reproaching himself: “Yun’er, I should have taken you away earlier. It’s all my fault. I didn’t take good care of you, causing us to lose our child. Now even you have left me, Yun’er…”

Each sentence struck Ji Yunshu’s heart with tremendous weight.

Finally, she handed him the scroll of painting she had brought.

“Keep it as a keepsake.”

Taking the painting in hand, he slowly unrolled it. On the scroll was painted a refined woman in green clothing—delicate features, clever eyes, crimson thin lips, fine brows.

Truly lifelike!

As if Su Yun were right before him.

Shedding his earlier ferocity, Lin Duan gazed at this painting, mesmerized.

Ji Yunshu disturbed him no further, preparing to leave with Luan’er.

Having taken just two steps, she heard Lin Duan behind her say: “Thank you.”

Her steps paused. Without responding, she glanced sideways at Lin Duan, then left.

Emerging from the prison, snow suddenly began to fall—thin particles blown by the cold wind onto her face, achingly cold!

Luan’er raised her eyes, complaining: “We should have brought an umbrella when leaving earlier. Miss, why don’t we wait a bit before leaving?”

“It’s just light snow—no harm. You wait here. When the snow stops, then leave. I’ll go to the yamen. It’s not far, and I’ll borrow an umbrella from Magistrate Liu while I’m there.”

“Ah? This servant should still go with you.”

“I’m going to examine corpses. With piles of white bones laid out, aren’t you afraid?”

Afraid—of course afraid, extremely afraid!

Just hearing this description, Luan’er shrank her neck, her eyes frightened.

Ji Yunshu continued: “Besides, with you there, you’re always getting in the way.”

Those words were truly direct!

Not worried about hurting Luan’er’s feelings.

Ji Yunshu paid her no mind and had already stepped into the snow. Those particles of white snow brushing onto her hair and shoulders quickly melted!

The winter month’s weather was truly too unpredictable!

Arriving at the yamen, the county magistrate had been waiting early. Since they’d agreed she would come today to examine the corpse, he naturally had to wait.

“Yunshu, have you eaten breakfast?” The magistrate was all kindness.

She really hadn’t.

Touching her stomach, she asked: “What dishes?”

“Braised pork ribs with potatoes, stir-fried celery with meat, then sauce-fried eggplant. If you eat together, I’ll add another dish of steamed pig’s trotters.”

“Are you sick? Eating such greasy food this early in the morning.”

“…”

The magistrate’s face stiffened, rendered speechless by her rebuff, as if a gust of cold wind had been forced between his teeth!

But Ji Yunshu had already sat down, tapping on the table: “Just one dish of stir-fried bamboo shoots and minced meat soup will do. Best to add some cabbage to it. Hurry up—don’t delay the time for examining the corpse.”

“Right away, right away—I’ll give the orders now.”

The magistrate quickly summoned someone over and relayed these dish names.

Afterward, he also plopped down across from Ji Yunshu, his face wreathed in smiles, staring at her foolishly.

Are you sick!

“Boom, boom…”

Suddenly, the sound of the appeal drum came from the yamen entrance.

Someone was beating the drum!

The magistrate’s expression grew tense. Before long, a bailiff came running in hurriedly, pointing toward the main gate and saying: “My lord, someone is beating the drum.”

“Who?”

“A fool!”

A fool? Wei Yi?

The magistrate asked: “Which fool?”

The bailiff answered: “The one from the Wei family. Says he’s looking for his brother, at the entrance, won’t leave.”

His face was helpless!