After a moment, her eyes lowered slightly in careful thought. Suddenly she stepped toward the back of the bed.

Ancient beds basically weren’t placed against walls. Behind was a screen used for hanging and changing clothes.

Her eyes like magnifying glasses swept around in a circle, just happening to spot some granules near the bed legs.

She picked them up, moved them to her fingertips, and brought them to her nose to smell.

It was spice!

So she walked out from behind the bed and asked the innkeeper: “These past two days at the inn, have any spice merchants come in?”

The innkeeper thought about it and nodded emphatically: “Yes! Spice merchants from the Minnan area—a group of over ten people. However, half an hour ago, they already departed.”

Ji Yunshu’s expression changed. She quickly said to Constable Zhang: “Constable Zhang, the sky is already growing dark. I believe those people haven’t traveled very fast. Since they’re spice merchants from the Minnan area, naturally they wouldn’t go south. East and west aren’t where crowds gather, so if they want to do business, probably they went north. You should immediately take people to pursue them northward. You should be able to catch them before they leave Yuzhou territory.”

“If among them is a woman less than five chi tall wearing silk fabric, bring her back to the yamen. According to what I just said, question her one by one. Naturally you’ll be able to get answers. If she makes excuses repeatedly, use this strand of hair and these fine spice fragments as evidence. Additionally, check if the silk item on her body has any scratch marks. The murderer must be her.”

Ji Yunshu wrapped the hair and spices in her handkerchief and handed them to him.

Constable Zhang was stunned, then suddenly snapped back to attention. He took the items, then raised his voice loudly, instructing the young constables: “You few carry the corpse to the morgue. The rest of you, come with me.”

Then, accompanied by a cold wind, Constable Zhang led several constables and immediately rushed out.

Hey, hey, hey!

You haven’t even thanked Miss Ji yet!

With the case resolved, Ji Yunshu felt somewhat more comfortable in her heart. She glanced sideways at Jingrong.

What responded to her was Jingrong’s faint smile—she couldn’t discern its “flavor.”

When he walked two steps closer to her, she retreated one step backward, lowering her brows: “Wei Yi is still waiting for me.”

With those words, she stepped out the door.

Jingrong was slightly stunned. Was he that frightening?

His heart felt somewhat uncomfortable, jealousy flooding over, impossible to stop.

Hands behind his back, he followed after her.

This entire process was also clearly seen by Li Shiyan.

Since childhood, he had believed that all beautiful women in the world were meant to be viewed as decorative vases—in temperament also gentle, soft, timid, and refined.

When had he ever seen a woman like Ji Yunshu who dared to touch corpses and was moreover so clever and wise?

Just what kind of extraordinary woman was she?

And though her face was veiled, the temperament emanating from her body was like an elegant winter orchid standing upright in the water’s center—one could only hope to smell the flower’s fragrance, not see the delicate branches.

It also scratched at one’s heart comparable to silkworm threads in a jar, wrapped tightly by silkworms, simply unable to move even slightly to touch the face beneath that woman’s veil.

It was simply maddening!

Li Shiyan smiled with curiosity: “This woman—this young master has decided on her!”

Xiao Luzi at his side threw cold water on him: “Young master, look—that young lady’s companions are all experts. We can’t get close.”

“Who says so? Aren’t they going to the capital? Good, then we’ll also go to the capital together.”

With that slightly proud and confident look in his eyes, he turned and returned to his own room.

At this moment, Ji Yunshu returned to Wei Yi’s room. Wei Yi had already gone to sleep, curled up on the bed with the quilt pulled over his head.

She pulled the quilt down, the corners of her mouth involuntarily lifting slightly.

“Silly boy, aren’t you afraid of suffocating yourself!”

She tucked the corners of the quilt around him again, then left the room, instructing the two attendants at the door: “Watch him carefully. Absolutely don’t let him run around.”

“Miss Ji can rest assured—we’ll watch him carefully.”

She nodded in thanks!

The next moment, her wrist was grabbed by a force, and her body was also pulled uncontrollably by that force into a room.

The strength in Jingrong’s hand was somewhat heavy, making Ji Yunshu’s knitted brows ache painfully.

“What are you doing?”

Bang—

After entering, the door was closed.

And her back also pressed heavily against it the instant the door closed—Jingrong had given her a “door slam.”

That seemingly calm face mixed with anger was right before her, no more than a fist’s distance away. She could see the fine lines on his face, and those small pores seemed ready to explode.

What had she done to make this fellow suddenly furious?

Gently turning her face to avoid Jingrong’s gaze, she asked again: “Your Highness, what exactly do you want to do?”

“What do you think?”

“Please conduct yourself with propriety, Your Highness.”

“Last night’s question—you haven’t answered me yet.”

“Hm?”

Ji Yunshu was slightly stunned, her mind recalling.

Oh! He had asked her if there was any place for him in her heart. She hadn’t answered before being interrupted by Kecha.

“Now no one will interrupt us. This prince wants one honest answer from you right now. Answer honestly—even if it’s just a trace, don’t hide or conceal anything.”

That’s right—even if just a trace, he would have a chance, wouldn’t he?

His eyes burned with deep hope, fixed on Ji Yunshu’s brow tips turned to one side.

Ji Yunshu’s hands clenched tightly into fists, her breathing suddenly growing lighter. Her throat moved slightly, and upon her brow, a firm determination suddenly rose.

Her eyes met Jingrong’s gaze, saying with certainty: “In my heart there has never… mmph!”

Before she finished speaking, her lips behind the veil were blocked by Jingrong’s burning lips!

This wasn’t the first time Jingrong had done this.

But Ji Yunshu was still shocked.

The veil’s cold fine threads seemed to gradually melt into the fine lines of her small lips, thus truly and genuinely pressing against Jingrong’s thin lips.

From ice gradually warming!

A single gauze barrier, utterly useless!

When she reacted and tried to push him away, Jingrong was first to leave her lips.

His deep eyes revealed faint melancholy.

He said slowly: “Never mind. This question—answer it later.”

“…”

“Why so surprised? It’s not the first time.” He spoke somewhat carelessly, suddenly calling: “Lang Bo.”

Lang Bo outside the door responded: “Present.”

“Go bring the food in.”

“Yes.”

Jingrong released Ji Yunshu and sat properly at the table. His fingers distinct, he raised them and lightly tapped the table, saying: “After washing your hands, come quickly to eat.”

Hey, hey, hey! How can you act like nothing happened?

Ji Yunshu’s heart pounded in panic—she couldn’t eat.

Gently biting her own lip, she said: “No need.”

With that, she turned, opened the door, and ran out.

Watching that flustered retreating figure, Jingrong’s heart kindled a little hope.

But in his heart, he couldn’t feel even slightly happy, because the words Ji Yunshu hadn’t finished—he seemed to have heard them all.

In her heart, there was no place for him—this was an indisputable fact!