Ji Yunshu’s expression grew more grave.

She asked, “What exactly is this case about?”

Jing Zhaoyin sighed. “That woman’s daughter was a famous songstress in a brothel. Who would have known she was defiled by a man, and that very night she was killed in her room. That man was the young master of a wealthy family in Yufu County. He also claimed he didn’t kill anyone and even slipped a sum of silver to the county magistrate of Yufu County. Later, the coroner went to examine the body and said that the woman’s daughter died from taking poison herself. The matter was settled just like that. But the woman insisted her daughter couldn’t possibly have committed suicide, so she traveled all the way to the capital to appeal.”

“Does she have any evidence to prove her daughter didn’t commit suicide?”

“She did mention some things. Her daughter originally had a son. The day before her daughter’s incident, she told her that after one more day at the brothel she would leave, then depart from Yufu County and properly raise her son. That’s why she determined her daughter wouldn’t commit suicide.”

As he spoke, Jing Zhaoyin pulled out several dry, crumpled sheets of paper from his sleeve and handed them toward Ji Yunshu, saying, “This is the written appeal she brought. Master Ji, please have a look.”

Ji Yunshu was just about to take it to examine when the appeal had barely touched her fingers before it was intercepted by another hand.

Following that arm upward, she met directly with Jingrong’s displeased and cold gaze.

She saw him shoot Jing Zhaoyin a look. “Jing Zhaoyin, did you not listen to the words this prince spoke to you outside the palace gates?”

Jing Zhaoyin’s expression stiffened!

Of course he had listened, but—

“Your Highness, if this matter weren’t so thorny, this official wouldn’t have…”

“Could it be that neither the Jing Zhao Bureau nor the Court of Judicial Review can find a single person capable of solving cases? Has the court perhaps raised a bunch of useless people?”

Jing Zhaoyin’s liver trembled!

But he still braced himself and said, “Your Highness, please calm your anger. This official knows this matter shouldn’t trouble Master Ji, but the incident happened three years ago. Investigating it will certainly be difficult. Throughout the entire capital, indeed throughout all of Dalin, everyone has witnessed Master Ji’s capabilities. Therefore, this official thought of Master Ji. If he can solve this case, this official and others can submit a memorial recommending Master Ji for promotion to Director of Criminal Affairs…”

Before he could finish—

“Enough.”

A sharp rebuke!

Jing Zhaoyin was simply brazenly provoking him!

Ji Yunshu was also shocked. So Jingrong had long known that Jing Zhaoyin intended to come find her to solve the case, and he had blocked this matter. Yet Jing Zhaoyin wouldn’t give up. Today he came in person, originally intending to come secretly, but who would have known he’d run into Jingrong.

He’d hit the muzzle of a gun!

How interesting!

Jingrong’s brows rose in anger. “Jing Zhaoyin, this prince will tell you one more time. This matter should be handled by you and the Court of Judicial Review. You can close your doors and discuss it among yourselves. It has nothing to do with Master Ji.”

His attitude was resolute!

Jing Zhaoyin only felt both his cheeks burning painfully, as if someone had slapped him twice. He trembled, swallowed his saliva, and hung his head with a dejected expression.

He could only sigh and bow to Jingrong. “Yes, this official understands. This official was inconsiderate.”

“Good that you understand.” Having said this, Jingrong also returned to him the appeal he had just seized.

Jing Zhaoyin took it. “Then this official… will not disturb Your Highness and Master Ji any further. Farewell.”

And just during that brief moment of passing the document back and forth, Ji Yunshu happened to catch sight of two characters prominently printed on the paper: “Ye’er.”

She felt somewhat familiar with them!

When Jing Zhaoyin had put away the appeal and turned to leave with a disappointed expression—

Suddenly—

“Your Honor, wait.” Ji Yunshu called out.

Jing Zhaoyin’s steps halted. He immediately turned around, his eyes full of expectation as he stared at her.

And just as Ji Yunshu was about to walk toward him, Jingrong grabbed her arm.

“You cannot take this case.” Without any room for negotiation.

“I want to make my own decision.”

Saying this, she pushed away Jingrong’s hand and took the written appeal directly from Jing Zhaoyin’s hands.

Those few sheets of paper should originally have been clean and neat, with the handwriting also delicate and proper. Yet the white paper had been crumpled into many small creases, and there were also residual water stains on it. Some of the ink had also bled. If one didn’t look carefully, one couldn’t see clearly what was written on it at all.

Ji Yunshu read it carefully once through!

Her expression grew increasingly grave.

The hand holding the paper also involuntarily tightened. After a while, she carefully put away the paper in her hand and asked Jing Zhaoyin heavily, “May I meet that person?”

Jing Zhaoyin’s face filled with joy as he nodded vigorously.

“Of course you can.”

“Wait.” Jingrong stopped her, pulling Ji Yunshu to the side. “This case has nothing to do with you. This prince doesn’t want you to get involved in other matters. You only need to focus on handling the Linjing Case.”

A faint sorrow touched Ji Yunshu’s expression.

She asked him, “Do you believe in heaven?”

Hm?

“Why do you ask that?”

“Perhaps this is heaven’s decision, destined for me to investigate this case. Because before this, I had already met that woman. This written appeal is missing one page, and that page is with me. Since heaven wants to assign this case to me, I have no reason not to take care of it.”

“Yunshu…”

She said resolutely, “Five years ago when I entered the yamen to work, it was indeed because of food and clothing issues. But later I discovered that there are simply too many wrongful cases in this world, and I absolutely cannot watch people die unjustly while doing nothing myself. Since heaven gave me the ability to judge cases and examine corpses, that is a responsibility, not meddling in others’ affairs—just as you, as a prince, also shoulder your due responsibilities.”

Jingrong was slightly shocked by her words and also somewhat swayed.

After a moment, he said in a low voice, “It seems this prince is destined to worry about you for a lifetime.”

Yes, he agreed!

The corners of Ji Yunshu’s lips curved into a slight smile.

She replied, “You said it yourself—I’m a trouble magnet. So you’re destined to worry about me.”

They smiled at each other!

Before long, Ji Yunshu followed Jing Zhaoyin to the Jing Zhao Bureau and met the woman she had bumped into on that rainy day.

She sat dazed in a chair, clutching a worn, yellowed bundle in her arms, looking very tense.

As soon as she saw Jing Zhaoyin arrive, she immediately rushed over.

With a thud she knelt on the ground, pulling at Jing Zhaoyin’s official robes, crying out, “Your Honor, I beg you, you must give my daughter justice! I beg you!”

“Please stand up first.”

“My daughter was murdered! She didn’t commit suicide—she couldn’t possibly have committed suicide! Your Honor, please help me, help my daughter! I beg you! I’ll kowtow to you!”

As she spoke, her body prostrated on the ground as she kept kowtowing.

Jing Zhaoyin looked very troubled!

Ji Yunshu at the side furrowed her brow, crouched down, and helped the woman’s prostrate body up from the ground.

The woman’s thin and haggard face was so pale it was frightening. One could imagine how much suffering she had endured these three years seeking justice for her daughter.

“Madam, please stand up first.” Her heart ached somewhat.

The woman looked at her and thought for a moment. “Is it you?”