Under the dual assault of Jingrong and Ji Yunshu, the defensive line in Liu Zhiliang’s heart had long been breached.

His eyeballs stared sourly, both hands hanging in his sleeves, palms sweating!

His guilty gaze didn’t know where to look. Finally, he could only lower his head, the corners of his mouth twitching in a smile. “This official truly doesn’t understand what Your Highness means. What crows? What canaries? This official really doesn’t understand. Moreover, at this time, shouldn’t we be investigating the case of the Zhang Manor’s missing Guanyin Seal?”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing now?” Jingrong put away his previous teasing manner and became serious. “Magistrate Liu, you still refuse to admit it?”

“…”

Speechless.

Ji Yunshu raised the case report book in her hand. “Everything recorded in here has already clearly listed your crimes, Magistrate Liu. Whether you admit it or not, this is already fact. Not a single theft case at the Lin’an Inn has been solved to this day. Just now, when First Madam said the Guanyin Seal was stolen by Du Sanniang, you weren’t surprised at all and told Third Madam to return home first. What, Magistrate Liu, were you thinking that after we leave, you’d follow the same pattern and suppress the Zhang Manor Guanyin Seal matter just like you handled those thirty-four previous theft cases at the Lin’an Inn?”

Liu Zhiliang suddenly raised his head. “Master suspects I’m colluding with that Du Sanniang?”

“Not suspect—I’m certain.” Ji Yunshu was resolute. “Over these years, you’ve secretly conspired with Du Sanniang. She steals goods from traveling merchants or valuable items at the Lin’an Inn. When those people come to report to the authorities, you accept all the reports but don’t investigate at all. Because those people are traveling merchants, not locals of the pacification office, they won’t stay long. Dragging it out, as time passes, they can only accept their losses and leave. Then Du Sanniang converts the stolen items into gold and silver, and splits the spoils with you, Magistrate Liu.”

“No… no!” He was extremely guilty but still stubbornly insisted, “This official is the parent official of the pacification office and would never commit such corrupt acts or shield thieves. This official respects Master and knows Master is clever, but based solely on this case report book, Master says I’m colluding with Du Sanniang—where does this claim come from? The Lin’an Inn is an inn in the mountains with an endless stream of travelers coming and going every day. The foot traffic is heavy, making investigations truly difficult. Consider it this official’s incompetence—I cannot solve them.”

A face full of innocence.

He turned to Jingrong and said, “Your Highness, you must believe this official. This official has been wronged.”

Jingrong smiled slightly. “This Prince can disbelieve anyone, but I solely believe Master Ji. If she says you’re intentionally colluding with others and using your position for private gain, this Prince believes it. Even if she said you killed someone, this Prince would believe it. In short and in summary—whatever Master Ji says is what it is.”

In short, a devoted fanboy!

Liu Zhiliang was quite awkward!

His heart was uneasy.

Finally, he could only force out a sentence: “This official… is truly wronged.”

“You keep saying you’re wronged. Fine, this Prince asks you—how did you know this Prince came to the pacification office?”

“Your Highness was ordered to go to Yufu County, and the news spread all along the way, so…”

Interrupted!

“The news did spread, but it wouldn’t necessarily reach your ears. Before coming to the pacification office, this Prince already ordered that you not be notified and that the people of the pacification office not be disturbed. So you couldn’t possibly have known. Yet you, Liu Zhiliang, were already waiting respectfully at the government office early. Could it be that someone under this Prince brought you the news?”

“I…”

“Magistrate Liu, you’re so astute—there’s no reason your secretly colluding partner Du Sanniang would be confused, right? If she hadn’t detected this Prince’s identity and secretly notified you, how would you have known this Prince came to the pacification office?”

Liu Zhiliang was at a loss for words. He thought for a moment, wanting to argue when…

Ji Yunshu took over. “Not only that, over these years, the pacification office has been very peaceful. Not a single case has been reported to the court for trial. Everyone says the pacification office is peaceful and has produced a good official. They all say the pacification office is blessed with outstanding people and is suitable for rest and recuperation. But from my perspective, it’s clearly you, Magistrate Liu, creating a false appearance of peace to present the phenomenon the world sees. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have ordered the jailers to severely torture that female performer. Because regardless of the truth, as long as the true culprit of the Zhang Manor murder case is caught, the pacification office would still maintain its peaceful image. Magistrate Liu, tell me—am I right or wrong?”

After speaking, she smiled slightly, chillingly.

Liu Zhiliang shouted inwardly: Wrong!

Of course wrong!

But he was already guilty to death!

He even deliberately moved back a step, arguing without confidence. “Everything Master says has no basis. How can this official accept this burden?”

Jingrong added, “Last night, Master Ji offered you golden water but you wouldn’t take it. Now when we’re about to strip your skin, you still won’t admit it. Liu Zhiliang, oh Liu Zhiliang, you truly won’t shed tears until you see the coffin.”

After speaking, he snapped his fingers.

Outside the door, two guards escorted a woman inside.

Muruo actually followed behind.

What was this situation?

That woman was Du Sanniang. Her hands were bound behind her back, her off-shoulder dress hanging even lower, vaguely revealing those two mounds of snow-white flesh.

Her cheeks were still somewhat flushed, her eyes shot with blood vessels, carrying some vicissitudes and weariness.

On her body was a strong smell of alcohol.

Obviously, she had been drinking.

Her graceful figure was even softer than before. As she was escorted in, she knelt down.

The moment he saw Du Sanniang, Liu Zhiliang’s eyes widened!

His whole body trembled!

One of the guards was also holding a box. Upon entering, he handed it to Ji Yunshu.

“Master, the item is inside.”

She took it but didn’t open it, directly handing it to Third Madam who had been in the public hall all along.

“The item is inside.”

Hmm?

Third Madam took it and opened the box. Surprised, she exclaimed, “It’s the Guanyin Seal!”

“The item has now been retrieved. This is your Zhang Manor’s property. Now it’s returned to you. In the future, don’t lose it again.”

“Yes.” The excited Third Madam held the box, tears of gratitude in her eyes.

Ji Yunshu turned her head to tell Zhang Yimo, “Young Master Zhang, take your mother home.”

“Thank you, Master.”

She nodded lightly.

Then Zhang Yimo took Third Madam home.

Ji Yunshu walked to Muruo’s side by the door, pointed at Du Sanniang, and asked, “What exactly happened? How did she end up like this?”

“Doesn’t she like to drink? After capturing her yesterday, I drank with her all night.”

Ji Yunshu rolled her eyes at him.

Muruo shook his head and sighed, saying with great regret, “If only she weren’t a thief—how wonderful that would be.”

“Marry her?”

“I wouldn’t dare marry such a woman. I only wanted to be drinking companions. As they say, a lifetime of wine is a lifetime drunk. Du Sanniang is indeed not bad.”

Ji Yunshu rolled her eyes at him again.

He simply swayed his body and went outside, sitting on the stone steps outside to continue drinking.

In the public hall, Liu Zhiliang had an expression of utter hopelessness.

Du Sanniang knelt on the ground, sneered coldly, raised those eyes to stare at him, and said directly, “Magistrate Liu, this time we’ve truly fallen. The matter has been exposed. This official position of yours, I’m afraid you can’t continue holding.”

Contemptuous!

Liu Zhiliang’s body staggered back several steps, his back slamming hard against the large table on the high platform with a “thud,” making a dull sound.

Brother, does your back hurt?

He was covered in guilty sweat.