Marquis Kang had initially felt angry—furious that those two servants had dared to neglect their duties. But considering that human nature was inherently fearful, and with the recent unrest in the estate, making people keep watch in the kitchen late at night—if they were bold it would be fine, but if they were timid, they wouldn’t be scared to death but would certainly break out in cold sweat.

Those two young fellows guarding the kitchen were clearly timid types!

So Marquis Kang also relaxed somewhat.

He looked toward Ji Yunshu and asked, “Master Ji, these two servants didn’t see anyone. Can you find the killer based on evidence from the scene and such?”

It would be difficult!

But Ji Yunshu still nodded, walking over to examine those stones. There were some dried bloodstains on them, but apart from that, there were no other abnormalities in the surroundings—not a single suspicious object could be found.

Then her gaze swept across everyone present one by one as she asked, “During the chou hour early this morning, where were all of you?”

Everyone stated what they had been doing. Their answers were almost unanimous—they all said that because of the recent hauntings, once it got dark they had all returned to their rooms to sleep. But except for the four gate guards, everyone could vouch for each other, confirming that no one had gone out during the chou hour or visited the kitchen backyard.

Could it be…

Really the work of ghosts?

Ji Yunshu naturally didn’t believe it!

But everyone began speculating in succession.

“Could it be… there really are ghosts? Did a ghost kill Granny Lin and drag her body to the room?”

“It might really be so.”

“With so many strange incidents happening in the estate recently, I think the ghost is now starting to kill people.”

“Oh my, don’t frighten me.”

“Who’s frightening you?”

Their words made everyone’s hair stand on end, cold sweat streaming down their backs.

Several timid young maids huddled together in fear, and the servants also showed rather frightened expressions.

Ji Yunshu’s ears were sharp—she heard all the fearful words from those around her. She raised her eyes to address everyone: “What ghosts exist in this world? Stop frightening yourselves. If it really was a ghost that killed Granny Lin, why would it carry her back to her room and create the false appearance of a fall? If the killer were a ghost, would it fear being caught? It could just kill and be done with it—there would be no need to go through the extra trouble of fabricating the scene. So this case is clearly man-made. Everyone, stop spreading false rumors and scaring yourselves.”

However, someone in the crowd said, “But… no one came here! If it’s not a ghost, what else could it be?”

“That only means the killer hid well and didn’t leave any clues, but it doesn’t mean this is the work of malevolent spirits.”

With this said, no one spoke up anymore!

Now the primary scene had been found, but there were still no leads on the killer.

However—

She thought to herself, why would Granny Lin come here during the chou hour? Was she looking for something? Or did she come here to meet someone? Or perhaps she had stumbled upon some unspeakable affair and was therefore silenced?

Questions exploded one after another in her mind, yet yielded nothing.

Finally, she could only have Marquis Kang dismiss everyone.

“Master Ji, is Granny Lin’s death truly unrelated to ghosts?” Marquis Kang was still conflicted at this point.

Ji Yunshu was truly too lazy to explain further. She glanced at him. “Marquis, I’ve said everything that needed to be said. If you insist on believing it was the work of ghosts, then consider this case as me meddling in others’ business.”

She wouldn’t investigate anymore!

“I didn’t mean that, please don’t take offense, Master.” Marquis Kang grew anxious, clasping his fists together. “I must trouble you further, Master.”

His attitude was excellent!

Sincere and earnest!

Ji Yunshu wasn’t someone who would climb up when given a ladder—rather, she knew when to accept courtesy. She nodded and agreed.

“I’d like to visit Granny Lin’s room again.”

“Very well, Master, please proceed.”

Just as they were about to go, suddenly someone charged toward her. The person held a butcher’s knife high, looking fierce and vicious as he moved to strike her down.

But before the blade could fall, Jingrong, who had been nearby all along, kicked him away. The person fell to the ground, and the knife in his hand also clattered down beside his feet with a loud clang. When he tried to get up, he was immediately seized by servants who had just rushed over. Though he struggled with effort, he couldn’t move.

Jingrong’s eyes blazed with fury as he stared at Cai Da before him, grabbing his clothes with one hand. “What audacity—you dare to touch this prince’s person.”

A fist swung into Cai Da’s stomach, striking him until he spat fresh blood.

Yet this person showed stubbornness from who knows where. He spat blood on the ground and glared fiercely at the calm-faced Ji Yunshu. “My mother is already dead, yet you defile her corpse. I’ll kill you.”

Jingrong moved his hand from his collar to clasp his neck, lifting upward. “Dare to speak insolently again, and this prince will twist off your head.”

His hand was about to apply force—

“Wait!” Ji Yunshu intervened.

She walked over, gazing into Cai Da’s eyes. “Cai Da, I have not defiled your mother’s corpse! Rather, I’m helping to find her killer. If we’re truly talking about defilement, your mother’s corpse would probably have been completely dissected clean by me already.”

She hadn’t taken a knife to autopsy Granny Lin—that was already quite good!

“You…”

“I know your mother died miserably and you’re suffering inside, but if you vent your grievances on me, then that’s your fault. Regardless, I’m helping to find your mother’s killer—I’m also helping you. You should be grateful to me.”

Cai Da was speechless, but the violent energy in his eyes hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Seeing this, Marquis Kang quickly stepped forward, pointing at Cai Da angrily and rebuking him: “Cai Da, you’re simply lawless! This marquis, mindful that your mother served in the estate for decades, allowed you to enter the estate to work. But what do you do? Rash and impulsive, causing trouble every few days—now you even want to harm Master Ji. If Master Ji is harmed even a hair’s breadth, not only will the Prince take your life, but this marquis will also take your life.”

When entering an estate as a guest, how much more so for Master Ji who was helping investigate the ghost case.

After being reprimanded, Cai Da indeed stopped being stubborn.

Quiet and still!

In turn, Marquis Kang apologized to Ji Yunshu: “Master Ji, please don’t take offense. Cai Da is the estate’s butcher—his temperament is somewhat impulsive. He went out last night to work, and when he returned to see his own mother dead, he reacted this way. Please forgive him, Master.”

Ji Yunshu wasn’t injured, so—

She said to Jingrong, “Release him.”

Seeing that Cai Da had also calmed down, Jingrong let him go, and the two servants behind him also released him.

However, just as this person was released, the fire that had subsided in his eyes suddenly flared up again. His hands shot out, pushing hard against Ji Yunshu’s shoulders.

The force was great!

Caught off guard, Ji Yunshu stumbled backward, falling heavily to the ground. Her palms scraped raw, marked with streaks of blood.

At the same moment Cai Da thrust out his hands, Jingrong seized his wrist and applied force—the wrist bone cracked, broken clean through. Cai Da cried out “aiya” and collapsed to the ground, once again seized by others.

Immediately, Jingrong bent down and lifted Ji Yunshu up from the ground.

Marquis Kang was stunned. He was about to step forward when Jingrong shouted, “Move aside.”

Then he carried Ji Yunshu away!