Bamboo Creek Garden.
Having just assumed the position of Director of the Judicial Review Department for only one day, Ji Yunshu’s mind was thrown into chaos by all those court officials’ congratulatory words. She had no choice but to pack her luggage and flee here overnight.
She couldn’t care about rest either. As soon as she set things down, she began organizing those skeletal remains.
Previously, she had buried the skeleton of Fu Bo’s son. Now only these ten remained before her. Among them, the skeleton in one coffin had already been marked by her. Before investigating the dried well case, she had drawn over ten decomposition diagrams of that skeleton’s skull. With just a bit more detailed study, in three or four days at most, she should be able to produce an accurate portrait.
Her speed was very fast!
Her efficiency also very high!
From yesterday to today, she had completed roughly seventy to eighty percent.
Though she now held an official position, she acted like an outsider to officialdom. She directly told Minister Li, the Minister of Justice, that during this period she needed to concentrate on investigating the “Linjing Case.” If there were matters like case file reviews, they should be handled directly by Ministry of Justice officials and the Court of Judicial Review—no need to specifically go through her procedures.
However things were done before, do them that way now!
That Minister Li had no official airs and agreed to everything.
Not coming to disturb her.
At this moment, it was approaching noon.
She was still in the room studying portraits, revising and changing many times. Outside, a maid called in to report, “Master Ji, someone from the palace has come.”
“What matter?”
“Several eunuchs have come to deliver an imperial decree.”
Imperial decree?
She pondered for a moment, fetched a handkerchief to wipe her hands, and went out.
Outside the main hall, three or four eunuchs from the palace stood front and back.
The lead eunuch said, “The Emperor’s oral decree—summon Director Ji to enter the palace immediately, without error.”
Ji Yunshu: “??”
“Please, Director Ji, quickly accompany this slave into the palace. The carriage is already prepared outside. The Emperor says you need not change into court attire.”
Just like that!
She asked, “I wonder what matter the Emperor summons me for?”
“This slave doesn’t know. I only obey orders to deliver the decree. Please, Director, enter the palace.”
The Emperor’s decree—it couldn’t be disobeyed!
Ji Yunshu thought that being summoned to the palace so urgently was definitely not a good thing. Currently, the only thing she could think of was…
She immediately understood.
But her expression remained calm.
“Very well, this official will accompany you eunuchs into the palace immediately.”
“Please.”
Shi Zijin appeared at her side from who knows where.
Blocking her.
“Master? Perhaps…”
She gave a meaningful look, cutting off Shi Zijin’s words. Then, glancing at the lead eunuch, she raised both hands. “Trouble the eunuch to wait a moment. This official’s hands still have some dirt—I’ll wash them clean and go.”
The eunuch looked and said, “Then please be quick, Director.”
“Alright.”
She walked to a water vat in the courtyard, having Shi Zijin use a gourd dipper to scoop water for her to wash her hands.
While lowering her voice, she said, “Go notify Prince Rong. Tell him, no matter what, he must not enter the palace.”
“Master, what’s happened?”
“Just relay the message. If Prince Rong insists on entering the palace, you must obstruct him even at the cost of your life. Understand?” Her expression was very serious.
“But…”
“If I suffer imprisonment, you must also inform Prince Rong not to act rashly, and especially not to interfere. In short, whatever the charges, I will grit my teeth and bear full responsibility.”
Shi Zijin worried: “Master?”
At this moment, the lead eunuch called out, “Is Director Ji ready?”
She responded, “Ready, ready.”
Taking out a handkerchief to wipe her wet hands, she lowered her voice again to instruct, “My words—you must relay them truthfully.”
“Yes.” Shi Zijin nodded.
Ji Yunshu then left with those eunuchs.
The carriage departed from Bamboo Creek Garden, traveling all the way toward the imperial palace.
Inside the carriage.
She had already thoroughly thought through the current situation. This palace entry boded more ill than good.
Presumably Prince Yi had been planning this move for a long time, just waiting for her to achieve great merit and assume office, then… capture her in one stroke!
By then, she’d be unable to defend herself even with a hundred mouths.
It seemed Jing Yi truly couldn’t wait any longer!
She lifted the curtain to look outside—they were just passing South Main Street. There weren’t many people, only a sparse few visible bustling about.
Overhead, a line of herons happened to fly past.
Crying out several times!
As if carrying the scent of imminent disaster.
She took a deep breath, slowly lowering the carriage curtain.
Half a tea’s time.
Shi Zijin delivered the message to Prince Rong’s manor.
Relaying every word Ji Yunshu had instructed!
At this time, Jingrong had just seen off all the officials he’d invited to his manor for tea one by one.
Hearing this news, he immediately exploded.
Shi Zijin: “Master instructed that no matter what, Your Highness must not enter the palace. If there’s imprisonment, Master will bear full responsibility.”
“Imprisonment?”
“Master also ordered that if Your Highness insists on entering the palace, she commands me to obstruct with all my strength.”
Jingrong’s heart was anxious, but reason restrained his impulsive emotions as he carefully deliberated the cause and effect of this matter.
Roughly… he reached a conclusion.
Only Lang Bo didn’t understand. “Your Highness, what exactly has happened? Why would Master Ji give such instructions?”
“In the end, paper cannot wrap fire!” Jingrong said in a deep voice.
“What do you mean?”
Jingrong’s expression tightened slightly. “Jing Yi truly can no longer contain himself. Now if he wants to seize power, he must disturb this prince’s peace of mind. He knows what this prince is most concerned about, which is why he chose to make this move at this time—it’s to make this prince… throw himself into a trap.”
What a vicious move!
Actually using my woman as a target!
Though making Jing Yi rebel was his purpose in returning to the capital this time, he never imagined that sinister villain would push Ji Yunshu to the forefront, intending to disturb him and gain the upper hand.
Thinking of this, his anger was difficult to calm. Both fists clenched tight, his icy eyes filled with raging flames, as if wanting to incinerate everything in sight to ashes.
Lang Bo’s mind couldn’t turn corners—he didn’t understand the meaning. He glanced at Lu Jiang, inquiring about the reason.
Lu Jiang lowered his voice and said one sentence: “Prince Yi will rebel!”
Astonished!
Jingrong suddenly ordered, “Prepare a horse. This prince will make a trip to the palace.”
“Your Highness, you cannot.” Lu Jiang hurriedly stopped him, analyzing, “Since Master Ji has already given such instructions, naturally she knows Prince Yi’s purpose. Why doesn’t Your Highness listen to Master Ji and refrain from rash action? Now is a critical period—not the slightest error can occur.”
“Though this prince clearly knows the stakes, how can I watch Yunshu face a matter of life and death and do nothing?”
“But if Your Highness enters the palace to rescue her, you’ll fall right into Prince Yi’s scheme. By then, not only will Master Ji be punished, but Your Highness will also be implicated. Wouldn’t that waste all Master Ji’s painstaking efforts? Though Master Ji disguised herself as a man to take on the ‘Linjing Case’ and now holds office in a woman’s body, her merits outweigh her faults. The Emperor won’t take her life. Please, Your Highness, think of the bigger picture.” Lu Jiang strenuously dissuaded him.
Hearing this speech, he gradually calmed down, walking outside the room to glance in the direction of the imperial palace.
His grave expression deeply worried.
Then he ordered, “Send someone to investigate Jing Yi’s movements.”