“Precisely.”

Vice Minister Jiang took out the case record that had been tucked under his elbow and asked: “Does Lord Ji know about this case?”

She made a sound of acknowledgment: “I heard some things on the road back to the capital, but where is Lord Jiang headed?”

Jiang Lan explained: “This is a duplicate copy of the case record that was prepared yesterday. I was just about to go to the Ministry of Revenue to cross-check the records of Director Yu and the deceased.”

“May I take a look?”

“Of course.”

He very readily presented the case record with both hands.

Ji Yunshu took it but didn’t read it, her expression serious as she said: “Lord Jiang, I need to read this case record very carefully, so this case will have to wait a bit longer.”

Hmm?

“What does Lord Ji mean?”

“I plan to handle this case personally, so I’ll have to trouble Lord Jiang to describe this case to me in detail shortly.” She was very polite.

Jiang Lan was somewhat surprised. Could it be…

He inquired cautiously: “Could it be that Lord Ji returned to the capital this time specifically for Director Yu’s case?”

Ji Yunshu didn’t respond to his question, only saying: “It’s still more important to discuss the case first.”

She then turned and entered the Ministry of Justice.

She went to her “office” and sat down.

Opening the case record in her hands, she reviewed it page by page.

While Jiang Lan, who had followed her all the way in, was left to the side, obediently waiting. It must be said that Jiang Lan’s calligraphy was truly exceptional. If one didn’t concentrate attention on the case, it would be very easy to be drawn in by his writing. Fortunately, not only did Jiang Lan write beautifully, but his ability to summarize cases was also quite good. He had written this case of the skeletal remains within the wall in an orderly and clear manner, and it read very smoothly—completely unlike something that came from the uncultured Jiang Lan’s hand.

Wait, she was getting off track!

Ji Yunshu looked at the case record in her hands, her brows involuntarily furrowing together.

From what she had learned from Yu Wei’s account earlier and what was written in this case record, she had a general understanding. It turned out that not long ago, Director Yu’s main residence had experienced roof leaking, which caused the interior wall plaster to peel off and the wall body to crack open, revealing a section of human bone. The young maid who had gone in to clean was scared half to death and nearly fainted. She hurriedly found the manor’s steward. Upon looking, they discovered that within the wall was actually hidden a complete set of skeletal remains. This matter immediately shocked the entire Yu Manor, and they immediately reported it to the authorities. The Capital Magistrate brought people over and carefully excavated the skeletal remains. Based on a somewhat broken bracelet worn on the skeleton’s wrist, they determined it belonged to Hua Ling, a maid who had left the manor three years ago. According to testimonies from everyone in the manor, they all said that maid had received Director Yu’s permission three years ago and left the manor overnight to return to her hometown. She hadn’t told anyone and left in a hurry. They had originally thought she had long since returned home and married, but unexpectedly she had died and been hidden within the wall of Director Yu’s master bedroom.

The coroner examined the corpse and determined the time of death was indeed three years ago. The fatal wound was at the back of the head—she had struck a sharp object, causing immediate death. Thus, the Capital Magistrate interrogated everyone in the Yu Manor one by one. Finally, from one maid’s account, they learned— At that time, because the main courtyard where Director Yu resided had developed a leaking problem, and generally when an official’s residence needed repairs, they could report it to the court, the Ministry of Works dispatched people from the Construction Maintenance Bureau to repair the main courtyard of the Yu Manor. Director Yu then moved to a side courtyard to temporarily reside. Because scaffolding was erected in the main courtyard and tiles needed to be removed and replaced, it was cordoned off, with miscellaneous people forbidden to approach lest something fall from the roof and injure someone. On the very morning when Hua Ling disappeared after leaving the manor, a young maid went to clean Director Yu’s room and saw blood on the corner of the table. At the time she paid it no mind, but upon being questioned by the Capital Magistrate this time, she remembered it. Furthermore, it was Director Yu who had given Hua Ling permission to leave the manor, which meant he was the last person to see Hua Ling.

Thus, the suspect was immediately locked onto Director Yu. Director Yu also confessed without denial, admitting that the night before Hua Ling disappeared, she had come to the side courtyard looking for him. He said that maid didn’t know what had gotten into her, but she actually tried to seduce him. As a result, he pushed her to the ground, and her head did indeed strike the corner of the table. But at the time Hua Ling was fine and ran away crying. The next day, when servants said she was gone, he thought that maid was worried he would punish her for the previous night’s incident, which is why she secretly ran away. Hua Ling was ultimately a woman, and chastity and reputation were most important. Therefore, he casually said he had agreed to let Hua Ling leave the manor, which is why he didn’t report it to the authorities.

Who would have known the person had actually died three years ago!

And died within the wall of the master bedroom that was being repaired at the time!

The Ministry of Justice believed this was entirely Director Yu’s one-sided account and couldn’t be fully trusted. Seeing that Ji Yunshu had finished reading the case record, Jiang Lan sighed: “This Director Yu is usually quite proper and upright. It’s really hard to connect him with a murderer, but the evidence is solid! That night, he did indeed push the deceased. By coincidence, the fatal wound was at the back of the head, causing immediate death. Moreover, Director Yu is an official who has always been clear about rewards and punishments. For a maid below to commit such shameful acts, by rights he definitely should have pursued the matter. Yet instead he protected that maid, saying he allowed her to leave the manor. This completely isn’t Director Yu’s style!”

My, my, my—how unpopular was Director Yu usually! In your eyes, was he really so lacking in human understanding and worldly wisdom?

Old iron, that’s harsh!

However, presently all the clues and testimonies did indeed point to Director Yu and were very unfavorable to him.

Ji Yunshu closed the case record in her hands, stood up and said: “I want to go see those skeletal remains.”

“Now?”

“Yes!”

“I’m afraid…”

“Afraid of what?”

“Lord Ji, you see, I’ve already finished writing this case record. As long as I send it to the Ministry of Revenue and the two departments cross-check the records, this case will be decided.” The more Jiang Lan spoke, the softer his voice became.

Ji Yunshu’s expression was stern as she questioned: “The details within haven’t been clarified—are you planning to hastily close the case like this?”

Jiang Lan shuddered: “This…”

Appearing very conflicted.

Ji Yunshu: “Let me ask you, has Director Yu confessed?”

Jiang Lan: “He won’t admit it even if beaten to death.”

Ji Yunshu: “Then is there direct evidence proving Director Yu did it?”

Jiang Lan: “Only witness testimony.”

Ji Yunshu: “Did that witness see it with their own eyes?”

Jiang Lan: “Not at all.”

Question and answer.

Ji Yunshu revealed a stern expression, also carrying some anger, saying: “Since there’s none of these things, how can there be talk of closing the case? When did the Ministry of Justice become so hasty in handling cases? Setting aside that Director Yu is a suspect, just based on his status as Director of the Court of Judicial Review, this case cannot be closed so early.”

Jiang Lan was rendered speechless.

He was innocent!

He had neither literary talent nor the authority to make decisions—he was just a “decorative vase”!

The case record for this case was also written only after orders came down from above.

Of course, Ji Yunshu wasn’t foolish either. For this case to be closed so quickly when it hadn’t even been clarified was absolutely not the Ministry of Justice’s usual style. Within this… there must be hidden machinations.