At this moment, inside the hall.

After meeting with Ji Wanxin, Ji Yunshu had made another trip to the Ministry of Justice. She didn’t return until after dark, and was now inside discussing matters with Jingrong.

Since arriving in the capital, the two had kept their brows furrowed, worried and anxious!

Not relaxing for even a moment!

Jingrong asked her: “How is the case at the Yu Residence going?”

Ji Yunshu spoke in a tone that left people half-understanding: “Perhaps half of it has already been solved.”

“One half? What about the other half?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head.

Utterly unfathomable!

Jingrong asked again: “I heard you went to Linglong Embroidery Shop?”

She nodded: “Mm.”

He speculated: “So this case might also be related to the embroidery shop?”

“Mm… probably.” Her answer was vague. Then she said: “Today I ran into my second sister.”

Ji Wanxin?

Jingrong was startled: “What happened?”

“She told me herself that the imperial edict was issued by His Majesty, ordering it sent to Jinjiang, commanding her to enter the palace immediately to take up the position of embroiderer at the Embroidery Workshop.”

“Thud!” Jingrong slammed his fist on the table, his expression fierce, and shouted: “Has he gone mad?”

He was referring to Wei Yi!

“Jingrong.” Her face became grave as she reminded him: “Unless absolutely necessary, you absolutely must not take that step!”

Jingrong nodded: “I know.”

“The matter of the late emperor’s edict is of tremendous importance. It’s not just related to the succession of the Da Lin throne—it will also implicate many people widely. After all, it concerns the entire realm! If things develop to an uncontrollable degree, the situation will become impossible to resolve.” That edict concerned all of Da Lin! If Jingrong now produced the late emperor’s edict to force Wei Yi to abdicate, it would certainly cause upheaval in the court. If the situation couldn’t be contained and those with ulterior motives took advantage of the chaos, by that time no one would be able to clean up the mess. Therefore, even if they were to produce the late emperor’s edict, they needed an appropriate opportunity, and they had to ensure no unfavorable factors would occur.

Jingrong stood up, walked a few steps, looked outside, and a trace of guilt flashed across his face: “Back then, yielding the throne to Wei Yi was my decision. That he has become what he is today also originated because of me. What I can do now is help him clean up the mess in the court, and also try every possible means… to make him turn back.”

Ji Yunshu walked to his side and grasped his hand: “This is not your fault!”

The two looked into each other’s eyes.

Jingrong asked: “Does your heart ache?”

She said: “It aches, of course it aches. But what good does the aching do? Right now I just want to solve this case in my hands as quickly as possible. Everything else… I don’t want to think about anything else. Perhaps only this way can my heart feel somewhat better.”

Her eyes moistened.

Jingrong grasped her hand in return but didn’t know how to comfort her.

At this moment, Lu Jiang entered and said: “Your Highness, Minister Yu has arrived.”

Jingrong said: “Please show him in.”

A short while later, Minister Yu and Yu Wei entered.

“Greetings to Your Highness.”

“Why has Minister Yu come so late?”

Minister Yu cupped his hands: “This commoner no longer holds an official position.”

Reminding Jingrong.

“You old fox, why must you speak in riddles before this prince?”

“This commoner wouldn’t dare.” Then he turned toward Ji Yunshu: “Actually, I came today to thank Minister Ji. If not for you, I would probably have already lost my head.”

Ji Yunshu said: “Minister Yu is too kind. I said before that if you didn’t kill anyone, I would certainly clear your name.”

“Regardless, if not for Prince Rong and Minister Ji, this commoner’s life…” He smiled bitterly and sighed.

Jingrong asked: “You came today because you have some matter?”

“I truly cannot hide anything from Your Highness. I came today wanting to know about the court…”

Suddenly Jingrong interrupted: “Minister Yu, you are no longer a court official, so you need not inquire about court matters. This prince knows you have the court at heart, but sometimes being an oblivious person isn’t necessarily bad.”

“This commoner is just worried.”

“As long as this prince is in the capital for one day, you need not worry. This prince also knows your purpose in coming today, but this prince still says the same thing—don’t manage what you shouldn’t manage. Just recuperate peacefully in your residence.”

Minister Yu had a thousand words in his heart, all of which were seen through by Jingrong. He could only swallow back all the words in his heart.

“Yes, this commoner understands.”

He would say no more.

Yu Wei, standing at the side, said to Prince Rong: “This official is willing to serve Your Highness. Just one word from Your Highness, and this official will spare no effort.”

Jingrong looked him up and down: “Court Gentleman Yu has the intention, and this prince understands. If there is need of you, I will naturally tell you.”

“Yes!”

Suddenly—

Ji Yunshu noticed an abnormality on Yu Wei’s wrist and asked: “Court Gentleman Yu, what about your hand?”

Yu Wei rolled up his sleeve, revealing dense red rashes. He said: “Recently I developed a rash. I’ve already seen a physician. It’s not very serious, and this illness is also quite common.”

“Oh? Very common?”

“Vice Minister Wang from the Ministry of Works also has this illness. Actually, it’s just a minor ailment, generally contracted in late autumn. As long as one doesn’t drink alcohol within those three months, it’s fine.”

Don’t drink alcohol!

Ji Yunshu was suddenly startled, and the confusion in her heart seemed to clear by several degrees.

Immediately—

She called toward the door: “Ziran.”

Shi Ziran immediately entered: “What are Miss Ji’s instructions?”

“I may have to trouble you for a trip.”

Hm?

Shi Ziran was puzzled: “Miss Ji, what do you mean?”

Ji Yunshu said seriously: “Starting tomorrow, I need you to follow the head proprietor of Linglong Embroidery Shop, Chen Youfu.”

“Follow someone?”

“That’s right. You must follow his every move. If there are any abnormalities, you must come tell me as quickly as possible.”

Shi Ziran didn’t understand: “Why do you want me to follow that Chen Youfu? Is it related to the officials the prince wants to investigate?”

Ji Yunshu hesitated, then said: “Perhaps it’s related, perhaps it’s not.”

But Jingrong said: “Just follow Yunshu’s instructions.”

“Yes.” Shi Ziran received the order.

Then Ji Yunshu said to Yu Wei: “There’s one more matter that may trouble Court Gentleman Yu.”

Yu Wei became serious and said: “Minister Ji saved my father. Even if you asked me to climb a mountain of swords or plunge into a sea of flames, I would be willing.”

Haha—

Ji Yunshu laughed: “It’s not that serious.”

“Please speak.”

“I hear that you have a good relationship with Vice Minister Wang Zhe from the Ministry of Justice. Tomorrow, arrange to meet him, and casually mention what I just instructed Ziran to do.”

“Ah?” Yu Wei was astonished: “Since Minister Ji is having Brother Shi follow someone, this should naturally be a concealed matter. Why would you tell Wang Zhe?”

“The reasons are not convenient to explain. Court Gentleman Yu just needs to leak it.”

Yu Wei nodded: “Yes.”

The next day. Following Ji Yunshu’s instructions, Shi Ziran went early in the morning to the home of Chen Youfu, the head proprietor of Linglong Embroidery Shop. He sat leisurely on the rooftop looking down into the Chen family courtyard, his gaze fixed on the door to Chen Youfu’s room. The sun was already high in the sky, yet that head proprietor still hadn’t gotten out of bed. Although Chen Youfu was a wealthy man, the place where he lived wasn’t very impressive—not large, not new, and somewhat old. How could this be the residence of a wealthy person?