Fang Tong and Jiang Wen clearly recognized Du Mubai.

A trace of guilt flashed across both their faces, fleeting in an instant!

Not receiving answers from the two for some time, Li Cheng grew anxious: “This official is asking you a question. Why have you gone mute?”

Li Cheng’s words were always so shocking!

Fang Tong quickly said: “We know him. Back then we were examination candidates in the same cohort, and we also lived together.”

Both answered honestly.

Li Cheng also immediately got to the point, asking: “Then do you recognize a woman named Su Qiao? She’s the deceased in this stone case.”

Hearing this name, the two exchanged glances with each other.

Then shook their heads.

“Replying to my lord, we don’t know this person.”

“You lived together with Du Mubai. Did he never mention this person?”

“We dare not conceal anything from my lord. Truly he didn’t, and moreover…”

“Moreover what?”

“We only lived together with Du Mubai. We weren’t clear about his personal matters.”

Du Mubai was brilliantly talented, known as the gifted scholar of Nanshen!

How could such a talented person “associate” with them? Besides, back then Du Mubai gained the appreciation of the Marquis of Pingyang and became his student, while they, having no connections and not knowing even one official, had no qualifications to enter official circles. Naturally the distance between them and Du Mubai widened further!

Though all were born poor, ultimately there were differences!

Li Cheng didn’t get much from questioning them.

But Jiang Wen asked: “My lord, I wonder what relationship that person called Su Qiao had with Du Mubai?”

“You don’t need to ask about that.”

“Yes.”

He shut his mouth.

Ji Yunshu stepped forward and continued asking: “Actually there’s another case I want to ask you about.”

Hmm?

Fang Tong and Jiang Wen seemed to vaguely sense something.

They remained silent.

Waiting to be questioned.

Ji Yunshu asked: “The reason Du Mubai committed suicide back then, according to the case file records, was because he stole poetry, which is why his student qualification was revoked. Deeply affected by this blow, he chose suicide. I want to know, whose poetry did he actually steal?”

The case file didn’t record these details!

Fang Tong: “He…”

“Even if you don’t say, we can still investigate.”

“He stole Bingzheng’s poetry.” Jiang Wen said.

Bingzheng—the person who hadn’t been brought yet!

Li Cheng immediately urged the guards standing at the door: “Hurry and bring Bingzheng here.”

“Yes!”

The guards immediately rushed to urge them.

During this time, Fang Tong and Jiang Wen’s hearts remained tense the whole time, shrinking to one side, seemingly very afraid of something.

Song Zhi had been brought over in complete confusion and still hadn’t figured out what exactly was happening.

He asked Ji Yunshu softly: “Young Master Ji, what exactly is going on?”

They say talking with scholars is exhausting. Even someone as patient as Ji Yunshu couldn’t take it. She only said: “Young Master Song, this matter has nothing to do with you. Actually you can go back first.”

“I… I’ll wait a bit.” He pointed at Fang Tong. “I know them.”

Oh right!

Ji Yunshu had almost forgotten that Song Zhi was brought here together with them.

She asked: “How did you come to know them?”

“Last time when I went to the bookshop to read, I met Brother Fang. Later Brother Fang took me to a poetry gathering where I met Brother Jiang. We chatted together for a while. Oh right, I almost forgot to tell Young Master Ji—at that time, I even won twenty taels of silver.”

Pfft—

Look at you, winning twenty taels like you’ve won a whole house.

Ji Yunshu originally didn’t want to ask more, but was somehow possessed to ask: “You won twenty taels of silver? You didn’t gamble with someone, did you?”

“No no no, Young Master Ji, you’ve misunderstood. How could I gamble? With exams approaching, I don’t even have time to read books.”

“Then…”

“At the time a young master composed a poem, saying whoever could match it could win twenty taels of silver. It just happened I could match that line, so I won the silver. I intended to go back and tell you this news, but when I returned it was too late and I forgot for a moment. How about this—later I’ll treat you and Young Master Jing to a meal as thanks for taking care of me along this journey.”

Rattling on and on!

Out of politeness, Ji Yunshu couldn’t interrupt, so she just kept listening.

Then said: “Those twenty taels of silver, Young Master Song, you should keep them yourself. You’re about to take your exams and will surely need money in many places. Don’t spend it!”

“It’s fine. Treating to a meal won’t cost much!”

“…” Ji Yunshu.

Their “whispered conversation” drew Jingrong’s attention.

But he didn’t do anything, just sat there quietly watching.

It wasn’t that the vinegar jar had overturned—he was just watching.

That’s right, just watching!

That’s all!

Ji Yunshu also didn’t continue arguing with Song Zhi, smiling without speaking.

Li Cheng on the side, however, was heavy with thought. He thought the stone case was just the stone case. How could he know it would also involve Du Mubai? If it involved him, fine, but how did it involve Du Mubai and Su Qiao being sweethearts? He could already imagine that once this matter spread, his elder sister would surely be extremely disappointed. The man she loved, the talented scholar she admired, the refined gentleman who had pledged eternal love with her—how had he suddenly become someone who privately pledged himself to another?

Even Li Cheng, a man, couldn’t accept it.

Much less his sister Li Wenshu.

Thinking of this, he was filled with worry.

Not knowing how he should comfort her when the time came.

Just as he was worrying—

Ji Yunshu suddenly walked before Fang Tong.

Their gazes met.

Fang Tong took a step back: “My lord?”

Ji Yunshu asked: “When Du Mubai committed suicide, were you the first to discover him?”

“…Yes.”

“When you saw him at that time, what state was Du Mubai in? And what was the situation in the room like?”

“Du Mubai’s state? The situation in the room?” He repeated Ji Yunshu’s words.

“That’s right!”

Fang Tong and Jiang Wen looked at each other again. Back then as witnesses, they had already said everything they saw once. Now being asked again, they seemed to not quite remember.

He stated directly: “My lord, it’s been six years since this happened. I don’t remember some details, and at the time we were truly terrified. Even now thinking about it makes one’s hair stand on end.”

“Then say what you remember.”

“But… at the time we told the government officials everything we saw and knew. The Ministry of Justice should have records. Wouldn’t it be more detailed for my lord to look at those records?”

Indeed, Du Mubai’s case file had records, and the records were perfect—clean handwriting, flowing smoothly.

It was a perfect case file.

However, Ji Yunshu had been Director of Criminal Investigation back in the day and had written many case files. She knew many details would be refined and polished!

They wouldn’t be recorded in too much detail.

So—she said: “The records do exist, but some things aren’t recorded in great detail, which is why I want to ask you.”