Steward Xiao was busy at the back notifying the Marquis of Pingyang.

He wanted to wait for the Marquis’s orders to see whether or not to intervene with that domineering young son of his.

Should he agree to investigate?

Or should he refuse to investigate?

Meanwhile, he quietly summoned the gatekeeper who watched over the Literary Office.

He questioned him, “Yesterday, did anyone come by?”

The young attendant nodded, “Yes!”

“Who?”

“The ones who just went inside.”

“Which ones?”

“The Master Ji who came with Duke Cheng’s heir—the one who does bone reading and portrait sketching—and those two young men who went in after, they came last night.” The young attendant answered truthfully.

Steward Xiao glanced several times in the direction of the hall, then began scolding the young attendant, “Since someone came yesterday, why didn’t you notify me?”

The young attendant, realizing the matter might be somewhat serious, hastily said, “Yesterday those gentlemen told me not to spread word of it, so I quietly led them to that room.”

In the Literary Office, almost everyone used “that room” to refer to the room where Du Mubai had committed suicide.

Steward Xiao glared at him angrily: “What did they do in that room?”

“They didn’t do anything, just walked around the room, then stood on the table to look around, and then they left.”

“Nothing else?”

“Nothing.”

“Absurd!”

Such a major matter, and he concealed it from him.

The young attendant didn’t dare make a sound.

Looking at Steward Xiao’s expression, he knew he must have caused some trouble!

But at this moment inside the hall, the atmosphere was quite different.

Though they were supposedly drinking tea and waiting, Li Cheng had absolutely no mind for any tea. He sat there anxiously, looking left and right.

Still, Steward Xiao had not returned.

He stood up and paced several circles around the center of the hall.

Muttering constantly under his breath.

Everyone just watched him pace back and forth.

Like a swinging pendulum!

Li Cheng really couldn’t bear it anymore. His footsteps halted, his face showing severity: “Is he playing me for a fool? How long have we been waiting? Why hasn’t anyone come yet?”

He was truly anxious now.

Then, he grabbed one of the Literary Office staff and demanded, “Why isn’t this ready yet? Just how long do we have to wait? Hurry up and call Steward Xiao here.”

That person was merely responsible for serving tea and water, and hastily said, “Sir, please wait a bit longer.”

“Can’t wait any longer.”

“Young Duke, this puts me in a difficult position.”

“Investigating a case takes this much time? Right now all the prominent figures from the entire Capital Administration Department are sitting here, and your Steward Xiao keeps delaying time after time. Believe it or not, I’ll go to the Ministry of Personnel right now and file a complaint against him!” Li Cheng was furious.

That person looked helpless.

Completely without recourse.

However, Jingrong, who had been sitting quietly all along, spoke up, “Duke Cheng’s heir, let’s wait a bit more.”

His tone was indifferent and detached!

Li Cheng immediately looked at him and said, “You’re not anxious?”

“What’s there to be anxious about? It’s snowing today anyway. Sitting in this room drinking hot tea isn’t so bad. Besides, the case is right there—it’s not going to run away.”

It can’t run away!

“But…”

“No ‘buts.’ Steward Xiao is serving us fine tea. If Duke Cheng’s heir doesn’t drink that cup soon, it’ll be wasted.” Jingrong genuinely felt sorry for that cup of tea.

But in his heart he knew very well that Steward Xiao had been gone so long—if he were truly going to notify everyone in the Literary Office one by one, it couldn’t be that there was still no movement at all. Since Steward Xiao was intent on obstructing them, his abnormal behavior must be significant.

He rather wanted to see what medicine Steward Xiao was selling in his gourd and how he would pour it out later!

Hearing him say this, Li Cheng’s anger was suppressed. He waved dismissively at the person he’d been questioning, “Fine, fine, you may go.”

“Yes.”

Li Cheng turned and sat in his seat, glancing at the tea by his hand.

Then—

He actually believed Jingrong’s words and picked up the tea for a sip.

The moment it touched his tongue, he spat it out.

His face full of disgust.

“What kind of tea is this? It tastes terrible.”

His brows furrowed.

Then he complained to Jingrong, “How is this tea any good?”

Jingrong smiled, then picked up the tea by his hand and took a sip, saying, “Duke Cheng’s heir misunderstood my meaning. When I said this tea is good, I meant it’s good that we can drink a cup of hot tea in this elegant and leisurely Literary Office. As the saying goes, ‘To be offered tea in humble circumstances is a blessing in life.'”

After hearing this, Li Cheng’s brows furrowed even deeper.

Flowery scholarly words—he didn’t want to hear them.

He just continued sitting and waiting.

Those several old officials, however, were on pins and needles.

They remained extremely anxious inside.

If Du Mubai was truly murdered, the authorities would certainly investigate those who participated in the investigation of this case back then, and these several old officials from the Capital Administration Department would all be in trouble.

If Du Mubai had committed suicide, they’d come to the Literary Office to make a scene, and they’d still be in trouble later.

Wrong either way!

How could they not be apprehensive?

Fang Tong, Jiang Wen, and Bingzheng stood behind those officials.

The first two didn’t dare move, seemingly still unable to recover from what Ji Yunshu had said earlier about Du Mubai being murdered.

At the same time, they worried about being pursued by the authorities afterward for falsely accusing Du Mubai of theft.

This was no small crime!

Perhaps… they might have their qualification to take the examination revoked.

Just thinking about it terrified them.

Compared to them, although Bingzheng was also shocked, he still maintained that gloomy and dark appearance on the surface.

Head lowered, no one could see through what he was thinking.

This person was shrouded in an aura of mystery.

And just as everyone had their own thoughts, Ji Yunshu, who had remained silent, tilted her head to glance at Jingrong sitting beside her, leaning slightly closer.

She asked, “What do you think?”

Hearing this, Jingrong’s expression remained unchanged as he gently placed the lid on his teacup.

Then his body also leaned slightly toward Ji Yunshu.

He said, “My thoughts are the same as what you’re thinking.”

“So that Steward Xiao might really be stalling for time.”

“Not might—definitely.”

“Who would he go notify?”

Jingrong smiled slightly, his gaze drifting to Li Cheng, who was still sulking anxiously.

Ji Yunshu seemed to understand.

“The Marquis of Pingyang?”

Jingrong said, “At a time like this, everyone fears getting entangled in trouble. Steward Xiao is no exception. So he needs to find a vine to cling to, lest when matters are investigated later, he won’t fall to his complete destruction.”

Ji Yunshu smiled slightly, “Then it seems this will be quite a show.”

“Two cases merging into one—this is already a major matter. When the case is overturned, perhaps all of Gaoding will be in an uproar. If we wanted to keep a low profile, that’s probably impossible now.” Jingrong’s tone sounded calm, but it was tinged with helplessness and worry.

Ji Yunshu had no solution either. Her gaze darkened, “Since I promised Duke Cheng’s heir to investigate the case, I can only investigate it thoroughly.”

The quiet conversation between the two was entirely overheard by Bai Yin, who stood behind them leaning against a pillar.

With a cold expression on his face, he said loudly, “Originally it was one case, now it’s two cases. Who knows when our own actual business will be delayed to.”

His voice was very loud, as if deliberately spoken for Li Cheng to hear.