“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.

Indeed, Li Cheng did hear it.

He looked over in this direction. He had been sulking anxiously, but after hearing Bai Yin’s words, his face immediately flashed with embarrassment and apology.

He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

But in his heart he was resolute—the person they were looking for, he would do everything in his power to help them find.

Just as the atmosphere grew awkward—

Steward Xiao finally arrived.

In an instant, multiple pairs of eyes inside locked firmly onto him.

Li Cheng sprang to his feet, striding toward him.

“Steward Xiao, I’ve been waiting for you all this time. Still not ready?”

Steward Xiao said, “Duke Cheng’s heir, please remain calm.”

“Remain what calm? What patience? Right now I’m taking people over to the room where Du Mubai committed suicide.”

“I’m anxious too, but this matter is of grave importance. To avoid gossip, there are so many students in the Literary Office—I must explain things clearly.”

Another flurry of excuses came pouring out.

Li Cheng had an impatient temperament to begin with, but now this Steward Xiao had actually worn him down to the point of developing some patience.

He snorted!

Flicked his sleeves.

And said, “Fine, I’ll wait you out. Let’s see who can outlast whom.”

Hmph!

This young master doesn’t believe it.

You can stall me for half an hour, but can you stall me for a whole day?

Steward Xiao glanced toward the doorway, his eyes nearly boring through—still no one had arrived.

So anxious!

Any later, and he truly couldn’t hold back that little tyrant anymore.

…

Unfortunately, Prince Huyi had felt unwell early in the morning, so the Marquis of Pingyang and his son Li Qiao had gone to the palace. The only person in charge at the residence was Li Wenshu.

The person Steward Xiao had sent to notify them was also anxious at not seeing the Marquis of Pingyang.

Right now a group of people were waiting at the Literary Office. If the Marquis of Pingyang didn’t show up, there would likely be a major disturbance.

That person asked the Li residence gatekeeper, “When will the Marquis return?”

The servant shook his head, “Hard to say.”

“Then what should we do?”

“How about I send someone to wait at the palace gate? As soon as the Marquis comes out, we’ll tell him.”

“Too late for that.”

“Then there’s nothing we can do.” The servant spread his hands.

What a coincidence it truly was.

After learning that the poem Du Mubai had written on the fan was for another woman, Li Wenshu had stopped reading. She just sat in her room all day, staring blankly. The night before, seeing his daughter like this, the Marquis of Pingyang had been worried and asked many times, but she wouldn’t say a word.

The Marquis of Pingyang thought that with her wedding day approaching, she was feeling anxious, so he arranged for her to go to the temple today to offer incense and calm her mind.

The maids in the residence had prepared everything and were helping her out the door.

At the entrance, she ran into the person who had come to report.

Although Li Cheng was a tyrant, even tyrants have people they fear. First was his older sister, second was his older brother. So now seeing the Li family’s eldest daughter, that person naturally had to intercept her.

Perhaps this Miss Li could also keep Li Cheng in check.

“Miss Li.”

He called out!

Li Wenshu’s eyes were downcast and her mind elsewhere. She was being helped outside by her maid when she heard the voice.

She stopped at the doorway and looked up at the person before her whom she didn’t recognize.

“You are?”

Before that person could speak, the Li residence servant said, “He’s from the Literary Office, here to find the master. He has something to report.”

“My father has gone to the palace. Come back later.” Li Wenshu told that person.

The carriage to take her to the temple was already waiting outside in the snow.

She prepared to board the carriage and leave.

That person was like someone grasping a last lifeline.

He hastily said, “Miss Li, it’s about Duke Cheng’s heir.”

Acheng?

Li Wenshu’s footsteps halted.

She turned and asked, “Acheng? What happened to him?”

“The young duke brought people from the Capital Administration Department to the Literary Office, saying he wants to investigate the room where Du Mubai committed suicide all those years ago. Steward Xiao ordered me to hurry to the residence and ask the Marquis whether to let the young duke investigate, or if there are other arrangements.”

Du Mubai!

These three words were always sensitive to Li Wenshu.

“You’re saying Acheng is investigating Du Mubai’s matter?” She thought she’d misheard and asked again.

That person said, “The young duke says Du Mubai was murdered, which is why he wants to investigate clearly. But the case was already closed by the Ministry of Justice six years ago. Steward Xiao is worried, which is why he sent me here. But the Marquis isn’t at the residence. Miss Li, could you make the trip and speak with the young duke, so Steward Xiao won’t be put in a difficult position?”

Li Wenshu’s body suddenly trembled.

Her pupils dilated sharply.

What had she heard?

Murdered?

Du Mubai was murdered?

This…

“You’re saying… Du Mubai was murdered?” Her voice trembled.

She couldn’t believe it!

“Whether it was suicide or not isn’t known yet, but the young duke brought a certain master who says that as long as they go to the room where Du Mubai committed suicide, they can prove Du Mubai was murdered.”

“Ah!” Li Wenshu’s chest felt as if a massive stone had suddenly been pressed against it, making it hard for her to breathe.

Her complexion turned terrible.

Seeing this, her maid asked worriedly, “Miss, are you all right?”

She shook her head, looking again at that person, her neck tense, her fists clenched.

She said, “I’ll go with you to the Literary Office now.”

“Good… good!”

Saved!

With Li Wenshu making an appearance, Li Cheng certainly wouldn’t dare cause a scene.

How could he know that Li Wenshu had ulterior motives?

Two cups of tea’s time later.

Li Wenshu arrived at the Literary Office.

Inside the hall, complete silence.

Everyone was waiting it out!

To see who could outlast whom!

When Li Wenshu arrived, everyone stood up one after another.

Jingrong and Ji Yunshu exchanged glances.

How had they not waited for the Marquis of Pingyang, but instead waited for her?

When he saw it was his older sister who had come, Li Cheng was very surprised.

He stood up to greet her.

“Sister, why did you come?”

Li Wenshu seized his hand, her eyes turning red, seeking confirmation from him, “Acheng, is Mu… is Du Mubai really murdered?”

“Sister…”

“Answer me!”

She gripped Li Cheng’s arm tightly.

Her fingernails seemed about to dig through his thick clothing into his skin.

This behavior was completely abnormal.

One could see that Li Wenshu cared deeply about Du Mubai!

Ji Yunshu observed all of this.

She had a bold hypothesis in her mind…

Li Cheng understood Li Wenshu’s feelings, but he couldn’t answer. He could only direct his gaze toward Ji Yunshu.

Ji Yunshu received his look.

She walked over and said to Li Wenshu, “Miss Li, I can tell you with certainty that Du Mubai was indeed murdered.”

“Do you have evidence?”

Ji Yunshu looked toward Steward Xiao, “That depends on whether Steward Xiao will let us investigate.”

So—

Li Wenshu immediately said to Steward Xiao, “You sent someone to notify my father because you wanted to hear his opinion, didn’t you?”

“Miss Li…”

“I’ll decide in my father’s place. Let them investigate! I’ll bear all the consequences.”