The Literary Office.

After Ji Yunshu verified all of this—

Steward Xiao and those officials from the Capital Administration Department were left speechless.

The facts were right before their eyes!

No one could refute them.

But at the same time, it also meant that this case would shake all of Gaoding and implicate many people.

This storm was about to sweep in.

To put it more seriously, quite a few officials who participated in this case back then would very likely lose their positions due to dereliction of duty, or be dismissed from office.

So right now, who knew how many officials were secretly trembling.

Several old officials gathered together, whispering among themselves: “What do you say we should do? Soon Lord Li will go to the Ministry of Justice and submit the evidence. We definitely won’t escape punishment!”

“But what can we do now? We can only leave it to fate!”

“Hopefully the higher-ups will let us participate in continuing to investigate this case and atone for our crimes through merit.”

“Ah… let’s hope!”

…

Each of them felt uneasy and fearful.

As for Ji Yunshu, after she finished speaking with Bingzheng and watched those three being taken away, she said to Li Cheng, “I’ll first write a detailed case report. Duke Cheng’s heir, you just take it to the Ministry of Justice and submit it.”

He naturally couldn’t ask for more!

“Good, that’s excellent.”

Ji Yunshu had someone bring writing materials and began writing directly in that room where the incident occurred.

Everyone waited outside.

The heavy snow grew heavier and heavier.

Li Cheng stood under the eaves with a grave expression, his mood as if pressed down by a massive stone.

Heavy!

Unable to breathe!

Jingrong, standing not far away, glanced at him, then looked into the distance and said coldly, “It seems Duke Cheng’s heir and Du Mubai must have had a very good relationship.”

Hearing this, Li Cheng looked over at him.

After a moment of silence, he said, “He was a retainer at my residence. Of course we weren’t strangers.”

“Is that so?” These two words from Jingrong contained meaning that was hard to fathom.

Li Cheng felt somewhat panicked hearing this.

Just as he was about to explain—

Jingrong interrupted him, “I’m just mentioning it, no other meaning.”

“I…”

“As long as it doesn’t involve the case, whether Duke Cheng’s heir speaks or keeps it hidden doesn’t matter.”

Li Cheng swallowed all his words back down.

Jingrong truly had no intention of forcing him to speak.

Say it or don’t, it doesn’t matter!

Just then, Ji Yunshu finished writing the case report and came out with it.

She handed it to Li Cheng.

“What’s written on this?” Li Cheng was curious and opened it to look.

The handwriting was clean and quite elegant.

The content written was very fluent, each sentence hitting the crucial points.

Without ten years of experience, one couldn’t write such a fine case report.

“Master Ji, have you written this kind of appeal case report before?”

Ji Yunshu replied lightly, “No.”

Clearly a lie.

She had not only written them before—when serving as Regional Inspector of Prisons, she could see dozens of appeal case reports submitted from various places almost every day.

Li Cheng said, “You write so well. I don’t think those old men at the Ministry of Justice will have any reason not to open the case for reversal.”

“I hope it helps.”

“Definitely.”

“Then you’d better go quickly.”

Li Cheng nodded and left with the case report.

Those officials also left one by one.

Ji Yunshu, Jingrong, and Bai Yin left afterward.

The three walked holding umbrellas.

Though it was snowing, there was no wind.

Ji Yunshu glanced at Jingrong and asked, “Don’t you think that Miss Li is a bit strange?”

Jingrong’s deep eyes lifted slightly, “Indeed somewhat strange.”

“She cares deeply about Du Mubai!”

“More than just cares—she likes him is more like it.” Jingrong directly drew this conclusion.

Ji Yunshu wasn’t surprised.

Because she had guessed it too.

But Bai Yin, this six-foot-three burly man, didn’t understand.

He asked, “Where did you see that delicate young miss likes Du Mubai? I see her temperament is cold—she doesn’t seem like someone who would invest feelings.”

Pfft—

Delicate.

Cold temperament.

Buddy, you’re really something.

At this, Jingrong and Ji Yunshu smiled at each other.

“Brother, when you meet a woman who can make you give your true heart, you won’t say that anymore.”

But Bai Yin looked disdainful, “I’m still used to being alone.”

“So you’re not going to find me a sister-in-law?”

“That depends on whether I can meet a woman as clever as you, Yunshu.”

He listed Yunshu as his model!

As the standard for finding himself a wife.

If he couldn’t find someone as clever as his sister, he’d rather grow old alone.

But Ji Yunshu said, “There are plenty of women in this world cleverer than me. I’m just afraid when the time comes you won’t be able to choose.”

Bai Yin looked at Jingrong and smiled, “But in a certain someone’s eyes, you’re the cleverest.”

That certain someone glanced at him, very satisfied with these words.

Little brother-in-law, when we get back, I’ll reward you with candy!

The three chatted like this all the way back to the residence.

On the other side—

Because Li Wenshu couldn’t accept the fact that Du Mubai was murdered, she could no longer bear it.

She was helped away from the Literary Office by her maid and boarded the carriage.

On the road—

The maid looked at her with heartache.

Wanting to speak but stopping, not knowing what to say.

Back then, the maid also knew about the matter between Du Mubai and her young miss.

Six years ago, upon learning of Du Mubai’s suicide, Li Wenshu had been ill for a full six months.

During those six months, she was completely confused and muddled.

The Marquis of Pingyang had invited many physicians and prescribed much medicine, but it was all to no avail.

Finally they said it was a heart ailment!

But no matter how the Marquis of Pingyang asked, Li Wenshu refused to say anything. And her hidden feelings were only known to the maid by her side, Li Cheng, and Gong Shilin who grew up with her, but they all kept silent—no one spoke.

Until six months later, Li Wenshu suddenly recovered.

But from then on, she never mentioned Du Mubai’s name again.

As if that person had never appeared. Even when Li Cheng would mention it sometimes, Li Wenshu always appeared very indifferent.

Six years later, when she heard about Du Mubai again, it was actually the news that he was murdered.

That feeling simply couldn’t be expressed in words!

Before long, they returned all the way to the Li residence. The carriage stopped at the entrance. The maid carefully helped Li Wenshu down.

Her complexion was haggard, completely lifeless, her gaze unfocused.

Her footsteps moved forward involuntarily.

When she reached the entrance, a servant from the residence came forward and said, “Eldest miss, the master is waiting for you in the hall. He wants you to come.”

Li Wenshu seemed not to hear and continued walking.

The servant quickly followed and said again, “Eldest miss, the master is waiting for you in the hall. He says he has something to ask you.”

“…” She still had no reaction.

The maid beside her spoke up to remind her, “Miss, the master is looking for you.”

Li Wenshu seemed to awaken, her eyes gradually gaining focus.

“What did you say?”

“The master is waiting for you in the great hall.”

“Father has returned?”

“Yes.”

She looked toward the direction of the great hall.

Her previously haggard expression gradually gained a bit of spirit.

Because she couldn’t let the Marquis of Pingyang see through her thoughts!