If Ji Yunshu’s speculation was correct.

Then back then, the murderer had used the method of donating books to transport the unconscious Du Mubai into the Literary Hall.

The murderer must have been very clear that the books moved to the Literary Hall at night would not be immediately distributed to those scholars, but would have to wait until the next day, so no one would open the boxes that night.

After calculating this point, the murderer disguised himself as Du Mubai and entered through the main gate, making people mistakenly believe that Du Mubai was still alive at that time.

Then, without anyone knowing, he moved the real Du Mubai out of the box.

Creating the false appearance of hanging!

The entire series of plans was flawless.

If not for unraveling thread by thread during this process, investigating from the door nails to the pavilion, and then to that grove of trees, who would have thought of this point?

When Ji Yunshu said this might be how the murderer transported Du Mubai inside, Li Cheng completely agreed.

However—

He said worriedly: “But we don’t know who donated books back then, so how can we continue investigating further?”

The Literary Hall had no records of these matters.

Moreover, every year at that time, many wealthy young masters and some literary scholars would donate books—there were simply too many. To investigate them one by one might not yield any results.

So, the clue seemed to have reached a dead end here again!

The case had once again fallen into a vicious cycle.

Xiao Heguan also understood something from Ji Yunshu’s words.

So back then, what was carried into the Literary Hall that night wasn’t a box of books, but a living person!

Just thinking about it made his back crawl.

He shrank back his feet, standing aside just watching.

Better not to speak out of turn.

Lest he say something wrong.

After all, this case had now been completely handed over to the City Bureau, and that willful Lord Li of the City Bureau had handed the case over to a Mr. Ji who came from who knows where—it had nothing to do with him, Xiao Heguan, anymore.

Choosing to keep quiet was the best approach!

As everyone fell silent, Jingrong suddenly paced slowly to the doorway.

His hands clasped behind his back.

His gaze looking at the heavy snowfall in the courtyard.

After pondering for a long while, he finally spoke: “Back then, Du Mubai was falsely accused of plagiarizing poetry, and because of this, his qualification as a student of the Marquis of Pingyang was revoked, so at that time, he must have been at his wit’s end! But for someone who regarded his own future as very important, he definitely wouldn’t have given up willingly. Since he wouldn’t give up willingly, he would have tried every means to find another path. But at that time, besides the Marquis of Pingyang, who else could have helped him rise to prominence in one leap?”

His voice was neither light nor heavy!

He threw out a question.

But it was still heard by those in the room.

These words also reminded Ji Yunshu.

Her eyes brightened as she walked toward Jingrong, saying as she went: “That’s right, if Du Mubai’s personality was truly as we’ve determined, then even if he was framed for plagiarizing poetry, he definitely wouldn’t have given up willingly! He would have tried every means to find the next person who could help him.”

Jingrong turned back and asked her: “So, who did you think of?”

Ji Yunshu shook her head: “I can only temporarily confirm that the person he went to meet in the pavilion that day must have been someone he believed could help him! And someone who could help him in the examinations and in official circles must have had a considerable status. However, according to what everyone says, Du Mubai was quite aloof. Apart from a few roommates, he was only close to the Marquis of Pingyang’s household! He didn’t know any other people at all! Much less anyone who could help him in official circles.”

It was somewhat contradictory.

After hearing her and Jingrong’s words, Li Cheng’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

For some reason, Gong Shilin involuntarily popped into his mind.

Because back then, the reason Du Mubai could enter the Marquis of Pingyang’s household as a student was entirely due to Gong Shilin’s recommendation.

So, if there was anyone besides the Marquis of Pingyang’s household who could help Du Mubai, it would only be Gong Shilin!

But…

Li Cheng didn’t dare think further.

He also couldn’t believe that the person Du Mubai went to meet that day was Gong Shilin.

Although Gong Shilin was his rival, when it came to a murder case, he couldn’t make casual determinations.

He also couldn’t believe that the gentle and delicate Young Master Gong would go kill someone.

What benefit would there be in that?

So, it was impossible!

It absolutely couldn’t be!

Li Cheng shook his head.

But in the end, he didn’t mention Gong Shilin’s name.

Over there, Jingrong said: “If someone privately associated with anyone, not everyone would necessarily know about it. Perhaps Du Mubai had some matters we don’t know about.”

Ji Yunshu: “Who would know best?”

Jingrong: “Those three people who shared a room with him!”

At this moment, they had direction again.

Fortunately, Li Cheng had prepared in advance and had caught Fang Tong and Jiang Wen, who were planning to leave Gaoding, and brought them back. They were now locked in prison. So if they went to ask them, they might be able to learn something about Du Mubai’s other social circles.

They decided to go to the prison to find Fang Tong and Jiang Wen and get to the bottom of things.

But Li Cheng had other plans.

“You go first, I’ll come later.”

“Where are you going?”

“A small matter, very quick.” He was unwilling to explain.

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong didn’t ask further.

They split up to act separately.

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong took Lang Bo and Bai Yin to the City Bureau’s prison.

Li Cheng went to the Gong residence.

…

At this time in the Hanlin Academy.

Gong Shilin had arrived early. Whenever he had free time, he would read some notes left from previous dynasties, but today he had only read halfway when he put them down.

Then he spread a sheet of yellow official paper on the desk!

He picked up his brush and wrote a written decree on it!

After the ink dried, he rolled it up and went to find Lord Zheng, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy.

Lord Zheng was practicing calligraphy.

After all, having come from the literary track, he naturally wrote excellent characters.

Moreover, when he had nothing else to do, he always liked to write couplets, and after writing them, he would send them to people everywhere!

His vanity was known to all.

Gong Shilin stood at the doorway and knocked on the door.

Lord Zheng, however, didn’t even lift his head, only saying: “Come in.”

Gong Shilin stepped inside.

He stood beside the desk where he was writing!

For a long time, he didn’t make a sound.

Nor did he disturb him.

He just quietly waited for Lord Zheng to finish writing the last character.

After a long while, it was finally finished.

Lord Zheng lifted his brush, looking down to admire his own masterpiece.

Very satisfied, he nodded.

Only then did he put down his brush.

He glanced at Gong Shilin and asked: “Shilin, do you have something?”

Gong Shilin didn’t like beating around the bush. He directly handed over the written decree he had prepared and said: “Lord Zheng, I have some materials that require a trip to the Ministry of Revenue. I trouble you to stamp it.”

“Oh, I thought it was something important! It’s just this small matter!”

For the Hanlin Academy to issue a written decree was a small matter in itself.

There was no need to request instructions from Prince Huyi at all.

Lord Zheng took the written decree and squinted his eyes to look at it.

It was no different from the written decrees usually brought before him.

Moreover, it was written even better than usual, with neat handwriting and very clear explanations!

It was written by a scholar. Therefore, Lord Zheng had no suspicions.