After hearing Wen Che’s analysis, Wen Yu felt as if someone had enlightened him, and he suddenly understood.

He hadn’t expected there to be such profound implications in this. Earlier, he had only been worried that Luoyang’s words would offend Minister Li, but had overlooked the more crucial matters within.

“Big Brother, your thinking is still more thorough.”

With this being the case, they actually hoped that Li Shiyan was indeed the murderer!

This way, they could indirectly suppress the Su family’s position in the court.

For the Wen family, this would be obtaining a benefit without lifting a finger. Perhaps they could even forge an alliance with the Minister of Works afterward.

…

At this moment, the elite officers from the Court of Judicial Review had already gone to the artificial rock formation by the west wing according to the location Luoyang had mentioned. However, the rock formation area was too extensive, so the officers had to spread out and search, approaching the center from all four corners.

In less than a moment—

“There’s a smell of blood!” Someone suddenly shouted.

Several people followed the bloody scent to a low cave within the rock formation, and sure enough, they discovered a pool of blood inside.

“There really is blood here!”

Moreover, they found something in the pool of blood.

One elite officer used white cloth to retrieve the item and immediately returned to report, “My lord, we indeed found a pool of blood behind the rock formation, and moreover…”

Chief Justice Huang asked, “What?”

The person presented the item. It was a blood-stained jade pendant—a round piece of Baitian jade, pure white in color, with an exquisitely carved lion’s head on it. The officer said, “This was found in that pool of blood.”

Chief Justice Huang’s eyes suddenly widened in shock.

Because everyone knew whose jade pendant that was.

A piece of Baitian jade carved with a lion’s head—there was only one in Qujiang, and it belonged to the heir apparent of Marquis Kangding.

Jiang Bin’s eyes lit up as he declared, “This jade pendant belongs to the heir apparent! It appears the heir apparent accidentally dropped his jade pendant while killing the victim.”

Now, everyone was even more firmly convinced that Li Shiyan had killed the man.

Chief Justice Huang was the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Everything required both witness testimony and physical evidence. Now they had an eyewitness account and physical evidence as well—everything pointed to Li Shiyan. He could immediately order an arrest, but—

He glanced considerately at Minister Li, because no matter what, Li Shiyan was Minister Li’s nephew.

Minister Li’s expression was extremely unpleasant. He slowly rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on that jade pendant in shock.

He couldn’t believe it!

This matter was truly connected to his own nephew.

After a long pause, he finally spoke with righteous resolve, “Magistrate Huang, since this case involves Shiyan, it’s inappropriate for me to interfere. I leave everything to you.”

Chief Justice Huang clasped his hands, “Yes, this student will certainly do his utmost to investigate this case thoroughly.”

Thus, Chief Justice Huang immediately dispatched people to expand the search radius, searching the vicinity of the estate. They absolutely had to speed up the search for Li Shiyan.

Meanwhile, those who had come to the estate to offer birthday congratulations all returned to their own rooms to await news, because Chief Justice Huang had stipulated that no one was permitted to leave the estate, so they couldn’t move about freely.

Originally, Luoyang had wanted to go find Ji Yunshu, but elite officers from the Court of Judicial Review were guarding outside every courtyard. Going out at this time would likely invite suspicion, so he had no choice but to abandon this idea.

In her room, Zhu Yao nervously paced back and forth, her hands clasped together, her palms completely covered in sweat.

Cai’er said, “Miss, please don’t worry too much. I’m sure this has nothing to do with the heir apparent.”

Tears welled up in Zhu Yao’s eyes. Her heart was incredibly anxious as she said, “But right now there’s both witness testimony and physical evidence. Everything is against him, and we don’t even know where he is now. I’m truly so worried!” She grabbed Cai’er’s hand and said, “Cai’er, Shiyan definitely didn’t kill anyone, right? Although he had a conflict with that Young Master Wang, I don’t believe he would kill someone. He definitely wouldn’t.”

“Of course not, Miss. You must believe in the heir apparent.”

Zhu Yao tried her best to calm herself down. “Right, I must believe in him. I absolutely must believe in him. Even if everyone suspects him, I will definitely believe in him.” As she spoke, tears were already streaming down her face. Then she quickly walked to the window, pressed her palms together, and prayed, “Bodhisattva, please protect Shiyan and keep him safe. As long as he’s safe, I’m willing to do anything—even if it shortens my lifespan or costs me my life, I would be willing.”

Cai’er said, “Miss… why must you…”

She didn’t finish her words.

Afterward, Zhu Yao thought of something else and quickly said to Cai’er, “Oh right, hurry and send someone down the mountain to notify the Marquis.”

Cai’er told her, “Miss, rest assured. Minister Li has already sent someone down the mountain to notify the Marquis. I’m sure he’ll arrive soon. I think the Master will also worry about you, Miss, so he should come along as well.”

“That’s good!” She nodded and continued praying.

…

The elite officers from the Court of Judicial Review and the servants from the estate searched all the way until evening, but Misty Peak was too vast. Searching like this, who knew when they would find him?

Marquis Kangding’s Manor.

News from Ning’an Estate quickly reached the manor.

Recently, because of the matter concerning Prince Jing’an, those important officials at court had been constantly busy, and the Marquis had also been running in and out of the palace day and night, exhausted both physically and mentally.

At this moment, he had just come out from the palace and had barely set foot in the manor.

“My lord, something terrible has happened!” A servant shouted at the top of his lungs and rushed frantically before him.

The Marquis’s expression changed. “What are you shouting about?”

“The heir apparent, he… he…”

Shiyan?

When the Marquis heard something concerning his son, his expression suddenly hardened as he asked, “What happened to Shiyan?”

The servant trembled all over, stammering, “The heir apparent, he… may have killed someone!”

“What?”

“This servant doesn’t know the specifics. The Grand Master sent someone to report. Today was supposed to be the Grand Master’s birthday celebration, but a murder occurred at the estate. Wang Huai, the nephew of the Minister of Works, is dead. People from the Court of Judicial Review have already been mobilized. They say after a round of questioning and investigation, all the evidence points to the heir apparent!”

Ugh!

The Marquis’s chest shook, and his body trembled violently. His steps staggered backward several paces. Fortunately, the servant immediately steadied him. He urgently asked, “Then… then where is Shiyan?”

The servant said with a bitter expression, “Right now the heir apparent’s whereabouts are unknown, but people at the estate say he hasn’t crossed the great suspension bridge of Misty Peak, so he must still be in the vicinity of the estate. They’ve already mobilized people to search everywhere. My lord, what should we do?”

The Marquis forced himself to remain calm and rational. He immediately ordered, “Prepare horses immediately for Ning’an Estate, and also send someone to notify Minister Zhu!”

“Yes!”

Soon, the Marquis and Minister Zhu rushed together toward Ning’an Estate.

Meanwhile, Wang Zong, the Minister of Works, was also on his way to Ning’an Estate.

…

Night.

People were everywhere throughout the estate. Everyone held a lamp in their hands. Both the estate and the woods outside were ablaze with light.

Ji Yunshu saw that it was already dark outside. She said to Jingrong, “Now that a murder has occurred at the estate and everything is in chaos, we can take this opportunity to leave without anyone noticing.”

She had already packed her things and was just waiting for darkness to fall before departing.

However, Jingrong’s expression was grave. Though his face appeared calm, he was full of thoughts. He looked at her and said, “Miss Ji…”

Before he could finish speaking, Ji Yunshu grasped his hand and said, “Things have come to this point—are you still going to refuse me?”

No matter what, she had to leave this place together with him!

However—

Jingrong ultimately still spoke up, telling her seriously and solemnly, “I still have matters I must attend to. It’s impossible for me to leave with you.”

“I don’t care what matters you have. I absolutely must take you back to Dalin.”

“I’m a person of Qujiang!”

“You’re not!” Ji Yunshu’s nose tingled with emotion, and her eyes were resolute as she told him, “Once you return to Dalin with me, I’ll tell you everything—your identity, everything about you!”

Jingrong tried to push her away, but her hands refused to loosen even an inch. “Miss Ji…”

“I know you care about me. Otherwise, you would have already killed me today. I also know you have feelings for me in your heart. Whether you remember or not, you have me in your heart. Please stop deceiving yourself, all right? Let’s leave this place. Don’t worry about anything anymore, all right?”

Her tone carried pleading.

Jingrong looked at her, looked at the tears in her eyes. He truly didn’t want to make her suffer or feel heartbroken.

So at this moment, he fell silent.

Ji Yunshu took this as his agreement and grasped his hand. “Let’s go!”

She was about to pull him toward the door.

But Jingrong suddenly said, “Miss Ji, I’m sorry.”

Hmm?

Ji Yunshu’s body froze. Before she could turn her head, a sharp pain came from her neck.

She immediately fainted. The bundle in her hand fell to the ground, and her body went limp.

Jingrong immediately caught her slender form…