The two privy stalls here were specifically for customer use, so all six were tavern patrons. One of them even recognized Minister Shen and Cheng Maoming, respectfully greeting them as soon as he arrived.

This man’s identity was a minor chief clerk from the Ministry of Finance, surnamed Wang.

“Would the four of you describe when you went to the privy?” Minister Shen said with a serious expression.

“This commoner went around noon. I entered the left stall…”

“This commoner went about two-quarters past the hour of the Horse. I also entered the left stall…”

“This commoner went shortly after entering Five Flavors Hall. That was just past the beginning of the hour of the Horse. I entered the left stall…”

Only Chief Clerk Wang from the Ministry of Finance was somewhat different: “This humble official went at noon. I entered the right stall because when I went to the privy, I happened to see someone walking toward the left stall.”

“Which one did you see?” Cheng Maoming asked, pointing at the three who had used the privy.

Chief Clerk Wang carefully examined all three, his expression growing increasingly hesitant. “It seems to be none of them…”

“Are you certain?” Cheng Maoming’s tone became even more serious.

Chief Clerk Wang nodded. “Though this humble official only saw that person’s back, his bearing was upright and slender, giving the impression of youth—completely different from these three.”

Of the three tavern patrons who had used the privy, one was short and plump, one was burly, and only one was slender but his hair was already graying—he couldn’t possibly be associated with youth.

“Could there be patrons who used the privy but have already left?” Minister Shen asked.

This time it was Qi Shuo who spoke: “Five Flavors Hall is a high-class establishment. Those who come here to dine generally don’t just eat a few bites. At this time, it shouldn’t be time for people to finish their meal and leave yet. Even if there were such cases, there should be very few. The tavern servers might remember.”

Indeed, when they asked the servers in the main hall, from when business began at the start of the hour of the Horse until the Crown Prince’s incident at the end of that hour, only two tables of guests had left.

The tavern’s high-end nature meant that customers were often repeat patrons. For these two tables that had finished and left during this time period, the servers could even identify who they were.

“Find these people immediately,” Cheng Maoming ordered.

“And when did you two go?” While waiting for people, Minister Shen asked the remaining two.

“This commoner didn’t pay attention to the time, but it was definitely past noon. I found both privy stalls occupied, so I returned to the main hall.”

The other gave a precise time: “This commoner saw the wooden plaques on the privy doors indicating they were occupied. After returning to the main hall, I casually asked a server the time. The server said it was exactly three-quarters past noon.”

This statement was immediately confirmed by a server: “When the honored guest asked this humble one the time, I specifically looked at the water clock. It was indeed three-quarters past noon.”

Cheng Maoming looked at Yang Zhe and Han Baocheng. “When you went to the privy together, did you pay attention to the time?”

Both shook their heads.

Cheng Maoming then had his subordinates summon Zhang Liangyu and the other two, along with the Eastern Palace guards, to inquire. One of the guards gave the time: “When Scholar Yang and Graduate Han left, this humble servant noted the time. It was exactly one-quarter past noon.”

By now, the situation had become clearer. After Chief Clerk Wang saw someone enter, the left stall continuously showed as occupied—that was at noon. The right stall showed as occupied from when Yang Zhe and Han Baocheng went there until the Crown Prince’s incident.

But this still couldn’t determine whether Yang Zhe had lied.

If he hadn’t lied, the culprit had used the time while Yang Zhe was unconscious to poison the Crown Prince, then calmly escaped using the excuse of a second trip to the privy. He had likely already fled in the chaos.

If he had lied, as long as he didn’t turn the plaque when leaving the privy the first time, he could ensure the stall appeared occupied. After poisoning, he could completely return to the privy before the Crown Prince’s poison took effect and use a self-inflicted injury scheme to fabricate a “culprit.”

With a master of disguise still at large, Cheng Maoming’s mental scales had actually long tilted toward there being another true culprit. But matters concerning the Crown Prince could not be treated lightly—without conclusive evidence, he couldn’t make arbitrary conclusions.

This was truly giving him a headache.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and instinctively looked at Qi Shuo.

The young man’s eyes were calm, lost in thought about something.

“Commander, we’ve brought them all.”

The tavern patrons brought back by the Jinlin Guard numbered five in total. They were all bewildered and nervous.

“Did all five of you dine at Five Flavors Hall at noon today?”

Cheng Maoming’s question made the five even more nervous. They hesitantly nodded.

“You needn’t be afraid. As long as you answer the questions truthfully, you’ll be able to leave soon,” Minister Shen said reassuringly.

Of course they couldn’t actually leave—first, they needed to keep them calm.

“Did any of you go to the privy?”

The five nervous people couldn’t help but freeze at this question.

Cheng Maoming’s face darkened. “What, is this question difficult to answer?”

The five were frightened and hastily shook their heads. “Didn’t go.”

“None of you went?” Cheng Maoming frowned. “Someone saw you. If you’re identified later, this won’t just be questioning here.”

This threat made the five shake their heads even more vigorously.

“This commoner truly didn’t go. No matter how good this tavern’s privy is, it’s not as convenient as at home. When out and about, this commoner avoids going if at all possible.”

This statement prompted the others to nod in agreement.

Unless absolutely necessary when out, who wanted to use a public privy?

Three of the five were from one table, the other two from another. The likelihood of them lying wasn’t great.

Cheng Maoming had the five turn around and asked Chief Clerk Wang to identify them.

Chief Clerk Wang looked from the first to the last, then slowly shook his head.

Minister Shen pointed at one of them. “This person’s back appears slender and tall. How can you say at a glance it’s not him?”

Chief Clerk Wang looked troubled. “I just feel it’s different from my impression—”

“Wait!” Cheng Maoming suddenly interrupted, pulling Yang Zhe over. “Chief Clerk Wang, take another look.”

Chief Clerk Wang’s gaze fell on Yang Zhe’s back, and his eyes suddenly tightened. “It’s him!”

His eyes widened as he pointed at Yang Zhe, his tone growing more certain. “It’s him!”

The scene suddenly fell silent.

Cheng Maoming’s gaze was intense as he stared at Chief Clerk Wang. “When did Chief Clerk Wang go to the privy?”

“At noon.” Chief Clerk Wang had already answered this question earlier.

Han Baocheng and the others’ expressions changed.

“The guard just said that when Yang Zhe and I went to the privy together, it was one-quarter past noon!”

The other three confirmed: “That’s right. Before that, we were all drinking together. No one left.”

When Chief Clerk Wang went to the privy at noon, he saw someone resembling Yang Zhe. But at that time, Yang Zhe was drinking with them. This proved there truly was someone disguised as Yang Zhe, and that person was definitely the true culprit who killed the Crown Prince!

This discovery excited Han Baocheng and the others.

Having been friends for so long, they understood Yang Zhe and deep down didn’t believe he would harm the Crown Prince.

Cheng Maoming also gained confidence from this discovery and immediately questioned the tavern manager and servers: “Between two-quarters past noon and the end of the hour of the Horse, did you notice anyone with a build similar to Scholar Yang’s leaving?”

“Besides those two tables of guests, no one settled their bill and left.”

This answer made Cheng Maoming frown deeply.