The county magistrate stole a glance at Jingrong and saw him holding the tea lid, gently placing it on the teacup. The force in his wrist was neither light nor heavy, and his expression was steady and bland—it was very difficult to tell whether he was displeased or not.

His body trembled twice. The county magistrate hurriedly explained, “Prince Rong, Master Ji has been working quite a lot these past days and is truly rather tired. Yesterday, this lowly official also promised her to let her rest for a day. Perhaps…”

Jingrong interrupted him.

“Perhaps this prince should come again tomorrow?”

To others, these words wouldn’t seem unusual, but the county magistrate heard the “problem” within them. His body gave a violent shudder, and he knelt down again, bowing his head.

“This lowly official absolutely didn’t mean that!”

“Why does a dignified magistrate always have the foul habit of kneeling before people? Does the Great Lin legal code have such a provision?” Jingrong’s brow furrowed tightly.

Lang Bo interjected, “Your Highness, it does not.”

The county magistrate’s face turned rigid and pale.

He was a dignified county magistrate, but you, sir, are an exalted personage!

“Get up. Don’t kneel until you break your legs.”

“Thank… thank you, Prince Rong.”

The county magistrate rose dazedly, bowing at the waist with his head lowered, not daring to look directly.

Jingrong’s eyes narrowed slightly, his thin lips curving upward with an imposing aura as he said, “Magistrate Liu, since that Master Ji is affiliated with the yamen on duty, naturally she should work for the welfare and peace of the common people, is that not right?”

The county magistrate obediently nodded. “Right.”

“Yesterday, one of this prince’s men died tragically in this Jinjiang City. By rights, your yamen should investigate the truth for this prince, is that not right?”

“Right.”

“Then for this prince to ask her to assist you, Magistrate Liu, in solving this murder case for this prince—is that not proper?”

“Proper!”

Jingrong was very satisfied. “Good. I give you the time it takes to drink one cup of tea. Personally bring her here.”

One cup of tea?

This was clearly making things difficult!

The county magistrate didn’t dare refuse. His body shifted backward anxiously. “Yes, yes, yes. This lowly official will go at once.”

After speaking, he clutched his official robe and ran off frantically.

Behind him, Jingrong’s expression turned stern, his thoughts rising with suspicion.

Lang Bo stroked his chin, pondering. “Your Highness, from Magistrate Liu’s meaning, that Master Ji can even paint portraits from skeletal remains. Perhaps… in the cases we’ve been investigating these years, she could lend a hand.”

Jingrong didn’t respond, only pressed his brow tightly, his long narrow eyes holding an enigmatic depth. After a long moment, he asked, “Calculate the days—how long have we been away from the capital?”

“More than half a year.”

“How many county cities have we visited?”

“More than a hundred.”

Jingrong made an “mm” sound. Along with the smile in his eyes, his fingertip lifted the cup lid again.

…

Arriving at the back door of the western wing of the Ji residence, the county magistrate raised his hand and knocked “dong dong dong.” Luan’er hurriedly opened the door, and upon seeing it was the county magistrate, she was startled.

“Quick, quick, quick! Tell Yunshu to go to the yamen with this official. It’s urgent—an extremely urgent matter.”

“Didn’t Miss say she wouldn’t be working today?”

The county magistrate slapped his thigh with an “aiya,” so anxious he was drenched in sweat. He directly pushed open the half-closed door and strode in with large steps.

Reaching the outside of the room, he shouted toward the interior, “Yunshu, this official is begging you! Please go to the yamen. If you don’t go, this official’s black gauze cap will be hard to preserve! Have pity on this official and make the trip!”

An official begging a commoner—what a first!

Inside the room, Ji Yunshu had already gotten up. Upon hearing the county magistrate’s voice, she unhurriedly changed into men’s clothing and tucked her sandalwood box under her arm.

This posture—could it be she was actually heading to the yamen?

Tossing a candied lotus seed into her mouth, Ji Yunshu finally emerged from inside, only to see the county magistrate in a panic, practically ready to kneel before her.

“My lord, what is this?”

There was no time for explanations. The county magistrate stepped forward and grabbed Ji Yunshu.

“Quickly come with this official. Someone at the yamen is looking for you—an important personage. You must go!”

Ji Yunshu was hurriedly pulled along a few steps before she forcibly yanked her wrist back, frowning. “What is my lord doing? Didn’t I tell the bailiff I wouldn’t be working today?”

The county magistrate was puzzled. He looked her up and down—men’s clothing, sandalwood box—if this wasn’t the posture of going to work, what was it?

“Aren’t you going to the yamen with this official?”

Ji Yunshu shook her head. “No.”

“Then where are you going?”

“The Zhou family.”

The county magistrate didn’t understand. “What are you going to the Zhou family for? The Zhou family’s young miss just died and is being buried today. Hurry up and return to the yamen with this official.”

“So the case of the Zhou family’s young miss—we’re not investigating it?” Ji Yunshu asked casually.

What? The Zhou family’s young miss’s murder case?

The county magistrate’s eyes bulged enormously. It was as if someone had scraped down his spine. He asked tremulously, “Didn’t she fall from the building herself and get smashed to death on the rock garden?”

Ji Yunshu gave him a withering look. “In the past when I’ve worked cases, I always submit a case report to you. For the Zhou family case, did I submit one?”

“No.”

“Then when did I ever say the Zhou family’s young miss died from falling herself?”

The county magistrate thought about it and shook his head. “You didn’t.”

How strange! If she didn’t smash to death by herself, could it be she was killed by someone?