The two corpses were carried out of Yi Zhuang, and Ji Yinshu returned to the prison cell.

Jingrong quickly sent Lord Wei and Lady Wei’s bodies back to the Wei estate’s mourning hall.

After those guards carefully placed the bodies back into the coffins, they concealed themselves among the ceiling beams once more, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

It was as if none of this had ever happened.

Wei Yi lay beside the coffin, crying softly again, repeatedly using his long sleeves to wipe his tears, not wanting to let them fall.

Watching him like this, Jingrong felt truly heartbroken.

He turned to Lang Bo and said, “Pass along this prince’s order—inform everyone in the Wei estate, especially the Wei family’s head steward Wei Fu, that they are forbidden from mentioning the poisoning death of his parents in front of Wei Yi. They absolutely cannot mention anything about Miss Ji either. Let him arrange his parents’ funeral with peace of mind. During this period, you don’t need to stay by this prince’s side—just take good care of Wei Yi.”

Lang Bo bowed. “Yes, this subordinate receives the order.”

Jingrong once again placed his gaze on Wei Yi, walked over, and said, “Wei Yi, didn’t you say your mother wouldn’t want to see you cry? So you can’t cry anymore. Let them depart with peace of mind.”

Wei Yi cried with convulsive sobs, sniffled, then turned to look at him. “Big brother, didn’t you say you could save Shu’er?”

“She’s already safe. You don’t need to worry about her.”

“Shu’er is really safe now?” Wei Yi’s eyes widened.

Jingrong nodded. “Yes, so for the next few days, just stay properly at the estate and arrange your parents’ funeral affairs.”

He nodded very forcefully, then clutched the mourning clothes he wore and knelt before the mourning hall.

Wiping away his tears, he looked at the two coffins and said, “Father, Mother, Yi’er won’t cry anymore. Yi’er promises you both that I’ll definitely be obedient. Don’t worry about me—I’ll take good care of myself too.”

Those several candle flames trembled slightly in the breeze, their wicks flickering!

Jingrong on the side seemed to think of something and ordered Lang Bo to remain in the mourning hall while he himself quietly withdrew.

He went to that room in the side hall.

After all, this was where Lord Wei and Lady Wei had met with misfortune. Moreover, the county magistrate had ordered the place sealed, so no one from the Wei estate had entered.

Pushing open the door, Jingrong went inside.

A strong smell of blood assaulted his nostrils!

He lit a candle and carefully observed the room.

The chairs and table on both sides were toppled over—likely knocked down by the Wei family members when they carried out the bodies. On the floor was a patch of dried blood that hadn’t been cleaned, very conspicuous.

On the main table sat a teapot and two teacups!

The tea water inside was black because it had been tested for poison!

Everything remained exactly as it was—no one had touched anything!

He brought the candlelight close to those two teacups and examined them carefully for a while.

He thought to himself that according to what Ji Yinshu had said after examining the bodies, the poison in these teacups should have been transferred from their lips.

That poison should also have been slipped into the wine during last night’s banquet by someone.

Just as he was thinking of leaving the room to find someone from the Wei estate to question them thoroughly—to ask whether anyone had tampered with those wines last night—

The candle was just about to be moved away when his gaze suddenly caught sight of a tiny wood shaving inside one of the teacups, stuck to a spot just below the rim.

If one didn’t look very carefully, it would be completely unnoticed.

Perhaps it was because Jingrong had watched Ji Yinshu handle cases during this time that he too had become somewhat sensitive.

So he took out a handkerchief from his waist, wrapped it around his index finger, reached into the teacup opening, picked out that tiny wood shaving, then carefully wrapped it up and put it away.

Extinguishing the candlelight, he left the side hall!

Afterward, he made a trip to the Wei estate’s kitchen.

The kitchen was still in complete disarray—presumably after last night’s banquet, when Lord Wei and Lady Wei died, there had been no time to clean these things up.

Several servants were bustling about inside. Seeing an unfamiliar face enter, they asked, “Who are you?”

“An old friend of Lord Wei.”

Once again, the phrase “old friend”!

But it remained effective, deflecting those servants once more.

Fortunately Wei Fu wasn’t there—after all, in today’s court session, he knew Jingrong was a prince.

“Are these all the utensils from your master’s banquet last night?” Jingrong asked.

One servant answered, “Yes, we never had time to clean them.”

He said nothing more and looked over that pile of utensils, pondering deeply for a moment before asking again, “Who was in charge of the wine for yesterday’s banquet? And where did those wines come from?”

“This… those wines were all from the estate, poured pot by pot and then sent over.”

“Then where are the utensils your master and mistress used yesterday?”

One of the servants pointed. “Over here.”

Jingrong looked over—about ten sets of utensils were neatly arranged, but they had already been washed completely clean!

That servant explained, “The master instructed beforehand that those attending the banquet were all honored guests, so the utensils were all arranged set by set.” He pointed to one set. “This set belonged to the master and mistress.”

On that set of utensils were two pairs of chopsticks, a wine pot and two wine cups, plus two sets of exquisite bowls and plates.

Dining utensils from wealthy households were naturally this luxurious and substantial!

He murmured softly, “They’ve all been washed clean already—can anything still be tested?”

Never mind. Jingrong picked up that wine pot and the two wine cups, saying as he did, “Borrowing these for a bit.”

Before those servants could react, he had already “fled the scene”!

Originally, he should have brought these things he’d found to Ji Yinshu that very evening, but thinking it over, it was already late—better to let her rest for the night and go tomorrow.

He truly hoped that what he’d found would be useful to Ji Yinshu!

At that moment, in the prison cell.

Whether or not Jingrong had secretly slipped some silver, Ji Yinshu had been moved to a different cell, similar to the one Madam Jiang had occupied before, with a bed and bedding, tables, chairs, and benches.

There were even two warming braziers!

She’d only been inside for a short while when she heard sounds from outside—hurried footsteps approaching her cell from far to near!

Luan’er carried a simple square food box and held a blue-amber colored cloak. When she saw that the cell’s furnishings were relatively acceptable, her worried heart settled a little!

But she still looked at her young lady with tearful eyes.

When the jailer opened the cell door, Luan’er quickly slipped inside.

Setting her things on the table, she pulled Ji Yinshu close, saying with heartache, “Miss, you’ve suffered.”

Her words choked with emotion!

“Luan’er? How did you get here?”

“This servant has been kneeling in the estate begging the master to save you, Miss. The master has now gone to the yamen to find Magistrate Liu. Miss, you’ll definitely be alright.”

Luan’er’s tone was slightly forceful, also trying hard to make herself believe these words!

However, Ji Yinshu sneered coldly. “Luan’er, don’t be foolish. At this time, Father and Grandmother couldn’t possibly save me.”

“That’s not true. The master will definitely be able to save you, Miss. You didn’t kill anyone, so you’ll definitely be fine.”

Looking at those eyes filled with tears, Ji Yinshu couldn’t bear to destroy that little unrealistic hope in her heart.

So instead…

“Alright, alright, don’t worry about me anymore. I’ll take care of myself.”

“Mm.” Luan’er pressed her lips together and nodded forcefully!

Then she shook open the cloak she’d brought and draped it over Ji Yinshu, then opened the square food box—inside were several plates of pastries.

All were things Ji Yinshu loved to eat!

“Miss, it’s so cold here, your body definitely can’t bear it. Also, this servant made some things you usually love to eat—please eat at least a little.”

“Enough, stop fussing. I’ll take care of myself. Don’t worry.”

Ji Yinshu grasped her busy hands.

Urgently, she said, “Don’t stay here anymore. If something happens to me, I don’t want to implicate you as well.”

“Miss…”

“I’m not trying to scare you. To be honest, I don’t have complete confidence either. Moreover, I’m now in prison—handling matters is inconvenient. Luan’er, listen to me. If something truly unfortunate happens to me, take the silver I left you and leave the Ji family. Understand?”

She spoke each word while looking into Luan’er’s eyes.

Afraid this girl wouldn’t listen!

Luan’er, tears streaming, shook her head with a look of resistance as if facing a final farewell!

Ji Yinshu gripped her hands even tighter.

She said, “You must listen to my words.”

“Miss, Luan’er doesn’t want to leave you. The master and old mistress will definitely think of a way to save you.”

“Luan’er, in any case, you must listen to my words.”

“Miss, you’ll definitely be fine.”

This foolish girl’s innocence was truly rare!

Ji Yinshu reached out to wipe away her tears, then in the next moment grasped her wrist and pushed forcefully.

Her expression resolute: “Go back quickly, and promise me—don’t get involved in this matter.”

“Miss, please let this servant do something for you.”

Luan’er took a small step toward her. Ji Yinshu retreated a small step back.

“Are you not even listening to me anymore?” she asked sternly.

“It’s not that.” Quick to shake her head. “Luan’er promises Miss. Luan’er will listen to Miss.”

“Then leave quickly.”

Luan’er was naturally extremely unwilling, but still wrinkled her sour nose, nodding with convulsive sobs.

Biting her lip, she paced two steps in place. Seeing her young lady’s resolute attitude, she could only leave with three backward glances for every step forward.

After Luan’er left, Ji Yinshu’s tightly controlled resolute expression slowly relaxed, her eyes gradually reddening.

If something truly happened to her, she really didn’t want to implicate Luan’er!

Without being harsh, that girl wouldn’t listen to her!

Sighing lightly, her gaze turned to the pastries on the table.

Her slender fingers pinched a small glutinous rice ball and placed it in her mouth, taking a small bite. The sweet flavor entered her tongue, seemingly melting away that bit of bitterness in her heart!

Her butterfly-wing lips gradually curved into an arc!

…

In the yamen’s back room.

The county magistrate’s expression was grave as he stared blankly at a cup of cold tea on the table before him!

His hand on the table was also clenched in a fist.

A yamen runner came in to report, “Sir, Lord Ji has arrived.”

Ji Shuhan had come!

Well, of course—his own daughter had been thrown into prison. How could this father not make a trip here!