Just as everyone was still shocked by Ji Yinshu’s words, Li Cheng spoke up and asked, “You’re saying… Du Mubai was murdered? Is this true or false?”

Ji Yinshu earnestly affirmed, “Du Mubai was indeed murdered!”

“Why do you say that?”

“Then I’ll need everyone to go somewhere with me. Once we’re there, I can naturally prove what I just said.”

Li Cheng asked, “Go where?”

“The room where Du Mubai’s incident occurred.”

The literary hall!

The crime scene!

Li Cheng was stunned for a moment, as if he hadn’t yet recovered his senses.

Kneeling on the ground, Fang Tong, Jiang Wen, and Bingzheng looked utterly confused!

And those officials also began discussing among themselves.

After all, once the case of Du Mubai from six years ago was involved, the entire matter became complicated. When that happened, the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Justice that had been involved in that case back then would be pushed to the forefront. If Du Mubai truly hadn’t committed suicide but was murdered, then many people would be implicated.

Those veteran Ministry of Justice officials who had participated in the case would also be implicated.

To the point that they were now breaking out in cold sweat!

After the discussion, one veteran official stepped forward. He questioned Ji Yinshu’s words: “Master Ji, what we need to investigate now is Su Qiao’s case, yet you keep investigating Du Mubai’s case! Does Master Ji know how far-reaching this case is? How many people it involves? If just because of your one-sided words we in the Ministry of Justice must all accompany you in investigating, and if there turns out to be no suspicious circumstances in the case, when the higher-ups pursue the matter, those who will be held responsible are us, not you!”

After all, Ji Yinshu wasn’t part of the Ministry of Justice, much less a government official.

When the higher-ups pursued the matter, she could walk away unscathed, but these officials who investigated the case with her would suffer.

They would all definitely be dragged before the authorities to be questioned.

Therefore, the veteran official’s concerns were not without merit.

Naturally, Ji Yinshu wouldn’t drag them down with her! She explained to the veteran official: “My lord, I know some matters do indeed have far-reaching implications, and I know this is Su Qiao’s case. However, now that Su Qiao and Du Mubai are connected, these two cases have a certain commonality. My lord, think about it—back then, Su Qiao came to Gaoding to investigate precisely because she didn’t believe Du Mubai would commit suicide. I think… perhaps she knew something? Or discovered something? When the murderer found out, he cruelly killed her. Of course, whether the murderer who killed Su Qiao and the murderer who killed Du Mubai are the same person still needs further investigation. So these two cases—regardless of which one—must be investigated together.”

Her attitude was resolute.

The veteran official choked, not knowing what to say.

After a long moment, he opened his mouth: “But what if Du Mubai did commit suicide and wasn’t murdered?”

“Since I can say he was murdered, naturally I can produce evidence. That’s why I want everyone to go with me to the room where Du Mubai hanged himself. Once we’re at the scene, I can prove what I’ve said.”

“Even though you say that…” The veteran official’s words weren’t finished yet.

Li Cheng took over: “Enough, no need to say anything more. This official believes Young Master Ji. Whatever consequences arise, this official will bear them alone.”

Never had Li Cheng seemed so impressive!

An official stepped forward: “My lord, this matter is not trivial. If we’re to investigate, we must first report it to the higher authorities.”

“Don’t tell me all this nonsense. In any case, this official firmly stands on Young Master Ji’s side. Since she says Du Mubai was murdered, this official believes she can definitely produce evidence.”

“My lord!”

“Shut up.” Li Cheng rebuked, then turned to Ji Yinshu. “Young Master Ji, I know your ability to solve cases. Now, we’ll follow you to the scene.”

Ji Yinshu said, “Very well.”

Li Cheng disregarded those officials’ objections and was determined to investigate Du Mubai’s case.

After all, Du Mubai was someone his elder sister had loved.

He absolutely had to get to the bottom of this.

And in the end, those officials could only accept it!

After all, they were following the patrol captain.

If something went wrong, let him bear the responsibility!

Before going to the literary hall, Ji Yinshu walked before the kneeling Fang Tong, Jiang Wen, and Bingzheng.

Very seriously, she said, “The matter of you falsely accusing Du Mubai of stealing the poem will be set aside for now. I need you to go to the literary hall with me, because back then, you three were the first to see Du Mubai.”

“…”

“At the scene, I’ll also need your help!”

“Yes…” Fang Tong’s voice trembled.

The other two also silently agreed.

Soon, Li Cheng brought several veteran officials and several guards along with Ji Yinshu and the others.

Before going, Li Cheng also sent someone ahead to the literary hall to notify the person in charge there.

The person in charge was an external official from the Ministry of Rites, Official Xiao He.

When he heard, he was stunned for a long time.

Then he asked the person who came to report: “What’s going on exactly? Why would anyone say Du Mubai was murdered? Wasn’t it already thoroughly investigated back then?”

The messenger said, “I don’t know. It was said by a master invited by the Ministry of Justice this time, saying Du Mubai was murdered.”

“You’re talking about that master who can draw bones?”

“Yes!”

“But how did Du Mubai’s case become connected to her?”

The messenger answered in detail: “Apparently, the deceased in the stone case that the Ministry of Justice is handling is related to Du Mubai, so Lord Li says that now the two cases must be merged into one!”

“Preposterous!” Official Xiao He’s expression changed dramatically.

Merging two cases into one was already shocking enough, let alone when one of those cases was a case that the Ministry of Justice had closed six years ago.

The messenger dared not speak.

Official Xiao He took a long time to recover, then asked, “How long until the Ministry of Justice people arrive?”

“Soon.”

“You go to the Marquis of Pingyang’s residence first and inform the marquis of this matter. I’ll delay things on my end here and wait for the marquis to make the decision. If the marquis agrees with Young Master Cheng’s decision, I’ll have nothing more to say.”

“Yes!”

Having received his orders, the messenger hurried off.

Not long after, Li Cheng and the others arrived.

Official Xiao He stood at the entrance, his expression still grim. Looking at Li Cheng, he said, “Young Master Cheng.”

Li Cheng didn’t know this person, but he knew there was an external official from the Ministry of Rites in charge of the literary hall.

He said, “You must be Official Xiao?”

“Indeed.”

“I already sent someone to notify you in advance. You should know about it, right?”

Official Xiao He let out a heavy breath and said, “I know. Young Master Cheng, you want to investigate Du Mubai’s case.”

“That’s right. Now I need to bring people to examine the room where the incident occurred back then.”

“This matter…”

“Is it difficult?”

“Of course not, it’s just that, Young Master Cheng, if you want to investigate Du Mubai’s case, shouldn’t you first obtain the Ministry of Justice’s approval? Without the Ministry of Justice’s agreement, the case cannot be reopened.” Official Xiao He told him very clearly.

Li Cheng didn’t care about any of that. He grew somewhat impatient and flicked his sleeves: “Why does everyone keep telling me these things? Is it really so difficult to investigate a case?”

“These are the rules!”