A row of guards surrounded the outside, each with a fierce and menacing appearance, their faces showing killing intent, holding long swords in their hands, but without Na Yan’s command, they had not yet drawn them from their scabbards.

Just looking at this display of force, it was clear they were trying to compel Jingrong to agree.

Because Jingrong sat with his back to the doorway, he couldn’t see the formation of guards outside, but he could hear the sounds.

In his heart, he knew he was like a caged bird.

And the one toying with the bird was Na Yan, sitting across from him.

“Young Master Jing, this prince is very sincere. As long as you agree to become a retainer in my residence, whatever you want at that time, I can give you. But if you refuse this prince’s goodwill, I’m afraid those blades won’t have eyes.”

A blatant threat!

Hearing this, Jingrong still maintained an aloof and composed appearance. The corners of his lips curved slightly upward in a light smile: “If I wanted to leave, could Your Highness trap me?”

“Do you have that ability?”

“Since I dared to come in alone, naturally I have the ability to leave. I’m only afraid Your Highness has underestimated me.” Jingrong’s tone carried a subtle undercurrent of force.

Na Yan sized him up: “It seems… this prince has indeed underestimated you. No one has ever maintained such a calm and composed manner upon seeing this prince’s soldiers. You are the first! Such courage—this prince greatly admires it, and it proves this prince hasn’t misjudged you. However…”

Na Yan’s words suddenly paused. Those smiling eyes reflected a chilling killing intent as he stared at Jingrong sitting across from him: “Someone unwilling to be friends with this prince is, in other words, an enemy!”

Jingrong neither heard nor responded, but instead leisurely took another sip of tea.

Na Yan continued: “If you are unwilling to nod and agree today, you are this prince’s enemy. And when dealing with enemies… there is only one word: kill!”

The word “kill”—Na Yan bit down on it extremely hard.

His hand resting on the table also clenched into a fist.

Jingrong’s fingers holding the teacup paused slightly, then he gently set it down, saying seriously: “Your Highness surely knows—if you detain me here or kill me, what the consequences would be?”

“I’m willing to hear the details!”

“We are currently handling affairs for the City Department. If something happens to me, all work on the case will stop. At that time, that Young Lord Cheng will surely make trouble for you in the court. According to what I know, King Huyi is currently bedridden, the position of heir apparent has not yet been confirmed, and whether you will be sovereign or subject, no one knows. Your Highness, you speak of wanting power! But if you are accused before King Huyi because we refuse to become your retainers, then the Third Prince who opposes Your Highness will naturally add fuel to the fire. As for the consequences, I don’t need to analyze them for you, do I?”

Jingrong spoke these words unhurriedly.

Na Yan smiled.

“Everything you said is correct. At this moment, I naturally cannot act recklessly.”

Good that you understand.

Jingrong had already finished the tea before him. He slowly supported himself and stood up, saying to Na Yan: “In that case, I won’t disturb you further. Farewell.”

He turned and headed for the door.

However, when those guards saw him come out, they didn’t retreat but instead closed in even closer.

Jingrong stood at the doorway, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over each of those people one by one.

Such a gaze made people afraid!

Then Na Yan came out from inside. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the guards: “All of you, stand aside.”

The guards obeyed and retreated one by one.

The courtyard once again returned to calm.

Na Yan turned his head and said to Jingrong: “Young Master Jing, this prince truly admires you. It doesn’t matter that you refused this prince today. Perhaps you’ll change your mind later.”

Jingrong smiled: “Perhaps!”

Having said this, he took steps to leave. But after walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped again, turned around, and said to Na Yan: “I think there’s one thing you’ve gotten wrong!”

“What?”

“We’re helping Young Lord Cheng investigate the case, but that doesn’t mean we’re his people. As you said, each takes what they need! We have no intention of stepping into the power struggles of the Huyi royal family. Moreover, what you need should be people who can assist you in court, not us. If you merely want to compete with Young Lord Cheng for people, to gain an advantage! Then… those with such mindset cannot achieve great things!”

Those with such mindset cannot achieve great things.

Uh!

Na Yan’s complexion instantly turned deathly pale.

Because his thoughts had been seen through completely by that man standing three meters away from him.

Just as Jingrong said, what he needed were people who could help him in court, not them. And he had indeed “invited” Jingrong with the mindset of competing with Li Cheng for people.

If before, his feelings toward Jingrong were merely admiration.

Then after hearing these words, it became respect!

By the time he came back to his senses, Jingrong had already left.

Shortly after, Na Yan’s personal shadow guard came out and softly inquired: “Your Highness, are you really letting him leave just like that?”

“Should I really kill him instead?”

“…”

The shadow guard continued: “Your Highness, now because of Du Mubai’s case, Minister Huang and Minister Zhong have both been dismissed. This means the Ministry of Justice has lost our control. Many of Your Highness’s people have also been implicated because of this. I’m afraid the next step must be taken quickly.”

Na Yan snorted through his nostrils. It was better not to mention it—as soon as it was brought up, he became angry.

He had originally thought to watch Li Cheng investigate the stone case, wanting to see him stir up some commotion, preferably implicating the Marquis of Pingyang. Who would have known it would drag him in instead.

It was truly more loss than gain.

This grudge—he had noted it down.

That’s why he had invited Jingrong here, hoping he could become his retainer and turn the tables on Li Cheng, which would also dampen their prestige.

But Jingrong refused!

Na Yan took a few steps in the courtyard.

His brows were tightly furrowed.

…

At the same time.

Ji Yunshu arrived at the City Department but hadn’t been able to wait for Jingrong for a long time.

For a moment, she was somewhat worried.

She asked Bai Yin: “Brother, where exactly did Jingrong go?”

Bai Yin: “Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”

“Do you know something? I keep feeling something’s not right.”

“Really, it’s fine. Just focus on the case for now.”

Sigh—

Ji Yunshu temporarily suppressed her worried feelings.

Now the entire City Department, from top to bottom, was waiting for her to solve the case. Everyone was very obedient—whatever she said went.

This was completely different from their previous attitude toward her.

Li Cheng also told her one by one about the information he had compiled regarding Du Mubai’s case.

The general meaning was that on the day Du Mubai died, he left the scholars’ residence early in the morning and only returned at night. According to the testimony of the young attendant guarding the scholars’ residence, after Du Mubai returned, no suspicious person had entered the scholars’ residence again. Moreover, the scholars’ residence had very strict security—strangers entering or leaving all needed to sign in—but on that day there had been no outsiders at all.

Furthermore, the scholars at the time had said that night, Du Mubai’s room was very quiet, with no sounds at all. In other words, fighting and quarreling were ruled out!

There were neither suspicious persons nor outsiders, and no traces of any struggle had occurred.

Then—

Li Cheng said: “Could the murderer possibly be one of those scholars from back then?”