After Ji Yunshu finished speaking, Zhu Yao was completely stunned.

She seemed not to have expected Ji Yunshu would analyze things this way.

When she carefully pondered these words, she felt there was indeed something strange about it all. How had she not thought of this at the time?

She said, “Miss Ji, now that you put it that way, it really is strange when you think about it. That Young Master Wang had no reason to leave his courtyard in the middle of the night. And how could it be so coincidental that he ran into Shiyan? Moreover, people at the estate said that yesterday Shiyan returned to his room drunk—there was no arrangement to meet Young Master Wang anywhere. Furthermore, Young Master Wang never went to Shiyan’s courtyard either. What exactly happened then?”

She fell into confusion!

Ji Yunshu’s eyes darkened slightly. A cloud of fog still remained in her heart, so she continued analyzing, “There’s another point that’s very strange. Wang Huai’s body was found in an abandoned courtyard in the back, which is still some distance from the rock formation by the west wing. But according to the bloodstains, behind the rock formation was the primary crime scene. If that’s the case, why would the heir apparent go to the trouble of moving Wang Huai’s body to the abandoned courtyard? After killing someone, instead of covering up evidence of the murder, he spent so much time moving the corpse and creating mysterious circumstances—all of this seems far too complicated and completely unnecessary!”

Zhu Yao nodded in agreement. “Exactly! If he truly killed someone, he should have destroyed the evidence of his crime! Why would he spend time doing meaningless things? That’s why I say Shiyan definitely isn’t the murderer—someone must be trying to frame him!”

As she spoke, tears welled in her eyes, though her worry and anxiety eased somewhat.

She became even more certain that Li Shiyan definitely wasn’t the murderer!

Although Ji Yunshu felt there were many suspicious points in all this, she ultimately hadn’t delved deeply into this case. She could only analyze it based on what Zhu Yao and Cai’er had told her. As for what the truth actually was, before everything was thoroughly investigated, it was all just speculation!

She grasped Zhu Yao’s trembling hand and comforted her, “Miss Zhu, don’t worry too much. If the heir apparent didn’t kill anyone, I’m sure the people from the Court of Judicial Review will investigate thoroughly. At that time, they’ll naturally clear the heir apparent’s name.”

“But right now we still don’t even know where Shiyan is. I’m very afraid something might have happened to him too. An entire day has already passed, and both the people from the Court of Judicial Review and those at the estate have been searching, but there’s still no news.”

“I think… he should be all right.”

“Why are you so certain?” Zhu Yao asked her.

Ji Yunshu said, “Since they’re all saying the heir apparent hasn’t left Misty Peak, then if something truly happened to him, the people from the Court of Judicial Review should have already found him by now. In other words, they might have already found his corpse. But now they’ve searched for an entire day and still haven’t found anyone. This might actually be good news, proving the heir apparent should be fine. He might…”

“Might what?”

“He might know everyone is looking for him but is hiding for certain reasons.”

“Hiding?” Zhu Yao furrowed her brow, her eyes full of confusion. Her heart grew tense accordingly as she tightly grasped Ji Yunshu’s hand and asked, “What do you mean? What do you mean by hiding? Why would he hide? He clearly knows everyone is looking for him. If he didn’t kill anyone, he should come forward! Miss Ji, do you know something? If you know, please tell me.”

Her tone carried a trace of pleading.

Ji Yunshu said, “How would I know the heir apparent’s whereabouts? What I just said was also only analysis. I don’t know the actual situation. If the truth is to come to light, he needs to come out himself. Otherwise, no one can unravel this predicament.”

As the saying goes, whoever tied the bell must untie it. If Li Shiyan didn’t appear, the case would remain at a standstill.

Zhu Yao began crying softly. “Shiyan, he…”

Ji Yunshu knew that saying more would be useless. She could only try to comfort her with a few words, then had Cai’er help Zhu Yao go rest for a while before returning to her own room.

Originally, her thoughts had all been on Jingrong, but now with this matter occurring, she felt uneasy in her heart.

After all, five years ago, Li Shiyan had saved her on Liang Mountain.

She had always remembered that debt of gratitude.

She had once said that if the day ever came, she would certainly repay it.

Perhaps heaven had arranged all of this long ago, precisely so that she could help Li Shiyan unravel this predicament today.

But right now the biggest problem was… Li Shiyan’s whereabouts were unknown!

Even if she wanted to repay that past debt of gratitude, how could she repay it?

…

It was already deep into the night.

At this moment, on the mountain path of Misty Peak, a procession of people, horses, and carriages was ascending the mountain.

Inside the carriage, Marquis Kangding held his breath and sat upright, his hands gripping his knees tightly, his face full of worry.

From the moment he heard his son had become a murderer, his heart had been in constant tension.

In just one day’s time, how had such a thing occurred?

Minister Zhu beside him felt the same way. Although this matter had nothing to do with the Zhu family, the two families had already formed a marriage alliance. In the future, Li Shiyan would be his son-in-law. Now that such a thing had happened, he naturally broke out in a cold sweat. He was also somewhat worried about his daughter—that girl must certainly be frightened!

“How did such a thing happen out of nowhere?” As Minister Zhu spoke, he let out a heavy sigh.

The Marquis’s entire face was tense as he said with certainty, “Shiyan would definitely not do such a thing. Even if he lacks restraint, he wouldn’t be this foolish.”

He knew what kind of seed he had sown himself!

Even though Li Shiyan was usually arrogant and domineering in the capital, his heart wasn’t bad. He wouldn’t conceive the thought of killing someone.

There must be some misunderstanding!

However—

Minister Zhu said worriedly, “But from what the person Minister Li sent to inform us said, there’s both witness testimony and physical evidence.”

“Nonsense! Money can accomplish anything—of course people can be bought too! As for the so-called physical evidence, that’s even more ridiculous. Perhaps Shiyan’s jade pendant was stolen from him and deliberately left behind. In any case, until Shiyan is found, I won’t believe anything they say.”

“Never mind you—I don’t believe it either! How could the heir apparent kill anyone?” Minister Zhu said.

The Marquis was anxious and restless. He lifted the curtain and ordered outside, “Faster!”

“Yes!”

The carriage sped up along the way and soon reached the suspension bridge of Misty Peak.

The Marquis and Minister Zhu got out of the carriage and were about to hurry across when they saw another carriage following closely behind.

Looking back, they saw it was the Wang Manor’s carriage.

They saw Wang Zong, the Minister of Works, descend from it with an unpleasant expression. When he saw the Marquis and Minister Zhu, his face darkened. His eyes were full of murderous intent—he looked like he wanted to kill someone but was forcibly restraining himself. His hands inside his sleeves were secretly clenched into fists. Then he quickly walked forward.

He said harshly to Marquis Kangding, “Marquis, you’ve truly raised a fine son!”

These words were full of sarcasm and carried a surge of fury.

The Marquis had wanted to discuss this matter calmly and reasonably with Minister Wang, but how could he have known this man would come up and say such harsh words? The Marquis’s face immediately fell as he said, “Minister Wang, right now everything is still unknown. You shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

Minister Wang snorted. “Unknown? Do you think I don’t know anything? All the evidence indicates that your son killed my nephew. You, as a marquis, indulged your son in committing violence. After they find Li Shiyan and bring him to justice, I will definitely petition the Emperor myself to impeach you!”

“This Marquis knows clearly what his own son’s character is like. He couldn’t possibly kill anyone, much less kill your nephew. If Minister Wang continues slandering him, don’t blame this Marquis for impeaching you in turn.”

“Fine! Then I’ll wait! I want to see how you’ll exonerate your son when the time comes!” Minister Wang was furious. He flicked his sleeves and crossed the bridge first.

His entire being radiated murderous intent.

Although Marquis Kangding’s power was greater than Wang Zong’s, after all, the person who died was his nephew. Moreover, Minister Wang had no sons. He had been raising his nephew at his side and had planned to have him attend his deathbed in the future. But now, the old was sending off the young—his only hope was dead! Naturally, he was staking everything. How could he still care about status and rank?

Minister Zhu immediately comforted the Marquis, “Marquis, let’s go to the estate first. We can talk more after we’ve seen Minister Li and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”

The Marquis suppressed his emotions. His expression was extremely unpleasant, but he still nodded.

The two then followed Minister Wang across the suspension bridge.