The two arrived at Miss Zhou’s courtyard one after the other. No one was standing guard outside, and apart from the lanterns in the outer corners, the entire courtyard appeared exceedingly gloomy! After all, Miss Zhou had just died and her body had not yet been buried—at this hour, no one dared come near.

“Clang~”

A sound came from inside the room! Candlelight shone through, and a shadowy figure could be faintly seen moving about within.

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong exchanged glances before pushing the door open. They apparently startled the person inside, who whirled around abruptly. The handkerchief in her hands dropped to the floor in fright, her body trembling slightly as she froze in place.

The woman had a thin frame, gaunt as dry kindling, her shoulders drooping weakly downward. She looked utterly lifeless, and even her face was deathly pale.

Yet she appeared to be only about sixteen or seventeen years old—why would she look so sickly?

“Are you… Suyun?” Ji Yunshu asked instinctively.

The woman’s gaze was vacant. She nodded woodenly.

“What are you doing here?”

Suyun trembled unsteadily, her body shaking as she lowered her head and said softly, “Miss said she didn’t like the room being dark—that a lamp must always be lit. So I came over to light the lamps in the room.”

Indeed, the crystal-adorned candlestick had been lit!

Ji Yunshu nodded without further questioning and stated her identity.

“Miss Suyun, my surname is Ji. I’ve come specifically to investigate the cause of your young miss’s death.”

“I know. Qiao Xin already told me.” Suyun’s tone was weary and feeble.

“That’s good then.”

As Ji Yunshu spoke, she noticed the handkerchief that had slipped from Suyun’s hand lying flat on the floor. She stepped forward and picked it up.

Embroidered on the white handkerchief were two beautiful sangji flowers, one red and one blue. The red sangji flower had a corner where the thread had pulled loose, breaking off a strand.

Ji Yunshu’s eyes tightened. “These flowers are truly beautiful. Did you embroider them yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Your hands are very skillful.”

“Thank… thank you.”

“Here, hold onto this properly. Don’t drop it again—if it gets dirty, it won’t look nice anymore.”

She returned the handkerchief to Suyun. When Suyun’s slender fingertips touched Ji Yunshu’s hand as she took back the handkerchief, she immediately pulled back tightly. From beginning to end, she didn’t dare raise her head, instead pressing it even lower.

“Then I won’t disturb you in your work, sir.” Suyun performed a courtesy and prepared to leave.

But Ji Yunshu stuck out her foot and tripped her. Suyun’s body pitched straight forward. Fortunately, Jingrong behind her quickly caught and steadied her.

A heroic rescue of a beauty!

After Suyun stood firm, Jingrong released her and stepped back several paces, looking sharply at Ji Yunshu with hidden fury in his eyes.

Suyun clutched her chest, also shaken by the close call. She raised her eyes to cautiously glance at Jingrong.

“Thank you, young master.”

Jingrong didn’t respond.

Suyun bit her pale lips and hastily departed!

Jingrong’s expression changed from anger to darkness as he reproached Ji Yunshu, “Absurd! Even if you want to send women to this prince, shouldn’t you at least consider this prince’s opinion?”

She remained unconcerned. “I don’t understand what Your Highness is saying.”

“This prince clearly saw that you deliberately tripped her.”

“Yes, I did deliberately trip her just now. So what?” Ji Yunshu spoke lightly and casually, neither too heavy nor too light.

Yet it contained deeper meaning!

Jingrong didn’t understand. Just as he was about to ask something, he saw that Ji Yunshu had already begun searching for something in the room.

“What are you looking for?”

Ji Yunshu rummaged through boxes and cabinets, replying, “Something that could frighten those maids.”

“Something frightening?”

Ji Yunshu had no time to address his doubts as she carefully searched the room, finally arriving at Miss Zhou’s bed.

The neatly stacked bedding showed no signs of anything unusual. Ji Yunshu reached out and pulled apart the orderly bedding piece by piece until she revealed a small and exquisite box that had been pressed beneath everything at the very bottom.

She lifted up the box and opened it. When the contents came into view, all the doubts in her heart completely dispersed!

Closing the box, Ji Yunshu’s expression grew grave. She turned and walked to Jingrong’s side.

“Your Highness, at first light tomorrow, we shall solve this case.”

These words left Jingrong even more confused.