Aside from the wine bottles and bloodstains on the floor, the room showed almost no signs of abnormality.

She circled around once, and only at the end did she pull open that ajar door. Looking behind the door, she lowered her head and spotted an unclear mark on the floor.

Perhaps driven by her sensitive instincts, she quickly crouched down, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, spread it flat over that mark, then pressed down on it with her hand, transferring the mark onto the white handkerchief.

What was printed on the handkerchief was a semi-circular pattern with some design!

What could it be?

For the moment, she couldn’t tell.

After folding it, she tucked it into her sleeve, then walked to the table to gather her things, glancing at Su Ziluo from the corner of her eye.

She said, “For now, this is all I’ve found. If necessary, I’ll come back again.”

Su Ziluo maintained that consistently calm and indifferent demeanor throughout.

“Thank you for your trouble, Master Ji!”

“Since His Majesty has ordered this matter entrusted to me, it is my responsibility. No trouble at all. I’ll take my leave now.” She bowed slightly and, without lingering, left the room carrying her sandalwood box.

Outside, those soldiers all glared at her. She ignored them and went downstairs, but upon reaching the ground floor, she stopped and looked back up.

Her gaze remained fixed for a long while!

Only when Su Ziluo emerged from inside did she immediately withdraw her gaze.

At that moment, Jing Zhaoyin appeared from somewhere.

With an anxious expression, he asked, “Master Ji, have you finished the investigation? Do you know who the murderer is? Is it really Chief Minister Ji?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know yet.” Then she looked around and asked Jing Zhaoyin, “Where is Prince Rong? Didn’t he come with me?”

“Prince Rong went to the Ministry of Justice prison!”

“To see Chief Minister Ji?”

“Yes. After you went upstairs, Prince Rong left. He instructed me to have someone escort you back to your residence first.”

She lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, then nodded!

……

The Ministry of Justice prison.

Jingrong had brought Lang Bo along with him. Before they even reached the cell holding Ji Li, the warden kept reminding them along the way.

“Prince Rong, this person was imprisoned by His Majesty’s order, so please don’t make things difficult for this humble official later.” The warden feared losing the prisoner—that would be a capital offense!

Jingrong’s sharp eyes glanced at him. “Rest assured, this prince won’t let you bear any blame.”

“That’s good then!”

He exhaled in relief.

Ji Li’s cell was at the very end!

The Ministry of Justice prison was divided into two sections: light and heavy confinement. Since Ji Li had killed a general from Qujiang, he was naturally detained in heavy confinement. Just at the cell entrance, two more jailers stood guard.

Upon reaching the cell entrance.

Jingrong waved his hand, ordering the jailers, “Stand farther away. This prince has matters to discuss with Chief Minister Ji.”

The jailers hesitated, looking at the warden. The warden’s lips twitched, and he said to Jingrong, “Prince Rong, the prisoner…”

Jingrong cut him off.

“There’s only one path out of this prison. This prince isn’t here to stage a jailbreak. Just stand farther away.”

“But…”

Jingrong swept another sharp, cold glance their way.

The warden shuddered and quickly led the two jailers away, though they didn’t go far—just standing around the corner.

Inside the cell, Ji Li sat on a straw mat, his back against the wall. Both his hands and feet were shackled with iron chains!

In just a few short hours, Ji Li’s face had taken on a haggard appearance. Stubble had grown on his chin, and he kept his gaze lowered, motionless.

Jingrong approached the wooden bars of the cell. With his tall stature, standing before Ji Li in his current state gave him a commanding, superior presence!

“It seems Chief Minister Ji is quite at ease here. Usually, those locked in this cell are desperate to live or die, making quite a commotion. Chief Minister Ji is so quiet—this prince truly admires your composure.”

Ji Li raised his bloodshot eyes to look at him, still appearing somewhat intoxicated and barely awake.

The corner of his mouth curved slightly. “Does Prince Rong have the leisure to come see me?”

“Previously, Chief Minister Ji at least had cordial conversations with me at this prince’s residence. Now that you’re trapped in this situation, how could this prince not come to see you?”

How noble!

Give yourself a thumbs up!

But what he received in return was Ji Li’s slight smile, a look of complete understanding on his face as he said, “The prince probably didn’t come to see me, but rather wants to ask me about what really happened last night!”

“Since Chief Minister Ji is so clever, why not guess again—why does this prince want to ask you?” Jingrong maintained an inscrutable smile.

Ji Li pushed himself up from the ground, the chains clanging and echoing!

The sound reverberated through the cold, oppressive prison, extremely eerie!

He walked toward Jingrong, his hands gripping the wooden bars, fingers distinctly defined.

Those dark eyes met Jingrong’s cold, sharp gaze.

Ji Li said, “If I’m not mistaken, His Majesty must have entrusted this case to Master Ji, right? And the prince’s visit is nothing more than wanting to learn from me what happened that night, so you can relay the information to Master Ji and help her solve the case quickly.”

Jingrong wasn’t surprised by his accurate guess. This Ji Li was inherently a clever man!

Jingrong said, “Since Chief Minister Ji knows that Master Ji is investigating this case, then tell me truthfully and completely what happened, so I can help clear your name and get you out of here.”

“Get out?” Ji Li’s face showed disdain. “Probably that Master Ji wishes nothing more than my death. How could she help clear my name?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Why must the prince pretend not to understand?” Ji Li’s grip on the wooden bars tightened, suddenly filled with murderous intent. “My remarkable third sister—she was able to send her own flesh and blood to prison, then burn his body until nothing remained. Such a person—help clear my name? The prince may believe it, but I don’t. After all, if I can get out alive, the one who dies will be her.”

His tone was extremely vicious!

Yes, he was certain that Master Ji was Ji Yunshu.

Jingrong shook his head. “You don’t understand her at all!”

“No, it’s the prince who doesn’t understand her.” Ji Li contradicted him, leaning forward slightly as he said, “How about this—I’ll make a wager with the prince. Let’s bet on whether Ji Yunshu will save me or not!”

Ah!

Jingrong’s heart tightened.

He didn’t understand why Ji Li would pin the label of “heartless” on Ji Yunshu, and with such certainty.

But his face remained impassive. His eyes fixed on Ji Li as he said, “Fine. You want to bet? This prince will take your wager. As long as you didn’t kill anyone, she will definitely clear your name. Even if you want to die, you’ll have to get out first before dying.”

Hahaha—

Ji Li burst into loud laughter, stepping back several paces!

After this nearly mad state subsided, he leaned back against the wall and sat back down in his original position.

He concealed himself in the darkness.

After a long while, he finally said, “After the banquet ended yesterday, General Weichi invited me to the post station to continue drinking with him. We only discussed some trivial matters, nothing else. We both drank and were completely intoxicated. The next day when I woke up, I discovered he was dead, and in my hand was a sword. I had just picked it up when someone pushed open the door. I couldn’t explain. Shortly after, His Majesty ordered me imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison. That’s it. Nothing more. Perhaps I really was drunk and killed someone!”