Capital Magistrate thought he had misheard and asked again, “Master Ji, are you saying to make these Qujiang people expose all their feet?”

What an unheard-of peculiarity!

Ji Yunshu nodded!

But this truly troubled Capital Magistrate. These Qujiang people all had terrible tempers. Even when Capital Magistrate wanted to enter the crime scene, he was blocked. They were fierce and menacing. If this post station weren’t located in Dalin, Capital Magistrate would probably have been thrown out bloody already, let alone being asked to complete this impossible task.

He looked troubled. “Master Ji, I’m afraid this is a bit difficult. General Weichi just died, and these people are still furious. It’s simply impossible!”

“But this is very important.”

“Related to the murder case?”

“Yes!” She nodded emphatically.

Capital Magistrate thought about it but still looked troubled, not knowing what to do.

Seeing him like this, Ji Yunshu thought better of it. She simply exhaled lightly and said, “Forget it. Sir, you have your official duties. Moreover, these Qujiang soldiers are indeed quite stubborn. I’ll find my own way.”

“Master, are you going to…”

Before he could finish, Ji Yunshu had already lifted her robe and gone upstairs. The soldiers guarding above didn’t stop her—after all, Su Ziluo had given the order that she would investigate this case.

Walking up to a soldier, she asked, “Which room is Master Su in?”

The soldier glanced at her sideways and pointed to a room.

Ji Yunshu walked to the door of that room and knocked gently twice.

“Come in!” A warm, calm voice responded.

She pushed the door open and saw Su Ziluo with his back to her, sitting before an open window. Light fell upon him, creating an almost unreal feeling, as if gradually concealing him, then revealing him bit by bit.

Such a man always carried a faint melancholic air that made him inscrutable, yet sparked endless curiosity to understand him.

But just as this feeling arose in Ji Yunshu’s heart, it was broken by another person in the room.

“Shu’er? Why are you here?”

This voice—who else could it be but Li Shiyan?

He truly was everywhere!

Though it made sense for him to be here. He knew Su Ziluo, which meant he was no ordinary person.

She saw him approach with a face full of smiles. If Ji Yunshu hadn’t stepped aside a few paces, he probably would have shamelessly embraced her.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Li Shiyan looked aggrieved.

Ji Yunshu sighed, too lazy to pay him attention. Her gaze moved past him to fall upon Su Ziluo.

Su Ziluo had already turned his wheelchair around, meeting her gaze directly.

“Has Master Ji returned to investigate the case? Did you miss something?” That voice, as pleasant as ever.

Soft and gentle!

Ji Yunshu walked over, getting straight to the point. “Since Master Su said this case is mine to investigate, then please cooperate, Master Su.”

“Oh? How should I cooperate?”

“I need to examine the feet of all the Qujiang soldiers in this post station.”

Examine feet?

Su Ziluo wasn’t shocked, but Li Shiyan beside him looked strange and exclaimed, “Shu’er, why do you want those big men’s feet?”

“Because it’s related to the murder case. I need to see them.” Her answer was clean and decisive, without further explanation.

“Could examining feet reveal who killed Weichi Lin?”

“No, I just want to verify something.”

Ji Yunshu kept her eyes on Su Ziluo. These words seemed to be answering Li Shiyan, but actually, they were all directed at Su Ziluo.

Li Shiyan looked confused and simply sat down to drink some tea.

After a long while, Su Ziluo finally said, “Alright. As long as it helps find the real murderer, Master, you may do whatever you wish!”

Ji Yunshu clasped her hands. “Thank you, Master Su.”

Soon, Su Ziluo gave the order, summoning everyone to the first floor. There weren’t many Qujiang soldiers—only about a dozen brought this time.

Each reluctantly extended their feet.

Ji Yunshu then carefully examined them one by one.

Among the crowd, some whispered discussions.

“What exactly do these Dalin people want? Examining our feet for no reason.”

“Why do you care so much? In any case, it’s Master Su’s order. We just need to comply.”

“This is strange. What exactly is the relationship between this person surnamed Ji and Master Su?”

“You want to know?”

“Do you know? Tell me quickly!” The tone was impatient.

That person turned his head aside and sneered. “I don’t know either.”

So that person’s hand received a punch.

This soft exchange, if one didn’t listen carefully, couldn’t be heard at all. But Su Ziluo’s ears were extremely sharp—he heard the entire conversation between the two.

So his finger pressed lightly on the wheelchair’s armrest.

Two silver needles nearly invisible to the naked eye suddenly shot out, passing through the soldiers in front and steadily piercing the waists of the two men. Then those two only made a soft “uh” sound.

Their bodies stiffened!

Frozen!

This small incident went unnoticed by anyone!

Ji Yunshu carefully examined these people’s feet, looking at each one.

These men’s feet were all quite large—each wearing size 48 shoes!

She was beginning to think she had overthought things, but then—

When she saw the last foot, her gaze fixed. That foot was very small.

She slowly raised her gaze to look at the tall and sturdy Qujiang soldier before her, saying, “Your feet are very small.”

That person seemed to have his weak spot exposed. He swallowed, his Adam’s apple rolling up and down, yet still kept his gaze steady, saying, “My feet are naturally small.”

“Then let me ask you—have you ever entered your general’s room?”

“No!”

“Truly never?”

“Of course not. The general ordered that without his command, no one could enter his room. Everyone knows this.” The answer came smoothly, indeed not seeming like a lie.

This puzzled Ji Yunshu somewhat.

Su Ziluo behind her also spoke up, saying, “He’s not lying. Except for me and the invited Chief Minister Ji, no one entered General Weichi’s room. Even the servant who came to deliver wine only stayed at the doorway.”

If it were someone else’s words, Ji Yunshu might have doubted them, but for some reason, she believed Su Ziluo very much. That strange feeling—she herself didn’t understand it.

Perhaps because he resembled Ji Pei too much?

Perhaps his voice was too similar to Ji Pei’s?

She shook her head secretly. She might be overthinking.

So she said seriously to that soldier, “Show me your shoe sole.”

The soldier was quite obedient, directly taking off his shoe and showing it to Ji Yunshu.

The air instantly filled with a faint smell of foot odor. Ji Yunshu frowned, holding her breath, and glanced at the shoe sole.

The pattern on this shoe sole was completely different from what she had drawn.

Could it be that the lead had reached a dead end here again?

“Seen enough?” the soldier asked.

She nodded!

The soldier put his shoe back on, but that foot odor smell still hadn’t dispersed.

Several people nearby covered their noses without concealment.