A crystal candlestick? That candlestick that Miss Zhou lit every night?
Jingrong paused, a trace of surprise flashing across his sharp features.
“Could there be something wrong with that candlestick?”
Ji Yinshu pondered for a moment, harboring an enormous doubt in her heart, but then reconsidered—the murderer had already been brought to justice, so there couldn’t possibly be any other oversights!
So she shook her head. “It’s nothing, probably… I’m just overthinking.”
The oiled paper umbrella in her hand lowered slightly as she stepped forward to continue on her way.
This scholar spoke in such cryptic ways, and his entire person seemed utterly mysterious!
Jingrong strode to catch up, rolling his eyes toward her as he asked, “This prince still has a lingering doubt in his heart. I wonder if Mister can resolve it?”
“Is Your Highness asking why I had Magistrate Liu station people outside the Zhou residence?”
“How clever indeed!”
Well now, he hadn’t even asked yet, and she had already guessed it!
Jingrong nodded with great satisfaction. “This prince simply doesn’t understand how you determined the murderer was someone from the Zhou household, and moreover, would remain at the Zhou residence waiting to be caught. If this prince were the murderer, I would have fled long ago!”
Ji Yinshu smiled, looking thoroughly mysterious as she explained without haste.
“Your Highness, think about it—the murderer was able to poison Miss Zhou’s medicinal soup and carry her to the tower pavilion without anyone knowing or noticing. This person must be extremely familiar with the layout of the Zhou family estate. Clearly, it wasn’t an outsider. Excluding Master Zhou and Madam Zhou, it could only be a servant of the Zhou residence. And since the murderer created the false impression that Miss Zhou fell from the building, no one would suspect him, so naturally there would be no need to flee. Moreover, all the Zhou residence servants have signed indenture contracts—if anyone went missing, they would naturally report it to the magistrate’s office. But the magistrate’s office hasn’t received any reports from the Zhou residence in the days since Miss Zhou’s death, so I dared to be certain the murderer must still be at the Zhou residence.”
“And then?”
“But the murderer never imagined that everything he had carefully orchestrated would be exposed, so he must be very frightened. Therefore, he would certainly want to escape. So when Magistrate Liu left yesterday, I had him secretly station people to surround the Zhou residence. If the murderer truly developed thoughts of fleeing, then the officers outside could capture him without fail.”
“So what you’re saying is, before you instructed Magistrate Liu to arrange all this, you had no idea who the murderer was.” Jingrong’s eyes narrowed.
Ji Yinshu nodded. “If I had known, there would have been no need to stay overnight at the Zhou residence, and I wouldn’t have discovered that the murderer wasn’t one person but two. Perhaps it was Miss Zhou’s restless spirit that caused Suyun to deliver herself right to us, and I happened to see her handkerchief. To call it heavenly providence wouldn’t be excessive!”
At this moment, Jingrong actually felt some admiration for her!
But in the blink of an eye, his expression tightened again, carrying several traces of reproach. “Since Mister is so clever, the method you used to draw out the second murderer was far too crude. If this prince hadn’t been present, I’m afraid Mister would already have been carried to the medical clinic by now.”
Just as she thought—he was petty-minded, still dwelling on this matter!
Wasn’t it just having you lend a hand!
Yet though his words were reproachful, why did they carry such strong concern and care?
Ji Yinshu didn’t want to think too deeply about it.
“If this method could draw out the murderer, what harm is there in taking the risk?”
“What a sharp tongue!”
“Since I have already resolved Prince Rong’s confusion, shouldn’t Your Highness stop now? Otherwise, are you planning to follow me all the way home?”
Jingrong’s previously angry expression suddenly relaxed into a smile as he turned to gaze at Ji Yinshu’s gently contoured profile.
“If Mister’s bed at home can accommodate this prince, what harm would there be in going home with you?”
Do all these imperial offspring have no shame whatsoever?
Ji Yinshu rolled her eyes at him countless times in her heart.
“My humble abode is too small to accommodate Your Highness. Please halt your steps, Your Highness.”
Dropping these words, she quickened her pace.
But Jingrong stuck like adhesive plaster, suddenly stepping forward and immediately turning around. His robes billowed with a gust of wind as his upright frame blocked directly in front of Ji Yinshu.
One tall, one short—the two figures stood facing each other.
If not for the equally mismatched tall and short umbrellas colliding overhead, Ji Yinshu’s forehead would likely have bumped into Jingrong’s solid chest again.
As Ji Yinshu raised her head, their four eyes met and intertwined.
Under the colliding gazes, both their hearts inexplicably tightened!
It was Jingrong who spoke first. “Does Mister intend to abandon this prince just like that?”
“Mm?” These words stirred Ji Yinshu’s heart, making her ears flush red—fortunately hidden by her dark hair.
“Surely Mister hasn’t forgotten that once this case is concluded, you should investigate a case for this prince? How is it that you seem to have forgotten this matter in the blink of an eye?”
Jingrong arched his brow, his tone carrying a teasing flavor.
So it was about this matter!
But why bring up such phrases as “abandon this prince” out of nowhere—it really made one’s imagination run wild!
Ji Yinshu breathed a sigh of relief.
She parted her lips. “Your Highness, even a hanging man needs to catch his breath. Won’t you let me rest for one night and investigate tomorrow?”
“Who told you not to rest properly last night?”
She was left speechless!
Hey, Your Highness, I went without sleep all night thinking about the case!
That’s still better than you not eating properly last night!
Seeing Ji Yinshu at a loss for words, Jingrong seemed to have gained the upper hand, displaying a magnanimous expression. “Very well, this prince is not unreasonable. If you need rest, this prince will grant you a day. Tonight at the hour of you, this prince will await Mister at Yi Zhuang. After all, once those five corpses begin to decay, Mister will also have to expend more effort investigating.”
This man’s brain truly has problems!
She could examine even skeletal remains!
And how heartless—in this freezing cold, she’d pulled an all-nighter, and resting for one day wasn’t nearly enough!
But…
“Your Highness’s command—this humble one dares not disobey. Then tonight at the hour of you, we’ll meet without fail at Yi Zhuang!”
Though it sounded obedient and understanding, why did it feel so awkward?
Jingrong knitted his brows, pondering her words, but Ji Yinshu had already maneuvered her umbrella around his upright frame and walked away…
Turning to watch that petite figure gradually receding into the distance, the corners of Jingrong’s mouth curved slightly upward with a smile like aged wine.
When Lang Bo in the distance saw the two separate, he quickly walked to his prince’s side.
“Your Highness, did you mention Duke Yuguo’s matter to Mister Ji?”
Jingrong’s expression immediately became grave, his icy eyes cold and clear.
“No rush. This case likely involves extensive connections behind the scenes. Though Mister Ji is clever, we cannot place trust lightly. If there’s any mishap, even this prince cannot bear the responsibility.”
“This subordinate understands.”
Jingrong paused in doubt for a moment, then immediately instructed, “Secretly investigate this Mister Ji’s background thoroughly. The person this prince wants must have a clean background.”
Lang Bo bowed his head. “Yes.”
Jingrong drew in a deep breath of cold air, his gaze still lingering on the direction where Ji Yinshu’s retreating figure faded into the distance.
For the Duke Yuguo case, he had already been away from the capital for half a year.
If Ji Yinshu proved trustworthy, the day of returning to the capital wouldn’t be far off!