“Is it you?”

The woman recognized Ji Yunshu.

The person who had bumped into her on that rainy day, making the written appeal covered in water stains—wasn’t that the person before her now!

“Please stand up first.”

As she spoke, Ji Yunshu helped her up from the ground, supported her to sit on the side, poured her a cup of hot tea, placed it in her cold hands, and gently held them.

The woman held the teacup for a little while, then gently set it on the table. Her hands desperately clutched the worn bundle in her arms again as she glanced at Ji Yunshu.

She asked, “Who are you?”

Ji Yunshu answered lightly, “I simply want to understand the case you’re appealing, Madam.”

“Are you an official?”

“No!”

“Are you from the court?”

“Also no.” Ji Yunshu denied each question.

Jing Zhaoyin stepped forward to explain. “This is the renowned Master Ji. Though not an official court personnel, his case-solving abilities are very formidable. If your daughter was truly murdered, Master Ji will give you justice.”

The woman’s eyes widened. She grabbed Ji Yunshu’s wrist, saying excitedly, “You can truly help me? Help my daughter obtain justice?”

She nodded!

“If Ye’er was truly killed by someone, I will definitely find the real murderer and give her justice.”

The woman’s eyes immediately reddened. Tears streaming down, she prepared to bow to Ji Yunshu.

Just as her body began to bow, her arm was supported by Ji Yunshu.

“Madam, you need not perform such a grand courtesy to me. I still need to understand this case before I can draw conclusions. You must also tell me everything you know, even the smallest detail.”

“Yes.”

The woman wiped away her tears and sat down, releasing a long sigh.

She began to slowly speak—

This telling took nearly half an hour!

And Ji Yunshu understood the general content.

This woman’s surname was Xie. She was a native of Yufu County. Not long after her daughter Ye’er was born, her husband passed away. She worked hard to raise her daughter. After Ye’er came of age, she gave birth to a son, but no matter how much Aunt Xie pressed her, Ye’er never said who the child’s father was. To make a living, Ye’er went to work as a songstress at the famous Yichun Pavilion in Yufu County.

Because she was beautiful and had a good voice, she had indeed earned quite a bit of money over two years. During this time, she was also harassed and insulted by many men.

Just the day before Ye’er’s incident, Aunt Xie waited most of the night before Ye’er returned. She was soaking wet from the rain. No matter how Aunt Xie asked, she wouldn’t say why, only saying that tomorrow she would leave Yichun Pavilion, then take her son and leave Yufu County to live properly.

When she spoke, she was full of anticipation for future life!

Who would have known that the next evening, Ye’er was violated by the eldest young master of the Qiao family, and immediately afterward died in a room on the second floor of Yichun Pavilion.

Her body was covered with injuries in all directions. Her clothes were torn to shreds. Her half-naked body lay on the bed, eyes wide open, her head hanging over the edge of the bed, her long hair like a waterfall, spilling from the bed to the floor.

“It was that beast who killed my daughter! It was him! He used his money to bribe the county magistrate and the coroner, saying my daughter died from taking poison. No, my daughter wouldn’t commit suicide, she wouldn’t…”

Aunt Xie cried until her whole body went limp in the chair!

Ji Yunshu’s heart also ached watching this, yet she didn’t know what to say. She could only offer a few simple words of comfort, but then noticed the bundle that Aunt Xie kept tightly clutching in her hands.

She asked, “This bundle—did it belong to Ye’er?”

Aunt Xie nodded. “Inside here are all the belongings my daughter had when she was alive. I’ve kept them all along.”

“May I look at them?”

Aunt Xie hesitated for a moment before placing the bundle on the table and carefully opening it.

A musty, decayed smell assailed their nostrils!

Inside the bundle was a light purple thin garment, only its color had faded somewhat, looking very dull. There were also some small trinkets—a hairpin, several bracelets, and such…

As well as a dark gray little doll made of cloth—a little baby with two small braids tied on it, very cute. However, it had four or five small patches sewn on it, looking somewhat old, its colors washed into patches of dark and light.

By the looks of it, it was over ten years old!

“This cloth doll was made for her by Ye’er’s father when he was alive. She always loved it very much, always kept it by her side. Even if it got a little torn, she would have me sew it up for her. She said that as long as she saw this cloth doll, it was like her father was still by her side. My poor Ye’er—it was Mother who failed to protect you. It’s Mother’s fault.”

She began crying again!

Ji Yunshu held the cloth doll and looked at it for a while. It must be said, a man with such good handiwork was indeed quite rare.

After examining it carefully for a while, she placed it back.

Saying, “Aunt Xie, you should rest well these next few days.”

Hearing this, Aunt Xie became anxious.

“Master, are you not going to help me? I traveled thousands of miles to the capital just to obtain justice for my daughter! You must help me! I really have no other options! Master, I beg you…”

Pleading bitterly, she was about to kneel again.

Ji Yunshu quickly said, “I won’t abandon this matter. It’s just that this case must first be registered with the Court of Judicial Review. Since ancient times, local cases appealing upward must all be reported up through each prefecture and province. Now that you’ve come to the capital to appeal on your own, the process will be much more complicated. Since Jing Zhaoyin has accepted this case, he will naturally help you handle it properly. Moreover, to know whether Ye’er truly died from taking poison herself, the coffin must be reopened and the body examined again. So this case cannot be investigated in the capital—we must travel to Yufu. I am not an official coroner, much less a court official. To take on this case requires the Court of Judicial Review’s approval. For Jing Zhaoyin to submit the report will also take several days.”

After much persuasion, Aunt Xie finally understood.

Crying, she nodded, then grabbed Ji Yunshu’s hand, saying, “Master, if you can obtain justice for my daughter, in my next life I’ll repay you even if I must work like an ox or horse.”

“Please don’t say such things. If your daughter was truly killed by someone, helping her obtain justice is only natural.”

Aunt Xie nodded!

Afterward, Jing Zhaoyin ordered someone to escort her back to the inn.

“Master Ji, this official will immediately draft the documents. Once the Court of Judicial Review stamps them, I’ll turn this case over to you.”

“Mm.”

“I truly must thank you, Master.” He continued, “Master is so intelligent—if you became an official, it would be Dalin Dynasty’s great fortune. If this case can be solved, this official will certainly recommend you for the position of Director of the Bureau of Criminal Affairs in the Ministry of Justice. Though that official position was abolished by His Majesty several years ago, with your talent and wisdom, you would absolutely be qualified for it.”

Hearing this, Ji Yunshu immediately declined. “Your Honor, I investigate cases not for fame or profit, and I’ve never wanted to enter the court as an official.”

In other words, she had no interest in the position of Director of the Bureau of Criminal Affairs.