“Gentleman Ji, oh Gentleman Ji, those forty strokes of the staff—you’ll have quite a time enduring them.”

What a treacherous villain’s manner!

His entire face was utterly incongruous with his refined, bamboo-like features.

The Chief Justice questioned, “Your Highness, what if Gentleman Ji doesn’t go strike the drum?”

“Impossible.” Prince Jing Yi denied it, laughing coldly. “To vindicate injustices and solve cases for others, she can disregard even her own life. So for this case, she will definitely go strike the imperial drum.”

“What if she can endure the forty strokes?”

“Even an ordinary person couldn’t withstand more than a dozen strokes. With her frail scholar’s constitution, how could she endure it? Even if she could bear it, Prince Rong won’t watch her suffer. So at that time, Prince Rong will come begging this prince, and he… will have to agree to go to Yufu County to investigate the disaster relief funds. When that happens, the capital will be this prince’s domain. Furthermore, isn’t he very anxious about that Gentleman Ji? Being able to go to Yufu County together with her would be a good thing.”

He smiled!

The teacup in his hand tilted ninety degrees downward, and the tea inside slowly overflowed, dripping to the ground with a “tap tap tap.”

The Chief Justice, like a lapdog, constantly maintained an ingratiating smile toward Prince Jing Yi.

Truly disgusting!

Meanwhile, after leaving the Court of Judicial Review, Jing Zhaoyin immediately went to Zhuxi Garden.

Over these past two days, Jingrong had been staying at Zhuxi Garden, shamelessly clinging to Ji Yinshu.

When she painted in her room, he practiced sword forms in the courtyard!

When she planted flowers and watered them in the courtyard, he sat in the covered walkway reading!

When she ate, he continuously placed food in her bowl!

When she slept, he shamelessly burrowed into her bedding, embraced her without shame, and kept saying “I’m so cold.”

…

So over these two days, Ji Yinshu had endured no end of his liberties.

But what could she do? She could only bear it!

When he saw Jing Zhaoyin arrive, Jingrong knew it was about the case, and his expression darkened.

“Your Highness!”

Jing Zhaoyin cupped his hands.

Jingrong glanced at him and grunted, then clasped his hands behind his back, sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard, and began fiddling with the brush and ink Ji Yinshu had left on the stone table.

Holding the writing brush, he poked at the paper haphazardly.

A perfectly fine plum blossom painting was being ruined beyond recognition by him!

Yet secretly, he still raised his ears high, leaning toward Ji Yinshu and Jing Zhaoyin’s direction.

Wanting to hear something!

He heard Jing Zhaoyin say, “Gentleman Ji, the Chief Justice said the evidence is insufficient. He’s worried that even if the case is reopened, the result will be the same, so…”

“He won’t agree?”

“Yes!” Jing Zhaoyin quickly asked, “Gentleman Ji, if this case cannot be reopened, it might…”

Ji Yinshu immediately took over his words. “That won’t do. Since I promised Aunt Xie I would investigate her daughter’s cause of death, I cannot go back on my word. If this case cannot be reopened, I’m afraid Aunt Xie might even have thoughts of death. Even if her daughter really did commit suicide by poison, this matter must be thoroughly investigated. Otherwise, Aunt Xie will never be able to let go of this burden for the rest of her life.”

Jing Zhaoyin nodded!

Ji Yinshu placed her hands on her abdomen, her brows lightly furrowing as she contemplated for a moment.

Her eyes lifted, and she suddenly asked, “If I investigate privately, what would be the consequences?”

“It would…”

Before Jing Zhaoyin could answer, Jingrong cut in. He said, “Investigating privately isn’t impossible, but if the court doesn’t open the case, the local county office won’t accept it either, and no one will cooperate with your investigation. The Qiao family won’t answer any of your questions, and the county magistrate of Yufu County won’t give you the complete case records either.”

That would be like a single-player game!

You play by yourself.

As Jingrong spoke, he didn’t even raise his head, remaining very focused on poking at the paper.

After hearing his words, Ji Yinshu walked over and looked down, nearly dying of anger.

The several lifelike plum blossom branches on the paper had been completely ruined by Jingrong with black ink.

That fellow had actually drawn on it… a turtle. Yes, an extremely ugly turtle.

In a fit of anger, Ji Yinshu snatched the brush from his hand and said, “Aren’t you a prince? You must have a way to make the Court of Judicial Review agree to reopen the case.”

“Why should this prince help?”

“…”

“Ji Yinshu, you know this prince doesn’t want you investigating cases. And now you want this prince to help you?”

Dream on!

Ji Yinshu’s chest ached with anger. She said seriously, “I’m definitely taking this case. Even if you don’t help, I’ll find a way.”

“Ji Yinshu!”

Jingrong called her name emphatically, standing up. His height immediately towered over Ji Yinshu.

Ji Yinshu’s gaze slowly moved upward following Jingrong’s rising motion.

Until their eyes met.

Jingrong looked down, saying seriously, “The Great Lin’s laws stipulate that court officials must perform their duties, and external officials must not interfere. As the saying goes, those not in a position should not meddle in its affairs. This prince cannot possibly use a prince’s authority to pressure the Chief Justice into agreeing to open a case. Otherwise, what would be the point of having laws? Would the entire Great Lin still have rule of law?”

“…”

He continued, “Have you considered that perhaps, just as the Chief Justice said, this case may not have been wrongly decided at all? It’s just that the deceased’s mother has been unwilling to accept this fact.”

Ji Yinshu tightened her neck. “To put it plainly, you just don’t want me investigating. You don’t want me leaving the capital, and even more, you don’t want me leaving you.”

“Yes!”

Jingrong answered truthfully.

The two held their ground, staring each other down. The atmosphere was somewhat tense.

Seeing this situation, Jing Zhaoyin stood in place wringing his hands, wondering which camp he should stand with.

He swallowed hard, shuffling his feet in place for a long while before carefully stepping forward.

Slightly bowing, he said to Ji Yinshu, “Gentleman Ji, actually, there is another method.”

Ji Yinshu’s eyes flashed as she turned to him. “What is it?”

“It’s…”

“Shut your mouth!” Jingrong roared!

His voice carried tremendous威force, shaking Jing Zhaoyin so much that his body trembled thrice. He quickly lowered his head further, swallowing back all the words he was about to say, not daring to speak another word.

Clearly, Jingrong knew what Jing Zhaoyin was about to say, and that method must certainly be a dead end, which was why he had such a strong reaction.

“Jing Zhaoyin, you may leave.”

An order to depart!

Jing Zhaoyin didn’t want to remain here any longer either, lest he bring trouble upon himself. So he quickly gathered his official robes and hurried away.

Ji Yinshu stared at the flushed-faced Jingrong, composing herself before asking, “What exactly is this method?”

Jingrong: “You don’t need to know.”

Ji Yinshu: “I need to know.”

But Jingrong ignored her. With a sweep of his sleeve, he said, “In any case, if the Court of Judicial Review won’t open this case, you are forbidden from trying to find other ways to investigate. Otherwise, I’ll tie you up and lock you in a room until you obediently comply. Ji Yinshu, listen carefully—this prince is not joking with you.”

After leaving these warning-laden words, Jingrong prepared to leave.

The next moment, Ji Yinshu quickly stepped forward and grabbed hold of him.