Ji Yunshu noticed Zhang, the constable’s gaze, and the corners of her mouth secretly curved into a smile as she followed Jingrong and Fang Mingsan into the residence.
Fang Mingsan’s way of hosting guests didn’t follow the lavish style—he only ordered people to bring up a few cups of hot tea and several plates of pastries that were specialties of Yuzhou City.
The outer rims of the plates containing the pastries were all somewhat worn down.
The whole setup could be summarized in two words:
Incorruptible!
Fang Mingsan personally poured tea for Jingrong and Ji Yunshu, saying as he did so, “This is the famous Zhuqiao tea of Yuzhou City. Your Highness and Master Ji, please try it.”
He carefully brought the tea over.
Just as it was placed in front of Ji Yunshu, that cup of tea was intercepted by Wei Yi.
“I want to drink too.”
Having said this, he drained the tea in one gulp like drinking water.
Lifting his sleeve to wipe his mouth, he declared, “Not good. A bit bitter.”
This made Fang Mingsan’s awkwardness flare up.
Ji Yunshu pulled him aside. “Wei Yi, don’t be rude.”
“Oh.”
He lowered his head, somewhat aggrieved.
Jingrong signaled to his guard with a glance to take Wei Yi and Old Lady Xie away first.
However, Wei Yi clutched Ji Yunshu’s arm and stubbornly refused to leave. In the end, they could only take Old Lady Xie away to rest first.
Fang Mingsan bowed. “Your Highness, this official has already ordered people to prepare several upper rooms. Your Highness, Master Ji, and everyone else can rest assured and stay.”
“No need. Once everything is prepared, this prince will depart.”
“It’s already getting dark. Your Highness should…”
Before he could finish speaking, Jingrong interrupted him.
“Magistrate Fang, stop beating around the bush. You’ve set up a Hongmen Feast purely because you want to invite this prince into the city so he can help you investigate the strange incidents that have recently occurred in Yuzhou City.”
Straight to the point!
Fang Mingsan’s expression grew somber. With a sigh, he also spoke plainly. “Since Your Highness already knows, this official won’t beat around the bush either. In this past month, three murder cases have already occurred in the city, causing all the common people in the entire city to live in fear. Everyone is afraid to go out, and some have even left the city directly. Now in Yuzhou City, no one dares to come.”
“Those three deceased were all prominent figures in the city. They all died hanging from trees in their own courtyards. Their deaths were gruesome. Moreover, all three deceased claimed to have seen ghosts the night before their deaths, becoming mad and delirious. This official has already sent people to investigate for a long time but has found no leads. According to the coroner’s autopsy evidence, the deceased all hanged themselves by suicide.”
Jingrong smiled. “Oh? Since they hanged themselves by suicide, what is there to investigate?”
“The strange thing is precisely this—the three people didn’t know each other at all. Before dying, they all said they’d seen ghosts, and their manner of death was exactly the same. How could there be talk of ghosts and spirits in this world? It must be man-made, so…” He turned his gaze toward Ji Yunshu. “I heard that Master Ji is traveling with Your Highness, so this official wanted to trouble Master Ji for a few days to solve this case.”
Do you think this is playing house? Solve it just like that?
Ji Yunshu was about to say something when Jingrong spoke first. “I say, Magistrate Fang, in such a large Yuzhou City, is there really no one capable of solving cases? Can’t you find anyone in your yamen?”
His tone carried an accusatory edge.
“Your Highness, inside and outside the city, this official has searched everywhere, but there really is no other way. This matter has caused such an uproar—if it continues like this, the consequences will be unimaginable. Your Highness, please just consider it as resting here for a few days.”
“Magistrate Fang, you should know that this prince has been ordered to investigate the relief silver matter at Yufu County. Previously, we’ve already been delayed quite a bit at Shanhuai County. If we delay further and His Majesty blames us, this prince cannot bear the responsibility either.”
“This…”
Fang Mingsan was also distressed!
After all, Jingrong carried an imperial mandate. That Master Ji was his person. If they were going to Yufu County, there was no reason to leave Ji Yunshu behind alone. Moreover, Yuzhou City was under Fang Mingsan’s jurisdiction—even if he wanted to force this case on someone, he couldn’t force it onto Ji Yunshu’s hands.
So, he was truly worried to death.
Ji Yunshu studied Jingrong and, seeing his firm attitude, supposed he would absolutely not let her stay to help Fang Mingsan investigate the case.
But standing by and watching people die had never been her style.
So she said, “Your Highness, these murder cases are so suspicious. If we still cannot apprehend the real culprit, more people may die. Magistrate Fang has no other recourse; otherwise, he wouldn’t come begging you.”
Jingrong glared at her. “So you’re saying you want to investigate this case?”
“I…”
“Enough.” Jingrong immediately cut her off. “This prince knows your thoughts. We don’t know how long this matter will delay us.”
“Five days.”
“What?”
“Five days’ time. If I can’t solve it after five days, I’ll depart with Your Highness for Yufu.” Ji Yunshu said.
Jingrong’s brow furrowed as he pondered. He glanced at the worried and distressed Fang Mingsan, hardened his heart, and said to Ji Yunshu, “No. Going to Yufu County brooks no delay. Someone will eventually investigate this case without you. Once everything is fully prepared, we’ll immediately set out.”
Not giving Ji Yunshu a chance to argue, he said to Fang Mingsan, “Magistrate Fang, since the court has made you the county magistrate of Yuzhou City, then everything that happens here should be managed by you as the local official. After all, the court doesn’t support idle people. You should understand this principle.”
“Your Highness, this official…”
“Say no more.” He directly pushed the tea back. “There’s no need to drink this tea either. Your Hongmen Feast—this prince has at least sat through it for a while. I won’t disturb you further.”
Fang Mingsan was anxious!
But he was speechless and helpless!
Jingrong had already pulled his people out of the room, while also instructing Lang Bo, “Get the necessary items ready as quickly as possible. Leave Yuzhou City before sunset.”
Lang Bo responded, “The items should already be ready by now.”
“Then let’s get moving right away. Bring Old Lady Xie.”
“Yes.”
The whole group swarmed out of the county yamen residence again.
Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi had just been put into the carriage when Jingrong was stopped by Muruo.
“Won’t you reconsider?”
Jingrong: “There’s nothing to reconsider. You know what I’m worried about.”
Muruo naturally knew.
“I know, but you can’t keep confining her forever. Just as you can’t break an eagle’s wings and force it to swim in water, nor can you make a fish leave the water and fly into the sky. You know better than anyone what kind of person Master Ji is. She was born for solving cases. If you do this, isn’t it like clipping her wings? Moreover, five days isn’t long. If you insist on leaving, people in Yuzhou City may continue dying one after another. Eventually, when it’s reported to the court, His Majesty and the Court of Judicial Review might throw these murder cases to Master Ji anyway. Wouldn’t that be even more troublesome?”
For once, Muruo was clearheaded and analyzed things logically for him!
Jingrong hesitated!
At this moment, Fang Mingsan also chased after them, directly lifting his robe and kneeling down, prostrating himself on the ground in supplication.
“Your Highness, this official begs you to stay two more days and let Master Ji investigate the truth. Just consider it helping the common people of Yuzhou City. I beg you.”
He kowtowed!
A heavy thud.
Along with him, everyone in the entire yamen also knelt down in supplication.
Ji Yunshu descended from the carriage and looked at the ground full of kneeling Yuzhou constables, her heart growing extremely heavy.
Everyone was waiting for Jingrong’s decision!
After a long while—
Jingrong: “Fine. Five days then. After five days, we must leave the city.”
He finally relented!
Ji Yunshu’s heart immediately relaxed.
And Fang Mingsan kowtowed repeatedly in thanks.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”