Chang’an House!

Ji Yunshu smiled awkwardly and said nothing more.

Wen Lingyang said, “I need to go see Magistrate Fang first, so I won’t disturb Master while you review the case files. If there’s anything unclear, call for me at any time.”

Once Wen Lingyang left, Constable Zhang said, “Miss Ji… Master Ji, Legal Secretary Wen has been at the yamen for two years now. He’s a very good person—not only smart, but also highly efficient in handling matters.”

“Why does Constable Zhang only praise Legal Secretary Wen’s good points?”

“To be honest with Master, actually…” Constable Zhang carried a bit of embarrassment and said with simple honesty, “My younger sister greatly admires Legal Secretary Wen, and as her older brother, I naturally have some personal interest in this.”

Pfft—

Ji Yunshu lowered her head and smiled. “So that’s how it is. I see that Legal Secretary Wen is a talented person with a distinguished appearance, and he’s also meticulous in his actions. He truly is a rare good person. Your sister has good judgment.”

“Indeed, indeed.”

“However, there’s one thing I don’t understand.”

Constable Zhang asked, “Please speak, Master.”

“Since Legal Secretary Wen is so intelligent and has already passed the xiucai examination, by rights he should enter the capital to continue taking the imperial examinations. Why has he been working at the yamen for two years instead?”

Constable Zhang: “Legal Secretary Wen said he has no desire to take the imperial examinations or become some top scholar. That’s just a title—it’s not as comfortable as being a minor legal secretary in Yuzhou City.”

Mm!

Indifferent to fame and fortune—worthy of admiration.

Ji Yunshu smiled warmly and nodded.

Returning to the desk, she reviewed the case files once more.

When the sky had almost darkened, she went to find Fang Mingsan.

Fang Mingsan was worrying about the case. In these past one or two months, he’d barely eaten a few bites of food, and his whole person had become much more haggard.

Seeing Ji Yunshu come to find him, thinking there might be progress on the case, he asked urgently, “Master Ji, have you found a lead?”

Are you joking?

“Magistrate Fang, I’ve only reviewed the case files for a while and learned the details of the matter. The specific content still requires examining the deceased and the crime scene before any conclusions can be drawn.”

Fang Mingsan nodded.

“This official understands.”

He waved his hand and instructed two young constables, “Hurry to the Chang residence and notify them that Old Master Chang’s body should temporarily not be buried—there will need to be another autopsy.”

“Yes!”

The young constables scurried off.

Fang Mingsan pointed outside. “Master Ji, you can see it’s getting late. Why not rest for the night and go to the Chang residence early tomorrow morning?”

“No need. The case is urgent.”

After all, Jingrong had only given her five days. She didn’t want to waste time—whether to rest or not could be discussed later.

Seeing her so determined, Fang Mingsan gave orders to bring people from the yamen and notify Wen Lingyang to bring writing implements, and they all went together to the Chang residence.

Just as they left the door, Jingrong followed along.

“This prince will go with you.”

With a cold expression on his face!

Fang Mingsan stepped forward. “Your Highness, you should go rest first. With this official at Master Ji’s side, she certainly won’t come to any harm.”

Jingrong let out a derisive laugh, flicked his sleeve, clasped his hands behind his back, and stared at Ji Yunshu. “This prince doesn’t distrust you, Magistrate Fang—I distrust Master Ji.”

Mm?

What did that mean?

Ji Yunshu’s eyes twitched slightly. She pursed her lips, powerless to retaliate.

Indeed, in Jingrong’s eyes, she was a trouble magnet!

…

The group arrived at the Chang residence!

Two young servants in mourning clothes stood at the entrance. The main gate was tightly closed, and even the iron rings were wrapped with white cloth strips.

On the way over, Fang Mingsan had also told Ji Yunshu about the Chang residence’s situation.

In Yuzhou City, the Chang residence could be considered a prominent household. Old Master Chang had made his fortune in silk, and he basically monopolized the entire silk business in Yuzhou City. However, Old Master Chang was a kind man who would give rice and porridge during festivals and holidays. His reputation in Yuzhou City was very good, so naturally he had no enemies. For him to die for no reason was truly suspicious.

If one said he was harmed by family members, that didn’t make sense either.

When Old Master Chang was alive, he treated the servants in his household very well and was also generous. Everyone said he was a living Bodhisattva. If he died, the people in the residence wouldn’t gain any benefits. Moreover, there was no dispute over family property, because after Old Master Chang’s first wife died seven years ago, he never remarried.

He had only one daughter under his knees!

Excluding these possibilities, what else could there be?

Ji Yunshu pondered for a moment but reached no conclusion.

After everyone arrived at the mourning hall in the Chang residence’s rear courtyard, the coffin was still placed in the center of the room. White satin hung all around, incense and candles were lit, and at the entrance was placed a basin covered with a black cloth, on which rested a white flower.

At the corner of the entrance hung two white lanterns that flickered with light along with the falling moonlight.

Below the lanterns hung two jade pendants tied with black cords.

This display was typical of prominent households.

In the mourning hall, Miss Chang knelt to one side, wearing mourning clothes and a mourning cap, her head lowered as she sobbed.

A wet nurse accompanied her, offering comfort from time to time, but to no avail.

Seeing so many people arrive, Steward Chang came forward. First, he glanced at Jingrong and Ji Yunshu behind them, then said to Fang Mingsan, “Magistrate Fang, didn’t the yamen’s coroner already conduct an autopsy before? Why must there be another examination?”

Fang Mingsan stepped aside and pointed to Jingrong. “Steward Chang, this is Prince Rong.”

“Prince Rong?” Steward Chang froze, then quickly knelt on the ground. “This lowly one pays respects to Your Highness. Not knowing Your Highness was coming, I failed to welcome you properly.”

Jingrong’s eyes narrowed slightly. He raised his hand. “Rise. No need to make a fuss.”

Only then did Steward Chang rise hesitantly, but he didn’t dare raise his head, both reverent and fearful.

Fang Mingsan then pointed to Ji Yunshu and introduced, “This is Master Ji. This case will be handled by him, so we’ve brought Master here. That’s why Old Master Chang’s burial is delayed by a day.”

“I see.”

Steward Chang raised his eyelids to glance at Ji Yunshu, then stood to the side with a bow, extending his hand toward the mourning hall. “My master’s body is inside. Master, please proceed.”

Ji Yunshu nodded and stepped forward.

Just as she walked to the coffin’s edge, Miss Chang, who had been kneeling and sobbing, suddenly spoke out.

“Who are you?”

Her tone carried a hint of choking, as delicate as the sound of a slender willow branch falling onto a water surface.

Ji Yunshu looked and met Miss Chang’s tear-filled, reddened eyes.

The young woman appeared to be about ten years old, petite and beautiful, gracefully refined. Her small frame knelt on the ground, trembling slightly at this moment.

Ji Yunshu said, “My surname is Ji.”

“Are you here to investigate my father’s cause of death?”

“Yes.”

“Then, can you find out who killed my father?”

“If it was murder, yes.”

“My father doted on me very much. Now that he’s dead, I don’t know what to do.”

Miss Chang’s nose felt sore, and her large eyes stared fixedly at her.

Ji Yunshu walked to her, crouched down, and rubbed her head, asking, “What’s your name?”

“Yiyan.”

“That’s a beautiful name.”

“This name was given by my mother, but she’s already dead. Now my father is dead too.”

Speaking of it, she was truly pitiable!

Ji Yunshu said, “Yiyan, go back to your room first and get some good sleep. Tomorrow morning, we’ll see your father off at the funeral.”

The wet nurse beside them moved her lips, thinking to herself that she’d already tried to persuade her several times, but Chang Yiyan just wouldn’t go rest. You, someone who just appeared, how could you possibly persuade her?

Who would have known—

Chang Yiyan actually nodded.