Yu Yin studied her carefully. She had to admit, without those two small mustaches, this Mr. Ji was quite good-looking.

She said, “I heard that Magistrate Fang invited a Mr. Ji to investigate this murder case. I didn’t expect that in just one day, Mr. Ji would catch me, this ghost.”

“Then I wonder why you, this ghost, wanted to frighten people?” Ji Yunshu’s tone was extremely pleasant, as if coaxing a child.

“Are you trying to trick me into talking?”

“Miss Yu Yin is overthinking. As I said earlier, this isn’t a courtroom, and I’m not Magistrate Fang. I won’t interrogate you.”

Yu Yin was half-believing, half-doubting. “Then what are you doing here?”

“The prison cell has heavy cold air. Your body is delicate, miss. If you catch an illness, that would be bad. I specially brought hot food and hot tea to warm you up.”

Yu Yin glanced at the food box, let out a cold laugh, and pushed it aside.

“That’s not necessary.”

With this push, her slender wrist was revealed, and at the same time, the two characters carved on the inside of the bracelet on her wrist were also exposed.

‘Shang Xi’!

What did that mean?

So—

Ji Yunshu deliberately said, “Miss, this bracelet is Hetian jade, isn’t it? This jade comes from the Xinjiang area. It can be said to be the finest jade. Judging by the color, it must be quite valuable!”

The next moment, Yu Yin immediately withdrew her hand into her sleeve.

Ji Yunshu: “‘Shang Xi’? Could this be another name of yours, miss?”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

Yu Yin spoke coldly, looking highly alert.

Ji Yunshu smiled and picked up the food box to stand.

“Since Miss Yu Yin doesn’t want my help in this time of need, then I won’t disturb you. The prison has heavy dampness—please take care of your health, miss.”

Yu Yin didn’t answer.

After Ji Yunshu came out of the prison, she wrote the two characters ‘Shang Xi’ and handed them to Fang Mingsan.

“Magistrate Fang, can you find out what these two characters represent?”

Fang Mingsan glanced at them and immediately handed them to Wen Lingyang to investigate.

By early the next morning, news arrived.

It turned out that the two characters ‘Shang Xi’ were the courtesy name of Master Li of Yuzhou City.

That Master Li, named Mingzhou with the courtesy name ‘Shang Xi’, was a famous jade merchant in the Yuzhou area. But due to business reasons, he wasn’t often in Yuzhou City.

This person could also be considered a good man who frequently helped poor common people and was not stingy at all.

So then, why would Yu Yin’s jade bracelet be engraved with that Master Li’s courtesy name?

Fang Mingsan found it strange.

“Li Mingzhou is an upright person. He shouldn’t go to that kind of pleasure house.”

Wen Lingyang said, “But in all of Yuzhou City, the only one with the courtesy name ‘Shang Xi’ is that Master Li.”

Ji Yunshu asked, “Is he in Yuzhou City?”

“He just returned last night.”

“If we want to know whether he has a relationship with Miss Yu Yin, we just need to ask.”

“Does the gentleman want to go to the Li residence?”

She shook her head. “No, we should invite him to come to the yamen.”

…

Very quickly, Li Mingzhou “descended” upon the yamen.

This person looked to be in his mid-forties and had a very kind face.

Dressed in plain and elegant clothing, he was a refined middle-aged man.

When Li Mingzhou entered the main hall of the yamen, his expression wasn’t flustered. He first cupped his hands in salute to Jingrong.

“I pay my respects to Prince Rong.”

It seemed that before coming, he already knew Jingrong was here—he had done his homework.

Jingrong only looked at him coldly.

Not receiving a response, Li Mingzhou asked Fang Mingsan humbly, “I wonder what matter Magistrate Fang summoned this Li for?”

Fang Mingsan sat in the high hall and didn’t want to beat around the bush, asking directly, “This official summoned you to ask whether you know Miss Yu Yin of Chang’an Institute?”

“Yu Yin?” Li Mingzhou shook his head. “Chang’an Institute is a pleasure house. How could this Li possibly go to such a place, much less know the people inside?”

“Li Mingzhou, in this courtroom, lying is not permitted.”

“Every word this Li speaks is true. Moreover, this Li is away from Yuzhou City year-round. Everyone in the Li household can testify to this. If Your Honor doesn’t believe me, you can have me confront that Miss Yu Yin face to face.”

He had a completely open and honest appearance!

Not the slightest bit guilty.

Ji Yunshu stepped forward with a smile on her face and took out a piece of paper with a drawing of the bracelet Yu Yin wore on her wrist.

The drawing was lifelike!

“Master Li, you deal in jade. I wonder if you’ve ever sold a bracelet like this?”

Li Mingzhou glanced at it and nodded. “This is crafted from superior Hetian jade. I did indeed sell this style—only ten were made two years ago.”

“Then do you remember to whom they were sold?”

“It’s been so long, I don’t really remember, and there are no records either.”

“Then are characters or marks of some kind engraved on this type of bracelet?”

Li Mingzhou denied it, “Of course not.”

In observing his eyes, Ji Yunshu didn’t detect anything suspicious.

She didn’t question further and gave Fang Mingsan a meaningful look.

Fang Mingsan understood and said, “Since that’s the case, Master Li may return home.”

Li Mingzhou didn’t ask much about the reason, nor did he even inquire about why he had been connected to Yu Yin.

He simply cupped his hands and left.

But before he could exit the courtroom, he was bumped into squarely by Wei Yi, who came rushing in. His body stumbled back several steps, and it was Ji Yunshu who stepped forward to steady him.

With this support, Ji Yunshu happened—by sheer coincidence—to see a tattoo on the back of Li Mingzhou’s neck.

Surprisingly, that tattoo was identical to the one on Master Chang’s ankle.

Ji Yunshu’s mind went numb.

Li Mingzhou expressed his thanks, “Thank you, sir.”

“No need.” Ji Yunshu stepped back two paces and asked, “I wonder if Master Li is well-acquainted with Master Chang?”

“I only know of this person, but we have no dealings in business or privately.”

Ji Yunshu smiled and asked no more.

After Li Mingzhou left, Wei Yi bounced up to her and said, “Shu’er, what are you all doing?”

She didn’t pay attention to Wei Yi but instead looked toward Fang Mingsan with a grave expression.

“Magistrate Fang, I need to examine the bodies of the other two deceased once more.”

…

Fang Mingsan’s efficiency was very high. The coffins of the other two deceased were quickly dug up.

Ji Yunshu examined the bodies on site—the cause of death was hanging.

Fortunately, the degree of decomposition of those two bodies wasn’t very severe, and the marks on the bodies could still be faintly distinguished.

Sure enough, both of them had the same tattoo on their bodies!

Only the locations of the tattoos were different.

All three deceased and Li Mingzhou had the same tattoo. What did this represent?

Jingrong glanced at the bodies in the coffins and asked, “Have you figured something out?”

Ji Yunshu voiced her thoughts.

Jingrong began to analyze, “That means there’s a relationship between Li Mingzhou and the three deceased? Yu Yin’s bracelet is also engraved with Li Mingzhou’s courtesy name. Even more coincidentally, the three people Yu Yin frightened while pretending to be a ghost were precisely those three. If we follow this line of reasoning, Li Mingzhou actually does know Yu Yin and has some kind of relationship with the three deceased. Yu Yin, following Li Mingzhou’s instructions, deliberately pretended to be a ghost to frighten those deceased first. Afterward, Li Mingzhou killed those three people and logically attributed the matter to supernatural explanations?”

Was the murderer really Li Mingzhou?

Was it that simple?

Could this case be considered solved?

Ji Yunshu didn’t think so and wasn’t certain in her heart.

She said doubtfully, “But what’s Li Mingzhou’s motive for killing? Why would he kill them? And what does this tattoo mean?”

Jingrong thought for a moment and suddenly said, “Perhaps there’s one person who knows.”

“Who?”

“Zhao Huai!”