“Zhao Huai!”

She had almost forgotten that from Shanhuai County to Yuzhou City, Zhao Huai and his people had been following them the whole time.

But—

“Weren’t they also going to Yu Prefecture? By this time, they should have already left Yuzhou City.”

How strange!

Jingrong, however, said helplessly, “Zhao Huai’s people have been guarding outside the county yamen every day, with pairs of eyes fixed on the yamen entrance. This prince has wanted to capture them multiple times to question them thoroughly, but seeing that they have no other intentions, I let it go.”

“So they’re not going to Yu Prefecture at all—they’re clearly following us.”

“Whether they are or aren’t, we won’t worry about it for now. The origin of this tattoo is most important. No matter what, Zhao Huai is also someone from the underworld and should know something. This prince will send someone to invite him to the yamen, and we’ll know once we ask.”

Ji Yunshu nodded. “Have someone take a drawing of this tattoo to show him.”

“Yes.”

After the group returned to the yamen from the cemetery, Jingrong had Lang Bo personally make the trip.

Outside the yamen!

Not far away, two figures pressed against the corner of a wall, constantly surveying the comings and goings at the yamen, not daring to slack off for a moment.

As soon as Lang Bo exited the yamen, he saw two pairs of eyes staring at him from a distance. He let out a snorting laugh and walked in that direction.

The two people hiding at the corner saw him coming and wanted to quickly hide and leave, but in the end, Lang Bo still caught them red-handed.

They were blocked in a dead-end alley!

The two trembled and asked, “What do you want to do?”

“What do I want to do?” Lang Bo smiled. “You two have been watching the yamen for the past two days. I should be asking you what you want to do.”

“We weren’t watching.”

“I’ve caught you red-handed, and you still want to deny it? How about I take you both inside to sit down? Brew some tea and have a good chat.”

The two exchanged glances and swallowed hard.

Yet they still flatly denied it. “We were just passing by here.”

“Didn’t your head boss tell you to do this?”

“No.”

The two argued sophistically. Knowing they were no match for Lang Bo, they didn’t dare speak harshly, lest they get beaten up.

Lang Bo looked at them coldly, his eyes narrowing slightly with an “I’ve seen through you long ago” expression. He didn’t continue to expose them but instead stuffed a piece of paper into their hands.

“Go ask your head boss if he recognizes this tattoo. If he does, have him come to the yamen immediately. Remember, this is an important matter. If you delay it, next time I’ll arrest you both and take you to the yamen to let you taste our Da Lin’s ten great tortures.”

After warning them, Lang Bo turned around dashingly.

He left!

The two were left completely bewildered.

Yet they were truly afraid of delaying the matter and facing torture, so they quickly rushed off to notify Zhao Huai.

…

In the rear courtyard of the yamen!

Ji Yunshu washed her hands outside, then sat on a stone bench pondering the case, her mind full of thoughts about that murder case.

The tattoo?

The bracelet?

The human skin mask?

The ill-fitting shoes?

The deceased being hanged?

And that garment stained with dirt?

All these things—if they were connected, what kind of connection would it be?

Right now, clues were spinning round and round in her mind.

Suddenly—

“What is Mr. Ji thinking about?”

Wen Lingyang’s voice rang out.

She pulled back her thoughts. He had already sat down in the chair opposite her.

“Does Secretary Wen have business with me?”

“No, I was just passing by and saw you thinking about something, so I came in to ask if there’s anywhere I can help?”

His tone was that of a refined gentleman, carrying a magnetic quality!

Between his brows and eyes, he indeed bore some resemblance to Ji Pei.

If one looked closely, one could truly become captivated.

Ji Yunshu smiled faintly in response. “Actually, it’s just about the case. So many things piled together instead make one confused.”

“However, you are a clever person, sir. This case will surely be solved.”

“Even horses stumble, let alone people!”

Ji Yunshu responded modestly!

Wen Lingyang nodded and smiled, then carefully studied her for a few more moments. That fair and clean face had delicate features, as if carved by a craftsman. Under those fan-like eyelashes, her limpid and clear eyes seemed to gather profound light, revealing a melancholy and deeply settled feeling.

Her entire bearing lacked a measure of masculine rigidity and possessed a measure of feminine grace.

If not a man, she would certainly be a beauty.

Ji Yunshu felt somewhat uncomfortable being stared at and asked, “Is there something dirty on my face?”

As she spoke, she gently wiped with her sleeve.

“No, I just feel that you are very refined, sir. You understand autopsy examination and drawing, and can even solve mysterious cases. It truly makes one envious and jealous. If only this Wen had half of your abilities.”

“Secretary Wen gives too much credit. I’m merely showing off my meager skills before an expert. My knowledge is shallow and not presentable. On the contrary, you, Secretary Wen, have read extensively and possess outstanding abilities. Even your calligraphy penetrates deeply and reveals vigorous spirit. You should compete again in the imperial examinations and advance in official career. But I heard from Constable Zhang that you don’t like competing for fame and profit. You’re someone who treats fame and fortune lightly, preferring to remain leisurely and carefree in Yuzhou City rather than wade into official circles. How could I compare to such a mindset?”

“You’re too kind! I’m merely an uncultured person.”

The two complimented each other, yet every word was sincere!

Wen Lingyang asked, “Is the gentleman from Jinjiang?”

“Yes.”

“Jinjiang is located in the territory of North Liang. Although the climate is somewhat cold, it’s also like a southern town—a very nice place.” He then immediately asked, “Jinjiang is quite good. I wonder why you went to the capital, sir?”

Ji Yunshu: “Life’s coincidences.”

Wen Lingyang smiled. “This time Prince Rong is going to Yu Prefecture to investigate the relief silver matter, and you’re traveling together, sir. It’s clear that Prince Rong trusts you greatly. They say the capital is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, but with Prince Rong’s protection, you also have a reliable support like Mount Tai. Moreover, Prince Rong is even taking you along to Yu Prefecture, which shows his regard for you is far from ordinary.”

In modern terms, wasn’t he saying that she, Ji Yunshu, was clinging to a wealthy patron?

Hey, hey, hey!

I’m not a kept man, okay?

Even if the facts were truly so, you don’t need to say it so bluntly, do you?

Regarding these words, Ji Yunshu secretly harbored some reservations, yet her tone remained amiable: “Secretary Wen may have misunderstood. I’m going to Yu Prefecture County with His Highness because we each have our own matters to attend to.”

Wen Lingyang showed a look of sudden understanding, nodded, and asked again, “Then I wonder what matter the gentleman has?”

“A trivial matter—it’s a long story.”

She didn’t want to say!

Fortunately, Wen Lingyang wasn’t the type to get to the bottom of everything and tactfully ended this topic.

The previous exchange of questions and answers had now ceased.

Between the two, things suddenly felt somewhat awkward!

Just as Wen Lingyang was about to leave, a commotion suddenly came from outside the door.

From the voice, it was clearly Wei Yi!

Ji Yunshu rose abruptly and quickly left the courtyard.

She saw Wei Yi crouching on the ground with both hands holding his head, continuously muttering, “I didn’t do it on purpose…”

Before him stood a young woman in green clothing, looking about sixteen or seventeen years old. She appeared like a refined young lady from a modest family, but at this moment her face was fierce, both hands on her hips, completely losing her ladylike bearing. Those highly arched eyebrows showed at a glance that she was a willful and unreasonable mistress.

She resembled Jing Xuan somewhat when she was being willful.

The young woman pointed at Wei Yi on the ground, raising her voice, “It’s all because of you! I painstakingly prepared snowflake congee for an entire day, and just like that you smashed it. You have to compensate me.”

She stamped her foot!

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Does saying ‘I didn’t do it on purpose’ make it okay? Do you know how much silver that bowl of snowflake congee cost?”

The young woman’s eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at the spilled snowflake congee on the ground with both anger and heartache.

So her feelings were all about the silver.