After the four of them dressed and came out, they saw the comical scene of Ji Yunshu, Constable Zhang, and Zhang Xinlan sitting separately in three chairs.

Wei Yi first rushed to Ji Yunshu’s side, forcefully hugging her arm, and deliberately threw a boastful look toward Jingrong.

But—

Jingrong was still thinking about the scar on Wen Lingyang’s waist from earlier and had no mind to pay attention to him.

Zhang Xinlan then threw herself at Wen Lingyang, her body practically hanging on his arm.

“Lingyang, didn’t you promise to teach me to write characters before? Last time I waited for you so long. This time you can’t run away again.”

She grabbed on and wouldn’t let go!

Wen Lingyang’s brow furrowed, and he groaned in pain.

Zhang Xinlan quickly released him and began examining his wrist, saying worriedly, “Did I hurt your hand again? It’s my fault—I knew your wrist was afflicted, yet I still grabbed you so hard.”

Wen Lingyang was a thin-skinned person, so naturally he felt somewhat embarrassed having his wrist ailment mentioned in public.

So he reached out and pushed her away.

He said, “Many things have happened at the yamen recently, so I couldn’t attend to you. We’ll talk about it after things are settled.”

“But…”

Zhang Xinlan felt hurt inside, but didn’t want to make a fuss anymore. She stared at his wrist, feeling terribly distressed.

Muruo suddenly walked over and, without asking, directly grabbed Wen Lingyang’s wrist that had just been hurting.

“Don’t move. Let me examine it.”

He rolled up the sleeve.

He pressed on the wrist several times.

He made his diagnosis!

“This isn’t from acquired trauma, but rather a hereditary condition. Scholar Wen’s parents—did they have this kind of symptom?”

He shook his head, withdrew his hand, and pulled down his sleeve.

Hiding it!

“I’m an orphan. My parents passed away when I was young, so I don’t know about their condition. Moreover, this wrist ailment has been with me since birth. I’ve long since gotten used to it—it doesn’t affect anything.”

“Scholar Wen is truly a hardworking person. To have an affliction in your wrist yet still write such excellent calligraphy—it’s admirable.”

“Young Master Mo flatters me.”

He added another instruction, “Remember to drink more tea brewed with goji berries—it can provide some relief.”

“Thank you.”

At this moment, Ji Yunshu walked over and said earnestly to Muruo, “Young Master Mo, please make a trip to the Li residence to examine Li Yuan’s condition. Before tomorrow morning, I hope you can help restore his sanity.”

“Just for this?”

“So far, on the night Chang Shiliang died, only Li Yuan entered the Chang residence. He may have even seen the murderer. Therefore, he’s the key to solving the case. There are some things we must ask him.”

Muruo thought for a moment, spread both hands, sat down in a seat nearby, crossed his knee, rested his hand on it, and said, “Master Ji, as you know, I don’t treat just any worthless person.”

“This matter relates to three murder cases.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

He poured himself a cup of water and took a sip.

Jingrong lifted his foot and kicked toward his thigh. “Aren’t you supposedly a divine physician? A divine physician even more formidable than that old man in your family. What, are you just all talk?”

Muruo had seen through him long ago.

He waved his sleeve. “Don’t use the provocation method on me—I don’t fall for that. The so-called benevolent practice of medicine comes in several varieties, and treating patients also comes in several varieties. Since I’m a divine physician, I should have the proper bearing of one. Otherwise, wouldn’t I have to personally take the pulse of everyone who comes to my Yuhua Pavilion seeking treatment? I’d be exhausted to death.”

Beneath his arrogance lay several principles.

Jingrong let out a cold laugh.

“If you don’t have the ability, just say so. No one will criticize you.”

“Who doesn’t have ability?”

“I didn’t say it was you.”

Muruo had indeed fallen into Jingrong’s trap.

He rose abruptly and said to Ji Yunshu, “It’s just examining a patient, isn’t it? Lead the way.”

The group left Water Moon Residence. Just as they reached the entrance, several junior constables from the yamen came running over in a hurry.

“This is bad, this is bad… something’s happened.”

They shouted.

Each one was panting for breath!

Covered in sweat!

Constable Zhang stepped forward and asked sternly, “What happened? What’s going on?”

The junior constable raised his hand, pointing in a general direction, and said breathlessly, “The Li… the Li residence—someone’s dead.”

“Someone’s dead at the Li residence? Who died?”

“Li Yuan.”

The junior constable took several deep breaths before slowly recovering.

Everyone was shocked to hear this!

Ji Yunshu asked, “When?”

“Half an hour ago. Magistrate Fang has already rushed over. He sent me to notify Master Ji and His Highness the Prince.” He continued, “They say that not long after Li Yuan was brought back to the Li family, he was found dead on his bed. His neck was slashed once, killing him instantly. His eyes were wide open—it was terrifying. The entire bed was stained red.”

Li Yuan was dead!

He was the only person who might have had contact with the murderer.

Could it be that the murderer had struck?

Trying to silence witnesses?

Afterward, Constable Zhang ordered the junior constable to escort Zhang Xinlan and Wei Yi back first.

Everyone rushed to the Li residence.

On the way, Jingrong exchanged a few private words with Ji Yunshu. “Earlier, while soaking in the hot spring, this prince noticed that Wen Lingyang has a scar on his body.”

Huh!

Ji Yunshu’s body trembled.

You have that kind of hobby?

Jingrong knew she had misunderstood, so he curled his finger and tapped her forehead.

“What are you thinking? I’m trying to tell you that the scar’s shape is very similar to the tattoo of the Liu Gang.”

“What?”

Ji Yunshu was shocked!

“Don’t be too surprised—it really is.” Jingrong was also puzzled. “But if he’s the seventh person among the seven brothers, twenty years ago he would have been just a few years old.”

To be the leader of the Liu Gang at just a few years old—that was too far-fetched.

Ji Yunshu thought so too!

She glanced at Wen Lingyang walking ahead, then said, “Let’s hurry to the Li residence first.”

Half an incense stick’s time later, they arrived at the Li residence!

The entire Li residence was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.

The servants and maids inside all looked terrified, trembling with fear.

In the back courtyard, outside Li Yuan’s room, people from the yamen surrounded the area, sealing off the crime scene.

Inside the room, there were only Fang Mingsan, Li Mingzhou, and a young maid.

Li Mingzhou sat collapsed beside the bed, his face completely dazed as he looked at Li Yuan covered with a white cloth on the bed.

The maid knelt on the ground, sobbing and weeping. Beside her was an overturned bowl of medicinal soup.

After Ji Yunshu entered, she asked about what had happened.

Fang Mingsan said, “We don’t really know what happened either. When the maid came in, she saw the person was already dead. But no one in the Li residence saw any suspicious person enter, and there were people guarding outside as well. By all logic, no one should have been able to come in to kill him. Could the murderer have somehow burrowed underground?”

It was bizarre!

After thinking, Fang Mingsan pointed at the maid on the ground. “Otherwise, it must have been this girl who killed him, because only she came in here.”

The maid’s body trembled. She quickly kowtowed, crying out her defense, “Your Honor, the person truly wasn’t killed by this servant! Even if you gave this servant ten thousand times the courage, I wouldn’t dare! This servant only came in to bring medicine to the Second Master. I truly didn’t know this would happen. I beg Your Honor to see clearly!”

She cried even more sorrowfully.

By this time, Ji Yunshu had already walked to the bedside and said to Li Mingzhou, “Let me examine the body.”

Li Mingzhou hung his head, his eyes shot through with red veins, as if they were about to go blind. A pair of hands tightly gripped the bloodstained white cloth.

It seemed like grief and sorrow, but the bulging veins on the backs of his hands looked more like rage!

After a while, he finally raised his head and said, “No need to investigate. If the person is dead, then he’s dead. Don’t investigate anymore. Don’t let anyone else die.”

His voice was hoarse!

His tone was almost one of helplessness and pleading.