The case was finally solved, and news spread quickly throughout Yuzhou City!

While everyone finally felt at ease with the case resolved, they were simultaneously shocked.

The murderer was Scholar Wen from the yamen?

This—

How unexpected!

The entire population of Yuzhou City began discussing it animatedly.

Meanwhile, inside the yamen, there was complete silence.

Currently, Yun Tongyang and Li Mingzhou had been thrown into prison. The case of the treasure robbery from twenty years ago, along with this recent murder case, had both been solved.

By rights, this should be a double blessing!

But Magistrate Fang Mingsan couldn’t feel happy at all.

From learning that the murderer was Wen Lingyang to Wen Lingyang’s death, he remained in a complete state of dazed shock.

Sitting in his chair, his gaze vacant!

Not just him—Constable Zhang was the same. A perfectly good brother-in-law, gone just like that.

Thinking of this, he slapped his thigh and shook his head with sighs. “Such sin, such sin!”

Indeed, such sin!

After a long while, Fang Mingsan straightened his body. His wide sleeves swept at his sides as he instructed Constable Zhang, “Old Zhang, Lingyang had no family or relatives. Though he killed someone, the law cannot ignore human feeling. Give him a proper burial—don’t skimp on any of the funeral rites.”

“Even if you hadn’t said so, My Lord, I would have done this anyway. After all, these past two years, Lingyang truly contributed much to the yamen. I always treated him as my brother-in-law, and he treated me as his elder brother. So leave his funeral arrangements to me.”

Patting his chest!

Fang Mingsan nodded, then looked toward the door.

Muttering, “If only Master Ji could stay in Yuzhou City, we wouldn’t have to worry about being unable to solve future cases.”

Dream on!

In the yamen’s back courtyard.

Jingrong’s men had already begun packing, preparing to depart at midday and reach a relay station to rest before nightfall.

Leaving right after solving the case, not even holding a celebration banquet.

This suited Jingrong’s hurried temperament!

Ji Yunshu stood in the courtyard, looking up at the osmanthus tree there.

On the tree, only lush green leaves hung from the branches.

No one knew what she was thinking—even when Shi Zijin called her several times, she didn’t respond.

“Master Ji?”

Shi Zijin simply reached out and touched her.

Only then did she snap back to attention and turn her head.

Shi Zijin said, “The prince says we can leave now.”

She nodded, then asked, “What about Old Madam Xie?”

“She’s already in the carriage.”

“What about Wei Yi?”

“Still in the room.”

Just as she finished speaking, Wei Yi came bounding out from inside, carrying a large pile of trinkets he’d collected from who knows where, clutching them tightly between his arms, the pile almost reaching above his head.

Even more coincidentally, Lang Bo entered from outside the courtyard just then.

And so—

Wei Yi very naturally threw everything in his hands to him.

And instructed, “Help me carry these to the carriage. Remember, be careful—don’t damage anything.”

“Young Master Wei, you…”

“What? Are you unwilling to help me?”

“I…”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

Lang Bo’s cheeks twitched!

For once, why must I always carry your toys?

He wanted to be stubborn this time and just throw the things on the ground, but in the end, he still pathetically helped carry everything to the carriage.

Seeing his treasures safely loaded onto the carriage, only then did Wei Yi tug at Ji Yunshu’s sleeve.

Saying, “Shu’er, can we go back to Jinjiang now?”

She nodded!

“Then I can see A’mi and the others.”

Extremely happy.

Ji Yunshu asked, “What were all those things just now?”

“Gifts! When I left home, I promised A’mi and Da Bao and the others that when I returned, I’d bring them presents.”

So that was it.

Jingrong emerged from the room and shot Wei Yi a glance. “Why aren’t you getting in the carriage?”

“I want to go with Shu’er.” Wei Yi deliberately moved closer to Ji Yun’s side, acting petty.

Jingrong rolled his eyes at him.

Childish!

Muruo also shuffled out from the room with unsteady steps.

In his hand, as always, nothing but wine, still wine.

He didn’t even glance their way, just waved his hand. “You all hurry up. I’ll go to the carriage for a nap first. Wake me when we arrive.”

With that, he stumbled off!

Afterward, once everything was loaded and whatever needed to be procured was procured.

They departed!

The group had just left the yamen when Lang Bo approached Jingrong, saying in a low voice by his ear, “Your Highness, those people from Gaoshan Stronghold have come again.”

Jingrong cast his gaze into the distance and saw Zhao Huai and his men on horseback, watching this direction intently.

No—staring at them!

“Watch them carefully. Don’t let them get close,” he ordered.

“Yes.” Lang Bo acknowledged.

Fang Mingsan lifted his official robe and stepped forward, bowing. “This case could only be solved thanks to Your Highness and Master Ji. This humble official thanks you.”

Finishing, he cupped his hands deeply again.

Jingrong lifted his chin slightly and said, “All right, Magistrate Fang. In future, if you encounter such cases again, report them to the court early and have the Court of Judicial Review send people to investigate. Don’t stubbornly insist on handling it yourself anymore.”

“Yes, yes, yes. This humble official will remember.”

“This matter has delayed our journey by five days. This prince cannot linger further. As for Scholar Wen and Yun Tongyang’s case, be clever about it—compile the case files and report them to the Ministry of Justice as soon as possible. Close it as early as you can.”

“Yes.”

Fang Mingsan acknowledged everything.

Ji Yunshu at the side pressed her lips together and stepped forward, saying, “Magistrate Fang, regarding Scholar Wen’s matter, My Lord need not grieve too much. The person has passed—let him depart in peace.”

Fang Mingsan nodded. “What Master says, this official understands. To have Master console me instead is truly…”

So shameful!

“People live with conscience and emotion, understanding reason. That Magistrate Fang feels grief in his heart is only natural. Besides, I’m not good at consoling people—I’m merely speaking my mind.”

“What Master says, this official will remember.”

Constable Zhang, who had been standing to the side, scratched his head and stepped forward hesitantly.

Saying, “Master Ji, after meeting once at the inn outside Yuzhou, I didn’t expect we’d meet again here. I hope we can meet again next time.”

Ji Yunshu smiled. “I think we’d better not, Constable Zhang.”

“Why not?”

“Because every time I encounter you, a murder case occurs.”

Ah!

That was actually true.

Constable Zhang laughed awkwardly.

The group exchanged pleasantries for a while!

Seeing it was nearly noon, Jingrong said, “All right, Magistrate Fang need not see us off further. Go quickly to handle the case’s aftermath. This prince won’t delay any longer.”

With that, he pulled Ji Yunshu onto the carriage.

Fang Mingsan and Constable Zhang saw them off for several hundred meters, watching as the carriage headed toward Yuzhou City’s gate, growing more and more distant in the midday sunlight…

Meanwhile, Zhao Huai led his men, following behind their carriage.

Neither pressing close nor falling behind!

When the carriage reached the city gate, it suddenly stopped.

They heard Lang Bo’s voice from outside: “Master Ji, Madam Li is looking for you.”

Ji Yunshu lifted the curtain to look outside and saw Yu Yin supporting Madam Li, standing on the left side of the city gate.

Yu Yin wore plain brocade clothing, and the makeup on her face was much lighter—she looked like a modest young lady from a small household.

As for Madam Li’s originally gentle and kind face, it seemed as if overnight it had gained many more wrinkles, aged considerably.

She quickly got off the carriage and walked over.