Others threw cold water on it. “Look at your spineless attitude. That Miss Zhanmo has a golden voice—she’s a top-tier dan performer. Only wealthy people can afford to hire her. People like us who toil in the fields, we could save for half a lifetime and still not afford to hear one song.”

That person clicked his tongue and walked away, uninterested!

Muruo was curious and continued asking, “Then why would that Miss Zhanmo want to kill someone? And how did the authorities catch her? Didn’t they say he died halfway through the performance? How did it get pinned on that young lady?”

At this question, a thin, wiry man leaned over.

“I know this.” He quickly said, “My second brother-in-law works at the yamen. When he came back last night, he said that Miss Zhanmo personally delivered a cup of tea to Master Zhang before taking the stage. Master Zhang died after drinking that cup of tea. The coroner examined the body, and there was poison in that cup of tea.”

“But why would she want to kill Master Zhang? They had no grievances.”

“Who knows? The young lady refused to say anything at the time. She’s been arrested and locked in the yamen prison. If they use harsh interrogation, she won’t be able to endure it and will eventually confess.”

“What a pity, really.”

Muruo understood and squeezed out of the crowd, returning to his original seat to drink wine as if his earlier actions had no significance whatsoever.

Jingrong didn’t mention the matter either!

Ji Yinshu could only swallow her words.

After their things were packed and new supplies purchased, Jingrong gave the order to depart.

But just as they left the inn, the crowd in the distance suddenly became agitated.

Some people screamed, some shouted loudly, and there were continuous sounds of things falling to the ground…

Getting closer and closer…

Then one person burst out of the crowd, running frantically toward them.

Just as they were about to collide with Jingrong’s group, guards beside him seized the person.

They pressed them to the ground like an assassin.

The person pressed to the ground shouted frantically, “Gone, everything’s gone, I have nothing left…”

Soon, a group of people came running over hurriedly, loudly calling out “Troupe Master.”

It turned out to be those theater troupe people.

And the one pressed to the ground was their troupe master.

Jingrong waved his hand, and the guards released him.

The theater troupe people helped the troupe master up, saying, “Troupe Master, let’s go back. Zhanmo will be fine.”

“Gone…”

Like he’d gone mad!

The people from the theater troupe all sighed, and some of the women even cried.

Jingrong and Ji Yinshu looked on, completely bewildered.

Only one day had passed—how had this old troupe master gone mad?

Just as they were thinking this—

Suddenly, a little maid dropped to her knees with a thud, kowtowing three times to Ji Yinshu.

“Miss, what are you doing?”

Ji Yinshu was stunned for a moment and reached out to pull her up, but the young lady pushed her away.

Crying, she pleaded, “Young master, you must help my mistress. Please save her. She didn’t kill anyone, she didn’t poison anyone. You were able to find out who stole our boxes, so you can surely find out who killed Master Zhang. Our troupe master can’t handle the shock and has become like this. We truly have no other options. Please have mercy and save her. I’ll kowtow to you, I beg you…”

With that, she began kowtowing.

The sound of her forehead hitting the ground was very loud, and soon it turned red and bloody.

It was heartbreaking to watch.

“Get up first.” Ji Yinshu tried hard to pull her up.

But the little girl was very strong, pushing her away while kowtowing.

“If you agree, young master, I’ll get up. If you don’t agree, I’ll kneel here forever.”

Ji Yinshu: “Whether your mistress killed someone or not has nothing to do with me. I have no evidence to prove she didn’t kill him. You’re putting me in a difficult position.”

The little girl straightened up, frantically waving her hands. “No, my mistress really didn’t kill anyone. The poison wasn’t planted by her—someone framed her. Young master, please save my mistress. I beg you.”

She began kowtowing again.

It seemed she would knock a huge hole in the stone slab.

Ji Yinshu’s expression showed difficulty. She could only turn to look at Jingrong, wanting to ask his opinion.

She saw Jingrong with a cold expression, looking at the woman on the ground, saying nothing.

After quite a while—

His heart hardened.

He said, “Go to the yamen.”

Hm?

Ji Yinshu thought she had heard wrong!

She froze.

Jingrong turned to instruct Lang Bo, “Go notify Liu Zhiliang first. Tell him I’ll arrive at the yamen shortly.”

“Yes.”

Lang Bo acknowledged!

His attitude greatly surprised Ji Yinshu.

After coming to her senses, she quickly told the little girl, “Miss, you should take your troupe master back first.”

“Does that mean you’re agreeing to help my mistress?”

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“If your mistress was framed, this case, I’ll take it.”

“Thank you, young master.”

The little girl kowtowed once more before standing up.

The theater troupe people expressed their gratitude profusely, then took the old troupe master away with the others.

Soon!

Jingrong, Ji Yinshu, and Muruo went to the yamen.

Liu Zhiliang received advance notice and waited at the entrance. As soon as they arrived, he immediately went to greet them.

“This official pays respects to Prince Rong. I wonder what brings the prince here?”

“Where is she?” Jingrong got straight to the point.

His expression was cold.

“To whom does the prince refer?”

“The suspect you arrested.”

Liu Zhiliang suddenly understood. “My lord, you came for this matter?”

“Bring her over. This prince will personally question her.”

With that, he went inside.

As Ji Yinshu passed by Liu Zhiliang, his gaze clearly paused, and his palm tightened.

He thought to himself, is this person Master Ji?

That Master Ji famous throughout the capital?

Thinking of this, he became somewhat nervous.

Yet he forced himself to remain calm and ordered someone to bring Zhanmo from the prison to the hall.

Zhanmo’s body was covered with wounds in every direction. Her thin clothing had been torn open from the beating, with fresh blood all over her body.

Her originally delicate face was also covered in red and blue bruises.

She was forced to kneel on the ground. Because her body was so weak, as soon as the yamen runner released her shoulders, she collapsed to the ground, deathly pale, her eyes only able to open weakly. She opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word.

Jingrong’s expression immediately darkened, fury building up inside him. His cold gaze shot toward Liu Zhiliang.

Liu Zhiliang was a cunning old fox and quickly stepped forward. “My lord, this official had no idea the jailers would torture this young lady. I beg the prince to see clearly.”

“If it wasn’t your order, who would dare act?”

“The prince must see clearly! This official would absolutely never use harsh torture on a young lady, especially when the evidence is still insufficient. This official only…”

“Enough!” Jingrong interrupted him. “Liu Zhiliang, this prince didn’t come today to hear your excuses, but to clarify the matter of the Zhang residence murder case.”

Liu Zhiliang lowered himself, trembling out a word, “Yes.”

Jingrong turned to tell Muruo, “She’s in your hands.”

Muruo nodded.

He stepped forward to examine Zhanmo, who was collapsed on the ground.

The woman had been beaten half to death, her entire body covered in blood. He didn’t dare touch her easily and could only gently brush aside the disheveled hair on her forehead.

He saw her eyes full of bloodshot veins.

Muruo’s hand tightened, and he became even more afraid to touch her.

He pulled out an exquisite bottle from his waist, poured out a pill, and placed it in Zhanmo’s mouth.

After she swallowed it, only then did Muruo help her up from the ground.

He whispered in her ear, “Listen, don’t say anything now. Later they’ll take you back to prison. That Master Ji will come find you. When that happens, tell her everything you know.”

Zhanmo couldn’t respond but could only nod slightly.