They were two black cats with extremely glossy fur, very handsome-looking, though not large in size.

Around each cat’s neck hung a round, translucent jade bead, made of premium Hetian jade.

The cats of wealthy households really were different!

Ji Yunshu curiously asked Steward Zhang, “These two cats are raised by the household, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they’re raised by the First Madam. The First Madam loves cats very much and has raised many over the years, but Master didn’t like them. He said these cats were strange and inauspicious, and Master particularly disliked the dirt. But because the First Madam liked them, he didn’t say anything. These cats were also very afraid of Master, but today is strange—now that Master is dead, they want to pounce inside. Perhaps these cats have spiritual awareness and want to see Master off.”

“And where is your First Madam?”

“After Master died, the First Madam was too shocked and returned to her room.”

After learning this, Ji Yunshu asked no more!

However—

One of the cats suddenly rubbed against her feet, its claws scratching at her leg, trying hard to climb up.

Seeing this, Steward Zhang quickly had someone take the cat away.

They could only hear those two cats yowling incessantly, as if they had taken some kind of stimulant.

Then, the group went to Old Master Zhang’s room.

When entering, Steward Zhang also said, “After Master’s incident last night, no one has entered the room.”

As he spoke, he pushed open the door!

The furnishings in the room were very neat and clean—clearly the room of a wealthy household.

But—

It also didn’t look like someone lived there regularly.

Steward Zhang explained, “Master usually lives in the Third Madam’s courtyard. He only stays in this room seven or eight days a month. Last night, he just came back to change clothes.”

Ji Yunshu nodded, looked around the outer room for a while, then walked into the inner room.

Unexpectedly, many porcelain items displayed in the inner room were shattered on the floor.

As if there had been a fight.

Seeing this, Steward Zhang was shocked. “What happened here? How did the things in the room get broken like this? Could thieves have broken in?”

Just as he was about to call for people.

“No.” Ji Yunshu said calmly. “There are far more valuable items in the outer room than the inner room. There’s no reason thieves wouldn’t steal from outside, and besides, thieves come to steal things, not to smash things.”

“That’s true, but this…”

“That night, was it truly only your master who entered this room alone?”

“Master came to change clothes.”

“Then, did a fight occur?”

“It shouldn’t have. If Master had fought with someone in the room last night, there’s no reason he wouldn’t have mentioned it when he returned to the banquet.” Steward Zhang was puzzled.

Ji Yunshu crouched down and used her handkerchief to pick up the shattered porcelain pieces from the floor to examine them.

In the outer room, Liu Zhiliang lowered his voice, turned to Jingrong who was accompanying them, and said, “Your Highness, would you like to…”

Go rest? Or sit down?

Jingrong raised his hand, interrupting his words.

And very seriously told him, “This prince’s person—this prince will watch over himself. If you’re tired, then sit down and rest.”

How dare he!

“This official is not tired.”

Insincere!

“Then don’t talk so much. Mister Ji hates being disturbed most when investigating cases.”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

As he spoke, he deliberately stepped back two paces.

This Prince Rong has a prickly disposition!

He snaps at anyone who displeases him.

But that Mister Ji happens to be an iron fortress, the perfect antidote.

Ji Yunshu picked up several porcelain fragments and discovered fine hairs on all of them.

She rubbed them between her fingertips, then held them to her nose to smell.

“A cat broke these things.”

She reached her conclusion.

Steward Zhang immediately objected, “Impossible. Master hated cats most, so cats aren’t allowed in the courtyard. How could it be a cat?”

Ji Yunshu handed him the cat hair. “This is cat hair. If you don’t believe it, take it to compare and you’ll know.”

“What’s going on? This cat… how could it appear in Master’s room?”

“That would require asking the person who raises cats.”

“The First Madam?” Steward Zhang said. “Sir, does this cat entering the room have any connection to Master’s death?”

“Whether there’s a connection or not, investigating the matter thoroughly is always right.”

But Steward Zhang was very troubled.

He swallowed but couldn’t get a word out.

Suddenly—

A person appeared at the doorway, with two young maidservants standing beside her.

The woman wore luxurious brocade, full of noble bearing, with gold and silver bracelets—lacking nothing. That gentle face showed a trace of coldness, clearly someone very shrewd.

And beneath her delicate eyebrows, her eyes held an intimidating cold light that made people fearful.

This person was the First Madam.

In her arms nestled a pure white kitten. Her clean hands stroked the smooth cat’s body over and over.

The cat’s neck also wore a Hetian jade bead. It remained obediently still, its luminous eyes only staring straight ahead, round and bright.

“First Madam.”

Steward Zhang called out, then quickly bowed and went forward to greet her, explaining, “First Madam, Lord Liu brought an investigator here, saying that…”

“I know everything already.”

Her tone was flat.

The First Madam, holding the cat, walked before Liu Zhiliang, then narrowed her eyes at Ji Yunshu in the inner room.

Only then did she speak. “Lord Liu, could it be that the case still has some doubts? To actually send a coroner to the household and even cut open my master’s body.”

“First Madam, this official is only trying to investigate the truth.”

“Investigate? What more is there to investigate? The murderer has already been caught and should be executed immediately.” The First Madam’s eyes held a sinister look.

They say officials fear the wealthy most—this actually isn’t wrong.

Liu Zhiliang clearly felt somewhat intimidated by this First Madam.

Instead, Steward Zhang beside them spoke up. “First Madam, it was the young master who agreed to let that gentleman cut open Master’s body—he also wanted to obtain justice for Master.”

“That bastard born of a concubine actually presumes to make decisions?”

“This…”

“Pass down this madam’s order—bind that little bastard and give him thirty strikes of the rod. Otherwise, he’ll really think the Zhang family has no one in charge.”

Steward Zhang was troubled. “That won’t do, First Madam. After all, there’s still the Third Madam…”

Before he could finish, the First Madam glared with fierce eyes. “This madam’s words are Master’s words. If the Third Madam dares to obstruct, beat her along with him.”

Her voice was loud and clear!

With no choice, Steward Zhang could only pass down the orders.

This First Madam truly was not someone to be trifled with.

Ji Yunshu walked out from the inner room and politely cupped her hands toward the First Madam. “Madam, my surname is Ji. Learning that a murder occurred in your household, I took the liberty of having Lord Liu bring me here.”

The First Madam coldly swept her eyes up and down.

And that originally docile cat, when Ji Yunshu approached, actually began to grow restless!

It even wanted to pounce over.

As a result, the First Madam slapped it hard with her hand, scolding, “When one enters the household as a guest, how can you cry out wildly at guests?”

Having been struck, the cat shrank back between the First Madam’s arms.

Ji Yunshu’s eyes tightened!

Strange!

Too strange!