A case of burying a corpse and murder?

The bailiff pointed at Fu Bo and said, “He is a murderer. We are now under orders to take him to the yamen. Where are you from? How dare you obstruct official business? Believe it or not, we’ll take you back to the yamen as well.”

A harsh rebuke!

Revealing a fierce look.

Fu Bo was being held up, his thin, skeletal body seeming as if it would break in half, placed in the rain, faintly trembling.

He shook his head, his eyes revealing waves of fear as he said, “Master Ji, I didn’t kill anyone. I’m innocent…”

“Shut up! The evidence is conclusive, and there are eyewitnesses who saw you burying the corpse. Once we escort you to the yamen prison, let’s see if you still cry innocence. Take him away.”

“Wait!” Ji Yunshu stopped them again. “Officer, from your tone, are you planning to extract a confession through torture?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“I just want to know where this so-called case of burying a corpse and murder came from.”

“Little scholar, I advise you not to meddle in other people’s business. This is yamen business, not for you to question. If you dare obstruct our work again, we’ll make you…”

“Smack!”

Before he could finish speaking, a stone suddenly shot out from inside the hall, striking the arrogant bailiff in the face.

Because the stone was thrown with great force, the bailiff was knocked back several steps and would have fallen if not for the person behind him barely managing to support him.

“Boss, are you alright?”

“Get away.”

The lead bailiff was burning with rage and felt utterly humiliated. His eyes filled with murderous intent as he looked toward the hall and roared, “You ignorant fools who don’t know life from death—you dare strike an official? Men, arrest them all.”

As he spoke, he was about to draw his sword and rush in.

But the sword was only half-drawn when another stone shot out, striking right at the hilt. The force was still strong, knocking the half-drawn sword back into its sheath.

At this moment, Jingrong stood up and stepped forward.

Lang Bo immediately followed with an umbrella.

Seeing the newcomer’s extraordinary bearing and the considerable presence between his brows and eyes, the bailiffs felt intimidated in their hearts, though the fierce look on their faces did not diminish in the slightest. Although they each retreated a few steps, they still challenged with their voices.

“You… who are you?”

Jingrong’s lips curved wickedly. “Since when did the Jinjiang yamen produce beasts like you? The swords and blades you carry don’t cut down bandits and murderers but are used to kill the innocent. You’re as rampant as mountain bandits. Using the court’s salary to feed you lot is simply wasteful.”

“You… what kind of blind fools are you? We are from the yamen.”

Just as the man finished speaking, Lang Bo raised his foot and fiercely kicked the man’s chest, causing him to spit blood.

“A dog’s mouth cannot produce ivory. Is my young master someone you can casually speak disrespectfully to? If not for seeing that you’re an officer, you’d be sent to hell right now.”

“You all…”

Having suffered losses, the bailiffs dared not act rashly again!

Jingrong glared with his hawk-like eyes and demanded, “Listen well. Now I ask you something, you answer. What person did this elderly man kill? Why do you say he buried a corpse and committed murder?”

“He did kill someone.”

“Speak clearly!”

The bailiff pressed his aching chest and said with difficulty, “Recently, floods have been rampant. A female corpse was washed out from the mountain forest. Someone saw Fu Bo burying something there a few days ago. Moreover, the deceased was clutching a long strip of cloth in her hand—that cloth was Fu Bo’s belt. Furthermore, the deceased was raped first and then killed.”

Eh!

Shocking!

Fu Bo killed someone? Raped first and then killed?

Ji Yunshu was so shocked that her pupils suddenly dilated, and she looked at Fu Bo.

Fu Bo’s pupils dilated as he desperately shook his head. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t kill anyone. Master Ji, you must believe me.”

His voice was aged. Although he tried his best to speak forcefully, it came out weak and powerless.

After speaking, he even started coughing!

Since Ji Yunshu had worked at the yamen five years ago, she had always interacted with Fu Bo. Whenever there was a murder case and a body was sent to the mortuary, she would definitely come. Fu Bo was also in the habit of boiling a pot of white vinegar water after a body was delivered, waiting for her to come perform the autopsy.

Fu Bo had a kind heart—how could he commit a case of rape and murder?

She absolutely would not believe it!

The bailiff gasped, swallowed, looked at them warily, and said with a stiff neck, “Alright, we’ve told you everything. The witness and physical evidence are all there—he can’t deny it. If you’re sensible, don’t obstruct official business. He’s a murderer. If you want to overturn his case, go to the yamen yourselves. But Magistrate Liu ordered us to come bring the criminal back. If anything goes wrong, we’ll also suffer.”

Indeed!

Jingrong hesitated and simply looked at Ji Yunshu. “You make the decision.”

Ji Yunshu pondered, walked to Fu Bo, and said, “Fu Bo, rest assured. If you didn’t kill the person, I will definitely clear your name. Go with them to the yamen now. I’ll come shortly.”

“Master Ji, you must believe me.”

“I naturally believe you, but the yamen has procedures for handling cases. If you didn’t kill anyone, naturally nothing will happen to you.”

Fu Bo was both terrified and worried.

In the end, he could only nod.

Seeing this, the bailiffs didn’t dare linger and quickly took him away.

After Jingrong and Ji Yunshu returned to the hall, Lang Bo said strangely, “This Liu Qingping has such airs and authority. How is it that in just a few months, his subordinates all act as if they’ve eaten gunpowder, each one full of murderous intent?”

“Something’s not right!” Ji Yunshu pondered. “Fu Bo is what kind of person—Magistrate Liu cannot possibly not know. How could he believe Fu Bo would kill someone? Even if there are witnesses and physical evidence, Magistrate Liu wouldn’t let his subordinates just rush over to arrest someone like this. Moreover, I don’t recognize any of those yamen people from earlier.”

Too strange.

Jingrong perceived her thoughts but didn’t ask questions. He directly ordered, “All of you quickly pack up and immediately set out for the city. Don’t delay.”

“Yes!” The guards responded.

They all stood up to pack their things.

Hearing they were going into the city, Wei Yi was very happy. He tugged at Ji Yunshu’s sleeve with his hand. “Shu’er, are we going home?”

“Yes, going home.”

“Mm!”

He nodded heavily, very happy, but that smile seemed to have restrained itself considerably—not as exaggerated as before.

Before leaving, Ji Yunshu went to the small room next door to retrieve the now-dried portrait, rolled it up again, and brought it along!

Just as the group was about to leave the mortuary—

Muruo suddenly approached Jingrong, pointing at the overturned pot of tea on the ground.

“I’m reminding you, that Miss Mujin is definitely not a good person.”

“I know. I’ve already secretly sent people back to Anfu. I think she’s probably not one of Jing Yi’s people.”

“How so?”

“If Jing Yi wanted me dead, why not use poison directly? Why use sheli fragrance instead, with its effects only appearing after one month?”

Muruo nodded. “You’re right. But then who have you offended?” He was puzzled. “One Jing Yi trying to kill you isn’t enough—now there’s another!”

This…

How would he know?

After the group hastily boarded the carriages, they headed toward the city.

By the time the sky was darkening, they arrived at Jinjiang City.

Finally, they settled at the Wei residence!

Ever since Wei Yi left with Ji Yunshu for the capital, the Wei family’s steward, Wei Fu, had not dismissed the servants, and the Wei family’s properties were mostly managed by Wei Fu.

Seeing his young master return, he was moved to tears!

The servants also cried messily!

Wei Yi smiled and took out the things he had brought back from under the carriage’s base, distributing them to everyone.

Those strange and peculiar items delighted everyone tremendously.

They all scrambled for them together!