The drawn-out tail of the voice traveled from inside the yamen to the outside.

Zuo Yao bent his somewhat “wretched” body, lifted his official robe, and hurried forward with quick steps. Despite the growing cold of deep night, he was still dripping with sweat.

Walking up to Jingrong, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

The guards following behind him also quickly knelt down, not daring to make a sound.

“Prince Rong, this humble official failed to welcome you from afar. I should have gone to the city gate to greet you. Please forgive this official’s transgression, Your Highness.”

He knelt on the ground, trembling.

Jingrong stared at him. “Magistrate Zuo, this prince gave you permission not to greet me. The fault is not yours. Rise.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Only then did everyone slowly stand up from the ground.

Zuo Yao looked at the group before him, his heart inevitably panicking, yet he still maintained a composed appearance and quickly said, “Your Highness has come all the way from the capital, traveling such a long distance. You must be tired. This humble official has already prepared rooms in the rear courtyard. Your Highness may rest peacefully for the night.”

Jingrong made a sound of acknowledgment.

He had no additional words.

Zuo Yao then respectfully ushered them inside, while instructing his subordinates to settle the horses and carriages.

On the way to the north courtyard, Zuo Yao squinted his small eyes and secretly observed Muruo several times. Seeing him in plain robes with a decent physique, yet always giving off a lazy feeling—especially those eyes, slightly downcast, seemingly listless, without a hint of cleverness.

He probably wasn’t that Mr. Ji, was he?

Afterward, he shifted his gaze to that quiet scholar walking with light steps.

That scholar had a slender frame but stood perfectly straight. His face was fair and clean, possessing quite a feminine air about it. If one looked long enough, it could truly stir one’s heart with pleasure. And in those bright eyes, there was indeed a glint of cleverness.

This person should be that Mr. Ji sent by the Court of Judicial Review to investigate the case of Auntie Xie’s daughter.

He deliberately moved closer ingratiatingly and asked in a low voice, “Are you Mr. Ji?”

Ji Yinshu glanced at him from the corner of her eye and had already seen through this person completely. She noted his villainous features, his face with a pointed mouth and monkey cheeks. If one stared long enough, he actually bore some resemblance in facial features to the Jing Zhaoyin.

She responded with a smile. “Magistrate has good eyes.”

So it really was him!

“Mr. Ji’s great name is famous throughout the capital. This official has long heard of it and greatly admires your case-solving abilities. With you taking charge of Auntie Xie’s daughter’s case, it will surely be solved.”

Ji Yinshu continued walking forward, her lips curving in a smile without looking sideways. “Magistrate Zuo speaks quite interestingly. That case was tried and decided by you two years ago, wasn’t it? Now that I’ve just arrived, haven’t yet investigated this case, and haven’t even seen the case files, you say the case will surely be solved. Does that mean, Magistrate, that you know you wrongly decided the case?”

Uh!

Zuo Yao’s body stiffened, instantly becoming flustered as he stammered, “Of… of course not. It’s just… just speaking casually, speaking casually.”

“Oh.”

“Mr. Ji, I wonder what you think about this case? And how do you plan to handle it?” There was a probing tone in his words.

She gave him a sidelong glance, her face polite. “It’s already so late. Does the magistrate want to discuss the case with me at this hour?”

Under that gaze, Zuo Yao said, “No, it’s already dark. Naturally, we should wait until after Mr. Ji has rested for the night before discussing the case.”

“Since that’s the case, why does the magistrate still bring it up?”

Extremely awkward!

Walking ahead, Jingrong had heard their entire exchange and thought to himself that the little girl was truly sharp-tongued, blocking that old fox Zuo Yao until he was speechless.

Indeed quite interesting!

The north courtyard.

The courtyard was very large, arranged elegantly and quietly, like an independent residence. Several short trees were planted around it, with a circle of cobblestones around the base of each tree—quite distinctive. The courtyard was divided into front and back sections. The front was a hall, and the back contained the resting quarters, with seven or eight rooms of varying sizes, all swept clean and arranged quite well.

Though it couldn’t compare to the courtyards of Prince Rong’s manor, it was still a good place.

That Magistrate Zuo must have made preparations early to welcome this prince.

That girl Tang Si had been jostled about the entire journey. As soon as she entered, she complained of aching all over and had a maid take her to rest first.

After everything was arranged, Zuo Yao clasped his hands. “Your Highness, are you satisfied with this place?”

Jingrong was a child who grew up on rough fare—he’d even slept in the charity cemetery. This place was naturally very satisfactory.

“Magistrate Zuo, it’s already very late. Go rest quickly. Other matters can be discussed tomorrow.”

“Yes. If Your Highness needs anything else, please command at any time.”

“You may go.”

Zuo Yao’s face still wore a fawning smile as he bowed and withdrew.

But as soon as he left the courtyard, he called over the courtyard steward.

He instructed, “You must take good care of them. Under no circumstances offend that prince inside.”

The steward responded, “Magistrate, please rest assured. This humble one will attend to them constantly.”

“Most importantly, you must keep close watch on the prince and that Mr. Ji. If anything happens, you must notify me immediately.”

“Yes.”

Zuo Yao looked back at the courtyard, heaved a sigh, flicked his sleeve, and left.

Inside the courtyard.

Ji Yinshu stood beneath those short trees for quite a while, then bent down to pick up several small, smooth cobblestones. She weighed them in her palm a few times, the corners of her mouth forming a satisfied smile, before she straightened up to enter the hall.

Muruo sat on the stone steps outside the hall, dangling a wine bottle in his hand, swinging it back and forth.

Quite reminiscent of Li Bai’s leisurely temperament!

She was about to walk around him to go inside when he suddenly raised his hand and grabbed her robe.

Hm?

Ji Yinshu looked down at him.

Coincidentally, Muruo also looked up at her. “Mr. Ji, how about a drink?”

He raised the wine bottle in his hand.

“You know I don’t drink wine—it causes trouble.”

“In the dead of night, what trouble could there be?”

“Important matters!”

She opened her palm, displaying the several cobblestones in her hand.

Muruo plucked one from her palm and examined it closely. “It’s just a stone. Could it really overturn heaven and earth?”

“Naturally.”

She took the cobblestone back, clutched them in her palm, and entered the hall.

Just then, a young maid from the courtyard brought up several cups of freshly brewed tea and bowed to Jingrong sitting at the table. “Your Highness, please drink some hot tea to warm yourself.”

The young maid’s voice was quite pleasant. She had two small braids tied, draped over her chest, very charming.

Especially those eyes—bright and lively.

Jingrong smiled slightly at the maid, and his smile made the young girl’s face flush red instantly. She lowered her head and eyes, the corners of her mouth holding a smile, utterly shy.

Then she shrank back and left.

Watching the young maid’s retreating figure, his lips curved in a smile as he picked up the tea and took a sip.

Ji Yinshu sat down beside him and made a sarcastic remark. “You don’t even let young maids off.”

“That maid is young, just a little child. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”

“I’m not imagining things—you’re the one overthinking.”