This Madam Jiang’s clothing from head to toe was all made of the finest brocade and silk. Her accessories—jade bracelets, golden hairpins, and silver earrings—were all precious items.

In terms of dress and adornment, she truly rivaled Ji Muqing and that old Madam Ji of the Ji family.

When the time came for burial, Ji Yinshu really should make a careful note of the tomb’s location!

If fortune smiled, she might be able to dig it up—that would be quite a windfall.

People who dressed like this seemed to have the character for “arrogance” chiseled into their foreheads. They held themselves with rigid posture, cold expressions, and always spoke with a commanding tone!

If she hadn’t announced her own name, Ji Yinshu would have thought she was also a member of the Ji family!

However, women like this were always difficult to deal with.

Hearing that she wanted to take the skeletal remains back, the County Magistrate naturally refused.

“Madam Jiang, this involves a human life. We must investigate thoroughly before we can hand over the remains to you.”

“What human life? All I know is that those are my husband’s remains, and I want to bury them immediately.” Madam Jiang’s tone was forceful, her eyes full of hostility.

“I cannot allow that at present. This is a murder case. Once it reaches the yamen, it must be investigated thoroughly. No matter who is involved, no one can disregard the law. Every single matter must be handled according to the laws of Great Lin. Madam Jiang, you are no exception.”

My goodness, County Magistrate, you’re really showing your mettle.

Ji Yinshu, standing to the side, was practically becoming your fangirl!

Madam Jiang’s eyes were like sharp swords stabbing toward the County Magistrate. “Magistrate Liu, you want to discuss the law with me? Fine, then let me discuss it thoroughly with you.” She took two small steps forward, raising her chin. “Which article or clause of Great Lin’s laws states that family members cannot take their relatives’ remains for burial? And which article or clause states that the yamen can detain skeletal remains? Those bones belong to my husband. Does taking my own husband’s remains for burial require the yamen’s consent?”

“…”

The laws of Great Lin truly had no such provisions!

The County Magistrate was rendered speechless and didn’t know how to respond!

Ji Yinshu shook her head slightly. Where was that earlier fire? Already deflated?

Helpless, she brushed her sleeves and stepped forward.

“Madam Jiang, you cannot take those remains back at present.”

Her voice clashed directly, pushing back Madam Jiang’s words.

Only then did Madam Jiang notice her—refined features, appearing as gentle as a spring breeze, yet those ink-dark eyes clearly held a cold and stern quality.

“And who are you?”

“I am merely a portrait artist at the yamen. I hope Madam Jiang can understand priorities. Master Jiang died miserably, and the true killer has not yet been found, so we absolutely cannot let you take the remains.”

Madam Jiang was accustomed to being domineering. Now that someone was talking back to her, how could this be tolerated?

Her voice sharpened. “My husband suffered from madness and went missing that year. Now that he’s been found, I simply want to take my husband’s remains back. I have nothing to say about other matters. As for talk of a miserable death, where does that even come from? Complete nonsense.”

Her slender willow-leaf eyebrows showed no fluctuation, yet her imposing manner pressed directly against one’s heart.

Ji Yinshu took over her words. “Madam Jiang, a murder case is a murder case. Since a murder has occurred, it should naturally be handled by the yamen. Master Jiang’s remains show over twenty puncture marks from a sharp knife. On his ankle bone, there are also bruises, proving he struggled with someone before death. All signs are sufficient to show that Master Jiang was killed.”

“Enough.”

Madam Jiang swept her long sleeve, her eyes filled with sparks of fire as she looked at Ji Yinshu.

Extremely displeased. “You’re just a small portrait artist spouting random nonsense—why should I believe you? I’m telling you, no matter what, this matter cannot be investigated further. At the end of the day, this is the Jiang family’s affair. Whether to investigate or not depends on my word alone.”

“You’re clearly harboring the criminal.”

“Harboring? What nonsense are you spouting?” Madam Jiang grew even angrier.

Ji Yinshu spoke bluntly. “Regarding Master Jiang’s death, an old man from the Jiang household witnessed it with his own eyes. He has already told me everything. He also promised that once the portrait was complete, he would naturally testify in court and identify the true killer!”

Upon hearing this, the County Magistrate quickly approached and asked, “Yinshu, is this true? Who is the killer?”

Ji Yinshu’s gaze was absolutely certain as it met Madam Jiang’s eyes.

She said, “He told me personally that the killer is your younger brother, Madam Jiang.”

“How could I have killed my brother-in-law?” The speaker was the man beside Madam Jiang. His face showed anxiety as he stepped forward to refute, pointing at Ji Yinshu and continuing, “Don’t make slanderous accusations. I never did it. The day my brother-in-law disappeared, I wasn’t even home.”

Only then did Ji Yinshu carefully notice this person. Her first impression—eight characters: frivolous and cynical!

Ji Yinshu stated firmly, “These words came from that old man. He saw it with his own eyes.”

“Simply ridiculous.” Madam Jiang snorted coldly, pulling her brother behind her. Only then did she look Ji Yinshu up and down before saying, “Young master, if what you say is true, then why would he secretly tell you who the killer is but not come to the yamen to report it? You mustn’t casually frame people. Without any evidence, to say someone is the killer—isn’t that absurd?”

“What I’m saying…”

Before Ji Yinshu could finish, Madam Jiang cut off her words again.

“I presume the old man you speak of must be Seventh Uncle? Unfortunately, just this morning, Seventh Uncle took ill and has already passed away.”

Uh!

“Dead?” Ji Yinshu was stunned for a moment, somewhat unable to process this.

Silencing a witness?

Madam Jiang was even more aggressive, immediately turning the spearhead toward the County Magistrate. “Magistrate Liu, I don’t want to say anything more. Please immediately return my husband’s remains to me so I can bury my husband as soon as possible.”

The County Magistrate said, “But those remains do indeed show marks from knife wounds.”

“Magistrate Liu may not know, but my husband suffered from madness when he was alive and would often stab himself with a dagger. Those injuries must have accumulated over many years and absolutely were not caused by someone murdering him.”

“Then… after Master Jiang disappeared, you moved to the capital, Madam Jiang. But why would Master Jiang’s remains be found under a large tree on your estate?” The County Magistrate was filled with doubt!

Madam Jiang’s expression still showed not the slightest panic. She glanced at Ji Yinshu, her tone steady. “Didn’t this young master just say so? My husband sprained his ankle before death. Perhaps not long after I moved to the capital, my husband returned, unfortunately sprained his foot, hit his head on the tree, and died. This is possible.”

Sophistry!

The County Magistrate asked Ji Yinshu in a low voice, “Was there an impact on the skull?”

She nodded slightly. “There was, but the impact force was very small. It absolutely wasn’t a fatal injury—at most, it was a bump.”

“Since my husband’s head did indeed suffer an impact, regardless of the force, ultimately what I said wasn’t wrong.” Madam Jiang remained brazenly arrogant.

And without any new evidence, at this moment, there was no way to refute her.

Moreover, Seventh Uncle was already dead!

Now, if they couldn’t produce evidence, these bones might truly have to be returned to Madam Jiang.

“Are you still unwilling to hand them over? If I file a complaint with the Court of Judicial Review, I’m afraid your official position won’t be secure, Magistrate Liu.” A complete threat.

But just as these words fell…

“What if this prince does not allow it?”

Outside the hall, Jingrong’s voice rang out!