Jingrong still wore his flowing robes, sword-like brows and starry eyes. His stride seemed to carry a heart-gripping tension.

And that face, usually peach-blossom frivolous in appearance, was now solemn and serious.

Entering from outside, his gaze met Ji Yinshu’s line of sight. His eyes seemed to carry a kind of gentle warmth, but when they touched Ji Yinshu’s gaze, they seemed to freeze into ice from her coldness.

Little scholar, you treat this prince like frost, yet this prince treats you like summer flames.

His gaze shifted away as he walked to Madam Jiang’s side.

His brows lifted as he said to Madam Jiang, “If this prince orders that you are not allowed to take the remains back, I wonder whether you would also file a complaint against this prince at the Court of Judicial Review?”

His tone carried an unsmiling gravity.

Madam Jiang was stunned, unable to react immediately.

She saw the County Magistrate like a lapdog immediately bow respectfully and approach.

“Greetings to Prince Rong.”

“Prince Rong?” Madam Jiang murmured softly.

Having stayed in the capital for two years, she naturally knew of such a personage. But hadn’t Prince Rong left the capital half a year ago? What was he doing here?

So…

“This common woman did not know Prince Rong was here. Please forgive the offense.”

Just as she was about to perform a grand bow, Jingrong stopped her. “This prince is traveling outside, so there’s no need for formalities.”

“Thank… you, Prince Rong!”

Madam Jiang and her brother exchanged glances.

Yes, they had encountered a difficult personage!

Jingrong curved his thin, cold lips and said seriously, “Madam Jiang, your maternal family is the clan of Old General Li. Old General Li is moreover a pillar of our Great Lin across three reigns—above, he received the title of Evergreen General from the late emperor; below, he received threefold honors from my royal father. The Li family for generations has been filled with virtuous ministers of our dynasty. How is it that Madam Jiang is so domineering? This truly opens this prince’s eyes.”

His tone was darkly sarcastic!

No wonder she was so arrogant—she had her maternal family backing her!

Madam Jiang’s face stiffened. Her natal family had been grasped so accurately by this prince.

“This common woman was discourteous just now. It’s only because of my husband’s matter…”

“This prince understands. Your husband’s death—this prince is deeply saddened by it as well. But regarding this matter of the skeletal remains, this prince has also witnessed it firsthand. When the matter is unclear, how can there be any reason to hand the remains over to you? Since it’s been declared a murder case, it must be investigated. Not only investigated, but investigated step by step, investigated clearly and thoroughly.”

“Your Highness, my husband is now nothing but a pile of bones. I only wish to bury him as soon as possible. I hope Your Highness can show mercy.”

Madam Jiang’s tone clearly weakened, and her eyes even squeezed out a trace of tears.

Pretend all you want—keep up the act!

“This prince said this is a murder case, so those remains cannot be taken back by you.” Jingrong didn’t fall for her tricks, his tone extremely resolute.

“Your Highness, please do not believe others’ nonsense. My husband could not possibly have been murdered. The injuries on his body were indeed self-inflicted when he suffered from madness. Your Highness…”

Jingrong suddenly raised his hand, stopping her incessant chatter!

Then he gave a cold laugh. “What you’ve said, this prince already heard it all when outside, so there’s no need to repeat it. Moreover…”

As he spoke, he had already turned around and taken a step closer to Ji Yinshu. Looking at her, he said earnestly, “What this prince believes is only Master Ji alone.”

Uh!

Ji Yinshu’s heart trembled slightly.

She was certain she hadn’t heard wrong.

“If she says it’s a murder case, this prince believes it. If she says someone told her who the killer is, this prince also believes it. As long as it comes from Master Ji’s mouth, this prince believes it all.”

At that moment, those words, that gaze, seemed to sear her until she was charred on the outside and tender on the inside!

She had once heard someone say that the most romantic words in this world weren’t “I love you.”

But rather, “I trust you!”

The corners of Jingrong’s lips slowly floated into a gentle smile, like the morning sun on a spring day, casting upon Ji Yinshu’s body, warm and comfortable.

The two pairs of eyes met, oblivious to everything around them!

Yet it stirred Ji Yinshu’s heart up and down!

But then…

“Your Highness, since you say this, does that mean you won’t let Madam Jiang take the remains back?”

The County Magistrate leaned over.

Breaking the harmonious atmosphere between their four eyes.

Hey, hey, hey, why are you so tactless, so lacking in perception?

Liu the Muddle-head, this prince really should teach you a proper lesson!

Ji Yinshu instantly snapped back to awareness, her body shifting to the side, avoiding Jingrong’s gaze.

Pulling back to the main topic, Jingrong turned around and said to Madam Jiang, “This prince orders that the matter of the remains shall be thoroughly investigated by the yamen to find the true killer. As for Madam Jiang and your confidants, during this time, it would be best not to leave Jinjiang. If in the end this matter is truly related to your brother, he shall naturally be dealt with according to the law.”

These words didn’t frighten Madam Jiang but rather frightened her brother, Li Zhao.

Li Zhao’s eyes contracted slightly, his hands tucked inside his sleeves.

“I already said it wasn’t me. The day my brother-in-law died, I… I wasn’t home!” Li Zhao’s tone lacked conviction.

Madam Jiang also said, “Yes, my brother would absolutely never do such a thing. That young master said it was an old man from my Jiang household who told her. That person must be Seventh Uncle, but there are clearly full of holes in the story. Moreover, now with no testimony from the dead, we absolutely cannot casually frame people.”

Still maintaining her tone, her arrogance slightly reduced.

Ji Yinshu was about to say something when Jingrong beat her to it.

“Whether it is or isn’t, we’ll speak after the matter is investigated. In any case, if Master Jiang was truly murdered, this prince believes Master Ji will definitely find the true killer. At that time, this prince will absolutely not be merciful or lenient out of consideration for the Li family’s three generations of service.”

His voice resonated powerfully, shaking Madam Jiang and Li Zhao until they looked at each other.

After a moment, Madam Jiang drew a breath, her voice trembling slightly. “Since Prince Rong has already given the order, this common woman naturally dares not say more. Then please, Magistrate Liu, resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”

The County Magistrate stepped forward. “That’s certain.”

Madam Jiang didn’t forget to glare fiercely at Ji Yinshu, her heart full of rage.

Finally, extremely unwillingly, she left with Li Zhao and the two maids.

That woman was truly difficult to deal with!

It must be said, at this moment, this prince was quite useful!

If not for his appearance, the remains would have already been taken away by Madam Jiang by now.

The County Magistrate raised his hand to wipe away some sweat, then let both hands fall powerlessly as he sighed. “I’ve long heard that Madam Jiang was domineering and overbearing. Today I’ve truly experienced it. Relying on her maternal family’s power, even I couldn’t handle her.”

“That’s because you’re useless.”

Jingrong tossed him that line.

The County Magistrate’s cheeks twitched!

Jingrong looked at Ji Yinshu, his tone warm and deep. “Master Ji, since this prince has ordered a thorough investigation of this matter, this case is also listed under this prince’s name. I must trouble Master Ji to find the true killer as soon as possible.”

She lowered her head. “Yes, this humble one will do so as quickly as possible.”

He stared straight at her, but saw she seemed lost in thought, her mind apparently weighing something.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

“This humble one is thinking about Seventh Uncle’s matter. A few days ago, he did indeed come to find me and said he saw Madam Jiang and her brother burying the body.”

“But… the person is already dead.” Jingrong said.