But everyone had witnessed this woman’s capacity for destruction.

If things went awry, it would become impossible to investigate further.

They absolutely could not let her go.

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong exchanged glances.

Both indicated “no.”

But Tang Si was determined to take on this matter. She thrust her body forward and said, “Why are you all so long-winded? I’ve already said just leave this to me and you can rest assured. I can guarantee I’ll find what you’re looking for. Besides, I’ve always considered you friends, and helping friends is only right.”

“Miss Tang…”

“A’Ji, just trust me this once.” Simply put, she stepped forward and grasped Ji Yunshu’s wrist, puffing out her cheeks. “In any case, I’m definitely handling this matter. Even if you send someone else, I’ll secretly slip over there too, and then things will truly be ruined.”

Oh my, she’d even learned to threaten people!

Muruo yanked her over and said, “If you keep causing trouble, I’ll have someone tie you up and throw you straight back to Houliao.”

“You dare!”

“Try me.”

“You…”

But—

Ji Yunshu lowered her eyes, thought about what Tang Si had just said, then uttered a sentence: “Let her go.”

What?

Jingrong was shocked. “What did you say?”

“I said, let Miss Tang go.”

“Absolutely not!”

“I know you share my concerns, but perhaps Miss Tang really can help us.” She said to Tang Si, “This time, I’ll trust you once. But this matter is very important—you absolutely cannot act according to your own temperament. After all, lives are at stake.”

Tang Si nodded vigorously. “I know. A’Ji, don’t worry.”

“Also, you only need to investigate clearly whether the great Buddha has any connection to Zhang Family Village. If you can’t find anything, return quickly. Don’t alert them prematurely.”

“Mm.”

She was overjoyed!

Finally she’d caught an opportunity to demonstrate her abilities.

Although Jingrong was worried, since Ji Yunshu had said this, he could only go along with it.

But Muruo truly had a headache!

He tried persuading Ji Yunshu several times, wanting her to change her mind.

No use!

Afterward, Ji Yunshu went over the case details with Tang Si again, telling her to be careful.

That girl listened very seriously.

On the way back to Yuhua Pavilion, Muruo lectured Tang Si thoroughly.

But that woman was full of energy, smug and pleased, saying repeatedly that she would definitely dig out Zhang Family Village’s great secret.

Prince Yi’s Manor.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review had just left moments ago. Like Assistant Minister Yu, he had also delivered the Ministry of Revenue’s list at the first opportunity.

Each serving their own master, working hard and diligently!

Wen Shisan had also discovered the common point among the eight deceased.

Yin year, yin month, yin day, yin hour!

Jing Yi asked, “What does this have to do with the case?”

“I don’t know.” He thought about it. “Perhaps the killer specifically selected people born in yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour to murder. But as for the reason, that’s unclear.”

Ultimately, different minds think differently.

As for Ji Yunshu, she had thought of the connection between the great Buddha and Zhang Family Village.

But Wen Shisan was, after all, just Wen Shisan. He couldn’t become a second Master Ji renowned throughout the capital!

Just before the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review left, Wen Shisan had also instructed him to notify the Ministry of Justice to go question the families of the deceased.

Not long after, Dou Quan arrived.

He reported, “Your Highness, there’s news.”

“Speak.”

“The four-inch short blade Young Master Wen asked to be investigated has been traced. It came from a pawn shop. The shopkeeper said it was acquired from out of town and was later bought by someone.”

Jing Yi asked, “Who?”

“A young maid from the Huang family in the capital.”

The Huang family?

What connection did they have to this dry well case?

Wen Shisan asked Dou Quan, “Did you go question them?”

“I just received the news and haven’t gone yet.”

Jing Yi asked, “Does Prince Rong know about this information?”

“According to what this subordinate learned, Prince Rong’s people only investigated at blacksmith shops and weapons dealers and obtained no information. This subordinate also bribed that shopkeeper, forbidding him to tell this news to anyone else.”

Good subordinate!

Quite thorough in his thinking.

So Wen Shisan said, “We shouldn’t delay. We should go to the Huang residence first.”

Jing Yi nodded.

They went immediately.

Soon, Jing Yi brought people quietly to the Huang residence.

The master of the Huang household, Old Master Huang, got quite a fright.

He also knew Prince Yi had been investigating the dry well case recently and thought to himself: Could this be related to the case?

As soon as he entered, Old Master Huang said nothing else but opened by saying, “Your Highness, everyone in my household, high and low, are honest people. We absolutely would not commit murder.”

Jing Yi sat in the place of honor, glanced at him, then said, “Old Master Huang, you needn’t be so nervous. This prince has only come to find someone.”

“May I ask whom Your Highness seeks?”

“A maid called Caifeng.”

“Caifeng?”

Although Old Master Huang didn’t understand, he quickly ordered someone to fetch Caifeng.

Caifeng was just a young maid who usually worked honestly and diligently, never provoking anyone. The masters of the household all quite liked her.

No one had expected that today she would be called for by a prince.

Upon arrival, she knelt trembling on the ground.

“This servant pays respects to Your Highness.”

Her body bowed very low!

She dared not raise her head.

Jing Yi asked, “You are Caifeng?”

“Yes, this servant… is called Caifeng.”

“Good. This prince asks you—did you once buy a dagger only four inches long at a pawn shop?”

“Yes.”

“Is that dagger still in your possession?”

“Uh…”

Her voice trembled.

“If it is, it is. If it isn’t, it isn’t. Why are you stammering?”

Caifeng quickly said, “In response to Your Highness, it’s no longer with me.”

“Where did it go?”

“It went…”

“Raise your head.” Jing Yi commanded.

Caifeng trembled precariously but finally raised her head, though she dared not look directly at him.

Jing Yi stood up, approaching step by step until he stood before the maid, looking down at her from his superior position.

He said, “Listen carefully. If you dare lie to this prince, this prince will treat you as a criminal and have you imprisoned.”

“This servant isn’t lying. The dagger truly was lost.”

“Then why are you so nervous?”

“Because… the dagger belonged to Young Miss. It had been lost once before when we were out of town. Later, when Young Miss saw it at the pawn shop, she had me go redeem it from the pawn shop. But… the dagger had only just been retrieved from the pawn shop and I had it in my sleeve. When I got back and looked, it was gone.”

“Gone?”

“Absolutely true. Because of this incident, Young Miss even punished this servant. Everyone in the household knows.”

“Was that dagger lost? Or was it stolen by someone?”

Caifeng thought about it. “At that time… on the way back, I accidentally collided with a vegetable seller. That person’s basket overturned and I even helped pick things up together. On the road from the pawn shop back to the manor, there was only that one incident, nothing else.”

Wen Shisan quickly pressed, “Do you know who that vegetable seller was?”

“I don’t know. I only know that person…” She recalled. “That person wore very plain clothes, carried vegetables on a shoulder pole, and by appearance seemed to be middle-aged. Oh yes, I remember his face had many scars—six or seven or so. That’s all I remember.”

She was very frightened.

It didn’t seem like she was lying.

Jing Yi and Wen Shisan exchanged glances.

“Is it Zhang the Elder’s son, Zhang Daqi?”