She was utterly perplexed, even somewhat lost in thought.

Zhuxin looked at the stone again and exclaimed “Eh,” her brows furrowing. She said, “However, ordinary Huxian stones all have very uniform coloring. It’s rare to see this kind of uneven coloring—it’s as if something has been splattered on it.”

“Coloring?” Ji Yunshu snapped back to attention, her heart suddenly jolting. She examined the stone in her hand carefully.

Indeed, the coloring was uneven.

Actually, she had noticed this before but hadn’t thought much of it. But when Zhuxin pointed it out, it was as if someone had suddenly struck her, awakening her.

The next moment, she sprang to her feet!

“Go fetch some concentrated vinegar and liquor.”

“What?”

“Quickly.”

Extremely urgent.

The two maids stood frozen, then nodded woodenly and hurried to get the items.

Soon, the concentrated vinegar and liquor were brought over.

Ji Yunshu mixed these two things together. After letting it settle for a while, she dampened a handkerchief with some of it and gently began wiping the stone.

After a short while, many uneven dark red marks suddenly appeared on the stone.

Uh!

This…

She gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her eyes widening.

The two maids looked at each other, not understanding. After whispering a few words, they inquired, “Master, what’s wrong? Is there… a problem with this stone?”

She said, “Go, go ask His Highness to come over.”

Hmm?

Zhuxin asked no more questions.

“Yes.”

She hurried off.

Soon, Jingrong arrived with Lang Bo and Lu Jiang.

They entered the pavilion.

The atmosphere was tense.

When Jingrong entered, he smelled the faint scent of liquor and vinegar drifting through the air. Seeing the dark red marks revealed on the stone placed on the table, in that moment, he understood.

“Is it blood?”

Eh?

Everyone was shocked!

Ji Yunshu nodded and said, “Zhuxin said this stone doesn’t come from the south—the capital couldn’t possibly have it. It’s a Huxian stone from Nanlin Anlang. This kind of stone has the effect of ensuring peace and safety. The deceased Gao Meng happened to be from Anlang, and because he traveled constantly, it wouldn’t be strange for him to carry this stone with him. Moreover, Gao Meng’s body was discovered in the ruined temple at Zhang Family Village. Yet Foolish Four from Zhang Family Village just happened to have a stone from Nanlin Anlang that’s also very expensive? And so coincidentally, there are… bloodstains on the stone.”

Jingrong said, “So you’re saying Foolish Four was at the scene? Hmm… but not necessarily! Perhaps he went to the crime scene afterward and picked up this stone—that’s also possible.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Does Your Highness remember that day when Foolish Four saw Zhang Daqi at the Zhang family ancestral hall? He was very frightened, very terrified.”

Uh!

That conclusion sent chills down everyone’s spine.

The two maids quickly huddled together.

After a long while, Jingrong spoke. “You suspect the murderer is Zhang Daqi?”

Uh!

Ji Yunshu said nothing.

Jingrong continued, “Then we just need to confirm whether the blood on the stone is Gao Meng’s. If it is, it proves this stone truly was dropped by Gao Meng. When he was killed by Zhang Daqi, blood splattered onto it. Afterward, it was picked up by Foolish Four, while Zhang Daqi silenced him.”

Put that way, there was no problem!

But—

Ji Yunshu said, “Actually, I’m not very certain, because we haven’t directly found evidence that Zhang Daqi is the murderer.”

“Regardless, let’s first verify whether this blood is actually Gao Meng’s.” Thus, Jingrong instructed Lang Bo, “Go immediately to the Ministry of Justice and bring back some of Gao Meng’s blood.”

“Yes.”

Lang Bo hurried off.

Soon, he retrieved some very viscous blood clots from the Ministry of Justice.

Ji Yunshu used her verification method and confirmed that the blood on the stone was indeed Gao Meng’s.

However, there were also bloodstains from another person on the stone.

Everyone was astonished!

Ji Yunshu said, “I believe these other bloodstains should belong to the murderer.”

Jingrong said, “Whether they are or not, let’s first obtain Zhang Daqi’s blood for comparison.”

“But he’s currently at Prince Yi’s manor.”

“This prince has his methods.”

He ordered Lang Bo to follow yesterday’s approach—secretly infiltrate Prince Yi’s manor and find a way to obtain Zhang Daqi’s blood.

Without making a commotion.

Poor Lang Bo—he’d only just returned not long ago, his clothes still wet, and now he had to rush off again.

If he were caught by Prince Yi’s manor’s people, they’d probably skin him alive.

But he bore the burden without complaint!

He hurried off.

Thus, everyone waited at the manor. By evening, Lang Bo finally returned victorious.

The bamboo tube in his hand was full of blood.

Ji Yunshu was speechless—this bad habit of Jingrong’s subordinates taking blood still hadn’t been corrected!

Either a bowl or a tube.

She couldn’t be bothered to lecture them—she quickly tested the blood.

After much effort.

The other bloodstains on the stone were indeed Zhang Daqi’s.

Lang Bo exclaimed, “Your Highness, Master Ji, it seems Zhang Daqi truly is the murderer. This blood must have been left when he accidentally injured himself while killing.”

Ji Yunshu said nothing.

Was it really like this?

Was the murderer truly Zhang Daqi?

After all, the evidence was now present.

But—

Jingrong asked Ji Yunshu, “What do you think?”

“I…”

Before she could speak—

An arrogant and triumphant voice came over. “Prince Rong’s manor is truly quite lively!”

Without looking, they knew it was that twisted Jing Yi.

He entered with Wen Shisan, Dou Quan, and several guards in an imposing procession.

“What are you doing here?” Jingrong asked.

“Of course I’ve come to thank Master Ji!”

“What do you mean?”

Jing Yi lifted his chin and glanced at Lang Bo. “Did you really think your person could smoothly enter my manor and smoothly take Zhang Daqi’s blood?”

With this statement, Jingrong understood.

“Why not speak plainly instead of beating around the bush with me?”

“Jingrong, I mean no harm. You needn’t be defensive everywhere. I came this time specifically to thank Master Ji.” He looked at Ji Yunshu. “Master Ji, this prince was just worried about lacking evidence to prove the murderer was Zhang Daqi. Now that you’ve verified blood from this stone, it proves the murderer who killed eight people is Zhang Daqi. No matter how stubborn he is, with this evidence, he’ll have no choice but to confess.”

In other words, they’d done the work for someone else’s benefit!

Jingrong immediately said, “Jing Yi, don’t act rashly. Although it’s true there’s Gao Meng’s and Zhang Daqi’s blood on the stone, that doesn’t prove anything.”

“This alone is already enough. If I say the murderer is him, then it’s him.”

“You and I are both ordered to investigate the case. Human life is at stake—how can you treat it as child’s play? How can you force a confession based solely on this?”

“Jingrong, oh Jingrong, you’re truly naive! Right now this stone is evidence. What do you think Father Emperor wants to know? What he wants to know is the result. As long as Zhang Daqi signs his confession, and this prince has Shisan write the case report submitted to the Court of Judicial Review and Father Emperor more beautifully, this case… will be closed.”

Sinister to the extreme!

Heh!

However—

Ji Yunshu glanced at Wen Shisan.

That person seemed to have a silent expression, unlike his previous triumphant manner.

If Jing Yi solved this case, he could take the position of Director of Prison Administration at the Ministry of Justice.

Why wasn’t he happy?