Wen Shisan was also someone with personality.

Although he had indeed used many underhanded methods to solve cases, even willing to sacrifice innocent lives to catch murderers.

But he didn’t want to become Jing Yi’s chess piece this time, and even less did he want to win so dishonorably.

With such heavy thoughts weighing on his mind, it was inevitable he couldn’t feel happy.

And what Jing Yi had just said clearly showed he planned to fabricate evidence and hastily close the case in order to claim credit.

Jingrong naturally would not allow it.

“Right now the evidence is insufficient—there’s no direct evidence at all proving the murderer is Zhang Daqi. If you fabricate the case report, that would be deceiving the Emperor.”

“When did I deceive the Emperor?” Jing Yi retorted. “Right now we have this stone as evidence, pointing to Zhang Daqi as the murderer. Even if he denies it adamantly, it doesn’t matter. If I say it’s him, then it’s him. And if you want to save him, fine—then find evidence to prove he’s not the murderer. Otherwise, no matter how much you talk, it’s useless.”

Arrogant and overbearing!

Jingrong’s brows furrowed high. “If you submit that case report, I’ll immediately notify the Ministry of Justice to convene a trial.”

“Fine, then let’s see whether the Ministry of Justice convenes faster or Zhang Daqi signs his confession faster.”

The implication was clear—before dawn tomorrow, even if he had to chop off Zhang Daqi’s hands, he would make him sign.

What a despicable person.

Jingrong loudly ordered, “Someone, go to Prince Yi’s manor and escort Zhang Daqi to the Ministry of Justice.”

Lang Bo received the order.

Just as he was about to lead people there—

The people Jing Yi had brought drew their swords to intercept.

Immediately two factions formed.

At that moment, Jing Yi showed a nervous expression.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Jing Yi, don’t forget—this is Prince Rong’s manor, not your Prince Yi’s manor.”

“You…”

Then Jingrong snapped his fingers.

The next moment, over a dozen guards from Prince Rong’s manor emerged on the surrounding rooftops, each holding drawn longbows with sharp arrows aimed at Prince Yi and his people.

Just waiting for the order.

Jing Yi’s heart trembled. He glanced around—if Jingrong truly gave the kill order, he would surely die.

But—

He challenged, “You wouldn’t dare.”

“You can try and see.”

“If you hurt me, you’ll also surely die.”

“Rest assured, I have no intention of hurting you at all.” Jingrong said, “However, until Zhang Daqi is delivered to the Ministry of Justice, you cannot leave my Prince Rong’s manor. Of course, you can also try to break out—I don’t mind testing whether the sharp arrows in Prince Rong’s manor can injure people.”

For the first time, Jing Yi felt completely thwarted, and he’d walked right into it himself.

Something seemed stuck in his throat—he couldn’t speak.

Jingrong ordered, “Go quickly to Prince Yi’s manor and bring the person to the Ministry of Justice.”

“Wait.” Jing Yi stopped them. “Do you think my Prince Yi’s manor is easy to enter? That you can take someone away just like that?”

“With you in my hands, they’ll obediently comply.”

“Yes, I’ve fallen into your hands now, but don’t forget—at this very moment, Zhang Daqi is still in my hands.” He met Jingrong’s cold gaze and smiled sinisterly. “I’ll tell you honestly—before coming here, I already sent word that if I don’t return within two hours, my people will kill Zhang Daqi. Then both you and I will have nothing. Moreover, once he’s dead, obtaining his fingerprint will be even easier. We can say he committed suicide out of guilt, which would become perfectly reasonable. What use would you have for a corpse then?”

“You think I’d believe that?”

“Jingrong, whether you believe it or not has nothing to do with me, but I’ll say the same thing—’you can try and see’!” His eyes revealed cunning shrewdness.

Jingrong’s heart wavered, uncertain.

That did indeed sound like something Jing Yi would do.

If Zhang Daqi really died, wouldn’t that leave them with no testimony?

If he wasn’t the murderer, then an innocent person would have died.

The risk was too great!

At this moment, Ji Yunshu stepped forward and whispered beside Jingrong, “Let them go.”

Jingrong turned his head to look at her, his eyes filled with questions.

But what responded to him was Ji Yunshu’s resolute gaze. She slowly spoke four words: “Human life is paramount.”

Jingrong understood her concern.

Gritting his teeth, he slowly raised his hand and pressed his palm forward.

The guards on the rooftops uniformly lowered their sharp arrows.

Without the threat, Jing Yi became even more arrogant and overbearing!

After all, Zhang Daqi was like a chess piece everyone wanted, and right now he was gripped tightly in his palm—naturally he walked with swagger.

Jingrong’s sharp gaze was like tens of thousands of cold needles, viciously piercing into every pore of his body.

He didn’t care in the slightest and sneered coldly.

Then he led his people out of Prince Rong’s manor in an imposing procession, strutting proudly.

However, Ji Yunshu quietly called out to Wen Shisan.

She said to him, “Do you truly believe Prince Yi is your backing?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Today he’s willing to take Zhang Daqi’s life to claim credit. One day, he’ll sacrifice you too.”

Wen Shisan took it in, but on the surface he sneered coldly. “I respect you, which is why I call you Master. Since I don’t interfere with your advancement, you shouldn’t interfere with mine either. And whether Prince Yi will sacrifice me isn’t for you to say. Moreover, this time Prince Yi has victory firmly in hand—you’d better think carefully about your and Prince Rong’s way out.”

After dropping these words.

He left!

Truly an ox with its head covered by a blanket.

Jingrong walked over, his expression not very good, as if somewhat regretting letting Jing Yi go.

His brows were tightly locked. He said, “Tomorrow morning, Jing Yi will enter the palace to report on this case. Once he presents the evidence, His Majesty will close the case.”

Ji Yunshu remained silent.

The next day, they heard that Zhang Daqi had already confessed and signed his statement.

Wen Shisan had also written up a beautiful case report, which Jing Yi presented to the palace.

Soon, His Majesty’s decree came down.

Zhang Daqi was to be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s prison and ordered to be executed.

When another copy of the case report was sent to the Court of Judicial Review, Minister Yu hastily copied it and sent it over.

The case report Wen Shisan wrote was indeed beautiful—not only beautiful, but the characters were also very neat.

But what was written in the case report was like a blood-soaked indictment.

What was truly unexpected was that Zhang Daqi had actually bitten off his own tongue and nearly died. He had signed the confession with his own hand but couldn’t speak about the process of his crimes. However, because the stone served as evidence, he couldn’t argue his way out.

This was simply a perfect case report—it seemed impossible to find even half a sentence of error or omission.

However, Ji Yunshu said skeptically, “Zhang Daqi is fundamentally a person without the strength to truss a chicken—how could he use a silver needle to kill Foolish Four? How was the Great Buddha statue moved? Gao Meng never opened the tiger pelt boxes, so where did that smell on his hands come from? Why did the murderer specifically kill people born in yin year, yin month, and yin hour? Why did Gao Meng go to that ruined temple? None of these things are explained in the case report—it just says Zhang Daqi bit off his tongue and cannot speak, glossing over everything. The report is beautiful, but can all these various reasons simply not be pursued just because Zhang Daqi has already admitted to killing people?”

How could they handle matters this way?