“If one steps on it, moss will grow on the soles of their feet. To throw Zhao Zhiwen’s corpse into the pond, you would have had to step on that algae. When Zhao Zhiwen’s body was retrieved, you didn’t go down there, nor did you approach the pond’s edge. So, as long as we remove your shoes and look, it will naturally be crystal clear.”

After hearing her speak, several bailiffs rolled up their sleeves, preparing to step forward and remove Liu Zhinan’s shoes!

Liu Zhinan retreated several steps backward.

Quickly evading them.

He shouted, “I didn’t kill anyone!”

Won’t shed tears until seeing the coffin.

Jingrong had long lost his patience. His sharp brows raised slightly as he barked sternly, “Liu Zhinan, the evidence is now conclusive. Do you still want to deny it?”

“I… I didn’t.”

“Remove your shoes and we’ll know at a glance.”

“Why would I kill someone? Why would I kill Zhao Zhiwen?”

“Because of a murder case from three years ago.” A flash of cold anger shot from Jingrong’s eyes.

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Zhinan’s cheeks trembled.

His eyes widened with shock.

“A murder case from three years ago? Which case is this?” The Minister of Justice searched his mind—among the cases he had handled three years ago, not one was related to Liu Zhinan!

Jingrong’s sharp eyes narrowed as his steps pressed forward like blades, closing in on Liu Zhinan: “Three years ago, Zhai Feng’s death… you should still remember it, shouldn’t you?”

Zhai Feng!

The General President of the Commerce Association.

He died suddenly three years ago.

Liu Zhinan seemed to have been struck in the spine, his heart filled with shock.

How did this get connected to a case from three years ago?

How did it become related to Zhai Feng?

The Minister of Justice pressed for answers: “Your Highness, what exactly is going on here?”

Jingrong’s sword-like brows furrowed as he looked at Liu Zhinan, who dared not meet his gaze directly, and revealed: “Back then, for the position of General President, you did not hesitate to poison Zhai Feng to death. But you didn’t expect Zhao Zhiwen to discover it. However, he didn’t report it to the authorities at the time. Instead, he held your secret over you, making you work for him for the rest of your life. So all these years, whether he gambled or visited brothels, nearly all the silver he owed was repaid by you. After coming to the capital this time, he racked up debts of one hundred thousand taels at the gambling house, which in the end you also had to repay. You were unwilling in your heart and wanted to kill him many times but couldn’t find the right opportunity. It wasn’t until the two murder cases of Jiao Shiniang and Xing Xiyang occurred that you thought to go with the flow and completely eliminate this bottomless pit that was Zhao Zhiwen. So you had someone make a snake demon mask and prepared everything. That night, Zhao Zhiwen was indeed about to go out, but you stopped him. Because he owed the gambling house twenty thousand taels of silver, he had already told you the day before to prepare the money for him. So using the excuse of giving him money, you invited him to your room, avoiding everyone else. As for what you discussed, that’s another matter entirely. In any case, you were stalling for time, dragging it out until the hour of zi. When the time came, you gave him the money. As he was returning to his own courtyard and passing by the kitchen, taking advantage of his complete lack of guard, you used a thin, curved short knife to slash his throat—one fatal strike. You cleaned up the bloodstains and carried him to the pond behind the Wenlai Pavilion. All of this arose because of your killing of Zhai Feng three years ago.”

He spoke clearly and plainly.

Liu Zhinan was left speechless: “I…”

The next moment, Jingrong pulled out a yellowed letter from his sleeve, held it between his fingers, and said coldly: “You would never have imagined that Zhao Zhiwen had always been prepared. He worried that one day, to cover up the truth, you would take his life. So he had secretly written a letter long ago. If he died, that letter would immediately be delivered to the Court of Judicial Review in the capital. In it, he had already exposed all your crimes.”

Seeing this, Liu Zhinan, without a second thought, rushed forward to snatch it.

Before he could get close, Lang Bo seized him and threw him violently to the ground.

He sat slumped on the floor, his face ashen.

“Now the evidence is conclusive. Do you have anything more to say?”

His hands clutched tightly at his own robe for a long while, trembling—

“I confess!” These two words came from his mouth.

He no longer struggled.

He raised his sinister, dark eyes and said, “Yes, I killed them. Back then, if Zhai Feng hadn’t secretly bribed officials, the General President position would have been mine. I never would have thought that the person who kept talking to me about fairness had actually already laid all the groundwork. I was like a fool. I was unwilling. In a rage, I put poison in his tea. But I didn’t expect that afterward, Zhao Zhiwen would discover it. He threatened me repeatedly. Over these three years, I don’t know how much silver I’ve given him! How many times I’ve cleaned up his messes! Yes, I truly wanted to kill him many times. But in order to secure the General President position, I could only keep enduring. I originally thought this time the General President position would definitely be mine. But unexpectedly, Xing Xiyang also learned from Zhai Feng and bribed officials. So that day when I ran into Lord Ji at the entrance, I deliberately said those words as a reminder. However, Zhao Zhiwen threatened me not to become General President, or else he would make public the fact that I killed Zhai Feng. I could endure it no longer. Fortunately, the incidents with Jiao Shiniang and Xing Xiyang occurred. I knew the opportunity had come. So I went with the flow and simply killed him with one stroke of the knife. I thought I could wash my hands clean of this matter completely. I didn’t expect you would still discover it. It turns out when a person does something wrong, retribution truly will come.”

He laughed miserably and desolately—truly regretting his past actions.

Pitiful people must have hateful aspects.

So bribery must not be practiced, or sooner or later, retribution will come.

Liu Zhinan personally confessed all his crimes with his own mouth, saving the Ministry of Justice from having to interrogate him one by one.

However, Jingrong threw the letter in his hand down in front of him.

The paper slipped and fell.

Liu Zhinan immediately reached out to grab it and opened it to look.

Inside… was nothing but a blank piece of paper.

What’s going on?

He looked up at Jingrong, confused.

Jingrong’s eyes deepened slightly as he told him, “Actually, this prince had no idea that the case of Zhai Feng from three years ago was related to you. I only guessed based on cause and effect. I didn’t expect that with one piece of waste paper, I could trick you into admitting your crimes in front of everyone.”

Damn it!

Liu Zhinan slapped himself several times hard!

Thinking himself exceptionally clever, in the end, he still dug himself into a pit.

Finally, tears fell like rain.

The case was finally solved.

By now, the sky had turned completely dark.

After Ji Yunshu returned to Prince Rong’s manor, her body couldn’t hold up anymore. After drinking her medicine, she got into bed and leaned back.

No case, light as a feather!

Jingrong sat at the bedside, gazing down at her with deep affection.

He reached out to brush the stray hair from her forehead behind her ear, saying gently, “Once your health improves a bit more, we’ll leave the capital.”

She smiled faintly and nodded, though her eyes dimmed again.

“Reluctant to leave Wei Yi?”

“It’s not reluctance—it’s worry. Over these past six months, he’s had your assistance by his side. After we leave, I’m worried…”

“Yunshu, you must have faith in him.” Jingrong gripped her hand tightly.