When the crowd saw Prince Rong and that Lord Ji enter, they gradually stopped their crying, covering their mouths as they wept softly.

As if afraid to disturb that prince.

Jingrong’s gaze fixed on the spirit tablet before him, slowly moving to that coffin.

His body trembled.

His heart ached.

Yet he concealed it extremely well.

At this moment, he still hadn’t fully accepted the fact that Qin Shiyu had already died.

He clearly remembered that when he left the capital, that old fellow had been clamoring to see him off. How much time had passed between then and now—how could the man be dead?

How could he have entered a coffin? His face, which appeared cold and rigid, was actually extremely distressed. His sword-like brows furrowed tightly, his eyes slightly narrowed. In his mind, countless scenes of himself sharing tea and discussing matters with Qin Shiyu involuntarily flashed by. That old fellow appeared proper and rule-abiding, but was actually charmingly awkward. He also liked to speak in that wrinkled, scholarly manner, which was rather comical instead. Jingrong had teased him about it several times, but later grew accustomed to it. He was also extremely fond of drinking tea. Each time they chatted, he alone would finish an entire pot of tea. He even liked to recount his military achievements from his youth. Each time he started talking, it would go on for several hours. Because his legs had been injured before, he walked extremely slowly each time. He often mocked himself as a turtle, unable to compare with rabbits that ran swift as the wind.

Drawing a laugh!

The past was already gone!

Finally departing with the yellow earth.

Jingrong pulled back his thoughts and bowed three times with Ji Yunshu!

He said: “Lord Qin, journey well.”

His voice sounded steady, yet held some choking emotion.

The time for the funeral procession had arrived, and the coffin was carried out of the manor.

Jingrong saw them off to the entrance and stopped there.

Watching from afar to see them off!

Gradually growing distant!

He collected his emotions, his expression grave as he said to Ji Yunshu: “You go back to the manor first.”

“You’re going to?”

“Enter the palace.”

Having said this, he prepared to mount his horse, but Ji Yunshu grasped his sleeve.

She looked at him with a gaze nearly resembling pleading, tears glistening in her eyes.

“Can you promise me that no matter what, please believe in him once.”

Jingrong’s brows furrowed slightly as he said: “I know what to do.”

“Jingrong…”

“Don’t worry.”

He pulled his sleeve from her hand, leaped onto the horse’s back, and rode away.

Several guards followed behind.

Ji Yunshu remained standing in place, tears falling uncontrollably, yet she hastily wiped them away with her handkerchief.

Lang Bo stood nearby, hesitating for a long while before asking: “Miss Ji, why don’t you return to Prince Rong’s Manor first?”

After thinking for a moment, she boarded the carriage.

Prince Rong’s Manor.

Yu Wei stood at the entrance waiting anxiously, pacing back and forth, covered in sweat.

From time to time, he looked toward the carriages passing by outside.

Muttering to himself: “Why haven’t they arrived yet? Didn’t they already enter the capital? They should have arrived at the manor by now!”

He kept repeating these few sentences nonstop.

Lu Jiang, knowing he was anxious, said: “Temple Administrator Yu, the Prince and Lord Ji probably went to the Qin Manor first. Don’t be anxious.”

“How can I not be anxious? My father is still locked in prison, his life hangs in the balance.” His voice carried a sobbing tone.

Lu Jiang comforted him: “The Prince has returned to the capital, so Director Yu’s case will naturally be cleared up.”

“Alas!”

He had just finished sighing when he saw the carriage and horses arrive, and ran over with quick steps.

When the carriage stopped.

He stood to one side with cupped hands, saying, “Your Highness, Lord Ji, this official has a matter to request.”

Hearing this, Ji Yunshu descended from the carriage!

Though he hadn’t had much dealings with Yu Wei, he recognized this person and knew of him.

This person was upright and honest, conducting matters properly and by the rules, even somewhat rigid, having inherited none of his father’s smooth and tactful nature.

“Going by the book”—that probably described someone like him!

Ji Yunshu cupped his hands, returning the courtesy.

Yu Wei: “Lord Ji? Your Highness…”

“His Highness has entered the palace.” She paused slightly. “Has Temple Administrator Yu come regarding Director Yu’s matter?”

“Precisely. My father has been wrongly imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice jail for quite some time now.”

“The case of skeletal remains within the wall?”

“Yes.” Yu Wei, as if grasping a lifeline, bowed again, tearfully pleading, “Lord Ji serves as Inspector of Prisons. This official begs Lord Ji to clear my father of the crime of concealing a corpse, to return him justice. This official would be infinitely grateful.”

He nearly knelt but was stopped by Ji Yunshu.

She said: “I returned to the capital this time also because of this case. Even if you hadn’t come today, I would definitely have investigated it thoroughly and would naturally not let Director Yu suffer wrongful accusation.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Wei was overjoyed: “Is Lord Ji going to overturn my father’s case?”

“Your father’s case has not yet been decided, so there’s no talk of overturning. Once the truth is clarified, that will suffice.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” He hurriedly bowed in thanks. “Thank you, Lord Ji.”

So excited his body trembled.

Ji Yunshu glanced at Lang Bo: “Brother Lang, trouble you to take me to the Ministry of Justice.”

Lang Bo acknowledged.

Two quarter-hours later.

Ji Yunshu arrived at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice. Yu Wei had not accompanied her.

After all, Director Yu was his father, and he needed to avoid suspicion no matter what. It was precisely because of this that this case was not handled by the Court of Judicial Review but was directly sent to the Ministry of Justice to have them clarify the truth.

She had just reached the entrance when she ran into Vice Minister Jiang Lan of the Ministry of Justice, Lord Jiang.

That fellow had a document tucked under his arm and was preparing to go out. Speaking of this person, Ji Yunshu could only frown repeatedly. This person was not from a scholarly examination background—when it came down to it, he merely recognized some characters. But his calligraphy was extremely beautiful, even more beautiful than Pan An. Years ago, he had copied poetry for others, and the poetry inadvertently reached the hands of the late Emperor. Upon seeing it, the late Emperor was extremely pleased and praised it several times. Emperor Qizhen had always been someone who cherished talent, so he issued an order to make an exception and grant him an official’s hat. He ordered the Ministry of Revenue to investigate his records to see if he came from a clean background. If so, then the Ministry of Personnel would assign him a position. At the time, this stumped quite a few officials at the Ministry of Personnel.

First, the Ministry of Personnel naturally wouldn’t want him! Assign him to the Ministry of War? No good—the Ministry of War was equivalent to a nation’s defense department, related to lives. If he accidentally made one wrong stroke, it could cause the entire military system to collapse—how could that be acceptable? Naturally not possible. Assign him to the Ministry of Rites? But they were an educational institution requiring culture, so naturally that wouldn’t work either. The Ministry of Revenue needed people to keep accounts and verify national assets and tax collection—only those who could do accounting were allowed in. The Ministry of Works was even more out of the question—they dealt with architecture and engineering, requiring people who could draw diagrams and calculate.

So in the end, only the unlucky Ministry of Justice remained.

Interrogating criminals, writing case records.

Perfect!

Thus the Ministry of Personnel assigned Jiang Lan to the Ministry of Justice. From then on, he was relegated to being a “decorative vase” who wrote case records.

When Jiang Lan saw Ji Yunshu, his eyes lit up with shock.

He quickly came forward.

“Lord Ji? You… when did you return to the capital?”

“Just returned.”

“Why didn’t you let anyone know you were returning? I could have gone to meet you.”

Ji Yunshu smiled without responding, noticing the document tucked under his elbow.

“This is?”

“Oh, this is a case record.” Vice Minister Jiang took it out.

Ji Yunshu asked: “Is it from Director Yu’s case?”

“Precisely!”