The Wei family tragedy quickly spread throughout Jinjiang, known to everyone.

The matter of Ji Yunshu being imprisoned naturally also spread.

When Ji Shuhan and Old Madam Ji learned of it, they nearly fainted.

For the Ji family to produce a murderer was an utter disgrace!

Of course, Jingrong also learned of this matter.

As soon as dawn broke, he rushed to the prison in great haste.

The two jailers at the entrance didn’t recognize him and naturally blocked his way.

The next moment, Lang Bo produced a token and shouted: “Prince Rong is here—who dares be insolent?”

After seeing the token, the two jailers were terrified and quickly knelt on the ground.

“We… greet Prince Rong. We lowly ones didn’t know it was Prince Rong—we deserve ten thousand deaths.”

Jingrong’s sharp gaze made people shudder: “Take this prince to see Ji Yunshu.”

“Yes…”

The jailer hastily got up from the ground, bowing at the waist with lowered head, quickly leading the way.

Entering the dark, damp prison, Jingrong’s hands at his sides clenched into fists. His mood became increasingly troubled as that foul stench grew heavier!

Arriving outside Ji Yunshu’s cell, seeing inside was actually quite clean, his expression that had been about to turn fierce gradually restrained itself.

He commanded: “Open the door.”

The jailer obediently opened the door and stood to the side!

Jingrong strode in quickly, seeing that small body crouched on the ground, hugging her curled-up knees, head buried, body seeming to tremble faintly.

And beside her, the brazier’s black charcoal had burned out, only emitting a few wisps of white smoke!

“Yunshu…”

He called her name softly.

Ji Yunshu drew her feet in closer. After a good while, she raised her head.

Meeting her eyes were a pair of jade boots with gold carving and silver thread trim, and a robe tail made of satin. Slowly moving upward, she met Jingrong’s deep and heartbroken gaze!

In just one day of not seeing her, Ji Yunshu’s delicate face had gradually lost its makeup, like a clean sheet of white paper.

Jingrong crouched down. His slender fingers touched Ji Yunshu’s ice-cold forehead, tucking her scattered stray hairs behind her ear.

Flowing downward, he tightly gripped her cold, pale hands.

Ji Yunshu didn’t avoid him either. Those deeply sunken ink-dark eyes looked at him, her tone weary as she asked: “What about Wei Yi? How is he?”

Jingrong shook his head lightly: “He’ll be fine. This prince promises you.”

“He shouldn’t have to bear all this.”

Ji Yunshu’s fine, heartbroken voice echoed in this cramped cell—coldly!

Jingrong continued: “Don’t worry. This prince won’t let anything happen to you. Even if all evidence points to you, even if everyone doesn’t believe you, I believe you.”

He spoke extremely earnestly, the hands gripping Ji Yunshu’s applying force.

Ji Yunshu’s expression was cold and clear, hearing yet not hearing, while her brows furrowed deeply.

Just then, two bailiffs came over. Seeing Jingrong in the cell, they first froze, then stepped forward.

“Your Highness, we lowly ones are following Magistrate Liu’s orders to bring Miss Ji to the courtroom.”

Speaking extremely carefully, afraid a single word would offend this Buddha!

Jingrong’s stern eyes glanced over, frightening the two bailiffs into retreating two steps.

He turned his gaze to Ji Yunshu and said: “This prince will go with you.”

Ji Yunshu neither answered nor responded.

So Jingrong accompanied her to the yamen courtroom.

In the courtroom, the magistrate sat on the high hall chair. Below, several people knelt.

Kneeling at the front was Wei Fu, the Wei residence steward.

Behind him knelt two Wei residence servants and yesterday’s doctor.

When Jingrong and Ji Yunshu entered together, the magistrate was about to go down and bow when Jingrong raised his hand to stop him.

“Conduct the trial.” Cold words.

The magistrate forced a smile: “Yes, yes, yes.” Bowing at the waist, he gestured toward a chair to the side: “Your Highness, please sit!”

Jingrong looked at Ji Yunshu with concern before sitting to the side.

Under the bailiffs’ custody, Ji Yunshu knelt down beside Wei Fu.

At this moment, the magistrate struck the gavel.

In official tones: “The Wei residence murder case—those below accusing Ji Yunshu, do you have clear evidence?”

Wei Fu below immediately reddened with anxiety. He glanced at Ji Yunshu beside him, then bowed toward the magistrate.

“Your Honor, our Master and Madam were poisoned to death by her!”

Pointing at Ji Yunshu!

But Ji Yunshu knelt properly and uprightly without refuting.

The magistrate swallowed and asked: “Then, do you have evidence?”

“Yesterday, our Master originally hosted a banquet at the residence. After the banquet ended, Miss Ji didn’t return home but pulled our Master and Madam to the side hall and poured two cups of tea. That tea contained poison.”

“Where did the poison come from?”

The doctor kneeling behind spoke: “Your Honor, this humble one detected zhenjiu poison in the two cups of tea, but there was none in the teapot. So I determined the poison must have been added by the person pouring the tea.”

The magistrate frowned: “But… this doesn’t count as evidence!”

Steward Wei Fu immediately continued: “This humble one also found zhenjiu bird feathers in the courtyard where Miss Ji previously stayed.”

Having said that, the two maids behind him presented several zhenjiu bird feathers wrapped in white cloth.

Everyone knew that zhenjiu bird feathers contained severe poison. When soaked in water, even livestock wouldn’t dare touch that water.

Wei Fu spoke emphatically: “Your Honor, Miss Ji must have soaked zhenjiu bird feathers in water and added it to the tea when pouring, thereby poisoning our Master and Madam to death! Your Honor, please see clearly—you must seek justice for our Master and Madam!”

Raising his hands above his head, his entire body prostrated on the ground.

The magistrate patted his forehead—what a worry!

He glanced at Ji Yunshu, but saw her with a calm expression.

He asked tentatively: “Ji Yunshu, won’t you… defend yourself?”

Please defend yourself!

This official can’t bear to convict you!

Even more can’t bear to execute you!

Though Ji Yunshu knelt with upright posture, her gaze was lowered, seemingly thinking about something!

Jingrong to the side was anxious for her. Though he was a prince, he couldn’t disregard law and order!

In a moment, he stood up. That imposing and majestic bearing, his steps like treading on ice blades, cold and piercing, he walked over to Ji Yunshu’s side. Lowering his head to glance at her, he then turned his gaze to the magistrate.

His words were serious: “Magistrate Liu, this prince has also heard of this matter. To conclude that Miss Ji killed someone based solely on poison in the tea is far too far-fetched.”

“Right, right, right—too far-fetched, too far-fetched…”

The magistrate agreed completely.

Seeing the prince had spoken, Wei Fu felt somewhat timid in his heart. But thinking of his Master and Madam’s tragic deaths, he cried out:

“Your Highness, Your Honor, these zhenjiu bird feathers are conclusive evidence! They were indeed found in the room Miss Ji previously stayed in. Moreover, at that time, only she was beside Master and Madam. She was the one who poured the tea—there can be no mistake! Our Master and Madam died so unjustly. We beg Your Highness and Your Honor to investigate thoroughly!”

Jingrong pondered and said: “The zhenjiu bird feathers are insufficient to prove the poison was administered by Miss Ji. If someone were framing her by planting a few feathers in her room, what would be strange about that? Furthermore, no one saw her poison them. To conclude she’s the murderer based on this—isn’t that too hasty!”

His blue sleeve swept, carrying swift wind!

The magistrate completely agreed!

He said to Wei Fu: “Wei Fu, what His Highness said is very correct.”

Wei Fu raised his head to look at Jingrong, his face mournful: “Your Highness, everything this humble one said is true! Miss Ji killed people—we wouldn’t falsely accuse her.”

“Then fine, this prince asks you—why would she kill them?”

Ugh!

Murder requires a motive, right!

What’s the motive?

Wei Fu lowered his eyes, held back his tears, not knowing how to answer, stammering: “This… Master and Madam were very good to Miss Ji when alive. As for why Miss Ji would kill them, I… also don’t know.”

Seizing on this point, Jingrong struck while the iron was hot.

“Since no one personally witnessed her poisoning, and the zhenjiu bird feathers were found only after Miss Ji was imprisoned—whether this is making a big deal out of nothing is still unknown. Add to that the lack of motive—isn’t it absurd to convict her now?”

Wei Fu choked on his words, not knowing how to respond!

So the magistrate quickly said: “This case is full of doubts and requires detailed investigation. This official will absolutely not wrongly convict anyone, nor will I let the murderer go. Wei Fu, what you’ve said, this official has noted and will find the truth as soon as possible to give Master Wei and Madam Wei justice.”

Wei Fu had nothing more to say and could only kowtow: “Thank you, Your Honor.”

The magistrate continued: “Suspect Ji Yunshu will be temporarily detained in prison until this case is resolved.”

The bailiffs then stepped forward, carefully helping Ji Yunshu to her feet.

And she, from beginning to end, didn’t say a word.

Just as the bailiffs were preparing to take her away, Jingrong grabbed her. His face hidden with anxiety, he whispered in her ear:

“I know your heart is very troubled, and I know this matter has hit you hard. Human life is paramount. This prince will do everything possible to find evidence to prove your innocence. But listen well—you must pull yourself together, because only you know most clearly what happened at that time.”

Ji Yunshu’s brows and eyes moved, seeming to have taken his words to heart!

Actually, since last night, she had been thinking through the entire case process.

But no matter how she thought, she couldn’t figure out how the poison got into that cup of tea.

Now these zhenjiu bird feathers had appeared—utterly ridiculous.

Could someone really be framing her?

But… how would that person have known she would pour tea at that time?

Right, this was the point of doubt!

She had thought all night. The matter weighing on her heart now gradually had a clue!

Raising her eyes, she whispered in Jingrong’s ear: “Your Highness, I need to examine the corpses.”

Examine the corpses?

The Wei residence people viewed her as a murderer—how would they let her examine Master Wei and Madam Wei?

Jingrong’s brow furrowed as he made his decision.

Nodding: “Alright, this prince has his methods.”

Ji Yunshu’s eyes showed gratitude. She said nothing more and was led away by the bailiffs.

The next moment, Jingrong went to the Wei residence.

Overnight, from the Wei residence main gate to the inner courtyard, white satin had been hung everywhere. The red silk lanterns had also been replaced with white ones.

After Jingrong brought Lang Bo inside and reached the mourning hall in the back courtyard, two coffins were placed side by side. The coffin lids hadn’t been closed yet. In front were memorial tablets with lit candles.

Wei Yi wore white mourning clothes, kneeling in front, his gaze fixed on those two tablets, completely motionless.

Because he had cried for so long, those eyes remained red and swollen, still streaming tears.

Heartbroken beyond measure!