Official Zhen was the county magistrate who solved cases brilliantly at Lingwu Temple.

Jiang Si was truly surprised, but she quickly understood.

She had always wondered how a magistrate from a small county could possess such skills. If he was Zhen Qingtian, it made sense.

Official Zhen must have been passing through and, upon encountering the case, appeared in the capacity of the local county magistrate.

For the common people, a county magistrate in charge of local criminal matters was far more accessible than a distant, upright official.

Thinking back, one of the magistrate’s subordinates had mentioned that culprits often return to the crime scene – an insight not typical of an ordinary yamen runner.

It seemed that at this time, Yu Qi didn’t know Official Zhen yet.

“Official Zhen has many capable people around him. Go tell him to be careful not to be discovered,” Jiang Si instructed.

“Rest assured, Miss,” Old Qin bowed and left after receiving Jiang Si’s instructions.

Upon entering the capital, Zhen Shi-cheng had barely reported to the Shuntian Prefecture when he was handed a major case: the sudden death of the Emperor’s favored consort’s brother at a post station. The Emperor was furious and ordered the heads of the Three Judicial Offices and the Prefect of Shuntian to investigate jointly.

True to his reputation as an upright official beloved by the people, Zhen Shi-cheng, despite being overwhelmed by such a tricky case right at the start of his tenure, still remembered to properly settle Xiu Niang-zi, the tofu seller. In between investigating the case, he found time to thoroughly understand the disappearance of her daughter.

“Sister, you say your daughter appeared in a dream. This is truly extraordinary—” Zhen Shi-cheng said carefully.

Although he dared to stand up for the people, he wasn’t reckless, otherwise, he wouldn’t have smoothly reached his current position.

The Prefect of Shuntian was a full-fledged third-rank official.

Observing her behavior, listening to her words, and drawing on years of experience, Zhen Shi-cheng felt that although Xiu Niang-zi’s story was bizarre, it had some credibility.

However, a few points of credibility weren’t enough to act rashly.

Xiu Niang-zi was accusing the heir of Marquis Changxing. Going to the Marquis’s mansion to dig for a body without evidence would lead to impeachment by the censors.

“Your Honor, this commoner has evidence!” Xiu Niang-zi exclaimed.

Zhen Shi-cheng’s eyes flashed: “Oh? What evidence does Sister have?”

Xiu Niang-zi opened her hand, revealing a copper hairpin.

“Your Honor, look. This copper hairpin is what Niu’niu always wore. It appeared on the floor at home after Niu’niu came to me in a dream. Your Honor, this commoner hasn’t lost her mind. Niu’niu was killed and came to me in a dream. Please believe me.” Xiu Niang-zi knelt despite attempts to stop her, kowtowing to Zhen Shi-cheng.

She kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead hitting the floor with dull thuds, clearly displaying a mother’s desperation and helplessness.

Zhen Shi-cheng sighed and personally helped Xiu Niang-zi up: “Sister, I understand the situation fairly well now. Please stay here for now and rest assured. Once I have some leads, I will certainly seek justice for you.”

After Xiu Niang-zi was led away, a subordinate couldn’t help but say: “Please reconsider, Your Honor. There’s no evidence for this matter. If you confront a noble house based solely on a woman’s outlandish words, you’ll be inviting trouble.”

Zhen Shi-cheng frowned and said sternly: “When have I ever feared inviting trouble?”

If he were completely certain, he would willingly invite trouble himself.

However, Xiu Niang-zi’s case indeed required caution. Dealing with a behemoth like the Marquis Changxing’s household meant either not moving at all or ensuring a decisive strike when moving. At present, he couldn’t be sure if Xiu Niang-zi was merely imagining things due to missing her daughter or if there was truth to her claims.

Did ghosts appear in dreams in this world?

“Send two men to inquire about the reputation of the Marquis Changxing’s heir.”

“Understood.”

The next day, the subordinates reported their findings to Zhen Shi-cheng: “People say the Marquis Changxing’s heir is gentle and refined, a young noble with a good reputation. The Marquis and his wife are kind to their servants and have no ill repute. However, the heir’s wife—”

“What about the heir’s wife?”

The subordinate quickly recounted how the Marquis Changxing’s heir’s wife had become a laughingstock in the capital due to being possessed by evil spirits.

“How is the relationship between the Marquis Changxing’s heir and his wife?”

“They seem very loving. Even with the heir’s wife encountering such a situation, there have been no reports of the heir expressing dissatisfaction.”

Zhen Shi-cheng shook his head inwardly.

It seemed that surface-level inquiries were unlikely to yield any breakthroughs.

However, with a large part of his energy currently devoted to the case of “Yang Guojiu’s” sudden death, it was difficult to find a breakthrough in Xiu Niang-zi’s case for the time being.

“Continue investigating. Report any anomalies immediately.”

That afternoon, before his subordinates could report back, someone else came to beat the drum and seek justice.

Zhen Shi-cheng stood up abruptly upon reading the complaint.

The plaintiff was accusing none other than the Marquis Changxing’s heir!

Zhen Shi-cheng immediately summoned the plaintiff.

The plaintiff was a slightly plump middle-aged man. Unlike Xiu Niang-zi, he was well-dressed, clearly from a wealthy background.

“Your Honor, this humble one is from Yanzi Town, Baoquan County, Beihe City. I have a daughter who left home to travel over twenty days ago and hasn’t returned. After searching everywhere to no avail, I learned two days ago that my daughter had been brutally murdered!”

The complaint only stated that the Marquis Changxing’s heir had killed his daughter, without specifying the reasons. Zhen Shi-cheng quickly asked: “How did you learn that your daughter was killed by the Marquis Changxing’s heir?”

Master Chi wiped his tears with his sleeve: “This humble one was originally away on business, but suddenly began having recurring nightmares of my daughter calling for help. Worried, I decided to return home early, only to find that my daughter had indeed gone missing…”

“If your daughter often went out to travel, how can you be certain she’s missing?”

“Although my daughter often traveled, she had never been gone for so long, and she always sent word home if she was away for more than five days. But this time, there was no word at all. A father knows his daughter best, and I’m certain something must have happened to her.”

“Then how did you confirm she was harmed, and even identify the culprit?”

Master Chi’s dry lips trembled: “Because my daughter came to me in a dream and named the culprit herself!”

At this moment, Zhen Shi-cheng’s feelings were particularly complex.

Another ghost appeared in a dream!

Seeing Zhen Shi-cheng’s silence, Master Chi grew anxious: “Your Honor, this humble one isn’t mad! Every word I speak is true! It was my daughter who told me who killed her, and she said only the newly appointed Prefect of Shuntian could seek justice for her!”

“You’re a well-traveled man. Do you believe in ghosts appearing in dreams?”

“But, but she’s my daughter!” Master Chi felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife, tears streaming down his face. “A father and daughter are connected. If my daughter were safe and sound, why would I dream of her calling for help repeatedly? Moreover, when she appeared in my dream, the room was filled with the fragrance of her usual perfume. I could never mistake it! Your Honor, please believe me. Although my daughter isn’t from a noble family, she was raised like a precious pearl. We can’t even find her body—”

Zhen Shi-cheng unconsciously gripped the complaint tighter.

Whether ghosts appearing in dreams were real or not was beside the point. Two unrelated people, Xiu Niang-zi and Master Chi, were both accusing the Marquis Changxing’s heir. He couldn’t believe there wasn’t some truth to it.

How could he investigate the Marquis Changxing’s mansion?

After a moment’s thought, Zhen Shi-cheng had an idea.