Xie Qingyao’s words drew countless gazes toward Jiang Si.

Jiang Si stood there, her expression composed.

Earl Yongchang’s eyes flickered as he spoke hoarsely, “Qingyao, don’t be foolish!”

“Father, I’m not being foolish. Si’er truly discovered that someone else killed Mother. Her death had nothing to do with you!”

Earl Yongchang’s determination to die to atone for his perceived sins had frightened this young lady who had grown up pampered by her parents.

Seeing her father’s disbelief, Xie Qingyao grew anxious and called to Jiang Si, “Si’er, tell my father!”

Jiang Si walked over and gave a slight curtsy to Earl Yongchang, speaking candidly, “Uncle, I just went to Aunt’s chambers with Qingyao and discovered two fingerprints inside the wardrobe. Given the position and angle of the prints, it’s unlikely they were left by maids putting away clothes.”

She paused briefly before continuing with conviction, “Therefore, your niece deduces that someone must have hidden inside the wardrobe, which would explain such marks.”

“Is this true?” Earl Yongchang’s eyes suddenly lit up.

While losing his wife of many years was heartbreaking, it wasn’t enough to drive a grown man with adult children to suicide. What he couldn’t accept was the thought that he had killed his wife with his own hands.

If he were truly the murderer, he would not only be unable to face himself but also his children—this was why he sought release through death.

Now that someone suggested the killer was someone else, Earl Yongchang immediately became animated.

“Your niece can only make deductions. To uncover the truth, we’ll need experienced investigators,” Jiang Si said carefully, subtly suggesting that Earl Yongchang should invite Prefecture Magistrate Zhen Shicheng to investigate the case.

Xie Qingyao quickly added, “Father, let’s report this to the authorities. We can’t let Mother’s killer go free while you bear the false guilt of killing her!”

Earl Yongchang frowned, hesitating.

Finding the killer was necessary, but involving officials would mean allowing them to examine his wife’s body. The thought alone was unbearable to him.

Jiang Ancheng gave Jiang Si a meaningful look.

Seeing this, Jiang Si quietly walked to her father’s side.

She had done and said what she could; whether they would involve Magistrate Zhen was now the Yongchang household’s decision.

Jiang Ancheng pulled Jiang Si behind him.

His daughter was too kind-hearted, daring to investigate a blood-stained room for the sake of the Xie girl.

Ah, he’d have to buy her some braised pork knuckles later to calm her nerves.

“Father—” Xie Qingyao called out tearfully, seeing Earl Yongchang’s silence.

While Earl Yongchang hesitated, still unable to decide, Xie Yunlou looked at his father and sister, cast a deep glance at Jiang Si, then turned to leave.

“Yunlou, where are you going?”

“To report to the Prefecture Office!” Xie Yunlou paused to answer his father.

“Come back!” Earl Yongchang blurted out.

Earl Yongchang had been hesitant, but his son’s decisiveness left him flustered, making him instinctively try to stop him.

Xie Yunlou turned back, meeting his father’s gaze.

“Yunlou, come back here! You have no right to make decisions for this household yet!” Earl Yongchang said angrily.

This boy’s wings had grown too strong—first helping Old Jiang tie him up, and now daring to act on his own!

Xie Yunlou knelt, kowtowed to Earl Yongchang, then stood up, showing no signs of agitation. “Sister, take care of Father. I’ll return soon.”

With those words, Xie Yunlou left without looking back.

Jiang Ancheng sighed inwardly at Yunlou’s composure: Look at other people’s sons, remaining so steady in such a crisis, then look at his good-for-nothing who just idles about—truly, comparisons are odious!

Then, glancing at Jiang Si, he felt somewhat consoled.

At least his daughter was no less capable than others.

“Xie Yunlou!” Earl Yongchang shouted in anger.

Xie Qingyao hurried to comfort her father: “Don’t be angry with a brother. I think the same way he does—we can’t let Mother’s murder remain unsolved. Compared to finding the killer, what does losing some face matter? I’m sure Mother’s spirit would understand our actions.”

Moreover, would rumors of Father mistakenly killing Mother sound any better?

Although Great Zhou’s laws were lenient in such matters—Father wouldn’t be charged for accidentally killing Mother in his sleep—her maternal family would surely break ties with Father, and people would gossip endlessly.

Since face would be lost either way, nothing was more important than bringing justice for Mother.

Though innocent, Xie Qingyao wasn’t naive, and her words struck right at Earl Yongchang’s concerns.

After a long silence, Earl Yongchang sighed, “Untie me.”

Xie Qingyao looked toward Jiang Ancheng.

Jiang Ancheng watched his old neighbor warily, making no move.

Earl Yongchang gave a bitter laugh: “Old Jiang, even if you let me die now, I wouldn’t want to. I must find the murderer who killed my wife and avenge her!”

Jiang Ancheng stepped forward to untie Earl Yongchang, patting his shoulder firmly.

The Prefecture Office was quiet today, having just resolved the case of “Duke Yang’s” sudden death. The entire office exuded an air of relaxation.

Zhen Shicheng was a capable official known for solving cases brilliantly and standing up to power, but he wasn’t one of those pedantic officials who thought themselves the world’s most upright magistrates. He understood his subordinates’ need to relax.

Working non-stop on the “Duke Yang” case had been exhausting—relaxing afterward was only natural and deserved support.

He didn’t believe in expecting a horse to run well without feeding it.

Zhen Shicheng finished handling some accumulated matters, stretched, and walked outside.

Breathing fresh air would undoubtedly help clear his mind and make handling official business easier.

As Zhen Shicheng strolled, his sharp eyes caught sight of his eldest son, Zhen Heng.

The seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth wore a stone-blue robe, looking fresh and clean as jade.

Seeing his father, the young man lowered his head, seeming to want to hide.

“Zhen Heng!” Zhen Shicheng called out forcefully.

While he needed to maintain an inscrutable demeanor in public, there was no need for such pretense with his son.

This boy was trying to avoid him!

As was customary, the Prefecture Magistrate’s family resided in the official residence, and Zhen Shicheng’s family was no exception.

The youth sighed, accepting his fate and walking over.

“Where are you off to now?”

“A classmate invited your son to go boating on the lake—”

Zhen Shicheng’s face darkened. “What’s there to boat about in this heat?”

Instead of using that time to find a way to meet the young lady he approved of?

Seeing his father’s expression, Zhen Heng’s head began to ache.

Had he known coming to the capital meant being pressured by his father to look for a future wife, he would have rather stayed home to study.

“Then son will return to his studies.” Zhen Heng prepared to slip away.

“Besides boating and studying, don’t you have any other aspirations?”

Zhen Heng maintained a respectful smile: “I’m not sure what kind of aspirations Father means—”

Zhen Shicheng cleared his throat and said flatly, “I’ve taken a liking to a young lady. Find a way to marry her.”