Before long, the message was delivered to Li Cheng.

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong returned to that foul-smelling lakeside.

Waiting!

As soon as Li Cheng heard that Ji Yunshu knew how the killer had struck, he immediately brought his people over.

Those veteran officials from the Metropolitan Court were also very curious.

Thinking, how could it be that in just one day, Master Ji already knew how the killer struck?

If it were them, who knew when they’d figure it out—perhaps never.

When Li Cheng and his group arrived at the lakeside, they saw two figures, one tall and one short, standing in the pavilion.

Standing right in front of that bronze bell.

Upon arriving at this place, everyone covered their noses.

“This place really stinks.” Someone said disdainfully.

Others immediately agreed. “Who knows how many years the lake water hasn’t been cleaned? How could it smell this bad?”

“What are the Ministry of Works people doing!”

“If this matter is reported to the Prince, Minister Li will have a hard time.”

“Isn’t that right!”

Several people muttered a few fragmented complaints!

On the surface, the various departments appeared to have cooperative relationships, but after all, this was the bureaucracy—where there’s no competition? Everyone wished they could pull down officials more capable than themselves so they could have a chance at promotion.

Li Cheng ignored their conversation and instead hurried toward Jingrong and Ji Yunshu in the pavilion.

He stepped on the ground covered with rotten wood shavings and snow mixed with mud as he entered the pavilion, anxiously asking, “You truly know how the killer struck?”

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong simultaneously turned to look at him.

Not speaking.

“Well, say something! Why are you looking at me?” As Li Cheng spoke, those Metropolitan Court officials also crowded in.

Wanting to know the situation.

Ji Yunshu calmly gave an instruction: “I must trouble Young Master Cheng to prepare a raft.”

“A raft? What do you need a raft for?”

“It has its use. Please prepare it as quickly as possible—I need it immediately.”

Li Cheng was stunned, not understanding, but hearing “as quickly as possible” and “immediately,” he didn’t ask too many more questions. He turned to instruct his guard, saying, “You heard what Master Ji said.”

The guard nodded.

“Then hurry and prepare it, the faster the better!”

“Yes!”

The guard received the order and withdrew from the pavilion.

Then Li Cheng asked Ji Yunshu again, “And then?”

Ji Yunshu pointed at the bronze bell and asked, “Can Young Master Cheng see these circular iron protrusions on the bronze bell?”

He had entered too hastily and hadn’t noticed at all.

Following Ji Yunshu’s gesture, he looked over.

Only then did he discover there was a bronze bell in the pavilion.

The officials also noticed it one after another.

“I see them, so…” Li Cheng’s words paused. Suddenly realizing something, his eyes widened in shock. He immediately stepped forward, reaching out to touch the circular protrusions on the bronze bell covered with dust and some accumulated snow. “Could it be… this is where Du Mubai’s back was struck?”

“That’s right, right here!”

Li Cheng asked, “Do you really believe that beggar’s words? Believe that Du Mubai came here?”

“With the beggar as witness, and now the bronze bell as proof, both can prove Du Mubai really came here.”

“…”

“The beggar said Du Mubai stayed in this place for two hours, so during those two hours, he was with the killer the whole time! During that time, the killer enticed him to drink something containing a sedative drug. Afterward, he probably became somewhat aware and planned to leave, but his body was unsteady. His whole person fell backward, which caused his back to strike this bronze bell.” Ji Yunshu explained in great detail.

Li Cheng pondered his words.

While also looking at the bronze bell before him.

Slowly nodding. “It seems… that’s how it was. But two hours—why did they stay here so long? Can what the beggar said be trusted?”

“As for why they stayed here for two hours, I can only slowly explain it to you after the raft is prepared.”

“…” Li Cheng had too many questions in his heart.

Ji Yunshu continued, “Let’s talk about something else. The beggar also told me that Du Mubai left this alley after dark, so he couldn’t see his appearance clearly at all—only remembered the clothes on his body. Moreover, that entire day, aside from Du Mubai going in, no one else entered.”

Someone questioned, “Then that’s not right. If Du Mubai could leave safe and sound, how could he have been drugged unconscious here by the killer?”

“Because of the shoes!”

“Shoes?” The officials said in unison.

How did this relate to shoes again?

Li Cheng stared at her.

Completely bewildered!

Ji Yunshu explained, “The shoes I’m talking about are the shoes Du Mubai wore! The shoes he wore entering this alley were different from the ones he wore leaving it! To be precise, they weren’t the same pair. After he left this alley, he should have returned to the Scholarly Residence. However, I went to the Scholarly Residence again to ask, and the young attendant there told me that when Du Mubai returned that night, the shoes he wore were the same as when he left. Therefore, between leaving the alley and returning to the Scholarly Residence, he changed shoes twice!”

“Changing shoes? Who would be so strange?” Someone said.

“Right, the Scholarly Residence isn’t far from here—just two streets away. Besides, it’s not like going on a long journey. Who would carry two pairs of shoes on their back?”

“Isn’t that right?”

…

Everyone chimed in one after another.

Li Cheng also muttered softly, “Right, why would he change shoes twice? Why is that?”

Ji Yunshu told them, “Because… the Du Mubai who left the alley and returned to the Scholarly Residence that night was fake. That person was actually the killer!”

Huh!

The killer?

Immediately everyone erupted in commotion.

They looked at each other.

Couldn’t believe it.

How could a perfectly fine Du Mubai turn out to be fake?

“This… how is this possible? Didn’t the beggar say that the entire day, aside from Du Mubai, no one else entered? If that’s the case, where did the killer enter from? And why change two pairs of shoes? Why would the killer do this?” Li Cheng asked.

Several questions bombarded Ji Yunshu in succession.

Ji Yunshu said seriously, “This is precisely the killer’s most clever point!”

“What do you mean?”

“Once we find the raft, everything will naturally become clear.”

Li Cheng still didn’t understand. “But what exactly do you need a raft for?”

Some urgency in his words.

After all, there were still many doubts unresolved. What’s more, even more questions had emerged. His brain capacity wasn’t enough—he could barely contain it all, as if about to explode.

Ji Yunshu’s expression remained calm.

Couldn’t tell whether her mood at this moment was tense or grave.

She walked slowly to the lakeside, her deep gaze looking at that grove of trees across the way.

She said, “I need a raft to take us across to the other side.”

The other side!

That not-so-large grove of trees.

But what would they do there? Li Cheng’s heart was full of doubts.