“Dead?” Cheng Shu’s eyes suddenly widened.

Cheng Maoming nodded with a dark expression.

If he could avoid it, he naturally wouldn’t want to reveal such a secret, but now the criminals were dead and their origins hadn’t been extracted, so the young man before him couldn’t be treated lightly.

Cheng Shu found it incredible, “How could they be dead?”

Cheng Maoming’s expression darkened another shade, “We’re currently investigating. I asked Young Master Cheng to come because I hope you’ll think carefully again. If you can remember where you saw that criminal, that would be ideal.”

Cheng Shu’s face showed difficulty, “If I could remember, I would have said so already. The General’s Manor wants to know these two people’s origins more than anyone.”

“Then Young Master Cheng, please keep thinking. I’ll handle some matters and return shortly.” After speaking, Cheng Maoming stood and left.

Cheng Shu was dumbfounded.

Was he being placed under house arrest here?

The Jinlin Guard’s overbearing reputation was truly well-deserved.

Cheng Maoming went to the morgue, watching the busy coroner, suppressing a bellyful of rage.

He could be certain these two men’s deaths were suspicious.

During the afternoon interrogation, the two criminals had been separated, yet they had died one after another during torture. The people administering torture were all experienced—after his specific instructions, such a mistake was impossible.

Even if there truly was an accident, it was impossible for both men to have accidents.

The coroner finally finished his examination.

“Well?” Cheng Maoming pressed, staring at the coroner.

The coroner kept his eyes lowered, not daring to meet those cold eyes, “Reporting to Your Excellency, both deceased have bleeding spots in their eyeballs, and their blood is dark red. I deduce they died from sudden cardiac arrest.”

“Sudden cardiac arrest?” Cheng Maoming approached the coroner, “How could perfectly healthy men suffer cardiac arrest?”

The coroner’s expression was somewhat complex as he steeled himself to say, “Perhaps they were stimulated during the torture—”

People being tortured, could they be called perfectly healthy?

“Nonsense!” Cheng Maoming couldn’t help but curse, “What a coincidence—both men stimulated into cardiac arrest?”

The coroner’s whole body trembled, not daring to make a sound.

“Could it be poisoning?” Cheng Maoming speculated.

The coroner shook his head helplessly, “This humble one found no signs of poisoning.”

Cheng Maoming’s expression kept changing as he circled the two corpses.

Clearly there were suspicious points, yet he couldn’t find anything—this feeling was too stifling.

He slammed the wall and ordered his subordinate, “Find everyone who had contact with these two after they entered the Jinlin Guard.”

At this moment, a Jinlin Guard came to report, “Chief Commander, the leftover food from the criminals’ lunch has all been tested—no problems. The people responsible for cooking and delivering food have been interrogated and admitted nothing.”

“What the hell!”

Cheng Maoming watched as his subordinates gathered everyone who’d had contact with the criminals and interrogated them one by one, but got nowhere.

Just as his mood was growing worse and worse, a subordinate reported that the Heir of Prince Jing requested an audience.

At this time, how could Cheng Maoming have the mood to deal with a young pup? He said coldly, “Tell him I’m handling urgent matters and cannot spare the time.”

The subordinate quickly conveyed this message.

Hearing this, Qi Shuo showed no displeasure at being refused, but instead asked a question, “Have those two criminals met with an incident?”

The subordinate was startled, and the way he looked at Qi Shuo changed.

Qi Shuo smiled slightly, “Why don’t you relay this question to your superior? Perhaps the Chief Commander will have time to see me after all.”

“Heir, please wait a moment.”

The subordinate hurried back to relay Qi Shuo’s words.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Maoming immediately went to see Qi Shuo.

“How does the Heir know those two criminals met with an incident?” Cheng Maoming’s gaze was piercing as he stared intently at Qi Shuo.

Compared to Cheng Maoming’s tension, Qi Shuo was much more composed, “I guessed.”

“Guessed?” Cheng Maoming’s face darkened, “The Heir should know this isn’t a joking matter.”

After the two criminals died suddenly, he had sealed off the information. The only outsider who knew was Cheng Shu. For the Heir of Prince Jing to suddenly appear saying it was a guess—was he making fun of him?

“It truly was a guess.” Qi Shuo leaned forward slightly, his manner more serious, “Prince Jing’s Manor neighbors the General’s Manor. When the Chief Commander’s people went to find Cheng Shu this afternoon, they were seen by my household servants. Hearing the report and discovering Cheng Shu hadn’t returned for some time, I guessed those two criminals might have met with an incident.”

At this point, he looked directly at Cheng Maoming, “Otherwise there would be no reason for the Chief Commander to keep him detained. Now it appears I guessed correctly.”

Cheng Maoming’s eyes flickered, his tone revealing neither pleasure nor anger, “Then has the Heir come to have me send Young Master Cheng back?”

“The criminals meeting with an incident must be something the Chief Commander was unwilling to see. If Cheng Shu is kept here continuously, it will instead invite speculation. What does the Chief Commander think?”

Cheng Maoming pressed his lips together.

Before investigating the two criminals’ origins, he truly didn’t want word to leak, otherwise he’d have hell to pay with His Majesty. He’d only planned to keep Cheng Shu until nightfall before releasing him.

“I hadn’t realized the Heir and Young Master Cheng were so close.”

“A close neighbor is better than a distant relative.” Qi Shuo said this lightly, then changed the subject, “However, I came mainly to see if I could be of assistance.”

Cheng Maoming was somewhat amused, “The Heir is skilled at investigating cases?”

“Not at all.” Qi Shuo’s expression was sincere, his words somehow able to make people listen, “The Chief Commander’s subordinates are all skilled at interrogation and investigation. If they’ve reached an impasse, perhaps they’re constrained by experience. As an outsider, I might be able to provide new perspectives.”

Cheng Maoming raised an eyebrow and voiced his doubt, “Why is the Heir interested in this matter?”

Normally, people would avoid it like the plague.

“Cheng Shu and I are friends, and I participated in yesterday’s search, so I’d like to see it through to the end.”

Cheng Maoming didn’t speak for a moment.

This reason was passable, but not entirely convincing.

“I know the Chief Commander is unwilling to have outsiders interfere in Jinlin Guard internal matters, but as I just said, the Chief Commander might consider the possibility that onlookers see more clearly. After all, I already know about this matter.” Qi Shuo wore a smile at his lips, speaking neither hastily nor slowly.

After a moment’s hesitation, Cheng Maoming nodded. As he led Qi Shuo over, he secretly regretted seeking any doctor in desperation.

To back out now would be somewhat embarrassing. Never mind—he hadn’t expected a young pup to be useful anyway. He’d just send him away shortly.

Qi Shuo examined the two criminals’ corpses, then listened to Cheng Maoming explain the coroner’s conclusions.

He crouched down to carefully examine the bodies, remaining there so long that Cheng Maoming secretly frowned before he finally stood up.

“My view aligns with the Chief Commander’s. These two should have died from poisoning.”

Cheng Maoming’s spirits first lifted, then grew doubtful.

Could the Heir of Prince Jing be agreeing with him just to stay longer?

“But the coroner said he found no signs of poisoning.”

“Signs of poisoning?” Qi Shuo was silent for a moment, then uttered one word, “There are.”

Cheng Maoming’s expression immediately changed as he urgently asked, “Where are the signs?”

Qi Shuo didn’t answer, but instead swept his gaze over those present.

Cheng Maoming immediately said, “The Heir may speak freely. Everyone here is my trusted confidant.”

With the two criminals dead, clearly there was a problem within the Jinlin Guard. Those who could be at his side now were all trustworthy.

Qi Shuo crouched down and pointed to a spot, “Chief Commander, look here.”