Not wanting to delay it any further, Zuo Yao immediately followed Ji Yunshu’s orders and ordered his men to invite a fengshui master to select a good date so that they could unseal the coffin as soon as possible.
Back in North Courtyard.
Jing Rong thought for a moment before asking Ji Yunshu, “You already knew that Young Master Qiao is afraid of furry animals, didn’t you?”
She nodded and asked him in turn, “Do you remember the scene a few days ago, where Young Master Qiao was frightened by the chickens fleeing on the street to the extent that he stood rooted to the ground?”
“I do remember.”
“I wondered if Young Master Qiao was scared of furry animals, so I dispatched Zijin to follow him secretly these days, and it turned out that my guess was right.”
“But what does his fear have to do with this case?”
Ji Yunshu’s expression turned solemn as she lowered her eyes and spoke seriously, “Miss Ye’er was not the only one who died in the room of Yichun House three years ago.”
Ah! Does it mean that two people died? Jing Rong was confused and frowned, waiting for her explanation.
Ji Yunshu continued, “At that time, there was also a dead cat in that room.”
A cat?
“Our observations the past few days proved that the eldest son of the Qiao family is indeed as timid as a mouse. Let alone murdering someone, he would not even dare to cut fruit with a knife. Furthermore, he dreads furry animals, yet a cat was strangled to death at the crime scene. If he had been the murderer, why would he strangle a cat he feared, either before or after he killed Miss Ye’er?”
The dead cat was the clue.
Jing Rong said, “Because of that, you don’t think Young Master Qiao was the murderer.”
Ji Yunshu shook her head, “I’m not sure, but the chances of him committing the murder is very low.”
“The truth will surely be revealed after you open the coffin.”
“Do you trust me that much? What if I were wrong? After all, the case happened three years ago, and although the case report provided by Magistrate Zuo is detailed, it is filled with nonsense rather than relevant information.”
“Speaking of this Magistrate Zuo, you must be careful of him.”
“I know. I have avoided discussing the case with him the past few days, and refused the case reports he repeatedly handed over. He is obviously very nervous, even guilty, and he seems to know that I’ve been tormenting him intentionally. Besides, he must have been involved in the Qiao family’s sudden arrival to the yamen.” Ji Yunshu replied.
For people from the Qiao family to arrive at this time was obviously an attempt to intimidate her using the name of the first-rank official in their family, so that she would turn a blind eye to this investigation and close it perfunctorily.
However, they didn’t expect to encounter Prince Rong, and the awe-inspiring, righteous Teacher Ji.
Their scheme failed completely. They could only walk away dismally like a mute, swallowing their bitter medicine in silence.
Jing Rong had naturally reached the same conclusions as Ji Yunshu about the Qiaos’ uninvited visit, even though he did not point it out. He remarked, “Collusion between civilian businessmen and officials for protection is nothing new. I will definitely deal with this Old Magistrate Zuo sooner or later. As for the Qiao family, they need to face the punishment if they are found out to be involved in this case, for this prince will not let them go.”
If Qiao Zihua was the murderer, he would press the Qiaos into dried persimmons!
Ji Yunshu let out a sigh of relief, “I have confidence in my grasp of this case; you don’t need to worry about me. It’s time you investigated the disaster relief funds.”
He suddenly smiled, looking slyly at Ji Yunshu, “Are you worried that this prince can’t solve it?”
“I don’t know much about cases related to the royal court, so I can’t offer you much help. I’m not worried that you can’t solve the case, but I’m worried that the case might go off the rails and get you involved. All the officials that had investigated the missing disaster relief funds all disappeared and died. I don’t believe that there’s something supernatural at work, I only fear that there is someone behind it. Now that you are here to investigate it, if…”
“There is no if!” Jing Rong denied, holding her pair of slender white fingers, “Yunshu, this Prince left the Capital for you, and we two must return to the Capital together, like Luan and the Phoenix flying in the same direction. You don’t have to worry about me, just focus on your own case. ”
The corners of her lips raised slightly as she bowed her head. Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu’s eyes met as they looked at each other, filled with warm, tender affection.
Just then, they were interrupted by the cat that had run out of the public court. It came up to Ji Yunshu and rubbed against her legs with its small body. “Meow ~”
Ji Yunshu squatted down and hugged the cat between her arms. “Little kitty, are you here to torment me?”
“Meow ~” Jing Rong brought this cat to her a few days ago so that she could amuse herself and kill time when she was bored.
“Is the cat docile?” Jing Rong’s paternal love flooded, as he reached to caress the cat’s head. A gentle touch. [1]
“Very much so.”
“You like it?”
“Can’t bear to part with it.” The words from her mouth were rather sweet.
Jing Rong was delighted, “Then this Prince will buy you another one in a couple of days and double your enjoyment.”
Ji Yunshu hurriedly refused, “Forget it, this little one is naughty enough.”
“But you have to get used to it eventually.” Jing Rong’s words were heavy with implications. The edge of his thin, cold lips hooked up gently. “In the future, you and I will bear many children.”
These words made Ji Yunshu lower her head with a shy smile, protesting, “Don’t joke around.”
“It’s not a joke. Bearing children is a virtue. As a sage said, children are gifts from the Heavens, one is far from enough, three not enough as well.” [2]
Pfft! If she had a spittoon with her now, she would be spitting blood into it. Do you think I’m a sow?!
Just then, Lang Po came over and reported, “Your Highness, this subordinate has followed your instructions and has found a suitable courtyard. It is very neat and s.p.a.cious, and has been cleaned thoroughly. Your Highness can move into the courtyard at any time.”
Jing Rong was displeased by Lang Po’s interruption, but he still tapped his fingers to calculate an auspicious date. “Then… We move tomorrow.”
“Yes, this subordinate will make the necessary preparations.”
“Wait.” Jing Rong stopped him. “Don’t forget to take the chickens sent to Yamen a few days ago. Leave one or two for Magistrate Zuo. After all, it was this prince’s money, I won’t let that old man benefit too much from it.”
You are so stingy! Lang Po made fun of Prince Rong secretly in his heart, then he lowered his head and bowed before leaving. “Understood.”
Ji Yunshu asked Jing Rong, “We are moving out?”
“Yamen is not a place to stay for the long-term.”
“That’s true.”
Jing Rong asked her again, “Do you like the two servant girls I sent you?”
She nodded, “One is clever, and the other is sensible.”
“Good, when we move out tomorrow, remember to take them with you. You need servants to take care of you.” She silently acquiesced.
When Zuo Yao got the news that Jing Rong wanted to move out, he was terrified at the thought that Prince Rong was dissatisfied with him.
Gripping his official robe in his hands as he hurried to Jing Rong, he asked, “Your Highness, are you unhappy with the accommodations? Just tell me the things you lack, this lowly official will immediately send someone to procure them.”
“No!”
“Then is it the food that is not palatable to you, Your Highness? If that is the case, this lowly official will hire the best chef in Yufu, he will surely make dishes that Your Highness will find satisfactory.”
“No!”
“Is it because Your Highness is not sleeping well? It is this lowly official’s fault. It can be noisy living next to the main street. This lowly official will provide a change of housing for you immediately.”
“That’s not the problem!”
[1] They are Pawrents!! <3
[2] He wants an entire football team of course. rip JYS.