Translator: Iris, Editor: Choufleur

Zhu Xin looked at the stone again and frowned, "Hm? Normal Huxian stones have an even colour, it's rare to find unevenly coloured ones like this, as if there's something coating it."

"Colour?" Ji Yunshu snapped back to reality, her heart pounded as she examined the stone once again. Indeed, the ochre was quite uneven. She had noticed the uneven coloration before, but had brushed it aside. Now that Zhu Xin had pointed it out, the sudden pang of realisation hit her and she shot up from her seat. "Fetch me some strong vinegar and wine."

"Huh?"

"Quickly, now." Ji Yunshu rushed them. The two maids looked at her before nodding dazely and left to fetch her the items.

The maids soon returned with the requested items and Ji Yunshu mixed the two liquids together. She then let the mixture settle before dabbing her handkerchief into it and gently wiped it over the stone.

Within moments, blotches of dark red appeared on the stone's surface.

Ah! This Her eyes widened as her grip on the handkerchief tightened. The maids glanced at each other and tried to figure out what happened with hushed whispers before they asked, "Teacher, what's happening? Is there something wrong about this stone?"

Ji Yunshu replied, "Go, ask His Highness to come see this."

Hm? Zhu Xin did not question her any further. "Yes." she answered and ran off.

JIng Rong quickly rushed over with Lang Po and Lu Jiang and entered the pavilion, tension hung in the air as they tried to make sense of the situation. The moment Jing Rong stepped in, he caught the faint whiff of alcohol and vinegar in the air, then he saw the stone that was set on the table and the dark red blotches that covered it.

In that instant, he understood. "Is it blood?"

Eh? Everyone else looked at the stone in shock.

Ji Yunshu nodded and explained, "Zhu Xin said that this stone is not from the south and can't be found in the capital. This is actually a Huxian stone from Nanlin Anlang region and it's used as a protective charm. One of the victims, Gao Meng, is from Anlang who also travelled the country for his trade. It would not be strange for him to carry this stone. In addition, his body was found in the dilapidated temple of the Zhang village. It happens that Idiot Si from the Zhang village was in possession of this expensive stone from Nanlin Anlang. And it just so happens that there is blood on this stone."

Jing Rong deduced, "That means Idiot Si was there at the time of murder? Hm that might not be the case. Perhaps he went to the crime scene after the murder, then took away this stone."

"No, that can't be."

"Why?"

"Does Your Highness remember how Idiot Si reacted when he saw Zhang Daqi at the Zhang family ancestral shrine? He was scared out of his wits."

Ah! That was a chilling conclusion to arrive at. The maids huddled together and tried to comfort each other.

After a moment of silence, Jing Rong spoke, "You suspect that Zhang Daqi is the murderer?"

Ji Yunshu did not answer.

JIng Rong continued, "Then we just need to confirm the blood on the stone belongs to Gao Meng. If it is, then we can prove that Gao Meng lost this stone. That would also explain the blood on the stone, which was splattered onto it when Gao Meng was killed by Zhang Daqi. Afterwards, Idiot Si found and took away the stone, prompting Zhang Daqi to try to silence him."

His deduction made sense, but Ji Yunshu argued, "We can't be so certain, because we have not found the conclusive evidence that proves Zhang Daqi is the killer."

"No matter. Let's check if this blood is truly Gao Meng's first." So Jing Rong turned to Lang Po, "Head to the Ministry of Justice immediately and retrieve a sample of Gao Meng's blood."

"Yes." Lang Po left the estate at once.

He quickly returned from the Ministry of Justice, with a very thick clump of blood in hand. Ji Yunshu used her own testing methods and confirmed that the blood on the stone does belong to Gao Meng. But they found that there was also someone else's blood on the stone. That discovery surprised everyone.

Ji Yunshu made a bold speculation, "I think this other bloodstain belongs to the murderer."

Jing Rong replied, "We'll find out once we obtain a sample of Zhang Daqi's blood and compare it."

"But he's in the Yi estate right now."

"I have a plan." He ordered Lang Po to infiltrate the Yi estate again, using the route he used yesterday and find a way to obtain Zhang Daqi's blood. As usual, he needed to complete the task in complete stealth.

Poor Lang Po; he had just come back and only rested for a short while before he was sent out again, even before his clothes had a chance to dry. If the people in the Yi estate caught him, they would skin him alive. But he accepted his mission without a single complaint and left in a jiffy.

And so, they waited patiently in the estate.

Lang Po only returned after nightfall. The bamboo bottle in his hand was filled to the brim with blood. Ji Yunshu was speechless, it looked like old habits die hard. Jing Rong's men always took way too much blood, either a full bowl or a full bottle. But she did not have any time to chastise them as she quickly conducted her analysis. The results came out after a short while, the other blood splatter did belong to Zhang Daqi.

Lang Po exclaimed, "Your Highness, Teacher Ji, looks like Zhang Daqi really is the murderer. This blood must have gotten onto the stone when he accidentally injured himself during the murder."

Ji Yunshu remained quiet. Is that really the case? Is Zhang Daqi really the murderer? They do have conclusive evidence now. But

Jing Rong asked her, "What do you think?"

Before she could finish her sentence, an arrogant, gleeful voice came from the door. "The Rong estate is really lively today!"

They did not even need to look to know that it was Jing Yi, who waltzed in with Wen Shisan, Dou Quan and a few other guards.

"Why are you here?" JIng Rong questioned.

"I came to thank Teacher Ji, of course!"

"What do you mean?"

Jing Yi glanced at Lang Po with his head held high, "Did you really think your men could enter my estate and take Zhang Daqi's blood with such ease?"

Jing Rong instantly understood what he meant. "Then, stop beating around the bush, just say it."

"Jing Rong, I don't mean any harm, you don't have to be so guarded towards me. I really came by to thank Teacher Ji." He turned to Ji Yunshu. "Teacher Ji, I was so troubled that there wasn't any evidence proving Zhang Daqi is the killer. But that blood you found on this stone is just what I need to prove that he killed all eight victims. With this, no matter how stubborn he is, he would have to come clean and admit to his crimes."

In short, Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu have done Jing Yi's work for him.

Jing Rong snapped back, "Jing Yi, don't you dare do anything. This stone may have both Gao Meng and Zhang Daqi's blood, but that doesn't prove anything."

"This is more than enough to back me up. If I say he's the murderer, then he is."

"Both of us are tasked to find the truth. How can you jump to such conclusions when there are lives at stake? Do you really think you can bend him to your will with just this?"

"Jing Rong, Jing Rong. You're so naive. This stone right here is the perfect evidence. What do you think Imperial Father wants to know anyway? He just wants results. As long as Zhang Daqi adds his fingerprint to the confession, I can present it to the Supreme Court and Father. Add a few more embellishments to the case report that I would submit to them, and this case is closed." A sinister grin stretched across his cheeks and he chuckled.

Meanwhile, Ji Yunshu stole a glance at Wen Shisan. He remained silent and did not act as smugly as before. If the credit of solving this case goes to Jing Yi, he would become the Disciplinary Officer of the Ministry of Justice. In that case, why is he not happy?