Five Days
Ji Yunshu noticed Constable Zhang's gaze. Her lips curled into a smile as she followed Jing Rong and Fang Mingsan into the mansion.
Fang Mingsan's hospitality was not extravagant. He only ordered the servants to serve a few cups of hot tea and a few plates of Yuzhou City's special pastries.
The outer rim of the plates with pastries was worn out.
The entire routine could be summed up in two words.
Incorruptible!
Fang Mingsan personally poured tea for Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu. "This is Yuzhou City's famous Chuqiao Tea. Your Highness and Teacher Ji, have a taste."
Then, he brought the tea over.
Just as it was placed in front of Ji Yunshu, Wei Yi snatched it away.
"I want to drink it too."
After saying that, he gulped down the tea like he was drinking water.
He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "It's not good. It's a little bitter."
Fang Mingsan's awkwardness flared up.
Ji Yunshu pulled him to the side. "Wei Yi, don't be rude."
"Oh."
He lowered his head, feeling wronged.
Jing Rong gestured to his guards to bring Wei Yi and Aunty Xie away.
Wei Yi grabbed Ji Yunshu's arm, refusing to leave. In the end, he could only bring Aunty Xie away to rest.
Fang Mingsan bowed. "Your Highness, this lowly official has already ordered people to prepare a few rooms. Your Highness, Teacher Ji, and everyone else can stay in peace."
"There's no need. This Prince will leave once everything is ready."
"The sky is getting dark. Your Highness should …"
Jing Rong interrupted him before he could finish.
"Lord Fang, don't beat around the bush. You've set up a Hongmen Banquet to invite this Prince into the city so that I can help you investigate the recent strange happenings in Yuzhou City."
He was straightforward!
Fang Mingsan's expression darkened. He sighed and said, "Since Your Highness already knows, this lowly official will not beat around the bush. In the past month, there have been three murder cases in the city, causing the citizens of the city to be in a state of panic. None of them dare to go out, some have even left the city. Now, no one dares to come to Yuzhou City."
"The three victims were all reputable people in the city. They were all hanged on the trees in their own courtyards. Their deaths were tragic. Moreover, the night before their deaths, the three victims all claimed that they had seen ghosts. They became crazy and delirious. This lowly official has already sent people to investigate for a long time, but there were no leads. According to the coroner's autopsy, the victims committed suicide by hanging themselves."
Jing Rong smiled. "Oh? Since he hanged himself, what's there to investigate? "
"That's the strange part. The three of them did not know each other. Before their deaths, they all claimed to have seen ghosts, and the way they died was exactly the same. How could there be ghosts in this world? It must be man-made, so … "He looked at Ji Yunshu." I heard that Teacher Ji is traveling with Your Highness. This lowly official would like to trouble Teacher Ji for a few days to solve this case. "
Are you always playing house? Solve it just like that?
Ji Yunshu wanted to say something, but Jing Rong beat her to it. "I say, Lord Fang, in such a big city like Yuzhou City, is there no one who can solve this case? Can't you find anyone in your yamen? "
He spoke in a tone of accusation.
"Your Highness, it's not that this lowly official hasn't looked around the city, but there's really no other way. This matter has become so big. If this continues, the consequences will be unimaginable. Your Highness, just take it as resting here for a few days."
"Lord Fang, you should know that this Prince was sent to Yufu County to investigate the case of the disaster relief silvers. I've already wasted a lot of time in Shanhuai County. If this continues, even this Prince cannot afford to be punished by the Emperor."
"This …"
Fang Mingsan was also troubled.
At the end of the day, Jing Rong carried the Emperor's orders, and that Teacher Ji was his man. If he wanted to go to Yufu County, there was no reason for him to leave Ji Yunshu alone. Moreover, Yuzhou City was under his jurisdiction. Even if he wanted to force this case, it would not fall into Ji Yunshu's hands.
Thus, he was really worried to death.
Ji Yunshu looked at Jing Rong. Seeing his firm attitude, she knew that he would definitely not let her stay behind to help Fang Mingsan investigate this case.
However, it was never her style to leave someone in the lurch.
Thus, he said, "Your Highness, the murder case this time is so suspenseful. If we still can't arrest the real murderer, more people may die. Lord Fang had no choice but to do this. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to beg you."
Jing Rong glared at her. "So, you want to investigate this case?"
"I …"
"Forget it." Jing Rong immediately interrupted her. "This Prince knows what you're thinking. I don't know how long this case will take."
"Five days."
"What?"
"Five days. If I can't find the culprit in five days, I will leave for Yufu with Your Highness." Ji Yunshu said.
Jing Rong frowned and pondered. He glanced at Fang Mingsan, who was frowning. He steeled his heart and said to Ji Yunshu, "No, we cannot delay going to Yufu County. Even if you don't investigate this case, someone else will. Once we have everything prepared, we will leave immediately."
Without giving Ji Yunshu a chance to refute, he said to Fang Mingsan, "Lord Fang, since the imperial court has appointed you as the county magistrate of Yuzhou City, then everything that happens here should be handled by you. After all, the imperial court does not keep idle people. You should understand this principle."
"Your Highness, this lowly official …"
"Say no more." He pushed the tea back. "There's no need to drink this tea. This Prince has already come in for a while to attend your Hongmen Banquet. I won't disturb you any further."
Fang Mingsan was anxious.
But he was at a loss for words.
Jing Rong had already dragged his men out of the room. He ordered Lang Po, "Prepare the things we need as soon as possible. We need to leave Yuzhou City before sunset."
Lang Po replied, "The things should be ready by now."
"Then let's hurry and set off. Bring Aunty Xie along."
"Yes."
The group of people swarmed out of the county yamen.
Just as Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi were shoved into the carriage, Jing Rong was pulled back by Mo Ruo.
"Don't you want to think about it?"
Jing Rong replied, "There's nothing to think about. You know what I'm worried about."
Of course Mo Ruo knew.
"I know, but you can't keep him here forever. It's like how you can't break an eagle's wings and force it to swim in the water. You can't let a fish leave the water and fly to the sky. You know better than anyone what kind of person Teacher Ji is. He was born to solve cases. Aren't you just plucking his wings? Moreover, five days isn't a long time. If you insist on leaving, who knows if more people will die in Yuzhou City. If this report reaches the imperial court, His Majesty and the Supreme Court might throw this murder case to Teacher Ji. Wouldn't that be a waste of time? "
Mo Ruo finally came to his senses and analyzed the situation clearly and logically with him!
Jing Rong hesitated.
At this time, Fang Mingsan chased after them. He lifted his robe and knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.
"Your Highness, this lowly official begs you to stay for two more days. Let Teacher Ji find out the truth. Take it as helping the people of Yuzhou City. I beg you."
He kowtowed.
A heavy thud resounded.
Everyone in the yamen also knelt and begged.
Ji Yunshu got off the carriage and looked at the Yuzhou officials kneeling on the ground. Her heart was heavy.
Everyone was waiting for Jing Rong's decision.
After a long time …
Jing Rong said, "Fine. Five days it is. We must leave the city in five days."
He finally relented.
Ji Yunshu's heart immediately relaxed.
Fang Mingsan repeatedly kowtowed in gratitude.
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