Case 3 (Final)
What?
"You're saying … the Guanyin Seal was stolen by Du Sanniang from Lin 'an Inn?" Liu Zhiliang choked, "Do you have any evidence?"
"I don't have any evidence. Du Sanniang told me herself. She knew very well that in all of Anfu, as long as I wanted to investigate something, there was nothing I couldn't find. Before the banquet started, Du Sanniang saw me smear the Tea Poison on the cat's paw and hand it over to Steward Zhang. She threatened me to stop investigating the Guanyin Seal's whereabouts and that she wouldn't report it to the authorities. The Guanyin Seal is the Zhang family's heirloom.
First Madam looked at Third Madam, "After I die, the Zhang Estate will be in your hands."
"Big Sister …"
"Remember, you must get the Guanyin Seal back. No matter what, it cannot fall into the hands of others."
Third Madam nodded heavily, tears in her eyes, "Big Sister, don't worry."
She smiled in relief.
She left with the yamen runners willingly.
Third Madam and Zhang Yimo stayed behind, saying to Liu Zhiliang, "Lord Liu, we must get the Guanyin Seal back from the Zhang Estate."
"Third Madam, don't worry, this official will investigate. If Du Sanniang really did steal it, this official will help you get it back. This official will order someone to bring Du Sanniang here for questioning. You can go back first, I'll inform you once there's news."
"Alright."
The mother and son nodded, preparing to leave.
Ji Yunshu called out, "Wait."
The mother and son stopped, looking at her in confusion.
"Is there anything else, Teacher Ji?" Liu Zhiliang asked.
"We've finished investigating the Zhang Estate's murder case. Now, let's investigate the unsolved theft case." Ji Yunshu's expression was cold, her tone light.
Because of this, Liu Zhiliang's heart skipped a beat.
He asked weakly, "Theft case? Does Teacher Ji mean the Zhang Estate's theft case? "
"Lord Liu, why play dumb with me?" Ji Yunshu smiled, "When you played chess, every move was perfect, just to let Prince Rong win and please him. You're so smart, how could you be so foolish?"
She picked her tone!
These words were unfathomable!
Liu Zhiliang seemed to sense something. He lowered his head and pretended to be deep in thought.
Ji Yunshu immediately took out the report book from her sleeve.
"Does Lord Liu recognize this?"
He stared at it for a moment, then hurriedly averted his gaze and nodded. "I recognize it, I recognize it. This is the yamen's report record."
"So you still recognize it. Then, Lord Liu, can you guess where I found this report record?"
"In … the study?"
"That's right, I found it in the study. Moreover, it has fallen to the ground and is covered in dust. Lord Liu, why don't you have the money to hire someone to clean the house? The study is also full of dust. Perhaps it's because the yamen hasn't received any cases for a long time, so Lord Liu doesn't enter the study often. "
He hurriedly replied, "Teacher Ji is right. The yamen hasn't received any cases for quite some time now. It's also because Anfu is very peaceful, so I haven't been to the study much."
Ji Yunshu flashed him an unfathomable smile, then began to flip through the case records page by page.
Right in front of him.
Liu Zhiliang stared at her. Every time she slowed down, his heart tightened. Every time she sped up, his heart relaxed.
He was completely led along by Ji Yunshu's rhythm.
From time to time, he would wipe the sweat off his forehead with his sleeves.
Ji Yunshu continued, "Over the years, there have been many cases of theft in Anfu, but none of them have been solved. Moreover, every single case was reported by a guest of Lin An Inn. There have been dozens of cases, but none of them have been solved. Why is that? Why is it that so many things have been lost in Lin An Inn, but none of them have been found? Moreover, Lin An Inn is still doing well. If this one remembers correctly, Lin An Inn is the inn owned by Du Sanniang, right? This is really strange. This one and Prince Yu also stayed at that inn for a night. Coincidentally, someone also lost something there. Fortunately, they found it in the end. Could it be that the inn is haunted? Why does it keep losing things? Just now, First Madame said that the Guanyin Seal of the Zhang Estate was stolen by Du Sanniang. Is there a connection between the two? "
She narrowed her eyes and began to flip through the case records in her hands.
Liu Zhiliang's mental endurance was about to collapse.
His palms were sweaty.
Jing Rong watched Ji Yunshu earnestly flipping through the case records and couldn't help but laugh.
'Not bad, little girl. You've learned to tease people so quickly.'
Liu Zhiliang's whole body trembled.
He, who had been eating melon seeds, finally finished the last one. He wiped his hands, stood up, and patted his robe before walking over.
Then, he lightly patted Liu Zhiliang's shoulder. "Liu Zhiliang, how much did that official spend?"
His tone was full of laughter and ridicule.
Liu Zhiliang was already flustered by Ji Yunshu's vague words. Jing Rong came to disturb him again, making him even more flustered.
"Your Highness, you mean …"
"Don't be nervous. The money spent on the official donation should have been earned back by now, right?"
Liu Zhiliang's face turned green.
Jing Rong began to calculate carefully as he said, "How about this, this Prince will calculate for you. The money spent on the official donation was ten thousand taels of silver, and Lord Liu's salary is only forty-five taels per month. It will take eighteen to nineteen years to earn back that amount. Lord Liu doesn't look like someone who would suffer a loss, right? You've only been an official for a few years. I believe that you have earned more than ten thousand taels, right? "
"This lowly official doesn't understand what Your Highness means."
"Liu Zhiliang, oh Liu Zhiliang. You're wearing an official's robe, and the yamen's backyard is very simple. Moreover, the tea prepared in the yamen isn't famous either. You look like an upright official, but you're a canary wearing crow's feathers. You're very rich, aren't you?"
Jing Rong said in a mocking tone. He even used his hand to pat Liu Zhiliang's bulging belly.
'How naughty!'
Ji Yunshu couldn't help but laugh. She simply closed the records in her hands.
Since last night, the two of them had been teasing Liu Zhiliang, hoping that he would expose himself. However, this old fox liked to play dumb.
Liu Zhiliang's conscience quivered. He bowed. "Your Highness must be joking. This lowly official is not a canary, and I don't have much money."
Jing Rong glared at him angrily. "Still hiding? Are you afraid that this Prince will ask you for money? Look at how petty you are."
"This lowly official …"
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