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With the exception of some bottles of wine and the bloodstains on the floor, the room didn’t have anything out of the ordinary. She observed her surroundings, then she went to the slightly opened door and pulled it so she could take a look behind it. She lowered her head and noticed an indistinct mark on the floor. Her spirit was roused. She immediately crouched down and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve. She spread it over the footprint she discovered. Next, she pressed down on it so that the footprint would transfer to her white handkerchief. After it was done, she examined it and saw a semi-circular pattern on it.
‘What is that?’
Even after a long time of pondering, she couldn’t solve this piece of the puzzle, so she threw it to the back of her mind and put the handkerchief in her sleeve. She went to the table and picked up her things while glancing at Su Ziluo. “I’m done with my investigation for now. If you need anything, you can go find me.”
Su Ziluo maintained his indifference. “I’ll trouble Teacher Ji then.”
“No trouble at all. This is the Emperor’s command, so this investigation has now become my problem. I shall take my leave first.” She nodded at him and without hesitation, she took her sandalwood box and left the room.
Outside, several soldiers glared at her as she passed them by. She ignored them and took the stairs to the ground floor. However, after she went down the stairs, she suddenly stopped, lifted her head and looked up.
She didn’t move her gaze even as time continued to pass, but when Su Ziluo came out of the room, she immediately retracted her gaze.
“Teacher Ji, how was the investigation? Were you able to identify the murderer? Is the killer really Secretary Ji?” Who knew since when the capital governor had stood next to her, but he was there and asked with anxiety laden within his tone.
……….
Ministry of Justice’s prison.
Jing Rong and Lang Po went inside, but before he could reach Ji Li’s prison cell, Prison Overseer Zu reminded them, “Prince Rong, the Emperor has ordered his arrest, so this humble official hopes your Highness will not make things difficult for me.” If the prisoner escaped, only death awaited him!
Jing Rong looked at him sharply. “Rest assured, this Prince won’t let you shoulder the responsibility if anything happens.”
Ji Li’s cell was in the most remote place of the prison. The prison was divided into two sections depending on the gravity of the crime. Ji Li “killed” a general of Qujiang on a diplomatic mission, so he bore a heavy crime. Two jailers would guard the cell at all times of the day.
Jing Rong motioned at the jailers when they reached the cell’s door. “You stay far away. This Prince has something to ask Secretary Ji.”
The jailers were caught in a dilemma. They glanced at Prison Overseer Zu. The latter’s mouth was slightly twitching. “Prince Rong, the criminal…”
Jing Rong promptly interrupted him. “There’s only one road leading out of the prison. This Prince has no intention of releasing the prisoner. The only thing you need to do is to stay a bit further away.”
“But…”
Jing Rong sharply stared at them. Prison Overseer Zu trembled and hurriedly pulled away the other two jailers with him. However, they didn’t go far away, standing at a corner instead.
In his prison cell, Ji Li was sitting on the straw bed. His limbs were shackled with iron chains. In mere hours, his handsome face had undergone great changes: unshaved stubble could be seen on his chin, and his eyes were lowered without signs of movement.
Jing Rong approached the cell’s wooden barrier. He stood straight in front of Ji Li, towering over him. “Secretary Ji, you appear to be quite at ease in here. People sent behind bars usually look desperate and are rather noisy, but you are quite calm. I have quite a bit of admiration for your composure.”
After his mad laughter came to a stop, he leaned his back against the wall and slide down to the ground, hiding partly into the darkness. After a long moment, he finally started to narrate. “Yesterday after the banquet, General Yuchi invited me to the relay station to drink some more. We were only talking about trifling matters and nothing else. After a while, I passed out after having had one too many cups of wine. The next day when I woke up, he was already dead and I was holding onto a sword. Just when I was looking at the sword, someone opened the door and came in. I couldn’t explain myself and soon, the Emperor’s edict came and I was imprisoned here. That’s it! What I can I say more? Maybe I did kill him under the influence of alcohol.”
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