Zuo Yao took the lead and saluted him with cupped hands, "Your Highness."
It was both a reminder to Qiao Yi and confirmation that this was, as he guessed, the prince.
Suddenly, someone murmured, full of astonishment. "You ... you are a prince?" Qiao Zihua was shocked, a fearful and panicked expression growing on his face. The person standing in front of him was the very person who had bullied him in the brothel.
"You recognise me?" Jing Rong pretended not to know him.
"I... you..." Qiao Zihua pointed at him. [1]
The next moment, Qiao Yi beat his hand hard, "You bastard, you have the gall to address the prince as though you are equals?"
He withdrew his pained hand into his sleeves and dared not make even a squeak.
Qiao Yi immediately bowed to Jing Rong, "I had no idea that Your Highness is here, please forgive my son’s behaviour."
"Since it is unintentional, this prince will not take it seriously."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"I heard everything Master Qiao just said outside. When your younger brother Qiao Zheng, Minister Qiao, was working as an official, this prince had conversed with him a few times. He had mentioned his older brother, describing him as a reliable and modest role model. I did not expect that Master Qiao is now questioning the Yamen. Why? Is there anything wrong with the court investigation? " His tone was bone-piercingly cold, and although he smiled, it was terrifying to all those present.
Qiao Yi hurriedly said, "Your Highness misunderstood. This one named Qiao only wished to meet Teacher Ji and seek an explanation. After all, the case was already closed three years ago, why must it be reopened again?"
"There are inconsistencies in the case, a retrial is inevitable."
"But..."
"That’s it. Since the Supreme Court has already allowed a retrial of this case, it would be pointless for you to refute it. If I were you, I would just go back to my house and wait. As the saying goes, you won’t be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door if you did nothing wrong."
Qiao Yi was scolded and didn't know how to continue.
In the North Courtyard, Ji Yunshu flipped through the documents Zuo Yao sent over in the room. She already knew everything written on them. Therefore, they are as good as scrap paper.
Shi Ziran was waiting for a long time and urged twice, "Teacher Ji, are you really not going?"
She smiled, put down the documents, and called Qiao’er to bring over the cat.
"Has the cat eaten?"
"Yes, it has."
She took over the kitten, touching its head with her white fingers. "Little buddy, let's go have a look and see what the tiger looks like." Then she carried the kitten into her arms and left in a good mood.
As soon as she arrived in the public court, she saw that the Qiao family had just been ‘sent away’ by Jing Rong.
Seeing an elegant young scholar enter, Qiao Yi paused and took a careful look.
This man looked tidy and had good facial features. In particular, his eyes were very clear and bright with intelligence but without guile. He cut a magnificent figure with his proud and unyielding posture.
However… there was also something strange about him. Why was such a manly man holding a cat in his arms?
Zuo Yao immediately resorted to his initial plan and quickly reminded, "Master Qiao, this is Teacher Ji, the one who was sent by the Supreme Court to investigate the case."
Qiao Yi spoke, startled. "So you are Teacher Ji."
Ji Yunshu said softly, "I heard that Master Qiao is looking for this humble one."
Qiao Yi naturally dared not act as impulsive as he did earlier and spoke with more restraint, "I heard that the Supreme Court was going to reopen the case and sent you to investigate. Thus, I came to the Yamen to ask about the situation."
"So you came here to discuss this." She said lightly, "The case had some peculiarities, and so naturally it must be reviewed."
"Peculiarities?" Qiao Yi didn't understand. "Three years ago, there was conclusive proof that the woman killed herself. How could there be anything peculiar about it?"
Ji Yunshu didn't take his question seriously, nor responded. She glanced at Qiao Zihua, who was shrunk to the side and walked towards him with the cat in her arms.
When he saw the cat in her arms, Qiao Zihua suddenly shrieked and goosebumps spread all over his body. His fingers and his face twisted. "Ah! Take it away!" He covered his head and waved his sleeve vigorously, immediately hiding behind Mrs Qiao. [2]
Madam Qiao was a little embarrassed. She grabbed her son's hand and comforted him. Then she whispered softly to Ji Yunshu, "Teacher Ji, Zihua has never liked such furry animals since childhood, so the cat in your arms…" She didn't finish her words.
Ji Yunshu acted like she suddenly understood, and quickly put the cat on the ground, patting its head.
"Look, you scared people."
"Meow ~"
"Go, look for Qiao’er."
The kitten seemed to understand her. "Meow ~" Then it ran out with its short legs. It was very cute.
She then looked at Qiao Zihua behind Mrs Qiao, "I did not know that Young Master Qiao is afraid of cats. If you were scared just now, this humble one apologises to you."
Qiao Zihua was sweaty all over and lifted his sleeves to wipe the perspiration off his face. Seeing that the cat had already left, he just embarrassedly tidied his clothes and resolutely steeled his expressions back to normal. He said harshly, "There’s no way I would be scared of a cat." He glanced at Ji Yunshu, then at Jing Rong.
These two people were obviously the same people he had met in the brothel a few days ago. Now they acted like they didn’t know him. But when he thought about it, the prince appearing in the brothel and encountering him was indeed nothing to boast about. After all, how could a prince visit a brothel? He thought it was better to shut up.
Ji Yunshu smiled and turned to Qiao Yi, "Master Qiao, I described the case as peculiar for a reason. As for whether Young Master Qiao committed a murder or not, things will clear up when we find out the truth. If your son did kill that person, he will be arrested for sure. If not, from then on, your son’s innocence will be proved. The people of Yufu will no longer gossip about it anymore. The Qiao family’s reputation will be cleared. Master Qiao, are you satisfied with this answer? "
Satisfied! What else could he say? But Qiao Yi said, "The person has been dead for three years, how should we investigate?"
She smiled lightly, slowly spitting out several words, "Open the coffin and conduct an autopsy." Her words resounded in the public court and shocked everyone, as loudly as if she had rung a huge bell in front of them.
Qiao Yi narrowed his eyes and questioned, "After three years, the corpse has already turned into a skeleton. How could you conduct an autopsy then?" Absolutely ridiculous!
"Don’t worry about it, Master Qiao."
"Then... Since Teacher Ji has said so, I have nothing more to say, I will excuse myself now." He bowed to Jing Rong, "Your Highness, please excuse me."
Jing Rong nodded.
Although Qiao Yi was not satisfied, in the end, he still took his own people and left. With that, the yamen was finally quiet.
Zuo Yao stepped forward. "Teacher Ji, since you are going to investigate the case, where will you start investigating?"
She twisted her eyebrows, "Master Zuo, didn't I just say that? Choose a good day and open the coffin for an autopsy."
Zuo Yao was stunned, looking at her with his mouth gaping open in surprise before he stepped back faintly and looked down. "Yes." His voice was devoid of strength.
[1] Absolutely helpless against our shameless JR. *patpat*
[2] The cat better be important after all this foreshadowing.