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At Jing Rong’s words, Qiao Zheng hastily replied. “This official’s elder brother had been rude and thus I wish to seek forgiveness from Your Highness. I brought Zihua along because, earlier today, the doorkeeper did not know better and neglected to inform us that Teacher Ji had come to our estate. Thus, Teacher Ji was not able to enter. When this official found out, I immediately brought Zihua over so that we could convey our most sincere apologies, as well as let Zihua clarify what happened during the incident and assist Teacher Ji in his investigation.”
Wow, you are such a good person!
However, Jing Rong frowned. Only then did he realize that Ji Yunshu had been given the cold shoulder. Feeling displeased, his expressions grew darker and colder as he tapped his fingers against the table. No wonder that lass hasn’t appeared yet!
“Then the two of you should wait here for Teacher Ji. If you can’t wait, then leave.” Jing Rong snapped curtly and did not speak further.
Qiao Zheng and Qiao Zihua had no choice but to continue standing.
On the other hand, Jing Rong was enjoying his tea. After the time it took for a joss stick to burn had passed, Ji Yunshu leisurely strolled over. That adorable kitten was still in her arms.
When she walked in, Qiao Zihua noticeably drew back and lowered his head, not daring to even lay eyes on the feline. Ji Yunshu snickered to herself before putting down the cat in her arms, allowing it to roam free.
Qiao Zheng immediately called out very courteously. “Teacher Ji.”
Ji Yunshu put on a surprised expression. “It really is Lord Qiao. I thought they were playing a trick on me earlier, which was why I took my time to come. Please don’t take it too personally, Lord Qiao.”
“No worries.”
She walked up to Jing Rong. With outsiders present, she still had to observe the courtesies. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Take a seat.” Jing Rong pointed to the chair right beside him.
It was only after Ji Yunshu had sat down did Jing Rong invite Qiao Zheng to do so likewise, bidding his attendants to serve tea and snacks.
Time slowly ticked past, but they still did not get down to business.
Qiao Zheng was anxious. He looked at Ji Yunshu in an attempt to glean some information from her expressions but only came up empty handed. “Teacher Ji, the reason I have brought Zihua over is the murder case. You may question him as you like - he will not hide anything.”
“Oh, there’s no need to hurry.” Ji Yunshu spoke as she took the pastry beside her, eating it with gusto.
Qiao Zheng did not dare to pressure her and could only wait there in silence.
Jing Rong chuckled to himself. When it comes to messing with people, this lass is almost as good as he is!
Finally, Ji Yunshu had her fill before she turned her sagacious eyes towards Qiao Zihua and asked. “How much does Young Master Qiao remember of the events that occured three years ago?”
Qiao Zihua immediately got up, swept his sleeves and replied in all seriousness. “I remember everything.”
“What great memory you have. Personally, I can’t remember exactly what I did three years ago.” She sighed.
That’s it? Qiao Zheng had originally thought that she was going to ask more questions, so why did she stop there? His heart was almost jumping out of his throat but he knew that this was Teacher Ji’s way of getting back at them for snubbing him earlier.
A while later, Ji Yunshu poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip. Then, she finally decided to get to business. “Young Master Qiao, I am going to ask you some questions. Please think it over before replying. If your statement were to be unclear or wrong in any way, it may be used against you. I hope you can understand.”
“I understand, ask away. If it’s something that I know, I will tell you everything.” He was extremely cooperative!
“What was the relationship between you and Miss Ye’er?”
Qiao Zihua hesitated for a moment before replying with his teeth clenched. “There was nothing between us. Three years ago, I went to the House of Spring and happened to hear her sing. She had a beautiful voice. Since then, I started visiting more frequently to support her and we got to know each other better. She was a nice person and I slowly began to fall for her but she always rejected my advances. After that, I spotted her with another man on several occasions and thought that she had found someone she liked. Thus, I stopped going to see her lest I disturb her.”
At the end of his recollection, Qiao Zihua seemed a little disappointed, sentimental even!
Ji Yunshu pressed on. “After that? Why were the both of you in that room? What exactly happened back then?”
Qiao Zihua answered. “To be honest, I had already given up on her. However, she suddenly came looking for me one day and dragged me into a room in a panic. I noticed that she was extremely afraid and anxious, so I asked her what was going on. She told me that she has something important to tell me and will report it to the authorities after that. Yet, just as she was about to speak, someone knocked me unconscious. I don’t know how long I was unconscious for, but when I came to, Miss Ye’er was already… dead. I was terrified so I ran out of the room immediately. Not long after that, the authorities sent people over about the incident.”
“So, your father bribed the coroner and Lord Zuo to say that the deceased had committed suicide using poison in order to cover up the incident as much as possible, to the extent that there was barely an investigation”
“That’s right, it’s true that my father bribed the coroner and Magistrate Zuo. That’s because I was the last person who saw Miss Ye’er alive. My father did it to protect the Qiao clan’s reputation.”
What a great father you have! Ji Yunshu’s expression darkened. “For the sake of your Qiao family’s reputation, you used money to cover up the truth.”
Qiao Zihua was flustered. “That’s not true, I really didn’t kill anyone.” He had never been good with words.
Qiao Zheng immediately followed up. “Your Highness, Teacher Ji, my elder brother was indeed in the wrong for bribery; we will not protest if we were to be punished for that. However, the most important thing right now is to search for the real murderer.”
I don’t need you to remind me. Ji Yunshu questioned Qiao Zihua once more. “You mentioned that Miss Ye’er had been with another man, do you know who that person is?”
Zihua shook his head. “I did not see his face, only his back.”
“Does he have any special features?”
“He was tall, slender and was decently dressed. That’s right, he carried a flute at his waist, which was decorated with a jade pendant on one end. This piece of jade was shaped like a fish. That’s all I know.”
“A fish-shaped jade pendant?” Ji Yunshu mused to herself. This could be a significant clue.
“I’ll ask you once more, when you were dragged into the room by Miss Ye’er, did you see a cat?”
Shaking his head with certainty, Qiao Zihua replied. “No, there was no cat inside. I’m terrified of cats. If there were one in the room, I’d definitely know.”
“Then, do you remember what the room was like when you came to? Think carefully, don’t leave out anything.”
At Ji Yunshu’s prompting, Qiao Zihua began to slowly think back to the incident. At times he would close his eyes, at times he would look about his surroundings before vigor returned to his unfocused eyes.
Qiao Zihua replied. “I remember when I woke up, the closed window had been opened and the screen next to the wall had fallen over. Miss Ye’er was lying on the bed with her clothes pried open and her head hanging off the bed, touching the floor. The cup by the bed had been smashed. There was also a dead cat next to the smashed cup. I was extremely distraught at the time and immediately ran outside. I did not notice anything else after that.”
He added. “Everyone said that I had killed Miss Ye’er after having too much alcohol. But that day, I met her just after I arrived at the House of Spring, so I didn’t get the chance to drink any.”
He spoke earnestly and seriously; he did not seem to be lying at all.
Ji Yunshu muttered to herself “An open window, a fallen screen and a smashed cup... And the cat was strangled?” What’s the connection between all of these?
She continued questioning, “You said that Miss Ye’er was in a panic when she pulled you into the room and was about to tell you something. This information was so important that she was going to report it to the authorities after telling you.”
“That’s right, but I was knocked unconscious before she was done speaking.”
“Then, why did she want to speak with you instead of going to the authorities herself? Isn’t that strange?” Strange indeed!
However … “I don’t know either.”
“Whether you’re speaking the truth or not, I have my ways of finding out. I have asked enough questions for now, you may leave.” She sent them away.
Jing Rong, however, looked straight at Qiao Zheng. “Wait a moment, Lord Qiao. This prince wants to have a word with you. ”
Those words were extremely foreboding.