Jing Yi had made his move within the Capital, preparing for every single possibility, yet Jing Rong was not worried. In fact, he had already taken all that into account!
He instructed s.h.i.+ Ziran, "Just make sure Lu Jiang keeps a watchful eye on the happenings in the Capital and report back to me whenever he has any news." As they say, why worry needlessly when your leader's not at all anxious?
s.h.i.+ Ziran continued, "Your Highness, Prince Yi's men have already infiltrated every part of the government - it's plain to see that he's planning something. Your Highness, you can't just sit around waiting for something to happen anymore, if something were to happen in the Capital, then…"
"When did you become so talkative? Just do as I say." Jing Rong shot him a reprimanding glance.
s.h.i.+ Ziran swallowed as he unwillingly answered, "Understood."
Not long after, Lang Po came scurrying in, worry written all over his face. He greeted Jing Rong, "Your Highness, the men we sent to investigate Miss Mu Jin have returned."
For some reason, he did not sound too cheerful. Jing Rong asked, "What did they say?"
Lang Po stuttered, "She's… dead!"
"Dead?"
"We've conducted a thorough investigation - it was suicide."
Mu Jin committed suicide? The air fell silent in an instant.
It was strange, however, no matter how much one thought about it. Jing Rong was puzzled, "She was an extremely clever woman, a proud scholar who loved the arts and literature - she would never end her life this easily."
Mo Ruo continued, "I don't think it's this simple. It couldn't be that she committed suicide after completing her mission of giving you the poisoned warming tea like Prince Yi's shadow soldiers - she wasn't one of Prince Yi's lackeys, was she?"
"Then… who could be the one behind all these?"
"Who knows who else you've offended? Everyone wants you dead - your reputation stinks as much as my drinking habits," Mo Ruo took this opportunity to rib him.
Jing Rong glared at him. This rascal! One day, I'll really beat him to death! Jing Rong swept up his chessboard without another word and strode off, leaving a bewildered Lang Po behind. "Where's his Highness heading to?"
……
Mo Ruo just chuckled with a mischievous glint in his eye…
Inside her room, Ji Yunshu retrieved a scroll and placed it flat across her table, inching it closer towards her lamp. Unfurled, the scroll revealed the portrait of that suspicious skeleton they had unearthed on their investigation of the 'Lin Capital Case'. The man that she had painted looked no older than twenty-six or seven. He looked ordinary, but as she took a closer look, he vaguely reminded her of someone that she knew.
