Chapter 247 The Hands After Dismantling the Chessboard

The coldest days of winter are here, and the New Year is just around the corner.

"Such a big thing has happened, why is the Crown Prince still in charge of the palace banquet?"

Early in the morning, Shen Wen slammed a thick stack of case notes in front of Li Jin with a bang: "That Ministry of Justice is the same. It's obviously no good, but they still insist on guarding their archives, with three locks on one door."

Li Jin frowned, looking at the slightly moldy notebook: "That's all?"

Shen Wen clicked his tongue, looking aggrieved: "It's not my fault. Lord Zhou was too slow in opening the locks. It was almost dawn by the time he finished opening all three locks." He pursed his lips, "You can look at part of it first, and then we'll go exchange it."

Inside the main hall of the gatehouse, the charcoal stove crackled and popped.

Shen Wen, whose hands had been frozen all night, stretched out his hands and warmed them several times, turning them over and over.

"Oh dear, Pei Yide is the same. After the prince explained the pros and cons to him, this guy became as cowardly as a fool." He sighed. "Ever since he found out that the crown prince wanted to kill him, he has stayed at home and pretended to be sick in bed."

At this point, Shen Wen paused, glancing at Li Jin: "Last night, Lian Shui came again."

Upon hearing this, Li Jin looked up at his face, signaling him to continue.

"When he saw our people, he didn't fight back or make a move; he just turned and ran." Shen Wen shook his head. "I don't understand what he meant."

Hearing his words, Li Jin rubbed her fingertips together a few times: "How many times this month?"

“This is the fourth time,” Shen Wen said. “I remember the way the people around the Crown Prince walk and the characteristics of their swords perfectly. Even though we are quite far apart, I would never mistake them.”

At this point, Shen Wen complained, "It's all his fault for delaying things; otherwise, he would have been at the Ministry of Justice long ago."

The charcoal fire was burning brightly, and the warm winter sun shone through the window, filling the courtyard.

Li Jin glanced at the golden sunlight and pondered for a moment: "Bring everyone back." He said, "Don't leave a single one behind."

Shen Wen paused, then asked, "Then... what about Pei Yide?"

"Never mind, just withdraw." Li Jin glanced at him and didn't continue.

He stood up, looked at Shen Wen's surprised expression, and added, "Before you withdraw, go to Jinhua Tower and tell Song Zhen in person that the people from the Six Doors have withdrawn. I said, not a single one will be left."

After speaking, Li Jin walked around the desk, lifted the cotton curtain, stepped over the threshold, and stood in the sunlight.

Originally, Li Jin was unaware of the full picture and could only be a piece on Song Zhen's chessboard.

Now that he has seen through Song Zhen's strategy, it's time to take the initiative into his own hands.

Li Jin, dressed in a light yellow outer shirt, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the rare good weather, and walked straight toward the coroner's office.

Jin Shu, who has become a "chief coroner," has been spending her days without cases working alone, burying herself in her work and writing the unfinished "Examination Records."

“It’s time to make a move.” Li Jin leaned against the door frame and smiled. “Let’s go, into the palace.”

Jin Shu paused, turned her head to look at the bright daylight, and asked in surprise, "Now?"

"Now," Li Jin said, "while the Crown Prince is busy with the palace banquet, go and return quickly."

Indeed, this year's palace banquet is unusual, and the Crown Prince must ensure that nothing goes wrong. Otherwise, if he stumbles at the grand court assembly, he might not be able to recover until next year.

But as fate would have it, Li Jin, accompanied by Jin Shu, hadn't even stepped out of the Six Doors gate when they saw Su Wanying, dressed in fine clothes and carrying a food box, stepping through the door.

In just a moment, Li Jin's expression turned sour.

But Su Wanying seemed not to notice, and gracefully stepped forward, bowing: "Your Highness Prince Jing."

She skipped over Jin Shu, her voice carrying a hint of flattery: "So many things have happened recently. Wan Ying knows that Your Highness is in a bad mood, so she made these jujube cakes herself, hoping to comfort Your Highness."

Seeing the octagonal food box in her hand, Li Jin turned around and looked at Jin Shu.

She took small, quick steps, constantly moving to the other side.

From head to toe, it screams "I want to avoid it like the plague."

Li Jin chuckled and called out, "Mr. Jin."

Seeing that Prince Jing was inexplicably trying to drag her into this mess, Jin Shu frowned, put on a forced smile, and waved her hands frantically.

Seeing this, Li Jin smiled even more brightly, her eyes like crescent moons, and deliberately asked, "How did the box of jujube blossom pastries that Miss Su sent last time taste?"

Jin Shu was stunned.

She glanced at the anger churning in Su Wanying's eyes and gave a dry laugh.

“Oh, I remember now.” Li Jin raised his hand, his slender fingertips tracing his chin. “I saw it that night, and it seems he only took a bite.”

Jin Shu was getting anxious and wanted to speak.

But then Li Jin raised her hand and flicked the black fan open, abruptly cutting off her view of Su Wanying.

Then, without any politeness, he said, "Miss Su, you should eat it yourself. Our Shu'er doesn't like it, and no one else eats this stuff except her."

After saying that, he reached out and grabbed Jin Shu, half-pushing and half-dragging her towards the door.

"Your Highness Prince Jing!"

Behind her, Su Wanying's voice rose a few decibels.

She turned around, looking at Li Jin's retreating figure, and said sincerely, "Your Highness Prince Jing, Wanying knows that you allowed her to stay in the Prince Jing's residence to protect Mr. Jin." She pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, "But! But..."

Li Jin exhaled through his nose, turned around and coldly glared at Su Wanying's heartbroken expression: "What exactly does Miss Su want to say?"

Feeling a chill run down her spine from Li Jin's icy gaze, Su Wanying deliberately raised her voice by eight octaves: "But Mr. Jin, you've already spent the night with the Crown Prince! You...you..."

"How about this? Go on," Li Jin said, standing with his hands behind his back, his eyes crinkling with a smile.

The murderous intent and chilling aura emanating from him left Su Wanying speechless, unable to continue speaking.

Seeing that she remained silent, Li Jin took two steps forward, with a half-smile: "Miss Su, instead of worrying about these things, you should think about whether you have done anything heinous."

His chin was slightly raised, and his backlit figure made it impossible to discern his expression in Su Wanying's eyes.

"Think about it, and don't wait until the day when you need me to help you think of things one by one."

After saying that, Li Jin leaned down slightly, looked at Su Wanying whose face had turned pale, and chuckled: "Judging from Miss Su's reaction, could it really be true?"

Seeing Su Wanying's stunned expression, Li Jin straightened up, his face full of disdain.

Then, waving the fan in his hand, he walked straight out of the Six Doors.

"Your Highness Prince Jing! Even if you don't care, you should at least consider Mr. Jin's reputation!"

Behind her, Su Wanying was still unwilling to give up.

But Li Jin didn't even turn his head: "Su Wanying is forbidden from ever stepping into the Six Doors again!"

As he spoke, he pushed the stunned Jin Shu into the carriage.

Then, lifting the carriage curtain, he glanced back at Su Wanying's face and said coldly, "Get out."

Inside the carriage, Jin Shu frowned, not daring to speak, as she watched Li Jin, still seething with anger, leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed.

After a while, Li Jincai opened his eyes and asked with a smile, "Are you trying to say that my reaction was a bit too much just now?"

Jin Shu nodded: "She is a woman after all. Saying 'get lost' is too harsh."

Li Jin glanced at her, crossed his arms, and remained silent for a moment before speaking calmly: "What if she is the one who poisoned Mother Consort?"

Jin Shu was taken aback.

"The evidence is conclusive and irrefutable."

Upon hearing this, Jin Shu was even more surprised: "Then why didn't you just arrest her? Why did you let her go back?"