Song Jiyun suddenly felt a bit weak in her limbs, and her heart was filled with confusion.
She had thought about never seeing Yuan Yunzhong again in this lifetime, but she had never imagined that they would be forever separated by life and death.
She did not believe that Yuan Yunzhong could have met with disaster.
The broken peace amulet was tightly clenched in her palm.
She said unwillingly, "Is there only this bloodstained clothing? Was there anything else found?"
Magistrate Jiang, looking at her, flashed a sympathetic glance and gently shook his head, "Only this bloodstained clothing was found."
Xu Guangzeng and Deng Chen looked at her with expressions full of pity.
They did not believe that Song Jiyun was Yuan Yunzhong’s legitimate fiancée, but even if the two were mere dewy lovers, separated like the swallows, it was still a matter worthy of sympathy.
"How could this be?" Shao Qing, who had followed Song Jiyun closely, stepped forward quickly, grabbing the bloodstained clothing tightly, his eyes instantly reddening, "Impossible. The young master was extraordinarily clever and highly skilled; how could he have been killed like this?"
He shouted, "Lord Xu, didn’t you go to see Prince Ning? What did he say?"
Xu Guangzeng said gravely, "I did not see Prince Ning. I was received by Prince Ning’s attendant Min Fu. He said that the prince had gone to Mount Sanqing for a trip and would not return until a few days later."
Shao Qing, almost bursting at the seams, said, "I want to see him."
"Come back!" Magistrate Jiang rebuked, "We have no evidence; on what basis do you seek to confront others?"
Shao Qing, heedless, said, "He can kill someone arbitrarily; why can’t I make false accusations arbitrarily? ’Where there’s a will to condemn, evidence is not hard to find.’ I might as well throw away my life."
"I fear your life thrown in would be merely a drop in the bucket," Magistrate Jiang felt Shao Qing was too impulsive, "and it might even implicate Master Jinghu and the Yuan family in the end."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Shao Qing gritted his teeth, "As long as it avenges the young master, I’m willing to do anything!"
Song Jiyun, listening on the side, felt her heart burning with urgency.
They had only found Yuan Yunzhong’s bloodstained clothing, not his body.
Perhaps Yuan Yunzhong was just injured and waiting somewhere for their rescue.
Yet, these people capable of rescuing him were still here arguing about how to avenge him.
She felt it was not time passing by, but Yuan Yunzhong’s life.
"Magistrate Jiang." Song Jiyun spoke, her voice calm and rational, "We need to see the person alive or see the body if dead. Since we cannot determine the murderer, shouldn’t we focus on how to find Young Master Yuan?"
All present turned their gaze towards Song Jiyun with a swish.
Song Jiyun no longer cared to be cautious.
All those years of diligently maintaining appearances, like the strict guidance of female decorum, three obediences and four virtues, she no longer cared to adhere to any of it.
She asked Magistrate Jiang, "Do you know who might have been involved in attacking Young Master Yuan? Is there anything particular about these people? Although I was born and raised in Liang County, I’m not very familiar with the local terrain or the surrounding mountains; does anyone close to you know the crucial locations nearby? We need to know where someone can hide, where one can evade capture, where the dangerous spots are. Also, how many people do we have? Can we offer a reward for those familiar with the area to help in the search? I will cover the expenses."
One by one, systematically, she asked her questions, each word hitting the nail on the head.
Everyone looked at her with newfound respect.
Especially Magistrate Jiang. Although he had once praised her with "In women is the courage of men," it was merely to boost her morale at Yuan Yunzhong’s request. He hadn’t expected her to be so capable.
He was equally eager to find Yuan Yunzhong, but despite his intelligence, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. His anxiety clouded his judgment, leaving him somewhat flustered.
Song Jiyun’s composed tone inevitably influenced him.
He rushed to say, "I have found people familiar with the local terrain; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to find this place. As for the people who made a move against the young master, we suspect they must be Prince Ning’s guards or a dead soldier. Lord Deng has already taken steps to investigate these individuals."
Worrying that Song Jiyun might not understand, he explained, "Prince Ning’s guards are mostly from the military residents at the Guard Station, who settled in Nanchang Prefecture and intermarried locally. From this connection, we can generally find out who accompanied Prince Ning on his travel, who led them, and where they are. As for the dead soldiers, eight or nine out of ten are selected from the military households at the Guard Station. Lord Deng, coming from a military family and familiar with all the Guard Stations, is the best candidate to inquire about this."
Song Jiyun nodded and asked, "Is there any news now?"
She had previously undergone special training to resist abductions and could only rely on this to devise further strategies.
But communication was not as developed as in future generations.
"Guards have the demeanor of guards, and dead soldiers have the characteristics of dead soldiers," she said. "If we can’t find useful information immediately, is it possible to determine who made the move by finding the place where the bloodstained clothing was?"
She believed that there must undoubtedly be experts in the Guard Station.
Xu Guangzeng and Deng Chen looked at her with different expressions upon hearing this.
Deng Chen said, "What Miss Song said is very true. When I came to Liang County, my father assigned an attendant who had served in the military for many years to follow me; he suspects that this was the work of a dead soldier."
He also remembered the generous reward Miss Song had offered at The Eight Immortals Nunnery.
After a slight pause, he continued, "But he also felt that these dead soldiers seemed different from the ordinary ones, like a disorganized mob without any discernible pattern. Logically speaking, Prince Ning shouldn’t have made such a mistake."
That is to say, it was a special case.
Song Jiyun pondered when a lean man rushed over, bowed to the officials present, and whispered to Deng Chen, "Sir, I’ve found several corpses not far from here; they appear to be the ones who attacked Lord Yuan."
Magistrate Jiang and others were overjoyed and immediately said, "Hurry and lead the way."
Song Jiyun followed them as well.
Magistrate Jiang hurriedly said, "Shao Qing, stay here with Miss Song. Miss Song, you are not familiar with the coroner’s duties; let’s not frighten you."
Song Jiyun thought about it, did not insist, but did not leave Shao Qing behind, "He has been following the young master through various challenges, having him stay here would be an underutilization of his abilities."
Magistrate Jiang hesitated.
Suddenly, Xu Guangzeng said, "Then I will stay with Miss Song. I am not very knowledgeable about coroner matters either!"
It was apparent from his demeanor, which was relatively lighter, that he was not as anxious about Yuan Yunzhong’s safety as Magistrate Jiang was.
Song Jiyun could understand that.
Who would grieve for someone to whom they felt no affection!
She slightly lowered her eyes, feeling her eyes moisten a bit.
As long as Song Jiyun was safe, that was all Magistrate Jiang needed; after all, Xu Guangzeng was a high-ranking official of the third grade at the Imperial Court.
He warned her a few words, then he took Deng Chen, Shao Qing, and the others and left.
The torches crackled with the sound of resin.
Xu Guangzeng changed his posture, folding his arms, and asked Song Jiyun, "How come you know so much?"
Song Jiyun was not in the mood for chatting and said, "I usually enjoy reading."
"Oh!" Xu Guangzeng seemed even more interested. He said, "The last time I saw you, you infuriated Wan Xiaoquan so much that he was jumping with rage, and even involved Immortal Baoguang. I noticed you’re not like the typical secluded young ladies; you’re incredibly bold."
Song Jiyun "Hmm"ed softly, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.
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