It wouldn't matter if it were anyone else, but it was Pei Xi, this unruly fellow, who only knew how to argue and was completely unreasonable!
He was the highest-ranking person present, and he insisted on barging into the inner room, leaving even Ji Rong with no choice but to comply.
As he stood up, the matriarch's face grew increasingly grim.
"Third Prince, please wait."
Jiang Wan suddenly spoke up.
“Grandmother is right. That mechanism is indeed not suitable to be shown to others. If you are bored, I will take you to see something interesting.”
Pei Xi paused, then walked back: "What good stuff? If it's just something boring, this prince won't let you off the hook."
Despite saying that, she obediently followed Jiang Wan.
The matriarch breathed a sigh of relief, never expecting that Jiang Wan had solved her problem.
She didn't have time to think about Jiang Wan's purpose. Ji Rong was already urging her from the inner hall. The old lady took a deep breath and went in carrying the long pear wood box.
Outside the hall, in the garden.
Pei Xi walked a few steps away, muttering in dissatisfaction, "Alright, alright, let's talk here. Why are you stopping me?"
He glanced at Jiang Wan.
"Didn't you hear what they were saying about you in the main hall? And you weren't even angry! Who knows what that old woman was up to in the back room? Something's definitely fishy. Never mind, let's go around to the back window and peek..."
"Third Prince," Jiang Wan stopped him again.
"What's wrong?" Pei Xi asked in confusion, then whispered, "You called me here to deal with this old woman, didn't you?"
"It's strange, but when I told Father Emperor what you taught me, he agreed to let me come to the Ministry of Justice to hear cases. Mother even praised me for being promising."
Pei Xi pursed her lips.
"Actually, I'm not interested in any cases; I just wanted to get some fresh air."
"So, what exactly do you want to do?"
Jiang Wan smiled and whispered a few words.
Pei Xi exclaimed in surprise, "Are you crazy? What are you going to do then?"
“I have a way,” Jiang Wan said. “I just need you to help me.”
"Alright." Pei Xi glanced at her. "Then it's settled. You have to keep your promise and resolve the issue of the arranged marriage for me. I don't want to marry that tigress!"
Jiang Wan nodded: "Okay."
She looked towards the hall, but Zhuque and Shuangbai were no longer among the people.
"It's almost time. They'll be coming out soon. Let's go back."
When the two returned to the hall, Ji Rong and Madam Yuan had already come out.
The matriarch sat in a reclining chair, and Granny Wu was bringing her a glass of water.
Although her face didn't reveal anything, Jiang Wan still noticed that there was a wet patch on the back of her clothes, but it wasn't obvious because the fabric was dark.
Ji Rong sat in the hall looking at the documents, not turning a page for a long time, his eyes slightly dazed.
Even Madam Wang noticed something was wrong and frowned, saying, "Achuan, go see what's wrong with your father. Why is he like this after coming out? Is he feeling unwell?"
Ji Huaichuan nodded and was about to step forward when Ji Rong suddenly stood up.
He pointed at the merchant and said, word by word, "Come with me. I have something to ask you privately."
“Lord Ji, is there anything that can’t be asked in court?” Jiang Linyuan said disapprovingly.
Ji Rong slowly turned his head and said firmly, "I am the presiding judge in this case. How to judge and decide the case is none of the Prime Minister's concern."
After saying this, he ordered someone to lead the merchants into the back hall.
Jiang Linyuan frowned, recalling Ji Rong's expression just now, and felt that something was inexplicably strange.
His doubts didn't last long before the sound of a teacup shattering came from the back room.
Immediately afterward, an official rushed out in a panic, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! The merchant has died suddenly!"
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