It's Art
Yu Linlang shook her head and replied truthfully, "I don't know."
She lowered her eyes and said lightly, "But judging by the scars on the deceased's neck, there were more than six perpetrators."
"According to the degree of stiffness and softness of the body, the time of death should not exceed four hours."
"So you mean that this servant died at the fifth anniversary celebration today?" Ye Wuchen looked at Yu Linlang coldly. "There are indeed many servants in the mansion who wake early to work on the fifth anniversary. But because of this, the garden is full of people. There are always workers cleaning and repairing inside—how could no one have seen the murder?"
"What's more, as you said, this was done by a group of people. What kind of grudge would justify such brutality?"
"The little prince may not believe it, but the evidence speaks for itself. The surface characteristics of the corpse do not lie. Living people can deceive, but the dead are the most honest. He lies there, unmoving. If the little prince doubts my assessment, you can summon a few more coroners to verify it."
Yu Linlang's voice was calm—neither defensive under questioning nor flustered by suspicion.
From beginning to end, her expression remained composed, betraying no hint of panic or hesitation, as if she were merely an observer watching the fire from across the river, entirely detached from the scene.
Her poise and self-assurance drew involuntary glances from those around her.
Governor Yu frequently wiped the sweat from his forehead. Prince Mu spoke, "Since this is an isolated case, why not let the old prince investigate it within the mansion? The body should be transported to Yizhuang Village first to avoid unnecessary complications."
His voice was low, warm, and smooth, like a clear spring flowing gently, instantly calming the tense atmosphere.
Old King Liang's expression darkened. He nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Today, I must thank the prince and Lord Lu for coming. Otherwise, I would have remained ignorant of the chaos brewing in my own household."
On the fifth anniversary, many servants were busy with preparations—it had to be an insider's doing.
He was determined to root out these bold and reckless rats. Who dared to create trouble under his nose?
Ye Wuchen glanced at Yu Linlang before turning to King Liang. "Grandfather, allow me to investigate this matter. I promise to give you an answer within two days."
"Very well!" Old King Liang nodded in satisfaction.
With that, everyone bid farewell and left the Liang Palace.
Governor Yu pulled his daughter aside and whispered harshly, "You were too bold just now. How could you stare at the little prince so openly and speak so directly to him?"
"I'm merely stating the facts," Yu Linlang replied coolly. "A seasoned killer who has committed multiple crimes with confidence would not have needed to press, drag, or struggle at the scene. A skilled executioner could end a life with a single palm strike—it wouldn't require excessive effort."
"The murderer acted for artistic gratification. To them, watching the flesh bloom, the skin split, and the belly peel away was beautiful. But this servant's wounds are irregular, messy. At a glance, it's obvious that multiple people were involved. The knife strokes are inconsistent—some hands trembled, others were steady. The strength and precision vary. Clearly, it wasn't the work of a single person."
Yu Shoudao stood frozen, his face paling. Then, as if struck by nausea, he clutched a tree for support and began retching violently.
The lead servant looked utterly bewildered.
Prince Mu and Lord Lu turned away, failing to suppress their laughter.
"Why do you torment your father like this?"
"I'm only telling the truth." Yu Linlang remained motionless, her gaze shifting toward Governor Yu, who was still heaving over the tree.
Weakling.
He couldn't even stomach a crime scene analysis—how did he expect to uphold the law?
Mu Zhao lowered his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Let Governor Yu recover for a while. Let's go."
Yu Linlang nodded. She had no desire to linger in the Liang Palace any longer, so she left Governor Yu behind and followed the others.
By the time Governor Yu managed to crawl into the carriage, his face had taken on a sickly blue hue.
Now, he understood why his wife had been so exasperated.
When dealing with this child, one had to be mentally prepared at all times—lest one become so infuriated as to faint on the spot.
Inside the carriage, Lu Qian couldn't hold back her laughter. "I was too polite earlier. That Yu Shoudao is truly something else..."
Mu Zhao nodded with a smile. "His daughter is extraordinary—how is it that he never learned anything remarkable in his life?"
Lu Qian unrolled a scroll in her hands. "Can we close the city gates tomorrow for an inspection?"
"I'll have them sealed tonight." Mu Zhao's playful expression vanished, replaced by a serious frown. "The situation outside the city is worsening—we must prepare immediately."
"Huaizhi, this is no longer about money. There isn't enough rice on the market. The number of refugees grows by the day. Are you really going to continue covering their medical expenses indefinitely?"
"I'm not paying for everything out of pocket," Mu Zhao replied softly. "The Ministry of Revenue has already allocated rice and grain, as well as three thousand taels of silver. But as you said, the issue isn't banking. It's supply. There isn't enough rice and grain on the market. Worse still, medicinal supplies for the sick are dwindling. If illness spreads unchecked, it could turn into an epidemic—then we'll lose control entirely."
"If rice prices rise again, even three thousand taels of silver won't be enough."
"Should we call upon the city's wealthy families to devise a solution?"
Mu Zhao closed his eyes briefly before shaking his head. "If we do that, it will turn into forced donations. Not necessary yet—unless we have no other options."
Mu Zhao disliked wielding power to coerce others, nor did he have the energy to negotiate with too many parties.
Lu Qian sighed. "What about the incense sent by Prince Liang's Mansion?"
"No mistakes. One song, one content. One in six, one book, one verse, one reading."
"That item is extremely rare," Mu Zhao said. "It was previously only found in the southwest. Do you have any idea how much it's worth?"
"How much?" Lu Qian frowned.
"Ten taels of gold—just for a small box. If you calculate the value, with rice prices soaring, it's equivalent to a hundred stone sacks of rice."
Lu Qian inhaled sharply. "Ten taels of gold for a tiny box of incense? Then what about the brocade box that Prince Liang's mansion sent?"
"I suspect it was a large box—worth hundreds of gold."
Lord Lu's gaze darkened slightly. "That's a significant sum..."
Mu Zhao smirked coldly. "What do you think King Liang wants from me?"
Suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt halt. The street ahead grew noisy.
The Yu Mansion carriage, which was following behind Prince Mu, also stopped. The driver pulled the reins tightly, peering ahead in confusion.
"What's going on?" Governor Yu lifted the curtain and called out.
Chen Buyu and Wei Ling, standing outside Prince Mu's carriage, exchanged words before approaching them.
A sinking feeling settled in Governor Yu's chest as he stuck his head out anxiously. "Mr. Chen, Lord Wei, why are you here?"
"Governor Yu, don't bother resting. Come down and take a look. Aunt Niu is looking for you."
Governor Yu's heart skipped a beat.
Wei Ling tilted her head and glanced into the Yu Mansion carriage, her gaze landing on Yu Linlang, who sat upright and unruffled. Smiling slightly, she said, "Miss Yu, we've come to escort you. Step down."
Governor Yu's face fell instantly.