Chapter 552
The sudden voice transmitted from the yamen to the outside of its gates. Zuo Yao bowed with a rather stiff manner and lifted the front of his official robe as he hurried forward.
Although it was getting cold at night, he was sweating profusely. When he arrived in front of Jing Rong, he fell to his knees with a thud. Those servants behind him also hurried to kneel and did not dare to speak.
"Prince Rong, this official should have gone to the city gates to welcome you. Please forgive me." He knelt on the ground trembling.
Jing Rong replied as he looked at him. "Magistrate Zuo, it was this Prince that did not want you to welcome me. It is not your fault, get up."
"Thank you, Your Highness." A crowd of people slowly stood up from the ground. Zuo Yao glanced at the group in front of him. Inwardly, he was panicking, but he still kept a calm expression. He quickly spoke, "Your Highness just arrived from the capital and must be tired after such a long journey. This official has already prepared a room in the rear court. Your Highness can rest at ease for tonight."
Jing Rong replied only with a curt "Mm," and nothing more.
Zuo Yao welcomed them respectfully inside, then ordered his men to settle the horses and carriages. On the way, he secretly glimpsed at Mo Ruo a few times. He noticed his plain robe, his acceptable figure, and the air of indolence about him, especially in his slightly droopy eyes. He appeared weak and did not look intelligent at all. He thought, this couldn't be Teacher Ji, could it?
At last, he turned his attention to the quiet, graceful scholar.
That scholar had a thin and frail figure, but his back was ramrod straight. In contrast, his face was white and clean, almost feminine. If one stared at it for too long, it really could ensnare one's heart. Moreover, the eyes held a definite glint of shrewdness. This person must be the Teacher Ji sent by the Supreme Court to investigate the case of Aunt Xie's daughter's case.
Zuo Yao leaned forward deliberately and asked quietly, "Is this Teacher Ji?"
With a casual glance at him, Ji Yunshi had thoroughly understood his character. He had a shifty face with a sharp mouth and a chin as pointy as a monkey's. If one were to look long enough, they could see he had similarities with Jing Zhaoyin in his eyebrows. [1]
She responded with a smile, "Your Magistrate has sharp eyes."
He was right!
"Teacher Ji's name is well-known in the capital city. This official has already heard about it. I admired Teacher's ability to handle cases. This case of Aunt Xie's daughter will be solved onced Teacher takes over."
Ji Yun Shi continued to walk and smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Magistrate Zuo is talking interestingly. You tried the case two years ago, and you judged it as well? Now I'm here, but I have yet to either see the case or hear about it. You say that the case will be solved? So, Your Magistrate, are you admitting that you misjudged the case?"
Uh! Zuo Yao was stunned. He got flustered and stammered, "Of… course not, I was just saying, just speaking casually."
"Oh."
"Lord Ji, I wonder what thoughts you have towards this case? How do you intend to deal with it?" He started probing again.
She glanced at him politely. "It's getting late. Does Your Magistrate want to discuss the case at this time?"
Zuo Yao was rendered speechless by that stare. "No, the day is late. Naturally, I will wait for Teacher Ji to rest for a night before discussing the case."