Female Forensic Doctor of Dali Temple

“I dare not, I dare not,” the wet nurse kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead turning red.

“Everyone need not worry too much,” Jian Yu said, “Due to Lord Wei’s situation, security is tight at several entrances of the Wei residence. In and out movement is restricted. The young master must still be in the mansion. With careful search, he can definitely be found.”

It’s just a mansion after all, Jian Yu and Zhou Chen discussed briefly and had their subordinates split up, under the arrangement of the Wei mansion’s steward, to search for the child together.

Though the deceased was important, they were already gone, so a slight delay was permissible. But the child was alive, if found a little later, there would be more danger.

For a while, the entire Wei mansion was filled with people searching for the child. However, Bai Yue tugged at Jian Yu’s sleeve.

Jian Yu turned to look at him, seeing him blink, indicating he had something to say. Unfortunately, the two of them lacked understanding, and it was impossible to gather more from just a blink.

“Can I look around the surroundings?” Bai Yue added, “I won’t leave this courtyard.”

If it weren’t for claiming to be her fiancé, with how desperately he clings to her, others would surely think she’s the prime suspect.
“What are you looking for?”

“I don’t know either, but I just feel that a three-year-old child wouldn’t vanish into thin air. If someone took the child away, there must be some clues left behind.”

“You’re quite enthusiastic.” Jian Yu said with ease, “There are essentially two possibilities right now.”

“Tell me.”

“When the child went missing, only the wet nurse was present, with no other witnesses. So, the first possibility is that the wet nurse lied. She sent the child out and someone took him away, so he left through the main gate without leaving any traces.”

Bai Yue nodded.

“The second possibility is that the wet nurse didn’t lie. The culprit led her away, then sneaked into the room and took the child.”
Jian Yu continued, “But I had someone look around the courtyard just now. The ground along the courtyard wall is muddy, and it rained recently, so the ground is still wet. If someone had passed by, they would’ve left footprints. However, there are only the maid’s footprints on the muddy ground now, and the sizes are visibly different.”

Bai Yue was surprised that Jian Yu had observed so carefully in such a short time. He couldn’t help but regard this man in a new light. He was more than just someone who posed for appearances.

Bai Yue lowered her voice unconsciously, “So the wet nurse lied?”

Jian Yu sneered, calmly striding over to the woman, “This is your last chance. What’s really going on?”

The woman had been kneeling and was helped up a moment ago, sitting on the steps wiping her tears. But when Jian Yu questioned her, she knelt down again.

“I’m telling the truth, every word is true,” she cried out desperately, “Sir, you can’t wrong me…”

Jian Yu was getting a headache from the noise. He pressed his temples and casually said, “It seems you’re shedding crocodile tears. I generally avoid laying hands on women, but if you don’t repent…”

While Jian Yu was interrogating her, Bai Yue had already walked to the edge of the courtyard wall. It’s not that he didn’t trust Jian Yu, but when it comes to investigation, seeing is believing. Moreover, the chaotic crowd just now might have led to oversights.

Jian Yu didn’t know how severely he had been deceived earlier. Bai Yue had sensed it from five meters away, but she saw his people guarding the courtyard entrance strictly, so he knew Bai Yue wouldn’t be able to leave no matter what. There was no need to say anything at that moment.

Bai Yue indeed saw several messy footprints along the courtyard wall. Although they weren’t dainty like those of a three-inch golden lotus, they were of a moderate size, indicative of a woman’s shoes. If it were a man, it would be a youth who hadn’t yet fully grown.

“But no one said that the culprit must be a man.” Bai Yue muttered to herself. She crouched down next to the footprint, gestured with her hand, and then looked around.

The third aunt’s courtyard was well landscaped, with rows of trees planted along the wall. Despite being deep into autumn, except for two ginkgo trees shedding golden leaves all over the ground, most of the area remained lush and green.

Suddenly, Bai Yue caught a glimpse of something on the wall and immediately stood up and walked over.

Jian Yu was in the middle of threatening the wet nurse when he felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned his head and was instantly furious.

Bai Yue was trying to climb up the wall using both his hands and feet. Although it wasn’t certain she could climb up like that, her intention to escape was clear as day.
Just a moment ago, she was vehemently claiming she wouldn’t run, but look at her now, still standing here. She didn’t even utter a single truthful word.

As the head of the Ministry of Justice, Jian Yu usually dealt with complex and perplexing cases in the capital. He had a composed and calm demeanor, but the recent provocations from Bai Yue had really taken a toll on him.

He initially thought of Bai Yue as a countryside bumpkin, a commoner without status, an orphan with no support. The fact that she, a person like that, could be betrothed to him, a match seemingly made in heaven, should have made him grateful and indebted. Who would have thought…

Jian Yu gritted his teeth, waved his hand to signal the woman to pause, and walked over briskly.

Bai Yue cursed the clothing of this era; the long hem and wide sleeves were truly inconvenient. She stepped on the earthen wall, struggling to grip a protruding part of the brick wall, and worked hard to get her other leg up.

However, it was too difficult. Just as Jian Yu had said, it rained the day before, and although the wall wasn’t dripping wet, it was still somewhat slippery.

After enduring for a moment, she finally couldn’t hold her own weight any longer. Her fingers loosened, and she fell backward.

Though the height was certainly not enough to cause fatal or serious injuries, it was still quite miserable. Bai Yue exclaimed in pain and closed her eyes.

But she didn’t land on solid ground. In the midst of her rapid descent, a hand suddenly pressed against her back, wrapping around her waist.

Bai Yue opened her eyes in astonishment and saw that Jian Yu was behind her, his hand around her waist and the other supporting her arm. He embraced her from behind, turned her around half a circle, took a step back, and stood upright.

Jian Yu’s subordinate, Liang Meng, had been trailing behind. He was a couple of steps slower than his impatient master. When he saw the situation, he immediately stopped and raised his hand in a gesture to halt a few other attendants.

Several unknown flower trees along the wall were in full bloom, with petals of red and white colors falling gracefully in the wind. Jian Yu stood tall and straight beneath the flowers, holding Bai Yue in his arms from behind. Although her face couldn’t be seen, the scene itself created an artistic atmosphere, making them look like a beautiful couple – truly the embodiment of deep affection and romantic sentiment, like immortals deeply in love.

However, at this moment, this seemingly divine couple was on the brink of an argument.

After rescuing her and ensuring she was steady on her feet, Jian Yu didn’t release his hold. Instead, he tightened his embrace a bit more and coldly remarked, “Didn’t you just say you absolutely wouldn’t run? How come you couldn’t endure even for this short while?”

Still somewhat shaken, Bai Yue understood that Jian Yu had saved her from potentially falling into the mud. Yet, before she could express her gratitude, she heard his words.

“Let go of me, I wasn’t trying to run.” Bai Yue explained, “I made a discovery, look…”

“Look at what?” Jian Yu interrupted her, “Look at how you’re trying to run? Bai Yue, do you think I have a good temper? Do you take advantage of the fact that I can’t go against the wishes of my elders to act recklessly and lawlessly?”