Just as Ji Yunshu felt puzzled, suddenly the sound of something falling to the ground came from inside the house.

This sound came precisely from that room concealed by the cloth curtain.

Sister-in-law Yu’s body trembled slightly, her gaze looking toward that room in panic.

“What’s inside there?” Jingrong asked.

Sister-in-law Yu hastily explained, “Nothing, probably… probably something just fell.”

But just as she finished speaking…

“Ah!”

A scream came from inside!

A woman’s scream!

The next moment, Sister-in-law Yu bolted straight in.

Ji Yunshu followed right on her heels!

In the cramped little room, one couldn’t see one’s hand in front of one’s face. What assailed their nostrils was a damp, decaying odor, and even a foul stench!

“Ah!”

Another scream rang out in the dark space.

Suddenly, Jingrong brought in the oil lamp from outside.

The light gradually illuminated the room, leaving both Ji Yunshu and Jingrong utterly astonished.

In the room, the first thing that met their eyes was clothing scattered messily all over the floor, along with some broken bottles and jars. On the ground, there was also some black sludge—extremely disgusting.

As the light gradually moved inward, they finally saw Sister-in-law Yu clearly.

She sat on the bed, her arms tightly embracing a small figure.

The small figure was curled into a ball, disheveled hair cascading down and covering a delicate little face. The petite body nestled in Sister-in-law Yu’s embrace, trembling continuously, mouth mumbling something incoherently.

But most horrifying of all were the iron chains shackled to the small figure’s hands and feet!

“A’Yu, don’t be afraid. Mother is here, Mother is here…”

Sister-in-law Yu held A’Yu, and in comforting her, she herself began to choke up.

In her sobs, there seemed to be deep guilt!

This girl was Sister-in-law Yu’s daughter!

Ji Yunshu glanced at Jingrong. “Give me the oil lamp.”

Taking the oil lamp from his hands, Ji Yunshu carefully approached. The light moved to Sister-in-law Yu’s face, then to the top of A’Yu’s head.

“Sister-in-law Yu, what can I help with?”

“Go away.”

As she spoke, a sharp bamboo splinter had somehow appeared in Sister-in-law Yu’s hand. She swung her arm, slashing it toward Ji Yunshu.

Fortunately, Jingrong’s eyes and hands were quick. He pulled Ji Yunshu backward with one hand and blocked in front of her with the other, protecting her.

Otherwise, at this moment, that sharp bamboo splinter would have already cut her delicate face!

“Must you always put yourself in danger before you’re satisfied?” Jingrong turned his eyes sideways and rebuked her.

In reality, it was concern!

“I…”

She had experienced a false alarm and had nothing to say.

Sister-in-law Yu had already stood up, extremely agitated. “Who are you people exactly? Why did you come here? Get out, get out!”

“Sister-in-law Yu, please don’t misunderstand. We mean no harm. I’m only concerned about your daughter—she’s very seriously ill right now,” Ji Yunshu said with a worried expression.

“You’re the one who’s ill! My daughter is fine. She’s not sick at all, she’s not sick.”

Self-hypnosis!

“If you continue to shackle her with iron chains, she will die.”

“You’re talking nonsense.” Sister-in-law Yu shouted, then turned around and tightly embraced her trembling daughter again, stroking her head. “A’Yu, be good. Mother is here. Mother is with you. You’ll be fine, you will…”

A’Yu in her arms was still trembling, seeming to fear something, head lowered, mouth constantly mumbling something.

At this moment, Ji Yunshu tugged on Jingrong’s hand and said softly, “May I trouble Your Highness to step outside for a moment.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Resolve the doubts in my heart.”

Doubts?

Jingrong frowned. “What if she stabs you with that bamboo splinter again? If this prince isn’t here, who will protect you?”

These words made Ji Yunshu’s ears turn red, but unable to worry about that now, she simply pushed Jingrong, pushing him toward the outside.

“I’ll be careful myself. If you’re in here, it’s inconvenient.”

Inconvenient? Why would it be inconvenient if he was inside?

Explain this clearly to this prince!

Before he could open his mouth, he had already been pushed outside.

Ji Yunshu held the oil lamp and approached again, also with an added measure of caution.

“Sister-in-law Yu, I won’t hide it from you—I’m a physician. If you truly care about your daughter’s well-being, let me take a look. Perhaps I can think of a way to treat your daughter’s illness.”

Her gentle voice was very reassuring to hear.

Only then did Sister-in-law Yu relax somewhat. She looked up at her and shook her head. “I already told you, my daughter isn’t sick. You should leave quickly.”

“Don’t you truly care about your daughter’s life?”

“I…” Sister-in-law Yu wavered, looking at A’Yu in her arms and crying even more sorrowfully. “It’s my fault. I didn’t take good care of my daughter. It’s my fault.”

Seeing this scene, Ji Yunshu felt very distressed. She stepped forward twice and said, “Sister-in-law Yu, please rest assured, I won’t harm you. I can see your daughter’s hands and feet have turned blue, her knuckles are slightly curled, and her veins are bulging beneath the skin. These symptoms are all caused by mental exhaustion. If not treated, you will truly lose your daughter, and then you really will have failed her.”

Sister-in-law Yu might not necessarily understand what she was saying, but…

“Are you really a physician?”

“Yes.”

“Then you… can you really cure my daughter?” Sister-in-law Yu’s eyes filled with hope.

“I will do my utmost.”

At this moment, Ji Yunshu had actually lied!

At this moment, Sister-in-law Yu’s wariness slowly came down. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly released A’Yu, stood up, and stepped aside.

Ji Yunshu handed her the oil lamp and sat down beside A’Yu.

Sensing a stranger beside her, A’Yu suddenly shrank backward, the iron chains on her hands and feet clanging chaotically.

“Your name is A’Yu? What a lovely name!” Ji Yunshu’s voice was very gentle.

A’Yu hugged her knees, her back pressed against the wall, trying hard to move away.

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

Ji Yunshu’s slender fingers emerged from her sleeve, slowly reaching toward A’Yu, touching her fine but tangled hair.

A’Yu’s body shrank!

Ji Yunshu’s fingers gradually parted her hair, and under the dim light, finally revealed that small face.

The thin cheeks appeared somewhat rough, but her features were quite delicate—a full, upright nose, butterfly-shaped lips, and those eyes hidden beneath her lashes.

One had to admit, this was a very beautiful girl!

And the moment her eyes emerged from beneath the hair strands, A’Yu saw Ji Yunshu.

“Ah—”

Accompanied by a scream, A’Yu’s eyes filled with terror, her hands desperately clutching at her clothing!

Sister-in-law Yu rushed forward at once, forcefully embracing her daughter. “Mother is here. Don’t be afraid. A’Yu, don’t be afraid.”

Ji Yunshu met A’Yu’s eyes full of extreme fear. In that moment, she understood.

Even without removing A’Yu’s pants to examine her, the answer she sought was already there.

There was no need to investigate further!

She silently stood up and withdrew from this chaotic, foul-smelling room.

As soon as she went out, Jingrong approached.

Before he could ask anything, Ji Yunshu said, “Your Highness, we should go.”

Without further explanation, she had already gone outside, holding her umbrella, preparing to leave.

Suddenly, her gaze fell upon a rusty, dull small knife hanging on the wall outside the dwelling!