She didn’t know when, but Jingrong had already stood at the doorway.

Those eyes filled with heartache remained fixed on Ji Yunshu.

Lang Bo at his side asked softly, “Your Highness, aren’t you going in?”

“No need.”

He withdrew his gaze and silently turned to leave.

That day, Ji Yunshu learned that three days ago, after Ji Yuanzhi died in prison, Ji Shuhan had written a letter and had it urgently sent to the capital, bringing the news to his other two sons.

As for Old Madam Ji, she had fainted on the spot. For three days, she lay in bed all day long.

Now the Ji household had white silk streamers hanging from every eave and corner, white lanterns suspended everywhere.

Ji Yuanzhi was originally to be buried today, but Old Madam Ji stubbornly refused to agree, insisting they must wait for her other two grandsons to return.

First, to wait for them to return and send Ji Yuanzhi off together!

Second, to wait for Ji Yunshu to return to the Ji household and publicly kneel and kowtow!

So during these three days, people from the Ji residence came to Guangqu Courtyard demanding her several times, and were all driven away by Jingrong!

That evening, Ji Yunshu drank her medicine. Several servant girls added another piece of black coal to the stove.

“Miss Ji, why not rest early?”

“All of you go out. You need not attend to me.”

“This…”

She glanced sideways, saying lightly, “Go out.”

“Yes.”

The two servant girls could only bow and both withdrew.

When the door closed, she walked to the bronze mirror and bent down to sit.

Staring at her face reflected with the long scar, her eyes remained very calm. She only reached out, picking up a piece of light blue gauze nearby. Her other hand reached into an embroidered box, selecting a hanging golden hairpin.

After fiddling for a while, she removed the gold hook from the hairpin and hooked it onto the light blue gauze.

Then she wore it on her face, perfectly concealing the scar.

She found another simple wooden hairpin and simply gathered up her long black hair that fell straight down!

Then she grabbed a cloak to drape over herself, preparing to go out.

The closed door had just been pulled open by her when the person outside stood prominently before her eyes, blocking her way.

Seeing Ji Yunshu with the light veil covering her face, Jingrong saw her beautiful eyes exposed, reflected by the red lantern at the door making them especially radiant, yet also revealing a heartbreaking sense of pity.

He suddenly extended his slender fingers toward Ji Yunshu’s ear, grasping the gold hook wound around the veil.

“Your Highness?” Ji Yunshu turned her face aside, trying to avoid his action.

“…”

“My appearance is now ugly. Your Highness should not look.”

During the two days she was unconscious, he had watched over her without leaving her side for a moment. As for her so-called ugly appearance, he had stared at it for two days.

Today he had only walked away for a moment before Wei Yi intercepted!

Causing the first person she saw upon waking not to be himself.

Jingrong’s eyes carried deep affection and determination. “Beneath beautiful skin can also be a venomous heart. What this prince cares about is your heart.”

His tone was very light, as if he were speaking right by Ji Yunshu’s ear.

It also caused Ji Yunshu’s body to tremble slightly. She lowered her head, precisely avoiding Jingrong’s burning gaze.

But when the coldness of the gold hook dispersed at Jingrong’s fingertips, his motion to lift the hook suddenly stopped. He clenched his fist and lowered his hand.

He changed the subject!

Asking, “Going to the Ji residence?”

He accurately perceived her intention.

She nodded, shifting her body to the side to prevent him from lifting her veil again.

“Please step aside, Your Highness.”

“You clearly know Ji Yuanzhi is already dead. The people of the Ji household now wish nothing more than for you to be buried with him.”

“I know, but I must go.”

Jingrong frowned. “Why?”

She said coldly, “I have no choice but to go.”

That tone, as if about to be scattered by cold wind, carried a chill.

Jingrong knew her temperament. This woman was truly too stubborn.

He could only say, “I’ll accompany you.”

“No need.”

Her steps were hurried as she strode forward. Passing by Jingrong’s side, she was still caught by him.

He also made a concession, saying, “I’ll wait for you outside the Ji residence.”

As if certain she would not stay at the Ji household.

This time, Ji Yunshu did not refuse.

The two went to the Ji residence together. Lang Bo followed from afar with several guards.

Ji Yunshu entered the gate alone. When the Ji household people saw her, they looked as if they had seen a ghost. Each one dared not approach, instead hiding far away.

What surprised her was that Ji Yuanzhi’s coffin was not placed in the mourning hall in the back courtyard, but rather boldly placed in the main hall of the Ji household.

Except for her, almost everyone wore coarse mourning clothes.

The pairs of eyes in the main hall looked at her veiled figure with extreme hatred.

Slap—

Ji Shuhan struck the table!

“Guards, bind this rebellious daughter for me.”

Now, he truly wished he could draw and quarter Ji Yunshu.

Several servants came forward, ropes in their hands.

“You dare?”

Ji Yunshu’s cold eyes swept over them, her tone intimidating.

Those several servants truly did not dare approach.

Trembling fearfully, they were actually made cold from inside out by her gaze.

Ji Shuhan’s eyes were bloodshot. The pain of losing his son and his fury toward Ji Yunshu were interwoven and written on his face.

He sternly rebuked, pointing at Ji Yuanzhi’s coffin. “Look carefully—you’re the one who caused Yuanzhi’s death.”

Truly skilled at distorting the truth!

Beneath Ji Yunshu’s veil, her lips smiled coldly, her beautiful eyes curving.

“Even if he died a thousand times, ten thousand times, it would be his deserved retribution.”

“You…”

“I came today not to kneel and kowtow to him, nor to send him off.”

While speaking, she had already walked to the coffin. The coffin was covered with a black cloth. On top, a candle burned, and several pieces of fine blood jade were pressed down.

“What are you doing?”

Along with Ji Shuhan’s outcry!

Ji Yunshu grasped a corner of the black cloth and yanked forcefully!

The candle and blood jade on top scattered to the ground. The black cloth slid from her hand to the ground, precisely covering the still-burning candle.

Immediately, it ignited that black cloth!

Flames shot up.

Lifted by the wind, it actually also ignited a piece of hanging white silk nearby, fiercely leaping up to the roof beams.

Ahhh—

The one screaming was Ji Muqing, because she stood right in front of that white silk. Her steps stumbled several paces as she fell heavily to the ground.

The fire spread to the roof beams, showing signs of becoming uncontrollable.

The entire hall immediately descended into chaos.

“Quick! Quickly carry the coffin out, carry it out…”

Old Madam Ji screamed wildly. Upon standing up, unable to catch her breath, she fainted, supported by two servant girls who dragged her outside the hall.

The servants were busy rushing forward to extinguish the fire while also trying to carry the coffin.

Quite “lively.”

Ji Yunshu, however, smiled brilliantly.

While everyone was in chaos, she had already left the main hall, heading in the direction of the West Courtyard.

What she didn’t know was that Ji Wanxin followed closely behind her, also going to the West Courtyard.