Ji Yunshu retrieved her two sandalwood boxes from the West Courtyard.

One contained ink brushes and pigments.

The other contained various types of small knives.

These were her precious tools for making a living over the years—she absolutely could not lose them.

Of course, there was also the orange-red jade pendant Wei Yi had given her.

Tucking the jade pendant into her waist, she held the two sandalwood boxes in one hand and a candlestick with a burning wax oil lamp in the other.

Just as she came out of the room, she saw Ji Wanxin entering the courtyard.

Dressed in white mourning clothes, that sickly beauty appeared even more languidly captivating. Walking in with the light behind her, her delicate, picture-perfect face was hidden beneath the mourning cap. Only the red mole on her forehead was clearly visible.

She carried indescribable sorrow, especially in those eyes that met Ji Yunshu’s gaze, streaming with tears that could truly melt one’s heart.

“Must it be like this?”

Ji Wanxin approached her side, her voice soft and weak, tinged with sadness.

“Ji Pei is dead!” Four words flowed lightly from Ji Yunshu’s mouth.

Hearing this news, Ji Wanxin’s beautiful brows furrowed sharply. Tears instantly flowed out. She reached out and touched Ji Yunshu’s cold hand.

She said with heartache, “You’ve waited two years. Hadn’t you already prepared for the worst?”

“No. These two years, I always believed he was alive.”

“Yunshu…”

“Without Ji Pei, my heart has also died. You need not try to persuade me. You know I cannot continue to endure.”

Ji Yunshu was very resolute. Those icy eyes carried no emotion, and the hand holding the candlestick also tightened slightly.

Ji Wanxin’s words rolled in her throat. She sighed, wanting to make one last attempt to persuade her.

“Even if you leave the Ji residence now, you need not make the situation so terrible. Third Brother just died. Father and Grandmother are grief-stricken. Your disturbance just now will earn you a reputation for disowning your family. Your days ahead will naturally not be easy.”

“Are you warning me?”

“Yunshu, I’m doing this for your own good.”

“No need.” She spoke lightly. The next moment, she removed the veil from her face.

That slender, dark red scar, illuminated by the candlelight in her hand, appeared before Ji Wanxin’s eyes.

She knew Ji Yunshu’s face had been disfigured, but she hadn’t expected it to be so severe. That delicate face, not inferior to her own, had been violently torn open with a gash, appearing ugly.

“This…”

Ji Wanxin’s tears flowed down, her face full of heartache.

But Ji Yunshu smiled coldly. “This scar is what I, on behalf of the original owner of this body, am returning to the Ji family for years of nurturing grace. From now on, the former Ji Yunshu is as good as dead.”

No, that Ji Yunshu was already dead!

She had only lived for her for five years, lived like a puppet for five years.

Now, she was tired, exhausted. The Ji Yunshu who was originally good at enduring had truly disappeared the moment she learned of Ji Pei’s death.

Ji Wanxin was still pondering the meaning of her words.

What did she mean by “original owner”?

What did she mean by “dead”?

She listened in confusion.

Ji Yunshu had already put the veil back on, circled past her side, walked behind her, and stopped.

With her back to her, Ji Yunshu asked, “Do you know who leaked what Ji Pei and I said under the plum blossom tree back then?”

Ji Wanxin’s body trembled faintly as she slowly uttered a few words.

“I don’t know.”

“You’re not lying to me?”

“No!”

Getting her response, Ji Yunshu did not continue questioning and stepped out of the courtyard.

When Ji Wanxin turned around, all she saw was Ji Yunshu’s cloaked back, holding an oil lamp in her hand, gradually moving farther away.

She bit her teeth, inexplicably displeased. The heartache in her eyes from moments ago swept away, replaced by deep resentment and jealousy.

She still didn’t understand why Jingrong could burn the horse whip bestowed by the Emperor to her father for Ji Yunshu’s sake, send Ji Yuanzhi to prison for her sake, and even now that she was disfigured, that man still remained devoted.

Why?

In terms of birth, in terms of appearance, what was she lacking compared to Ji Yunshu!

She was even the one who met Jingrong first!

Several days ago, from the day the household held a banquet to entertain the noble guests from the capital, the moment she saw Jingrong enter, her heart had already been secretly drawn to him.

Now, she couldn’t pull it out, couldn’t push it away!

“Why, why must you always take what I like?”

The sinister tone was exceptionally treacherous…

**Front Courtyard**

The entire hall was already surrounded by raging fire. The Ji household was frantically carrying water to extinguish the flames.

That coffin had been moved from the hall to the outside. As the fire spread, the coffin was moved further out, almost reaching the main gate.

Ji Yunshu returned to the front courtyard. Everyone was busy fighting the fire, seemingly having completely forgotten about her, the culprit.

She coldly glanced at the hall surrounded by fire, then shifted her gaze to Ji Yuanzhi’s coffin.

Then, she forcefully pulled down a piece of white silk from the beams and threw it on the coffin. The candlestick in her hand was simultaneously pushed onto it.

The white silk instantly burst into flames!

By the time everyone reacted, that coffin was already engulfed in fire!

And Ji Yunshu, standing upright, was step by step leaving through the Ji residence main gate.

Behind her were roaring flames. She seemed like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, casting aside all reluctance and kindness, intending to use the fire to burn away all the cold cruelty!

Throughout the entire Ji residence, shouts and cries erupted into chaos!

Lang Bo, perched on a beam nearby, observed everything clearly before leaping down.

He ran quickly to a dark place not far from the Ji residence and reported, “The fire was set by Miss Ji. She also burned Ji Yuanzhi’s coffin!”

Who would have thought that little girl could be so ruthless!

Jingrong’s hands were clasped behind his back, a fierce gleam rising in his eyes, the corners of his lips curving. “Since a fire has already started, we might as well make it bigger.”

“Yes, this subordinate understands.”

Thus, Lang Bo led several people to secretly infiltrate the back courtyard of the Ji residence, setting three fires in the east, south, and north courtyards respectively!

The entire Ji residence fell into a massive inferno!

Ji Yunshu left the residence. She hadn’t walked far when she saw Jingrong waiting for her in the distance.

He stood beneath a worn lantern, his body reflecting the mottled shadows of nearby tree branches, swaying faintly, as if making him appear somewhat illusory and unreal.

This Jingrong, without that roguish air and frivolous gaze, was indeed quite attractive in an instant.

Yet Ji Yunshu seemed rather unimpressed!

When she approached, Jingrong asked her, “Have you made your decision?”

“Yes.”

“Then, what instructions do you have?”

“Bring Wei Yi.”

“Good. This prince agrees. But is there more?”

“You are a prince, I am a commoner!”

You are a prince, I am a commoner!

Undoubtedly a reminder, indicating to him that even if Ji Pei was dead, her heart had no room for him.

That feeling of having one’s heart torn open—he finally experienced it fully.

But in the end, he nodded deeply.

“Good. This prince will remember.”