The Next Day

The great fire at the Ji residence had been extinguished. The front courtyard hall and East Courtyard had been burned until almost nothing remained.

As for Ji Yuanzhi’s corpse, along with the coffin, it had been burned completely clean!

This morning, another piece of news arrived!

Old Madam Ji, overcome with grief and invaded by cold wind, had passed away!

Immediately following, a letter of severance was delivered from the Ji residence to Guangqu Courtyard, placed into Ji Yunshu’s hands.

“Today, the Ji clan hereby declares that its daughter Ji Yunshu, of the Yun generation, with corrupt words and deeds, showing no filial piety above and no moral character below, is now expelled from the family, never to enter the Ji clan genealogy again for all eternity…”

Black words on white paper, stamped with the seal of the Ji household!

Holding this paper, she laughed coldly, her eyes overflowing with towering mirth that spread in all directions.

She reached out, threw that paper into the stove, and watched with her own eyes as it burned to ash.

She knew that now, everyone in the Ji household probably wished they could cut her into a thousand pieces, throw her into the wilderness, and let jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards bite her until no bones remained!

Ji Yuanzhi was dead. Old Madam Ji was also dead.

Today, who was to blame?

Blame her?

This burden, she wouldn’t carry. This load, she wouldn’t shoulder!

Jingrong had given orders—they were already preparing to depart for the capital. The carriage was stopped outside, ready to set off at any time.

Ji Yunshu made a trip to the Wei residence. She entrusted all the Wei family affairs to Uncle Fu, and instructed him that if it truly became impossible, he should just dismiss all the household staff.

After all, after finishing the “Linjing Case,” it would probably be a year later.

Whether she would return by then, she couldn’t say. Perhaps she would take Wei Yi and go to some small county town to be a coroner—that was also possible.

Wei Yi packed for a long time, bundles large and small, quite a few.

“When Mother was alive, she said that when going out, one must bring everything needed.”

Pointing at a yellow bundle: “Here are the clothes.”

Pointing at a blue bundle: “Here are the shoes.”

Then pointing at a small box: “Inside here are things Father and Mother bought for me—there’s a kite, a pendant, and also…”

“Wei Yi.” Ji Yunshu interrupted him.

“Shu’er, you’re calling me.”

Yes, I’m calling you. Otherwise, you’ll forget about me again!

Ji Yunshu handed him the two scrolls of paintings she had brought with her, saying, “You must take good care of these two scrolls. As for the rest, just pack two changes of clothes.”

Wei Yi looked at the paintings in his hands, confused.

Then he opened them one by one and was extremely happy.

“This is Father and Mother!”

Two scrolls of paintings—one was Master Wei, one was Madam Wei.

Ji Yunshu had painted them through the night.

Wei Yi clutched those two scrolls and refused to let go. Those bundles large and small were completely forgotten by him.

From the Wei residence to Guangqu Courtyard, almost everyone was talking about the Ji residence affair.

Some said this fire was set by the Ji family’s third young miss, and that she had also killed Old Madam Ji. They heard it was because she had contracted madness and had even slashed her own face.

She only admitted to the arson. The rest were all rumors, all rumors!

Fortunately, ancient times had no internet or microblogs. Otherwise, wouldn’t she become a version of “righteously destroying one’s relatives” like Ma “Rong”?

She’d probably have no chance of leaving Jinjiang City before being drowned by countless spittle.

**Outside Guangqu Courtyard**

Jingrong had already mounted his horse, holding the reins. Those gold-carved jade boots lightly pressed against the horse’s belly. If one were to replace that purple-gold long robe with armor and silver helmet, the current him would be the very image of iron bones and proud bearing.

Seeing Ji Yunshu and Wei Yi had arrived, his narrow eyes swept lightly as he nodded to Lang Bo.

Lang Bo brought the carriage over and said to Ji Yunshu, “Miss Ji, everything is prepared. You and Young Master Wei should board the carriage.”

“Good. We can board the carriage now.”

Without a word, Wei Yi clutched the two scrolls and jumped right into the carriage.

Ji Yunshu glanced at Jingrong with his back to her and softly asked Lang Bo, “Your prince won’t enter the carriage?”

“The prince said he does not ride together with commoners.”

Oh my!

It seemed he had truly taken her words to heart.

Nodding lightly, she turned and boarded the carriage.

The curtain had just been lowered, and she had not yet seated herself when she heard a familiar voice from outside.

“Yunshu, this official has come to see you off.”

Her slender fingers lifted the curtain, and Ji Yunshu saw the county magistrate’s face drenched in sweat.

“Magistrate Liu?”

His face showed reluctance, looking distressed. “Yunshu, tell me—you’re just leaving like this. From now on, I won’t be able to manage the yamen affairs.”

“Are you trying to make me stay?”

“This…” The county magistrate looked timidly in Jingrong’s direction, trembling. “The person Prince Rong wants—this official dare not compete for.”

Ji Yunshu thought for a moment. “Magistrate Liu, go to Li Family Village and find a coroner named Li Hai. Have him take up a position at the yamen.”

“Li Hai?”

“He also handled the corpse dumping case from a year ago. This person will definitely help you.”

“Yes, certainly.” Magistrate Liu repeatedly agreed, then sighed. “With such a great incident at the Ji family, it’s actually good that you’re leaving. However, if you return one day, you must tell this official.”

Though Ji Yunshu found this muddle-headed county magistrate exasperating—she had been exasperated for five years—she had to admit he had treated her quite well.

When she had no money, he added money. When she was in a bad mood, he also added money.

As long as she asked, he always agreed to everything!

She wondered how much money Jingrong would pay her for this “Linjing Case”?

She shook her head—thinking crooked thoughts again!

Curving her lips, she glanced at the county magistrate.

“Muddle-head, get lost.”

She pulled her head back into the carriage. The fingertips clutching the curtain, at the moment of withdrawal, pulled the corners of her mouth into a faint smile—a smile that carried reluctance for that muddle-head Magistrate Liu.

“Shu’er, who’s the muddle-head?” Wei Yi asked her with wide eyes.

She shook her head without answering!

At this moment, the carriage also began moving.

Shortly after, they left Jinjiang City.

This place, besides that plum blossom forest and that young man, held nothing worth her nostalgia.

The procession traveled from the Jinjiang small roads into the mountain paths.

By evening, spring rain arrived unexpectedly, pattering lightly on the black canopy of the carriage. As cold wind lifted the curtain, a few threads of rain fluttered in, landing on Ji Yunshu’s veil, seeping through to her skin, chilly.

She dozed briefly. Opening her eyes, she saw Wei Yi clutching the two paintings, sleeping soundly.

Because this wasn’t an official road, the path was rough, swaying continuously.

She reached out to lift the curtain. The carriage was probably still in the mountains. All around were shrubs and woods. She looked ahead—several guards in front held torches to light the way, illuminating the road fairly brightly.

Her gaze finally fell on Jingrong.

The fine drizzling rain rolled smoothly off Jingrong’s head and his fine brocade clothing. Yet he rode on horseback, completely unaffected.

“Your Highness, there’s a ruined temple ahead.”

Someone called out.

Ji Yunshu immediately pulled her head back inside the carriage, appearing somewhat guilty!

Soon, the procession stopped outside the ruined temple. Ji Yunshu shook Wei Yi awake and led him into the ruined temple.

Jingrong’s guards carried all the water-sensitive items inside and started two fires.

Jingrong with Lang Bo, Ji Yunshu with Wei Yi—four people, one fire pile.

Those dozen or so guards sat around one pile!

Their bottoms had barely touched down when another group of people surged through the ruined temple’s entrance in a flurry.

Five or six people carried a heavy coffin through the ruined temple’s main gate, each one completely soaked through!

“Quick, quick, quick! Hurry and carry it in. We absolutely mustn’t let Madam’s remains get wet.”

A man held an umbrella over his master’s head while directing the servants to carry the coffin into the ruined temple.