The vaguely visible face flickered within the curtain, just happening to be seen by Ji Li and Ji Huan. Although not very clearly, Ji Huan gripped the sword in his hand and wanted to step forward again.

He seemed to still harbor suspicions in his heart, wanting to pull the person from inside the carriage out, lift the veil, and take a good look to see if it was Ji Yunshu.

His foot had just moved one step when he was instantly held back by Ji Li.

He reminded quietly: “Prince Rong is here. You and I cannot act rashly.”

Ji Huan was very unwilling. After the carriage had departed far away, he shook off Ji Li’s hand with one motion.

Venting his anger: “If the person in the carriage truly is Yunshu, haven’t you and I let her escape? How then can we avenge third brother?”

Compared to him, Ji Li was much calmer. With a stern face, he said: “Regardless of whether it is or not, with your outburst just now, you and I have formed a grudge with Prince Rong. In future actions, there will inevitably be many inconveniences. Better to have one more friend than one more enemy.”

Ji Li was the Left Commander—capable in both civil and martial arts, essentially a military strategist. His mind naturally turned faster than Ji Huan, this hothead.

Ji Huan could only give up, but white steam seemed to be shooting from his nostrils!

Moreover, they still had to rush back to attend Ji Yuanzhi’s funeral.

But if the two arrived home to discover the Ji residence burned to near nothing and their grandmother dead, they would probably regret not pursuing right now and splitting that carriage in half!

…

Inside the carriage, Wei Yi had already calmed down and was holding those two paintings.

“Shu’er, who were those people just now? Were they trying to kill us? Why would they want to kill us?”

“It’s fine. They didn’t want to kill us—they made a mistake.”

“Really?”

Ji Yunshu nodded: “Yes.”

Wei Yi shifted closer to her and stopped talking.

Ji Yunshu’s thoughts grew heavy. If not for Jingrong blocking them just now, she would already be dead.

She reached out to lift the curtain and look forward, just happening to see Jingrong turning back to look at her.

In his eyes was a trace of concern. Ji Yunshu nodded, indicating her thanks and also showing she was fine.

Only then did she draw her head back inside.

Along this route, Jingrong became even more vigilant, ordering several attendants to switch to behind the carriage, sandwiching the carriage in the middle as a precaution.

After traveling a distance, the sky gradually darkened. Fortunately, the official road was relatively flat, and before dark night fully descended, they reached an inn.

Though the inn was located in the outskirts, it was quite large. Around it, traveling merchants also stopped to rest and lodge.

After dismounting from the carriage, as soon as Ji Yunshu’s feet touched the ground, she finally felt she was still alive.

After Jingrong had someone take the horses to be fed, he led the group into the inn.

This group—the men handsome yet cold, each carrying long swords, the woman dressed in elegant simplicity with a veil covering her face.

Though merchants and swordsmen were numerous in these outskirts and not unusual, this group still attracted quite a bit of attention.

Several men even directed their gazes directly at Ji Yunshu.

Drooling with desire!

The enthusiastic waiter bowed at the waist and hurried forward: “Are you honored guests staying at the inn?”

Jingrong’s expression remained impassive!

Giving the waiter a mouthful of ice.

Lang Bo stepped forward, pulled out an ingot of silver, pressed it into the waiter’s hand, and instructed: “Prepare several superior rooms for us.”

Holding the silver in his hands, the waiter’s eyes lit up. He pulled the towel from his shoulder and swept it forward.

“Right away! Please come upstairs, honored guests.”

He led them upstairs.

Ji Yunshu had just climbed several steps when someone ran down from upstairs, footsteps swift as wind, suddenly bumping hard into her shoulder.

Staggering, Ji Yunshu’s body was knocked backward.

Fortunately, Jingrong’s palm from behind caught her waist in one motion, steadying her.

The person who bumped into her was a man about thirty years old, head lowered, seeming somewhat panicked.

He quickly said: “Sorry, sorry…”

Then rushed down the stairs.

“Are you alright?” Jingrong asked by her ear.

She shook her head.

“Perhaps you’re still shaken? Rest assured, with this prince here, I won’t let the Ji family harm you in the slightest.”

As if he could always see through her thoughts!

“Thank you, Your Highness.” She lifted her skirt and continued upstairs.

The waiter pushed open a door: “Miss, you can stay in this room—it’s spacious.”

“Thank you.”

She had just entered when Wei Yi was about to follow right after, but his back collar was grabbed by Jingrong.

“You’re over here.”

With that, he dragged Wei Yi toward another room.

Ji Yunshu wanted to say something, but thinking about it, decided to let it go. If Wei Yi really clung to her and wanted to sleep with her, wouldn’t that be awkward?

So when Jingrong dragged him away, she felt grateful in her heart.

Being dragged to another room, Wei Yi was very unhappy.

He glared at Jingrong: “Why won’t you let me stay with Shu’er?”

“Men and women are different. Don’t you know that?”

“I know. Mother told me.”

Jingrong frowned: “Then why were you following her in?”

Wei Yi said methodically: “But Shu’er is my wife! Mother said I can sleep with my wife.”

“…”

For that moment, Jingrong truly wondered—was he doing this on purpose?

Letting out a frustrated breath, he instructed Lang Bo: “Tonight you sleep in the same room with him. Watch him carefully and don’t let him run around.”

“Yes!”

Hearing he had to sleep with Lang Bo, Wei Yi’s mouth nearly curled up to his nose. He quickly shook his head: “I don’t want to sleep with him. I want to sleep with Shu’er.”

“It’s not up to you!” Jingrong tossed out that line and left.

Wei Yi wanted to chase after him but was blocked by Lang Bo.

Lang Bo was a rough fellow who didn’t talk much. Arms crossed over his chest, he blocked the entire doorway.

“Let me through. I don’t want to sleep with you.”

“We slept together last night. Why won’t it work tonight?” Lang Bo refuted him.

That’s right—last night you even slept leaning on my shoulder all night. Why won’t tonight work?

Lang Bo couldn’t understand. He didn’t smell bad.

Why wouldn’t he sleep with him!

Annoying!

Wei Yi yelled at him: “Just no.”

Throwing a small tantrum, he plopped down onto a chair, hands clenched into fists, lightly pounding the table once, like a sulking child.

Lang Bo had received his orders and naturally had to carry them out. He could only watch him and not let him go find Ji Yunshu.

However, from the moment this group entered the inn, a pair of curious, playful eyes had been following them closely.

Li Shiyan sat in a small private room on the second floor, with a perfect view of both the inn entrance and the direction of the stairs to the second floor.

He had one foot propped on a stool, hand grabbing peanuts, tossing them up and catching them in his mouth.

The corners of his mouth carried amusement: “Interesting!”

The attendant beside him leaned over and asked: “Young Heir, are you really interested in that woman?”

“What? Is that not allowed?”

“That woman is wearing a veil—we don’t even know if she’s beautiful or ugly. Besides, look at those people around her—each one carrying a sword. We’d better not cause trouble. If the Marquis finds out you’re stirring up problems, he definitely won’t spare you.”

Li Shiyan sprang up and slapped his attendant on the head.

“Xiao Luzi, haven’t I told you many times—when we’re out, you can’t mention ‘Marquis this, Marquis that.’ This is Dalin, not Qujiang!”