Madam Jiang trusted her too much!
And she seemed certain that Ji Yinshu would definitely help her.
Ji Yinshu took the letter in her hand and placed it on the table, pushing it toward Madam Jiang.
On it, only a few brief lines were written, with the address of this restaurant taking up half the words.
Her gaze moved from the letter to meet Madam Jiang’s eyes as she asked, “What exactly do you know?”
Madam Jiang, however, wore a conditional expression. “If Master Ji can help me find out Shui Qing’s whereabouts and solve this case, I’ll tell you.”
“Are you proposing a transaction?”
“That depends on how you understand it.”
Yes, someone as calculating as Madam Jiang would naturally hold something back.
However, it did make Ji Yinshu’s heart stir slightly.
Seeing her show slight hesitation, Madam Jiang continued, “I know Master Ji doesn’t like the capital and doesn’t want to be drawn into the capital’s vortex. But you’re such a clever person—don’t you want to accomplish something? Are you truly content to just be a golden carp in a pond?”
A golden carp?
No, she only wanted to be a lotus in the pond!
Frost in summer, snow in winter!
Parting her lips with a gentle smile, she extended her slender fingers, picked up the wine pot, poured two cups of wine, and raised one toward Madam Jiang.
Saying coolly, “Then let me toast Madam Jiang with this cup.”
Having spoken, she drained it in one gulp, set down the cup, stood up, and lightly brushed her robe.
“Farewell.”
Preparing to leave!
The next moment, Madam Jiang called out to her, “Does Master Ji truly not want to know about the Linjing Case?”
Her steps halted. She turned her head sideways, the corners of her mouth curving faintly. “If you want to speak, then speak. If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you to say it.”
“You came to the capital precisely to help Prince Rong investigate the Linjing Case. Since that’s so, investigating one more case shouldn’t matter. As long as you help me find Shui Qing, I’ll tell you everything I saw and heard fourteen years ago. I guarantee it will be of great help to you in investigating the Linjing Case, Master Ji.”
“Why should I believe you?”
Ji Yinshu turned around, looking straight at her.
She saw Madam Jiang’s cold eyes gleaming with a confidence that could read people’s hearts. Taking several steps closer to Ji Yinshu, she said, “If Master Ji didn’t believe me, you wouldn’t have come to this appointment after seeing my letter.”
That letter was like bait Madam Jiang had thrown out to catch the big fish that was Ji Yinshu.
The result was obvious—Ji Yinshu had indeed appeared here.
However…
“Madam Jiang, you got one thing right—I truly don’t like the capital. I can’t help you with this disappearance case.”
As soon as these words left Ji Yinshu’s mouth, Madam Jiang hastily said, “How is it that I remember that Master Ji in Jinjiang turned red-eyed upon learning of A’Yu’s death and, despite all difficulties and dangers, would use every effort to investigate a case that had nothing to do with her?”
This tall hat was a bit too big for Ji Yinshu to wear!
Madam Jiang’s pressing tactics had changed from forceful to somewhat emotionally manipulative.
Ji Yinshu only smiled bitterly and said, “This is the capital, not Jinjiang.”
“Master Ji…”
“I can’t manage all the affairs under heaven, and it’s not my turn to manage them either. I’m merely someone from a humble background as a painter. It’s not my place to interfere in this case.”
Indeed, what qualifications did she have to interfere?
Even thinking about it was impossible!
Madam Jiang’s face showed some disappointment, and she sighed softly.
“Since Master Ji’s attitude is so resolute, fine, I won’t force you anymore. However, what I know about the Linjing Case, I’m afraid you won’t know either.”
“As you wish.”
Two faint words slowly escaped from those red lips.
Ji Yinshu had already opened the door and stepped one foot out.
Behind her…
“Master Ji’s face?” The question Madam Jiang had been holding in her heart finally came out.
Ji Yinshu’s hand remained on the door, her gaze falling straight ahead, the corners of her mouth pulling into a smile so faint it was almost imperceptible.
She said, “Common people say that faces change eight times, each time different. What’s strange about my appearance changing?”
Bang—
The door closed!
Inside the room, Madam Jiang’s face turned slightly green with anger. She hadn’t expected this Master Ji to truly not fall for her tactics.
Her left hand clenched into a fist and lightly pounded the table once before picking up the envelope.
On it was written only:
“If you want to know about the Linjing Case, come meet me at Hengping Restaurant. Signed, Madam Jiang!”
The piece of paper gradually crumpled into a ball in her fingertips and was forcefully thrown to the ground.
“Master Ji, you should trust me.”
…
As Ji Yinshu descended to the first floor, she collided directly with two people hurrying upstairs.
Fortunately, she grabbed the wooden post at hand, or she really would have fallen over.
“How do you walk? Don’t you have eyes?”
The one who did the colliding actually gained momentum.
Li Shiyan looked furious at the “man” wearing a half-mask before him.
Ji Yinshu glanced at him—so it was that persistent follower.
Too lazy to bother, she lowered her gaze and was about to leave when her shoulder was suddenly grabbed by Li Shiyan.
“Are you mute? You want to leave after bumping into someone?”
“Let go.”
“Oh, so you’re not mute. Let go? This young master was bumped like this by you, and you don’t even apologize—you just want to walk away?”
Scamming?
Ji Yinshu turned around, those cold eyes carrying a chill.
“If I didn’t remember wrong just now, the one who bumped into someone should be you, young master, right?”
“I…”
Li Shiyan choked, looking at those somewhat familiar eyes. A belly full of anger instantly dissipated.
Ji Yinshu raised her hand and removed Li Shiyan’s hand from her shoulder. Just as she was about to leave, Li Shiyan reached out his claws toward her again.
However, this time, before touching Ji Yinshu’s shoulder, a whip lashed out.
Fortunately, Li Shiyan dodged in time, or his arm would have been struck bloody by that whip.
“There really are all kinds of shameless scoundrels. Clearly it was he who bumped into someone, yet he won’t let the other person go. Absolutely a scoundrel.”
A woman in a blue shirt appeared, holding a red whip in her hand.
Her black hair was like ink, half tied and half loose. Her small face was very delicate, and with exquisite plum blossom makeup, she was like a lotus emerging from water.
Those small lips, pert nose, and those limpid big eyes were simply perfectly matched to that face.
A beautiful woman!
However, in those seemingly innocent eyes, there was a proud flavor. She raised her chin slightly and walked forward.
Li Shiyan was furious. This woman was the first person who dared to lash him with a whip.
“Who are you?”
He demanded sternly.
“Me?”
The woman’s slender index finger pointed at herself, the corners of her mouth smiling with proud satisfaction.
Li Shiyan was also a proud young master, so now he had met his match.
Snorting and walking two steps closer, staring at the whip in her hand, Li Shiyan said, “I’m asking you.”
The woman coiled her whip section by section, proudly raising her chin.
“I’m afraid if I tell you my name, you’ll be so scared you’ll kneel on the ground and call me Great-Aunt!”
“Bragging shamelessly!” Li Shiyan was very disdainful.
The woman was somewhat displeased, pointing at him. “What did you say?”
“I said, someone like you wants me to call you Great-Aunt? Do you know who I am?”
“I don’t care who you are! You dare look down on me? I’ll whip you until you cry!”
Having spoken, the whip in her hand suddenly lashed toward Li Shiyan.
Li Shiyan was also prepared to receive her whip, but unfortunately, when the whip was only halfway through the air, it was caught by a palm.
Following that hand upward, one could see Jingrong’s cold and stern face, looking at the woman before him with an expression of disappointment.
Rebuking heavily, “Jing Xuan, stop making trouble.”
Jing Xuan?