“With me here, you won’t die!”

Muruo had made this guarantee countless times.

Jingxian smiled faintly, closed the box, and set it aside. He lifted his heavy eyelids to look out the window.

His tone weak, he said, “Muruo, my life and death are ultimately not mine to control. Ever since my mother consort passed away fourteen years ago, I’ve been confined within these sealed palace walls. Day after day, year after year, this body of mine is like a puppet—watched by others, sustained by medicine. Even taking one step outside the palace gates, countless pairs of eyes would be watching. These days, I can’t say they’re torment, but they’re truly rather exhausting.”

Extremely bleak!

For fourteen years, his everything had been trapped within this dilapidated palace.

To put it harshly, his entire life had been imprisoned by Emperor Qizhen. Even if the Crown Prince ascended the throne in the future and spared his life, he was still destined never to leave this cage.

Muruo grasped his arm, speaking earnestly, “Wait a bit longer. Once your illness improves, His Majesty will naturally have no reason to confine you in the palace.”

“Will such a day come?”

“Yes, you should believe me!”

“Muruo, thank you.” Jingxian’s pale lips smiled with gratitude.

“Your mother consort was kind to the Muruo family. Helping you is only right. Moreover, before my father died, he instructed me to find a way to cure your illness. That old fellow entrusted me with this heavy responsibility. I cannot let him rest uneasy even in the underworld.”

An absolute filial son!

Though Muruo was frivolous, loved wine and beautiful women, he had always been true to his word—especially regarding matters his deceased father had entrusted to him.

“In any case, take good care of yourself and don’t let your thoughts run wild.”

“I understand.” Jingxian agreed, then asked, “By the way, I heard that Father Emperor assigned the capital’s disappearance case to Jingrong. How did it go? Has it been resolved?”

“He nearly died.”

Hmm?

Jingxian asked urgently, “What happened? Did something go wrong?”

Muruo shook his head and sighed. “The case was indeed resolved, but he was injured.”

“Is it serious?”

“With me here, naturally he’s fine. But you know his temperament—completely single-minded. Although saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, to risk his own life to save others—only he would do such a thing.”

The explanation was vague and unclear. Naturally Jingxian couldn’t understand completely, and he didn’t pursue it further.

He only said, “As long as he’s fine. Now that the case is solved, Father Emperor will naturally permit him to open the coffin. If the Duke Yuguo’s case is truly overturned clearly, in the future Jingrong’s position in the court will naturally be elevated. However, you should also remind him not to let his brilliance show too quickly.”

Muruo was puzzled. “You young fellow, alone in this Tongren Hall—I thought you heard nothing of affairs outside your window, yet you understand every single matter quite clearly!”

“Tranquility certainly has its benefits, but watching branches and leaves return to their roots day after day can become tedious. So I listen to Fu Lu talk about matters outside—it passes the time. As you know, Fu Lu has no other talents, but being old, he loves to meddle. Inside and outside the palace, he likes to prick up his ears to listen to everything. After hearing things, he can’t keep them to himself and tells me about them. And as it happens, I also enjoy listening.”

These words seemed to take Jingxian a long time to finish. Every sentence required all his strength.

Meanwhile, Muruo listened patiently, even becoming curious. He sat up properly.

He asked, “Then I’d like to hear what else Fu Lu told you.”

“Everything that should be said has been said.”

“Oh? Tell me and let me hear. I’ve been away from the capital for some time. I haven’t heard all the affairs of the capital completely. Fill me in.”

He was just short of pouring tea and cracking sunflower seeds!

Jingxian narrowed his eyes, but his body was somewhat tired. His pale, slender fingers slowly withdrew into his wide sleeves.

He spoke slowly, “In these two days, the Qujiang people who have been causing trouble at the border will probably enter the capital. Remember to remind Jingrong to wait until the border matters are resolved before investigating the Duke Yuguo’s case. Don’t go to Linshan to open the coffin at this time, lest he provoke Father Emperor’s displeasure.”

Muruo hadn’t heard any interesting gossip, so he was inevitably disappointed. He slapped his thigh, stood up, and said, “Fine, I’ll pass along those words to him on your behalf. You rest well. Next time I’ll visit you in the palace again. Just stay here peacefully—sooner or later, there will be a day when you can leave the palace.”

These words only earned a faint smile from Jingxian.

His eyes lowered as he spoke, “Mother Consort once said that fallen leaves return to their roots—they ultimately return to where they came from. Leave the palace? Will such a day really come…”

His voice grew weaker and weaker!

Softer and softer!

Jingxian on the rocking chair, his eyelids drooping, gradually fell asleep.

Muruo sighed lightly, thinking that among all the princes in the world, probably only Jingxian lived such a miserable existence.

He fetched a thin blanket to cover Jingxian, then left the inner chamber.

He summoned Fu Lu and instructed, “Take good care of Prince Xian. Remember, don’t let him drink the medicine sent by the Imperial Medical Bureau anymore. Have medicine prepared according to the prescription I gave before, and make sure to watch him drink it. Understand?”

Fu Lu nodded. “This old servant understands!”

Muruo glanced at the dilapidated scene throughout the courtyard and added, “How is this courtyard fit for habitation? At the very least, he’s still a prince. Go send people to properly repair and restore it. Add what needs to be added.”

“Yes, yes, yes…”

Fu Lu agreed to everything.

Muruo glanced toward the inner chamber once more before leaving uneasily.

…

With the disappearance case solved, Jing Zhaoyin was organizing the documents, preparing to submit them to the Court of Judicial Review for filing. But he still first made a trip to Prince Rong’s residence to have Prince Rong review the documents once.

In the pavilion!

“As long as the Court of Judicial Review stamps this case, it will be closed. Would Your Highness like to wait until your injuries heal, then personally make a trip to the palace? Like Prince Yi did, to have an imperial audience?”

In plain terms, this was clearly letting Jingrong go claim credit. Perhaps Emperor Qizhen would be greatly pleased and bestow some rewards!

And he, Jing Zhaoyin, could also bask in the reflected glory!

Though Jingrong’s head and hands were wrapped in bandages, he who never showed weakness still had fierce, burning eyes beneath his hawk-like furrowed brows.

He held a cup of tea and took a small sip.

Setting it down gently, he said, “No need. Let the Court of Judicial Review handle it. And that Gan Chouliang—interrogate him as he should be interrogated. Though he didn’t kill anyone, destroying corpses and eliminating evidence is equivalent to the same crime.”

“Yes, this humble official understands.”

“You may go.”

Jing Zhaoyin cupped his hands, gathered up the documents, and prepared to leave.

In the distance, Lu Jiang suddenly hurried forward, his expression grave, standing outside the pavilion.

“Your Highness, this is bad.”

“What is it?” Jingrong asked sternly.

“Miss Ruan has disappeared!”

Thud—

The teacup fell steadily from Jingrong’s fingertips onto the table.

At the same time—

A young maid from the East Garden entered the room carrying Ji Yunshu’s freshly laundered clothes, handing her a neatly folded note.

“Master Ji, is this note yours?”

Ji Yunshu took it with a confused expression.

“Mine?”

The maid nodded!

“It fell out of the clothes you changed out of, Master.”

“Which clothes?”

“The clothes you were wearing when you were injured, Master.”