As Ji Yunshu spoke, countless images flashed through her mind. Though she wouldn’t say it was nauseating, her heart felt as if a heavy stone pressed upon it, weighing it down.

She continued, “But you were afraid. You feared that if they died, they would become vengeful ghosts seeking revenge, so you severed both their hands. That way, even if they became vengeful ghosts seeking retribution, they wouldn’t be able to peel off your skin, right?”

Ah!

Ji Yunshu enunciated each word clearly.

In this dark space, it seemed exceptionally eerie.

After listening, the woman laughed. She put her hooded cloak back on, shifted her body slightly, extinguished the oil lamp, and sat back down in that chair.

She said softly, “You guessed everything correctly.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t let Mei Xiang’er’s death be meaningless.”

“Take her away.”

The woman pointed at Ruan Ya’er on the wooden board!

Ji Yunshu’s expression darkened. She reached out to untie the ropes binding Ruan Ya’er. Jingrong behind her also stepped forward to help Ruan Ya’er down.

“You take her out of here first,” Ji Yunshu said.

Jingrong clearly didn’t want to, glaring at her.

Ji Yunshu said with certainty, “I promise you, I won’t come to harm.”

“No!”

“Trust me. She won’t hurt me. You take Miss Ruan up first.”

“You…”

Ji Yunshu gently pushed him.

Though Jingrong was unwilling, seeing the unconscious Ruan Ya’er, he could only agree and carried her out.

The next moment, Ji Yunshu walked before the woman, crouched down, and grasped those cold hands resting on her thighs.

Looking up, she said, “I understand very clearly that as a mother, for the sake of one’s children, one is truly willing to do anything. Even if it means sacrificing oneself, one wouldn’t want one’s child to suffer the slightest hardship.”

“You?”

Ji Yunshu took a red pill from her waist and placed it in the woman’s hand.

“A lifetime of suffering is already enough. I hope when you depart, you can do so with peace of mind.”

“Thank you!”

The woman closed her palm, clutching that pill.

It seemed she had long ago made the same preparations as Mei Xiang’er had at that time.

That is, to die!

…

Before long, Ji Yunshu emerged from the underground chamber. Jingrong was waiting for her at the exit. In the end, he was still worried—if there had been even the slightest sound from inside, he would have rushed down.

“Are you alright?”

She shook her head without speaking, eyes downcast, and left the pile of ruins. She boarded the carriage and drew the curtain closed.

Outside, sounds of footsteps and weapons could be heard, yet she sat calmly, her eyes slightly reddened.

After just a moment, she heard a voice from outside.

“The person is already dead!”

Immediately after, Jingrong boarded the carriage and sat beside her.

The two fell into silence.

After a while, Ji Yunshu’s eyes glanced toward him. “Don’t you want to know what I said to her?”

“Does it matter?” Jingrong raised an eyebrow and grasped her hand. “If it were me, I would have done the same.”

Yes, Jingrong was like a worm in her belly—he had guessed everything!

The next moment, she withdrew her hand from his, clenched it into a fist, and tucked it into her sleeve.

This small gesture didn’t disappoint Jingrong. He sat obediently, though his gaze remained fixed on her.

Ji Yunshu felt her ears redden under that gaze. She simply turned her head away and lifted the carriage window to look outside.

She saw Jing Zhaoyin’s people carrying out the woman wrapped in white cloth.

Ji Yunshu’s heart felt heavy and stifled!

After all, those who are hateful must have their pitiable aspects!

Two days later, the Court of Judicial Review closed the case!

The fog of mystery within the capital finally dispersed, and the hearts everyone had been holding in suspense settled down.

Naturally, the title of “Master Ji” also spread throughout the capital, making a name for itself!

Everyone said that Master Ji was a genius from the Heavenly Mountains, clever and intelligent.

There were even rumors that she possessed eyes capable of seeing through all things, knowing five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future.

Some said she was the reincarnation of an immortal lord from the underworld, that she could commune with the dead!

And even more outrageous—that she was Jingrong’s lover!

Aiya, aiya, aiya!

What lover?

Two grown men, what kind of lovers would that be! Did you ancient people also embrace such things?

Upon hearing these bizarre rumors, Ji Yunshu nearly spat out water from laughing!

She dared to assert that the last rumor must have been spread by Jingrong himself. That scoundrel must have schemed all night long.

Shameless!

“Shu’er, what’s wrong with you?” Wei Yi sat across from her, taking in her expression of both anger and helplessness!

Ji Yunshu shook her head, picked up a pastry, and offered it to Wei Yi, saying, “I’m fine. You eat more.”

“Oh.”

Wei Yi buried his head and ate voraciously!

Just then, a young servant ran in from outside, stood at the door, and said respectfully, “Master, Madam Jiang is looking for you. She’s in the corridor in the back courtyard.”

Ji Yunshu wasn’t surprised. She nodded, stood up, and went over.

Upon reaching the corridor, she saw Madam Jiang standing in the corner. In the short time since they’d last met, this woman had become like a hedgehog stripped of its quills, no longer frantic!

“Has Madam Jiang been waiting long?”

Hearing her voice, Madam Jiang turned, very politely saying, “No, I just arrived. By the way, Master Ji, has your health improved?”

“After resting for several days, it’s much better.”

Madam Jiang produced an exquisite small bottle and handed it over. “This medicine is a secret medicinal ointment of my Li family. It will help your face.”

Ji Yunshu accepted it and expressed her thanks.

“I’m the one who should be thanking you.” Madam Jiang bowed slightly. “Regarding the Jinjiang incident, although I resented you, Master, in this matter I was indeed at fault. My husband died miserably—how could my heart not ache? Every deep night, I would wake in cold sweat from fear. But now that the truth has come to light, I can finally sleep peacefully, and that stone in my heart has settled.”

Ji Yunshu said nothing.

Madam Jiang pondered for a moment. “I said before that as long as you helped me find Shui Qing, I would tell you what I heard back then.”

“Please speak, Madam Jiang.”

Madam Jiang took a step, directing her gaze toward the distant eaves, and said slowly, “Fourteen years ago, Duke Yuguo went to Qingzhou to see my grandfather, Old General Li.”

“You mean?”

“I don’t know what they discussed at the time, but when the two emerged, their expressions were extremely grave. The day after Duke Yuguo left Qingzhou and returned to the capital, an incident occurred at Duke Yuguo’s residence. During those days, my grandfather also made a distant journey, though not to the capital. I don’t know if this matter is related to the Linjing Case, but I hope it’s helpful to you.”

Having said this, Madam Jiang looked at her again.

Ji Yunshu was slightly surprised and began thinking carefully.

She said, “Madam Jiang, could you introduce me to Old General Li?”

“My grandfather is still in Qingzhou. He didn’t come for Shui Qing’s funeral either. Truth be told, Master, ever since Duke Yuguo died fourteen years ago, my grandfather has said he would never enter the capital again for the rest of his life. If you want to ask him about events from back then, I think you may need to make a trip to Qingzhou.”

Go to Qingzhou?

Ji Yunshu fell silent.

After a moment, she analyzed slowly, “If back then Duke Yuguo traveled far from the capital to Qingzhou to see Old General Li, it must have been for a very serious matter.”

“This is all I can help you with, Master. My grandfather has a rather stubborn temperament. Perhaps he simply won’t be willing to discuss what happened back then—otherwise, he would have spoken up fourteen years ago!”