Ever since seeing Su Ziluo, Ji Yunshu had been in a dazed state.

But her reason told her over and over again that Su Ziluo was Su Ziluo.

Ji Pei was Ji Pei!

That face was merely similar, nothing more.

“Where did you go to hide?”

Jingrong’s voice came from above her head.

Coming back to her senses, she realized she had already entered the Eastern Garden. Looking up, she saw Jingrong sitting on that polished pear wood chair as if it were a dragon throne.

His brow was tightly furrowed!

Full of imposing presence!

What’s gotten into this guy?

Combined with the light from several lanterns around him casting a glow on his body, his face was carved with particular severity.

Ji Yunshu walked before him, lowering her eyes. “I went to Yuhua Pavilion!”

“What did you discuss with Muruo?”

“We discussed some interesting life matters. When we were having a good time, we drank a few cups. He ended up completely drunk, so I left.”

“Mm!” He nodded slightly, his fingers lightly tapping on the armrest of the chair. He glanced behind Ji Yunshu. “Where’s Wei Yi? Did you get drunk too? You actually left him at Yuhua Pavilion?”

“Wei Yi will stay there for a while.”

“Why?”

“Young Master Muruo is all alone—it’s truly lonely. Fortunately, Wei Yi likes him too, so I left him there so they can keep each other company.”

“Can you bear to part with him?” Jingrong asked.

She smiled. “What’s there to be unable to bear?”

Jingrong then lifted his body, his massive shadow instantly enveloping her, blocking her petite frame completely.

So she deliberately retreated two steps, her beautiful eyes watching the tall, upright man before her with vigilance.

Seeing him frown, he said to her, “You have something on your mind!”

“I don’t!”

“Others can’t tell, but this Prince can. What is it about?”

“I already said there’s nothing.” She emphasized.

Jingrong sighed softly. Just as he was about to reach out to touch her, his raised hand slowly lowered again.

His lips pursed, and he stopped asking.

Instead, he glanced at the beam above the main entrance and snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, there was a whooshing sound!

A shadow leaped down from the beam, standing precisely two meters behind Ji Yunshu.

Looking back, she saw a woman standing rigidly still, her face stern and unsmiling, wearing dark red clothing. Those eyes carried a fierce and murderous aura.

She held a sword in her hand. The hilt was carved with very beautiful patterns, lifelike in appearance. She gripped it tightly without the slightest looseness.

Because she had been hidden in the shadows, her entire person seemed like a wisp of black smoke!

Hazy and indistinct!

“Her name is Zijin. From now on, she will protect you,” Jingrong said seriously.

Ji Yunshu wasn’t surprised by this—it was indeed Jingrong’s usual method!

“She grew up by this Prince’s side since childhood. Her martial skills are exceptional. With her by your side, this Prince can be much more at ease.”

Little scheme!

From now on, with Zijin monitoring you for this Prince, naturally she’ll help you avoid many romantic entanglements.

But Ji Yunshu saw through this little scheme.

“Since Your Highness has this intention, I’ll accept.”

“Mm, then this Prince won’t disturb you two. Have a good chat.”

With that, Jingrong walked before Zijin, his face immediately turning cold again.

“This Prince entrusts Master Ji to you. Even if it costs you your life, you must not let him come to harm!”

Zijin only lowered her head without speaking.

She looked extremely cold and ruthless!

After Jingrong left, Ji Yunshu walked before Zijin, examining her carefully.

“Your name is Zijin?”

Her expression didn’t change, but she did nod.

“You’ve been with Prince Rong since childhood?”

She nodded!

“You obey his commands?”

She nodded!

Zijin maintained a solemn face. Those eyes carried an unfathomable coldness, yet possessed a bloodthirsty ruthlessness.

Ji Yunshu asked again, “What’s your surname?”

After a long pause, she received no answer.

Could she be mute?

Just as Ji Yunshu was thinking this, Zijin spoke.

“Shi!”

That single word permeated the air, seeming to freeze everything around it.

So she could speak after all!

“How old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

Only fifteen? Ji Yunshu was shocked, unable to believe it.

What kind of experiences could have made a fifteen-year-old woman become so cold that no one dared approach her!

People like this were mostly trained.

They lived for only two things.

One was to protect their master!

The other was to kill in order to protect their master!

Before Ji Yunshu could ask her anything more, Shi Zijin had already leaped onto the beam and disappeared without a trace.

Ji Yunshu felt a chill on her back, as if a pair of eyes were watching her, yet she couldn’t see them.

It was like knowing exactly where on your body itched, but being unable to scratch it!

Over the next two days, Ji Yunshu didn’t see Shi Zijin at all.

Jingrong continued running back and forth between the palace and outside, while she became a regular visitor at Yuhua Pavilion.

She heard that Yuhua Pavilion’s business had been particularly good these past two days because Wei Yi was especially likable!

She heard that Wei Yi had broken quite a few medicine jars in the pharmacy, causing those young attendants to work almost sleeplessly through the night.

She heard that Wei Yi had also helped those young attendants dispense medicine, but mistakenly used croton seeds instead of unicorn beans, causing a patient to vomit and have diarrhea, nearly ruining Muruo’s reputation as a divine physician.

She heard that Muruo was already tired of Wei Yi. That fellow had been chattering endlessly in his ear for two days, telling him every single strange and bizarre thing he’d experienced since he could remember.

She heard that currently he’d only gotten to age ten!

If he kept going, it would drive someone insane.

“If you don’t make him shut up, I’ll poison him mute with medicine.” Muruo’s face was livid with anger.

That finger, like it had flames shooting from it, pointed fiercely at Wei Yi in the distance, who was currently serving medicine to patients.

He seemed even busier than those young attendants, covered in sweat.

From time to time he’d comfort patients, and when he encountered children, he’d make funny faces to make them laugh.

So joyful!

Ji Yunshu couldn’t help but raise her sleeve to cover her mouth as she smiled.

Looking like she was enjoying the show, she laughed and said, “Although Wei Yi talks a lot, he also does a lot. Look, isn’t he helping you with work? And these past two days, he’s been the one warming your wine and bringing it to you. How considerate! So Young Master Muruo shouldn’t pick on his faults.”

“I really don’t understand what’s so good about this thing that made you come begging me.”

Muruo was truly irritated to pain by Wei Yi!

Ji Yunshu looked at Wei Yi bustling about in the crowd, guilt gradually appearing on her face.

She said, “Young Master Muruo, I won’t hide it from you—if it weren’t for me, Wei Yi’s parents wouldn’t have died. He wouldn’t have had to come to the capital with me, but would have stayed in Jinjiang, living the life that should have been his.”

Muruo was puzzled. “You’re saying his parents died because of you?”

“Yes!”

“What happened?”

Ji Yunshu hesitated for a moment before explaining everything to Muruo.

Hearing about that tragic incident, the disgust in Muruo’s eyes lessened somewhat.

So be it—

He poured a mouthful of wine into his mouth!

Ji Yunshu’s gaze remained fixed on Wei Yi bustling about in the distance.

She said softly.

“I hope that for his entire life, he will never know that at the time, it was actually he who saved me, causing his parents to die for me by a twist of fate.”