Ji Li’s face was ferocious!

He walked two steps closer to Su Ziluo and said, “You and my dear sister—aren’t you perfectly matched and know each other’s hearts? Could you not know that those skillful hands of hers aren’t only used for touching the dead, but are also greatly useful on the living?”

His tone carried undisguisable mockery!

Ji Yinshu was excellent at painting—disguising someone’s face was no difficult matter for her!

The next moment, Su Ziluo smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth. Of course he knew!

He merely said indifferently, “Interesting!”

Yes, extremely interesting. After all his calculations, he had unexpectedly been a step slower than Ji Yinshu, and he had jumped into this whirlpool himself.

Ji Yinshu on the side quietly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, enduring the pain in her heart as she took a step forward.

She explained to Su Ziluo, “The person who died in the prison was merely a death row prisoner who had committed a grave crime. By coincidence, his build was very similar to Chief Minister Ji’s, and even his voice was somewhat similar. Before your plan was implemented, the Ministry of Justice’s prison had already switched the dragon with the phoenix. However, you were simply a step too slow.”

When she finished speaking, Ji Li quickly took over.

“Fortunately, I have great luck and a clever, clear-headed dear sister.” His sinister appearance was fully displayed.

Dear sister?

These words sounded truly nauseating.

However, Ji Yinshu truly deserved that word “dear”—after all, Ji Li’s survival was her merit.

Su Ziluo exhaled, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Yes, at least now I understand clearly, knowing where I lost. This Dalin truly produces talented people in abundance!”

He didn’t forget to praise them.

Ji Li said, “Ji Pei, your scheme has been seen through. Since His Majesty has promised to let you return safely, I won’t kill you today. But if one day we meet on the battlefield in the future, I will show no mercy.”

“That day will come!”

Su Ziluo said with slightly narrowed eyes.

Because Ji Yinshu and Su Ziluo’s personalities were too similar—when encountering matters, bland and calm.

Even someone as composed as Ji Li, seeing his faint, peaceful appearance, couldn’t help but feel anxious inside.

Yet he could only grip the sword in his hand tightly, restraining his killing intent.

Ji Yinshu turned her gaze to look at Ji Li and said, “I wonder if Chief Minister Ji could withdraw for a moment?”

“Of course. You two haven’t seen each other in two years—you certainly have endless things to say.”

How magnanimous!

Ji Li then led his subordinates to a distance of over ten meters away.

Everyone turned their backs!

Only then did Ji Yinshu call out to Su Ziluo, “Ji Pei…”

“Still, call me Master Su.”

He interrupted her words.

This sentence seemed to pull the distance between the two farther and farther apart!

Somewhat unfamiliar now.

Ji Yinshu’s eyes reddened as she nodded as if in a trance. “Tomorrow when Master Su leaves the capital to return to Qujiang, you must be careful on the road. I… I’m afraid I cannot see you off.”

“Yes!”

Indifferently.

“If there’s a chance in the future, I will definitely take Master Su to the great grasslands to the north. I’ve heard that there,布蘭 flowers bloom day and night, and there are the fiercest wild horses and flocks of sheep. Continuing north, there’s a great snow mountain, and at the mountain peak, there’s a small temple. The locals say the Bodhisattva in that temple is very efficacious. In the future, we must go there once…”

Her voice grew softer and softer, her eyes redder and redder!

Her body trembled slightly, swaying as if about to fall!

Su Ziluo listened carefully to her words, as if envisioning that day, images continuously flashing through his mind.

Increasingly clear!

Finally, the two smiled at each other!

As if the soft spot between them had been pulled out from their hearts.

One with two years of waiting!

One with two years of longing!

Both were released.

After a long while, Su Ziluo took out the tasseled pendant from his sleeve and handed it to her.

And said, “This thing was given to me by my father. You keep it.”

Ji Yinshu reached out to receive it, also taking out her own, tying the two tasseled pendants together.

Then—

She crouched down and tied the pendant to Su Ziluo’s waist.

“I think if your father has a spirit in heaven, he certainly hopes you can let go of hatred and live well. And this tasseled pendant was left to you by your father—wear it well.”

The pendant was already secured!

Just as she was about to stand, both her hands were grasped by Su Ziluo. A cold sensation transmitted from Su Ziluo’s palms to her fingertips.

Just like in the past, his hands were still colder than hers.

The two looked at each other like this, neither speaking.

Until—

Time passed bit by bit.

Ji Li came with his men and separated them.

Guards pushed Su Ziluo away from the tower, with Ji Li carrying his sword, walking ahead with steps cold as frost.

From beginning to end, Su Ziluo never looked back at her once.

“Ji Pei, farewell.”

Her voice was faint!

Suddenly, a figure jumped to her side.

It was Lie’er.

He stood five meters away from her. The faint moonlight was barely able to illuminate Lie’er’s appearance.

“You’re Master Su’s person?”

He nodded!

Then he raised his hand, making several gestures in the air.

Ji Yinshu couldn’t understand.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re saying?”

Lie’er wouldn’t give up and gestured several more times, but Ji Yinshu still didn’t understand. Lie’er grew anxious, walking several steps toward her, his face full of urgency. One could see he very much wanted to say something but couldn’t speak.

“Ah, ah, ah!” several times.

Even though Ji Yinshu tried hard to watch his gestures, she still didn’t understand.

Lie’er deflated, lowering his head. He glanced down from the tower—the dozens of torches were already gradually moving away.

He paced two steps, then with a leap, disappeared.

Probably, he went to chase after Su Ziluo.

Ji Yinshu stood there dazedly, watching those dots of firelight slowly, gradually disappear from her line of sight.

Only then did she descend the tower!

Below, a lantern remained!

She held it in her hand and walked back to Prince Rong’s estate. Her mood upon leaving and returning was not quite the same—now, she felt inexplicably relaxed.

The feeling of a stone falling to the ground!

How wonderful!

Just arriving at the entrance of Prince Rong’s estate, she saw Jingrong waiting.

Upon seeing him, Ji Yinshu couldn’t help but recall the words Su Ziluo had just said.

Had someone truly already taken residence in her heart?

Was it… Jingrong?

Thinking of this, she didn’t dare look directly into Jingrong’s eyes.

Instead, she turned aside, wanting to go around him and enter.

But her arm was grasped by Jingrong, fixed in place. Her body shuddered, and the lantern in her hand nearly fell to the ground.

The cold wind blew rustling!

The swaying, wavering light made one’s eyes feel somewhat dizzy.

Jingrong’s face was grave. “How was it? Have you both said everything you needed to say, wanted to say?”

She asked, “Your Highness actually knew he was Ji Pei, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” He was honest.

Ji Yinshu’s brow furrowed. She didn’t speak.

After a long while, Jingrong asked with tense expression, “Do you know or not what the consequences of making a deal with my imperial father will be? Have you thought about it?”