Jingrong, holding onto the last shred of his goodwill, still chose to spare Jing Yi!

He would not place him in a position of certain death.

However, he truly could not guarantee whether this would be his last act of mercy.

Ji Yunshu understood Jingrong’s helplessness. As a member of the imperial family, from the moment of his birth he was destined to navigate the struggles for imperial power. It was as if an invisible thread slowly drew him into that abyss of dire straits.

Endless torment!

And she had hoped he would stay far from the court, to become a carefree and unrestrained prince.

But reality proved that all beautiful aspirations could not be placed upon a prince.

Because factional strife had never ceased!

She knew all of this.

She gazed for a long time at Jingrong’s sincere and profound eyes.

Parting her lips, “Go do what you must do.”

“Yunshu…”

“I’ve said before, the story of dragon sons competing for succession has always proven true. I don’t believe in heaven, nor do I believe in gods, but I believe in fate. Being born into the imperial family is your fate, one you cannot escape no matter what. Prince Yi’s temperament ultimately cannot make him an emperor, nor can he become a talent capable of ruling the realm. As you said, if he ascends the throne as emperor, those who will suffer are the ministers in court who exhaust themselves in service and the common people of the realm. And my desperate attempts to pull you away from court affairs are actually harming you. You’ve long had plans in your heart—why make yourself so conflicted just to accommodate me? You want to avenge the Crown Prince, and you want to seek justice for Kong Yu becoming a chess piece. The hatred in your heart is no less than those who were wrongfully imprisoned. Prince Yi shows no fraternal affection, repeatedly trying to harm you. Now even Wei Yi has been implicated. You said you wouldn’t let me get involved in court matters, so then, what reason do I have to stop you?”

She had no reason!

Under their mutual gaze, Jingrong was astonished!

All along, he had only dipped one foot into factional strife. Now Ji Yunshu’s words were like a pair of hands pushing him from behind.

Pushing him directly into the factional struggle.

Ji Yunshu continued, “Before leaving the capital, you said that once the throne falls into the hands of whoever should possess it, whether we wander freely under the heavens or ride horses at sunset, you would accompany me. Is that right?”

“That is my promise to you.”

“Good, then go do what you should do as a prince. When you’re done, come and fulfill your promise to me.” She spoke earnestly.

In that moment, Jingrong couldn’t say he was moved—rather, a surge of responsibility welled up in his heart.

He nodded firmly!

Suddenly—

“Your Highness.”

Lang Bo rushed in through the rain, standing at the doorway. He vigorously shook his shoulders a few times, and rainwater flew from his hair and clothes like scattered petals splashing onto the surroundings.

A few drops splashed onto Ji Yunshu’s forehead. The ice-cold rainwater seemed to seep into her skin, spreading bit by bit along her flesh until her entire body felt cold.

She couldn’t help but shiver!

Seeing this, Jingrong immediately stepped in front of her, his expression cold as he questioned Lang Bo, “What is it?”

Lang Bo first deliberately glanced at Ji Yunshu, then lowered his voice to reply, “Your Highness, Miss Mujin… she’s come again, saying she brought some cold-dispelling tea. Your Highness, should I…”

His words were cut off!

“Handle it yourself. This prince does not wish to see her.”

Direct and clear!

Lang Bo said, “But these past two days, Miss Mujin has been pestering me constantly. Your Highness, if this continues, I can’t take it anymore.”

Does this prince care about you!

Jingrong cast him a cold glance.

Without mercy, he said, “If you cannot stop her and let her step one foot into this courtyard, this prince will truly have you dismembered.”

“Your Highness…”

“Leave.”

A sharp rebuke!

Lang Bo’s tough face looked extremely aggrieved.

He wasn’t some scholar, nor did he have any learning—he was just a rough man who wielded swords and blades. But these past two days, facing that Miss Mujin, listening to her recite poetry and philosophy, his ears had grown calloused.

He was simply going mad.

No, he was going insane!

Several times, he wanted nothing more than to draw his sword and end it all.

But Jingrong was his master, and he could not disobey his master’s orders.

So—

He could only go stop that Miss Mujin. But then he cried out “Aiya!” and slapped his palm forcefully against his forehead.

He quickly said to Ji Yunshu, “Oh right, Master Ji, look at my brain. Just now when I was coming over, Young Master Mo asked me to tell you that Young Master Wei has awakened and wants you to hurry over.”

“Wei Yi is awake?” Ji Yunshu’s eyes lit up.

“Yes, that’s what Young Master Mo said.”

The corners of her lips curved into a smile. She rushed directly out the door, grabbed an umbrella leaning against a pillar outside, opened it, and dashed into the rain toward Wei Yi’s room.

Seeing this, Jingrong also took an umbrella and followed.

Lang Bo was stunned for a moment, then immediately followed as well.

Rounding a corridor, Ji Yunshu had just closed her umbrella when she collided directly with someone.

“Ah!”

That person’s steps faltered, their body tilting backward, completely losing balance as they fell to the ground.

“Bang!”

This was accompanied by the tremendous sound of porcelain hitting the ground.

Ji Yunshu was also frightened. The umbrella in her hand fell to the ground, and she didn’t know what had splashed onto her clothes—something sticky that gave off a faint jasmine fragrance.

She looked carefully and saw Miss Mujin sitting rather disheveled on the ground. Beside her hand was a porcelain jar shattered to pieces.

“Miss Mujin?”

Astonished!

She quickly bent down to help her up, saying, “I apologize, I didn’t mean to.”

Mujin rubbed her aching shoulder while standing up from the ground, her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows knitting in pain.

Breathing slightly heavily, she said, “It’s fine.”

“Are you hurt from the fall?”

“Master Ji need not apologize. I was the one walking too hastily.” She smiled.

Then, noticing the stain on Ji Yunshu’s robe, she quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe it, saying, “I’ve soiled Master Ji’s clothes. I’m truly sorry.”

Ji Yunshu stepped back one pace.

“It doesn’t matter.” She pointed at the spilled item on the ground. “What is this? It’s very fragrant, like the scent of jasmine.”

Mujin looked regretfully at the broken porcelain jar on the ground. “This is jasmine water I brewed, with some white sugar added. It can dispel cold. I was going to bring it to His Highness.”

“Oh.”

The corners of Ji Yunshu’s mouth twitched.

Just then, Jingrong and Lang Bo had already arrived.

Seeing the scene before them, both were momentarily stunned.

What had happened here?

Upon seeing Jingrong appear, Mujin stepped forward several paces, curtsied in greeting, and though she maintained the demeanor of a gentle maiden, there was distinctly a feeling of a hungry wolf pouncing on food.

“Is Your Highness’s injury better?” she asked.

Jingrong’s face remained coldly somber, and he did not respond, only looking at the shattered porcelain pieces all over the ground.

Mujin was a perceptive person. Catching his gaze, her lips immediately parted slightly, “It’s all my fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going and accidentally bumped into Master Ji, even dirtying her clothes.”

Clearly, it was Ji Yunshu who had been running too fast and collided with her, but she had turned it around, placing a tall hat on the former’s head.

However, Ji Yunshu dared not wear this hat!

Jingrong was not interested in this topic. His eyes shifted as he said to Ji Yunshu, “You go ahead first.”

She patted the dampened area on her clothes, nodded, and left.

After she departed, Jingrong instructed Lang Bo beside him, “Properly attend to Miss Mujin.”

“Yes!”

He acknowledged.

As he was about to leave, Mujin grabbed his arm.

“Your Highness.”

She called out!

Those warm, water-like eyes carried a trace of longing.

Longing for Jingrong to stay!