Ji Yunshu pondered in silence.

Auntie Xie pursed her lips and asked tentatively, “Master Ji, is what I just told you not helpful?”

She smiled faintly, “It is useful, it’s just… I need to think it through carefully.”

“That’s good. In any case, as long as I know something, just ask and I’ll tell you everything.”

“Thank you.” She said, “It’s getting late. I’ll have someone send some food over shortly. After you eat, rest well.”

Auntie Xie sighed, her red and swollen eyes downcast, and nodded gently!

She didn’t stay long either. After offering a few more words of comfort, she left.

The next day, Auntie Xie departed from Anchang Courtyard.

From that day onward, Ji Yunshu sat in the courtyard continuously, deep in thought.

Qiao’er and Shuang’er had grown accustomed to this. Following their usual routine, they brewed a cup of hot tea and placed it by her side, then quietly departed without disturbing her.

After an unknown amount of time, from the wall that had been quiet for several days, a voice suddenly called out “Big brother.”

The voice was light but high-pitched.

Clearly, it was Little Xiyue’s voice.

Ji Yunshu snapped back to attention and turned her head to see Little Xiyue’s body perched on the wall, the corners of her mouth stretched in a clear, clean smile as she extended her hand toward her.

“Big brother, catch me.”

She walked over, caught her as she came down, and led her into the courtyard to sit.

“Why haven’t you come these past few days?”

Little Xiyue propped up her chin, puffed out her cheeks, and said, “The family’s been busy lately. A major merchant ordered quite a bit of fabric, and Father, Mother, and the workers have been rushing day and night, dyeing and drying cloth every day. So I went to help too. We only finished yesterday, which is why I came to find big brother to play today.”

“Do your parents know you came over?”

“Anyway, if I’m not sitting in the embroidery room or staying in my room, they know I’ve come to find you and won’t worry.”

“That’s good then.”

Ji Yunshu poured her a cup of water and had Qiao’er bring over some pastries.

Little Xiyue seemed to have been hungry for quite a while and grabbed several pieces of pastry to eat.

With great relish!

While eating, she said, “Big brother’s pastries are still the best.”

Ji Yunshu said, “But your mother’s pastries are also delicious.”

This wasn’t just courtesy!

Little Xiyue’s cheeks bulging full, she blinked and asked, “Big brother likes the pastries my mother makes?”

She nodded.

“Then tomorrow I’ll have Mother make some more for me to bring over.”

“No need to trouble her.”

“It’s necessary. As long as big brother likes them, Mother won’t find it troublesome.” The corners of her mouth curved upward. “Last time you came to visit our house, Father and Mother have never treated anyone so well before, and have never cared so much about anyone. Clearly, Father and Mother really like big brother.”

She lightly tapped Little Xiyue’s forehead with her finger. “You little imp! The person your parents care about and like most is you. I’m just an outsider—they’re simply being courteous with me.”

Little Xiyue raised the back of her hand to rub her forehead, not because it hurt, but rather smiling sweetly.

After she finished the pastries, Ji Yunshu had Qiao’er take her to wash her hands.

After washing, she slipped into the room and, following a familiar route, circled around to the desk. Seeing several books placed on top, she immediately became excited.

Loving to read books was a good habit!

She picked up one of the books. “Oh my, I know this one! This is Chen Xunzi’s ‘Liu Shuang’s Garden Visit.’ I read the beginning before but hastily put it down. When I wanted to read it a second time, the book had disappeared. I don’t know who took it.”

Qiao’er smiled gently. “Little Xiyue, our master has many good books here. If you like reading, come over often.”

“Mm.”

She nodded vigorously.

Flipping through the book in her hands, she grew increasingly excited.

Finally, she simply plopped down in the chair and began reading with great interest.

Qiao’er left the room and informed Ji Yunshu, “Little Xiyue is reading. It’s those few books you left on the desk, Master.”

“That girl’s love of reading isn’t something new. Let her be.”

However—

A voice suddenly came from inside the room: “Isn’t this my brother’s?”

Ji Yunshu looked toward the room, puzzled, and stepped inside.

She saw Little Xiyue standing beneath the bookshelf, holding a piece of paper in her hand. When she walked closer to look, she discovered it was the paper with the drawing of the jade pendant.

“You recognize this thing?”

“This jade pendant belongs to my brother.”

“Your brother?”

She nodded. “He often hangs it at the end of his flute. Sometimes when I want to touch it, he won’t let me.”

Eh!

Ji Yunshu was momentarily stunned.

Little Xiyue continued, “My mother specially made this for him. There’s only one in the world. He always kept it hanging on his flute, but later, I saw that the jade pendant seemed to be missing half. He said the other half broke, so he simply had a jade craftsman cut it off.” She raised the paper in her hand again. “But big brother, how do you have a drawing of this jade pendant?”

So Qiao’er hadn’t been having auditory hallucinations!

The flute music coming from next door must have been played by Little Xiyue’s brother.

Ji Yunshu didn’t answer her question but instead asked curiously, “Why didn’t I see him when I visited your house last time?”

“He hasn’t lived at home for several years now. He only comes back occasionally. I don’t know what he’s busy with either. I just heard my mother say he seems to have opened a silk shop outside.”

A silk shop?

At that moment, on another side.

After these past days of investigation, Lang Bo had thoroughly investigated the information on the four merchant households that Jingrong had given him. Now, he was delivering the materials to Jingrong.

“Your Highness, the backgrounds of those four merchant households have been clarified. Three of them show no abnormalities, but there’s something strange about the Si family’s fabric being transported to the capital.”

Jingrong’s expression turned serious as he flipped through the materials in his hands.

He learned—

It turned out to be the name of a silk shop called the Si Family Silk Shop! It had registered and opened in the very year the imperial court began distributing disaster relief silver.

Though called a silk shop, there wasn’t a single storefront visible on any street or in any household!

The silk shop was located in a courtyard of moderate size in the southern outskirts of Yufu City. There was nothing strange about it—it indeed was a fully equipped silk shop with weaving, dyeing, and finishing capabilities.

Lang Bo said, “Their silk is only transported once a year, always to the capital. The various postal stations do have records of this, but as for exactly whom it’s delivered to in the capital, that’s unknown. This subordinate sent people to stake out the entrance for several days. Just yesterday, they saw several cartloads of fabric being transported in from outside. Logically speaking, since they’re in the fabric business, they should be sending fabric out—so why would there be fabric coming in? Therefore, this subordinate snuck in last night to investigate. Your Highness, guess what this subordinate discovered?”

Guess?

Did you get your head squeezed by a door?

How dare you play guessing games with this prince!

Jingrong immediately shot him a sharp look.

Lang Bo realized he had stepped on a landmine and quickly spoke up.

“The fabric transported in was actually identical to the fabric materials from the Wen Family Embroidery Workshop.”