He truly didn’t know!

Right now, he was still hesitating and struggling, or more accurately, conflicted.

If he reported this matter to the court, it involved the Duke Yuguo’s household, a hundred thousand troops, and was connected to Wei Yi, and even connected to Ji Yunshu.

When that time came, the court would certainly dispatch troops, and then there would be rivers of blood and the capital stained with blood.

Who would want to see such a scene?

Muruo had been by his side for many years and had grown up together with him, so naturally he knew his concerns.

Abandoning his previously lazy posture, Muruo said, “I know what you’re thinking. It’s inevitable to have concerns on both sides. On one hand, as an imperial prince, your duty is to protect Great Lin, and you should rightfully report to the court. On the other hand, there are the lives and safety of the common people—countless deaths and injuries at that time would ultimately not be what you want to see. Both sides involve much, and no matter who it is, they would have misgivings.”

Jingrong looked at him. “Then what do you think?”

“Me?” He pointed at himself with his finger.

But he was also troubled. First, he wasn’t connected to this matter in any way. Second, he had never been interested in court affairs. Asking him—wasn’t that like playing a lute to a cow?

Simply ridiculous!

He himself also smiled.

Rising and walking before Jingrong, he reached out and patted his shoulder, saying earnestly, “If I were you, I’d do nothing, and then… wait.”

“Wait?” Jingrong was bewildered.

“That’s right, just wait.” Muruo said, “Generally speaking, this is the best way to solve a problem. Wait. Wait for someone to tell you what to do. Wait for the optimal moment to do the most accurate thing.”

With this explanation, even though Jingrong was extremely clever, he was still confused by his words.

“Get to the point.” Jingrong’s tone became heavier.

Muruo let out a long sigh and said, “You asked me what you should do. I’m telling you now—wait.”

Unclear!

Incomprehensible!

Jingrong shot him a glance. Right now he was conflicted beyond measure, and this fellow was giving him this nonsense.

Wait for what!

Yet in his heart, he seemed to understand something.

No longer pondering, he summoned Lang Bo, glanced outside, then asked, “Where is Mr. Ji?”

“He just went out.”

“Where to?”

Lang Bo pursed his lips and cautiously uttered two words: “The prison.”

“The prison?” Jingrong’s expression immediately darkened. That woman truly had grown bold—going to the prison during this sensitive time.

Just as he was about to get angry, Shi Ziran came running over and quickly said, “Your Highness, Mr. Ji has returned. After going to the prison, he went to the government office and brought back that little girl. Now he’s returned to his own courtyard.”

Hearing this, without another word, Jingrong strode off.

In the Luo Courtyard!

Xiao Xiyue sat there pursing her lips, her large eyes staring at the plate of appetizing pastries before her.

Qiao’er took out a piece and pressed it into her palm, saying, “Xiao Xiyue, don’t you love eating these? Eat more. If it’s not enough, I’ll get you more.”

But—

The small hands pushed the plate of pastries aside. Looking up with watery eyes, her crimson little lips pressed together several times.

With a pleading gaze, “Sister Qiao’er, can you please tell my brother? I want to go see my father and mother. I want to be with them, and I also want to go find my brother. I don’t know if they’re alright now.”

“This…” Isn’t this making things difficult for people?

Qiao’er couldn’t bear to see people cry, especially this delicate and adorable little one before her, with tears welling up in those big eyes, glimmering with crystalline light.

It made one’s heart ache.

Qiao’er reached out to tousle her hair, comforting her in a soft voice, “Xiao Xiyue, this matter… I can’t make decisions about either. Your parents made mistakes and are now locked in prison. Even if Mr. Ji were here, he probably couldn’t help you.”

“Why?”

“This…”

She was stumped again.

Xiao Xiyue simply grabbed her hand and shook it back and forth, desperately pleading, “Please just tell my brother. My father and mother aren’t bad people. They didn’t want to take your lives, really!”

Suddenly—

A sharp voice came from outside the courtyard.

“Your parents led troops in rebellion, stole disaster relief silver, and killed so many officials who came to the Imperial Prefecture to investigate the case. These crimes are enough to make them die a thousand times over, yet you still say they didn’t want to take lives? Does everyone think we’re all blind?”

Uh!

The one speaking was Tang Si.

As she wound the silver whip in her hand, she walked in.

Through those fierce eyes, she directed all the anger from when Zuo Yao had bound her earlier onto Xiao Xiyue.

Xiao Xiyue and she were natural enemies to begin with. Every time they met, her face would be pinched red by her. Now that she was saying her parents deserved to die, how could she stand it?

So from that small body, a burst of strength suddenly erupted. She shot to her feet, a short and slender finger pointing fiercely at Tang Si.

“You’re lying! My father and mother would never kill people, would never steal disaster relief silver. You’re framing them.” Her tone was full of hostility.

“Framing?” Tang Si sneered. “I say, Xiao Xiyue, everyone says you recognized a thousand characters at age three and can recite ancient books backwards and forwards, yet you have such a stubborn little brain. You clearly saw with your own eyes your mother leading people to capture us, and you clearly know your father sent people to surround the Si family estate, wanting to catch Prince Rong and the others in one sweep. You know all this—why pretend to be foolish?”

Yes!

She knew all of it.

She knew more clearly than anyone.

But—

“But they’re still my family.” Xiao Xiyue’s voice was no longer as high-pitched as before, but rather soft and choked with sobbing.

Xiao Xiyue sat back down limply.

Tang Si watched as that little head slowly drooped down, and immediately felt somewhat unable to bear it.

She also realized her tone just now was indeed a bit too harsh. No matter what, this matter had nothing to do with the child.

She really wanted to slap herself right now!

She quickly said, “Little girl, don’t be sad. What I just said has nothing to do with you. You know I speak directly and love stating the facts. My tone just now wasn’t good—don’t take it to heart.”

No response.

“Little girl, I really…”

Before she finished speaking—

“Ahem, ahem!”

Ji Yunshu, emerging from the room, coughed lightly a few times. She had heard Tang Si’s words just now. Her eyes deepened as she glanced worriedly at Xiao Xiyue sitting there lost and sad, then turned to glare fiercely at the thoughtless Tang Si.

Then she pulled her aside.

Reminding her, “Can’t you just not say those things? This matter has nothing to do with her.”

“I know…”

“Also, during this time, she’ll be living here, so when you speak, you still need to be more careful.”

“Ah?” Tang Si cried out in surprise, then immediately covered her mouth, swallowed her saliva, and looked at Ji Yunshu with a face full of shock and curiosity. “That little girl is going to live here? You mean to say you’re going to raise her? You want to be her mother!”

Bah!

Girl, can you say something normal?