This news came as too much of a shock.

Tang Si didn’t snap out of it for quite a while.

Muruo reminded her, “You must keep this matter confidential for now. Don’t tell anyone, and especially don’t tell Jingrong. During this time, I’ll do my best to find a solution.”

“I know.”

Tang Si kept her mouth shut.

She wouldn’t say anything even if it killed her.

That night, after Jingrong changed Ji Yunshu’s clothes, he also washed up himself, then sat by the bedside watching over Ji Yunshu, never leaving her side.

The next day.

A letter was delivered from Yu Prefecture.

It was sent by Fu Bo from the Wei family.

“This is for Master Ji. It was delivered directly to Yu Prefecture, but Zuo Yao knew we had already left, so he immediately dispatched someone to deliver the letter here.”

Jingrong received the letter, glanced at the unconscious Ji Yunshu on the bed, then left the room before opening it.

The letter stated that Wei Yi had disappeared.

It detailed in full what had happened that night!

Wei Yi disappeared?

There were still bloodstains on the windowsill.

In an instant, the letter in his hand was crumpled into a ball. His fist tightened, then slammed hard onto the table.

“Wei Yi has disappeared.”

Lang Bo was shocked. “Young Master Wei disappeared? What happened?”

Jingrong handed him the letter.

He took it and looked. After smoothing out the crumpled letter, he learned it was from Fu Bo saying Wei Yi had disappeared, and described the scene he had witnessed in the room that night in the letter.

In meticulous detail.

Lang Bo’s heart trembled. Worriedly, he said, “Your Highness, Young Master Wei won’t be in danger, will he?”

“He won’t be in danger.”

Certain.

“Does Your Highness know who took Young Master Wei?”

“Who else could it be?” Jingrong’s eyes darkened. “Father Emperor issued an imperial edict summoning this prince to the capital. Jing Yi knows the situation is turning against him, so he’ll do everything possible to prevent this prince from returning to the capital. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so many assassins last night.”

Oh!

Lang Bo understood. Suddenly realizing, he said, “Your Highness means Young Master Wei was captured by Prince Yi.”

He nodded.

It must be!

No need to even think about it.

In this world, there was probably nothing Prince Jing Yi wouldn’t do.

To achieve his goals, Jing Yi would stop at nothing. What if…

Lang Bo quickly said, “If he really was captured by Prince Yi, then isn’t Young Master Wei in grave danger? Prince Yi’s methods are cruel. Young Master Wei doesn’t know martial arts, and his mind isn’t particularly sharp either. This…”

After all, he and Wei Yi had slept together twice. Even without feelings, they had some friendship. Hearing Wei Yi had been captured, how could he not be nervous?

That young fellow was actually quite adorable.

He quite liked him too!

But compared to his worry, Jingrong remained very calm and maintained a different perspective.

He said, “Wei Yi won’t be in danger! Because right now he’s temporarily a chess piece for Jing Yi. Only by keeping him alive can he threaten this prince. This is Jing Yi’s last resort.”

Last resort!

That’s right—using Wei Yi as a hostage to prevent him from entering the capital was indeed a last resort, something that wouldn’t be used unless absolutely necessary.

“Your Highness, why don’t I send people back to the capital first, or notify Lu Jiang to have him go rescue Young Master Wei? That would also buy us time. If he’s not in Prince Yi’s hands, we can quickly change direction.”

Not a bad plan!

Jingrong agreed and nodded. “Go ahead. No matter what, we must find Wei Yi and bring him back safe and sound.”

“Yes.”

“However, we cannot let Master Ji know about this matter.”

“Yes.”

“Go.”

Lang Bo hurried off to handle it.

Jingrong returned to the room just as Ji Yunshu was waking up. Her head was foggy and dizzy, her pallid face still showing no trace of color.

She coughed several times.

“You’re awake?” Jingrong was delighted. He rushed to the bedside and tightly grasped her hand. “Is there anywhere uncomfortable? Does your back still hurt? Tell this prince.”

She weakly lifted her eyelids to look at the man before her, feeling as if she had walked through the gates of death and been dragged back.

Her dry, pale lips managed to say, “I’m fine.”

“Do you know how worried this prince was?” His eyes glistened with tears.

She reached out and touched Jingrong’s weathered face covered in stubble.

With a slight smile, she said, “You said you would take me to the great grasslands, to the snowy mountains. I haven’t been yet. Even if I’m to die, it should be after visiting all these places.”

“Don’t say such things.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “Yunshu, this prince will never let go of your hand again, will never let you be hurt again.”

She smiled gently. “You know what? I just had a dream.”

“What dream?”

“I dreamed I was in a very, very dark place. There was nothing around me. Suddenly, I saw a beam of light. All around were demons and monsters. The King of Hell sat upon his great hall. Someone was pulling me step by step toward the gates of the underworld. But then someone grabbed my hand. I looked back and saw you. He was holding me, not letting me go, almost ready to overturn the entire Hall of Yama. So in the end, the King of Hell released me, fearing you really would overturn the underworld. He said he would never dare take me again.”

“Silly fool.”

He brushed away the stray strands of hair that had fallen across her forehead.

“No matter what happens, this prince will hold your hand tightly and absolutely never let go.”

She smiled and nodded gently.

Afterward, Muruo came to check her pulse and said, “There’s no major problem now. Just rest well. For the next few days, let’s stay at this inn.”

She quickly said, “No need. I understand my own injury. You don’t need to delay the journey for me. I can travel.”

Jingrong objected. “No. No matter how important something is, it’s not as important as you. You don’t need to think so much. Rest here peacefully. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll set out again.”

She knew she couldn’t win against him and felt somewhat guilty.

Because of her injury, she was dragging down everyone’s schedule. She felt truly apologetic.

So everyone stayed there for several days.

Ji Yunshu’s condition kept improving. Because Muruo’s medicine was truly excellent, her wounds gradually healed as well.

Sigh—

Thinking about it, it was quite pitiful. Every time she suffered, it was her back.

This day, Tang Si bounced into her room.

“A’Ji.” She called out as if discovering a new continent, then came closer with a mischievous giggle. “A’Ji, I want to ask you something.”

“What?”

“I want to see your chest.”

Pfft—

Ji Yunshu nearly spat blood. She felt Tang Si’s forehead with the back of her hand and said, “You’re not sick!”

Tang Si leaned back, pouted her lips, and stared with those very round eyes, saying, “Stop hiding it from me. That day when you were injured, I saw it.”

“Saw what?”

“Your chest!” She even pointed with her finger. “I saw it with my own eyes.”

Ji Yunshu’s expression stiffened.

Tang Si continued leaning forward, squinting her eyes with an exceedingly strange smile. “I never expected you’d actually be a woman.”

As if she’d discovered some enormous secret!

Giggling away.

She had held back for several days before coming to ask.