The teasing had gone on long enough!

Jingrong then said, “Forget it, we’ve had our fun watching the excitement. As for what’s left, you’ll have to fend for yourself.”

He stood up and brushed off his clothes.

He pulled Ji Yinshu along and left.

After the two departed, Muruo stood rooted to the spot in a daze.

He truly didn’t understand what he was thinking. Ever since he met Tang Si, he had been constantly wavering. To be precise, he was conflicted! He knew very clearly that hidden in his heart was a woman named Kong Yu—she was his obsession, a massive boulder pressing on his chest!

No matter how much time passed, he couldn’t move it or shift it aside.

On the road back to Bamboo Stream Garden, Jingrong and Ji Yinshu rode in the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Jingrong asked her, “That Third Master knows you?”

Hmm?

She shook her head!

“Then you know him?”

She shook her head again.

She said, “Actually, I also find it very strange. When we were in the alley, his gaze toward me inexplicably carried a kind of sorrow, mixed with shock? But I don’t know him, and I’ve never been to Houliao. How could I have any connection with him?”

Very strange indeed!

Jingrong’s eyes darkened, his mind turning things over, feeling unsettled overall.

After seeing through his thoughts, Ji Yinshu placed her hand on the back of his hand, gently grasping it, and said, “Perhaps… I simply resemble one of his old acquaintances.”

“Am I being too sensitive?”

Ji Yinshu shook her head. “Of course not. I know you’re worried about me. You and I have been through so much together—it’s inevitable that you’d be alert and concerned.”

Indeed!

After experiencing so much, who would dare to “sleep soundly through the night”!

Their situation was like being in a deep, bottomless valley—the slightest rustle would make them extremely vigilant.

Jingrong nodded and pulled her into his embrace, his chin resting gently on top of her head.

“No matter what happens, I will be by your side, and no one can take you away from me.”

His voice was firm and unshakeable!

The corners of her mouth slowly spread into a smile as she burrowed even more tightly into his embrace.

Meanwhile, in Tang Father’s room.

Tang Si stood while Tang Father sat.

After a long moment—

“Look at you, of all the places you could go, you had to run to Dalin. Father has told you countless times—Dalin may have reconciled with our Houliao on the surface, but the relationship is extremely tense. If something happens to you here, no one can save you.” He scolded her.

Hearing this, Tang Si immediately spun in a circle before him and said, “Look at me—aren’t I perfectly fine? All my limbs intact, alive and well, eating delicious food and drinking heartily. I’m not lacking anything. You can rest assured.”

“You still don’t realize your mistake! I’ve been far too indulgent with you, which is why you’ve been so wild since childhood.”

“Father…”

“I think if I hadn’t come to the capital to drag you back, you’d probably stay here for the rest of your life.”

Tang Si’s words turned sweet. “How could that be! Your daughter couldn’t bear to leave forever—it’s just that I can’t bear to leave A’Mo, so that’s why…”

She put on a pitiful appearance.

Tang Father had always doted on this daughter and wouldn’t really do anything to her.

Finally, he asked seriously, “Do you truly like that boy?”

She nodded vigorously. “I really like him. Your daughter will marry no one but him!” After speaking, she rushed over and took her father’s arm. “Father, I’m serious. I really, really like him. For him, I’m willing to do anything. Please grant us your blessing.”

Tang Father was a tough man, but when his daughter acted coquettish like this, his image crumbled all at once.

But his words remained firm. “I’m telling you, if he can’t give me a reason to feel confident in entrusting you to him, everything is off the table. Tomorrow morning at first light, I’m taking you away.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely give you a very satisfactory reason!” Tang Si said with a smile.

Suddenly—

Tang Father’s expression darkened, his brows furrowing slightly as he asked, “By the way, who was that person today?”

“You mean Prince Rong? Don’t you already know he’s a prince?”

“I’m talking about that woman.”

“Oh, A’Ji!” Tang Si said. “She’s incredibly capable. She’s currently Dalin’s Director of the Bureau of Criminal Justice, specializing in investigating important cases. She’s the only female official serving in court in all of Dalin. She’s outstanding at examining corpses, brilliant at solving cases, and her research on human bones is extremely thorough. She’s incredibly intelligent—you get the feeling there’s nothing in this world she doesn’t know.”

“That impressive?”

“Of course! Father, if you personally watched her examine corpses and solve cases, you’d be even more shocked than I am.”

Tang Father’s expression grew grave, and he asked another question. “Where is she from? Where is her family? Does she have any relatives?”

Tang Si informed him, “Her family is in Jinjiang. She has relatives, but they’ve already disowned her. I don’t know the specifics.”

“What about her mother?”

“I think she’s already dead.”

“Dead?” Tang Father’s pupils dilated.

Tang Si felt strangely puzzled. “Father, what’s wrong with you?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

The next moment, Tang Si seemed to remember something, her eyes lighting up. “Oh right, Father! A’Ji has a wooden token on her. The design on it—I think I saw it when I was little. It’s vague… but I seem to remember you drawing that design.”

“What did you say?” Tang Father grabbed her arm excitedly.

“Father?”

“You said a wooden token?”

“Yes.”

“What does it look like?”

Tang Si was bewildered, stammering as she answered, “It’s a square, flat wooden token. The color is like an ink wash painting. There’s a design carved in the middle—the design looks like a character but also like a flower. I don’t know the specifics. I only remember that you seem to have drawn the design on it.”

Ah!

Tang Father’s entire body trembled!

“Father, please let go first. My arm hurts.” She struggled.

Tang Father seemed to lose his soul, slowly releasing her, just staring blankly ahead.

“What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”

“Go out.”

“Father?”

“Out.”

Tang Si could only hold her aching arm, her eyes full of confusion as she withdrew and closed the door.

Inside the room, Tang Father fell into a prolonged daze.

His fists gradually clenched tighter.

Xi’er, is that really your daughter?

…

That evening.

Muruo sat alone in the courtyard, two wine jugs beside him. He drank while mulling things over, his brow furrowed with worry.

Until someone came and bumped into him. His body stiffened, and when he turned to look, it was Tang Si.

Tang Si had just come from her father’s place. She smiled at him and sat down across from him. Without saying anything, she directly picked up one of the wine jugs from the table and poured it into her mouth.

She drank with great relish.

She even wiped her mouth with her sleeve without caring about propriety!

Looking at the unrestrained woman before him, Muruo was somewhat dazed. At this moment, he asked himself countless times in his heart: what exactly was good about this woman? She wasn’t beautiful, her behavior was unrestrained, she spoke without filter, not to mention she was always ready to fight at the drop of a hat.

What exactly was good about her?

Tang Si reached out and waved her hand in front of his eyes, asking, “Hey, did my father scare you silly?”

He came back to his senses, swallowed, averted his gaze, and picked up his wine to drink. He didn’t speak.