Wiping and wiping…

She suddenly stopped.

Her eyes tightened.

The Ox-Ghost mask in her hand had gotten wet, and the thick paint on it had dissolved somewhat during her wiping. However…

The paint on this mask seemed somewhat different from the paint on that Snake-Ghost mask.

While cleaning her soaked clothing, Zhulan asked in confusion, “Miss Ji? Did I break this mask?”

“No.”

“Then…”

“Zhulan, go get me a small knife.”

“Ah?”

“Quickly.”

“Oh.” Zhulan hurried to find a small carving knife.

Ji Yunshu used the knife to scrape off some dried, hardened paint from both the Ox-Ghost mask and the Snake-Ghost mask separately, then placed them into two cups of scalding hot water, adding two spoonfuls of salt and a few drops of white wine, slowly mixing them.

Fortunately, ancient paints weren’t acrylic—adding salt and white wine could completely dissolve them in water.

After all the paint had dissolved completely.

One cup had fine floating particles on the color.

The other cup had color that spread out like oil, relatively viscous.

She had painted for years, and since she formulated her own painting pigments, she naturally had the ability to distinguish them.

Ancient pigments generally came from two sources.

One was minerals!

The other was plants!

Mineral pigments were crushed and ground, and when they met water, there would be fine particles on top. Plant pigments, after being crushed to extract juice, would be relatively viscous.

“So that’s how it is.” She was both surprised and delighted.

Zhulan asked, “Miss Ji? What are you doing?”

Extremely curious.

But Ji Yunshu strode out the door and called out “Ziran” in the courtyard.

Shi Ziran?

Hadn’t he disappeared for several days already?

Suddenly, a stone was thrown down from the rooftop above, landing precisely on a leaf in the courtyard.

Then a figure descended from the eaves.

Shi Ziran held a sword in both hands, a blade of grass between his teeth, leaning casually against a large pillar in the corridor.

Full of roguish air!

Ever since Shi Zijin died, he had become Ji Yunshu’s “shadow guard,” but he was quite incompetent at it, often nowhere to be found. Just now Ji Yunshu had tried her luck by calling out, and actually managed to summon him.

He asked, “What do you want me to help you with?”

Ji Yunshu walked toward him.

“I need you to help me investigate…”

…

The next day, the Commerce Festival.

The Imperial Palace.

Wei Yi had already changed into civilian clothes, preparing to leave the palace.

Dressed in a plain long robe, his hair bound in a high topknot adorned with silver clasps, two gray-white hair ribbons flowing down—he cut a graceful figure.

Liu Xi, the eunuch who served him personally, worried at his side, “Your Majesty, in this servant’s opinion, it would be better not to leave the palace today.”

“Why?”

“There are too many people outside the palace today. What if…”

Wei Yi interrupted him, “I will bring Guard Gao and some shadow guards along when leaving the palace. Moreover, Jingrong will accompany me then. Nothing will happen.”

Liu Xi opened his mouth, seeming to want to say more, but the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

He continued arranging Wei Yi’s attire.

When the Hour of the Rooster arrived, they left the palace.

Wei Yi wore civilian clothes, but his noble bearing couldn’t be hidden. He looked like a young master from a wealthy family, with several guards following him and shadow guards protecting him along the way.

The weather in early September was extraordinarily hot, and it grew dark very slowly! The entire capital was already bustling with voices and activity, crowds flowing like tides. Everyone wore smiling faces. The streets and alleys were decorated with lanterns and colors. Along both sides of the passages, dazzling arrays of merchandise were already laid out—all varieties and types, too numerous to count—truly dazzling to the eyes, impossible to take in all at once. The calls of merchants and vendors on the streets were incessant. The aromas of various delicacies from all directions assaulted the nose, making mouths water and leaving endless aftertastes. Moreover, various performances had already begun—clowns juggling balls, acrobatic flips, human pyramids, and so on—a spectacular array.

Looking out, the entire capital seemed to be devoured by flowing streams of molten fire, flames brilliant and dazzling.

Wei Yi didn’t go directly to Prince Rong’s Manor but casually entered a restaurant with his people.

“Several honored guests, please come in.” A server enthusiastically came forward to greet them.

Guard Gao blocked the server in front of Wei Yi, his expression serious as he asked, “Are there private rooms upstairs?”

“Unfortunately not. However, there’s an excellent window seat upstairs. How about…”

Before he finished speaking, Guard Gao pulled out an ingot of silver.

And asked again, “Are there private rooms or not?”

The server was dumbfounded, stunned for a moment.

The restaurant’s manager suddenly came over bowing, receiving the silver ingot with both hands, eyes shining, hastily saying, “Yes, yes, the Tianzi private room on the second floor happens to be available. Honored guests, please go upstairs.” Then he nudged the server, instructing, “Quickly take the customers up.”

The server led Wei Yi and the others upstairs. After entering the Tianzi room, he immediately went back down and ran to the manager who was calculating accounts behind the counter, saying, “Manager, hasn’t the Tianzi room already been reserved?”

The manager used the silver ingot he’d just received to heavily knock him on the head, scolding, “We’re in business. How can we not make money when silver is offered?”

“But the person who reserved the Tianzi room is Minister Shen!”

“Look at you—you’ve followed me for so long and you’re still blockheaded, don’t know how to be flexible.”

“Then what should we do?”

“You go to the Shen residence right now. Find any excuse—say… the Tianzi room’s roof has problems, or any other reason will do.”

“Ah…”

“Ah what? Hurry up and go.” The manager’s face darkened.

“Okay, okay.” The server shrank his head back, put down his things, and was just preparing to go to the Shen family.

But who would have known—before he could leave, the Shen family’s carriage had already arrived at the door.

Minister Shen dismounted from his horse first, followed by his son Shen Changqin.

“Minister… Shen?” The server was somewhat flustered.

While entering, Minister Shen asked, “Is everything arranged upstairs?”

“Well… Minister Shen, what a coincidence. The Tianzi room upstairs has had some roof collapse these past two days, so…”

“Collapsed?” Minister Shen’s steps halted, his expression darkening.

“Yes… yes.” The server was anxious.

Seeing this, the manager quickly came over and said, “Minister Shen, we’re truly sorry. The small shop’s Tianzi room has developed some problems.”

Minister Shen glanced upstairs and continued walking up, saying as he went, “Then just find any room.”

“Minister… Shen, this…” The manager couldn’t even stop him.

Minister Shen and Shen Changqin, along with their servants, had already gone up.

But who would have known—the Tianzi room’s door was tightly shut, with four people holding long swords standing outside.

Minister Shen immediately understood. He confronted the manager who had chased after them, demanding, “How do you explain this?”

His voice was very loud!

“We… this…” The manager stammered.

“Those in business value credibility. I think… you might as well close this restaurant.”

“Sir, please calm down. It’s my fault, it’s my fault. You…”

“Creak.” The door of the Tianzi room opened.

One person came out.

Both Minister Shen and Shen Changqin recognized him.

Guard Gao?