Ji Yinshu still couldn’t figure out at this moment exactly who wanted to see her.

And they chose such a remote place!

But she could be certain of one thing—the other party wouldn’t want her life.

And moreover, they meant her no harm!

She paused briefly where she stood, then followed those several people into the pitch-black forest before her eyes.

Once inside the forest, cold wind whistled all around, pouring into her ears like the howling of wolves, making one’s whole body bristle with fear.

Ji Yinshu felt even colder.

She couldn’t help but hug her arms tightly.

She dared not let her mind wander. Even though the other party meant her no harm, she had to remain vigilant.

Just in case!

After walking for not too long, the man carrying the lantern up ahead turned to look at her and said, “Miss Ji, don’t be afraid. We’ll arrive after walking just a bit more.”

That person had perhaps perceived her thoughts, which was why he spoke to comfort her.

Ji Yinshu nodded slightly and asked, “However, who exactly are you people? And who is your master?”

“It’s inconvenient to say much now. We’ll arrive up ahead very soon. Once Miss sees my master, you’ll naturally know.”

They just kept their mouths shut!

As if it were some tremendous secret.

Ji Yinshu couldn’t pry anything out of their mouths.

So she let it go!

She continued following them cautiously.

Before long, they arrived at a bamboo grove.

The winter bamboo rustled in the cold wind, making sounds like a rattlesnake.

Full of a sense of crisis.

And somewhat terrifying.

Yet they showed no intention of stopping, walking straight inside.

As if they’d come here many times before!

They knew the way well.

Ji Yinshu hugged her arms even tighter, her footsteps slowly advancing inward. After walking less than twenty meters, she saw a faint glimmer of light in the distance.

Under the winter night, it appeared especially warm and safe.

Could it be that the place they were going was right there?

Soon, passing through this grove, a bamboo house stood prominently before them.

Very large.

And very concealed—ordinary people would never be able to find this place.

The main door of the bamboo house was tightly closed, with several lanterns hanging outside swaying in the wind, looking lonely and desolate.

The man pushed open the door. “Miss Ji, please come inside.”

Her gaze looked toward the interior. A folding screen stood right before her.

She couldn’t see anything at all.

She walked in with an extremely confused state of mind, while those several people who had led her here waited outside.

Ji Yinshu looked around inside the house. The objects inside were all woven from bamboo, with white gauze hanging everywhere on the bamboo frames. It looked extremely leisurely and tranquil. If one lived here, it would indeed make one’s mood exceptionally pleasant.

Yet she discovered no one, nor did she notice anything unusual.

Who exactly wanted to see her?

She walked to the back of the bamboo house.

In the rear courtyard, a rockery sat in the very center, with clear water flowing over it. The clear water reflected the several lanterns in the courtyard, sparkling with light.

On the ground of the courtyard was a path paved with smooth stones.

She then continued walking along this pebble path.

As a result, she saw a pavilion!

White gauze hung around the outside of the square pavilion. The gauze swayed and fluttered gently in the cold wind. Vaguely, one could see two people sitting opposite each other inside.

She slowly approached, her feet making sounds as they stepped on the stones.

Startling the people inside.

She saw the two shadows inside rise in unison, coming out from within.

Ji Yinshu just stood in place, her curious gaze watching.

Until the gauze was slowly lifted by someone.

Only then did she see those two people clearly.

Her pupils dilated on the spot, greatly astonished.

“Third… Third Master?”

Marquis Liao’s Third Master!

Her voice was filled with disbelief.

And the person beside Third Master was actually Marquis Nanguo!

This… what was going on?

Third Master looked at the astonished Ji Yinshu, his eyes couldn’t help but moisten, and he also called out with great joy and excitement, “Yinshu.”

Ji Yinshu’s gaze lingered on the two people before her for a long while—

“Why… are you here? What exactly is going on?”

“I’ll tell you slowly!”

“Tell me? What should you tell me?” Ji Yinshu’s feet retreated several steps backward.

At this moment, no matter how slow or unclear she was, she should have thought of the mystery within all this!

Third Master and Marquis Nanguo?

Third Master and Chahe?

The Huyi civil war?

Marquis Nanguo’s younger sister?

The former Queen?

All of this—there were just too many, too many coincidences…

And Marquis Nanguo looked at Ji Yinshu with eyes full of loving kindness, sadness, guilt… and many more mixed emotions.

But more than anything else, it was longing!

He walked toward Ji Yinshu with stumbling steps, his footsteps as if treading on knife points. Each step he took pained him so much he couldn’t breathe!

Ji Yinshu stared at him.

Her heart felt as if it had knotted into a ball.

Marquis Nanguo, with reddened eyes and a choked voice, asked her, “Weren’t you looking for that person called Chahe?”

At that moment, Ji Yinshu’s nose couldn’t help but tingle with sourness!

Her throat felt as if something was strangling it, making even breathing gradually difficult.

Because she had already guessed it!

And was even more certain!

Until Marquis Nanguo said with his own mouth, “The person you’re looking for… is me!”

Ah!

Ji Yinshu stumbled backward, feeling only her head heavy and feet light.

As her body tilted to the side, a hand suddenly supported her shoulder.

Drawing her slender body into an embrace.

A familiar scent immediately rushed into her nostrils. Even without turning her head, she knew to whom this solid chest belonged.

Jingrong entered a bit later than her. Just now, he had also heard Marquis Nanguo’s words.

At this moment, he could clearly feel Ji Yinshu’s body trembling.

That kind of trembling wasn’t from fear!

But from shock!

…

City gate entrance.

Lian Que and the others watched the coffin containing Young Master Lin smoothly transported out through the city gate before they themselves departed through the city gate.

Inside the carriage.

Although they didn’t know what medicine Lian Que was selling in his gourd,

Bai Yin and Lang Bo remained extremely vigilant throughout.

All along the way, the carriage didn’t take the official road but walked small paths instead, causing it to constantly jolt and bump.

And Lian Que kept staring at Bai Yin with a certain inexplicable look.

His brows growing increasingly tight.

That kind of gaze made one’s heart feel inexplicably strange.

Finally, he directly crawled out of the carriage and sat on the driver’s board outside.

As soon as he went out,

Lang Bo leaned close to Bai Yin’s ear.

With a tone of sarcasm, he asked, “Have you noticed?”

Bai Yin lifted the curtain, looking outside at the pitch-black forest, and asked, “This is inside a mountain forest. What could I notice?”

“I’m not talking about this!”

Hm?

Bai Yin turned his head to look at him strangely, saying, “Could it be you’re talking about those assassins?”

“No!”

“Then what exactly is it? Can you just say it all at once?” Bai Yin was the person with the least patience!

Hearing Lang Bo speak in this strange manner, saying one sentence while holding back another, displeasure rose in his heart.

Lang Bo looked through the curtain toward Lian Que outside, then said, “Haven’t you noticed that from the moment we got on the carriage, that fellow has been staring at you constantly?”

Huh? Really?