Li Wenshu wore plain blue-green robes and sat in the carriage.

Expressionless.

Not saying a word!

Six years of longing now dispersed like a wisp of smoke.

No longer able to stir even a ripple in her heart.

Li Cheng could only instruct those accompanying Li Wenshu to take good care of her.

Finally, he watched as the carriage gradually traveled farther and farther away…

His heart also filled with melancholy.

He mounted his horse and immediately returned to the city.

And because he had handled the case effectively, he later received a reward from the King and could be promoted to join the court.

But he still remained in charge of the entire City Administration Department!

This case that had stirred up all of Gaoding City had finally been solved. However, though the storm seemed to have calmed, it had imperceptibly begun to spread wildly again, stirring up another wave of turmoil.

The Third Prince had “righteously eliminated his kin” and had thoroughly drawn a clear line with Prime Minister Gong.

But he had also completely dissociated himself from this matter.

Prime Minister Gong, facing this double blow, took ill and couldn’t rise from bed.

Overnight his hair turned white!

As if he had aged decades.

The physician stayed through the night, remaining at his side to guard against any emergency.

And on the third day, the Gong residence hung white silk and white lanterns everywhere.

A mourning hall was set up.

Gong Shilin’s body had been wrapped in white cloth and brought back by household servants. They had already had someone sew his head and body back together, cleaned the bloodstains, changed him into clean clothes, and placed him in that coffin, displayed in the mourning hall.

White paper money was scattered throughout the residence…

Cries filled the air.

Prime Minister Gong awoke at dawn and was helped by others to the mourning hall.

He touched that coffin, crying until tears streamed down his aged face, nearly fainting again. Finally he knelt on the ground, calling out “Shilin.”

And today, the Third Prince didn’t come.

Marquis Pingyang didn’t come.

Li Cheng didn’t come either.

Not a single official from the entire court came.

How truly cold the world had become!

But Ji Yunshu came.

She held an umbrella as she walked to the entrance of the Gong residence, politely saying to the two men in mourning clothes outside: “Please announce my arrival.”

The two servants looked at each other.

“Who are you?”

“My surname is Ji. The case of Du Mubai was handled by me at the request of Lord Li from the City Administration Department.”

“It’s you! You’re the one who caused our young master’s death.” The servant immediately became agitated, his face full of fury.

The other went directly into the residence to fetch a broom.

Preparing to swing it at Ji Yunshu.

She stood calmly in place, her peaceful eyes watching the broom about to swing toward her as she said: “Even if you drive me away, the dead cannot be brought back to life!”

Seeing her so composed, the servant lowered the broom he had raised in the air rather pathetically and said through tears: “Since childhood, our young master couldn’t even bear to kill a chicken. How did he become a murderer in your hands? I think you must have made up lies and falsely accused our young master. Now that he’s dead, you still have the face to come to our door.”

Wailing cries.

Ji Yunshu understood the pain in their hearts and said: “The dead cannot be brought back to life. Please accept my condolences.”

“You leave, don’t come here, leave!”

As he spoke, he was about to reach out and push her.

But before the servant’s little finger could even touch her, a pair of powerful hands reached out from the side and seized the servant’s arm.

“Aiya” came a cry.

The servant’s brows furrowed together in pain.

“If you dare make another move, I’ll break your hand.” Jingrong threatened.

Then with a flick, he threw the servant aside.

The two servants huddled together, sizing up the newcomer: “Who are you? The residence is holding a funeral today. How can we let you cause trouble here?”

“Since you know it’s a funeral, yet you’re holding brooms to drive people away—what kind of propriety is this?”

“Uh…”

“Hurry and notify your master that someone at the gate wishes to enter and offer incense.”

The servants looked at each other.

Stunned.

Jingrong’s patience was limited: “What? Do you want us to force our way in?”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“We could try.”

“…” The servants were speechless.

Today’s situation truly wasn’t suitable for a big disturbance.

Moreover, this man was clearly a martial arts practitioner—not to be trifled with.

After considering for a moment, the servant ran inside to report.

Ji Yunshu watched the servant’s retreating back, glanced sideways at Jingrong, and said: “You frightened him.”

Jingrong raised an eyebrow: “If you took your time reasoning with him, would you be able to get in?”

“…” She admitted that sometimes force was the most direct solution.

Jingrong asked: “Should I accompany you inside, or wait outside?”

“I’ll go in by myself.”

“Mm. If anything happens, call out. I’ll hear you.”

Do you have ears that hear on the wind?

Ji Yunshu looked at him and said nothing.

Shortly after, the servant came running back.

Looking very unwilling, he said: “Come in.”

Ji Yunshu handed the umbrella in her hand to Jingrong and followed the servant into the residence alone.

Jingrong took that umbrella, and suddenly felt playful.

He opened the umbrella and stepped into the snow.

Walking toward the carriage not far away while spinning the umbrella in his hand.

Thinking: Why is this woman’s umbrella so small and delicate?

The more he played with it like this, the more intense the smile at the corners of his mouth became.

When he reached the carriage, the driver asked curiously: “Young Master Jing, what are you smiling about?”

Eh!

He immediately stopped smiling.

Closed the umbrella.

And coldly replied: “Nothing.”

Then he got into the carriage.

Inside the carriage sat another person—Li Cheng.

Seeing him enter, Li Cheng asked: “She went in?”

“Mm.”

“What if the Prime Minister detains her?”

“That old fellow wouldn’t dare.”

Li Cheng worried: “I’m just afraid of what if! I wanted to entrust Young Master Ji to go in and offer incense on my behalf, but I don’t want any other trouble to arise.”

His heart was uneasy.

But Jingrong was very reassured.

The corner of his mouth curved: “Just relax.”

Very firm.

It wasn’t that he trusted Prime Minister Gong wouldn’t make things difficult for Ji Yunshu, but because he had secretly sent his own people to quietly follow her in.

Right now, they should be following along the rooftops of the Gong residence all the way to the mourning hall with Ji Yunshu.

…

In the mourning hall, Prime Minister Gong knelt with tear-stained face, holding paper money and placing it into the fire basin.

Before Ji Yunshu even entered, she could smell the scent of incense candles and burning paper money.

Her feet reached the doorway, but she was blocked by people inside.

Completely stopping her.

She looked inside and saw Prime Minister Gong.

She understood in her heart that if the master inside didn’t allow it, even if she had entered the Gong residence, she still couldn’t enter the mourning hall to offer incense.

But at this moment, she also couldn’t force her way in.

So she stood there quietly waiting.

Until Prime Minister Gong finished burning the paper money in his hands and was helped up by those beside him.

He looked at Ji Yunshu standing outside the door. Those bloodshot eyes held not a trace of hatred. Instead, he raised his hand and waved it.

Signaling the household people to step aside.

Only then could Ji Yunshu enter. Someone handed her incense, and she bowed three times before Gong Shilin’s memorial tablet.

Then she inserted the incense into the incense burner.

Afterward, Prime Minister Gong suddenly spoke a command: “All of you, leave.”

The maids and servants inside all left one after another.