When Zhu Yao mentioned her betrothal to Li Shiyan, she felt extremely heartbroken. Her tears couldn’t stop falling the moment this topic was touched upon, rolling down like pearls on her fair face, making anyone who saw her feel pity.

Ji Yinshu had never been good at comforting people. Moreover, regarding matters between men and women, she didn’t know how to console this innocent young lady before her. Several times she wanted to say something, but always felt her words would be inappropriate, so she swallowed them back just as they reached her lips. Finally, after deliberating in her heart for a long while, she managed to say: “When things don’t go as one wishes, just strive for them with all your might.”

She didn’t know if these words counted as consolation?

Did they count as offering relief to the other party?

But the other party’s tears did stop. With eyes full of tears, she stared at her, dazed for a long time without saying a word.

Being stared at like this by her, Ji Yinshu felt a shock in her heart and asked: “Miss Zhu, were my words inappropriate?”

“No, you’re absolutely right!” Zhu Yao grabbed both her hands and said, “Miss Ji, you’re right. When things don’t go as one wishes, one needs to strive for them with all their might. No matter how my father decides, it cannot change my heart’s intention. In this life, I will marry none but the heir. No matter how difficult life becomes, I’m determined to stay with him. Wherever he goes, I’ll follow him! In any case, I absolutely cannot leave him!”

She spoke seriously and earnestly, each word carrying full emotion, so resolute, so regardless of everything.

She was quite like Ji Yinshu herself!

Zhu Yao asked her: “Miss Ji, can you understand my feelings?”

Of course she understood. That kind of unwavering devotion to love, that pledge unto death—of course she understood. Not only did she understand, it occupied all of her life. Even if like drifting yellow sand with nowhere to settle, she too would recklessly pursue the one her heart loved! Even if she drained the last drop of blood from her body, she would recklessly run to the side of the one she had pledged to protect unto death.

Seeing her eyes grow melancholy and not receiving her reply after a long while, Zhu Yao thought she didn’t understand. She sighed, and her hands naturally released their grip, saying: “I’m afraid you think I’ve gone mad, laughing at me for becoming so obsessed over a man. Yes, who could be as crazy as me? For the one my heart loves, for that fleeting glimpse back then, I’ve fallen into such infatuation. The world… will probably laugh at me.”

She grieved alone, thinking others didn’t understand her!

Ji Yinshu then grasped her trembling, cold hands and said: “No one will laugh at you. Whether it’s loving someone carefully and thoroughly, or waiting for someone long and enduringly, whether obsessed or infatuated, in the end, it’s all just one word: love. Some understand it, some don’t. But as long as you yourself understand in your heart, as long as your own heart never changes, believe that Heaven will show favor.”

She had never known she could say such words. Even though the words came from her mouth and from her heart, hearing her own words moved her deeply.

Yes, whether loving someone or waiting for someone, as long as the heart remains, why care about those illusory uncertainties?

Hearing her words, Zhu Yao felt greatly comforted in her heart. Over the years, aside from Cai’er who could say some heartfelt words, she could only bury her deepest thoughts in her heart with no one to tell, and seemingly no one willing to listen. The young ladies of noble families in the capital all kept their distance from her because of her timid nature, and because she didn’t like flattering people. Whenever they met, they spoke to her with sharp, harsh words, determined to humiliate her completely before they would stop.

This time coming to Ning’an Manor, meeting this girl called Ji Yinshu, she finally found someone she could talk to. What was even better was that the other party understood her innermost thoughts, which made her trust Ji Yinshu even more.

“Miss Ji, I love hearing what you say. You’re the only one willing to listen to me talk!” Her tears fell again, sticking to her fair face, moist and scalding hot.

Seeing that the handkerchief at her side was already wet, Ji Yinshu took out one of her own new handkerchiefs and tucked it into her hand, letting her wipe the tears from her face clean.

“Thank you, Miss Ji.”

“Now don’t worry too much. Nothing has been verified yet. Now that day has broken, I believe the people from the Court of Judicial Review are re-collecting evidence. Once evidence is found, the heir can be cleared. Believe that the one you deeply love will surely not disappoint you. He will stand before everyone safe and sound, innocent and clear.” Ji Yinshu’s comforting words also carried several traces of firm determination, serious and earnest.

Hearing this, Zhu Yao felt even more reassured in her heart. She nodded heavily and said: “Yes, you’re absolutely right. He is definitely innocent and clear. I believe in him. He saved my life twice. How could such a person kill someone? Even if others don’t believe him, I believe in him.”

Ji Yinshu picked up her words: “And you believe in him too.”

Hearing these words from her, Zhu Yao’s face, which had just been crying so despondently, suddenly bloomed with smiles. Holding Ji Yinshu’s hand, she became even more affectionate. She liked Ji Yinshu, liked this girl. She felt she was not only beautiful but also had a good heart. Not only that, she was completely different from those women with sharp, bitter tongues—she was a truly good person.

Her heart finally felt much more comfortable, so she didn’t continue disturbing Ji Yinshu. “Then I won’t disturb you anymore. I’ll go back to my room. If you have anything you need, just come find me. Whatever is in your heart, just tell me. I’ll definitely keep it secret for you and tell no one.”

“Good!” Ji Yinshu agreed.

Just as Zhu Yao was stepping out, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask: “Oh, by the way, Miss Ji, where do you live? When we return to the capital, I’ll come find you. When we have free time, we can talk.”

Whether she would return to the capital was uncertain. Perhaps after finding Jingrong, she would forcibly drag him back to Dalin. But seeing the sincere eyes of the girl before her, she really couldn’t pour cold water on her, so she smiled gracefully: “I’m not from the capital. I was just passing through here. I was fortunate to make General Wen’s acquaintance, so he brought me along. When the day comes to return, I’ll tell you where I live.”

“General Wen treats you so well. He’s handsome and graceful, and I’ve heard my father say he’s deeply valued by His Majesty at court and has an immeasurable future. Miss Ji and General Wen are truly a match of talent and beauty. Anyone who sees you thinks so.”

This matchmaking came too suddenly!

And too inexplicably!

Ji Yinshu was too lazy to explain everything. She just smiled and said nothing. Just as Zhu Yao was about to leave, she stepped forward and pulled her back. Her eyes turned slightly, those two beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly, then she grasped Zhu Yao’s hand. Her expression was serious, yet she said something rather strange: “Miss Zhu, if I truly do have something I need your help with later, would you be willing?”

Zhu Yao almost nodded without even thinking: “Of course. You’ve helped me repeatedly and comforted me with kind words several times, letting my heart feel at ease. In my eyes, you’re like my own older sister. If you need help with anything, I’m naturally willing—you only need to ask.”

She made such a promise, which showed she truly took Ji Yinshu to heart.

Having received such words from her, Ji Yinshu felt relieved.

However—

Zhu Yao asked: “What do you want me to help you with?”

She was just seeking Zhu Yao’s thoughts first. Right now, that evidence hadn’t been completely collected yet to prove Li Shiyan was innocent, so she couldn’t say now. She replied: “I’ll tell you later. Right now… there’s no rush.”

Zhu Yao didn’t press to the bottom of it. She just repeatedly expressed her willingness to help Ji Yinshu, then returned to her own room.

Ji Yinshu then closed the door and took out the three pieces of physical evidence she had found.

One was that silver needle.

One was the blood-colored mark reflected on the artificial mountain.

And the last one was the black granules stuck to the corpse.

She analyzed them one by one. That silver thread was perhaps a thread hooked from clothing. Based on the softness and luster of the silver thread, it was clearly silk thread pulled from brocade. Those who could afford to wear brocade were obviously not ordinary folk but wealthy people. However, all the people who came to the manor this time were wealthy and noble—any one of them could afford clothes made of brocade. Therefore, this silver thread could only be used for investigation and elimination, not as evidence to identify the murderer.

As for that blood-colored mark, it looked like the pattern left by a jade pendant that had gotten blood on it and pressed against the artificial mountain. But jade pendants are flat and smooth while artificial mountains are uneven and irregular. If it were the pattern of a jade pendant, when pressed against the artificial mountain, the blood-colored mark wouldn’t be so complete and wouldn’t rise and fall with the contours of the artificial mountain. So…