“Lichuan, I’ve also said that if you want to leave, I won’t stop you. All your decisions are in your own hands; no one can interfere with them.”

He had been saying this for three years!

It had never changed!

But back then, if not for him, Jingrong might have already died. So for these three years, Jingrong had never left, but instead remained by his side to serve him.

After a short while—

Jingrong said, “Alright, I understand!”

Su Ziluo didn’t continue this topic either.

Afterward, Jingrong resumed his usual tone and informed him, “That Miss Ji is currently investigating the heir apparent’s case in secret. Last night, she even went to the artificial mountain to look for evidence. She was almost discovered at the time, but I stepped in to help, which got her out of the predicament. So now… what are your thoughts?”

“Then let her investigate. I believe with her help, she should be able to clear the heir apparent’s name.”

“Since you don’t know her, why do you trust her so much?”

“Having one more person help the heir apparent is a good thing.” Su Ziluo said this, and as he spoke, his gaze lingered on the view outside the window for a long time. He instructed, “You go and secretly protect her until she finds the evidence.”

“Even if you hadn’t said so, I would still protect her well.” Jingrong said firmly.

Throughout their conversation, Jingrong never managed to discern anything from Su Ziluo’s expression.

It seemed… he truly didn’t recognize Ji Yunshu!

After Jingrong left, the door closed once more!

Su Ziluo sat by the window for a very long time…

A green leaf from outside drifted in, landing precisely on the windowsill before him. When the wind blew again, the leaf fell onto his lap. He reached out and picked it up, slowly twirled it a few times between his fingertips, then placed it back on the windowsill. His hands clenched tightly into fists on his lap as he closed his eyes.

This day was bound to come eventually!

After an unknown amount of time, Qi’er came in and reported what she had investigated: “Young Master, this servant has already looked into it. It turns out that two days ago, Young Master Zhao asked the estate’s physician for medicated ointment to disinfect and reduce swelling, and moreover, these past two days he hasn’t eaten any meat or fish at all.”

Hearing this, Su Ziluo opened his eyes. After a long silence, he said, “Find a way to discreetly inform a young lady named Ji Yunshu about this matter. Don’t make it public, and don’t be too deliberate. Handle it quietly.”

Qi’er was stunned, “Ji Yunshu? Young Master, who is she?”

After a long while—

“An old acquaintance!” Su Ziluo said this.

He casually waved his hand, sending Qi’er off to carry out the task!

Su Ziluo then shut himself in his room.

He would see no one!

…

After Ji Yunshu returned to her room, she sat there in a daze the whole time. That thread in her heart remained tangled, unable to be unwound for a long time…

She had no mind to organize those clues either!

By now it was already noon. People from the estate came to deliver food to the young ladies in the courtyard. Each portion was the same, but because Ji Yunshu had previously claimed she had developed a rash and couldn’t eat oily or meat-based dishes, what was prepared for her was relatively light fare.

As the maid came in to set down the meal, she stared at Ji Yunshu’s face and said, “Miss Ji, I can see your face has improved considerably. How about I prepare some appetizing dishes for you?”

“No need!”

“Speaking of which, it’s rather amusing. Miss, your face developed a rash so you can’t eat meat or fish, but Young Master Zhao somehow also asked us to only prepare non-meat dishes for him. Yet I don’t see anything wrong with his face. Moreover, Young Master Zhao usually enjoys fine wine and meat, but since coming to our estate he’s changed his diet. It’s truly puzzling!” the maid said.

Ji Yunshu hadn’t noticed anything yet and merely took it as hearing about something odd. She casually asked, “Who is Young Master Zhao?”

“He’s the son of the Governor-General of Jiangguang, and he’s on very good terms with the heir apparent. Just this morning he even brought wine to the heir apparent!”

“Is that so?”

“Of course! Anyone who can associate with the heir apparent isn’t ordinary. Yet Young Master Zhao doesn’t seem to have any issues.”

“Then perhaps… he’s ill.”

The maid frowned, as if thinking of something, and said, “Now that you mention it, it does seem that way. I inadvertently heard Young Master Zhao ask the physician for medicine to disinfect and reduce swelling. Also, I’ve noticed he always clutches his arm. Perhaps… something really is wrong with his body, which is why he only eats vegetarian food.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yunshu’s brow furrowed. She confirmed, “You’re saying Young Master Zhao asked the physician for medicine to disinfect and reduce swelling?”

“Yes!”

“Did he tell you anything?”

“No. When this servant asked, he said nothing and just told this servant to prepare vegetarian meals for him, and forbade this servant from asking further questions.”

How strange!

If something really was wrong with his body, why be so secretive about it?

However, Ji Yunshu couldn’t openly inquire too clearly, so she let it go and requested, “Miss, I trouble you to help me. Go to General Wen’s place and tell someone named Luo Yang that I have something for him, so please ask him to come here.”

“Yes!”

After that maid left—

Something happened outside. She could only hear someone throwing things into the courtyard, creating a clattering noise.

Ji Yunshu’s door wasn’t closed, so she saw another porcelain bowl shatter in the spacious courtyard with a “crash,” followed by a voice: “Just how long are they going to keep us locked up here? Why can other people leave but we can’t?”

It was Qiu Shu!

She rushed out of her room door, about to leave. The maid beside her grabbed her and tried to persuade her, “Miss, the people from the Court of Judicial Review are guarding the cliff and won’t allow anyone to leave.”

“What do you mean won’t allow us to leave? I think they’re clearly trying to imprison us. Why can all the court officials who came to celebrate the birthday leave, but we can’t?”

“Those officials have urgent matters to attend to in court, which is why they were allowed to leave. We cannot go.”

“This young lady doesn’t care. I really can’t stand staying here anymore. Being cooped up like this every day is so annoying I could die.”

“Miss…”

“Get out of the way, don’t block me.” Qiu Shu tried to leave.

But the little maid blocked her way, saying all sorts of placating words.

The entire courtyard became lively. How could these refined young ladies from good families bear being “locked up” and “watched” like this? If they were in the capital of Yanjing, they would have long found various amusements to pass the time. Now being shut in here, they all felt more or less uncomfortable, but everyone kept it inside and didn’t speak up. Only Qiu Shu spoke out first, and once she made a fuss, she created such a huge commotion that even people from the Court of Judicial Review outside and the estate’s servants came in.

Everyone was trying to calm the situation!

Ji Yunshu’s ears were irritated by the noise. Just as she was about to close her door, Qiu Shu noticed her.

She wasn’t wearing her veil, so the moment Qiu Shu saw her, she froze. Then, just as Ji Yunshu was about to close the door, Qiu Shu rushed forward and pressed her hand against the door. Through the gap, a pair of fierce eyes stared coldly at her as she said, “Who would have thought you were such a beauty! What are you pretending for, wearing that veil?”

Her tone carried a trace of jealousy.

Clearly, she wanted to vent the frustration from being unable to leave onto Ji Yunshu.

Ji Yunshu’s gaze was indifferent. She had no desire to get entangled with her and said, “Does Miss Qiu have some business with me?”

“Nothing much. I just wanted to ask you—now that we’re all locked up here, everyone’s uncomfortable, yet you seem quite content! You don’t seem to care at all about whether we can leave or not!”

“Then what do you think I should do to show I care?”

Seeing her hand still holding the doorframe, Qiu Shu reached out to push the door open, but to her surprise, her strength was no match for Ji Yunshu’s. The doorframe remained firmly in Ji Yunshu’s grasp.

Ji Yunshu told her, “Miss Qiu, a murder case has occurred in this estate. Until it’s been thoroughly investigated, each of us here is a potential suspect, which is why the Court of Judicial Review won’t let us leave. That being the case, why not stay here peacefully? Once the case is solved, we can leave sooner. But if you make such a fuss and delay the Court of Judicial Review’s investigation, I’m afraid we’ll have to stay here several more days.”

“You’re quite eloquent. This young lady just can’t stand your cold and aloof manner. Just looking at you is irritating!”

“Your irritation is your own problem. But if you want to vent all your anger on me, I advise you to abandon that notion immediately.”

“And what if I don’t?”

Before Ji Yunshu could respond, Luo Yang’s voice came from behind her: “If you don’t abandon that notion, I’ll make you taste my fist!”