Jingrong sent Ji Yunshu back to the courtyard.

It was already deep into the night, with cold wind blowing.

A’Jiao and A’Yi had originally already gone to rest, but suddenly thinking that the night was cold, they wanted to add more charcoal to the brazier in the room to prevent Ji Yunshu from getting cold while sleeping.

But as soon as they entered the room, they discovered Ji Yunshu wasn’t there!

The bed hadn’t even been touched.

The two of them immediately became frantic!

They quickly sent people to search the entire residence inside and out, almost to the point of going to find people from the Jing Zhaoyin’s office.

And it just so happened that at this time, Su Ziluo had entered the palace and hadn’t returned yet. They were even more at a loss about what to do. If they lost Ji Yunshu again, they feared Su Ziluo would truly slaughter them alive.

Thinking of this made them even more anxious!

Just as they were about to leave the residence to search, they saw Jingrong carrying the already-sleeping Ji Yunshu back.

Everyone’s suspended hearts finally settled.

“This…” A’Jiao was dumbstruck. Just as she was about to say something—

Jingrong gave her a look and made a “shh” gesture, telling them not to wake the woman on his back.

Then he carried Ji Yunshu into the room.

A’Jiao and A’Yi didn’t understand what was happening and exchanged glances.

What was this situation?

Also, hadn’t Lichuan disappeared? When did he appear?

And he appeared together with Ji Yunshu!

Their minds were confused, but they hurriedly followed inside, helping Jingrong gently lay the already-asleep Ji Yunshu onto the bed.

Jingrong stood beside the bed, looking at Ji Yunshu’s flushed cheeks in the bedding. His cold eyes carried a trace of tenderness, rippling in his eye sockets like warm water.

When he became aware of this expression that had inadvertently revealed itself, he immediately withdrew it. His expression turned cold, his fists clenched tight, his heartbeat inexplicably quickening considerably. He secretly drew in a breath and prepared to leave. But just as he turned around, Ji Yunshu suddenly grabbed his hand.

Warmth transmitted from her fingertips!

He looked back to see Ji Yunshu still sleeping, her head rubbing against the pillow as she murmured softly, “Don’t go.”

He didn’t know if she was doing it deliberately?

Or if she was truly in a dream?

Jingrong could clearly feel how tight her grip was on his fingers!

A’Yi saw this situation before her, looking completely bewildered. She swallowed and asked in a small voice, “What exactly is going on?”

As soon as these words were asked, Jingrong’s expression turned stern. He forcibly pulled his hand free, turned around, and left.

Not saying a single word!

Therefore, A’Yi was even more confused. After tucking in the quilt for Ji Yunshu, she turned to ask A’Jiao, “Do you think… just now…”

A’Jiao always spoke her mind directly, saying, “Just now you also saw—it was Lichuan who brought Miss Ji back!”

“But how did they… end up together?”

“How would I know?”

“…” A’Yi glanced toward the door.

A’Jiao suddenly frowned and said, “Miss Ji belongs to our young master. We can’t let Lichuan get ahead of him.”

“What do you want to do?”

“What do you think!” A’Jiao said. “We need to be on guard. In the future, the young lady will marry our young master and become our mistress.”

Saying this, she couldn’t help but feel cheerful.

A’Yi expressed: “…”

Outside, after Jingrong left the room, he departed directly from the courtyard, completely failing to notice Su Ziluo staring at him from the corridor.

On his way back from the palace, Su Ziluo had heard that Ji Yunshu had disappeared and anxiously rushed back. But unexpectedly, just as he entered the residence, he heard that Jingrong had carried Ji Yunshu back from outside—he didn’t know where they’d gone. He knew Ji Yunshu’s heart held only Jingrong, and he also knew Jingrong’s heart held only Ji Yunshu. Therefore, he was just an outsider.

An outsider who could never again enter Ji Yunshu’s heart!

During this time, he had restrained the surging emotions in his heart countless times, but as it turned out… some things couldn’t be reasoned with oneself, nor could they be restrained.

He understood his own heart clearly!

Even after so many years, she still remained in his heart.

It’s just that some things, once past, were ultimately past!

Qi’er walked over from a distance and said, “Young Master, Miss Ji should be fine now. You just returned—why not go rest early.”

He said nothing and pushed his wheelchair away himself.

Qi’er quickly lent a hand, pushing him back to his room.

This night, the cold and the darkness descended together, as if the entire capital of Yanjing had become a giant ice cellar.

Ji Yunshu slept very comfortably this night, but Jingrong didn’t sleep at all. He stood in the pavilion in the back courtyard of the Su residence, his gaze falling on the moon, not knowing what he was thinking.

He spent the entire night like this!

**The Next Day**

Early in the morning, Wen Cong took a horse carriage to the place Ji Yunshu had mentioned—Cuiyue Pavilion.

Wen Cong had never been to this place, but he had heard of it. It was said that in those years, this place had been bustling with visitors, but now the main gate was tightly closed, appearing somewhat desolate.

The coachman helped Wen Cong down from the carriage and asked, “Second Master, why did you come to this kind of place so early in the morning?”

Everyone knew Wen Cong was a leisurely gentleman, not that type of vulgar person. He was only interested in fine wine, good food, and strange curiosities, completely uninterested in beauties and romantic affairs. Moreover, at his current age, he only wanted to live freely—where would he have the interest… to busy himself with such matters?

He glanced at the coachman and said, “Don’t talk too much. Take the horse to the back and wait for me. I’ll come out shortly after going in.”

The coachman nodded and led the horse away.

Wen Cong walked to the entrance and knocked several times. After quite a while, he finally heard movement from inside. The door opened in response, and a young maid poked her head out. Her obsidian eyes looked Wen Cong up and down several times before asking, “Who are you? Who are you looking for?”

“Looking for Hong Niang, the person in charge of Cuiyue Pavilion.”

“Looking for Hong Niang?” Most people who came here were looking for Miss Huazheng. Very few came looking for Hong Niang. The maid gave him a few more looks and asked warily, “What do you want with Hong Niang?”

Wen Cong didn’t like to waste words, nor did he want to beat around the bush. He said directly, “I’ve come to treat Miss Huazheng’s illness. If you don’t invite me in now, I’ll leave immediately. Even if you want to invite me again, I won’t come.”

He flicked his sleeve.

Hearing him say this, the maid froze for two seconds before immediately opening the door wide, her attitude changing drastically: “Then… please come in. I’ll go notify Hong Niang.”

Wen Cong stepped through the door. The maid led him to the hall and served tea. “Please sit. I’ll go call Hong Niang right away.”

“Mm!” Wen Cong looked around. The courtyard was very large, but the furnishings were quite simple, as if they hadn’t been properly maintained for a long time.

In those years, how many sons of wealthy families had broken their heads trying to squeeze in here. Now it had the feeling that when people leave, the tea grows cold.

He looked at the tea beside him, opened the tea lid to look, and saw two tea leaves floating inside. He frowned, covered the lid, and ultimately didn’t take a single sip.

After a while, a voice came from the distance, “Someone came? Really came?”

Hong Niang’s voice was quite shrill, making it sound grating to the ears.