Qinglu Mountain wasn’t high, and Lin Hao had good eyesight. Looking down at the official road from halfway up the mountain, she could still recognize familiar people.

Lin Hao watched as Qi Shuo dismounted, picked up the bamboo hat and put it back on properly, then rode forward.

The rain seemed to have grown heavier again, like pearls striking the umbrella surface with pattering sounds, splashing up threads of coolness.

Prince Jing’s Heir was weak and frequently ill—what urgent matter required him to travel in the rain?

Lin Hao felt puzzled, still gazing in the direction where Qi Shuo’s back had disappeared.

“Miss, please return inside. Be careful not to catch cold.” Baozhu walked over.

Lin Hao held her umbrella and walked toward the room.

Lin Shi was eating snacks. Seeing Lin Hao close her umbrella and enter, she beckoned her over to sit. “If you want to know something, just send a maid out to inquire. It’s quite cold outside.”

The corner of Lin Hao’s mouth twitched slightly.

Lin Shi glanced at the doorway. “I wonder if they’ve caught that criminal yet.”

Originally she would have just left, but to avoid Prince Wei by staying an extra day, she couldn’t help but become concerned about this matter.

Lin Shi had a straightforward temperament. Once a thought arose, she immediately gave orders. “Fangfei, arrange for someone to investigate. Report back immediately if there’s any movement.”

Fangfei received the command and left, leaving the mother and two daughters to chat idly.

Outside it was raining, but inside the room it was warm and cozy. Eating tea snacks to pass the time was most pleasant.

In the blink of an eye, the sky had darkened.

Fangfei came in, bringing news. “Prince Jing’s Heir has come to Qinglu Temple.”

Lin Hao’s eyebrows moved slightly.

Prince Jing’s Heir had passed by Qinglu Mountain, then returned?

Lin Shi didn’t know about Qi Shuo passing by Qinglu Mountain. She said in shock, “Prince Jing’s Heir came to offer incense in the rain?”

It wasn’t that she was overthinking it, but could it be he heard that Ah Hao was here?

First Prince Wei, now Prince Jing’s Heir—Lin Shi suddenly felt very troubled.

“Go inquire which guest room Prince Jing’s Heir is staying in.”

Before long, Fangfei returned from inquiring. “Prince Jing’s Heir is staying in the guest room Prince Wei previously occupied.”

Lin Shi fell silent.

After quite a while, she waved her hand. “Tell everyone who came with us to be alert. We’ll return to the mansion first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Yes.” Fangfei withdrew.

Lin Shi picked up her teacup and took a sip, her tone carrying slight dissatisfaction. “Prince Jing’s Heir going out of the city to offer incense in heavy rain—I wonder if Princess Consort Jing knows?”

Such a worrying child.

Lin Hao and Lin Chan exchanged glances, both feeling their mother had some inexplicable attention toward and resistance against Prince Jing’s Heir.

When neither daughter responded, Lin Shi changed the subject. The mother and two daughters ate the vegetarian meal together, then each washed up and rested.

There was still a little time before sleep. Lin Hao leaned against the headboard, flipping through a story book Baozhu had brought from home to pass the time.

Suddenly, noisy sounds came from outside.

Lin Hao put on her outer garment and pushed open the door.

Lin Shi and Lin Chan had also heard the commotion and come out.

The mother and daughters walked to the railing and looked out, seeing lantern lights swaying at the foot of the mountain with a crowd of people gathering.

The sounds were coming from there.

“They must have found the criminal.” Lin Shi looked down at the foot of the mountain and said with certainty.

Called a criminal, but actually also a pitiful person.

Lin Shi leaned on the railing and sighed.

One after another, pilgrims hearing the commotion came out. Lin Hao saw Qi Shuo.

The two made eye contact for an instant, then Qi Shuo strode over.

“Madam Lin, I didn’t expect you to be here as well.” Qi Shuo greeted them politely.

Lin Shi smiled reservedly. “It is quite a coincidence.”

“I wonder what has happened at the foot of the mountain?” Qi Shuo looked toward the mountain base, very naturally starting a conversation.

“The Heir just arrived and probably doesn’t know yet. Yesterday an incident occurred at Qinglu Temple…”

Silently listening to her mother explain things to Prince Jing’s Heir, Lin Hao wanted to roll her eyes.

When Prince Jing’s Heir came up the mountain, he must have seen the yamen runners guarding the road. She didn’t believe for a moment he knew nothing about it.

At the foot of the mountain, the line of torches gradually moved upward, reaching halfway up the mountain.

“Chan’er, Ah Hao, you two wait here. Mother will go take a look.”

Lin Chan said helplessly, “Mother, let’s go together.”

Lin Shi glanced at Qi Shuo from the corner of her eye and nodded. “Alright, let’s go look together.”

Qi Shuo smiled and walked behind the mother and two daughters.

Hearing the commotion, Marchioness Wuning rushed over. “Have they found the beast who harmed my daughter?”

Originally she had planned to bring her daughter back to the mansion this afternoon, but just as they descended the mountain, it started raining, so they helplessly returned.

Marchioness Wuning felt this trip to Qinglu Temple had been thoroughly unlucky.

Constable Liu’s expression was grave. “We haven’t discovered any trace of the criminal yet.”

“Then what are you all—”

Constable Liu stepped aside, and two yamen runners set down the rack they were carrying.

Lying on the rack was a middle-aged man wearing a green wide-sleeved robe.

Marchioness Wuning stepped forward for a closer look, then suddenly her pupils contracted and she retreated repeatedly.

It was clearly a corpse!

The middle-aged man’s eyes were slightly open, his face still bearing an expression of terror and confusion along with dried bloodstains.

The onlookers, like Marchioness Wuning, discovered the middle-aged man was already dead and immediately began buzzing with discussion.

“Another one has died!”

“How did this person die?”

Constable Liu said to Marchioness Wuning, “This person was discovered in the weeds beside the official road heading north, his throat slit.”

Marchioness Wuning’s voice trembled. “Was it that beast who did this?”

Wei’er’s maid Qinghong had also had her throat slit.

Constable Liu nodded slightly. “From current appearances, it’s possible that when Ah Hu was escaping, he was encountered by this person, so he killed to silence him.”

“Are you saying that beast escaped?” Marchioness Wuning’s tone was somewhat agitated.

Constable Liu’s expression was somewhat embarrassed. “Marchioness, don’t be anxious. Our people have already gone north to investigate.”

Marchioness Wuning grew angry. “Don’t be anxious, don’t be anxious—all you ever say is don’t be anxious. So many people searching again and again, guarding the exits, yet you still let a small cloth shop assistant escape. I really don’t know what you’re all good for!”

Listening to Marchioness Wuning’s scolding, Constable Liu didn’t make a sound.

People like them—ordinarily commoners would call them Officer when they met, but before people like Marchioness Wuning, they were nothing at all.

Taking a scolding was nothing. Losing their livelihood afterward would be truly miserable.

After Marchioness Wuning vented for a while, she no longer wanted to stay. “I hope tomorrow I can await good news from Constable Liu.”

Once Marchioness Wuning left, the discussion grew louder—some speaking of the criminal’s brutality, others speculating about the victim’s identity.

Constable Liu signaled his subordinates to carry away the corpse, feeling a great headache.

Looking at this person’s circumstances, he was clearly an outsider heading to the capital. Determining his identity would probably be difficult.

Lin Hao’s gaze followed the corpse being carried away. She didn’t even hear Lin Shi calling her.

“Ah Hao.” Lin Shi reached out and patted Lin Hao’s arm.

Lin Hao came back to her senses, her voice somewhat floating. “Mother?”

Lin Shi looked at her daughter’s dazed appearance with some worry. “Ah Hao, were you frightened?”

She had been negligent, always thinking her two daughters were like her and unafraid of such things.

Looking again at Lin Chan’s composed expression, Lin Shi felt somewhat bewildered.

She didn’t know when this mistaken impression had formed—she always felt her younger daughter was braver than her elder daughter.

“Let’s return to our room. First thing tomorrow morning, we’ll hurry down the mountain too.”

One death per day—no young lady wouldn’t be afraid.

Lin Shi pulled Lin Hao’s hand and walked back. Lin Hao turned her head and stared fixedly at Qi Shuo.