Everyone who saw Ji Heng for the first time would probably be captivated by his appearance. This was true for men, and even more so for women.

This unfamiliar woman stared at Ji Heng, not shifting her gaze for quite some time. Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat. Ji Heng wasn’t someone who loved joining in excitement, nor had he shown any particular fondness for Lin Yao. In such circumstances, given his usual temperament, he fundamentally wouldn’t get off the carriage. Yet now, he had voluntarily walked up before her. Jiang Li certainly wouldn’t think Ji Heng was doing this to protect her, because there was no danger here—there was only a beautiful young woman.

Wenren Yao also ran out from the carriage. Seeing that Lin Yao was safe and sound, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, muttering, “My little disciple, you nearly scared your master to death.” He turned his head and also saw this unfamiliar woman. He was stunned at first, then became delighted, smiling as he approached and said, “This young lady is beautiful and has such a chivalrous heart. This is truly rare. May I ask which household the young lady is from? Another day, I will bring gifts and visit to thank the young lady for saving my disciple’s life.”

Here he goes again.

Only then did the woman’s gaze shift from Ji Heng’s face to Wenren Yao’s. She said, “There’s no need.” But for some reason, she paused, then suddenly said, “Who are you people?”

She said “you people,” but her gaze went to Ji Heng again. Clearly, she had ulterior motives. Jiang Li had witnessed such situations many times and should have been completely indifferent, but for some reason, today discomfort gradually arose in her heart.

However, no one answered her question. Ji Heng wouldn’t voluntarily announce his identity. Wenren Yao, afraid of causing trouble, naturally wouldn’t say much. Jiang Li was a Miss of the Jiang family who had disappeared some time ago and suddenly appeared. If she revealed her whereabouts at this moment, the capital would probably have inexplicable rumors again. Therefore, all three remained silent, which seemed somewhat strange in the woman’s eyes.

Just then, another person approached. Only then did Jiang Li see clearly that the carriage had shaken violently earlier because another carriage had been traveling toward them. That carriage was very luxurious, even surpassing the one Jiang Li and the others were riding in. Probably the two carriages were traveling toward each other and couldn’t pass, so they suddenly stopped.

Someone got off that carriage, walked up to the woman, and asked, “Zhiqing, what’s wrong?”

The woman called “Zhiqing” shook her head.

Jiang Li looked at this person who had just arrived. Very strangely, this person’s features were somewhat similar to the woman’s—perhaps they had some blood relation—but their temperaments were completely different. He wore white clothing. Jiang Li had seen many men with gentle and courteous exteriors, for instance, Shen Yurun was one, as were Zhou Yanbang and Li Xian from the past. However, this man’s gentleness seemed to emanate from his very bones. His features were handsome, and within that handsomeness shone a trace of righteousness, making it very easy for people to take an immediate liking to him.

This man and woman were both stunningly beautiful, and their dress and appearance didn’t seem like ordinary people—they were somewhat excessively luxurious. Jiang Li searched through her mind but couldn’t recall such figures in the capital. If there were such figures, they should have long been the subject of much discussion and wouldn’t be completely unknown.

The man also saw Ji Heng and was momentarily stunned by Ji Heng’s appearance. He then looked at Jiang Li, and Jiang Li curved her lips, smiling at him. The man immediately returned a smile—comfortable and soothing. He said to the woman beside him, “Since nothing’s wrong, let’s go.”

The two turned and walked toward their carriage. After a few steps, the woman suddenly turned back, walked up to Wenren Yao, and said, “My name is Yin Zhiqing. If you want to express thanks… come find me at the Yin family.”

Although she was speaking to Wenren Yao, her gaze remained on Ji Heng. Ji Heng smiled broadly. The woman bit her lip before finally turning to leave.

After she left, Ji Heng said nothing and boarded the carriage himself. Jiang Li thought for a moment, then also returned to the carriage. On the carriage, Wenren Yao told Lu Ji what had happened, gesticulating as he spoke. “This young lady voluntarily told me her name. She must think well of me to take the initiative to tell me, right!”

Lu Ji rolled his eyes at him.

Without Lu Ji even speaking, Wenren Yao understood what he meant. He almost immediately deflated, saying, “I know, she was coming for A Heng…”

Jiang Li felt somewhat stifled.

That young woman called “Zhiqing”—speaking fairly, in terms of appearance, she was probably on par with Xue Fangfei of the past. There were many beautiful people, but each had their own distinctive aura. Xue Fangfei was gentle and graceful, Jiang Li was pure and lovely—this was the feeling their appearances gave people. However, this woman gave off a sense of radiant glamour. When she stood in a crowd, people would involuntarily cast their gazes toward her.

How similar this was to Ji Heng. When she and Ji Heng stood together, there was also an inexplicable compatibility.

“That woman called herself Yin Zhiqing,” Lu Ji spoke up. “In the capital, is there a prominent family surnamed Yin?”

Only then did Jiang Li remember—such outstanding men and women, yet she had never heard of a prominent family surnamed Yin in the capital. Surnamed Yin… surnamed Yin… She suddenly thought of something. Startled in her heart, she looked back and met Wenren Yao’s surprised gaze.

Wenren Yao and she had clearly thought of the same thing.

“It couldn’t be…” Jiang Li was stunned.

Ji Heng slowly curved his lips. He smiled and said, “Yin Zhan’s children have already arrived in the capital.”

…

On the streets of the capital, in a direction completely opposite to Jiang Li and the others’ carriage, another luxurious carriage was racing along.

Inside the carriage, the man and woman who had just spoken—Yin Zhiqing wore an uncertain expression, not knowing what she was thinking. After a while, she asked, “Zhili, what do you think those people just now… who were they?”

Yin Zhili shook his head and spoke gently, “That man in red clothes just now had an extraordinary bearing, looking unlike an ordinary person. Among the people Father mentioned before we left, there was no such person. I also don’t know his background.”

“In any case, he’s not an ordinary person,” Yin Zhiqing murmured. “In Yunzhong, I’ve never seen such a person.”

Yin Zhili looked at her with a smile, not speaking. Yin Zhiqing suddenly came back to her senses, noticed Yin Zhili’s smile, and pushed him, saying, “What are you smiling about?”

“That man is indeed a rare figure in this world.”

“Nonsense,” Yin Zhiqing reproached him. “I’m just curious, that’s all. Besides, I’ve never seen a man with such good looks. I used to think you were the best-looking man in the world.”

Yin Zhili was indeed very handsome. A sense of composure and gentleness emanated from his very bones. Anyone who saw him wouldn’t doubt that he was a gentle, upright, good person. In comparison, the man in red clothes just now had features that were too stunning, and his lazy, indifferent smile seemed to reveal a certain roguish ambiguity between righteousness and wickedness.

This was a man completely different from Yin Zhili, but perhaps it was precisely because of this complete difference that Yin Zhiqing paid him particular attention.

“Appearance is merely a shell,” Yin Zhili said. “It’s just that this man doesn’t seem like an ordinary person. You… should be more careful.”

Yin Zhiqing shot him a sidelong glance. With this glance, her eyes flowing, far from being intimidating, she instead revealed an indescribable charm. She said, “Of course I know. I don’t have any other thoughts—I’m just curious. Didn’t you see? That man had another woman by his side. From their appearance, they don’t seem like siblings. Perhaps she’s his… lover.”

She had originally wanted to say “wife,” but at the last moment, changed it to lover. She was referring to Jiang Li.

“That woman is also not an ordinary person,” Yin Zhili said.

“She doesn’t look particularly special. How is she not ordinary?”

“She can walk beside that man accustomed to it. From her appearance, she’s not his subordinate either. This shows her relationship with that man is quite deep. Even if she’s not his lover, she’s someone he trusts. She didn’t feel nervous or uneasy, which shows her status with that man is equal. How can you say she’s not extraordinary?” Yin Zhili answered with a smile.

He thought of the young woman standing beside the man in red. This man’s appearance was so striking that everyone around him was almost rendered invisible. Yet this young woman was not affected in the slightest. She was incredibly clean and clear. It was precisely that pure and spiritual quality that made her delicate face very vivid and particularly eye-catching.

Yin Zhili froze, suddenly realizing that he had unconsciously smiled. He couldn’t help but shake his head. That young woman appeared unremarkable at first glance, but in reality left a deep impression. Perhaps the more one lacked something, the more one yearned for it. That man carried a heavy aura of killing, yet restrained it before this young woman, showing his regard for her. And the reason he now thought of the young woman’s smile as particularly bright was precisely because it was something he lacked—genuine clarity and warmth from the heart.

He truly lacked that kind of thing.

Yin Zhiqing looked at him and said, “Don’t tell me you also…”

Yin Zhili smiled: “How could that be?”

“Then why did you just smile?” Yin Zhiqing said, but quickly cast this matter aside. She said, “However, you’ve always had your own opinions, so I won’t say anything more. Speaking of which…” She hesitated, “We’ve been to the Jiang family several times. Why does Jiang Yuanbai keep making excuses and won’t let us see that Second Miss Jiang?”

Yin Zhili’s smile paused slightly: “Perhaps she’s not at the mansion.”

“Didn’t they say she’d already been found? If she hadn’t been found, Jiang Yuanbai wouldn’t deceive us with this. Could this be his excuse because he actually doesn’t want to agree to this marriage?”

“Jiang Yuanbai is cunning and suspicious by nature, so naturally he won’t agree immediately. However, meeting once should be nothing. I just think that Second Miss Jiang may indeed have been found, but isn’t at the mansion, so Jiang Yuanbai has no way to let us see her.”

Yin Zhiqing said, “No matter what he’s planning, we must meet her. Remember, no matter what, the marriage between you and Second Miss Jiang must happen. This is Father’s instruction.”

“I know.”