A sentence flowed from those pale lips.

Jingrong’s chest trembled. Casting aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind, he looked at her with curious eyes, planning to continue listening!

Ji Yinshu’s hands clenched tightly within her sleeves, her tone slightly soft, her face carrying reminiscence.

“I remember the first time I saw Ji Pei—he stood behind my second brother, wearing a gray-collared robe washed until it was faded and white. He kept his head lowered, not daring to look at anyone. He remembered nothing. Second Brother gave him a name—Ji Pei, the ‘Pei’ of dividing in the third month. From that time on, he became an adopted son of the Ji estate.”

As she spoke, the corners of her lips, like a light thread, slightly curved upward.

“I don’t know why, but he always liked to follow by my side. And I slowly grew accustomed to his presence. He was very intelligent, as if he knew everything. He taught me to compose poetry, taught me to write characters. And whatever I wanted, he would risk his life to obtain it for me. Those three years always passed so quickly. I will never forget that winter year when he stood beneath the plum blossom tree, holding a plum branch in his hand, looking at me with those beautiful eyes, smiling tenderly. Ji Pei like that seemed as if he would melt with the lightest touch. He said that when he returned victorious in armor, he would marry me as his wife.”

These two years, she had never spoken to anyone about Ji Pei.

That man lived in her heart.

And she seemed just like the Ji family members.

That name—she couldn’t mention it! Didn’t dare mention it!

Jingrong’s slightly changing expression seemed to grow more dejected as the curve at the corner of her lips grew stronger.

At this moment, Ji Yinshu withdrew her gaze from the fine rain and let it fall once more on the corner eaves.

Hatred suddenly rose in her eyes. “But on that very evening, my father, with that rattan horse whip of his, viciously gave Ji Pei thirty lashes, saying he corrupted family morals by wanting to marry his own sister as his wife. Those thirty lashes—not one missed—fell upon his back. He collapsed in a pool of blood, looking at me with those bloodshot eyes, filled with remorse. He feared his promise couldn’t be fulfilled. He feared leaving me alone. But until the moment he closed his eyes, I could only watch helplessly as he was carried out. I struggled desperately but was held firmly by countless hands.”

“Until the next day, I went to the mass grave and turned over every single corpse, but ultimately couldn’t find Ji Pei. I firmly believe he’s still alive. He will fulfill his promise to me. He will definitely return victorious in armor and marry me as his wife.”

In the eyes of the Ji family, Ji Pei was already dead.

But Ji Yinshu didn’t believe it. She firmly believed he would return. The two-year promise—she wouldn’t give up until the very last moment!

Jingrong remained silent, still looking at her.

Watching her eyes gradually redden, her neck tensing, biting her lips hard, then turning her head back to look at Luan’er lying in that shabby coffin.

Her tone guilty. “It’s my fault that Luan’er died. If I hadn’t stubbornly kept that promise, I would have already left the Ji estate with Luan’er. Today, she wouldn’t be lying in that cold coffin.”

Tears overflowed from her eyes, sorrowful and self-blaming.

“It’s not your fault.” Jingrong spoke.

He walked two steps closer to her, extended both arms, and gathered her trembling body into his embrace, gently stroking her thin back.

She didn’t push him away. That bit of warmth in his embrace seemed to thoroughly warm her ice-cold body.

“If all matters could be predicted early, would there still be the pain of separation?”

Jingrong’s words slowly lingered in her ears.

This man, when serious, spoke words that carried a philosophical flavor!

After a long while…

Ji Yinshu forcefully held back her tears, withdrew from Jingrong’s embrace, lowered her head, and between her brows carried a trace of resolve.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “Right now, the most important thing is to investigate the true culprit who poisoned Uncle Wei and Aunt Wei.”

Jingrong nodded. “If Luan’er is innocent, then you’re still a suspect. This case must indeed be investigated quickly.”

These words were undoubtedly a wake-up call!

Ji Yinshu’s expression grew grave. “I need to go to the Wei estate right away. Perhaps I can find something. But I’m worried the Wei estate’s people simply won’t let me enter.”

Jingrong’s brows pressed together.

He said hurriedly, “This prince has already been there. The things you might need, I’ve already found for you.”

“What?”

“Come with me.”

He had already taken her hand and quickly left Yi Zhuang, bringing her to Guangqu Courtyard.

He took out a handkerchief, a wine pot, and two cups!

Explaining one by one, “Wrapped in the handkerchief is a tiny wood shaving found in that poisoned cup of tea. This teapot and two cups were used by the Wei family elders on the night of the banquet, but they’ve already been washed clean. I don’t know if they can still be used?”

Ji Yinshu had already opened the handkerchief. Inside was a wood shaving so small that without careful examination, it couldn’t be seen at all.

“Do you have scale powder?” she asked.

Jingrong immediately called out toward the door. A guard entered, and he ordered, “Bring some scale powder immediately.”

The guard received the order. In just a short while, he brought the item.

Ji Yinshu rubbed a tiny bit of scale powder between her fingertips and sprinkled it on the wood shaving.

Instantly, the wood shaving turned black.

“This wood shaving is poisonous.” She drew her conclusion, then fell into deep thought. “But what is this wood shaving?”

She raised the handkerchief toward her nose and smelled it. Though the wood shaving was small, Ji Yinshu still detected a faint wine scent emanating from it.

Jingrong asked her, “How is it?”

She put down the handkerchief, her brows deeply furrowed. “This wood shaving not only has toxic poison but also a wine scent. But… what is this thing?”

Can’t figure it out?

Turning instead, she picked up the wine pot at hand, preparing to sprinkle scale powder into it.

Jingrong asked her, “This thing has already been cleaned. Can you still test it?”

“As long as toxic poison has touched a place, if it’s not washed with white sugar water, it won’t be cleaned properly.”

As she spoke, the wine pot sprinkled with scale powder showed no abnormality.

Using the same method, she also sprinkled scale powder into the two wine cups. The inside of the cups actually turned black.

This completely confused Ji Yinshu.

She murmured softly, “How could this be?”

Jingrong also felt it strange. “There’s no poison in the wine pot, but only in the two wine cups. Could it be that someone added poison to the cups while pouring the wine?”

The analysis wasn’t without possibility!

Ji Yinshu nodded, pondering carefully. “Then at that time, who was the one pouring wine for those two?”

“If you want to know, let’s go to the Wei estate now.”

“Now?”

Would the Wei family people let her enter?

Probably knowing Ji Yinshu’s concerns, Jingrong said directly, “Don’t worry. You and I will enter openly and honorably. Naturally, no one will dare to stop you.”

Yes, he was a prince!

A Buddha!

And a Buddha of the highest rank.

With one command from him, he could even revive the dead. A single Wei estate—he could enter walking sideways.