Jingrong draped the cloak over her and stood beside her, grasping her cold hand.

Ji Yinshu’s body warmed.

At this moment, she felt supremely happy.

Jingrong asked her, “What are you thinking about?”

At this question, she seemed somewhat slow to respond.

Silent for quite a while.

She shook her head slightly. “I don’t know either.”

She truly didn’t know.

She had simply become entranced watching the snowflakes.

Jingrong smiled at her answer.

His smile was extraordinarily beautiful!

Even more beautiful than the snow-filled sky.

For a moment, Ji Yinshu’s gaze locked on him, unable to look away.

Meeting her beautiful eyes, Jingrong asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

She smiled but said nothing.

Continuing to stare at him.

At this moment—

A figure came running over in great haste through the heavy snow.

Calling out as they ran, “Master Ji!”

Running right up to them.

Breaking the harmonious moment between Ji Yinshu and Jingrong.

“You are?”

The person was covered in snow, breathing heavily. “I’ve been sent by Minister Li to urgently request Master Ji to come at once.”

Oh, so it was someone from the City Magistrate’s Office.

Ji Yinshu asked, “Right now?”

“Yes, someone claims to know the deceased’s identity and is waiting for you at the City Magistrate’s Office right now.”

The results from the portrait had finally emerged!

Ji Yinshu glanced at Jingrong, seemingly seeking his opinion.

Jingrong said to the person, “Alright, we’ll head there shortly.”

“Better to go now—the carriage is already prepared at the entrance.”

How thoughtful!

…

The main hall of the City Magistrate’s Office was already packed with people!

All waiting for the moment when the deceased’s identity would be revealed.

Suddenly—

“Master Ji has arrived!”

Someone called out loudly.

Hearing this, everyone looked toward the entrance, and the crowd gradually parted.

Li Cheng could be seen sitting in a chair at the front, assuming the posture of an official magistrate.

The moment he saw Ji Yinshu and Jingrong arrive, he rose to greet them.

He welcomed the two into the hall.

Li Cheng said, “You’ve finally arrived—we’ve been waiting a long time.”

Ji Yinshu asked, “Have you found out?”

“There! Over there!” Li Cheng pointed in a direction.

Following his gesture, they saw a petite woman surrounded by the crowd.

Hearing the commotion, the woman turned her head.

Her eyes met Ji Yinshu’s directly, but only for a moment before the woman’s gaze shifted to Jingrong.

This person—was it Zhao’er?

Zhao’er wore a cloak, holding a small hand warmer pressed tightly against her abdomen, with a young maid serving her standing nearby.

This maid was the same woman who had seen the portrait on the street yesterday.

After learning who the woman in the portrait was, she had immediately returned to tell Zhao’er.

That’s why they had come here today.

At this moment, when Zhao’er saw Jingrong, though surprised, she couldn’t hide the joy in her heart.

A shy smile inadvertently appeared at the corners of her mouth.

She knew heaven would surely bless her with another meeting with that young master.

She too would become like a butterfly!

Happy and free.

When Jingrong met her gaze, he was also momentarily stunned, his brow furrowing slightly. He hadn’t expected to see her here.

Their gazes intertwined, and Ji Yinshu caught it all.

Confusion arose in her heart. She turned to glance at Jingrong, then at the young lady.

They knew each other?

How did they meet?

Why didn’t she know about this?

But her confusion was quickly interrupted by Zhao’er.

Zhao’er smiled at Jingrong. “Young Master Jing, I didn’t expect we’d meet again. What fate!”

She was extremely happy.

Her face bore a pure, clean smile.

Just like untainted white snow!

When Jingrong faced Zhao’er, his usual cold severity seemed to diminish somewhat.

He asked, “How did you come to be here?”

“I recognize the person in the portrait.”

“You recognize them?”

“Yes!” She nodded.

Li Cheng suddenly interjected, “So you know each other! The world really is small.”

He remarked with feeling.

Ji Yinshu asked, “Who is she?”

Li Cheng said, “You don’t know her? I thought you did. She’s the Duke’s Manor’s Second Miss Zhao’er. I know her.”

The Duke’s Manor?

An important personage indeed!

Jingrong’s eyes tightened.

He seemed startled by the young lady’s identity.

Ji Yinshu wasn’t a petty person, nor was she prone to jealousy.

She could see from the woman’s gaze that she clearly had feelings for Jingrong.

And Jingrong was remarkably more gentle in his tone toward her.

She didn’t want to pursue the reason.

This wasn’t the time for idle matters anyway.

So she got straight to the point.

She asked the young lady, “You know who the deceased is?”

Zhao’er withdrew her gaze from Jingrong and bowed slightly to Ji Yinshu. “Yes, I recognize her.”

“Who is the deceased?”

“It’s…” As she spoke, she couldn’t help stealing another glance at Jingrong.

Which Ji Yinshu happened to catch.

“Miss?” She called out to Zhao’er.

Zhao’er came to her senses and continued answering, “The person in the portrait is called Su Qiao.”

“Who is Su Qiao?”

Zhao’er shook her head.

“Since you recognize the woman in the portrait as Su Qiao, how can you not know her identity?”

“I…”

“Miss, this is a murder case. It cannot be treated lightly.”

“I…” Zhao’er was at a loss for words, unable to speak.

Li Cheng quickly said, “Zhao’er, don’t be afraid. Just tell us everything you know.”

Zhao’er looked at Li Cheng and said, “But Brother Cheng, I really don’t know.”

Brother Cheng—such an intimate form of address.

Though not surprising!

Although the Marquis of Pingyang and Duke Wang were opposed to each other, it didn’t prevent their children from associating with one another.

Years ago, Li Cheng had provoked Duke Wang’s eldest daughter—Zhao’er’s sister—causing the Marquis of Pingyang and Duke Wang to clash fiercely at court. Zhao’er had become acquainted with Li Cheng during that incident when he was pursuing her sister.

Ji Yinshu saw the young lady was almost in tears.

So she softened her tone. “Then tell me everything you do know.”

Zhao’er nodded and slowly began, “Actually, I really only know her name. I remember three years ago, on a day with heavy rain, I saw her huddled alone in a corner by the roadside, completely soaked and trembling all over. So I took her to an inn to let her stay temporarily. She said her name was Su Qiao and that she had only come to Gaoding to find someone. But when I asked who she was looking for, she wouldn’t say. Since it was her private matter, naturally I didn’t pry.”

“That’s all?”

The maid beside Zhao’er suddenly spoke up. “Miss, let me tell it.”

“Alright.”

The maid continued, “During the days Miss settled her at the inn, I was the one caring for her. But during those days, she kept going out. When I asked where she was going, she wouldn’t say. Each time she just held a bundle and cried. Later… when I went back to the inn, she was already gone. I asked the innkeeper, and he said that after she went out the night before, she never returned. But at the time I didn’t think much of it—I assumed she’d returned to her hometown. How could I know… she actually died.”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, even carrying a trace of fear.