The light from the lantern gradually fell upon Jing Xuan.

She stood frozen in place, her gaze hidden beneath her hat as she looked at the man standing before her holding a lantern, dressed in coarse hemp cloth.

The man had clean features!

An air of scholarly refinement about him.

Harmless and gentle.

Song Zhi then raised the lantern a bit higher.

But the person before him wore a black cloak, and he could only see her chin and a pair of tightly pressed lips.

A young lady with an invisible face?

In the dead of night, why would she appear here?

And so mysteriously?

Could this person… not be… human?

This strange thought suddenly occupied Song Zhi’s mind.

His palms involuntarily tightened.

They say scholars’ minds are very imaginative when thinking about things, and that was absolutely right.

Moreover, he had previously been a playwright.

Naturally, his thoughts were different from others.

“You…” Are you human or ghost? The words came to Song Zhi’s lips, but he quickly swallowed them back and instead asked, “Who exactly are you looking for?”

Jing Xuan hugged her arms tightly, her body shivering from the cold wind pouring through.

She didn’t quite dare trust the person before her!

Unable to distinguish whether he was friend or foe.

Seeing her not answer for a long time, Song Zhi furrowed his brow and said patiently, “It’s so late—why is the young lady here alone? Strangers rarely enter this alley. Even in broad daylight, few people come and go. Who are you looking for? Tell me, and I’ll call them out for you.”

“I…”

Cautious.

“Young lady, feel free to speak.”

Jing Xuan pressed her lips together and was about to speak—

“Young Master Song, who are you talking to?”

Lang Bo’s voice came from the doorway.

Song Zhi turned his head and saw Lang Bo’s tall, large frame blocking the entrance.

He explained, “There’s a young lady here who says she came to find someone, but won’t say who.”

“A young lady?”

Curious, Lang Bo walked out from the doorway.

After resting for this period, the wound on his arm had healed.

Jing Xuan heard the familiar voice and raised her eyes from beneath her hat to see a figure approaching.

Looking more carefully, she discovered it was Lang Bo.

She immediately became excited, “Big Brother Lang?”

Big Brother Lang?

Lang Bo’s whole body trembled as he looked toward the figure shrouded in darkness.

When Jing Xuan gradually revealed her face from beneath the black hood, his eyes widened in shock, “Prin… young lady, how is it you?”

He almost called out “Princess” but managed to hold back his words just in time.

Song Zhi stood to the side. So Lang Bo knew this young lady—then she was one of their own!

Thus, he stepped aside and moved the lantern in his hand a bit closer forward.

Lang Bo stepped forward, unable to believe it, “Young lady… how is it you? How are you here? Shouldn’t you be…”

Jing Xuan cut off his words, “It’s a long story.”

“You came to find the Young Master, didn’t you?”

What else?

Jing Xuan nodded.

“It’s snowing so heavily outside. Quickly, quickly come inside with me.”

Lang Bo hurriedly led Jing Xuan into the house.

Song Zhi followed behind holding the lantern.

Jingrong and Ji Yunshu hadn’t expected she would come here.

They were both very shocked!

Several people talked behind closed doors.

Jing Xuan removed her hood, revealing her face full of worry.

“Xuan’er? How did you come here?” Jingrong was puzzled.

Jing Xuan’s hands gripped tightly as she said anxiously, “I secretly ran out from the Prince’s residence, but I can’t stay long. I must return before dawn, otherwise if discovered, it will definitely cause trouble.”

“What exactly happened? Did the Third Prince…” beat you again?

“No, I’m fine.” Her haggard eyes contained tears as she looked at Jingrong. “I came because I want Imperial Brother to take me to see someone.”

She stated her purpose!

Jingrong’s brow furrowed slightly. Someone who could make Jing Xuan risk running out of the Prince’s residence.

Who?

He asked, “Who do you want to see?”

“Gong Shilin.”

This name immediately plunged the people in the room into silence.

“How do you know him?” Jingrong asked.

“During this time I’ve been at the Third Prince’s residence, he’s helped me a lot. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be standing here now. To me, he’s a benefactor.”

If it weren’t for Gong Shilin, she might have already been beaten to death by Natuo.

But Jingrong and Ji Yunshu hadn’t been involved in any of these circumstances.

Naturally, they didn’t know.

Ji Yunshu asked, “He’s the murderer who killed Du Mubai. He’s currently imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s prison! What do you want to see him for?”

Jing Xuan said, “I accidentally… overheard a conversation between Marquis Pingyang and the Third Prince. I think they’re… planning to sacrifice the pawn to save the king.”

Sacrifice the pawn to save the king!

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong exchanged glances.

Jingrong said, “Actually, this result was within my expectations all along. Right now, whoever dares to touch this case is as good as courting death.”

Hearing this, Jing Xuan became anxious, “Is there really no other way? Imperial Brother, Gong Shilin must have compelling reasons. He wouldn’t kill someone randomly. Imperial Brother, please save him.”

“Save him? How do you expect me to save him?”

“…”

That’s right!

How could Jingrong save him?

Jing Xuan looked hopeless.

If even the Third Prince couldn’t control this matter, it meant it was beyond salvation!

Her body trembled slightly as she staggered back two powerless steps. Tears spilled from her eyes as she choked out, “If that’s the case, then let me see him once. I have some things I want to say to him. If I don’t say them now, I’m afraid I’ll never have the chance in this lifetime.” She grabbed Jingrong’s hand, pleading, “Imperial Brother, please take me to see him once.”

Seeing her like this, Jingrong felt very distressed, but he was somewhat conflicted, “He’s currently at the Ministry of Justice, and he’s a serious criminal! The Ministry of Justice will definitely guard him strictly. Seeing him won’t be easy.”

“There’s always a way, right?”

“Xuan’er…”

“I won’t take long. Imperial Brother, please help me.”

Jingrong fell silent.

Pondering.

Ji Yunshu quickly said, “Jing Xuan, going to the Ministry of Justice at this time will arouse suspicion. Moreover, you need to think clearly—if discovered later, the consequences would be unimaginable. If it were someone else, that would be one thing, but you are after all the Third Prince’s consort. Escaping in the middle of the night to the Ministry of Justice to see another man—if word got out, you would certainly die.”

Jing Xuan didn’t care about all that.

Her expression was resolute as she said, “I’m not afraid! Whatever the consequences, I’m willing to bear them. Even if it means death, I must see him once. Please help me.”

Ji Yunshu couldn’t make up her mind either.

Although she didn’t approve, the final decision was in Jingrong’s hands.

After a long moment—

Jingrong said, “Alright, I’ll take you to see him.”

…

The heavy snow at night always fell urgently, densely covering all of Gaoding City.

Jingrong changed into a City Guard Bureau guard’s uniform, with a small guard following behind him.

The two braved the heavy snow all the way to the Ministry of Justice’s prison.

The Ministry of Justice jailer at the entrance stopped them.

“What are you doing here?”

Jingrong calmly took out the City Guard Bureau token that Li Cheng had previously given to Ji Yunshu, showed it to the man, and said, “Following Master Li’s orders, we’ve come to question Gong Shilin.”

The jailer took the token and examined it in his hands.

It was indeed from the City Guard Bureau!

He handed the token back and said, “Gong Shilin is currently a criminal. Why is the City Guard Bureau sending people to investigate so late?”

Jingrong replied seriously, “The case is urgent. Many aspects need to be re-examined. We can’t be careless, so there’s no set time.”

“That’s true.” The jailer thought for a moment and looked the two people over.

One was tall and large in stature, the other thin and weak.

If they were planning a jailbreak, it seemed unlikely.

Thus, he relaxed his vigilance.

“Alright, go in.”

Jingrong led the small guard behind him inside, but after just two steps, they were called back by the jailer.

“Wait!”

Hearing this, the small guard immediately froze, standing in place not daring to move, holding their breath, not daring to make a sound, only lowering their head even deeper.

Their hands twisted tightly together beneath their clothing.

Jingrong immediately turned around, blocking the small guard behind him, and asked the jailer with an unchanged expression, “What’s wrong? Is there a problem with this token?”

The jailer looked at him, narrowed his eyes, and looked him up and down.

Then said suspiciously, “There’s nothing wrong with the token, but I find you… somewhat familiar. It seems like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

Uh!