Besides laboring, those who wielded swords year-round would also develop calluses on their palms.

Could this person be a martial artist who then abandoned the martial path for scholarly pursuits?

However, this matter had nothing to do with Ji Yunshu whatsoever.

Couldn’t be connected by even eight poles.

Jingrong noticed her gaze falling on that man and asked, “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head.

Then followed the inn’s waiter upstairs.

And after that scholar went downstairs just now, he turned toward the stable behind the inn.

In the stable, a man in blue clothing was tying up a horse.

The scholar walked to his side and asked softly, “How is it?”

The man in blue vigilantly looked around in a circle, and after confirming no one was paying attention, he said, “Everything is arranged.”

“There absolutely must not be any mishaps.”

“Don’t worry! However, are you certain he’ll come tonight?”

“I’ve already investigated everything clearly. There absolutely won’t be any error.” The scholar spoke with absolute certainty.

The man in blue finished tying the rope, clenched both fists tightly, his eyes bursting with killing intent, saying, “This time, we absolutely cannot fail. I must… personally kill him.”

Hatred also welled up in the scholar’s eyes: “I will also personally avenge my father.”

…

At the Marquis of Nanguo’s residence.

These past days, the Marquis of Nanguo hadn’t gone anywhere, staying continuously in the ancestral hall.

Servants from the residence had come twice, saying that a Young Master Jing had come to inquire about news.

His response each time was “will not see him.”

Lian Que had also come, originally wanting to say something, but the words reached his lips and he quickly swallowed them back down.

Although he didn’t know what exactly the Marquis of Nanguo was waiting for?

Or what exactly he was deciding?

But the only thing he could do was wait!

Today’s wind and snow had already stopped. Lian Que stood in the courtyard, gazing at the Marquis of Nanguo who was now standing before those spirit tablets in the ancestral hall, his heart filled with questions.

Before long, a man entered from outside, walked to Li Lian Que’s side, and said, “Early this morning, they planned to leave the city.”

Lian Que was surprised: “And then?”

“Fortunately, several large trees fell on the official road, and the mountainside also collapsed. They must wait until it’s cleared before the carriage can leave the city.”

The will of Heaven!

If the Marquis of Nanguo didn’t speak again, at that time, Ji Yunshu and the others would truly leave!

Then what could be done?

Even if the Marquis of Nanguo could still wait, Lian Que could wait no longer.

He immediately entered the ancestral hall and called out, “My Lord Marquis.”

The Marquis of Nanguo didn’t respond.

He still stood there without moving.

“If you don’t reveal the truth of the matter, Miss Ji will leave.”

Still no words.

“My Lord Marquis!”

The Marquis of Nanguo was very calm, his gaze solemnly fixed on the spirit tablets before him.

Lian Que was anxious—after all, the truth was now right before their eyes.

Just as he was about to say something more—

Someone came from outside.

Calling toward the inside, “My Lord Marquis, someone has delivered a box.”

The Marquis of Nanguo finally had some movement.

He turned to look and saw the servant holding a box in his hands.

“Bring it in.”

“Yes.”

The servant handed the box to him, then withdrew.

The Marquis of Nanguo opened the box. Inside was a bowl.

A very ordinary bowl!

Lian Que didn’t understand: “My Lord Marquis, this is?”

The Marquis of Nanguo gave him the bowl, saying, “Go to the courtyard and smash it.”

“Smash it?”

“Mm.”

Although he didn’t understand why, Lian Que still took it.

He walked to the courtyard and smashed the bowl on the ground.

“Bang” went the sound!

Exceptionally loud.

And among those shattered fragments, a white slip of paper was actually revealed.

It had been hidden inside the porcelain!

He quickly picked it up, patted it a few times, and presented it before the Marquis of Nanguo: “My Lord Marquis, there’s a slip of paper?”

The Marquis of Nanguo wasn’t surprised: “He indeed sent it.”

He?

Who was he?

The Marquis of Nanguo opened it. The surface was densely covered with writing.

After reading through it, the stone in his heart finally settled.

His eyes also gradually moistened because of this!

The painful place in his heart was a mixture of a hundred emotions!

Just what kind of letter was this?

And who exactly had sent it?

Why was it hidden in a bowl?

Lian Que’s heart was filled with confusion.

…

After Ji Yunshu and the others returned to their rooms and settled everything, they waited for the official road to be cleared.

And on this day, in the evening there would be a lantern festival in Gaoding City!

Starting from the morning, people had been continuously preparing.

The entire city was extraordinarily lively.

But by evening, the flooding problem on the official road still hadn’t been dealt with properly. Jingrong sent guards out to inquire, and they said at the fastest, they would have to wait until noon tomorrow.

They could only continue waiting!

And throughout this entire day, everyone was discussing tonight’s lantern festival.

This was the last festive event before the New Year!

In the evening, the streets were already hung full of lanterns of all colors and varieties.

On the first floor of the inn, several men gathered together.

“The New Year is coming soon. This lantern festival is to welcome the God of Wealth. We should also go out and join the excitement.”

“That’s right. My wife was preparing last night and went out early this morning to browse.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Look, the sky is already dark. Let’s go now.”

“Let’s go, let’s go…”

A whole table of people called out and went!

Lang Bo and Bai Yin sitting nearby both heard.

Bai Yin only focused on drinking. Lang Bo bumped him: “How about we also go join in the excitement?”

“If you want to go, go yourself.”

“We can’t leave anyway, and it’s so lively outside. It wouldn’t hurt to go take a look.”

“Not going.”

“Don’t be such a killjoy.” Lang Bo grumbled.

Bai Yin continuously poured wine into his mouth and glanced at him: “I’m not in that mood. If you want to go, go find your prince.”

“Forget it then. I’ll just drink instead.”

Lang Bo also began to pour cup after cup into his stomach.

On the second floor, Ji Yunshu was painting in her room.

She held a brush, with a sheet of paper spread before her.

On it she was painting Gaoding City under a snowy landscape.

Although she was only drawing an outline sketch, the form had already emerged. Adding just a bit of color would make it a vivid and lifelike beautiful scene.

About to leave Gaoding, she wanted to create a painting as a memento.

At this moment, Jingrong knocked and opened her door.

Seeing her painting, he walked over for a look.

He smiled faintly.

But said nothing.

Then he walked to the window and opened it.

The clamorous sounds from outside came in.

The colorful lantern light also shone in from outside.

Spilling onto Ji Yunshu’s painting!

She stopped her brush, her gaze looking toward the window.

She asked, “Tonight is Gaoding City’s lantern festival.”

Jingrong had his back to her, his gaze looking out the window into the distance: “Mm, very lively.”

People came and went on the streets, lanterns hanging in orderly parallel rows.

After a long while, Jingrong turned and asked her, “Planning to stay in your room the whole time?”

…

One incense stick’s time later, Jingrong and Ji Yunshu went to the lantern festival.

And at the same time, Song Zhi was still conflicted in the old residence.

Conflicted over whether or not to attend the lantern festival by Wenqiao Bridge.

After Jingrong and Ji Yunshu had already left, he always felt his heart was empty—where would he have any mind to attend a lantern festival?