Watching the group depart, Li Shiyan stood at the doorway, forcefully slapping his folding fan against his palm and letting out a sigh, filled with regret.

“I should have asked about the important things. What a missed opportunity, what a missed opportunity!”

Xiao Luzi covered his mouth and snickered at the side, glancing in the direction of the carriage and saying, “Young Master, I think that young lady has no interest in you at all. Did you see? The man riding ahead on horseback doesn’t look like an ordinary person at all. Perhaps the person that young lady likes is him.”

Smack—

Sure enough, Xiao Luzi’s head received a blow from his folding fan.

It really hurt.

“Why do you have so much nonsense to say? Hurry up and bring the carriage over. If you keep dawdling, we won’t be able to keep up with them.”

“Yes, yes, yes, this servant will go right away. What’s the rush?”

Xiao Luzi rubbed his head while going to pull the carriage over.

All along the way, Jingrong’s entourage was in front, while Li Shiyan’s entourage followed closely behind.

Before long, Jingrong had already noticed.

His cold eyes questioned Lang Bo, “Who are those people behind us?”

Lang Bo shook his head. “Not clear, but there are only two of them. They also stayed at the inn yesterday.”

“Assign people to carefully protect Miss Ji and Wei Yi. Don’t let anything go wrong.”

“This subordinate understands.”

So Lang Bo arranged for several more guards to ride behind the carriage, just in case.

Yuzhou was not far from the capital anymore. According to this travel pace, they would probably reach the capital in about two more days!

Departing from the inn, Ji Yinshu had been sitting in the carriage for almost half a day, and her bones had long since become unbearably sore.

If it weren’t for Wei Yi constantly talking to her the entire way, she really would have been bored to death.

“Once, Uncle Fu made me two clay figures, one really fat and one really thin. Then during class, I asked my teacher who the fat one was, and the teacher said it was my father. I asked again who the thin one was, and the teacher said it was my mother. Then I laughed at my teacher, saying he got it wrong—the fat clay figure was actually the teacher himself, because my father isn’t that short. The thin one was the teacher’s wife, because my mother isn’t that tall. As a result, the teacher struck my palm several times with the rod. At the time, my palms were beaten red, and the next day the teacher didn’t come anymore.”

Serves you right!

Who told you to laugh at the teacher for being short and his wife for being tall?

Ji Yinshu didn’t interrupt him, letting him continue.

“Another time, Mother took me to a temple to offer incense. Mother said she wanted to seek a marriage fate for me, then an old man interpreting the divination slips said…” He turned his head, eyes rolling upward, straining to remember. “He said my fate is filled with peach blossoms, pursuing deer for a thousand miles, with a young man above and a gentleman below. After he finished, Mother gave the old man a thorough scolding and even overturned his table. Mother was so fierce, I was really scared at the time.”

Ji Yinshu couldn’t help but laugh, asking him, “Wei Yi, do you know what ‘fate filled with peach blossoms, pursuing deer for a thousand miles, with a young man above and a gentleman below’—these four phrases are used to describe?”

He shook his head!

“Those four phrases are used to describe women.”

Wei Yi, oh Wei Yi, back then, how delicate and refined you must have looked!

Wei Yi seemed to understand yet also seemed not to understand. He grinned and started talking again.

Rambling about this and that, chattering on endlessly.

Ji Yinshu listened while twisting her neck and lifting the curtain.

Outside, it really was rare good weather!

She looked back and discovered several more guards had been added behind the carriage. Not far behind, another carriage was following closely.

Looking at the person driving the horses, wasn’t that the servant by Li Shiyan’s side?

That persistent follower was really going to the capital on the same route?

“Let’s stop here and rest for a bit.” Ahead, Jingrong’s voice came through.

The entourage stopped by a small stream. Beside it was a patch of grass, perfect for sitting on the ground.

Ji Yinshu pulled Wei Yi to sit down by the stream. She had just taken out her water flask and taken a sip when Jingrong snatched it away.

Without even turning his head, he tossed out a sentence, “My water is finished.”

Hey, hey, hey!

Shameless!

Your water is finished, so what are you doing snatching mine?

Previously eating my leftover noodles, now drinking from my water flask—could you have some shame?

Ji Yinshu glared at him several times, but the only response she got was a straight, smug back.

Seeing this, Wei Yi handed her his water flask, saying with a grin, “Shu’er, drink mine.”

“No need, you’re not thirsty.”

“Oh.”

Wei Yi put it back, ran to the stream, and started playing with the water, continuously skipping little stones across the water’s surface.

Just like a child!

Jingrong stood not far away, secretly glancing at Ji Yinshu. Seeing the smile spreading across her face, her gaze affectionately fixed on Wei Yi playing in the water, his jar of vinegar went “crash” and another jar toppled over.

Lang Bo noticed and cautiously approached, “Your Highness?”

“Let’s move on.”

Extremely angry!

He took the water flask he’d seized from Ji Yinshu’s hands and forcefully flung it at Lang Bo’s chest, kicked his foot, and mounted his horse.

They had just sat down—why were they leaving already?

A guard called out, and only then did Ji Yinshu pull back Wei Yi, who was preparing to take off his shoes and wade into the water, and they hurriedly boarded the carriage.

In the carriage behind, Xiao Luzi shouted into the carriage, “Young Master, they’re leaving.”

A foot extended from inside the carriage and kicked at Xiao Luzi’s back.

“Then why aren’t you hurrying to follow!”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Xiao Luzi pulled the reins and cracked a whip on the horse’s back, following along.

Throughout this journey, Jingrong’s jar of vinegar toppled over quite often, and he remained sullen and unhappy for two days.

Finally, they arrived at the city gates of the capital.

Before Jingrong had even entered the city gates, the news had already been transmitted to Prince Yi’s manor.

In a room, Jing Yi sat cross-legged on a mat, pouring a bit of tea into a cup, leisurely and tranquil.

In appearance, he bore some resemblance to Jingrong.

His hair was tied straight up in a topknot, wearing a long blue robe with sleeves flowing like wind. He could be called elegant and upright, refined and handsome, exuding an air of scholarly grace. Yet between his brows, there was clearly a streak of ruthlessness.

His trusted aide Dou Quan bowed at his side and spoke.

“Your Highness, now that Prince Rong has returned to the capital, I’m afraid this case of Duke Yuguo’s manor…”

Jing Yi merely sipped his tea carefully, neither flustered nor impatient.

“That young lady also came along?”

“Yes.”

Jing Yi smiled warmly. “Jingrong thinks that by investigating the case of Duke Yuguo’s manor from years ago, he can gain merit and receive titles before Father Emperor. It’s simply wishful thinking.”

The fingers gripping the teacup were distinct and long, strong and powerful.

Dou Quan lowered his head. “Your Highness, why don’t this subordinate…”

Instantly, Jing Yi raised his hand to interrupt him, set down the teacup, and slowly stood up, walking with light steps to the corridor outside.

The New Year had just passed, and March in the capital still had a chill.

A birdcage hung from the eaves of the corridor, and inside, a golden oriole fluttered its wings like a startled bird.

Shivering from the cold wind.

He opened the cage, and the golden oriole flew out, disappearing from sight in moments.

“Your Highness, this was bestowed upon you by His Majesty. Why did you release it?” Dou Que didn’t understand.

Jing Yi’s cold lips curved. “A golden bird in a cage will either die or be injured.”

A golden bird in a cage will either die or be injured.

Ji Yinshu had also said this once.