Just as Wen Che was still deeply puzzled about the purpose of Ji Yunshu’s trip—

A voice suddenly came from outside the carriage: “Where is General Wen?”

It was Li Shiyan!

Wen Che narrowed his eyes, confused.

Then he heard the coachman outside respond: “Young Master, do you have business with my young master?”

“Move aside!” Li Shiyan directly pushed aside the person in front of him, yanked open the carriage curtain, and saw Wen Che and Wen Cong sitting inside.

The carriage was only so big, everything was clearly visible at a glance.

Ji Yunshu was not inside!

Seeing his reckless behavior, Wen Che immediately became serious and asked coldly: “Young Master? What is the meaning of this?”

Having just cleared himself of the murder suspicion, he turned around and acted so ignorant of propriety again.

If it were someone else, perhaps they could tolerate such behavior.

But Wen Yu was different!

He was originally a general, so he placed great importance on rules and propriety!

Li Shiyan couldn’t care less whether his expression was displeased. His sole focus was finding Ji Yunshu. Seeing no one in the carriage, he said: “General Wen, please forgive me. I’m here to find someone!”

He directly stated his purpose.

“Who?”

Li Shiyan was about to blurt it out, but had some reservations. In the end he said, “I heard that among those traveling with you this time is a Miss Ji. I’m looking for her.”

Wen Che furrowed his brow tightly. “There is indeed a Miss Ji, but unfortunately, she had matters to attend to and left the mountain early. We don’t know where she went either.”

“How is that possible!”

“Does the Young Master think that I, Wen, would lie and deceive people?” Wen Che’s gaze was sharp and cold.

Li Shiyan swallowed, half-believing and half-doubting. The carriage truly couldn’t hide anyone, so he said: “Then pardon my intrusion.”

He put down the curtain and left.

Wen Che’s expression darkened: “As a young master, he doesn’t even understand etiquette and propriety.”

Wen Cong beside him smiled.

He simply regarded it as the childish behavior of a youngster.

Seeing that there was another Wen family carriage behind Wen Che’s carriage, Li Shiyan without another word walked over to it.

At this time, Wen Yu and Shu Tian, who were standing outside, saw him hurrying over. The two exchanged glances, then stopped him: “Young Master?”

Li Shiyan paid no attention, went around the two of them, and directly lifted the curtain of that carriage. But inside, apart from Luo Yang sleeping sprawled out in all directions, there wasn’t even a bird’s egg.

He turned and asked Wen Yu: “Miss Ji is truly not here?”

Wen Yu was stunned for a moment before reacting. “You’re looking for her?”

“Where is she?”

“Miss Ji had matters to attend to and has already left the mountain early.” As Wen Yu answered him, he also curiously asked: “How do you know Miss Ji?”

By rights, it shouldn’t be possible! On the day they first arrived at the manor, Li Shiyan had mistakenly thought he had killed someone and fled. Afterward, he was detained in the Water Moon Pavilion until today when he was released, while Ji Yunshu had already left the manor. They hadn’t met face to face. Since they hadn’t met, how would Li Shiyan know Ji Yunshu?

Unless… they already knew each other!

Wen Yu’s mind worked extremely quickly, immediately arriving at this conclusion.

Li Shiyan remembered Ji Yunshu’s instructions not to reveal her presence here. He thought for a moment before saying, “I don’t know her. I just heard that Lord Wen, you have a friend surnamed Ji who shares a courtyard with Miss Zhu and has a fairly good relationship with her, so I wanted to come meet her.”

Good grief! Even dogs wouldn’t believe this excuse!

Did he really think Wen Yu had no brains?

If it were Luo Yang, he might actually believe it!

Wen Yu didn’t want to expose him either, the corners of his mouth hanging with a knowing smile: “I see.”

“Since Miss Ji really did come to Ning’an Manor with you all, presumably she’s also staying at your residence in Yanjing City, right?” Li Shiyan asked.

Wen Yu pondered in his heart for a moment, weighing it before saying: “To be honest, Miss Ji has her own lodgings. As for where exactly she lives, I’m also not clear! If you really want to see Miss Ji, why not wait for her to return? If she comes to the residence to find me, I’ll introduce you then. But as for whether Miss Ji will return after leaving this time… that remains to be seen.”

He also didn’t know where Ji Yunshu had gone.

He also didn’t know if she would return.

Perhaps she would simply leave for good—that was also possible.

Just as Li Shiyan was disappointed again, a head suddenly popped out from inside the carriage.

Luo Yang rubbed his eyes while pointing at Wen Yu and saying: “Surname Wen, you clearly arranged lodgings for Miss Ji and me. How can you now say you don’t know? You’re spouting complete nonsense! When you lie, your face doesn’t even turn red. You really have no shame.”

Wen Yu was furious: “You…”

Kid, you’re doing this on purpose!

Li Shiyan looked at the person speaking: “It’s you?”

Luo Yang raised his hand in greeting, grinning and saying: “Young Master, it’s me—the person who saw you come out from behind the rockery that night, and also the one who helped clear your name today.”

He was immensely proud!

“Thank you for your help.”

“No big deal, no big deal.”

Hey!

You’re getting cocky, aren’t you!

Li Shiyan got to the point: “You mean to say Miss Ji is staying with you?”

“That’s right!” Luo Yang even deliberately pointed at Wen Yu. “He’s the one who arranged the lodgings. What he said just now about not knowing was a lie.”

At that moment, Wen Yu’s face turned green!

His eyeballs nearly popped out as he glared fiercely at Luo Yang with a warning look.

Good lord, what a terrible teammate!

And Luo Yang did it on purpose. He now hoped Wen Yu and the Young Master would get into a fight to see who was more formidable. He bet on the Young Master winning—after all, Wen Yu was all bark and no bite.

But the Young Master was someone who acted on his words!

Li Shiyan glanced at Wen Yu. He rarely dealt with people surnamed Wen, but had long heard that the Wen family members were rather cunning. It seemed what the outside world said was correct. But even though he now felt anger in his heart, he had no time to pursue it. He simply grabbed Luo Yang’s hand that was resting on the carriage window: “Can you take me to find her?”

“No problem! Although Miss Ji had matters to attend to and left early, she still has things she hasn’t taken away. She’ll definitely come back once. After we go down the mountain, just follow me and I’ll take you there.”

“Many thanks!” Li Shiyan was excited. “I won’t shortchange you. Whatever you want, just say it. As long as I have it, I’ll give it to you.”

“Wow, how generous! Then it’s settled!” Luo Yang was overjoyed.

Only Wen Yu and Shu Tian’s faces turned green and purple in patches.

As if they’d been slapped hard across the face!

How it hurt!

When Li Shiyan left, he didn’t forget to throw a remark at Wen Yu: “Lord Wen, I’m not a wolf or jackal. There’s no need to guard against me.”

“…”

Wen Yu was speechless!

A short while later, the carriage in front finally began to move.

Those who had gotten off the carriages all boarded one by one, preparing to descend the mountain.

As soon as Wen Yu got in, he spoke severely to Luo Yang: “You didn’t even find out what business the Young Master has with Miss Ji before agreeing to take him there. Are you deliberately looking for trouble?”

Luo Yang was unconcerned: “I saw the Young Master seemed very anxious to find Miss Ji. It must be something important. Since it’s important, how could I not help? Besides, are you afraid the Young Master will eat Miss Ji or something? He’s the Young Master—do you think everyone is like you!”

“You…”

“Didn’t you just hear? He said as long as I take him to find Miss Ji, he’ll give me whatever he can. How generous! Unlike you people surnamed Wen—even when discussing terms, you still haggle over prices.”

Wen Yu’s eyes nearly burst with rage.

…

The carriages descended the mountain one after another. Upon returning to Yanjing City, Li Shiyan immediately came to find Luo Yang, pulled him onto another carriage, and together they went to the courtyard where he and Ji Yunshu resided.

At this moment, Xiao Ba was lying in the courtyard sunbathing. These past days, with Ji Yunshu and Luo Yang absent, he didn’t know how bored he’d been. But alone, he didn’t dare go out on the streets, so he could only stay here all day, feeding that snow-white rabbit.

After several days, the rabbit had fattened up considerably.

He was just closing his eyes to rest when he heard footsteps from outside. He sat up abruptly, looking toward the entrance with eyes full of hope. Sure enough, he saw Luo Yang and an unfamiliar man walk in.

“Brother!” He jumped straight off the rocking chair, rushed over and hugged Luo Yang tightly. Both happy and sad, he said: “I thought you didn’t want me anymore. I almost went out to find you. Thank goodness you didn’t die, otherwise I wouldn’t want to live either.”

Uh!

Luo Yang was speechless!

Xiao Ba’s embrace was making it nearly impossible to breathe.

“You… let go!” He struggled to push Xiao Ba away.

Xiao Ba wiped his eyes, grinning broadly.

Luo Yang coughed a few times, twisted his neck and asked: “By the way, has Miss Ji returned?”

Xiao Ba shook his head: “No!”

“Really not?”

“Brother, I wouldn’t lie to you.”