Not long after, Ji Yunshu called someone to inquire.

Only then did she learn that Mei Xiang’er and her brother had set a fire that burned the entire thatched hut clean, and both of them had burned to death.

Moreover, all the missing women had been found at an abandoned mass burial ground outside the city.

Because each corpse was severely decomposed and all had been flayed, their appearances were unknown. Now the relatives of the missing from each household were waiting to claim the bodies for burial.

So Jing Zhaoyin had no choice but to order people to move all the corpses to Yi Zhuang.

They were waiting for Ji Yunshu to wake up and draw the portraits.

To quickly close this case.

But from beginning to end, no one mentioned Jingrong.

Evening!

Ji Yunshu sat before the mirror, thinking back and forth for quite a while. When two maids came in to change the water.

She asked, “Where is the Prince?”

The two maids exchanged glances and shrank their necks.

“Where exactly is the Prince?” Ji Yunshu’s tone grew heavier.

“Master Ji, you’d better not ask. The Prince, he…”

“Speak!”

“The Prince was injured and is currently… still unconscious.” The maid answered with lowered head.

Injured?

Ji Yunshu’s heart suddenly jumped. She stood up and grabbed the maid’s arm, asking, “Was he injured while rescuing me?”

The maid nodded. “This servant also only heard that when the Prince was rescuing you, Master, he was struck on the head and shoulder by something. But he still persisted in rescuing you, Master, and then he collapsed. However, with Young Master Muruo here, the Prince will be fine.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Yunshu released the maid and rushed out the door.

“Master Ji…”

Despite the maids’ pursuit and calls, Ji Yunshu still didn’t look back, heading straight for Jingrong’s courtyard.

Inside the main courtyard room!

Jingrong was leaning against the bed, having just woken not long ago. His face was pale, with bandages wrapped around his head and arms.

Muruo was at the side, unhurriedly grinding medicine in his hands, leaving only an upright back view to Jingrong.

“How is Yuhua Pavilion today?”

Suddenly, Jingrong asked weakly.

“Little Tong is watching over it—business is quite good.”

“This Prince will send people to tear it down tomorrow. How about that?”

Although Jingrong’s voice showed weakness, that threatening and pressing force still pressed on one’s heart.

Only to see Muruo’s medicine-grinding motion stop. He turned around to meet his gaze.

He asked, “When will you change this bad temper of yours? When did my Yuhua Pavilion offend you?”

Jingrong lowered his eyelids, lightly exhaled, and said coldly, “I said before, if you didn’t appear before me within three days, I would tear down your Yuhua Pavilion—it wasn’t just talk.”

Confident and justified!

After all, as a prince, his word must count.

Muruo smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Tear it down, tear it down. Anyway, it was left by that old fellow. I’ve long wanted to close it. But if you want to tear it down, why not demolish it completely?”

“Your father having you as a son is truly pitiable.”

“Yes, that’s why when the old fellow kicked the bucket, he had no life left to enjoy blessings—he drowned.”

Hearing him say this, Jingrong shook his head, but the corners of his mouth curved upward.

“If I were your father, I’d truly be so angry I’d climb out of the coffin.”

“Only you are so capable.” Muruo glanced at him.

He stood up and walked to the bedside.

Looking at Jingrong’s injuries all over, Muruo sighed with an instructive tone, “You tell me, a dignified prince, nearly died to save a woman—was it worth it? If not for this young master’s miraculous healing skills, you’d already be drinking tea with the King of Hell.”

Jingrong’s expression was cool, yet he said very seriously, “Of course it was worth it. If she had truly died then, I probably would have died too.”

“Is it that exaggerated?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Right, I don’t understand. So you see, this thing called love is like a poison—once you’re contaminated, death is certain.” Muruo looked at him with great contempt.

Jingrong ignored him.

“By the way.” Muruo suddenly spoke, saying, “Guess who I returned to the capital with?”

“Don’t want to guess!”

Jingrong answered coldly.

Muruo felt it very uninteresting. “How are you still the same as before—no fun.”

“You know my temperament.”

“Yes, only I know. Otherwise, with you being such a cold stone, who could chisel you open!”

The two bickering wasn’t a recent development.

Muruo simply sat down by the bed, leaning his body toward him, smiling cunningly, unwilling to give up, continuing to press, “Just guess. You’ll definitely be able to guess—you also know that person.”

“I already said I won’t guess!”

“Fine, fine.” Muruo waved his hand. “I really don’t understand how I ended up growing up wearing the same pants as a stuffed gourd like you.”

Very helpless, but after a pause, he still couldn’t help but spit out two words.

“Kong Yu.”

Kong Yu!

Hearing these two words, Jingrong’s expression suddenly darkened, though his thoughts couldn’t be discerned.

After a long while, Jingrong asked, “Isn’t she at Qingshan Residence?”

“Yes, this past year she’s been following her mother eating vegetarian meals at Qingshan Residence. Coming back this time, you should know what it means, right? Miss Kong’s feelings toward you—you should have known early on.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. Miss Kong comes from a distinguished family after all, and is the blood niece of the late Empress Xuanshu. Your marriage—as long as Miss Kong is willing, her mother can go to the Emperor and request an edict, and it will be settled. You won’t have a say.”

Although the Kong family had declined somewhat, after all, they were still the Empress Xuanshu’s maternal family. The Emperor would naturally show the Kong family some respect.

Everyone has a thorn in their heart—Jingrong was no exception.

Kong Yu was that thorn in his heart!

Taking a heavy breath, Jingrong looked away. “Muruo, others may not be clear, but surely you are?”

Of course Muruo was clear!

He had grown up with Jingrong since childhood—of course he knew what was in his heart.

He tilted his head back with a long sigh, shaking his head slightly, deliberately showing a regretful appearance.

While saying, “It seems the lady has intentions, but the gentleman has no heart! However, I think Miss Kong Yu is quite good—a thousand times, ten thousand times better than that Miss Ji.”

“Is that so? But in my view, no one can compare to Yunshu.”

Jingrong was utterly serious!

Muruo narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Jingrong once over, saying mischievously, “You boy, so you really would be moved by a woman. I thought you were the most stubborn cold stone growing in the mountains.”

“People can change.”

“Then you’ve changed far too quickly. I’m just curious—what’s so good about that Miss Ji? You actually don’t want Miss Kong Yu but want her instead?”

Jingrong’s pale lips only said, “I’m probably as you said—truly poisoned, and severely at that. But I’m willingly so.”

Aiyou!

Showing off!

Muruo patted his thigh, stood up, and returned to the table.

While saying, “The cold stone is about to bloom!”