How interesting!

Shi Zijin had just finished sitting, and Jingrong came in to sit.

Similarly, not speaking!

Not disturbing!

Ji Yunshu couldn’t be bothered to deal with him either. After tidying up the things on the table, she held the sandalwood box and walked to the shelf nearby. Standing on her toes while placing the box up, she spoke without turning her head.

“Your Highness needn’t frown so. There is still one method—you could petition the Emperor, have him decree a marriage, allowing you to marry Miss Kong. Then bring up Empress Xuanshu to discuss the matter. It would probably work. Moreover, the decree hasn’t been announced yet. The Emperor can still change his mind.”

Her tone was bland and indifferent!

As if those words just now hadn’t come from her mouth at all.

And indeed, she had guessed Jingrong’s current worry.

But hearing these words, Jingrong frowned. His hands resting on his thighs clenched into fists. He didn’t speak.

Ji Yunshu turned to look at him, the corners of her mouth lifting. “Is Your Highness worried this method won’t work?”

No sound!

Have you become mute?

Blockhead!

Ji Yunshu wasn’t bothered by his lack of response. Walking to the writing desk nearby, she took out rice paper and spread it neatly on the table, then continued speaking.

“If Your Highness truly doesn’t want Miss Kong to marry over there, then you might as well use the matter of a woman’s chastity. If the Emperor were to know that Miss Kong has already shared intimate relations with Your Highness, he would be angry, certainly, but he surely couldn’t send a woman who has lost her chastity in a marriage alliance, could he? How embarrassing that would be! So this is absolutely the best method.”

Mm!

Indeed a good method. Ji Yunshu felt her own brain was quite nimble.

Yet—

Jingrong’s face had turned foul to an extreme degree!

Could he think this idea wasn’t good?

It was clearly flawless!

She shrugged. “Fine. If you think this method isn’t good, I can’t think of anything else.”

Having spoken, she reached into the brush holder to take out a brush and dipped it in ink.

Preparing to draw something on the paper!

Then Jingrong spoke. “Do you want me to marry Kong Yu that badly?”

In his tone carried a trace of heaviness.

Ji Yunshu paused for a moment, then replied, “Although you’ve said you only treat her as a sister, she has waited for you all these years without marrying. Now the Emperor pushes her forward, sending her in a marriage alliance to Qujiang. Though this matter has nothing to do with you, she has after all been waiting for you. So, as an upstanding man, you must shoulder this responsibility. Besides, though I’ve only met her once, she seems quite nice and very well-matched with Your Highness.”

Completely not looking at Jingrong, holding the brush, head lowered with focused attention, carefully painting.

Jingrong’s eyes fixed tightly on her. Were those words just now spoken in earnest?

His heart inexplicably ached!

Yet he had to admit, what Ji Yunshu said was right!

If ancient times had Weibo, Jingrong would probably already have been skinned alive by countless keyboard warriors!

And countless spit would have drowned him too.

How dare you delay that girl!

How dare you cause that girl to marry far away to Qujiang!

How dare you drag your feet and never state your position!

Serves you right!

He stood up. On his face fell emotions difficult to fathom. His gaze fixed directly on a plum tree in the courtyard.

He spoke one sentence. “Fine. Tomorrow I’ll tell Father Emperor that I’ll marry Kong Yu.”

Ji Yunshu’s hand paused!

The fine hairs at the brush tip shifted slightly. The plum blossom on the paper instantly blurred, smudging into a hazy patch.

When she raised her eyes, Jingrong had already left!

And her originally calm expression also inexplicably grew heavy. For a long while, she had no reaction.

Thud—

Not until the brush in her hand fell onto the paper surface did she startle back to awareness, hastily removing the brush.

Lamenting, “What a waste of a good painting.”

And until the You hour the next day, Ji Yunshu hadn’t seen Jingrong at all. She heard he had locked himself in his room, drinking all night, then remained drunk the entire day.

Of course, this was also what she heard from those young maids saying. Whether it was true or not, she didn’t know, because since yesterday, Jingrong had dismissed all the guards and servants from his courtyard, leaving only Lu Jiang and Lang Bo.

When the You hour arrived, Jingrong appeared before her again, as graceful and distinguished as usual, showing not the slightest sign of having drunk all night.

And he came over only to notify her. “Tonight Father Emperor is holding a banquet. All the court ministers will be there. You’ve been summoned to attend as well. Prepare yourself.”

“Hm?”

Without even waiting for her to speak, Jingrong quickly left.

Ji Yunshu wasn’t stupid. She knew he must have been distressed all night because of what she said yesterday.

How could she not understand Jingrong’s feelings?

In the carriage entering the palace, the two maintained silence, not speaking a single word.

Finally, Ji Yunshu pressed her lips together and asked, “Does Your Highness plan to petition to marry Miss Kong before the Emperor announces the decree tonight at the banquet, in front of all the civil and military officials?”

“This is the only method, isn’t it? And besides, isn’t this also what you hope for?”

His tone revealed not the slightest emotion.

“…”

The hand in Ji Yunshu’s sleeve clenched. She couldn’t refute, nor did she want to refute.

Thus, another stretch of silence.

This banquet was being held at the Observation Platform!

The Observation Platform was a square-shaped structure. Aside from one side that was open to allow people to enter and exit, the other three sides were enclosed like railings of a small tower, with seven or eight pavilion-like structures set up.

Gauze curtains hung from the beams, able to separate each pavilion.

This allowed the effect of being connected yet mutually undisturbed.

Ji Yunshu had just sat down in a pavilion on the left side when, with a turn, Jingrong’s figure had vanished.

She asked Lang Bo, “Where is your prince?”

“The Prince had matters to attend to. He told me to take good care of Master.”

She then realized—probably at this time, he had gone to Zhaixian Hall to find Kong Yu.

Fortunately, the banquet hadn’t started yet!

She had just raised her eyes when, unluckily, she met a gaze.

Opposite her was actually Jing Yi!

The corners of Jing Yi’s mouth carried a courteous smile. He nodded at her, then stood up and walked over.

Ji Yunshu had no choice but to rise and bow to him. “Greetings to Prince Yi.”

“Master Ji need not be so formal. Please sit!”

Jing Yi didn’t avoid impropriety at all. He sat directly down in this pavilion prepared for Jingrong, glancing around the surroundings.

“Why don’t I see Prince Rong?”

Lang Bo replied, “The Prince will arrive shortly.”

“How odd. Master Ji is clearly here, yet he’s late.” He even smiled as he spoke.

Clearly a handsome face, yet it was made hateful by his black heart!

Turning, he looked toward Ji Yunshu, his expression carrying a smile. “Master was able to solve the disappearance case this time. I haven’t congratulated you yet. This Prince heard that Master suffered injuries several times in order to solve this case?”

“They were all only minor injuries!”

“Master must take good care of your own safety. Don’t risk your very life for the sake of investigating cases. If in the end you lose your life before even beginning to investigate the ‘Linjing Case,’ that would be a pity.”

Drawing out his tone!

Probably he couldn’t wait for Ji Yunshu to hurry up and die.

Even more vexed that he had repeatedly failed to kill her.