Ji Yunshu’s brow furrowed as she asked, “Is there something on my face?”

Jingrong shook his head!

“Then why is the prince looking at me like this?”

“Is it strange?”

“A bit!” She answered honestly.

Yet Jingrong’s lips curved with a smile. “This prince looking at you doesn’t need to be strange. From now on, I will always look at you like this.”

Sweet words came so readily to his lips.

Ji Yunshu shot him a cold glance. “You should say those words to Miss Kong.”

Clearly she was alluding to the fact that he hadn’t petitioned His Majesty to marry Kong Yu.

Jingrong’s face darkened. He was about to explain along with her words but suddenly choked up.

Forget it!

Better not to say anything!

His gaze turned to what she was drawing on the paper, and he asked, “What are you drawing?”

“I don’t know either.”

She set down the brush and picked up the paper, examining it carefully. On it was only a semi-circular pattern with some orderly striations inside.

What could it be?

Jingrong took the paper from her hand, narrowing his eyes to look at it, then asked in confusion, “Why suddenly draw this? Is it related to the case?”

“I hope it’s related to the case and not just me overthinking.”

“Hmm?”

She patiently explained, “Weichi Lin’s death was indeed caused by being beheaded with a single sword strike, and he showed no signs of poisoning. All evidence points to my elder brother, but there’s one thing I don’t understand—when a drunk person’s bodily functions should be relatively relaxed, their hands couldn’t possibly be forcefully bent when being beheaded with a single stroke. Yet his hands were in that state. In the room, I found no traces of trembling or abnormalities except for this mark on the floor behind the door. I don’t know if I’m overthinking it or if this mark might be evidence.”

As she spoke, her brow furrowed even tighter as she wondered what this mark could be.

After hearing her words, Jingrong put down the paper and looked at her. “This prince hasn’t seen this mark before either. If all the evidence really does point to Ji Li, then he is the murderer. The Ji family will suffer greatly this time.”

That was inevitable!

If Ji Li killed someone, the Ji family definitely couldn’t escape involvement. His Majesty might even order the execution of the entire family in his rage.

Not to mention Ji Muqing still wanted to become Crown Princess, and Ji Wanxin still wanted to marry the Minister’s son.

All these ambitions would become pipe dreams!

Thinking of how her wolf-like father had schemed so much for the Ji family daughters, all about to go down the drain—his face must have turned green.

Just as Ji Yunshu felt somewhat melancholy, Jingrong suddenly said, “But fortunately, even if something happens to the Ji family, it has nothing to do with you. After all, you’re no longer part of the Ji family. However, this prince has been thinking—should you change your surname? How about taking the surname Jing?”

Are you insane?!

Jing was the imperial surname!

Ji Yunshu glared at him and was about to refute.

Jingrong interrupted, “Anyway, sooner or later you’ll be this prince’s person. Changing your surname is fine too. Jing Yunshu sounds much better than Ji Yunshu.”

Better your sister!

Ji Yunshu was completely speechless. Forget it. She shook her head helplessly, folded the drawn pattern, tucked it into her sleeve, and walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Jingrong asked.

Without turning her head, she tossed back, “Yuhua Pavilion!”

She had promised Wei Yi to visit him every day and couldn’t break her word!

Jingrong, that old jealous vinegar jar, instantly tipped over again. He was just about to chase after her when Lang Bo hurried over and stopped him.

“What is it!” His tone was poor.

Lang Bo said, “General Ji entered the palace demanding His Majesty release his elder brother. His Majesty drove him out. He then knelt in the great hall for several hours. Now, in his rage, His Majesty has also imprisoned him in the Ministry of Justice prison.”

Uh!

“When did this happen?”

“Just now. Right after we left the Ministry of Justice prison, General Ji was escorted in.”

Jingrong shook his head with a contemptuous look as if viewing an idiot, saying, “Knowing full well Father Emperor is still angry, what medicine did Ji Huan take to go throw eggs at a rock? The Ji family people are truly more stubborn than the next.”

“Prince, should we tell Master Ji?”

“She’ll find out. This prince is just worried that she’ll only be concerned about those two brothers who want to kill her, becoming too focused on this case. If something goes wrong, this prince fears she’ll also get implicated.”

He sighed!

……

When Ji Yunshu arrived at Yuhua Pavilion, the place was still packed with people!

The title of Divine Physician Muruo wasn’t held in vain.

After she entered, a young attendant told her that Muruo was drinking wine upstairs with Wei Yi taking care of him.

Taking care?

How strange!

With a somewhat curious mindset, she went upstairs. What hit her nose wasn’t the smell of medicinal herbs but a strong wine fragrance.

She saw Muruo lying on a bamboo chair, eyes half-closed, holding a wine pot and pouring it into his mouth. One foot was planted on the ground, rocking the chair up and down continuously.

He looked quite leisurely, as if he had completely cast aside the matter of Kong Yu marrying far away to Qujiang.

“Shu’er!”

Suddenly she heard Wei Yi call out excitedly.

He walked over carrying two pots of freshly warmed wine, his face full of smiles as he greeted her.

“Is it fun?” Ji Yunshu asked him.

He nodded vigorously!

“It’s fun! Brother Muruo treats me so well!”

That smile spread exceptionally bright!

Good heavens, didn’t he dislike him before? Why is his mouth like it’s coated with honey today?

Did he win you over with candied hawthorn again?

Ji Yunshu smiled and walked to Muruo’s side, sitting down gently. Looking at him, she asked, “Are you drowning your sorrows in wine?”

Muruo closed his eyes but the corners of his mouth curved upward. “That Qujiang general is already dead. Why would I still drown my sorrows?”

“Oh? Young Master Muruo, I don’t quite understand those words.”

He opened one eye, looking at the medicinal herbs hanging overhead, and said slowly, “Now that the general is dead, the marriage alliance will probably be called off. Kong Yu naturally won’t marry over there. Of course I’m happy and at ease.”

“You and he truly are different!” Ji Yunshu suddenly remarked.

Muruo: “You mean Jingrong?”

Ji Yunshu: “If I’m not mistaken, Young Master Muruo should be troubled about Miss Kong marrying to Qujiang, right? But Prince Rong is different. He clearly could have helped her but didn’t. So you two really are different!”

After a moment, Muruo asked, “Then let me ask you—has Jingrong seen Kong Yu?”

She nodded, then shook her head. “I’m not certain. Before last night’s banquet, he did leave. Whether he went to talk with Miss Kong about something, I don’t know.”

At this, Muruo propped himself up to sit, telling her seriously, “If there was even a thread of hope, he would go save Kong Yu. So before the banquet, he must have seen her. Kong Yu must have said something to him that made him allow her to marry to Qujiang.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I thought Miss Ji understood him.” Muruo smiled, feeling it wasn’t worth it for Jingrong. He lay back down, closing his eyes.

He said, “Kong Yu is the cleverest of us three. She knows very clearly that Jingrong would definitely go to great lengths to prevent her from marrying to Qujiang. She was worried about exactly this—that it would harm Jingrong. So she declined Jingrong’s help and willingly married over there.”