Seeing her appearance like a startled kitten, Jingrong couldn’t help but smile, yet it carried an evil air.

He stood up and walked toward Ji Yinshu, then suddenly sat down at the table’s edge, pouring two cups of tea of his own accord. He gently pushed one cup to the side.

His knuckles lightly tapped on the table!

Indicating for her to come sit down.

Ji Yinshu shook her head, “No need.”

“If you don’t sit properly, how can this prince speak with you in detail? Or perhaps you prefer that previous method of conversation?”

“Of course not.”

“Then obediently come sit down. This prince doesn’t like looking up at others.”

How arrogant!

Hey, hey, hey, you’re getting a bit too inflated!

Ji Yinshu reluctantly shuffled her steps over, lifting her bottom to sit down lightly.

However, she sat sideways, only using her peripheral vision to look at this wickedly smiling man before her.

Jingrong seemed to be planning a lengthy discussion. He turned the teacup in his fingers and began speaking leisurely.

“Actually, Kong Yu and I are somewhat similar.”

Ji Yinshu remained silent!

“Since childhood, the thing she feared most was implicating others. She knew that I would fight to the death to prevent her from marrying off to Qujiang, so she deliberately told me that she was willing to marry to Qujiang of her own accord.”

Ji Yinshu still remained silent, wanting to listen further.

Jingrong also didn’t continue speaking immediately but took a sip of tea before slowly saying, “She knew my thoughts, and she also knew that those thoughts were definitely suggested by you.”

“Marrying her?”

“Yes, if I truly told Father Emperor I wanted to marry her, he would certainly become furious. The consequences would be severe. Even if Kong Yu ultimately didn’t have to marry off to Qujiang, I would inevitably suffer some torment. You know, my Father Emperor is a suspicious person.”

A suspicious person!

The common affliction of emperors!

Ji Yinshu felt somewhat sympathetic toward him. The solution she had proposed, though it was the only method, just as Jingrong said, the consequences would indeed be severe.

At worst, his status as an imperial prince might be stripped!

At best, he would probably be beaten with several dozen strikes!

So, she had proposed the only solution that could resolve the matter, yet it was also the single most foolish solution.

Fortunately, Kong Yu was indeed as Muruo had said—she was the smartest of the three, which prevented that potential disaster from occurring.

Just as she furrowed her brow slightly, Jingrong continued, “Over these years, I’ve never expressed even half a hint of my feelings for Kong Yu to Father Emperor. If I were to request marriage at this critical juncture, the consequences—both you and I had thought too simply about it. If I hadn’t gone to see her before the banquet, at that time, I’m afraid even you would have been implicated. The Linjing Case hasn’t been investigated yet—I cannot let anything happen to you!”

Uh!

So—

Ji Yinshu was shocked, “This is the real reason you ultimately agreed to Kong Yu not to marry her?”

“Yes, so that Father Emperor wouldn’t implicate you while reproaching me.”

Truly concise and to the point!

These words made Ji Yinshu’s heart tremble slightly while also feeling somewhat guilty.

Jingrong: “Now, do you still think this prince is heartless?”

Ji Yinshu: “Actually, you don’t need to consider my situation.”

“This prince cannot do that.”

“…”

“You are this prince’s most important person.”

“…”

Ji Yinshu lowered her head, not knowing what to say.

Jingrong stood up, straightened his posture, pondered carefully for a moment, then said earnestly, “Yunshu, you must always remember that even if this prince must go through fire and water, he will absolutely not let anything happen to you.”

After saying these words, he left the room.

Creak—

The moment the door closed, Ji Yinshu remained dazed for a long while, her mind blank.

It wasn’t until the door was opened again that she came back to her senses. Turning her head to look, two young maids entered, each carrying two candlesticks in their hands.

As they entered, they said, “His Highness has ordered that two more lamps be added to the master’s room so that the master can see more clearly and avoid tripping.”

“Set them down.”

“Yes!”

After the maids set down the lamps, they silently withdrew.

With two more lamps added to the room, it was obviously much brighter. However, occasionally two gusts of breeze blew in through the window cracks, causing the candle wicks to flicker…

Ji Yinshu sat at the table for a long while. Before she knew it, her thoughts returned to that tassel ornament in Su Ziluo’s hand.

An idea in her heart had gradually taken shape!

Su Ziluo was Ji Pei?

But Li Shiyan had clearly said that his legs were injured five years ago. Unless—

His legs had no problem at all. Then he was Su Ziluo.

That feeling had become increasingly intense.

It kept her from being able to sleep the entire night. Until the next morning, she immediately went to the courier station, wanting to see Su Ziluo and ask him clearly.

But she was told that Su Ziluo was not at the courier station.

“Then where did he go?” she pressed.

The soldier simply didn’t want to deal with her, but still replied, “Before the master left, he didn’t explain anything at all.”

So she could only return.

Just as she got back, she heard Lu Jiang say that Jingrong had entered the palace. The Emperor had sent an imperial summons early in the morning. Only then did she learn that Su Ziluo had also been summoned into the palace.

…

Inside the Palace

Regarding the matter of Yuchi Lin’s death, since yesterday, it had been heavily underlined on the court’s agenda, and important officials had basically all been mobilized.

Su Ziluo, as the representative from Qujiang, was wheeled into Zhangzhi Hall.

He appeared very calm, and at the corners of his mouth, there was even a faint smile.

But that kind of smile made people feel extremely eerie—it was impossible to guess his thoughts at this moment.

Emperor Qizhen had seen many people, but when he saw Su Ziluo, he was shocked by this person sitting in a wheelchair.

The imperial princes and court ministers on both sides also all fixed their gazes on him.

Crown Prince Jinghua wore an expression of disdain!

Jing Yi narrowed his eyes, full of scrutiny!

As for Jingrong, his face was expressionless!

However, that expression was filled with an examining sense. Was this person really Ji Pei?

But Ji Yinshu had said he wasn’t!

At this moment, Emperor Qizhen spoke, “Regarding the accident that occurred this time, We will certainly handle it fairly and will absolutely not let General Yuchi die in vain!”

Su Ziluo raised those seemingly weary eyes and slowly said, “Then how does the Emperor plan to handle this?”

“If the killer truly is Magistrate Ji, We will certainly handle the matter impartially. Everything will be conducted according to Dalin’s laws.”

“A life for a life?”

“Yes!”

“What about besides the killing?” Su Ziluo’s tone was light and calm, still revealing no emotion.

Although Emperor Qizhen was surprised by his words, he became even more certain that this person was truly not simple.

“This one does not quite understand Master Su’s meaning. Today, all the ministers of Our Dalin court are present. If you have something to say, feel free to speak directly.”

Su Ziluo said, “At this moment, the most important thing is to find out who the real culprit is. Then report it to our Great King of Qujiang and let him decide. After all, I am merely a minor military officer and truly cannot make any decisions.”

He shook his head slightly!

With a smile at the corners of his mouth!

Emperor Qizhen knew in his heart that his purpose would definitely not be this simple!