Ji Li hadn’t died!

And he had brought people in grand procession to the city tower—how could this not alarm Jingrong?

He wasn’t angry, just worried.

Ji Yinshu wanted to pull her hand back, but the strength on her arm was too great—she really couldn’t free herself.

Turning her eyes to look at Jingrong’s tightly furrowed expression, she said, “Apart from that one method, I had no other choice. I also know that he’s the Emperor, high and mighty above—I have no qualifications to negotiate terms with him. But the results prove I wasn’t wrong. He agreed, agreed to spare Ji Pei.”

“But it was too dangerous!”

Jingrong’s expression grew even darker.

“The more capable you are, the more this prince worries. Imperial Father will also be more wary of you, and your situation will become increasingly dangerous. Do you understand my meaning?”

Of course she understood!

As the Son of Heaven, a woman could negotiate terms with him and force him to agree.

This was clearly plucking hair from a tiger’s head, and that ferocious tiger was like having its hands and feet bound by chains, unable to resist.

And once the chains were released, naturally the person plucking hair from it could not be allowed to remain.

Emperor Qizhen was that tiger, and Ji Yinshu was the one plucking the hair!

So Jingrong’s worry was not without reason.

Ji Yinshu said, “I know, I know everything. But I couldn’t just watch Ji Li go to his death, and I couldn’t just watch Ji Pei go to his death either. My only option was to make a deal with His Majesty—promise to help him resolve those two cities and the murder case, and he must promise me to spare Ji Pei. The Son of Heaven’s word is worth a thousand gold—I needed this imperial decree to protect Ji Pei’s safe return to Qujiang.”

As long as Ji Pei could return safely, she could do anything!

Even if it meant placing herself in a dangerous situation.

And while she was speaking, Jingrong had already released her arm.

After pondering for a moment, “Since you’re so resolute and have already considered all of this early on, whatever this prince says now would just be a pile of nonsense.”

“I…”

“Forget it, you don’t need to say more. Tomorrow, Ji Pei will return to Qujiang. You must feel very sad inside, so this prince won’t disturb you.”

Having said this, he turned and went inside.

But Ji Yinshu chased two steps and called out, “Jingrong!”

His body froze!

He didn’t turn around.

Ji Yinshu set the lantern in her hand to the side. Her heartbeat grew more and more intense.

She pressed her lips together, the words turning over in her mouth for a long while before she uttered two words: “Thank you!”

Hearing these two words, Jingrong was clearly somewhat disappointed.

He turned his eyes slightly and said, “Thank me for what? From beginning to end of this case, I never helped you.”

“I…”

He suddenly turned around, staring into Ji Yinshu’s eyes. “You’re right. After this case is over, we can investigate the Linjing Case. Other matters—let’s not mention them anymore.”

Ji Yinshu said nothing!

“Finish investigating quickly, and you can leave the capital with Wei Yi soon. This place of trouble truly isn’t where you should stay. After all, you’re too clever—clever enough to frighten people, clever enough that people can’t help but see you as a sharp nail. So leaving here, you won’t face mortal danger anymore. This prince won’t have to worry about you being drawn into court politics and power struggles, won’t have to constantly worry about your safety. As long as you’re well, everything is enough.”

Before, hadn’t he painstakingly wanted to keep her in the capital? Keep her by his side?

Now his thoughts and attitude had taken a complete one-hundred-eighty-degree turn.

But it made sense—Ji Yinshu was too clever, clever enough to frighten people!

Before Ji Yinshu could speak again, Jingrong had already left.

Ji Yinshu couldn’t understand her own feelings at this moment either.

In any case, they were extremely complicated!

That night, she never rested. When the next day came, she had wanted to go to the city tower to see Su Ziluo off.

But she still hesitated. After struggling for a long while, she gave up.

…

Su Ziluo sat in a carriage with Lie’er beside him.

Under Ji Li’s supervision, the Qujiang soldiers finally left the capital.

Worried about any changes, His Majesty had issued orders early on, dispatching a guard unit to “escort” Su Ziluo all the way back to Qujiang.

In reality, to monitor them.

After the group left the capital, they traveled half a day on the official road.

Inside the carriage!

Lie’er took out a water bag and handed it to Su Ziluo.

Su Ziluo shook his head!

“No need, you drink it yourself.”

Lie’er pointed at his lips. “Ah, ah, ah!” several times.

He raised his hand to touch his own parched lips, smiled bitterly, then took the water bag and poured a mouthful of water into his mouth.

The sweet taste gradually spread through his throat!

This couldn’t help but ease his expression. After securing the water bag, he reached out to lift the carriage window curtain.

Outside, the sun shone brightly. All around were yellow earthen mountain roads—the scenery was beautiful.

“So we’ve already reached Langzhou territory,” he remarked, then turned to look at Lie’er and said, “Once we return to Qujiang, we won’t come back.”

Lie’er nodded!

Just at this moment, the carriage suddenly lurched violently. They heard a horse cry out, its front hooves rearing high.

Su Ziluo’s body nearly rolled out of the carriage. Fortunately, Lie’er grabbed hold of him.

“What’s happening outside?”

He was just about to reach out to lift the curtain to look.

Who would have known that a sword suddenly pierced through that light blue curtain, pointing directly at him.

“Die!” a masked person shouted.

Lie’er was very fast—with his bare hands he caught the sword, yanked hard, seized it from that person’s hand, then with a reverse motion, aimed the blade at that person’s heart.

He thrust it fiercely!

The masked person died on the spot.

The next moment, Lie’er immediately leapt out.

Outside, blood flowed like a river.

Countless black-clothed figures had appeared around them, each person’s sword showing no mercy—every strike lethal.

Su Ziluo’s people and those “escorting” them sent by His Majesty were almost all dead.

The horses were frightened. The carriage wheel struck a large rock and the carriage toppled over. Su Ziluo immediately rolled out from inside.

Unable to stand on his legs, and without his custom-made wheelchair nearby, he was like a lamb stuck on a fork.

At the mercy of others!

While fighting the masked people, Lie’er also rushed quickly toward him, crouching before him, trying hard to help him up.

“Ah, ah!”

“I’m fine!” Su Ziluo gasped for breath.

At this moment, Su Ziluo’s people and His Majesty’s people were all dead—they lay scattered everywhere.

Fresh blood stained this expanse of yellow earth. Combined with the blazing sun overhead, it appeared extremely glaring!

The black-clothed figures also surrounded Su Ziluo and Lie’er in the middle. Countless sharp swords pointed at them, yet didn’t strike.

The leader among the black-clothed figures stepped forward and said, “Master Su, I’m afraid you have no fate to return to Qujiang.”

Su Ziluo wasn’t afraid—he had just been injured when he fell from the carriage, so it hurt a bit, that’s all.

He asked, “Whose orders are you following?”

The black-clothed figure gripped his sword and said sternly and harshly, “Prince Rong said you are a criminal with no qualifications to live in this world. His Highness commanded us to eliminate the threat!”

Jingrong?

Eliminate the threat?