Such words of love were ones Ji Pei had never spoken.

“What you’ve said—is it true?” she asked.

“Absolutely true.”

“Then if that day really comes, when you must betray all the people in the world for me, even if blood flows like rivers and countless die, you would still be willing?”

“Willing!”

Tears burst from Ji Yinshu’s eyes!

Jingrong wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, drawing her affectionately into his embrace, their hands tightly clasped.

“Yinshu, this prince promises you—I will never become another Ji Pei, and you never need to worry about that.”

Another Ji Pei!

A Ji Pei who had left her for two years and never came back to find her!

She quietly leaned against his chest, once again becoming greedy.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, looking at Jingrong’s sharply defined jaw. She gently pushed him away, turning around to cover her own chest.

“It’s already very late. You should return to your residence.”

“I’m staying here tonight.” Jingrong directly turned her body around, saying: “Don’t worry, you’ll sleep in your room, I’ll sleep in mine. After all, you’re tired today too. Rest well. Tomorrow…”

“Tomorrow won’t work either!” she immediately said.

Jingrong laughed at once!

Curling his finger, he lightly tapped her forehead: “Little thing, what are you thinking? I meant tomorrow I have matters to attend to and won’t come over in the evening. Remember to eat properly. After all, you’re too thin.”

Damn!

Had she been overthinking?

Ji Yinshu’s face was full of embarrassment. She turned slightly to the side, even her ears turning red. Lowering her head, she truly wanted to bite off her tongue and die.

Jingrong found her increasingly delightful to look at. With a sweep of his arm, he embraced her from behind, his mouth close to her earlobe.

He whispered softly: “Don’t worry, for the wedding night—that long, long night—this prince is not in a hurry.”

“Bastard.”

She viciously poked him with her elbow.

The pain made Jingrong furrow his brow.

“Daring to murder your own husband?”

“Who told you to be such a bastard!”

“Then try again?”

“So what if I try!”

She raised her hand again, preparing to strike Jingrong, but when her gaze saw the person behind Jingrong, she paused and lowered her hand.

“Second Sister?”

Jingrong’s jaw dropped.

Who the hell is your second sister!

I’m your man.

I’m your husband.

But the next moment he reacted, following Ji Yinshu’s line of sight and turning to look.

So it was Ji Wanxin!

At some unknown time, she had appeared here.

Ji Wanxin had seen what she shouldn’t have seen. Looking “embarrassed,” she lowered her brow and walked over, performing a bow to Jingrong.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Their intimacy interrupted, Jingrong was naturally displeased, but this woman was Ji Yinshu’s sister after all, and would be family in the future.

So he said politely: “This is not the imperial court. No need for such formality.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Ji Wanxin’s face was pale. She raised her eyes to glance at Jingrong once, then hastily looked away, turning her gaze to Ji Yinshu instead.

Guessing that Ji Wanxin coming so late must mean she had business, Ji Yinshu tugged at Jingrong’s clothes.

“Could Your Highness excuse himself?”

“What?”

Do you have a problem with your ears?

Ji Yinshu said again: “Matters between women—isn’t it inappropriate for Your Highness to be present?”

“What’s inappropriate about it?”

His tone carried teasing.

Ji Yinshu glared at him. Jingrong responded with a grinning face, then leaned close to her and whispered softly: “Then… I’ll come find you later.”

Get lost!

So Jingrong got lost!

Ji Wanxin looked at the red lanterns all around, a smile playing at the corners of her lips: “This place—was it decorated?”

Ji Yinshu: “No!”

“Then it was Prince Rong? I hadn’t expected him to be so romantic. I thought all the princes were cold.”

Her tone was gentle.

Pitiable!

Ji Yinshu smiled awkwardly, pulling her inside to sit down and pouring her a cup of hot tea.

“It’s already so late—why did you come?”

“Today we only met briefly, and we didn’t really talk. I thought I’d come see you.” After speaking, she quickly added: “By the way, you and Prince Rong?”

“It’s nothing.” Ji Yinshu replied.

Ji Wanxin, with the look of one who sees right through everything, regarded her: “There are no outsiders here. You might as well tell me the truth.”

She didn’t speak.

“Then… have you decided not to wait for Ji Pei anymore?”

It seemed Ji Li hadn’t mentioned Su Ziluo’s matter to the Ji family.

At the mention of Ji Pei, Ji Yinshu’s face fell again. In an instant, it also carried a trace of bitter smile.

She said: “What’s past is past. There’s no going back.”

“That you can think it through is naturally good. Besides, this prince treated you well even back in Jinjiang. If you two become a couple, it would also be a fine story.”

A fine story?

More likely a long road full of thorns!

“Enough, let’s not talk about my affairs.” Ji Yinshu changed the subject: “You came here to find me—do Big Brother and Big Sister know?”

Ji Wanxin shook her head: “I snuck out.”

“Then you should hurry back, lest you be implicated because of me.”

“I just wanted to come see you. We haven’t seen each other for so long.” After speaking, she sighed again, taking Ji Yinshu’s hand and saying: “Yinshu, you’ve truly suffered. You did nothing wrong at all, yet the blame fell on your head. In your heart, you must also feel very sad.”

Sad?

She smiled: “Everything has already passed. I don’t care anymore.”

“But no matter what, you will always be my third younger sister. No one can change that fact.”

Very earnest!

Ji Yinshu responded with a slight smile, not knowing what to say.

After a moment, Ji Wanxin’s gaze fell on her face, saying very happily: “I see the scar on your face has healed. Heaven is fair—good people ultimately receive good fortune.”

“Perhaps.”

“Actually, I came for another matter. You also know Big Sister’s temperament. What happened today—she was lucky. Otherwise, she truly would have caused disaster.” Ji Wanxin wore an expression of disappointment at her failure to meet expectations.

Indeed, Ji Muqing’s luck was good.

Born into the Ji family, with two capable brothers.

Otherwise, by now her head would have been chopped off by Liang Zongzheng’s blade.

Ji Yinshu: “Let’s not speak of it. Second Sister, you should hurry back. The sky is already so dark, and your health isn’t good either. Don’t catch a chill.”

“Then, when I have time I’ll come see you. I heard you’ve been investigating cases recently and will be staying here. The General’s Residence isn’t far from here. Big Sister has to prepare for the Crown Princess selection, so she probably can’t keep track of me. I can come see you often.”

“Yes!”

“Don’t see me out. There’s a carriage outside the gate.”

Speaking thus, she stood up, but her hand accidentally knocked into the teacup.

The entire cup of tea spilled onto the table, the tea water splashing onto her hand.

Ah—

So hot!

Her hand immediately turned red in one spot.

Ji Yinshu quickly lifted her hand, asking with concern: “Does it hurt badly? I’ll go get medicine.”

“No need. It doesn’t hurt much. I’ll treat it when I get back.”

“Still…”

“Really, it’s fine.”

She withdrew her hand from Ji Yinshu’s grasp.

But—

Ji Yinshu happened to see a small red cut at the tip of her finger.