That old eccentric, Old General Li?

Wants to see Ji Yinshu?

Ji Yinshu wasn’t surprised, but Jingrong was—he himself hadn’t even seen that old fellow yet, and the man had already made the first move!

Jingrong asked the messenger, “Did Minister Qin go to the Li Manor?”

“Went for a visit.”

“What else did he say?”

Shaking his head, “Nothing else. Just told this one to come inform Master Ji that tonight at the hour of the rooster, Old General Li will be waiting at the manor.”

Going over late at night—what kind of nonsense was that!

Jingrong furrowed his brow and waved his hand. “Understood. You may go.”

“Yes!”

After the messenger withdrew, Jingrong pulled Ji Yinshu over and said, “Old General Li has a peculiar temperament. When you meet him, you must be more careful. Of course, you’ll need patience.”

“Is he really that strange?”

Jingrong nodded!

Ji Yinshu felt puzzled. Even if Old General Li had swept across battlefields for many years, surely he couldn’t be missing a screw in his head?

“If he wants to drink tea with you, you’d best finish that cup of tea before speaking.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s an old eccentric!”

“…”

Jingrong’s words stirred up intense curiosity in Ji Yinshu’s heart.

She really wanted to properly meet this Old General Li!

Then Ji Yinshu raised the corner of her eye and asked him, “So you want me to go see him?”

“Didn’t you want to go to Qingzhou before? This prince stopped you then. Now that Old General Li has come to the capital and actively wants to see you, if this prince stops you again, wouldn’t you hate this prince to death?”

“When have I ever hated you?” She glanced at him sideways, saying weakly.

Jingrong lifted his feet and moved two steps closer to her, the corner of his mouth染 with a mischievous smile.

Ji Yinshu was forced to retreat backward until her back pressed against the hard, cold coffin and she stopped.

Jingrong’s body loomed over her like a massive shadow.

She pressed her lips together, her hands pushing against his chest, and alertly glanced around.

Lang Bo, who had been standing nearby, very tactfully turned around.

On his broad back seemed to be written a line of words.

—You two take your time, I can’t see anything!

Ugh!

“What are you nervous about?”

Jingrong’s tone was gentle!

“Nothing.”

She raised her eyes to look at the man whose face was written all over with hungry wolf pouncing on food, yet met his gentle, jade-like gaze.

Her heart involuntarily tightened.

The smile at the corner of Jingrong’s mouth deepened. He bent down, his nose tip lightly touching Ji Yinshu’s full forehead, taking a deep breath.

“So fragrant!”

Brother, are you professionally making jokes?

Ji Yinshu couldn’t help frowning, leaning her body backward and asking, “Fragrant? There are dozens of coffins placed around here, emitting thick rotting smells and decaying wood odors. You didn’t smell that?”

“I smelled it.” Jingrong nodded lightly. “However, this prince was only focused on smelling the scent on your body. My nose has no room for anything else.”

“Stop fooling around.”

Ji Yinshu wanted to go around him, but he wrapped his arms around her, locking her between them.

Her face immediately reddened, and the hand holding the Ministry of Revenue register also tightened.

Jingrong’s lips curved into a peach-blossom smile. “You little vixen, what are you afraid of? I’m just—”

While speaking, he reached out his hand, landing it on Ji Yinshu’s high-standing hair crown. His fingertips pinched and removed a small green leaf from her head.

Then—

He played with it in his hand, even blew on it, saying, “Just seeing a leaf on your head and wanting to take it off. What did you think this prince was going to do?”

Looking completely puzzled.

How awkward!

Ji Yinshu swore this was absolutely the most despicable man she had ever seen!

Bar none!

With a forceful twist of her wrist, she closed the Ministry of Revenue register in her hand and shoved it against Jingrong’s chest.

Her body also bounced away accordingly, retreating several steps.

She also very quickly hid the crimson flush rising on her face, saying seriously,

“The names I crossed out in this register are those whose skeletal remains are accounted for. I’ve also marked their corresponding coffin lids with red pen. They can be reburied. This matter should be handled as quickly as possible. The longer the skeletal remains are exposed to air, the more severely damaged they’ll become. After all, the deceased are gone—may they rest in peace.”

Jingrong pressed one hand against the register on his chest, his eyes full of tender feelings, staring at her intently.

He said, “Good. This prince understands. I’ll have people handle it immediately.”

So obedient!

Jingrong’s efficiency in handling matters was quite high. By afternoon, fifty-four of the coffins filling the courtyard had been carried out.

The remaining thirteen were covered, overlaid with licorice!

To prevent moisture damage.

Seeing that the hour of the rooster was approaching, Jingrong sent her to the Li Manor.

Upon reaching the entrance, before Ji Yinshu had even gotten off the carriage, Jingrong grabbed her hand and instructed, “If you can’t get anything out of him, then don’t ask. Old General Li, though not a great villain, has lived a long time after all, so naturally his conduct and style are somewhat strange. And you must not forget that the Linjing Case is one this prince took over. I don’t want you getting too involved. Understand?”

His palm applied slight pressure, afraid she wouldn’t remember.

Ji Yinshu nodded lightly.

“I understand.”

Only then did he feel at ease letting Ji Yinshu enter!

Outside the Li Manor, someone was already waiting for her. That person bowed slightly. “Master Ji, the Old General has been waiting for you for quite some time. Please follow this old servant.”

“Thank you!”

Ji Yinshu followed that elderly man to the back courtyard of the Li Manor.

However, while passing through the back courtyard, she unexpectedly encountered that fellow Li Zhao.

He had his sleeves rolled up, holding a long fishing rod in one hand and a fish basket in the other, his footsteps like wind as he rushed toward the front courtyard.

Extremely cheerful!

But upon seeing Ji Yinshu, that cheerfulness instantly vanished!

Just like before, he glared fiercely at Ji Yinshu, then asked the elderly man beside him, “Uncle Ge, what is she doing here? My elder sister isn’t home these past few days.”

“Young Master, it’s…”

Before Uncle Ge could finish speaking, Li Zhao raised his head, using his nostrils to face Ji Yinshu, demanding, “Master Ji, haven’t you been investigating that something Linjing Case recently? Coming to my manor so late—what for? What? Could it be that the Li Manor also has coffins buried underground that you want to dig up?”

Ji Yinshu smiled. “Young Master Li is overthinking. How could coffins be buried under your honorable manor’s ground? If there really were any, and if it happened to be someone who died unjustly, then at night, the manor probably wouldn’t be very peaceful.”

As she spoke, it seemed as if a chilling wind slowly blew past—

Li Zhao was also made cold down his spine by her words. He couldn’t help swallowing and his eyes swept around the surroundings.

“You… what nonsense are you talking?”

“I was just following along with what Young Master Li said, not talking nonsense. And who knows, maybe it’s really as Young Master Li said—underneath here, there really is buried a corpse who died unjustly, weeping day and night.”

Li Zhao’s small courage wasn’t undeserved!

His body trembled faintly several times!

Red lanterns hung along the back courtyard’s corridor, red light spreading deep into the corridor’s end.

Making people’s hearts panic!