Announcing her family name!

The radiance of being the legitimate daughter of the Ji family was truly dazzling!

It would forever be the synonym Ji Muqing used to elevate her own status.

Jing Yi looked her up and down a few times, with a slightly appraising air.

It must be said, this woman was truly wealthy. Everything she wore and everything adorning her body was glittering silver!

Even the imperial consorts weren’t as ostentatious as she was.

Jing Yi inadvertently furrowed his brow, feeling disgust in his heart.

However—

For the sake of his own power and position, he could only endure the stench and swallow this lump of excrement while holding his breath.

He smiled with false gentleness: “So you’re Miss Ji. This Prince has indeed heard a few things about you.”

“Your Highness knows of me?”

Her eyes lit up!

“Indeed. Everyone says Miss Ji is generous and well-mannered, a model among refined young ladies. Seeing you today, this is indeed the case.”

She lowered her head, extremely bashful!

Jing Yi continued: “Jing Xuan’s temperament is somewhat difficult. That Miss Ji didn’t hold it against her shows your magnanimity. Please don’t take it to heart. This Prince will properly discipline her.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Muqing immediately put on an expression of kindness, saying: “It was I who inadvertently picked the Princess’s flower, which angered her. I should be the one apologizing. Though the Princess struck me, it was understandable.”

You deserved it!

“Miss Ji is truly the most magnanimous woman this Prince has ever met.”

She bowed slightly: “Your Highness gives me too much credit.”

At the corners of Jing Yi’s lips, a faint smile always lingered.

He also smoothly took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and placed it in Ji Muqing’s hand, saying with concern: “Miss Ji should hurry back to Chuxiu Palace and apply medicine to your face.”

Clutching that exquisitely embroidered gray handkerchief in her hand, her heart immediately tightened. She gently pressed the handkerchief against her burning face.

“Thank you, Prince Yi!”

“No need. This Prince still has matters to attend to, so I won’t escort Miss Ji back.”

After speaking, Jing Yi departed, his sleeves flowing!

Gazing at that departing figure, Ji Muqing’s eyes suddenly filled with admiration. She had long since cast the Crown Prince, who was supposed to become her husband, completely out of her mind.

After returning to Chuxiu Palace, she shut herself in her room. When the palace maids wanted to apply medicine to her face, she had no reaction, only staring coldly at the handkerchief Jing Yi had given her.

Lost in a daze!

She looked exactly like a lovestruck fool!

Perhaps this was what people called love at first sight.

Of course, the incident in the Imperial Garden had also spread throughout Chuxiu Palace.

The young ladies gathered together, all discussing how she had been slapped by the Princess.

“She deserved it!”

“Yes, exactly!”

Everyone covered their mouths, laughing merrily.

They also vigilantly watched that tightly closed door, afraid Ji Muqing would suddenly burst out from inside!

If it were before, Ji Muqing would definitely have rushed out to fight with this group. But now, she had no time for that.

She stared at the handkerchief in a daze, her mind full of Jing Yi’s appearance.

The palace maid beside her said softly in her ear: “Miss, please apply some medicine. Otherwise, your face will swell up.”

No response!

The palace maid gave up and retreated to the side.

Without her causing trouble, the entire Chuxiu Palace became much quieter!

Like the momentary calm before a storm.

At this time outside the palace, it was also like the calm before a storm.

Over these past days, Ji Yunshu had already drawn portraits for two of the skeletons. After crossing the corresponding names off the registry, she had people carry those two coffins away for burial.

Now, only eleven remained!

At this pace, they were one step closer to the truth of the case.

Twisting her aching neck, she looked outside a few times, actually feeling somewhat disappointed.

These past days, Jingrong hadn’t come to disturb her. Instead, he had Lu Jiang send word that he was busy with the Emperor’s birthday gift, constantly running in and out of the palace, so he wouldn’t come over. He told her to focus on drawing the portraits!

It must be said, without Jingrong around to tease her, she truly felt unaccustomed to it.

Just as she withdrew her gaze, a figure flashed in from outside, like a gust of wind, landing about two meters in front of her.

It turned out to be Zijin returning.

Ji Yunshu quickly asked: “How was it? Has Master Su returned to Qujiang?”

She shook her head!

“He hasn’t returned?”

She shook her head again!

This completely confused Ji Yunshu.

She walked around the desk in front of her to stand before Shi Zijin, asking nervously: “Did he return safely or not?”

Shi Zijin didn’t rush to answer. Instead, she took something from her waist and handed it to Ji Yunshu.

It was Ji Pei’s tassel ornament!

Ji Yunshu paused, then took it in her hand.

Shi Zijin explained: “I found it on the road. I chased all the way to Qujiang but still didn’t catch up with Master Su’s group. However, I made inquiries in Qujiang, and they said that Master Su had already returned. I don’t know anything else.”

“So he has safely returned to Qujiang?”

“It should be so.”

Then—

Why would he discard this tassel ornament?

Ji Yunshu pondered for a moment, saying: “I tied this tassel ornament on him myself. The knot was one he taught me to tie years ago. Apart from him being able to untie it himself, no one else could.”

Shi Zijin picked up on her words: “Did he discard it himself?”

“Apart from this explanation, I can’t think of another.” After saying this, she felt it was strange, looking at the tassel ornament in her hand: “But this tassel ornament was left to him by his father. He couldn’t possibly discard it.” She asked Shi Zijin again: “Are you certain he really has safely returned to Qujiang?”

“That’s what the people of Qujiang said. He should have already returned, which is why I came back.”

Only then did Ji Yunshu nod with some relief.

As long as he returned safely, that was enough.

She clutched the tassel ornament in her palm, and the worry in her heart also settled down.

Her nose wrinkled slightly, as if she smelled something. She looked toward Shi Zijin and noticed a stain on her sleeve. As her arm moved, it gave off a faint smell of sulfur and paper paste.

Moreover, there was also a scent of iron rust!

Ji Yunshu asked her curiously: “Did you go set off firecrackers?”

“No! I never play with them.”

“Then where did that stain on your sleeve come from?”

Shi Zijin looked at her sleeve in puzzlement, thinking: “It should have rubbed off when I was entering the city gate.”

“Rubbed off?”

“Yes, today several wagons entered the capital, probably transporting fireworks and firecrackers.” Shi Zijin explained.

No wonder there was the smell of sulfur!

Ji Yunshu didn’t continue questioning. She told her to go wash up and rest well for the night.

After Shi Zijin left, Ji Yunshu placed the tassel ornament in her hand into a brocade box.

She closed it!

She thought that perhaps Su Ziluo had truly let go. Everything from the past would become memories, which was why he had discarded this tassel ornament.

Taking a deep breath, a smile of release gradually appeared at the corners of her mouth.