The next morning!

Ji Yunshu left Bamboo Brook Garden. She had originally planned to go to Yuhua Pavilion, but halfway there, she suddenly changed direction and headed to Prince Rong’s Manor instead.

When she entered, the manor staff said Jingrong was in the rear courtyard.

Hey, hey, hey, who said I came to find him?

Yet—

She still made her way shamelessly to the rear courtyard.

Just as she arrived at the rear courtyard, she saw Jingrong standing under the corridor gallery, reaching out to fiddle with a lantern hanging before him.

That appearance was quite leisurely!

Ji Yunshu was just about to go over when she saw Lu Jiang approaching. She simply stopped where she was.

She only heard Lu Jiang reporting to Jingrong: “Your Highness, the gifts have all been prepared. We’re just waiting to send them to the Imperial Palace the day after tomorrow.”

“Were any damaged?”

“The Emperor’s birthday gifts were all handled very carefully.”

“That’s good. When moving and carrying them, be sure not to break anything. If Father Emperor blames us, the consequences won’t be light.”

Lu Jiang nodded: “This subordinate understands.”

Ji Yunshu wondered what kind of gift required moving and carrying? How large was it?

She had said to be more high-profile, but this wasn’t necessary to be this high-profile, was it?

At this moment, she heard Lu Jiang speak again.

“Your Highness, Old General Li has stayed in his manor these past few days without going out or meeting anyone. There’s nothing unusual.”

Old General Li?

Ji Yunshu pricked up her ears, hiding to the side, wanting to continue listening.

She saw Jingrong take down one of the lanterns from the corridor, turning it left and right to examine it, while asking casually: “And then?”

Lu Jiang continued: “Although nothing was found on Old General Li’s side, his son Li Gang has…”

“Continue.”

“During this time, Li Gang has frequently gone to Fangshui City and has had many private contacts with a shopkeeper surnamed Zhang who owns a lantern shop. The lanterns to be used at this year’s Emperor’s birthday banquet were just transported to the capital yesterday. Coincidentally, these lanterns came from Fangshui City. Even more coincidentally, all these lanterns came from that shopkeeper Zhang’s store.”

Jingrong’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

The lantern in his hand was balanced on his fingertips. He poked a hole through the paper paste covering it.

Then he gently set it aside.

Clasping both hands behind his back, he began to analyze carefully: “If this Li Gang is truly secretly helping his father with something, and this matter is related to Father Emperor’s birthday celebration, then…”

His eyes narrowed slightly!

Lu Jiang pressed: “What has Your Highness thought of?”

“Li Gang didn’t go to Fangshui City earlier or later, but specifically during this period. And so coincidentally, he’s connected to that batch of lanterns sent to the palace. If this Prince guesses correctly, there’s definitely something wrong with that batch of lanterns.” After speaking, he turned to ask Lu Jiang: “Who is in charge of internal palace affairs for Father Emperor’s birthday this time?”

“Zhang Bo!”

Jingrong had dealt with Zhang Bo before. This person could be considered a good man. He was an official in the Ceremonial Department, holding the fourth rank. He wasn’t rigid in character. In earlier years, he had also been a fierce general charging into battle. Later, he was transferred back to the capital, responsible for security inside and outside the palace.

Jingrong pondered for a while, muttering: “Father Emperor’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. The lanterns will be hung tomorrow. It seems this Prince must go find Zhang Bo today.”

Lu Jiang remained silent!

After a good while.

Jingrong waved his hand: “You may go first.”

“Yes!”

He acknowledged and withdrew!

Shortly after Lu Jiang left, Jingrong looked at the cold air before him and called out: “Come out.”

Hidden to the side, Ji Yunshu’s body trembled. She stepped forward, slowly emerging.

Jingrong turned his gaze toward her. At the corners of his mouth, within the gentle smile, there was also a questioning flavor.

He asked her: “Did you hear everything?”

She nodded!

“This matter doesn’t concern you.” He said directly.

She remained silent!

Walking to Jingrong’s side, she raised those ink-dark eyes and asked him seriously: “Do you truly think Old General Li’s purpose is related to the Emperor’s birthday?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps.”

“Actually…” Ji Yunshu hesitated, organizing her words before saying: “Yesterday when Zijin returned, she happened to encounter several wagons entering the capital at the city gate. She got some sulfur smell on her. At the time, I suspected it was firecrackers, but now I think it might not be.”

Her face was grave!

Jingrong asked solemnly: “You mean those wagons might have been transporting that batch of lanterns from Fangshui City?”

“Exactly!”

“And those lanterns have sulfur on them, which means… gunpowder!” Jingrong concluded, himself somewhat shocked.

Ji Yunshu paused for a moment before replying: “It’s just speculation!”

Even if it was speculation, Jingrong believed her.

This woman’s sensitivity was obviously several levels higher than ordinary people.

Especially her nose!

He said: “Later, I’ll go find Zhang Bo and examine that batch of lanterns. If there really is something wrong, we’ll decide what to do then.”

“What will you do?”

Jingrong’s face was somber: “That will depend on Old General Li’s attitude.”

He spoke vaguely. Ji Yunshu didn’t understand.

Just as she was about to say something more, Jingrong interrupted: “I’ll handle this matter. Don’t get involved.”

It wasn’t a discussion, but a command.

Ji Yunshu obediently nodded!

But a moment later, Jingrong looked at her with confusion, asking: “You just said Zijin went to the city gate. What was she doing there?”

Jingrong’s questions always focused on points others didn’t care about.

Ji Yunshu certainly couldn’t tell him she had sent Shi Zijin to chase after Su Ziluo.

She casually said: “I only asked her to go to the city gate to buy me a roasted sweet potato.”

“Roasted sweet potato?” Jingrong was shocked.

“Yes, Granny Yu at the city gate makes very good roasted sweet potatoes.”

“I didn’t expect you to have such tastes.”

Ji Yunshu didn’t respond.

Jingrong quickly concealed his earlier serious expression, revealing a slightly frivolous smile like March peach blossoms.

Gazing at her with deep affection, he asked with a smile: “So why did you come over at this time? Could it be you missed me?”

Ji Yunshu rolled her eyes at him: “I came to get something.”

“What thing!”

“Paint!” She blurted out.

But Jingrong looked disbelieving: “You could have just sent Lang Bo to get it. Why come in person?”

Hey, hey, hey, are you done yet?

Ji Yunshu couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. She turned and headed toward the East Courtyard, tossing a sentence over her shoulder without looking back.

“You should hurry and find Zhang Bo. While the lanterns haven’t been hung yet, if there really is a problem, there’s still time to solve it in advance.”

Watching that slender, upright figure, Jingrong’s cold, severe eyes filled with deep affection.

How wonderful!

If for a lifetime, he could bicker with her like this, how wonderful it would be!

Before long—

Jingrong went to the Ceremonial Department and found Zhang Bo!

“Why has Prince Rong come?” Zhang Bo asked.

Jingrong didn’t like beating around the bush. He asked directly: “This Prince heard that the batch of lanterns transported from Fangshui City to the capital has arrived. Is that true?”

“Yes, they just arrived yesterday!”

“May this Prince take a look at them?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bo was puzzled: “Why does Your Highness want to see that batch of lanterns?”

What was there to see in lanterns? Could it be that Prince Rong’s Manor had no lanterns?