Everyone said that Jing Yi most resembled the current Emperor Qizhen.

Then—

Jingrong indeed most resembled Emperor Qizhen before he ascended to the throne.

That is, the clever and low-profile Eighth Prince at that time!

Prince Rong’s Manor!

Ji Yunshu should have returned to Bamboo Creek Garden early, but as dusk fell, she was still at Prince Rong’s Manor, waiting for Jingrong to return.

Evening!

Outside, a fine drizzle began to fall. When the cold wind blew, brushing against people’s faces, it felt chillingly cool.

Ji Yunshu couldn’t help but pull her clothes tighter around herself.

Shi Zijin stood beside her, silently following her gaze, which happened to fall upon a potted plant with eight stems outside the hall.

It was said that Jingrong had planted it.

Whether true or false, she didn’t know!

“Should we head back?” Shi Zijin finally asked her.

She shook her head: “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

“Mm!”

Shi Zijin then retreated to the side, only to see Jingrong entering through the doorway holding an umbrella.

The fine drizzle drifted obliquely, falling on Jingrong’s left shoulder, his sleeves, his hair, and on that face illuminated exceptionally clearly by the lantern light.

Glowing with a lustrous white radiance!

He walked forward, step by step approaching Ji Yunshu.

Not until he stood before her did he fold the umbrella in his hand and lean it against a pillar.

As Jingrong closed his umbrella, Ji Yunshu simultaneously drew a handkerchief from her sleeve and carefully wiped away the rainwater from his forehead.

When the hand holding the handkerchief touched Jingrong’s thick lashes, he grasped it.

The icy coldness slowly transmitted from Ji Yunshu’s fingertips to his palm.

Pained by this, Jingrong gazed deeply at her: “The weather is cold, why are you standing here waiting?”

She said: “I was worried in my heart.”

“Worried about what?”

Shaking her head: “I don’t know, just feeling a bit anxious.”

Her tone was very light!

If one didn’t listen carefully, it would almost be drowned out by the sound of the fine drizzle falling.

Jingrong gripped her hand more firmly, his brows and eyes lowered, speaking earnestly: “Are you worried this prince won’t return?”

She said nothing!

“You needn’t panic. As long as this prince is here, everything will be resolved.”

She raised her eyes, the corners slightly creased: “Did Old General Li truly take your words to heart?”

Jingrong actually wasn’t certain either, but—

“Whether he took them to heart or not, after all, he is a senior minister of three reigns who has devoted himself wholeheartedly to Da Lin for many years. If we truly bring charges against him in court, I’m afraid everyone in the Li family, both high and low, will suffer. This prince truly cannot bear it, so I’m giving him this opportunity, hoping he’ll be a wise man.”

Ji Yunshu hesitated, her heart still unbearably anxious.

She didn’t know if it was because of this gloomy overcast weather, or because of this vexing matter.

Seeing her silence, Jingrong drew her into his embrace, holding her slender shoulders, his chin gently resting on the top of her head.

He said gently: “It’s raining. Stay tonight.”

On her long lashes fell a drop of rainwater that dripped from Jingrong’s hair, causing them to flutter slightly unexpectedly.

After a long while—

She nodded, her hands circling around Jingrong’s waist.

Nestled together!

Seeing this scene, Shi Zijin’s body leapt up and disappeared to who knows where.

…

The night of fine rain and gloom carried a layer of strange and ominous meaning.

Oppressive and anxiety-inducing!

Prince Yi’s Manor!

In the hall, Jing Yi and Zhang Bo were playing chess!

Black and white pieces on the board each occupied half, neither winning nor losing.

“Minister Zhang’s chess skills are improving!”

Jing Yi praised, placing his black piece on the board.

Although Zhang Bo was the “Planning Department’s team leader,” his hands didn’t touch governmental affairs. To put it bluntly, it was just a small department under the government’s Hanlin Academy, specifically handling materials.

But he knew that Jing Yi was a fox.

He dared not offend him in any way.

He drew a white piece from the bowl, holding it between his fingertips, and smiled: “Your Highness’s chess skills are superb. I’m just a crude person who can’t appear in polite company. How could I compare with Your Highness?”

“Minister Zhang is too modest.”

“How would I dare, how would I dare?”

After Zhang Bo spoke, he placed down the white piece in his hand, making the worst possible move.

Clearly, if Jing Yi took just one more step, he could surround his white pieces.

But instead—

Jing Yi, holding a black piece, also made the worst possible move!

While saying: “This prince heard that Prince Rong went to the Ministry of Ceremonies today?”

Zhang Bo’s body swayed, and the white piece he had just picked from the bowl nearly fell.

He nodded: “Yes, Prince Rong did come!”

“Oh? What did Prince Rong go to do?”

“He just came for a visit!” Zhang Bo answered smoothly.

But Jing Yi’s lips curved into a cold, chilling smile, and he simply—

Ended the entire game.

“Your Highness has won!” Zhang Bo said happily instead.

What a relief!

If they had continued placing pieces one by one like this, his liver would have trembled itself to nothing.

Jing Yi maintained that smile that made people feel cold, his gaze falling on the situation in the board, then slowly moving upward to meet Zhang Bo’s eyes.

“Prince Rong has never had any dealings with the Ministry of Ceremonies. Today, why would he come to your place for a visit?”

“This…”

“Could it be there’s something difficult to say?” Jing Yi raised his tone.

Strange and peculiar!

Hearing this made Zhang Bo’s heart tremble, his palms breaking out in sweat.

His mouth hardened: “This year His Majesty’s birthday and the Crown Princess selection are being held together. The matter is significant, so Prince Rong came to inquire and inspect. Simply this, simply this…”

Zhang Bo’s attitude was—you could beat me to death and I still wouldn’t tell.

Jing Yi knew Zhang Bo was tight-lipped, otherwise he wouldn’t have served as a military general for several years before being transferred to civil service.

“I didn’t expect Prince Rong to be so idle!” Jingrong smiled.

So idle he actually went to tour the Ministry of Ceremonies.

Zhang Bo thought he had deflected successfully, and the stone in his heart settled down a bit.

After the two chatted about other matters, Zhang Bo left.

Just after Zhang Bo departed, Dou Quan came forward with his sword.

The ringing iron boots tramped across the muddy, water-seeping bluestone slabs, braving the rain, quickly entering Jing Yi’s inner hall.

Jing Yi was collecting the pieces from the board, not looking up.

He asked: “How is it?”

Dou Quan bowed with his sword: “It turns out Prince Rong went to the Ministry of Ceremonies to exchange that batch of lanterns sent from Fangshui City.”

Jingrong’s hand paused, his slender fingers just picking up a piece from the board, then releasing it. The piece fell with a “thud.”

It rolled onto the floor!

He slightly furrowed his brow, turning to look at Dou Quan.

He asked: “Lanterns? Why exchange them?”

“Your subordinate has already investigated clearly. It turns out that batch of lanterns had problems—someone had coated them with sulfur and carbon powder.”

“What?” Jing Yi was shocked.

He rose from his seat, lightly brushing his sleeves.

Dou Quan reported further: “Precisely because Prince Rong discovered the lanterns had problems, he secretly had Zhang Bo remove and replace them all.”

“That’s strange.” Jing Yi paced forward, leaving the hall, thinking it over, muttering: “That batch of lanterns was transported from Fangshui City. How could they have sulfur and carbon powder? Even if they did, how would Jingrong know?”

“Your Highness, should we continue investigating?”

Jing Yi raised his hand: “No need. Father Emperor’s birthday is approaching. This prince doesn’t want any mishaps. Moreover, this prince is somewhat curious and would prefer to sit and wait for him to reveal the answer himself.”

His thin lips curved slightly upward, carrying a cunning smile.

But Dou Quan worried: “What if it’s harmful to Your Highness?”

“Just relying on that Jingrong? He doesn’t have that capability yet.” Full of dominance, he continued: “However, I do hope he truly can do something harmful to this prince. Then this prince can bring charges against him before Father Emperor.”

How contemptible!

Extremely sinister!