While the Eastern Palace began preparing for a rainy day, on Jing Yi’s side, he also began plotting his grand plan.

Because he had reached a deal with Ji Yunshu, Jing Yi no longer continued torturing Jingrong. Instead, he kindly had him moved to a clean prison cell and even summoned an imperial physician to examine him once.

Jingrong didn’t know what medicine he was selling in his gourd.

Before he could figure these things out, shocking news reached his ears.

The Crown Prince, by imperial command, would marry Princess Huiwen as Crown Princess, with the wedding date set for three days hence!

Very hasty.

Two guards put their heads together gossiping about it for a long while, and Jingrong heard all the content.

Jingrong didn’t understand why His Majesty would have the Crown Prince marry Kong Yu.

The Kong family’s influence had been weakened after the Empress’s death. There was no reason to match an heir apparent with a woman without backing.

Of course, this also mixed in Jingrong’s sympathy for Kong Yu.

In his heart, he felt guilty toward Kong Yu. If he hadn’t delayed in explaining his feelings to her, she probably would have already married, and the matters of that marriage alliance and marrying the Crown Prince wouldn’t exist.

Just then, a sword-bearing guard walked in, silently approaching the outside of Jingrong’s cell. He vigilantly glanced at the two guards still discussing the Crown Prince’s grand wedding, then quickly flicked both hands in Jingrong’s direction.

A rolled-up paper note landed steadily at Jingrong’s feet.

“From Minister Qin.”

After speaking, that guard also walked away as if nothing had happened.

Jingrong picked up the note and opened it. On the small slip of paper, only one extremely brief sentence was written.

—Old General Li has prepared to leave the capital.

After reading it, he burned the note over the candle flame before him.

His stern brows, carrying a slight sickly pallor, furrowed slightly.

His fist clenched tightly.

Li Manor!

The entire household, top to bottom, had been almost completely emptied overnight.

Servants who should be dismissed had all been dismissed. Objects that should be taken had basically been taken. It looked very much like everyone had left and the building was empty.

Outside the capital!

The sky still drizzled with fine rain, dampening the yellow earth hills into a muddy mess…

Several horse-drawn carriages came out from the capital, traveling unhurriedly through the yellow earth hills. The coachmen driving wore bamboo hats, their whips in hand striking the horses again and again.

The horses neighed and rushed forward, their hooves sinking deep into the mud, splashing quite a bit of water onto the carriages.

In a grass pavilion.

Ji Yunshu stood beneath the pavilion eaves, her gaze continuously watching the distant yellow earth hills. On the stone table behind her, two cups of tea had been brewed, as if waiting for someone.

Soon, the rumbling sound of carriages approached from far to near. Several carriages could be seen gradually approaching through the thick white mist and rain, becoming clearer and clearer!

In the next moment, she glanced sideways at Shi Zijin with a signal.

Shi Zijin nodded, then immediately took the sword in her hand, pushed off with both feet, and her body leaped up, landing right in front of those carriages.

The horses were startled, their front hooves lifting high. The entire carriage nearly skidded and overturned.

“What happened?” A voice came from inside.

The coachman pulled hard on the reins, finally managing to calm the horses. After the false alarm, he looked at the cold-faced Shi Zijin and tremblingly replied to the person inside the carriage:

“Master, a woman has blocked our path.”

After speaking, the curtain was lifted by a wrinkled hand. Old General Li poked his head out to look.

In front of the carriage, Shi Zijin stood in the rain, sword in hand. Those eyes hidden beneath her brows carried a kind of penetrating sense of oppression. Due to the rain washing over her, her body’s surroundings emanated faint white mist, yet it was like invisible sharp swords, ready to stab toward him at any moment.

Old General Li withdrew his appraising gaze and asked: “Who are you? Why do you block this old man’s path?”

Shi Zijin didn’t answer his question but instead turned her head to look at the grass pavilion on the hill.

Old General Li naturally followed her gaze, and through that thin fog, he saw Ji Yunshu in the distant grass pavilion.

She wore a gray long robe, her hair in a high bun, a light blue scarf wrapped around her neck for warmth. That slender body seemed as if it would topple at any moment, carrying both the delicate refinement of a woman and the resolute strength of a man.

The coachman turned to ask: “Master, should we continue?”

“Stay here and rest for a while.”

“Yes.”

Old General Li descended from the carriage and walked alone with an umbrella toward the grass pavilion on the hill.

Reaching the pavilion, he folded his umbrella and set it aside, then looked at Ji Yunshu and said: “Has Master Ji been waiting long?”

Ji Yunshu: “Not long. Rather, the General arrived early.”

Old General Li smiled deeply without speaking!

“The weather is cold. Why doesn’t the General sit and drink a cup of hot tea before continuing your journey?”

A gracious invitation!

Old General Li didn’t refuse and sat down with her.

Two cups of tea sat on the table. Ji Yunshu pushed one toward Old General Li.

She said: “Last time when I visited the General’s manor, the General offered me a cup of tea. Today, I also offer the General a cup of tea. Please taste it, General, and see how this tea is.”

Interesting!

Old General Li across from her still maintained that unhurried, unruffled state. He actually tasted it, slightly narrowing his eyes and sniffing.

“It’s not considered good tea, but being able to taste a cup amidst this fine rain and thin mist makes it superb.”

“Is that so? Then if one were to taste this cup of tea in a quiet room, wouldn’t it be inferior tea?”

“Those words are incorrect!” Old General Li negated her statement: “This tea is only suited to be brewed in this place.”

After listening, Ji Yunshu’s slender, fair fingers lightly tapped the rim of the teacup before her. Her originally amiable and kind smile froze, and with a solemn tone she asked: “Then, General, can this cup of tea of yours only be brewed when leaving the capital?”

“What does Master Ji mean?”

“The great fire at Chengqing Hall killed thirteen people. His Majesty was injured. The court situation has been in turmoil. Could it be that the General wishes to leave the capital just like this?”

Getting to the point.

Her voice was very soft, and outside the rain continued incessantly. Without careful attention, her voice would be covered by the rain sounds.

Old General Li acted as if he’d heard an insignificant remark, holding his tea and continuing to drink.

After a long while—

He finally said: “Leaving the capital is the only way.”

Yes, it truly was his only way!

Only by leaving the capital and returning to Qingzhou—then, even if the truth came to light, his tens of thousands of troops in Qingzhou would be enough to resist the court’s pursuit and execution.

Ji Yunshu: “Why doesn’t the General speak honestly with me?”

“Honestly? What honesty does Master want?”

Ji Yunshu was too lazy to play cat and mouse with him anymore.

Slightly furrowing those beautiful brows, she said: “From the very beginning, your target wasn’t the current Emperor, was it? The so-called story of the Eighth Prince and Marquis Chao was merely a cover you used to conceal the truth. Your real target was actually Prince Rong.”

After listening, Old General Li merely smiled, asking like a knowledge-seeking child: “Why would this old man target Prince Rong?”

Ji Yunshu didn’t answer immediately but slowly stood up, walked forward a few steps, her back to Old General Li.

“Because you don’t want Prince Rong investigating the Linjing Case.”

Outside the pavilion, raindrops splashed one by one onto Ji Yunshu’s clean robe, like dark flowers blooming upon it…