Prince Rong’s Residence!

After Wei Yi woke up, he fell asleep again. Now he still refused to get out of bed. Ji Yinshu hadn’t closed her eyes all night and was now waiting for Jingrong at the residence gate.

When Jingrong returned from the palace, it was already the morning of the second day.

Seeing her slender body swaying and trembling at the gate, he walked over with a pained heart and grasped her hand, gently rubbing it a few times.

“Didn’t sleep all night?”

She nodded!

He reached out and rubbed her head. “I already said that this prince will resolve any matter. You need not worry.”

Ji Yinshu stared at him without speaking.

Jingrong told her everything he had said to Jing Yi.

And said, “He won’t take the risk, because if anything else happens at this critical juncture, Father Emperor will definitely investigate thoroughly. In the end, it will lead back to him. The risk is too great—he won’t take the chance.”

“What if he stakes everything on one gamble?”

“Then this prince will drag him along to the underworld to meet the Black and White Impermanence.”

After hearing this, Ji Yinshu pushed him away, displeased. “At this moment, you’re still joking.”

“This prince is serious.” Jingrong wore a completely serious expression.

Ji Yinshu narrowed her eyes at him, somewhat worried because of what he had just said.

But then—

Jingrong smiled again and said, “The usually clever Master Ji—how have you become so dull at this moment?”

“What do you mean?”

“You may not be clear about what kind of person Jing Yi is, but that doesn’t mean this prince isn’t clear. The Crown Prince’s death is the greatest benefit to him in this entire scheme. If the deal between you two wasn’t achieved, and he had that Lord Zhang change his testimony again, claiming that this prince used him to make him frame the Crown Prince for the Chengqing Palace incident—do you think Father Emperor would believe it?

Even if Father Emperor truly believed it, complications would inevitably arise. Jing Yi is a cautious person. He won’t make a single wrong step. Therefore, this prince has determined that he won’t have Zhang Bo change his testimony. Only a fool like you would worry so much.”

Yes, she was truly foolish!

However, she had considered everything too comprehensively.

After all, no one could predict the final outcome. What if Jing Yi really decided to stake everything on one gamble? Then both would truly suffer devastating losses.

Seeing Ji Yinshu thinking carefully, Jingrong said sternly, “But your concealment of the Crown Prince’s rebellion is truly unforgivable. Although it was to save me, making the Crown Prince take the blame for the Chengqing Palace fire—now that the Crown Prince is dead, this prince’s heart doesn’t feel right either. Therefore, this matter absolutely cannot happen a second time. Otherwise, it will never be forgiven lightly.”

As he spoke, he curled his finger and flicked her forehead heavily!

A sharp pain shot through her forehead.

Ji Yinshu rubbed it and glared at him. “What if you break it? It can’t be fixed.”

“If it’s broken, it’s broken. This prince can afford to support you.”

“Difficult!”

Difficult?

Jingrong frowned and grabbed her hand, pulling her before him with an evil smile. “Why don’t we try?”

Ji Yinshu’s eyes showed slight alarm, and her ears involuntarily reddened. She pushed him away. “The Crown Prince’s funeral hasn’t been held yet. Your Highness should be more proper.”

“Oh? According to what you’re saying, after the funeral is over, we’ll try?”

She swore she absolutely didn’t mean that!

Your Highness, you’re reading too much into it!

Seeing Ji Yinshu’s expression of embarrassment mixed with anger, his lips curved upward. He reached out to lift her chin, staring at her suddenly widened pupils.

He said, “Little enchantress, will you promise me that after the Crown Prince’s funeral is complete, you’ll focus on investigating the Linjing Case? Don’t concern yourself with other matters. If any troublesome complications reach out, this prince will block them for you.”

“…”

“After the Linjing Case is solved, this prince will definitely welcome you through the gates with an eight-carrier bridal sedan.”

Extremely serious!

Ji Yinshu’s heart trembled. She had never thought about this question—or more accurately, didn’t dare to think about it.

In fact, she was unwilling to think about it!

The title of Princess Rong was equivalent to iron chains that would lock her in the capital for this lifetime.

Before she could nod or shake her head in response to this statement, Jingrong continued, “These next few days with the Crown Prince’s funeral arrangements, this prince will be quite busy. If you want to take Wei Yi back to Bamboo Creek Garden, you may, but Lang Bo will still follow you. However, this time it’s surveillance.”

Direct words.

She was just about to protest when Jingrong had already left the courtyard.

So carefree and unrestrained.

She pursed her lips but couldn’t utter a single word. Her fingers twisted around and around several times.

It wasn’t until Wei Yi gently patted her shoulder that she snapped back to her senses.

Wei Yi rubbed his eyes, staring at the western sky that had just barely shown a hint of red, and said, “Shu’er, it’s so early.”

Mm!

Quite early.

“I’m hungry.” He touched his stomach.

Ji Yinshu held her forehead. She discovered this lad was simply a bottomless pit, forever saying he was “hungry”!

Nevertheless, Ji Yinshu led him back to Bamboo Creek Garden for breakfast, with Lang Bo following closely behind.

According to Jingrong’s instructions, implementing surveillance mode.

Over the next two days, Jingrong busied himself with handling the Crown Prince’s funeral arrangements.

Jing Yi also didn’t seek out Ji Yinshu to discuss the previous deal. Extremely quiet!

Ji Yinshu also resided quietly at Bamboo Creek Garden, reopening the remaining coffins from Linshan Mountain to continue painting the remaining skeletal portraits.

Wei Yi also stuck by her side inseparably, playing happily. He no longer complained of headaches, helping her knead clay on one hand and grinding materials on the other.

He even—

Helped Ji Yinshu pull out several ribs from the coffins, looking completely familiar with the process.

He had completely lost that previous fearful timidity. Moreover, when seeing the skulls of the skeletons, he looked at them with great interest for several more glances, examining them while touching the contours of his own face.

Muttering to himself, “My face seems a bit bigger than his, my eyes are a bit smaller than his, my nose is a bit higher than his, my mouth… also seems smaller than his. Why is that? Why doesn’t he look like me? He can’t speak either, and moreover, he has no flesh at all. Did he starve to become so thin? How pitiful!”

Puffing out his cheeks.

Ji Yinshu’s ears perked up, catching his muttered remarks. Wielding a writing brush in her hand, she paused, nearly ruining the painting beneath her brush.

She was certain Wei Yi was just trying to make her laugh.

So—

She set down the brush and looked toward Wei Yi.

That lad was wearing gloves, holding a skull, looking left and right, still furrowing his brow as he pinched his own face hard.

Ji Yinshu called out to him, “Have you seen clearly? Where are the differences?”

“Everywhere is different. Not the same as me at all.”

He replied, carrying the skull over and placing it on the table in front of Ji Yinshu, pointing as he said, “Shu’er, why am I different from him?”

“You want to be the same?”

Wei Yi nodded, poking at the skull. “He’s thinner, more handsome.”

His eyes full of envy.

Ji Yinshu nearly spurted blood.

Brother, you two have absolutely no basis for comparison at all! He’s white bones remaining after death, and you’re a living body of flesh and blood.

But her heart inexplicably felt amused. Her eyes rolled, and she seemed to think of something. She reached out and selected a clean writing brush from the brush holder.

Then, she gently tapped the top of the skull’s head—