Muruo went to see Kong Yu?

Ji Yinshu looked at him, not particularly surprised.

She said lightly, “You wanted to take her away?”

Muruo smiled. “Not take away—escape.”

“That night, I originally wanted to take her away from the palace, away from the capital. That way, she wouldn’t have to marry the Crown Prince. I also promised her that even if we had to hide for a lifetime, I wouldn’t let her suffer the slightest harm. But—”

Before he could finish, Ji Yinshu took over.

“But she was unwilling, because if she really left, both the Kong family and Yuhua Pavilion would be implicated. She couldn’t let go, so she couldn’t just walk away. More importantly, she didn’t want to live a lifetime on the run, nor did she want to spend that lifetime… living in the days of missing Jingrong.”

Word by word, she clearly expressed Kong Yu’s thoughts at that time!

Muruo’s lips curved in a self-deprecating smile. “In the end, I was ultimately just a friend to her. The deepest place in her heart could never be shaken.”

“But she was very fortunate to have a friend like you.”

“Perhaps!” Turning, he took a deep breath and asked Ji Yinshu seriously, “Can you tell me what she said to you when she chose that final path she had no choice but to take?”

“What should she have said to me?”

“You appeared in Zhaoxian Palace—it must have been because she gave you a token to enter the palace. So you two must have said something to each other, right?”

Right!

Absolutely right!

Muruo asked again, “Can you tell me?”

Ji Yinshu’s throat tightened. “What I said was that the Crown Prince died, and she didn’t want to live either. After all, staying in the deep palace for a lifetime is a form of torture.”

“You know such a reason isn’t enough to deflect me.”

“But you only need to know this much. As for the rest, don’t ask any further.”

Ji Yinshu’s attitude was resolute. About Kong Yu killing General Yuchi and the Crown Prince, she absolutely wouldn’t mention it.

In any case, Kong Yu, as the murderer, had already committed suicide.

Why add the title of murderer to her name?

Muruo wasn’t a persistent person. He was clear in his heart that there must be some secret between Kong Yu and Ji Yinshu, and that secret was something Ji Yinshu would never reveal no matter what.

So he didn’t ask anymore.

With a calm smile, he nodded. “Alright, then let her rest in peace.”

Muruo terminated the topic. He picked up the cup of tea he had just poured and downed it in one gulp.

“Didn’t you say you don’t drink tea?”

“Mm, recently I’ve been thinking of changing my taste.”

A change of character?

Setting down the teacup, Muruo clasped his hands behind his back and went out.

In the courtyard, Wei Yi was still angry with his arms folded, continuously kicking stones with his foot, head lowered, cheeks puffed up high.

Seeing Muruo come out, he let out a huff.

“Stinking brat, come on, come back with me.”

Muruo waved his wide sleeves.

But Wei Yi completely ignored him.

“Stinking brat… brat… Wei Yi?”

Still ignoring him.

So—

Muruo walked in front of him and sat down beside him. Looking at the back of his hand tucked in his arm, he reached out to touch it and asked, “Still angry? I didn’t do it on purpose. How about this—when we get back, I’ll give you something you’ll definitely like.”

Hm?

Give him something?

Wei Yi seemed to throw all his previous unhappiness behind him, his eyes widening.

“Give me what?”

“What do you want?”

Wei Yi touched his chin. Just then, Ji Yinshu came out from the room. He stretched out his slender index finger, pointing over, his tone rising.

“I want Shu’er!”

A loud and forceful voice, as if it had penetrated through thick walls—even the maids outside heard it.

Ji Yinshu couldn’t help but lower her head with a smile and walked over, lightly patting his head.

She said, “Why are you so loud? Are you afraid others can’t hear you?”

Who would have known—

Wei Yi suddenly stood up, beaming with a big smile. “Shu’er, I want you.”

Pfft—

This immediately made Ji Yinshu’s entire face turn bright red.

Hearing this, Muruo almost doubled over with laughter. He stood up, grabbed Wei Yi by the back of his collar, pulled him in front of himself, and said, “You brat, we haven’t seen each other for just two days, and your speaking skills have become so formidable. Look, you’ve made your Shu’er so embarrassed.”

Wei Yi looked at Ji Yinshu with an innocent expression. “Shu’er, did I say something wrong?”

What do you think?

Fortunately, Ji Yinshu was very tolerant of his innocence.

She smiled. “No, Wei Yi didn’t say anything wrong. However, you need to go back to Yuhua Pavilion with Muruo today. That way, I won’t be angry with you.”

“But I don’t want to leave you.”

“Be good. I’ll come see you.”

Wei Yi looked completely reluctant, a pair of pleading eyes looking toward Muruo. “Brother Muruo, I don’t like you anymore. Can I not go back to Yuhua Pavilion with you? I want to stay by Shu’er’s side, alright?”

“Not alright!”

Muruo wasn’t Ji Yinshu.

First, he didn’t have that kind of patience.

Second, his compassion didn’t overflow.

His tone hardened. “Yuhua Pavilion has been quite desolate these past two days without you. Moreover, didn’t you just say you wanted… your Shu’er? If you obediently come back with me, I’ll give you your Shu’er.”

“Really?”

“Of course it’s true!”

Ji Yinshu wore an expression of “I’m just waiting to see how you conjure up another me for Wei Yi.”

In the end, Muruo dragged Wei Yi away from Bamboo Creek Garden.

Like carrying a little chicken.

It seemed the person who could truly handle Wei Yi was still Muruo.

After returning to Yuhua Pavilion!

As soon as they entered, the young servant A’Li came forward, with an expression unable to pull out any emotion, pointing toward the back courtyard and stammering, “Master, you’re finally back. That… that…”

“That what?”

“That thing has been delivered!”

Muruo seemed to know what it was.

Wei Yi tugged at his sleeve, anxiously asking, “You promised that if I came back with you, you’d give me Shu’er. Where’s Shu’er? Where’s Shu’er? If you lied to me, I’ll never believe you again.”

“Who lied to you! Come with me.”

So Muruo dragged him to the back courtyard.

Beside the large tree in the back courtyard stood a colorful… paper figure.

Yes, a paper figure!

The paper figure transported from the paper goods shop, prepared to be burned for Wei Yi.

“Look, that’s your Shu’er. Whether you want to hold her while eating or sleeping together, it’s up to you.”

Damn it!

I’m furious.

Wei Yi clenched both fists tightly, glaring at him fiercely.

“I’m never playing with you again. You lied to me.”

After shouting, Wei Yi ran angrily into his own room, while Muruo didn’t forget to shout from behind, “I didn’t lie to you! This is Shu’er. I named her. If you don’t like it, you can call her Dong’er, Lan’er, or even Xiang’er. You can name her yourself, alright?”

“Not alright!”

Wei Yi threw out that sentence, then with a “bang,” closed the door.

Just the moment after the door closed, Muruo also put away that teasing and playful expression, staring gravely at that door.

His eyes held an unfathomable depth.