Ji Wanxin asked in confusion.

“Qingjie? I’ve never heard of this medicine. When physicians have prescribed medicine for me in the past, they’ve never mentioned this herb!”

Just as Ji Yinshu was about to explain, Jingrong across from her suddenly interrupted.

With an air of expertise, he said, “Qingjie is a medicinal herb that takes ten years to mature. It’s very difficult to grow and very hard to obtain, extremely rare. It’s a medicine that dispels cold. With your body being so weak, it would be excellent for you.”

Huh?

Strange!

This fellow actually spoke up.

Ji Wanxin didn’t really listen to his explanation at all, but was delighted that he was speaking to her.

Her heart inexplicably panicked, her palms sweating. She bit her pale red lips and spoke to Jingrong in gentle tones: “I didn’t know Your Highness also understands these medicinal properties.”

“I don’t understand them. It’s just that spending time with Yinshu, I’ve picked up some superficial knowledge. I also know a bit about things like corpse examination and such.”

Yinshu?

Yes, Jingrong called her Yinshu in front of her.

Clearly with a somewhat deliberate flavor.

Ji Wanxin’s heart gave a painful lurch, but she didn’t show it on her face. Instead, she naturally followed up on Jingrong’s words, saying, “Yinshu is indeed very intelligent. She not only understands skeletal matters but can also solve many cases, and even knows something about medicinal properties.”

“Naturally.”

“I can’t compare to her.” Ji Wanxin depreciated herself, then immediately added, “However, I also admire Your Highness greatly.”

Jingrong didn’t care about her words at all.

He simply poured himself a cup of tea, then asked what seemed like a casual question: “Oh? Why do you admire this prince?”

The red mole at the center of Ji Wanxin’s brow bloomed like a flower, imprinted in the middle of her forehead, quite striking.

She said, “Your Highness’s bearing and manner are unlike others. I originally thought all the imperial princes would be arrogant and severe, but Your Highness has an approachable quality.”

Approachable?

Which of your eyes sees this prince as approachable?

However, these words were still pleasing to Jingrong’s ears. His gaze shifted to Ji Yinshu as he poked her with his chopsticks, saying proudly, “This prince has always been easygoing with people, and even better to you.”

Ji Yinshu rolled her eyes at him.

No response!

Jingrong didn’t mind either. He stood up, saying, “You two chat. This prince will return to the manor first—there are matters to handle.” He met Ji Yinshu’s gaze again. “I’ll come find you again tomorrow.”

Who would have known—

Ji Yinshu didn’t try to keep him at all.

Instead, she asked Ji Wanxin, “Did you come by carriage?”

Ji Wanxin replied, “I didn’t want to draw attention, so I walked here myself.”

“Oh!” So Ji Yinshu turned to Jingrong. “You’re returning to Prince Rong’s manor and will pass by the General’s manor anyway, so escort my Second Sister back. After all, it’s gotten dark, and I don’t feel comfortable with her returning alone.”

Hearing this, Ji Wanxin quickly said, “Yinshu, there’s no need to trouble Prince Rong. The General’s manor isn’t far from here—I can walk back.”

“No.”

Refused.

Her gaze fell on Jingrong.

By rights, Jingrong certainly didn’t want to!

Whether on his horse or in his carriage, he only wanted Ji Yinshu to ride.

But Ji Wanxin was, after all, his future wife’s older sister. In all propriety, he should call her sister as well.

So he agreed good-naturedly, “Alright.”

Ji Wanxin couldn’t suppress the excitement in her heart, but could only lower her eyes, hiding those feelings away.

Just as the maids were helping Ji Wanxin put her cloak back on, Jingrong leaned toward Ji Yinshu and grasped her hand hidden within her clothing.

“If there’s a next time, I won’t let you off easily.”

Ji Yinshu retorted, “A beautiful evening, a beauty by your side—you should be secretly delighted.”

“You…”

Before the words could leave his mouth, Ji Yinshu pushed him away, raising her voice to say, “Be careful on the road.”

Jingrong’s face darkened. After shooting her a glare, he strode out.

After bidding farewell to her, Ji Wanxin followed Jingrong’s steps.

Behind them, Ji Yinshu watched Ji Wanxin’s figure, her originally gentle gaze gradually darkening.

Shi Zijin appeared at the doorway at some unknown point.

She asked in confusion, “Why give her the opportunity to interact with His Highness?”

Ji Yinshu said, “I want to take a gamble—to see if I’m right or wrong.”

Words like these, Shi Zijin never seemed to fully understand, and she didn’t ask further.

On the road back!

Inside the carriage, Ji Wanxin remained in a state of nervous tension, head lowered, hands clasped tightly together, not daring to move her body in the slightest, as if afraid she would disturb Jingrong.

Jingrong glanced at her and asked, “Are you afraid?”

She shook her head.

Seeing this, Jingrong began to gossip, his eyes narrowing with probing curiosity. “This prince heard that your father has betrothed you to Shen Changqin of the Shen family?”

“Mm!”

“That Lord Shen—this prince has met him several times. He’s indeed quite good.”

“Your Highness is too kind.” Her words carried an imperceptible undertone.

Jingrong simply smiled and said nothing more.

However, Ji Wanxin boldly raised her head, gazing at him with deep feeling as she said, “I still remember the first time I saw Your Highness—it was when you came to visit our manor.”

“Mm!”

And then, there was no more!

Jingrong simply didn’t engage with her words.

Ji Wanxin couldn’t continue either.

Soon, they arrived at the General’s manor, and Ji Wanxin alighted.

When Jingrong returned to Prince Rong’s manor, Lu Jiang had been waiting for him.

“Your Highness!”

“How did the investigation go?” Jingrong asked directly.

Lu Jiang shook his head. “There’s not a single lead on the Yufu County disaster relief funds. That money just seems to have vanished into thin air. In the past, people were sent to investigate many times with no results, and moreover…”

“Moreover what?”

Lu Jiang’s expression grew somber.

He said, “Your Highness, your suspicion was correct. As it turns out, all the officials sent to investigate the disaster relief funds died on the road from Yufu back to the capital. Not a single one survived.”

Ugh!

This answer didn’t surprise Jingrong!

Because what he had Lu Jiang investigate was precisely what became of those officials who investigated the disaster relief funds.

Unexpectedly, they all died!

Jingrong drew a deep breath, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked toward the inner hall, appearing to be pondering something.

Lu Jiang followed, not daring to speak for a long while.

Finally—

“Your Highness, you had me investigate this matter—could it be you intend to go to Yufu?”

Jingrong directly ignored this question, muttering strangely under his breath, “What exactly is hidden behind this incident? The disaster relief funds were never opened on the road, nor did they pass through the hands of officials from various prefectures and provinces. So why did that money vanish into thin air?”

Lu Jiang happened to hear his words.

He boldly hypothesized, “Your Highness, could it be that the money was already empty before leaving the capital?”

“Impossible!” Jingrong immediately rejected this. “The disaster relief funds were cross-checked by the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites, then directly sealed. It’s completely impossible.”

“Then it’s truly strange.”

“What’s even stranger isn’t that, but rather—why did those officials disappear?”

Lu Jiang didn’t know!

In all of this, something was genuinely very strange.