“Jingrong, you know I can’t just ignore this case. If you have a solution, why won’t you tell me? Just help me this once. I know you think I’m too willful, and you even think I’m just asking for trouble. But I can’t turn a blind eye to this. If being together with you means I have to stop caring about anything, stop being concerned about anything—Jingrong, I can’t do that. And the person standing before you now wouldn’t be the Ji Yinshu you know. And you… would you still like me that way?”

Ji Yinshu questioned him!

As she spoke, her eyes reddened.

Jingrong’s chest shook, and his hands involuntarily trembled.

At this moment, he suddenly felt he was the most selfish one.

“Yunshu…” His mouth opened.

“Tell me! What is this method?”

Jingrong held back for a moment before saying, “If the Court of Judicial Review refuses to accept the case, the only method… is to file an imperial petition by striking the imperial drum outside the North Gate.”

The imperial drum!

Ji Yinshu had heard of it. Any case that couldn’t be accepted by the various prefectures and provinces could only be brought forward by striking the imperial drum. And to strike the imperial drum, one had to endure forty strokes of the staff—not one stroke less.

No wonder Jingrong had reacted so strongly when Jing Zhaoyin was about to speak earlier!

Seeing Ji Yinshu showing signs of considering this, Jingrong said firmly, “This method is absolutely forbidden as far as this prince is concerned. Listen carefully—if you dare to do it, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life.”

After leaving these words, he departed.

Ji Yinshu remained standing in place for a long time, her gaze blankly fixed on the painting on the stone table that Jingrong had ruined.

Her hands on both sides tightly gripped her robes as they were lifted by the wind!

That day, she kept thinking about this matter, her heart heavy. She didn’t rest the entire night.

The next day!

She changed into different clothes and prepared to go out, but at the door she encountered Ji Wanxin. Ji Wanxin was holding an exquisite food box and blocked her path.

“Yunshu, I brought you some pastries you like. I haven’t made them in a long time. I don’t know if you’ll still find them to your taste.”

As she spoke, she pressed the food box into Ji Yinshu’s arms.

Ji Yinshu called over a maid and handed the box to her, then turned to Ji Wanxin. “I need to go out for a bit. I can’t chat long.”

“Where are you going? You seem in such a hurry.”

“To handle something.”

“Let me come with you.” Ji Wanxin offered proactively, linking her arm with Ji Yinshu’s quite intimately.

The little maid nearby glanced over and very tactfully averted her gaze.

Who would have thought Gentleman Ji appealed to both men and women!

Ji Yinshu couldn’t push her away. Thinking she was just going to an inn, she brought her along.

The two arrived at an inn.

The moment one foot stepped inside, they heard crashing and smashing sounds from within.

The first floor of the inn was in complete disarray, with broken plates, spilled wine, and scattered food all over the floor.

Looking further in, they saw a young woman furiously smashing things, throwing everything at another woman.

The woman lying on the ground was prostrate, head lowered, with disheveled hair covering her entire pale face. Facing such humiliation, she never fought back, clutching tightly to a yellowed bundle in her arms, motionless.

And that woman—wasn’t that Aunt Xie?

Ji Yinshu was about to step forward when Ji Wanxin beside her pulled her back.

“Yunshu, don’t meddle in others’ affairs.”

She shook her head at Ji Yinshu with a frightened expression.

Just as Ji Yinshu was about to push her aside, she heard the woman inside who was smashing things raise her voice sharply.

“I never thought you’d still have the face to come to the capital. Your daughter worked in a brothel—already filthy and unclean. My elder brother taking a liking to your daughter was her good fortune. She was worthless herself and committed suicide by poison, yet you accuse my elder brother of killing your daughter. How shameless! The case is already closed. What are you doing coming to the capital?”

After speaking, the woman poured an entire pot of wine over Aunt Xie!

The crowd sighed but said nothing!

“Your daughter got what she deserved. A brothel woman—what purity could she expect?”

Aunt Xie finally couldn’t bear it anymore. Her eyes reddened as she raised her head and said firmly, “My daughter didn’t commit suicide. That beast killed her.”

Smack—

Who would have known the woman would bend down and deliver a vicious slap across Aunt Xie’s face with a swing of her hand.

The innkeeper couldn’t bear to watch anymore and came forward to mediate. “Miss, please don’t cause trouble here.”

“Get lost.” She waved her hand. “Do you know who I am?”

“I know. Everyone knows Miss Qiao. It’s just that this woman was arranged to stay here by Jing Zhaoyin, so…”

“Enough. You just want money, don’t you?” With an air of wealth and arrogance, she pulled a gold ingot from her money pouch at her waist and threw it directly at the innkeeper, saying, “Take it. It’s enough to buy your entire inn. But listen well—you are not to let this woman stay here any longer. Otherwise, I’ll have your entire inn demolished.”

The innkeeper bit the gold ingot with his teeth. After confirming it was real, he quickly bowed obsequiously.

“Yes, yes, yes.” Turning around, he ordered the servant, “Quick, quick, quick! Throw her out.”

The servant had no choice but to comply. He dragged Aunt Xie up from the ground and was about to throw her out of the inn. The guests on both sides quickly dispersed, clearing a path.

But they were blocked by Ji Yinshu at the entrance!

“Move aside, move aside.”

The servant said irritably.

Ji Wanxin tugged at her sleeve, gesturing and reminding her.

But Ji Yinshu’s face, which had already turned cold long ago, became stern. She reached out and took Aunt Xie from the servant’s grasp. Immediately, she removed her own outer robe and covered Aunt Xie’s body, which had been soaked with wine.

Aunt Xie kept her head lowered, her body trembling.

“It’s alright now.” Ji Yinshu said softly in her ear.

Seeing this, the woman strutted over, pushing aside the two servants in front of her, and pointed at Ji Yinshu. “Who are you to block my business?”

Ji Yinshu cast her a cold glance, then handed Aunt Xie in her arms to Ji Wanxin, instructing in a low voice, “Take care of her.”

Ji Wanxin was stunned for a moment, but still took the woman and moved to the side.

“Let go of that wretched woman.”

The woman stepped forward to grab Aunt Xie, but Ji Yinshu caught her wrist and flung her aside with force.

“Miss Qiao, is it? Let me advise you—before things get worse, you’d best know when to stop.” Her tone was cold and carried an imposing presence.

“Who are you to meddle in my affairs?”

“You don’t need to know who I am. If you dare touch her again, I’ll send you to see the magistrate.”

Hearing this, the woman showed no fear at all!

Instead, she laughed coldly, pointing a finger at herself. “Send me to see the magistrate? Young master, do you have that capability?”

Ji Yinshu sneered coldly. “You can try! I guarantee you’ll squat in jail until you admit your wrongdoing.”

The woman’s expression stiffened!