“Yufu County!”

After hearing this, Prince Xian teased: “What, is the vast capital city unable to contain you anymore?”

“Though the capital is large, it’s insufficient to contain one person’s heart.”

“Those words truly have some poetic flavor.”

He nodded, savoring the phrase!

Muruo, however, picked up a jug of wine and drank again. The smile congealing at the corner of his mouth never dispersed.

Then he said: “This trip to Yufu will take six months at most, two months at least. I’ve entrusted all your medicine to Xiaotong. Every seven days, medicine will be sent to the palace once. Remember, don’t miss a single dose.”

“Mm!”

“When I return, I’ll find a way to take you out of the palace. During this time, just stay in the palace.”

“Mm!”

He agreed to everything.

Though Muruo said he came to bid farewell, it was also for a few jugs of wine.

Craving it, he asked: “Is the warmed wine ready?”

Not polite at all, completely taking for granted that Prince Xian preparing warmed wine for him was as it should be.

Prince Xian smiled helplessly. With a wave of his hand, he called Fu Lu from the doorway and instructed: “Warm all the wine I brewed and have someone send it to Yuhua Pavilion.”

“Willing to part with it?”

“Of course I’m willing. If you don’t have the wine I brewed for you on this trip away from the capital, I’m afraid your journey won’t be comfortable.”

“That’s true!” Muruo nodded, set down the wine jug, and stood up saying: “Then I’ll wait for your wine.”

Saying this, he was about to leave.

He had only taken a few steps with his back turned when Prince Xian suddenly called out to him.

“Is it because of Kong Yu?”

Uh!

Muruo’s footsteps abruptly stopped. His already swaying body froze, his palm tightening.

He slowly turned around to meet Prince Xian’s deep gaze, saying nothing.

Prince Xian continued: “You like Kong Yu, don’t you?”

“…”

“You can hide it from others, but you can’t hide it from me. You’ve always liked her, liked her since you were young. Now that she’s dead, your heart is probably exhausted too, isn’t it?”

It must be said, Prince Xian understood Muruo better than anyone!

Muruo’s every word and action—only Prince Xian understood them most clearly.

But before this, regarding Muruo liking Kong Yu, Prince Xian had never stated it explicitly.

When that thorn in his heart was picked out, Muruo was actually panicking.

In an instant, it was as if the wine had worn off, and his consciousness had sobered up.

In his peach blossom eyes, a trace of tears flickered!

After his Adam’s apple rolled for a long time, Muruo finally said: “It’s all in the past.”

Prince Xian: “If it could really pass, you wouldn’t be leaving the capital, would you?”

“I’m just going to tour the mountains and waters!”

“Do you believe that yourself?” Prince Xian questioned him, then struggled to rise from the soft couch, step by step walking before him. His hollow and powerless gaze met Muruo’s flickering and guilty eyes as he continued: “Why make yourself so tired? Since you care so much, there’s no need to hide it. Muruo, loving someone is very precious. Being able to love is most valuable. Hiding love in your heart—that’s worse than death.”

For the first time—this was the first time Muruo heard Prince Xian say such words. Slightly shocked, he also pondered Prince Xian’s earlier words.

His brows pressed together lightly, his eyes filled with sorrow. He smiled bitterly: “Just consider that I can’t afford to love, all right?”

All right!

Of course it’s all right!

But Prince Xian said nothing.

Muruo also silently left…

That very day, Pan Chong’s household had already packed everything, preparing to leave the capital and return to their hometown.

The day before departure, he made a trip to Prince Yi’s residence.

To bid farewell!

“After the Crown Prince’s downfall, thanks to Prince Yi’s support, my Pan family wasn’t implicated. This old man thanks Prince Yi here.”

He bowed!

Prince Yi was playing chess, his left hand holding white pieces, his right hand holding black pieces.

The movements of his hands didn’t stop, nor did his head turn even slightly in Pan Chong’s direction. He only said: “Master Pan, have a safe journey. This prince won’t see you off.”

“Yes.”

Pan Chong didn’t linger. His family was still waiting at the city gate, so he brushed his robes and left.

Just as his front foot left, on the back foot, the black piece in Prince Yi’s hand fell onto the board. He had won.

“Dou Quan.”

He called out.

Dou Quan from outside the door quickly entered: “What orders does Your Highness have?”

Prince Yi smiled, reached out to pour a cup of tea, lifted it to his lips and took a sip, saying sinisterly: “A dog that will bite its master at any time—even if you tie it up, you can’t take it out, and you can’t even keep it in a cage. Do you understand?”

Dou Quan bowed his head: “This subordinate understands!”

“Go handle it.”

“Yes!”

Dou Quan cupped his hands and left…

On the very night Pan Chong left the capital, because the horses were startled, they carried the carriage and tumbled off a cliff together.

A family of seven—all dead!

Not even corpses remained!

The next day!

Jing Zhaoyin arrived at Prince Rong’s residence entrance!

Outside Prince Rong’s residence, three carriages were stopped. Jing Zhaoyin had arranged for Granny Xie to be in the last carriage.

And he instructed his subordinate: “Take good care of Granny Xie.”

“Yes!” The person acknowledged.

Jing Zhaoyin then lifted his official robes and entered.

The entire Prince Rong’s residence was busy loading things onto the carriages outside.

After all, their prince was leaving the capital for Yufu—who knew how long he’d be gone? Some things, of course, had to be well-prepared.

But for this trip, Jingrong was only bringing seven or eight guards—his purpose was to avoid making too much of a show.

At this moment, Jing Zhaoyin had just entered when he encountered Jingrong and Ji Yinshu, who had just come out.

Jingrong’s expression was calm, showing no emotion. Only in his hands were two sandalwood boxes, one in each hand. Beneath his seriousness, there was also a hint of playfulness.

Ji Yinshu silently followed beside him. The wound on her body had improved considerably, though her steps were still somewhat heavy.

Seeing this, Jing Zhaoyin quickly stepped forward, wanting to take the sandalwood boxes from Jingrong’s hands: “Your Highness, let this official hold them for you.”

“No need. This prince’s things don’t need to pass through others’ hands.”

“…”

Jing Zhaoyin looked embarrassed.

He could only turn to Ji Yinshu beside him and say: “Master Ji, Granny Xie is already in the carriage. I’ve also arranged for people from Jing Zhaofu to follow along the way, and the case files from the Court of Judicial Review are all in the carriage.”

“Thank you!”

“This official admires Master Ji. Not everyone dares to strike the imperial drum.”

Ji Yinshu smiled without speaking!

Jingrong coldly glanced at Jing Zhaoyin and said: “All right, hurry back to Jing Zhaofu. No need to see us off.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Saying this, Jing Zhaoyin pulled a vermillion-yellow thin booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Ji Yinshu, saying: “This is the documentation for this case. Show it to the Yufu County magistrate, and he’ll be able to hand the case over to you. Master Ji must keep it safe.”

Ji Yinshu put it away, feeling the heavy weight in her hand.

Only then did Jing Zhaoyin leave…

Outside, things were basically packed up. Jingrong was about to take Ji Yinshu onto the carriage when she said: “Wait, I still have something that hasn’t arrived.”

“Something? Very important?”

“Mm, very important!”

This really piqued Jingrong’s curiosity.

Her most important thing—wasn’t that himself?

You Ji Yinshu—could it be you’re keeping another man on the side?

Just at this moment, Lang Bo came riding up on horseback.

What?

To Ji Yinshu, the most important thing was Lang Bo?