The old steward didn’t even lift his eyes, walking over with his head bowed.

“I wonder what business you have with this old servant?” His voice was desolate.

A faint smile played at the corners of Ji Yunshu’s mouth as she held the brocade box she’d brought in her hands and passed it to the old steward.

“Old sir, this is a medicinal ingredient I brought from home. If you grind it up and mix it with white liquor and brown sugar, then apply it to the knife wound, it will help your facial injury heal better.”

Probably not expecting that Ji Yunshu had actually come to deliver medicine to him, the old steward’s body stiffened. He lifted his eyelids and met Ji Yunshu’s gentle, refined gaze.

He quickly declined: “This old servant has had no dealings with you, sir. Such precious medicinal ingredients—this old servant cannot accept them.”

“Please accept it, old sir. Medicine has no distinction of value. Used on someone who needs it, it becomes life-saving medicine. Used on someone who doesn’t need it, it’s just ordinary medicinal material. This medicine is useless to me, but it’s useful to you, old sir. Since I’ve come through the snow to deliver it, how could there be any reason to take it back?”

“This…”

Without giving him a chance to refuse, Ji Yunshu directly stuffed the brocade box into the old steward’s arms.

“You needn’t be so polite.”

If this medicine were properly preserved, in several years’ time, its market price could reach tens of millions!

However, helping those in urgent need—no matter how much Ji Yunshu loved money, she wouldn’t become obsessed with it.

If she couldn’t return to the modern era, she would ultimately just be a pile of white bones anyway.

The old steward finally accepted the medicine, saying: “Then this old servant thanks you, sir.”

After speaking, he actually bent at the waist to bow in gratitude. According to seniority, Ji Yunshu couldn’t accept this.

So she quickly swept her hands forward and grasped the old steward’s elbows, lifting them up.

“Old sir, you absolutely mustn’t! You’re an elder—you certainly cannot bow to me. It would shorten my lifespan.”

“Sir is truly a good person, but this old servant has nothing with which to repay you.”

“Then please, old sir, make good use of this medicine to heal the wound on your face.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Ji Yunshu smiled, but suddenly felt that her fingers gripping the old steward’s elbow had touched something.

Glancing sideways, she saw a light black mark on the old steward’s sleeve, as if it had been scorched by a flame.

And something that had originally been stuck to it was now stuck to Ji Yunshu’s thumb.

She withdrew her gaze and released her hand from the old steward’s elbow.

She said lightly: “Old sir, I previously left a sandalwood box at the mansion. It contains some small knives. I wonder if it’s still here?”

“Yes, yes, this old servant will fetch it for you right away.”

She nodded.

The old steward left with the brocade box to fetch the sandalwood box for her.

In that instant, Ji Yunshu’s expression froze. She raised her hand and looked at what had stuck to her thumb—it was actually a thin piece of wax.

She brought it to her nose and sniffed. The wax oil had a very distinctive scent, carrying the fragrance of spring return and precious lotus.

How could ordinary wax oil be like this?

Thinking again of the light black mark on the old steward’s clothing, combined with the wax oil, presumably it had been scorched by a candle flame.

And where had she smelled this wax oil fragrance before?

A wave of doubt rose in her heart, yet she seemed to understand something.

At this time, the old steward returned carrying the sandalwood box and presented it with both hands: “Sir, this old servant has cleaned the box for you.”

Setting aside her earlier contemplation, Ji Yunshu accepted the box.

At the same time, she glanced at the scar on the old steward’s face. In her heart, she had already pieced together most of the picture.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“This old servant will see you out.”

“No need. The road is slippery. Please stay, old sir.”

Leaving the Zhou residence, Ji Yunshu didn’t return to the Ji family home but instead went to the prison where criminals were detained.

According to procedure, she should first petition the county magistrate and obtain a special order before entering.

But the county magistrate regarded Ji Yunshu as a treasure and had issued an order: seeing her was like seeing the county magistrate himself.

As a result, as soon as she arrived at the prison entrance, the guard on duty obediently opened the door, bowing at the waist and fawning as he greeted her.

After all, this was the county magistrate’s favored person—she must be served well.

“Master Ji, what brings you here? Oh my, please be careful. It’s dark inside—mind your step.”

He almost said “Shall this humble one support you?”

Not becoming a eunuch in the imperial palace was truly a waste of talent!

Ji Yunshu glanced at him: “The two prisoners brought in yesterday from the Zhou residence—where are they?”

“Inside.”

“Take me to see the woman.”

“Certainly, I’ll lead the way.”

The guard led the way with Ji Yunshu following behind. The prison was indeed very dark and damp. No wonder prisoners held here for long periods complained of leg pain.

In modern terms, that’s called rheumatism.

Reaching the innermost cell on the left, the guard said: “Sir, she’s in here.”

Borrowing the light from the oil lamp outside, Ji Yunshu could barely make out the person inside.

Suyun was curled in the corner, hugging her arms, her entire body trembling.

Naturally, a cold draft coursed through the dark prison cell. If one wasn’t dressed warmly enough, being frozen to death was entirely possible.

“Open the door,” Ji Yunshu said.

“This… the person inside is a criminal.” The guard emphasized this point.

“Of course I know she’s a criminal. Do I need you to remind me?”

The guard was extremely embarrassed. He took out the key and unlocked the chains.

Ji Yunshu took down the oil lamp hanging on the outside wall and casually stuffed the sandalwood box she’d been holding into the guard’s hands.

“Hold this carefully. Wait for me outside.”

“Mm, sure thing.”

She stepped inside and walked to Suyun’s side, crouching down. As the oil lamp gradually drew closer, Ji Yunshu could see Suyun’s face, white as paper.

Compared to yesterday, this face could no longer be described as merely pale!

“Suyun,” she called her name.

Suyun’s body was trembling violently. Only after a long while did she react, raising her head. In her deeply sunken eyes was an indifference and coldness approaching death, with no trace of fear remaining.

“Suyun, do you want to help yourself? Help Lin Duan?”

Ji Yunshu’s voice echoed in this narrow cell, carrying a compelling, heart-penetrating intensity.

Suyun opened her mouth. Because her physical strength was gradually weakening, speaking was also very difficult: “What did you say?”

“I’m asking you—do you want to save yourself? Save Lin Duan?”

Ji Yunshu asked again. What she received in return was a flat laugh from Suyun: “I killed someone, so I must pay with my life. How can I be saved? Can’t be saved, can’t be saved…”

“You can be saved.”

“What do you mean?”

Ji Yunshu brought the oil lamp in her hand even closer to Suyun’s face.

Hoping this faint beam of light could warm her cold body a little.

“Suyun, listen carefully. Every question I ask you is of vital importance. You must think very clearly before answering me.” Ji Yunshu was extremely serious.

After a moment, Suyun nodded.

She asked: “I’m asking you—that night, when you entered your mistress’s room, what exactly did you see? And had the lamp in the room already been extinguished?”