Ji Yunshu’s sudden statement left Ji Wanxin stunned.

“Yunshu, why are you suddenly saying this? I’m not in a hurry. After you’ve recovered, we can leave together. Besides, those traveling with us are all men—rough fellows who aren’t attentive caregivers. If I’m by your side, it would be more convenient. Right now you…”

Before she could finish—

“Second Sister.”

Ji Yunshu interrupted her.

Looking at that face twisted with worry and appearing so fragile, Ji Yunshu’s eyes deepened as she said in a low voice, “Since childhood at the Ji residence, aside from Nanny Zhang and Luan’er, Second Sister has treated me the best. This kindness—Yunshu will remember it for a lifetime. If I were to repay it, I’m afraid I could never calculate how much.”

“We’re sisters. Treating you well is only natural.”

“Second Sister’s temperament has always been gentle. In the residence, you never quarreled with anyone. Combined with your poor health, you’ve spent years simply staying in your own courtyard. By all logic, avoiding conflict and strife, cultivating yourself—that should be what you aspire to, Second Sister. To marry into a good family in the future, support your husband and teach your children, live a peaceful life—that’s always happier than daily scheming and fighting for advantage.”

Ji Wanxin showed a completely confused expression, but vaguely, she seemed to sense something.

Yet she didn’t expose it, pretending to be ignorant!

Ji Yunshu poured another cup of tea and pushed it before her again, taking back the previous cup. She said, “Don’t wait until the tea is cold to drink it. Cold tea entering the stomach is very uncomfortable.”

Naturally, she picked up that cold tea and poured it directly on the ground!

Ji Wanxin quietly listened to her words laden with deeper meaning, then watched her pour out the cold tea. She merely pressed her lips together and ultimately said nothing.

She only nodded slightly and took a sip of hot tea!

Then she stood up and said, “Let me get you a garment.”

She walked to the screen and took down a light blue cloak, but didn’t hurry over to drape it on Ji Yunshu. Instead, she stood for a while, seemingly smoothing out the garment’s wrinkles, her eyes downcast, full of thoughts.

Finally unable to hold back, she spoke gently.

“Yunshu, if you have something to say, speak plainly.”

She still didn’t turn around!

Perhaps she didn’t dare.

Ji Yunshu also didn’t turn to look at her. Her gaze remained on the empty teacup in her hand. After a long while, she finally pushed herself up and walked to Ji Wanxin’s side, grabbing the cloak from her hands.

She draped it on herself!

As she said, “Some things need not be spelled out explicitly.”

“If you don’t say it, how will I understand?”

Ji Yunshu smiled faintly and grasped her hand. “Remember the night of the Ji residence fire? I asked you whether it was you who told Father about what Ji Pei and I said under the plum blossom tree back then. Actually, how you answered then wasn’t important to me, because it had already passed. I didn’t want to pursue it.”

Ji Wanxin pulled her hand back. “Why bring this up suddenly?”

Ji Yunshu didn’t respond to her words and continued, “The day you and Elder Sister entered the city, at the rouge shop, I originally thought it really was Elder Sister who pushed Miss Liang. But when I saw a trace of blood on her clothes, and your hand happened to be scratched.”

At this moment, Ji Wanxin understood her meaning, extremely shocked.

“Yunshu, you suspect it was me?”

“Yes, I did suspect you. But this bold conjecture—I didn’t pursue it further. However, I never expected that because I repeatedly trusted you, thinking everything you did was unintentional, the result would be countless deaths and injuries on Gaoshan Stronghold this time. Life after life—all because of you.”

“Yunshu, I…”

“Ji Wanxin, has your conscience been devoured by dogs?”

Ji Yunshu’s palm clenched tightly as she loudly demanded.

Ji Wanxin’s steps staggered in shock. She retreated several steps backward, eyes wide as she stared at Ji Yunshu’s fierce gaze before her.

She bit her pale red lips, eyes brimming with tears, shaking her head as she said, “Yunshu, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I truly don’t know who told Father about what you and Ji Pei said. I don’t know why you would think it was me who pushed Elder Sister, causing Miss Liang to fall to her death. And as for everything that happened at Gaoshan Stronghold—what does that have to do with me? Yunshu, you’ve misunderstood me.”

Tears fell, pitiful and touching!

Ji Yunshu laughed coldly, pressing forward step by step.

She backed Ji Wanxin against the pillar behind her.

Ji Yunshu’s cold eyes fixed on her tear-streaming eyes. Steeling her heart, she demanded, “The reason those two captured bandits were able to escape—you released them, didn’t you?”

Ji Wanxin desperately shook her head!

“The rope was cut with a blade. You deliberately left it for them after entering. Normally, the only things you carry are your jade pendant and handkerchief. Why would you carry a knife? Moreover, those people knew that capturing me could be used to threaten Prince Rong. Aside from you telling them, who else could it be?”

Item by item, Ji Yunshu laid everything out for her.

All the events that had occurred—it wasn’t because she was foolish, not because she didn’t know, but because she wanted to believe this pitiable Second Sister. But the facts proved that her trust had resulted in such terrible consequences.

Ji Wanxin cried, “I didn’t… I…”

“This attack on the mountain—Lang Bo said it was the Shanhuai County magistrate’s order. I imagine you also played a large role in this, didn’t you? Your purpose was to enrage those people so they would kill me.”

“I didn’t. Yunshu, you’ve truly misunderstood. When His Highness entered Gaoshan Stronghold to rescue you, at that critical moment, I only said a few words to Magistrate Zhang. And Magistrate Zhang was also worried something would happen to His Highness, so he…”

Slap—

Ji Yunshu struck her face with a palm.

The delicate beauty’s body was weak. This slap sent her directly to the ground. She prostrated herself, crying until she nearly choked, her body trembling as she covered her reddened face, looking at the unfamiliar Ji Yunshu before her in utter shock, tears continuously streaming out.

Ji Yunshu stood before her, looking down, fists clenched tightly as she said, “This slap isn’t for those people you caused to be killed, but for yourself. I hope it can wake you up—stop being so obstinate, walking down a path from which you cannot return. Good and evil will ultimately be repaid. You cannot not understand this.”

Without concrete evidence, relying solely on Ji Yunshu’s verbal testimony, there was no way to prove her guilt. Otherwise, she would definitely present the evidence piece by piece.

Facing Ji Yunshu’s accusations, Ji Wanxin consistently refused to admit anything, feeling extremely wronged.

She sobbed, “Yunshu, how could I possibly do those things? We grew up together. The kind of person I am—wouldn’t you know?”

“It’s precisely because we grew up together that I believe all these incidents are things you’re capable of doing.”

“…”

“Five years ago, because your garment was torn by a cat, you ordered your maid to beat that cat to death. Three years ago, because you were dissatisfied that Miss Lu wore the same hair ornament as you, you were ruthless enough to have someone cut her hair in the street. Two years ago, when you rode in a sedan to the temple to offer incense, just because someone blocked your sedan and prevented you from being first to offer incense, you slapped that person ten times. Item after item—do I need to list more?”

Ugh!

Ji Wanxin cried even harder!

“I didn’t…”

She sniffed, tightening her neck as she swallowed down the emotions surging in her heart, saying, “If you’re unwilling to admit it, I can do nothing. However, today, our sisterly bond…” As she spoke, she forcefully tore off a piece of her own dress, holding it on her slender fingertips.

“Is like this robe.”

Her hand released, and that piece of fabric fell to the ground!

Ji Wanxin was completely choked silent. She even forgot to cry, her heart like dead ashes!

Her face full of despair.

At this moment, two maids from the county yamen happened to enter. Seeing this scene before them, they immediately froze.

Enter?

Or leave?

They stood rooted at the doorway.

Ji Yunshu wasn’t flustered. With a calm expression, she sat down at the table, slowly poured a cup of tea, and after taking a sip, glanced at the two maids at the door.

“Miss Ji accidentally fell and may have injured herself. You two help her back to her room to rest. Also notify the Ji family’s coachman to prepare the carriage. Miss Ji is unwell and needs to return to Jinjiang.”

The two maids exchanged glances.

“Yes.”

They quickly entered and helped the dazed and dispirited Ji Wanxin from the floor, inadvertently seeing the red mark on her face.

How could this be from falling?

Clearly it was from being struck!

Five finger marks, clearly visible.

This Master Ji really had a temper—even hitting women. Thinking this, neither maid dared linger, fearing Ji Yunshu would turn her fury on them. They quickly helped Ji Wanxin back to her room.