There’s a saying that’s not wrong—the more a person retreats, the stronger the enemy becomes!

This matter, Jingrong couldn’t swallow.

He withdrew his injured hand, touching the white bandage wrapped around his palm.

The uneven thread texture rubbed against his calloused fingertips, rising and falling!

He said, “Now that I’ve gone to Yi Prince’s residence and he still refuses to back down, how can I achieve the greater kinship and act with reason?”

“So you already have a plan?” Muruo asked.

He nodded.

Then repeated what he had previously instructed Lang Bo to do.

Muruo was surprised, “Even if you truly capture living people and imprison them in the Court of Judicial Review, what then? Accuse Yi Prince? But in my view, before the news even leaves the Court of Judicial Review, it will be intercepted and never reach the Emperor’s ears.”

“When did I say I would accuse Jing Yi?”

“Then what’s your intention with this move?”

Jingrong smiled slightly, “Jing Yi will definitely try every means to kill that person. Only when the person is dead will there be no testimony, and he won’t have to worry about Father Emperor learning of his pursuit of me. But my purpose is precisely to have that person die in the Court of Judicial Review’s prison. At that time, Vice Minister Yu of the Court of Judicial Review will follow my instructions and personally report to Father Emperor. Although there’s no evidence and the culprit is dead, some matters require neither evidence nor results. Father Emperor is meticulous—how could he not detect the suspicion within? For no reason, someone pursued and tried to kill me, and the culprit escorted to the Court of Judicial Review suddenly died. Moreover, all these years, Jing Yi has been secretly connected with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. To kill someone in the Court of Judicial Review’s prison would be effortless. But even if Father Emperor understands, he will ultimately hastily conclude this matter out of concern that this imperial family scandal might leak. But guess what—will Father Emperor still treat Jing Yi the same as before?”

With this explanation, Muruo suddenly understood.

“I get it now—you’re… ringing an alarm bell for your Father Emperor!”

“You’re not that stupid after all.” Jingrong’s brow furrowed tightly, “Jing Yi’s grand ambitions haven’t developed overnight, yet Father Emperor has never investigated deeply. Now, he won’t even spare his own brother. Moreover, if Father Emperor thinks more deeply, he’ll discover the suspicious points in the Crown Prince’s palace siege incident. The Crown Prince was naturally timid and afraid of trouble. Since childhood, he grew up by Father Emperor’s side—how could he commit such a foolish act of besieging the palace and attempting regicide? Behind the scenes, someone must have been fanning the flames. And that Teacher Pan, who always served as the Crown Prince’s teacher—why was he unscathed after the Crown Prince’s downfall? Yet coincidentally, on the very day his entire household left the capital, all seven members of his family perished? If Father Emperor can think this far, he’ll definitely be more guarded against Jing Yi. That would be my filial duty as a son.”

My goodness, so touching and heartfelt!

Emperor Qizhen is blessed for three lifetimes to have a son like you!

Muruo said in a deep voice, “It seems the winds of factional strife have inevitably blown your way.”

“Perhaps.”

Muruo smiled deeply and began packing up the medicine box before him.

He asked casually, “Don’t you want to care about Wei Yi’s injury condition?”

“That you could come to treat my wound so quickly indicates he’s already safe and sound.”

“That’s true, but Wei Yi was injured, and Master Ji feels very guilty. These few days, we’ll probably have to stay in Anfu. Handle things properly yourself—get done what needs to be done quickly.”

“Mm.”

Jingrong nodded lightly, then stood again and walked to that open window.

Outside was already very dark!

A lantern hung in the corner, its light just illuminating a bird beneath the wall corner. The bird’s wing seemed injured—it flapped its wings in place but couldn’t fly up at all.

A verdant fallen leaf swayed down in the wind, landing beside that injured bird. Having lost its resilience for flight, the bird began pecking at that leaf with its sharp beak. In a short while, it had pecked hole after small hole in the leaf.

His gaze gradually grew cold and severe, circulating with a chilling air that intertwined with the falsely warm light outside.

Eerie!

And inscrutable.

After a long while, he finally closed the window!

Turning to Muruo, he said, “You don’t need to worry about me. Go rest.”

But Muruo said, “At a time like this, how could I possibly sleep? Since you and I are both awake anyway, let’s just sit together.”

“As you wish.”

The two then chatted idly in the room, discussing either trivial matters or old affairs from years past.

And those old affairs conspicuously skipped over the section about Kong Yu!

No one mentioned it!

Outside, Tang Si waited and waited without seeing Muruo emerge. Finding the wait truly tiresome and yawning, she could only return to Wei Yi’s room.

Ji Yunshu still guarded by the bedside without moving an inch. That face with scholarly bearing had obviously become much more haggard.

She glanced sideways at Tang Si, who sat at the table propping up her chin.

She asked, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

“It’s so late—where would you have me go?” Her voice aggrieved.

“This isn’t a place you should be.”

“Why do all you people speak so strangely? Are you really fugitives who kill without batting an eye?” Tang Si recalled what Muruo had said to her earlier.

Ji Yunshu didn’t answer.

After another while, unable to stay still, Tang Si walked before her, opening those big eyes wide and pointing at Wei Yi, “What is he to you?”

Curious!

Ji Yunshu’s expression moved slightly as she uttered two words, “Family.”

“Oh.”

She responded softly.

Then asked, “I saw that arrow was aimed at you. Why did those black-clothed people want to kill you? Who exactly are they?”

Indeed, that arrow had truly been aimed at her. If it hadn’t been for Wei Yi, how could this body of hers have withstood that arrow?

And who wanted to kill her—besides Jing Yi, who else could it be?

She lowered her eyes in silence, never answering Tang Si’s words.

Instead—

She extended her hand, “Return my things to me.”

That small wooden plaque!

Tang Si put on an act of playing dumb, “What thing? Don’t falsely accuse me.”

“That thing is very important to me—it’s not for you to play with. Give it back.” Ji Yunshu’s tone was cold and stern.

“Is that so?” Tang Si’s eyes shifted as she retreated a few steps, then took out that plaque, pinching it in her hand with a conditional tone, “Then tell me who gave you this thing, and I’ll return it to you.”

Ji Yunshu’s eyes deepened. She tucked in Wei Yi’s quilt, then with a cold expression pulled Tang Si outside.

Gently closing the door.

“Miss Tang, this plaque was left to me by my mother. I’ve always worn it by my side—it’s very important to me. I’m very grateful that you helped us, but this plaque absolutely cannot be given to you.”

“Your mother left it to you?” Tang Si was somewhat skeptical, but seeing that Ji Yunshu seemed to have lost patience, she could only obediently return the plaque to her, and moreover said, “The pattern on this plaque of yours—I saw it when I was small.”

“You really saw it before?”

Ji Yunshu was noticeably excited!

This was her only way to know the truth of why her mother left this wooden plaque.

Even—

It was the only clue to unraveling her mother’s true identity.

But Tang Si shook her head, “I saw it when I was very small. I have an impression of it, but I just can’t quite remember exactly where I saw it.”