Ji Wanxin’s slender eyes lifted slightly, looking at her with gratitude. “Yunshu, thank you.”

Thank me?

Sister, which eye of yours saw that I was helping you?

“Your health isn’t good. You should hurry back to the residence. And stop wearing this ring on your hand, lest you tear someone else’s fabric again in the future.”

“…”

Her mouth went dry, unable to speak.

She lowered her head pitifully.

Ji Yunshu seemed to think of something, her gaze dropping slightly. “I’ll go to the Ji residence with you.”

Hm?

Startling!

Ji Wanxin looked completely astonished.

“Yunshu…”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m only going to retrieve something.”

…

The Ji Residence.

That fire last time, though it had burned the entire Ji residence beyond recognition and destroyed more than half the estate, fortunately they had money. They hired dozens of carpenters and workers, and in just over a month had completely repaired and renovated all the collapsed buildings. One couldn’t see any trace of the fire at all.

Today, Ji Shuhan had an appointment with a business associate and wasn’t home!

Jingrong didn’t plan to go in. He had someone move a chair over and sat directly at the main gate, with the leisurely appearance of a young master. Maids and servants attended to him with good food and drink, terrified of neglecting this revered Buddha.

But what kind of Buddha sits at someone’s front gate?

This eccentric habit was truly unique.

Ji Yunshu’s arrival caused a commotion in the residence.

Everyone looked at her as if watching a monkey, even pointing fingers and discussing in low voices.

She didn’t return to her original courtyard but went to the ancestral hall instead. Along the way, no one stopped her. Ji Wanxin pushed away her maid and followed behind her with small, difficult steps, entering the ancestral hall together.

Inside, the scent of incense and candles was strong, white smoke curling upward—someone must have just added fresh incense.

In the ancestral hall.

Many memorial tablets were displayed, arranged from top to bottom in staggered rows, roughly forty or fifty in total. All were spirit tablets of the Ji family ancestors, perpetually worshipped with continuous incense. Every month, everyone in the Ji household came here to offer incense and bow.

Ji Yunshu lit a stick of incense, bowed three times to those tablets, then inserted the incense into the burner. She walked to the far edge of the ancestral hall and took down a dust-covered tablet. On it was carved her mother’s name, and besides the name, nothing else—not even her status.

For a woman born in a brothel to have her memorial tablet placed in the ancestral hall after death—Ji Shuhan could be considered to have fulfilled his duty.

Ji Yunshu curved her lips in a cold smile, then tore off a piece of cloth from the side and wrapped it up properly.

She said to Ji Wanxin, who had been silently standing by, “This is my mother’s memorial tablet. I’m taking it.”

She nodded, then pursed her lips. “Yunshu, I…”

Interrupted!

“If you want to talk about what happened at the silk shop just now, don’t bother.”

But she insisted on explaining!

“I really was just picking it up to look at it. I didn’t know this ring would…”

Interrupted again!

Ji Yunshu’s eyes turned slightly cold. “The reason I told people you didn’t do it on purpose doesn’t mean you truly didn’t do it on purpose. Ji Wanxin, when we were in Shanhuai County, I already made things perfectly clear. What kind of person you are, I don’t need to guess. If you were jealous that the young lady took the fabric you liked and, unwilling to accept it, tore it—that’s not impossible. Whatever the truth is, you know in your heart.”

Every word and sentence like sharp needles.

Ji Wanxin’s eyes reddened as tears fell the moment she lowered her head.

So what if she really did it on purpose? That fabric—she had gotten it first. It was Miss Zhang who forcibly snatched it away. Her heart was unwilling—what was wrong with doing that?

Looking at those two tear tracks, Ji Yunshu shook her head slightly.

Baby, sorry—this sister is immune.

She said, “I’m leaving.”

She stepped out of the ancestral hall!

But a voice came from behind: “I’m getting married.”

The voice full of grievance and helplessness.

Her steps didn’t stop as she turned to look.

Actually, she wasn’t surprised.

Ji Wanxin sniffled and stepped out of the ancestral hall, walking into the courtyard while saying, “A few days ago, Minister Shen came by. He wasn’t satisfied with me, disliking my sickly constitution, saying it would tarnish his Shen family’s reputation. So he told Father he wanted you to marry over in my place. Father was very angry at the time and argued with Minister Shen. In the end, with no other choice, Minister Shen had to compromise. He said that while my health is still okay, I should marry over sooner. The date is set for the fifteenth of the eighth month. In a while, Father will take me to the capital.”

“That’s good news.”

“Then can you come? I truly regard you as my closest person. If you’re not there on my wedding day, Yunshu, I’ll regret it for life.”

You’re scamming me for gift money—just say it, okay?

Such scheming!

Ji Yunshu said directly, “I won’t go.”

“Yunshu.” Ji Wanxin suddenly grabbed her hand. “I know you harbor resentment toward me in your heart, but I swear, I truly never meant to harm you or Ji Pei. Believe me, what you said back then—it wasn’t me who told Father. Even if what happened in Shanhuai County was my fault, I never meant to harm you. Believe me, I’ve always regarded you as my closest sister.”

Laughable!

She forcefully pulled her hand back.

Her expression colder than before. “I said, whether or not you were the one who told Father what Ji Pei and I said, I no longer care. Since you’re getting married, just marry properly. Marry into the Shen family and be a virtuous and accomplished wife.”

Having finished speaking, she held the tablet in her arms and walked away without looking back.

Leaving only that woman softly crying behind her.

Covering her chest, as if unable to catch her breath…

After leaving the ancestral hall, Ji Yunshu quickly rounded a long corridor outside. She just hadn’t expected that at one turn, she would run into the willful and unruly Ji Lingzhi.

As always, with that arrogant and willful little appearance.

In her hands, she was even holding a pot of cactus!

The moment she saw Ji Yunshu, those round eyes instantly widened.

Like an exploding cat, she pointed and demanded, “What are you doing here?”

Her voice very sharp and piercing.

Ji Yunshu didn’t want to deal with her at all.

But she couldn’t contain her anger and started cursing, “You murderer! You killed Third Brother. You still dare come to my house! Father will kill you, you murderer!”

Not having seen her for several months, this little brat had grown quite a bit taller, though her sharp tongue hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

“Move aside.”

She spread both hands to the sides. “No! You killed Third Brother and Grandmother. I’m going to kill you.”

Saying this, she raised her little pink fists and swung at her.

Only her small wrist was caught by Ji Yunshu, who then flung it forcefully.

Looking down coldly, “Ji Lingzhi, I have no patience to waste on you. Get out of the way.”

But she just wouldn’t let her!

“Third Brother was right—you’re a bastard. Father was right too—you’re also a beast.”

Just as she finished speaking—

Slap!

A heavy slap landed on that small, fierce little face.

A muffled sound that rang out.