Then he raised his hand and gradually touched Ji Yinshu’s suddenly reddened cheek.

A fingertip touch!

It made her whole body shiver.

She couldn’t help but turn her head away, lowering her eyes.

Jingrong smiled. “Why so nervous? I won’t eat you.”

“I’m not nervous.”

“Yunshu.” He suddenly called her name.

Mm?

She raised her gaze.

Jingrong looked at her with an exploratory gaze, also with some curiosity, saying, “I truly don’t know how many more surprises you’ll give me.”

Hm?

Somewhat bewildered.

Jingrong held her fair fingers, lifting them slightly, saying, “I thought these hands of yours were only for examining corpses and painting. I never expected you also had such a sharp, eloquent tongue that even the students of Mingshan Academy were struck speechless by your words.”

So it was about that!

She pressed her lips together, modest. “It was all just reciting what I’d learned, speaking a few lines off the cuff. I didn’t expect it would fool them.”

“But you didn’t just fool them—you fooled this prince as well. And moreover, I’m destined to be fooled by you for the rest of my life.”

His affectionate words were like a gentle breeze, rolling bit by bit into her ear.

Warmth arose!

Ji Yinshu’s heart melted, and her body nestled into his embrace.

He also held her tightly.

Two silhouettes stood beneath the corridor, facing the soft moonlight in the sky above. Gray, hazy light poured down, spilling over both of them.

Quite the beauty of an ancient-style poster!

Ji Yinshu’s face pressed tightly against his burning chest, enjoying this moment of tenderness that belonged only to the two of them.

She also had to admit that only an embrace like this could make her let down all her defenses and truly enjoy the happiness that a woman should have. She also admitted that she was greedy—incredibly greedy.

She wanted to nestle forever in this warm embrace.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, looking up at him. “You really plan to leave Miss Tang there alone?”

Poof!

All the poetic atmosphere was disrupted by this one sentence.

Jingrong hooked her chin. “Could it be that the distinguished Master Ji has truly taken a liking to Miss Tang?”

“What nonsense.”

She turned her head away, pushing him back.

“I’m just worried she can’t handle it alone. Such a large academy—she could smash it, but she may not be able to repair it.”

“Don’t worry. Isn’t Muruo still there? He won’t ignore her. After all, he owes Miss Tang his life.”

“He’ll help her?”

“That’s certain.”

Jingrong was quite sure!

Muruo would help Tang Si? Really?

If that were true, there would be quite a show to watch!

Ji Yinshu said, “It’s getting late. Rest early—we still have to travel tomorrow morning.”

Jingrong replied, “But I want to stay with you a while. How about tonight…”

Before he could finish speaking, he was cut off.

“No!” A direct and clear refusal.

Jingrong chuckled. “I haven’t even finished speaking—how do you already know what I want to say?”

“I…”

Seeing her at a loss for words, Jingrong smiled even more wickedly. He lowered his head and placed a light kiss on her forehead. “I won’t tease you anymore. Rest early.”

With that, he turned and walked away dashingly.

Behind him, Ji Yinshu wore a happy smile.

Just as she was about to enter her room, Shang Zhuo came over.

“Master Ji.”

Shang Zhuo called out to her, striding over. The ink spots on his scholar’s robe stood out prominently against the plain-colored garment.

“Young Master Shang? Is something the matter?”

Shang Zhuo bowed. “About what happened earlier, I hope Master Ji won’t take offense. Lin Shu has always been like that. If his words offended you both, please don’t take them to heart.”

So it was about this matter!

She replied, “How could I? It was my fault instead. If I hadn’t agreed to compete with him in painting, what happened just now wouldn’t have occurred. We were only staying here for one night. Having entered as guests, there was truly no reason to have a conflict with others, making such a mess of your study hall and even injuring Young Master Lin. It really shouldn’t have happened. I must trouble Young Master Shang to apologize to Young Master Lin on our behalf.”

She bowed her head slightly!

Shang Zhuo agreed!

He then raised the rolled painting in his hand, saying, “To prevent Master Ji’s painting from being damaged earlier, I secretly put it away. I hope Master won’t take offense.”

“This…”

“Master, this painting of yours is quite astonishing!”

Astonishing my foot!

Clearly inferior in skill!

She smiled without speaking.

Shang Zhuo had always possessed remarkable copying ability, so naturally his eye was different from others.

He said, “This painting appears to be not quite as skillful as Lin Shu’s work, but I believe you were deliberately letting him win, Master. After all, wanting to win is easy, but to lose without leaving a trace is extremely difficult. I imagine Master didn’t want Lin Shu to keep pestering, so you deliberately lost to him. Yet Master’s painting is all lines—seemingly formless, yet the form exists within the spirit. The painting style seems loose, but the brushwork is forceful, the strokes rigorous. Each stroke’s depth is measured, stopping precisely at the right point. Although it lacks the domineering air of the ‘North of the Huai River’ painting, and the entire composition also lacks that killing intent and fierceness of the battlefield, it contains a sorrow that the ‘North of the Huai River’ painting doesn’t have. What it expresses is the helplessness and grief of common people displaced by war—the dead are dead, the wounded wounded. How utterly sorrowful indeed.”

This critique was absolutely professional!

But one had to say, he was indeed a clever person.

Ji Yinshu’s intentions and her painting were completely laid bare by his words, so naturally there was no need to hide anything.

She said, “Master Yu said your painting skills are exceptional, that your ‘Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix’ is painted even more vividly than Ouyang Ye’s original. I knew I could fool others, but I couldn’t fool you. Fortunately, you didn’t say anything in front of everyone—otherwise Young Master Lin wouldn’t have let it rest. But regardless, Young Master Lin won, and that’s what matters. There’s no need to quibble over details. Young Master Shang, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Master speaks correctly.” He said, “Indeed, who won and who lost isn’t important. It’s just that this painting—I wonder if Master would be willing to gift it to me?”

It’s not a masterwork—what’s the point of collecting it?

“Of course.”

“Many thanks, Master.” He bowed. “Then… I won’t disturb Master’s rest any longer.”

“Mm.”

Shang Zhuo left!

Ji Yinshu returned to her room, finally getting some peace and quiet.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

At the hot spring on the back mountain.

Those students covered in ink had all crowded here to bathe. Under the moonlight, they were all bare-chested, with white towels wrapped around their lower bodies, diving headfirst into the water.

In no time, that pool of flowing spring water had been soaked black.

Lin Shu sat in the water like a big brother, his hands curved and gripping the smooth stones beside him. The wound on his shoulder where the whip had torn the flesh was still bleeding.

Two fellow students beside him were applying medicine.

The medicinal solution seeped into his flesh, biting painfully. He snapped, “Lighter, it hurts.”