Muruo swayed as he walked, his body rocking back and forth, eyes squinting into narrow slits. Then he sat down on that smooth boulder, leaned his entire body backward, and laid down on top of it.

“Ah! So comfortable.”

He drew out the sound.

The picture of a lazy person!

Ji Yinshu sometimes wondered—he was drinking wine almost constantly, and wine was the one thing he never lacked. It created the illusion that you could never tell whether he was sober or drunk.

Everyone said drinking harmed the body, but not only did Muruo show no signs of harm, he was incredibly robust and healthy.

Like a body of iron!

Suddenly, Muruo turned over and asked toward Ji Yinshu’s direction, “What exactly are you women thinking?”

“Why do you ask that?”

She was puzzled.

Out of nowhere, why was he asking about this?

Muruo opened those squinting eyes and deliberately glanced several times toward Tang Si in the distance.

Oh!

She understood.

A smile gradually spread across Ji Yinshu’s lips. She picked up a dead branch from the ground and poked at the scattered stones, stirring up wisps of dust.

“Then you should ask yourself, Young Master Muruo. You’ve traveled around for years, and if you haven’t met hundreds of women, you’ve met dozens at least. How could you not understand a woman’s heart and instead come asking me?”

“Yes, I understand women’s hearts, but…” He glanced several more times in Tang Si’s direction, shuddered, and said with distaste, “Can she even be considered a woman?”

“No wonder Miss Tang opposes you.”

You deserve it!

“Am I wrong though?” Muruo sat up directly, bent one leg, rested his elbow on his knee, assuming the posture of someone ready for a heart-to-heart, lengthy discussion. “Mr. Ji, tell me, isn’t this strange? My temperament is good, isn’t it? I never compete with anyone over anything, and I’m especially good to women. But tell me, she merely saved my life once. What of it? Am I indebted to her for my entire life? Even if I am indebted, I’ve swallowed my anger many times along this journey. You don’t even know—my knees are still bruised right now. Moreover, she caused trouble at Mingshan Academy herself. If I hadn’t helped her, she’d still be there packing her things. Even a life debt should be repaid by now. But look at her—always acting so indifferent, constantly showing me a cold face every day. Tell me, isn’t it miserable?”

A torrent of complaints!

But Ji Yinshu found it amusing and smiled with pursed lips.

Was this person stupid? Miss Tang wasn’t showing him a cold face at all—clearly it was… hehe.

Muruo said, “I say, Mr. Ji, it’s fine if you don’t sympathize with me, but why are you laughing? I’m doing this to give you and Jingrong more opportunities to spend time together. That’s why I’m sacrificing myself, pulling her along to ride together. I’m helping you two succeed by sacrificing myself. The least you could do is say a few comforting words to me.”

You’re truly sacrificing the small self to achieve the greater good!

But Ji Yinshu didn’t want to accept this favor. Every time she got teased by Jingrong—she’d rather ride with Tang Si. With all the bickering and commotion, the journey would at least be livelier.

She smiled faintly. “Young Master Muruo, haven’t you noticed that Miss Tang isn’t ignoring you, but rather has other thoughts?”

“Other thoughts?”

“Blockhead!” she said, looking directly at him. “Let me ask you—did you do something to her? Something that made her blush at the time?”

“That…” Muruo thought for a moment, then shook his head. “There was something, but it was just a small matter.”

He said it so casually.

Wasn’t it just touching those two lumps of flesh? Every woman had them!

Ji Yinshu didn’t want to speak too clearly, nor did she want to ask too explicitly. She simply said, “Young Master Muruo, you should think it over carefully yourself.”

Think over what?

He waved his hand dismissively. “Whatever. Anyway, once we reach Yufu, I’ll send her away.”

Then he leaned back again, lying on the boulder.

Really comfortable.

The branch in Ji Yinshu’s hand continued tapping the ground until Jingrong walked over and sat down beside her.

“Is it fun?”

“Mm.”

“Then play a while longer.”

Uh!

Then Jingrong, without regard for his status as a prince, also leaned backward and lay on the boulder together with Muruo.

Two living salted fish!

The kind that could flip over.

After the sun set, everyone set out.

After traveling for some distance, by the time they reached Yufu County, it was already the dead of night.

Yufu County wasn’t a wealthy county to begin with. Located in the far north and constantly plagued by disasters, it was rated as one of the poorest counties in the Great Lin.

That’s why the court had issued disaster relief silver.

Along the not-particularly-wide street, occasionally there were houses with lanterns hanging outside their doors. The light wasn’t bright, still swaying precariously in the breeze. A few broken lanterns had fallen to the ground—the candles extinguished, the lanterns blown by the wind and rolling continuously into the street.

Because it was deep night, it seemed extremely eerie!

At first glance, it looked like a ruined city.

There was no one on the streets either, only the occasional sight of one or two night watchmen passing by.

Seeing a caravan entering the city so late at night, one night watchman stopped to watch them curiously.

This group was dressed extraordinarily, especially the carriage at the front—clearly belonging to a wealthy household, very luxurious.

In the old man’s eyes, it was like the emperor making an inspection tour.

Of course, he had never actually seen an imperial inspection tour—he’d only heard a few descriptions from storytellers.

But why would people be entering the city so late at night?

Yufu County, where birds wouldn’t lay eggs, wasn’t large but wasn’t small either, yet outsiders rarely came. Who were these people?

The old man scratched his head, couldn’t figure it out, so he simply struck his gong once and continued on his night watch rounds.

Lang Bo rode his horse at the front, surveyed the surroundings, then raised his hand to have everyone stop.

He rode his horse to Jingrong’s carriage and said, “Your Highness, should we find an inn to stay at, or go to the yamen?”

After a moment, Jingrong’s cold voice came from inside the carriage. “Go to the yamen. Otherwise, that Magistrate Zuo will probably be unable to sleep all night.”

“Yes!”

Lang Bo then led everyone toward the yamen.

Unlike the desolate and eerie atmosphere on the main street, the yamen entrance was brightly lit.

At the main gate, one guard crouched on the ground dozing, while another leaned against the doorframe resting with closed eyes.

“Whoa!”

The sound of horses!

It startled both guards awake.

“What’s happening?”

The two were extremely vigilant. The first thing they did upon opening their eyes was place their hands on their sword hilts, assuming a stance ready to draw their weapons.

When they saw clearly the group outside the yamen, they suddenly realized.

“The… the Prince has arrived?”

One guard quickly poked the other guard and whispered, “Quick, hurry and notify the magistrate.”

“Oh, yes… yes…”

That person stumbled off.

Jingrong and the others dismounted. Late at night, it was indeed quite cold!

He surveyed the surroundings. This Yufu yamen was actually quite imposing.

The guard hurried toward him, bowing in salute. “This humble servant greets Prince Rong.”

He raised his hand. “No need for formalities. Where is your Magistrate Zuo?”

“The magistrate, he…”

Before he could finish speaking, a voice came from far away at the main gate: “This humble official greets Prince Rong.”

His voice arrived before his person appeared.