Jingrong’s smile deepened!

He pushed the cup of tea in front of him toward her.

“Drink some tea and go rest early.”

“No need. Drinking at night causes puffiness.”

“Puffiness?”

Did she think she was a corpse soaking in water?

Ji Yinshu couldn’t be bothered to explain. After all, it would involve a lot of specialized knowledge, and late at night, she really didn’t have the energy for it.

She prepared to go rest in her room, but Jingrong suddenly noticed the cobblestones in her hand.

“What are you clutching those stones for?” He was puzzled. “Even if you want to guard against thieves, you should carry a big rock. Those few stones can’t kill anyone.”

Could he speak properly?

She shrugged her shoulders. “Big rocks have their advantages, and small stones have theirs.”

“What are you taking them for?”

“You’ll know tomorrow.”

Then she left.

After returning to her room, two young maids from the yamen entered carrying a basin of water to attend to her.

“Mr. Ji, this servant has brought you a basin of water. Please wash your face and rest early.”

Ji Yinshu politely responded with a smile. Looking at those two maids with delicate features, her eyes turned and she suddenly asked, “What are your names?”

Her voice was gentle!

She was already strikingly beautiful, and now dressed in men’s clothing, she was even more handsome. When the two maids met those attractive eyes and heard such a gentle voice, their hearts immediately melted.

A faint blush appeared on their faces.

One of the maids nervously clutched her sleeves and answered, “This servant is called Qiao’er, and she is called Zhuang’er.”

“How old are you?”

“We are both fourteen years old.”

“How long have you been here?”

“Three years.”

Very obedient!

Ji Yinshu looked at them with great fondness.

With the case of Auntie Xie’s daughter and the disaster relief silver matter, she would likely be staying here for quite a long time. Being unfamiliar with the place and people, having two girls familiar with Yufu by her side would allow her to ask about certain matters.

A good thing!

So she generously accepted these two maids that Zuo Yao had sent.

“Miss Qiao’er, Miss Zhuang’er, I am not your master, so you don’t need to refer to yourselves as servants in front of me.”

“We wouldn’t dare.”

“Whether you dare or not has nothing to do with me. I’m just very unaccustomed to it, so just use your names. If you keep saying ‘this servant’ with every breath, it makes me feel awkward.”

The two maids looked at each other and nodded.

“Alright, now hurry and go rest. There’s no need for you to attend to me here.”

“If you need anything else, please call for us at any time.”

“Mm.” She nodded.

After the two maids left, they smiled secretly to themselves.

When Ji Yinshu saw they had gone far, she called out once for Shi Zijin.

Shi Zijin’s figure flashed over from the shadows.

“What are your instructions, Miss?”

She became serious. “Go investigate—where does that Young Master Qiao usually go? Who does he spend time with? In short, follow him carefully, then come back and tell me.”

“Yes.”

Shi Zijin never asked many questions—she just did as she was told.

After she left, Ji Yinshu closed the door and found a fairly delicate money pouch, placing those cobblestones inside.

She weighed it a few times by the strings.

Those who didn’t know would think there were several silver ingots inside.

The next day!

Zuo Yao had already prepared a table full of delicious delicacies early in the morning—chicken, duck, fish, and meat, everything complete.

It must have cost quite a bit of silver!

Jingrong’s expression also imperceptibly darkened, though it wasn’t very obvious.

Zuo Yao still thought he had catered to his preferences and secretly felt pleased with himself, proudly saying, “These were all personally prepared by the head chef from the Yellow Crane Tower. Knowing that Your Highness certainly couldn’t eat the food of ordinary families, I prepared this table as a welcoming feast for Your Highness.”

Praise me!

Praise me!

Best to reward me with some silver.

Unfortunately, his wishful thinking was wrong.

Jingrong’s stern gaze deepened. “Everyone says Yufu County has many disaster victims who often go without food and starve to death, yet Magistrate Zuo sets out such a table here. Are you trying to shorten this prince’s life?”

Uh!

“Your… Your Highness?”

“Magistrate Zuo, this prince did not come to tour mountains and waters, nor did I come to taste the world’s finest cuisine. If you could give this table of food to those refugees, you could probably save two people.”

“Your Highness misunderstands.”

“You need not blindly cater to this prince. Your little schemes are not unknown to me.”

Zuo Yao was frightened into trembling all over. Last night he’d thought this prince was amiable and approachable—how had he become so fierce after just one night?

It was just one meal, wasn’t it?

Was it necessary?

Ji Yinshu also thought—was it necessary?

She curved her lips in a deep smile. “Magistrate Zuo was so thoughtful, having people prepare so much delicious food so early in the morning. How considerate. I happen to be hungry too, so I should taste just how delicious the dishes prepared by the Yellow Crane Tower’s head chef are.”

Saying this, she sat down and directly picked up her chopsticks to start eating.

“Mm, not bad.”

She praised.

Then she beckoned to Tang Si. “Miss Tang, weren’t you hungry? Then hurry and sit down. Don’t disappoint Magistrate Zuo’s kind intentions.”

Tang Si didn’t care about all that. She rubbed her flat stomach. “I am a bit hungry.”

So she started eating.

Eating and drinking with abandon.

Like eating at an all-you-can-eat hotpot buffet.

Jingrong stood to the side, very puzzled.

What medicine was this woman selling in her gourd?

But Ji Yinshu stood up and pulled him to sit down together. “Doesn’t Your Highness have a discerning palate? I’m sure this table of dishes will have something to your taste.”

He frowned, leaned toward her, and lowered his voice. “What are you up to?”

“Eating!”

Then she placed a chicken leg in his bowl.

This made Jingrong’s face darken.

At this moment, Muruo also came over. Seeing so much delicious food, he also sat down to eat and drink with abandon.

Zuo Yao had learned yesterday that Muruo loved wine, so early this morning he had people prepare a pot of good wine and passed it to him.

Opening the wine stopper, Muruo smelled the wine’s fragrance, greatly enjoying and savoring it.

“Mm, Magistrate Zuo, this wine of yours is really good.”

“As long as Young Master Muruo likes it.”

“I do like it!”

He then held the wine bottle and started drinking.

Throughout the meal, Jingrong had no appetite at all.

After the meal, Zuo Yao brought over all the case files related to disaster relief silver from these years and handed them to Jingrong.

“Your Highness, everything relevant is recorded here. Please review them.”

Several thick volumes.

Jingrong solemnly accepted them and began looking through them.

Subsequently, Zuo Yao also found the case file for Auntie Xie’s daughter and passed it to Ji Yinshu.

“Sir, the details of that case are all recorded here.”

Ji Yinshu pushed it away. “I won’t look at it for now.”

“You won’t look?”

“Put it aside for now.”

“But…”

Zuo Yao was somewhat confused.

Ji Yinshu said, “There’s no rush. I’ve heard that although Yufu isn’t large, the scenery is quite nice. I’d like to tour around first before investigating this case. What does the magistrate think?”

The smile on her face seemed gentle, but it held a hidden dagger.