Jingrong was getting impatient!

He glanced at Zuo Yao with displeasure. “Lord Zuo, who knows how long investigating this disaster relief silver case will take? I can’t keep living in your yamen. You’re the county magistrate of the imperial city—the yamen gates are open to redress the grievances of the common people. If this prince keeps staying here, you’ll be fearful and hesitant, and this prince won’t be comfortable either. Why not make things convenient for both parties?”

These words blocked Zuo Yao from further argument.

So the next day, they “moved”!

The new “home” was in a neither-new-nor-old residence in the western part of the city. Since the imperial city rarely had outsiders, this residence specifically used for rental and summer retreats had been empty for many years.

This time, finally able to “rent it out,” the landlord practically wanted to grovel before his patron.

In less than a day, he had the residence cleaned spotlessly.

Broken things—repaired!

Discarded items—thrown out!

Missing items—added!

He inspected it carefully several times before handing over the property.

Tang Si really liked this residence. As soon as he entered, he exclaimed about how big and good it was, and even considered having someone set up a martial arts platform for him in the back courtyard.

Unlike him, Muruo was cold and indifferent. He plopped down at the entrance, leaned back against a pillar, and lazily started sunbathing.

Moving or not moving, as long as he had a pot of wine, that was enough!

Ji Yunshu carried her two sandalwood boxes inside, her steps pausing.

She turned to Jingrong and said, “This house is quite large.”

“Mm, cost quite a bit of silver.”

“We have rather few people.”

“Mm, this way it’s more comfortable to live in.”

“There are quite a few rooms too, aren’t there?”

“Mm, not few.”

Jingrong had already seen through her little schemes. He tilted his chin. “Just say it directly.”

She stopped beating around the bush. “I had Ziqin check on Aunt Xie. Her health wasn’t good before, and she was living alone in a leaking house with no one to care for her. Since we’re helping investigate her daughter’s case, why not bring her here? If we need to ask her something, we won’t have to run back and forth, and she’ll have people around to look after her.”

“This prince was thinking the same thing.”

“You agree?”

His expression was calm as he said leisurely, “This prince already brought her here early on. Right now, she’s in the back courtyard.”

Oh my, brother, you’re like a mind reader!

Ji Yunshu smiled.

“How could this prince not know your little thoughts?”

Ji Yunshu distinctly heard the feeling of “as soon as you stick your butt up, I know what fart you’re going to let out.”

Jingrong straightened his posture and walked inside.

Very haughty.

Looking quite deserving of a beating.

Shi Ziran followed him in, but just as he reached the courtyard, his left ear twitched and with his peripheral vision carrying a trace of killing intent, he looked toward the rooftop nearby.

A small stone had somehow appeared between his fingers. He pinched it at his fingertip and shot it fiercely in that direction.

Whoosh!

The speed was fast, the trajectory of the pebble through the air barely visible.

The person on the rooftop leapt down and at the same time caught the thrown stone steadily.

Shi Ziqin’s feet landed on the ground, standing before him. She casually tossed away the pebble caught between her fingers.

Though the force wasn’t great—

Still—

The pebble struck a red wooden post nearby and actually embedded itself into the pillar.

“I’m not your enemy.” She was very cold.

But Shi Ziran lectured her, “I’m telling you, after all these years, you still like to hide and lurk around.”

“It’s habit.”

“Well, you need to change that habit. Lucky for you what I was holding just now wasn’t a knife, otherwise you’d be dead already.” His words were completely impolite.

Shi Ziqin lifted the sword in her hand dismissively. “You don’t have the ability to kill me.”

Having said that, she walked away without looking back.

Behind her, Shi Ziran complained, “Your temperament is getting colder and colder. I haven’t been here for half a year, and when I come back and we meet, you’re not warm at all. Do you still consider me your brother or not?”

“No.”

She coldly tossed back that one word.

How infuriating!

Since childhood, Shi Ziran had been extremely exasperated by this sister of his!

Not because he didn’t like her, but because when this sister got ruthless, she was even more vicious than him, and moreover she was taciturn, never saying half a word of nonsense.

Lang Bo secretly smiled on the side and stepped forward to pat his shoulder. “I say, you two siblings, why do you always like to bicker every time you meet? You’re both His Highness’s people—why act like you’ve met mortal enemies?”

Bah!

Shi Ziran said, “You’re the one who’s His Highness’s person.”

He gave Lang Bo a disdainful look and also walked away.

Lang Bo was quite speechless!

“What’s wrong with that? We are His Highness’s people!”

Ji Yunshu watched this scene and couldn’t help but laugh.

Sometimes she felt she must have transmigrated to the wrong place. It was said that princes throughout history were aloof and taciturn, yet the one she encountered was a jokester, and also sharp-tongued.

Not only that, even the people around him each had their own characteristics, strange and varied.

Like Lang Bo!

Like Shi Ziran!

And also like… that bunch of people in the imperial family.

After getting settled, Ji Yunshu went to see Aunt Xie.

Jingrong was very thoughtful—not only had he brought her over, but he’d also assigned her two maids.

As soon as she arrived, Aunt Xie wanted to kneel in gratitude.

She quickly supported her and pulled her to sit at the table.

“Your health isn’t good—there’s no need for such grand courtesy. You are an elder, after all.”

“Master Ji, I truly don’t know how to thank you.”

“The thanks you owe, you’ve already given all along the way.”

Aunt Xie was grateful.

Ji Yunshu said, “I came to tell you that investigating the case requires opening the coffin. I’ll move your daughter’s remains back here at that time, so…”

“As long as you can seek justice for my daughter, Master, you decide.”

“Rest assured, I’ll do my utmost.”

She offered a few more words of comfort before leaving.

Returning to the courtyard where she was staying, suddenly a shuttlecock flew over from across the wall.

It landed right at her feet.

Hm?

Who had such leisure time?

She picked up the shuttlecock and examined it carefully in her hand. It was made from goose feathers—the workmanship wasn’t particularly fine, but it was quite pleasing to look at.

“Big brother, that’s mine.”

The voice was high and thin, carrying a childish tone.

Looking toward the voice, she saw a little girl struggling to lean over the wall, her face flushed red, a pair of watery eyes blinking.

This child was about ten years old.

Ji Yunshu lifted the shuttlecock in her hand. “Yours?”

“Mm.”

“Alright, I’ll kick it back to you.”

Ji Yunshu lifted her foot and kicked the shuttlecock over the wall.

The little girl smiled broadly. “Thank you, big brother.”

“You’re welcome.”

The girl then climbed down from the wall.

Who would have thought there were actually neighbors.

Ji Yunshu called for Qiao’er and asked, “Do you know who lives next door?”

Qiao’er replied, “Next door is a dyeing workshop that’s been open for decades.”

“Is there a little girl?”

“Yes, that family’s little girl is called Xiyue. She’s only ten years old, very cute and very clever too. There’s no poem, song, or verse she doesn’t know. She has a sweet mouth too, greeting everyone she meets. All of us in the imperial city really like her.”

“Oh?”

Ji Yunshu glanced toward that side of the wall.

She smiled.