The Si Family Silk Shop.

Jingrong, accompanied by Shi Ziran and several guards, followed the guide toward the rear courtyard of the Si residence.

They passed through courtyards where cloth was dyed and dried along the way.

Finally arriving at a clean and spacious courtyard.

Wen Xian sat waiting inside the room.

Seeing someone arrive, he immediately rose to greet them. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Jingrong waved his hand, dismissing those around him. He strode into the room, seeing the two cups of tea placed on the table.

His eyes darkened.

“Your Highness, please sit.”

He sat down cross-legged.

Wen Xian brushed his robes and sat opposite him.

“I’ve long wanted to invite Your Highness to my residence, but Your Highness has been too busy, so I only had the opportunity today.”

Jingrong smiled slightly, merely picking up the teacup and taking a sip. “Last time, I must thank Young Master Wen for coming to my aid.”

“Being able to save Your Highness was this humble one’s honor.”

Modest!

Jingrong made no sound.

Wen Xian poured him another cup of tea while asking, “I heard Your Highness has lost a precious item?”

“Yes, a very important thing.”

“What is it? Your Highness might as well tell me—this humble one might be able to help you find it.”

“A person.”

“A person?” Wen Xian smiled. “Who?”

Jingrong raised his eyes, his sharp gaze carrying an imperceptible ruthlessness. “Where is he?”

Wen Xian played dumb. “I don’t know who Your Highness is referring to?”

“Since this prince has come, why must you beat around the bush? Speaking directly and openly would be more honest.”

Hehe!

The pale-faced man opposite suddenly laughed once. The modest and respectful appearance from just moments ago was completely withdrawn, revealing a sinister smiling face.

“Your Highness’s guard broke into my residence single-handedly at night. This humble one took him for a thief and captured him.”

“Where is he?”

He asked again.

“Battered and bloody—he probably… won’t live much longer.”

The fingers gripping Jingrong’s teacup tightened somewhat.

Wen Xian said, “He’s just a minor guard. Your Highness shouldn’t be so nervous. After all, someone who trespassed into the secret chamber of my residence should die. This humble one sparing his dog’s life is also doing Your Highness a favor.”

Wow!

How magnanimous!

Jingrong: “Then what if this prince wants to take him away?”

“That depends on whether Your Highness has the ability.”

Suddenly—

Rustling sounds!

At this moment, many armored figures emerged on the rooftops outside, each holding sharp arrows, all aimed at Jingrong and Shi Ziran and the others outside in the courtyard.

Shi Ziran immediately drew his sword, preparing for battle.

Inside the room, Wen Xian laughed with assured victory.

“Since Your Highness has come, I’m afraid… you won’t be able to leave.”

Opposite him, Jingrong continued drinking tea calmly as before, his gaze merely squinting once toward outside the door.

Then withdrawing.

He said indifferently, “Since you’ve long set up this Hongmen Feast waiting for this prince, and have certainly issued a kill order, if that’s the case, why not be honest with this prince? This prince only wants to know—what exactly do you all want?”

“The Dalin Empire!”

Four words came from Wen Xian’s mouth.

“The Dalin Empire?”

Laughable!

Jingrong: “You’ve plotted and schemed carefully, stolen the disaster relief silver, murdered court officials, and secretly sent people to assassinate this prince. Do you think this way you can obtain the Dalin Empire?”

Dreaming!

“Of course not.” Wen Xian said directly. “But plans must always be implemented step by step. The current Dalin Emperor is a dog emperor who, to secure his throne, kills innocents indiscriminately and doesn’t even spare his own blood brother. Tell me, how can such an emperor support the Dalin Empire? We’ve waited a long time for this day—when the realm returns to the hands of the true master, the seventy-some members of Duke Yuguo’s household can be vindicated, and the Dalin Empire will change dynasties.”

Oh!

Jingrong finally understood. “So you’re former retainers of Duke Yuguo’s residence!”

“Your Highness is very clever.”

“Then, who is this so-called true master of yours?”

“Someone you can’t imagine.”

…

Anchang Courtyard!

After Jingrong left, Ji Yunshu remained restless and uneasy.

Waiting anxiously.

Just at this moment, Madam Wen from next door came over, bringing several boxes of osmanthus cakes.

“Master Ji, last time Xiyue came back and said you really enjoyed the osmanthus cakes I made, so today I personally made several boxes to bring over to you. Try them.”

She stuffed one piece into her hand.

Right now, how could she have any appetite for food? Looking at the kindly Madam Wen before her, she smiled faintly.

She pushed the pastry away.

“Madam Wen, this humble one has no appetite right now.”

“They were just made—they taste very good. If left sitting, they won’t be as delicious.”

Madam Wen insisted on handing it to her.

At this moment, the cat she was raising suddenly jumped out, pawing insistently at her clothes.

“Meow~”

Ji Yunshu thought for a moment, then took a pastry from the box, pinched off a small piece, and fed it to the cat.

Madam Wen suddenly said, “Master Ji, I’m afraid this cat can’t eat that.”

“This humble one’s cat is very greedy—it eats everything.”

So she fed it to the cat.

The cat licked eagerly, its soft tongue curling back and forth in her palm, very ticklish and comfortable.

But—

“Meow~”

The cat suddenly shuddered all over and immediately went limp without warning.

Lying on the ground motionless, as if dead!

Ji Yunshu was not surprised. Her open palm gradually clenched, tightening into a fist.

Her eyes gradually grew cold.

“Why?” she asked.

Her voice was heavy.

Madam Wen also withdrew her compassionate face, her weathered gaze looking at her, some pain flowing through her eyes.

After a long while—

She finally uttered, “This is your fate.”

Fate?

Ji Yunshu laughed coldly once, stood up, and walked toward the door.

Behind her, Madam Wen called out to stop her, “It’s too late!”

Her steps halted. With her back to her, she asked, “To achieve your goals, must you really kill innocents indiscriminately?”

“We’ve waited fourteen years. We can’t wait any longer.”

Ji Yunshu laughed coldly again and strode out the door.

However, Madam Wen suddenly shouted, “Stop her.”

At that moment, more than a dozen people rushed into the courtyard and blocked her.

“Anchang Courtyard has already been taken control of. Your few friends have also been captured. However, we won’t kill them, because what we want… is that prince’s life.”

Ji Yunshu clenched her fists tightly, biting her teeth.

Her eyes were completely red!

The next moment, Shi Zijin leaped out from hiding.

Madam Wen gave a look, and those people rushed forward.

Shi Zijin engaged in fierce combat with those people.

Finally cutting through an opening.

“Master, go quickly.”

She was about to rush out of the courtyard when Madam Wen blocked her path.

“Move aside!”

She wouldn’t listen!

She had to go save Jingrong.

Not knowing when, little Xiyue suddenly jumped out.

Hugging Madam Wen tightly, she said to Ji Yunshu, “Big brother, you go first. There’s a horse outside the gate.”

Ji Yunshu trembled all over, her eyes completely red.

Little Xiyue shouted, “Go quickly!”

She retreated several steps, then turned and ran out of Anchang Courtyard.

Mounting the horse Xiyue had prepared, she headed toward the Si Family Silk Shop.