In the room, only a single lamp was lit!

She awoke from her dream, currently sitting on the bed gasping for breath. Sweat beaded on her forehead like pearls, flowing from her forehead to her cheeks, neck, clothes…

Soaking through everything.

In the distance, the faint orange candlelight passed through the gauze curtain, hazily reflecting on her terrified and pale face.

“Huff~”

She tightly grasped the bundle of clothing at her chest, instantly creating numerous wrinkles.

It wasn’t because what she saw in the dream felt frightening and terrifying, but because of… death.

Too many people had died.

Moreover—

The next Jing Yi!

These five words kept pulsing and revolving in her mind.

Tugging at her heart with extreme anxiety.

“Creak.”

The door was pushed open from outside.

Hearing the sound, Qiao’er rushed in, quickly walking to the bedside. Seeing the sweat covering her face, she asked worriedly, “Master Ji, what’s wrong?”

She received no response.

“Master, did you have a nightmare?”

Ji Yunshu’s thoughts were pulled back by her. Those unfocused eyes staring at the bed curtain before her grew increasingly clear. She let out a long sigh, her pale five fingers gradually releasing that bundle of clothing at her chest, reaching out to slowly lift the thin gauze curtain before her.

Turning her eyes to look at Qiao’er outside, whose face was full of worry, her pale lips parted slightly, “I’m fine.”

“Should I pour you a cup of water?”

She said nothing. After coming to her senses for a while, she got out of bed, put on an outer robe, and left the room.

Deep in the night.

Outside, the cold wind blew gently, brushing against her face soothingly.

Wrapping the clothes around her body tighter, she sat down on the stone chair in the courtyard.

If that small frame caught a chill, it would probably take many days to recover. Qiao’er was worried about exactly this, so she quickly ran into the room and brought out the pot of water warming on the stove, pouring her a cup and placing it at her side.

But—

Crash!

Ji Yunshu accidentally brushed it with her hand, knocking over the cup of tea beside her.

Porcelain shattered all over the ground!

She quickly crouched down to pick it up.

“Ah!”

Her finger touched a sharp piece of porcelain, instantly cutting open a wound. Fresh blood flowed out.

“Oh dear.” Qiao’er quickly pulled out a handkerchief to bandage her, carefully. “Master Ji, let this servant do this kind of thing.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll go find Young Master Mo.”

“There’s really no need.” Ji Yunshu quickly pulled her back. “It’s just a small wound. In the middle of the night, why bother disturbing him?”

He was probably having sweet dreams in bed!

Qiao’er had no choice but to abandon this idea. She went into the room to find some medicine, simply treating the wound for her, then cleaned up the things on the ground. She brought out a hand warmer and placed it in her hands to warm them.

“You should go rest first.”

“But…”

“I’ll sit here for a while. You don’t need to worry about me. Go rest first.”

Qiao’er could only nod in agreement. She fetched a lantern to hang outside before going to rest with peace of mind.

Ji Yunshu looked at her injured finger, involuntarily letting out a bitter laugh.

On the ground, a drop of bright red blood still remained, as if gradually staining her eyes red, growing deeper and deeper…

At this moment, the stars and moon were sparse, revealing a kind of indescribable sense of loneliness.

The next morning.

She returned to her room to change into clean clothes, tidied herself up, then left.

But she told no one.

Including Qiao’er.

From Anchang Courtyard to the Imperial Manor prison, it took a full hour’s walk.

Outside the prison, four guards stood watch, all Jingrong’s shadow guards.

Seeing her arrive, those several shadow guards exchanged glances with each other. Everyone knew well that this person was the Young Master of the Duke of Yu’s manor. Those present at the time all knew, but Jingrong had ordered that it not be leaked to outsiders.

One of them stepped forward, carrying a long sword, and bowed respectfully.

“Master Ji, why have you come?”

“I want to go in and take a look.”

“Go in?” The man froze for a moment, turning to look at the prison, saying with some concern, “Master Ji, the prison is dirty, and it’s full of people. You’d better not go in.”

“Lead me in. I’ll come out very quickly. I won’t interfere with anything.”

“This…”

“I’m sorry to trouble you.” Her tone was very polite.

With a scholarly appearance and gentle voice, although dressed in men’s clothing, she still made those rough men’s chests feel soft.

Twitching the corners of his mouth, meeting her gaze.

Finally, as if bewitched, he obediently led her in.

Inside the prison, it was very dark. The musty smell assaulting her nostrils was extremely unpleasant, involuntarily making her furrow her brow. Following the steps to continue walking inward, the smell of sweat and foul odors grew increasingly strong.

However, inside it was very quiet. Those locked in the cells obediently huddled together, leaning against the walls, not making any fuss, each one filthy and disheveled.

When they saw Ji Yunshu walk past them, everyone stood up, standing ramrod straight, their gazes slowly turning to follow her direction of movement.

That scene was like a military inspection.

When she reached the outside of one cell, she stopped.

Looking through those solid wooden posts inside, she saw Wen Panshi sitting cross-legged inside, hands placed on his knees, facing the wall, his back to her.

In the entire cell, there was only Wen Panshi alone.

“Open it!” she said.

The shadow guard was very obedient, opening the door and removing the iron chains.

Immediately after, he quickly reminded her, “Master Ji, you must be quick. His Highness said not to let anyone come over. I’ll wait outside. If you need anything, just call me.”

“Mm.”

She walked into that relatively spacious and clean cell, standing behind Wen Panshi, also not making a sound.

After a long while, the motionless Wen Panshi finally opened his eyes, coughed softly, turned his head to the side, looking at Ji Yunshu’s simple cloth shoes, his brow tightly furrowed, full of wrinkles.

“For the Young Master to come at this time, there must be something.”

Of course!

One doesn’t visit a temple without a reason!

“General Wen, I’ve come today to try to persuade you.”

“Persuade?” He laughed. “Wen listened to your words, and in order to prevent more people from sacrificing themselves, I was locked in here. But you know very clearly that the former servants of the Duke of Yu’s manor far exceed just these people.”

“I know.”

“Since you know, why come to persuade?”

“Then, do you truly believe that the great fire at the Duke of Yu’s manor fourteen years ago was done by the current emperor?”

Wen Panshi, supporting himself with one hand on his knee and one hand on the ground, struggled to stand up, turning around to look at her calm eyes.

“Today, we can no longer turn back.”

“Yes, you cannot turn back, but that doesn’t mean it cannot be salvaged. Prince Rong didn’t kill you but instead locked you all here, even blocking the news from the outside so it naturally won’t spread to the capital. He also hopes you can withdraw, not let things develop to an irretrievable point. Moreover, I’ve also said that what the truth is remains unknown. Sacrificing so many people is fundamentally not worth it.” She earnestly persuaded.

Wen Panshi let out a deep breath.

He paced two steps, displaying quite a bit of a great general’s imposing bearing.