After a long while—

Wen Panshi said, “All these years, all of us have been waiting, and all of us have been preparing for the day when we could storm into the capital. So over these years, we’ve secretly searched for you, Young Master, while also preparing military provisions. We secretly allied with Official Lin of the courier station and Lord Zuo, and switched out the disaster relief silver that the court sent down to the Imperial Prefecture, waiting for the day when the hundred thousand troops would assemble. With everything prepared, we would kill that dog emperor, but… I’ve thought long and hard about what you and that Prince said. I’ve thought about it a lot. Indeed, a hundred thousand troops, scattered for many years—even if we continuously recruit new soldiers, these new soldiers are scattered and physically weak. How could they possibly resist the court’s several hundred thousand troops? We’ve thought about all this, but that dog emperor, in the year he ascended the throne, wantonly slaughtered the innocent. All the court officials and soldiers who opposed him were executed one by one, exterminated root and branch. How many people lost their relatives and were left orphaned and helpless? How can we let this go? So we’ve waited fourteen years, just for the day when we could find you, Young Master, and pull that dog emperor down from the throne.”

Filled with righteous indignation!

Full of passionate fervor!

Wen Panshi’s eyes gradually reddened.

As Ji Yunshu listened, she seemed to see the scenes of when Emperor Qizhen ascended the throne and carried out mass executions.

But—

Which emperor ascending the throne throughout history hadn’t done the same?

Kill the chicken to warn the monkey!

Wen Panshi’s voice choked up again, “I watched Lin Feng grow up. His father was once an official of the Ministry of Revenue. Just because he opposed the Emperor with a few words during court, within a few days, the Emperor ordered his execution. He said he would rather die by his own hand than be killed by others, so he poisoned himself. At that time, he held my hand and asked me to take good care of Lin Feng, and when we found the Young Master, to definitely assist you, Young Master. But I never thought things would come to this point today.”

Lin Feng was dead!

Grief!

Ji Yunshu sighed.

After a while, she said, “General Wen, since you’ve all found me, does that mean… you must obey my commands?”

“Of course.”

“Then good. Before the truth of the ‘Linjing Case’ comes to light, none of you are permitted to act rashly, and you’re not permitted to kill another person.”

“Young Master…”

“You all recognize me as the Young Master, and you’ve searched for me all these years. Then now, you must listen to me. Moreover, without my jade pendant, you cannot mobilize those hundred thousand troops. Right now, the only thing you can do is wait.”

“Wait?”

“That’s right, wait. Wait until the day the truth comes to light.” Ji Yunshu was extremely serious and solemn, her tone firm.

Wen Panshi’s deep eyes tightened. It seemed to take great determination before he finally nodded.

“Alright, we’ll listen to the Young Master.”

Ji Yunshu also breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as she was leaving the cell, Wen Panshi suddenly called out to her again.

“This Wen has one thing he wants to remind the Young Master—if possible, you have no need to get so close to that Prince.”

Her gaze flickered slightly for a moment. In the end, she said nothing and left.

But she didn’t directly exit the prison. Instead, she went to the cell where Zhao Huai was being held.

Zhao Huai was locked up together with many people. He sat alone in the innermost corner, in the same sitting posture as Wen Panshi earlier.

Ji Yunshu placed a bottle she had brought on the ground.

She instructed a soldier, “The cell is damp. The wound on his hand might get infected. Have him apply this medicine.”

“Yes.” The soldier acknowledged.

She stood for a while before leaving, then headed in the direction of the Imperial Prefecture’s government office.

At the government office.

Before she even entered, she heard miserable cries of “aiya aiya” coming from inside.

Zuo Yao was sprawled with half his body on that pear wood chair, his sleeves rolled up to his shoulders. On his arms, there were marks from whip lashes crisscrossing everywhere.

Bright red, dark red, purple-blue…

It was evident that girl Tang Si had struck quite viciously.

An old man beside him was applying medicine to him.

“Sir, stop crying out. This is an ancestral secret formula. After applying it, you’ll be fine in a few hours.”

“It hurts!”

“If it doesn’t hurt, it’s not good medicine.”

“Be gentler.”

“I know, sir. Just bear with it.”

The man’s hand movements became lighter and slower.

Yet he still cried out “ai ya ya” in pain.

Seeing this scene, Ji Yunshu wanted to curse him for deserving it, but also felt he was pitiful.

Seeing someone arrive, Zuo Yao immediately pulled down both sleeves, as if someone had discovered some incredible secret. His eyes filled with panic, he shot up from his seat and watched as the composed Ji Yunshu walked in.

“Young Mas… Mr. Ji, why have you come?”

His voice trembled.

Ji Yunshu glanced at him, then looked around. This government office was cold and desolate—not a single bailiff was there, and she hadn’t even seen anyone guarding the gate outside. It appeared very bleak, mirroring Zuo Yao’s current situation.

“Where is Xiao Xiyue?”

“She’s… in the back courtyard.”

“Mm.” She hummed in acknowledgment, said nothing more, then headed toward the back courtyard. Suddenly she stopped, pulled a medicine bottle from her sleeve, and handed it to the old man beside her. “This medicine works better than your secret formula.”

The old man took it.

Opening the bottle and smelling it, he frowned. “This medicine is good medicine.”

Ji Yunshu smiled slightly, then glanced at Zuo Yao. “Lord Zuo, since you’re still wearing your official robes, then properly carry out your duties.”

“Yes!”

Extremely sincere.

Ji Yunshu went to the back courtyard.

In the back courtyard.

Xiao Xiyue sat on the stone steps with her head buried deeply in her knees, her playful long hair hanging over her arms, just a hair’s breadth from touching the ground.

Probably hearing some movement, she suddenly raised her head, her eyes full of expectation.

But when she saw who had come, her eyes dimmed again.

Ji Yunshu sat down beside her and reached out to tousle her hair.

“Brother.” A pair of large eyes looked at her.

Pitifully!

Seeing the fingerprints still imprinted on that small face made one’s heart ache unbearably.

Ji Yunshu touched her face, her beautiful brows furrowing deeply. “Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt.” She shook her head and said, “Mother didn’t mean it. Actually, I don’t blame her. Brother, can you release them? Father and Mother didn’t mean to harm you.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you still have them arrested?”

“Because… they’re too stubborn.” She held it in for a long time before coming up with this sentence.

Xiao Xiyue had read many books, but this sentence she still couldn’t understand.

Tilting her head, “Then when can you release them?”

“Soon!” Ji Yunshu patted her head, then asked, “Xiao Xiyue, do you like it here?”

She shook her head vigorously. “I don’t like it.”

“Then come home with me, alright?”

She extended her hand.

Xiao Xiyue blinked, staring at her for a good while, then extended her small hand and placed it in her palm, allowing her to hold it tightly.

At this moment in the Anchang Courtyard.

Jingrong and Muruo sat in the room, both their expressions extremely grave.

They remained silent for a long while.

“What do you plan to do?” Muruo asked.

“I don’t know.”