However, he couldn’t understand what else Marquis Kang could want from him besides seeking an explanation.

The man struck while the iron was hot and continued, “Why don’t Your Highness come with us for a visit? It’s not far from here to the Marquis’s residence. It’s already so late, and Your Highness has a noble status—it’s improper to rest in the forest. Besides, there are jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards in the forest at night. If something were to happen, that would be terrible.”

Hearing this, Tang Si hurriedly stepped forward, bumped against Jingrong, and leaned close to him, saying softly, “I think we should just go with them. Anyway, this forest isn’t peaceful right now—it’s full of the smell of blood.”

She covered her nose in disgust.

When a woman’s body suddenly leaned against him, Jingrong immediately dodged to the side.

Except for Ji Yunshu, he didn’t touch other women!

Taking this opportunity, Muruo pulled Tang Si over. “Is your nose really that sensitive? We’re on the main road. Who knows how far away that place is—you can’t smell it from here.”

“But I can smell it.”

This girl had a sharp tongue.

Muruo was embarrassed.

He said to Jingrong, “You decide for yourself.”

Decide what!

Definitely not going.

Seeing his resolute attitude, the messenger said, “Your Highness needn’t worry. This humble official has already sent people to fetch Master Ji. By now, she should have already arrived at the Marquis’s residence.”

Eh!

That was fast!

This was obviously kidnapping.

Jingrong roared angrily, “What have you done to her?”

“Master Ji is well. She is the Marquis’s honored guest.”

He deliberately emphasized the words “honored guest.”

So Marquis Kang never intended to seek his consent at all, because as long as they captured Ji Yunshu, he would have no choice but to go.

Marquis Kang, you’re truly shrewd!

In the end, Jingrong could only agree.

He wanted to see what tricks that old fellow was trying to pull.

…

The carriage carrying Ji Yunshu traveled all the way into Jingzhou City. Because it was nighttime, there was no one on the streets.

After traveling for a while, they arrived at Marquis Kang’s residence.

She got off the carriage and looked at the magnificent and splendid residence before her. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—this Marquis Kang was truly a wealthy master.

He even lived better than the Emperor!

The Emperor worked himself to death, keeping the people of the world in his heart, and still had to review countless memorials. Even if the whole world belonged to him, so what?

He wasn’t as comfortable as Marquis Kang!

Moreover, the man was wealthy, lived in a grand mansion, didn’t worry about food, clothing, housing, or transportation, had power in his hands, maintained several thousand household troops at his command, and even the Emperor didn’t control him. Such a life was envied by everyone.

She couldn’t help but sigh about life!

But—

Just as she looked at the plaque of the Marquis’s residence, she froze for a moment.

On that plaque, there was actually a bloody handprint—a child’s.

Hmm?

What was going on?

She was just thinking—

“Master Ji, please come in.” The steward at the door came forward to greet her, completely disrupting her train of thought.

She nodded in response.

“My lord Marquis has been waiting for you for a long time.”

She curved her lips slightly but said nothing.

Her guard was also lowered.

No matter what, Marquis Kang had once lent troops to Jingrong to attack Gaoshan Stronghold, so he should be a friend, not an enemy.

She followed the guide inside.

The moment she stepped through the main gate, she was stunned. This Marquis Kang’s residence was incredibly grand!

Whether it was the interior decoration, the furnishings, or even every brick and tile inside—everything was meticulously carved. Staying in such a place for one night would make you feel like you’d been gilded with a layer of gold.

Just like returning from studying abroad.

As she passed through the courtyard, she saw several strange trees. They were clearly individual trees, yet their branches were all tangled together—not naturally, but as if done deliberately.

The Marquis’s residence was also strange—first the bloody handprint on the plaque, and now these several large trees tangled together!

She didn’t understand the hobbies of wealthy people.

Arriving at the great hall, it was also magnificent and splendid, with everything complete. From large items like pillars to small items like wine cups on tables—everything was exquisite.

This spendthrift child!

How much money must this have cost!

“Master Ji, please wait a moment. I’ll go notify the Marquis right away.”

“Mm.” She nodded.

The steward was just about to go notify him when laughter came from outside. That laughter was both enthusiastic and excited, exactly the same as the laughter Liu Qingping made every time he saw her.

One could imagine that Marquis Kang must also be a fat man!

When the person came out, it was indeed so.

Five feet seven inches tall, weighing close to one hundred eighty pounds, when he walked, even the floor shook.

Seeing Ji Yunshu in the great hall, he greeted her very enthusiastically, grasping her hand in one motion. His eyes eagerly examined her, revealing an expression of long-awaited anticipation. “Master Ji, you’ve finally come! Everyone says you’re exceptionally intelligent, and that any case you handle will surely be resolved properly. This Marquis is truly fortunate to meet you.”

Hmm?

Why was he suddenly saying such things out of the blue?

Ji Yunshu looked at her hand tightly gripped in his, feeling only scorching heat. Even her whole body became hot.

They say fat people have more fat and warmer bodies—it seemed to be true.

She quickly withdrew her hand, stepped back, and cupped her hands in salute. “This one greets Marquis Kang.”

“No need for such formalities, no need.” He hurriedly beckoned. “Come, come, come, Master Ji, please sit quickly.”

He pulled her to sit down!

With a grand wave of his hand, Marquis Kang said to the steward, “Quickly have the kitchen prepare several good dishes for Master Ji.”

Wait, big brother, it was already very late. If this were modern times, it would almost be the early morning hours.

This was a midnight snack!

Ji Yunshu quickly refused. “My lord Marquis, there’s no need. I’ve already eaten.”

“A guest who enters the door is a guest. This Marquis never mistreats guests. What’s more, an honored guest like Master Ji—I must provide proper hospitality.”

Enthusiastic as fire.

Ji Yunshu was dazed by the blaze of his fire.

She smiled modestly. “Really, there’s no need. My lord Marquis needn’t trouble yourself.”

Seeing her repeatedly decline, Marquis Kang had no choice but to give up.

After a moment, he looked at Ji Yunshu with a beaming smile, revealing two tiger teeth, looking quite comical and cute.

In Ji Yunshu’s impression, she had always thought Marquis Kang should be aloof like the Emperor, and should also look like a person of great wisdom. This… must be a bootleg version.

She shook her head to dismiss these thoughts.

Marquis Kang asked her, “I heard Master Ji is from Jinjiang?”

“Yes.”

“You previously held a position at the Jinjiang yamen?”

“Yes.”

“I heard Prince Rong thinks highly of you and brought you back to the capital from thousands of miles away, having you take over the ‘Linjing Case’?”

“Yes.”

“This time you were sent by the Court of Judicial Review to investigate a case at the Imperial Prefecture?”

“Yes.”

…

This old fellow didn’t know where he got so many questions from. He asked Ji Yunshu about everything from her birth until now, almost going through it all once.

But Ji Yunshu’s answer to him was always, “Without father or mother, born and raised by Heaven, plus self-reliance.”

These words directly blocked all of Marquis Kang’s questions and sent them right back at him.