The crow soared into flight and disappeared, as if deeply immersed in that expanse of pitch-black night, instantly becoming one with it. No matter how the naked eye tried to see, not the slightest shadow could be detected.
Ji Yinshu tilted her head back slightly and let out a long breath.
The weather recently was no longer as sweltering as before. The early autumn season was gradually turning cool. The breeze brushed across her face, gentle yet forceful, yet very comfortable.
She tucked her icy hands into her garments, clenching her fists a few times, then let out another long breath, standing for a while in the courtyard.
She carefully sorted through the ghostly hauntings at the marquis’s estate from beginning to end.
The bloody handprint on the signboard?
Those several trees tangled together at the entrance to the estate?
The artificial mountain deliberately pried over?
Plus Cai Da’s death by biting off his own tongue—could it truly be suicide out of guilt for accidentally killing his own mother?
And that child’s voice—if it truly was someone deliberately creating mystery, there was no reason Jingrong wouldn’t have detected even a trace of it when they were in the ancestral hall!
What exactly was hidden behind these events?
Or rather, how many people in the marquis’s estate were involved?
After going through the events one by one, she called out into the air, “Zijin.”
Shi Zijin’s figure swiftly descended, standing beside her. “What orders does Master have?”
Although she knew Ji Yinshu was a woman, she was still habitually addressing her as “Master.”
Ji Yinshu ordered seriously, “In a moment, secretly look around the marquis’s estate to see if there are any suspicious people or suspicious matters. If there’s any situation, come notify me immediately.”
“Yes.” She acknowledged.
Just as she was about to investigate, Ji Yinshu called her back.
“Zijin.”
“What other orders does Master have?”
“Actually, you don’t need to guard by my side at all times. If I have nothing going on, you should also pay more attention to rest.”
“Master need not worry about me. Being commanded by the prince to protect Master is already my great honor. Moreover, the prince said that the marquis’s estate is not peaceful and ordered me to guard by Master’s side at all times for protection, not to leave.”
Very serious.
Ji Yinshu said to her, “This is the marquis’s estate. Outside, there are estate guards watching. Nothing will happen. If you continue like this constantly, what if you wear yourself out?”
“But the prince has given orders that cannot be disobeyed. Comparatively, Master’s safety is more important.”
“How come I never noticed before that you’re so stubborn.” Ji Yinshu chided her.
Those who practice martial arts are just rigid, especially the taciturn Shi Zijin.
Shi Zijin didn’t refute her words but remained silent.
That face, clearly a woman’s, lacked some gentleness but had more cold-bloodedness. Always cold and cutting, never smiling, especially those eyes—once they turned cold, they carried thick killing intent that made people afraid to look directly. Perhaps it was because she had been covered in wounds on the battlefield since childhood, fighting desperately to survive, that forged her hard yet loyal character.
How could Ji Yinshu not admire such a person?
But—
Like Jingrong, both were rather stubborn.
Truly a stubborn little wolf.
Ji Yinshu sighed and could only say, “Alright, go investigate first.”
“Yes.”
Shi Zijin cupped her hands, and her figure disappeared, just like that crow earlier, vanishing without a trace.
“Iron lady.”
Ji Yinshu spoke into the air, her lips holding a faint smile, then entered the room.
On the other side, Jingrong had just returned to his own courtyard.
Lang Bo approached him with a grave expression, handing over a letter.
“From Yicheng.”
“When?”
“Just now.”
Jingrong took the letter and hurried into the room before opening it. The page was densely covered with characters. The handwriting wasn’t exactly neat, clearly not from a scholar’s hand.
As he read, Lang Bo spoke. “Since Empress Xuanshu’s death, the Kong family members have nearly all dispersed from the capital. Although former military vanguard Kong Qu went to the distant northwestern city of Yicheng, far from the capital, Yicheng is a strategic fortress for the Huyi to enter Great Lin—of critical importance. Now Kong Qu is the city’s master, guarding the northwest where he can command peace for himself. Moreover, when Kong Qu was in the capital years ago, he was an extremely proud person. This time, if Your Highness wants to borrow his troops to prepare for future resistance against Prince Yi, this is probably… somewhat difficult.”
His words were true!
Since Empress Xuanshu’s death, the Kong family’s power had long declined. The few remaining useful ones had all dispersed from the capital. Kong Qu had a stubborn temperament and was a solitary, proud person. He had always shown his true skills on the battlefield and disliked participating in factional struggles for position. That’s why after Empress Xuanshu’s death, he volunteered to go to Yicheng and never set foot in the capital again. He spent his days living a carefree frontier life, raising horses, drilling troops, and occasionally hunting on horseback. Who knew how pleasant his days were? Now that Jingrong had sent a secret letter requesting to borrow his troops, Kong Qu naturally wouldn’t agree. Without a court mandate document, he wouldn’t move even a single soldier.
However, in the letter Jingrong sent to Kong Qu, he also mentioned Crown Prince Jinghua’s death.
One sentence in the sent letter read: “If General Kong wishes to know the truth about the Crown Prince’s palace siege and regicide, allow the loan of troops, and the truth will naturally come to light.”
Jingrong hadn’t directly revealed that it was Jing Yi who had secretly sent people to incite Jinghua to rebel.
Kong Qu also knew the Crown Prince was incompetent and wouldn’t so easily stage a palace siege and regicide, but he hadn’t thought deeply about it and just let it pass. However, upon seeing that letter Jingrong sent, his heart began to struggle.
On one hand, he was guarding the frontier fortress at Yicheng. As long as the Huyi remained peaceful, he could live freely and carefree. He really didn’t want to return to the capital to participate in factional struggles!
On the other hand, he truly wanted to know what the truth was behind the Crown Prince’s palace siege. After all, the Crown Prince was Empress Xuanshu’s son and his clan relative.
So—
He struggled for a long time.
But ultimately, he still declined using “no mandate document” as the reason. The entire content of his refusal was written in this letter that had just been delivered.
Finished reading!
Jingrong gently placed the letter beside him, his lips curving slightly. “The result is within expectations.”
Lang Bo was surprised and bowed his head. “Does this mean Your Highness knew all along?”
“This prince’s request to borrow his troops, and mentioning the Crown Prince’s matter in the letter, was merely to give Kong Qu a reminder—not to develop a bunch of idle ailments in Yicheng after dispersing from the capital. Now having seen that letter, he definitely won’t be able to remain at peace.”
“This subordinate doesn’t understand Your Highness’s meaning.”
Jingrong clasped his hands behind his back and walked to the door, stopping to say, “The Crown Prince was Empress Xuanshu’s son, so it was natural for the Kong family to serve the Crown Prince loyally. But the Crown Prince staged a palace siege and regicide, then killed himself in the Eastern Palace. Although Kong Qu is a military general, the fact that he was able to voluntarily go to Yicheng after Empress Xuanshu’s death and successfully escape the capital’s treacherous intrigue—just based on this point alone, one knows he’s a clever person. Since he’s clever, how could he not think about the suspicious aspects of the Crown Prince’s palace siege? Plus, now this prince has brought it up in the letter sent to him—he will definitely become puzzled and think through the causes and consequences of this matter more carefully. When that time comes, he’ll naturally understand clearly like Father Emperor. And since he’s a Kong family member, he absolutely won’t knowingly sense something wrong about the Crown Prince’s palace siege yet continue idling in Yicheng. So the letter this prince sent was both a reminder and an enticement. Although he used the ‘mandate document’ to refuse this prince, his heart probably already has a decision. Once the decision is made, he’ll naturally send troops for this prince.”