Ji Li knew in his heart that if he couldn’t kill Jingrong in time, it would become a huge problem in the future!

In the court, he would certainly be constrained at every turn.

But there was no choice—Qin Shiyu had His Majesty’s imperial edict. If he didn’t let them pass, it would be defying the decree.

Qin Shiyu maintained his solemn bearing and said to him, “Magistrate Ji, His Majesty has issued a decree granting Prince Rong permission to enter the capital. Please quickly lead your men to withdraw to both sides and do not obstruct.”

Ji Li ground his teeth viciously, veins bulging, and questioned, “Minister Qin, is this truly His Majesty’s imperial edict?”

“What? Does Magistrate Ji suspect me of falsely transmitting an imperial decree?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

“This edict was issued by His Majesty himself. How could it be false? If Magistrate Ji doesn’t immediately let them pass, it will be defying the decree.”

Ugh!

He couldn’t bear that accusation.

After deliberating for a long moment, he finally bent down to pick up his long sword that had been shot to the ground by the arrow, gripping it tightly. He glanced at Jingrong, an inexplicable fear flickering in his eyes.

Then, Jingrong stepped over the corpses on the ground and strode toward him, his sharp black eyes seemingly streaming with cold ice, piercingly cold as he said solemnly, “Magistrate Ji, this Prince will remember today’s events well. Whatever consequences follow, you chose them yourself.”

A formal declaration of war!

As his words fell, Jingrong viciously threw the blood-stained long sword in his hand to the ground.

The sword struck the earth as if to shatter the small, hard pebbles scattered there.

The two faced off!

Ji Li kept his face rigid and said, “This official was also following His Majesty’s personal decree. In court, before all the ministers, His Majesty issued an order forbidding Your Highness from returning to the capital. As Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, blocking Your Highness is my duty. If I injured Your Highness, it was also a helpless measure.”

“This so-called duty means putting this Prince to death?”

“Uh!”

Jingrong leaned forward, tilting his head to whisper in his ear, “Has Magistrate Ji ever considered that if Prince Yi ascends the throne in the future, who will be the first person whose military authority he strips away?”

You fool—you and Ji Huan hold so much military power in your hands. Of course he’ll strip you of it first!

Ji Li’s lips trembled: “…”

“Take care of yourself!”

Jingrong bestowed these four characters upon him.

Then he stepped back two paces.

Creating distance between them.

Ji Li’s face was stiff, his eyes trembling slightly, as if savoring the deeper meaning of those four characters.

After a moment, he raised his hand and pointed forward with five fingers.

“Let them pass.”

His voice was weak.

Thus, the officers could only sheathe their swords and withdraw to the sides.

They also dragged the blood-soaked corpses littering the ground to one side, clearing the main road for horses and carriages to pass.

Qin Shiyu then handed the edict to Jingrong. “Prince Rong, His Majesty’s edict is here. Please enter the palace immediately without delay.”

He gave him a meaningful look.

Jingrong understood, nodding slightly as he took the suspicious edict.

“This Prince receives the decree.”

Holding the edict, he glanced again at Ji Li, who looked completely defeated.

Serves him right!

Then he turned and walked to Wen Xian’s side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. Turning his head slightly, he said, “Thank you.”

Wen Xian only said, “I was following orders.”

Following Ji Yunshu’s orders!

Jingrong understood and said nothing more, then led the mobility-impaired Qin Shiyu to his carriage.

At this moment, Tang Si was still huffing with anger.

She gripped her blood-stained whip and lashed it forcefully at the ground. “A bunch of damned people! This young lady will fight them every time we meet.” She glared at Ji Li furiously. “Especially you—we didn’t cross swords today, but next time there’s a chance, I’ll let you taste the power of my whip.”

Alright, stop bragging!

Muruo pulled her over. “Stop talking nonsense. Get in the carriage.”

“I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

“Shut up.”

He tossed her onto the carriage in one motion.

Then Muruo looked at Wen Xian, whose clothing was stained with blood, and said, “Master Wen, please get in the carriage as well.”

Wen Xian’s face was expressionless. “No need…”

Before he could finish the word “need,” Muruo directly interrupted, “Your face is pale, and your body is already weak. If you don’t want to die on the road, hurry up and get in the carriage.”

“I…”

“Why does a grown man like to dawdle so much?”

Wen Xian felt embarrassed!

After hesitating for a while, he could only board the carriage.

Thus, the carriage procession grandly passed by Ji Li’s men and headed for the capital!

Ji Li could only watch helplessly from behind.

There was nothing he could do.

An officer beside him stepped forward and asked, “Magistrate Ji, what do we do now?”

Nothing!

The officer continued asking, “How do we explain this to Prince Yi?”

Ji Li’s eyes tightened as he watched the departing procession, shaking his head.

He uttered one phrase: “I don’t know.”

…

Inside the carriage returning to the capital.

After Muruo pulled Wen Xian into the carriage, he stuffed a pill into his hand.

“Take it. It’s good medicine.”

“Hmm?” Wen Xian looked at the black pill in his palm, hesitating to swallow it.

He thought: Could it be poison?

After all, Muruo was truly capable of such a thing.

Probably sensing his concerns.

Muruo said, “Don’t worry, this isn’t poison. It’s a life-saving miraculous medicine. When we were at the Imperial Manor, Scholar Ji told me to examine your condition, but I never had the opportunity or time to properly take your pulse. Once we reach the capital, I’ll examine you thoroughly.”

With this explanation, Wen Xian felt reassured enough to put the pill in his mouth and swallow it.

After a moment, he said, “Thank you.”

Muruo: “No need to thank me. We should be thanking you for your help earlier.”

“If it weren’t for Scholar Ji, I wouldn’t have turned back.”

“Say what you will, but you definitely helped us.”

It didn’t matter!

At this moment, Tang Si reached out and touched Wen Xian, her face full of polite smiles as she expressed her gratitude. “Thank you so much earlier. If you hadn’t helped, I would have been in trouble.”

Wen Xian still had that cold, indifferent look, not even glancing at her once.

He didn’t speak!

“You’re really interesting—you don’t even talk. You’re like a mute.” Tang Si was puzzled.

Pfft—

Muruo beside her nearly spat blood.

This woman truly never filtered her words before speaking.

Wen Xian felt as if someone had slapped him—it really hurt. But since the one hitting him was a woman after all, and he never argued with women.

Thinking about it, he let it go.

Tang Si seemed unwilling to give up and looked him up and down several times.

Finally, her gaze landed on the flute at his waist.

“Let me see it.”

She was about to reach out and take it.

Wen Xian protected the flute, his body shifting to the side, causing her hand to grasp at empty air.

The next moment, Muruo glanced at the “acting up” Tang Si and said apologetically to Wen Xian, “Master Wen, please don’t mind her. She didn’t take her medicine today.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Still so indifferent.

Tang Si retorted, “You’re the one who didn’t take medicine. I’m not sick—why would I take medicine?”

“When we reach the capital, I’ll prescribe some medicine for you.”

Poison!

To poison you mute!

Tang Si shot him a look, but after a moment, she settled down and stopped fidgeting.

The carriage quickly returned to tranquility.

In another carriage.

After the carriage had traveled for some distance and they were certain that Ji Li and his men hadn’t followed, Jingrong finally opened the edict.

Where was any imperial edict on it!

It was clearly completely empty, without a single drop of ink.