“We have not!”

Last time when Ji Li and Ji Huan were discussing the deployment outside the city, Ji Wanxin must have overheard from outside the door and notified Jingrong. Otherwise, how would Jingrong have known about his deployment outside the city?

But since she wouldn’t admit it, there was naturally nothing he could do.

After all, there was no evidence.

He could only let it go.

He said, “I was just asking casually. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Mm.”

She was obedient and sensible, performed a slight curtsy, and left.

Watching that delicate figure, his eyes deepened.

Would his well-behaved sister really inform on them?

Not continuing that train of thought, he hurried off to the Ministry of War to hand over his duties.

……

Prince Rong Manor.

Now that Prince Rong had been graciously permitted to remain in the capital, naturally the “Linjing Case” that had been delayed for several months should also be investigated.

Early in the morning, Ji Yunshu held her two sandalwood boxes, preparing to go to Bamboo Creek Garden to complete the portraits of the remaining eleven skull reconstructions.

Jingrong originally planned to have Lang Bo accompany her.

But she refused. “No need. With matters between you and Prince Yi, Brother Lang can still help you. I have Zijin by my side, which is enough. Besides, during this time, I’ll probably be staying at Bamboo Creek Garden.”

“Alright then. You go ahead first. In the evening, this prince will come over.”

“You should just stay here.”

“Enough, you don’t need to worry about this prince’s whereabouts. In any case, I have rooms in both places – I can stay wherever.”

How embarrassing.

Ji Yunshu ultimately said nothing more.

Just as she was about to leave, Tang Si arrived again.

“A’Ji, where are you going?”

“Why are you here?”

“I asked you first.”

“Going out for a bit.”

“Then I’ll come with you.” As she spoke, she looped her arm around Ji Yunshu’s slender arm, pestering her relentlessly to go along.

This piece of sticky candy naturally couldn’t be shaken off, so she had to bring her along.

After Ji Yunshu left, Jingrong summoned Lu Jiang with instructions.

“Go investigate and see which court officials are closest to Prince Yi.”

“Yes.” Lu Jiang responded, but asked in confusion, “Your Highness intends to?”

“Without the Ji family brothers supporting him, Jing Yi will inevitably lay low for a while. And at this time, if we could win over his people, it couldn’t be more appropriate.”

Oh!

Lu Jiang said, “This subordinate knows that the Court of Judicial Review Minister is closest to Prince Yi Manor.”

“The Court of Judicial Review Minister is just a small fish, not worth paying attention to. Jing Yi was able to replace the people outside the capital and guarding the palace with his own people, which shows the Imperial Forest Army in the palace and the Lin Army garrisoning the capital have also been swayed by him.” He pondered and analyzed, “And the person who can mobilize the entire Imperial Forest Army, besides His Majesty, is only Imperial Forest Army Commander Minister Xiao.”

“So Your Highness wants to?”

“Investigate him inside and out thoroughly. This prince wants to know all his background details.”

“Yes.”

Lu Jiang received the order!

……

Meanwhile, Ji Yunshu and Tang Si were sitting in the carriage heading to Bamboo Creek Garden.

Although Tang Si had already wandered around the streets once, her sense of novelty still hadn’t diminished. She stuck her head out the carriage window, looking this way and that.

Every so often she’d exclaim, “Look over there, what’s that?”

“And that…”

“That one.”

……

A whole jumble of things.

Ji Yunshu didn’t have such leisure.

Suddenly—

The carriage jolted.

The horse reared up as the driver pulled tight on the reins.

“Whoa!”

The horse calmed down.

Tang Si, who had been sticking her head outside, was jolted inward, half her body crashing into the carriage wall. One could almost hear the sound of bones.

She stomped her foot hard.

“What’s going on!”

Her voice was loud.

“Master Ji, Miss Tang, are you alright?” the driver quickly asked.

Tang Si shouted, “You think we’re alright?”

Ji Yunshu was much calmer. Fortunately it wasn’t serious. After sitting steadily, she asked, “Uncle Li, what happened?”

“There’s a caravan ahead. Their horse seems to have been startled, which affected our horse.”

“Oh?”

Curious!

The two both leaned out and got off the carriage.

They saw a merchant caravan ahead – five or six horses, three cargo carts and one carriage. It wasn’t clear whether cargo had fallen and startled the horses, or the startled horses caused the cargo to fall.

Those dozen or so merchants were carrying and lifting several large fallen crates, while the horse pulling that cart was still restless on the spot, snorting.

Neighing constantly!

For a moment, the caravan blocked the originally spacious road.

The other driver couldn’t figure out the situation either – what was wrong with the perfectly fine horse?

Ji Yunshu observed for a while, her brow furrowing as she glanced at those few fallen crates.

She seemed to understand something.

Uncle Li went forward to negotiate with them, saying, “Could you move aside? My master has urgent business.”

The person in charge was quite polite and quickly apologized, “Please forgive us, please forgive us. Just now our cargo fell and startled the horse. We didn’t expect it would also startle your horse. We’re truly sorry.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

The other side quickly had their workers temporarily lead the horses aside, clearing a path.

However—

That startled horse still kept snorting, as if it had taken stimulants, unable to calm down no matter what.

Tang Si sneered coldly. “It’s just a wild horse. Can’t even tame it?”

In their Houliao, such wild horses were everywhere, and there wasn’t one she couldn’t tame.

She immediately rolled up her sleeves, ready for action.

But Ji Yunshu stopped her.

“Don’t act rashly. That horse isn’t a wild horse.”

“If it’s not a wild horse and still so stubborn, it should be slaughtered and eaten.”

How embarrassing!

Ji Yunshu was helpless. This idle matter really shouldn’t concern her, but the spacious road was completely blocked by that horse. If this continued, who knew how much time would be wasted.

She looked around, her gaze falling on a vegetable stall.

She went over and picked out a few carrots, took out some coins and gave them to the vendor, then asked the noodle stall master for some aged vinegar which she sprinkled on the carrots, only then approaching that startled horse.

Uncle Li worried, “Master, this horse is fierce. Don’t get hurt.”

Otherwise His Highness would beat him to death.

She shook her head, indicating it was fine.

She reached out to grab the fastening rope on the horse’s body, bringing the carrot to the horse’s nose to let it smell.

Who would have known – the originally restless horse suddenly quieted down.

“What is this?” The merchant leader quickly asked, somewhat worried.

“Carrot.”

“I know, but…”

Ji Yunshu smiled and fed the carrot to the horse.

Patting her hands, she explained to the leader, “Your horse probably smelled something it didn’t like, which is why it acted this way. I let it smell the carrot with aged vinegar. Carrots are something horses naturally like, and adding vinegar covers up the smell – it’s the same principle as how ginger with sesame oil can mask the smell of corpses for people.”

Ugh!

That person’s expression stiffened.

Just explain if you’re going to explain!

Why suddenly bring up the smell of corpses?

He swallowed and asked, “Everything was fine the whole way. What… what smell did the horse detect?”

Ji Yunshu’s gaze looked toward those few crates that had fallen from the cart, saying, “Your crates contain tiger pelts, don’t they?”

“How did you know?”

“Although the tiger pelts have been re-sewn and processed, the smell hasn’t been removed yet, am I right?”

“Young master, you’re simply divine. You even know this.”