Ji Yunshu looked curiously at the book in his hands.

She asked, “Who gave it to you?”

“The Prince gave it to me.”

“Oh? Did he teach you anything?”

“He taught me some things, but not everything.” Wei Yi clutched the book, his face full of longing. “Once I read a few more books, I can be like a normal person.”

At these words, Ji Yunshu’s eyes suddenly dimmed, revealing a faint sadness. She said, “Wei Yi, you are already a normal person, and things will only get better in the future.”

“Will they?”

“Yes, they definitely will!”

Wei Yi’s face broke into a pure and joyful smile.

Just then—

Muruo and Tang Si suddenly came to visit.

The former hadn’t even entered yet when the latter rushed ahead.

“A’Ji.” She excitedly burst inside.

As if not seeing each other for a single day was like being separated for three autumns.

Tang Si had always dressed in Houliao attire before, but for some reason recently, she had removed all those jingling and jangling ornaments from her body and changed into Central Plains clothing. She now appeared gentler and less wild, with her rosy face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and starry eyes looking quite elegant.

Though her movements were still inevitably somewhat rough.

Ji Yunshu asked, “Why are you here?”

“To see you.”

Oh!

Wei Yi instinctively stepped back several paces, because every time this woman came, she liked to tease him until she’d had enough fun. Each time, he would grit his teeth in frustration, wishing he could throw a burlap sack over Tang Si’s head and beat her black and blue. But a good man doesn’t fight with women!

Since he couldn’t hit her or scold her, if he couldn’t provoke her, he’d just avoid her.

When Tang Si came in, sure enough, she focused her attention on Wei Yi. Seeing the book in his hands, she snatched it away.

“The Art of War by Sun Tzu? What kind of book is this? Can you even understand it?” Her tone was teasing.

“Miss Tang, give the book back to me.”

“No.”

“You…”

“Is this book good? What’s it about? Is it better than medical texts…” Tang Si rattled off questions without stopping.

Wei Yi broke out in a cold sweat.

Muruo, who entered behind her, shook his head helplessly.

That woman had recently turned his Yuhua Pavilion upside down as well.

Ji Yunshu removed her gloves and went to meet Muruo, asking, “Is Young Master Mu here to see the Prince?”

“I’m here to see you.”

“Me? What for?”

“May I speak with you privately?”

How mysterious!

The two went outside.

Muruo’s expression was grave. The words rolled in his throat for a long time before he finally said, “Miss Ji should still remember that when I agreed to help treat Wei Yi, you promised me something.”

“I remember.”

She had said she would go through mountains of knives and seas of fire, even if it cost her own life.

Muruo glanced at Wei Yi inside. “Now Wei Yi’s condition has gradually improved. Before long, he’ll be able to recover the mental faculties of a normal person, so… it’s also time for you to fulfill your promise.”

Straight to the point!

Ji Yunshu said seriously, “Since I promised you, naturally I won’t go back on my word. As long as it’s within my ability, I will do my utmost.”

“Good. With those words from you, I can rest easy.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

“I’ll first take you to meet someone.”

Hm?

…

An incense stick’s time later.

The two were already in a carriage, heading toward the palace.

When they reached the palace gates, Muruo used the Mu family’s special permit to enter the palace. As a member of the Criminal Justice Bureau, Ji Yunshu could enter the palace without obstruction.

Soon, they arrived at Tongren Hall.

Here?

A dilapidated red door with peeling paint.

A plaque covered in spider webs.

Falling leaves drifting all around.

The pitted and uneven ground outside.

And those two lonely, broken lanterns hanging at the corners—all of it was enough to demonstrate just how rundown and decrepit Tongren Hall was.

Situated within the palace with its red walls and green tiles, its gold and jade carvings, it stood out like a “lone branch.”

Ji Yunshu wondered in her heart whose residence this could be.

The Cold Palace?

Just as she was thinking this, Fu Lu came out from inside carrying an old pear-blossom chair with a broken corner, looking somewhat strained.

Seeing the two of them, he froze for a moment, then quickly set down what he was carrying and hurried forward to greet them. “Young Master Mu has arrived!”

Muruo asked, “Where are you taking that chair?”

“The Prince said this chair may be broken, but it would be a shame to throw it away, so he told me to take it to the Office of Palace Affairs to have someone repair it.”

“Why not just have someone come here to repair it?”

“Young Master Mu, it’s not like you don’t know—everyone in this palace wishes they could take a detour to avoid this place. Who would be willing to come?” Fu Lu let out a sigh.

From their conversation, Ji Yunshu gathered the predicament of the master of this hall.

Fu Lu looked up and noticed her, narrowing his eyes and sizing her up and down. Suddenly he was startled. “Is this… Lord Ji?”

He immediately cupped his hands in salute!

Ji Yunshu politely returned the courtesy.

“I didn’t expect Lord Ji to come here. This servant was discourteous just now.”

She: “…”

Muruo spoke up and asked, “Is the Virtuous Prince in?”

Fu Lu replied, “Yes, the Prince is in the courtyard.”

The Virtuous Prince?

Ji Yunshu finally understood that the person Muruo had brought her to see was the Virtuous Prince!

Everyone said the Virtuous Prince was often ill, and the Emperor had graciously allowed him to recuperate in the palace. She would have thought he’d be pampered and well-cared for. Even if things weren’t that good, he shouldn’t be living in such a rundown place. Even to repair a chair, he had to carry it to the Office of Palace Affairs himself. His status and circumstances were clear to see.

Fu Lu led the two inside.

In the courtyard, Jing Xian wore a plain and elegant long robe. His high topknot had no decorations whatsoever. He held a wooden staff and was swinging it in what seemed to be martial arts practice.

But his movements were clumsy and awkward.

Seeing people enter, he immediately stopped his movements and looked at Muruo. “Why have you come today?”

But Muruo asked curiously, “What are you doing?”

Pointing at the wooden staff in his hand!

“All these years, thanks to you, my body has finally recovered. Before, when my health was weak, I spent years lying in bed in my chambers, rarely going outside. Now my constitution is much stronger. Recently I’ve felt full of energy, so I took out a wooden staff to practice with. It’s just that I’m not skilled in martial arts, so my swings are all over the place.”

Embarrassed!

“But you should still rest more.”

“Yes, yes, yes, you’re right.” Jing Xian obediently tossed the wooden staff aside under a large tree.

He dusted off his hands.

Suddenly—

He noticed a woman beside Muruo.

The person wore women’s clothing, with light makeup and delicate features.

“Lord Ji?”

Ji Yunshu stepped forward and cupped her hands in salute. “Greetings to the Virtuous Prince.”

Jing Xian said in surprise, “The last time we met at Chengqing Hall, you were still Master Ji. In just a few short months, you’ve become Lord Ji. I must congratulate you.”

“This official should be thanking Your Highness instead. On the day of the great fire at Chengqing Hall, when Prince Rong was taken to the inner palace dungeon, if Your Highness hadn’t held me back then, I’m afraid this official would have done something foolish.”

“Lord Ji need not be so polite.”

Jing Xian smiled and quickly invited the two inside, instructing Fu Lu to serve a pot of good tea.

“I dried these tea leaves myself. Though they’re bitter when they first enter the mouth, they’re quite sweet as they go down the throat. Since Lord Ji is visiting for the first time and I don’t have much here to offer as hospitality, I can only serve tea.” Jing Xian poured three cups of tea.

Ji Yunshu picked up her cup and took a sip.

Indeed, it was bitter!