How did she know?

Ji Yunshu explained, “When you asked the Virtuous Prince about that treasure orchid tree, I could guess from your expression. I imagine that treasure orchid tree must have some deeper significance, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t look so troubled.”

Previously, Muruo had secretly plucked a leaf from the treasure orchid tree to take back and study.

He got a result!

And that result was something he could never have imagined—it turned out that all these years, Jing Xian had never drunk the medicine he prescribed for him at all, but had poured it all into that potted plant instead!

The medicine contained Zishan Wu, which was very nutritious for the growth of treasure orchid trees, which was why the tree’s flowers bloomed so brilliantly and beautifully.

But—

Why?

Why?

After a long silence, he nodded. “That’s right. That treasure orchid tree does indeed have a big problem, because all these years, Jing Xian has been pouring the medicine I prescribed for him into that potted plant and hasn’t been drinking it at all! But since he hasn’t been drinking the medicine I prescribed all these years, why has his health improved? And over the years when I diagnosed him, he truly did suffer from weakness syndrome. Without taking medicine regularly, it wouldn’t get better in a short time.”

Puzzling!

“Then what about that pigeon?” Ji Yunshu asked again.

“Pigeon?”

“On the way back to the capital, we took shelter from the rain in a temple. I saw a pigeon with a bamboo tube tied to its foot. When I chased after it, the bamboo tube on the pigeon’s leg had already disappeared. I only saw a limping monk. I remember that pigeon had a round black mark on its left wing. And what a coincidence—just now at the Virtuous Prince’s place, I saw that very pigeon.”

It couldn’t be wrong!

At these words, Muruo’s expression grew even more somber. The stone in his heart rolled larger and larger. His brow furrowed tightly, and the words stuck in his throat for a long time before he lowered his eyes and spoke. “I’ve seen the bamboo tube on the pigeon!”

“Ah?”

“The last time I went to find Jing Xian, I saw with my own eyes him quietly removing a bamboo tube from that pigeon’s foot. He thought I didn’t know.”

The atmosphere became extremely heavy!

It seemed that Jing Xian had far too many secrets.

So many that it was simply chilling.

But thinking it over, Muruo was puzzled. “But he’s been in the palace for years. The people he knows outside, besides me, are just Jingrong. Who else could he be in constant contact with? And why wouldn’t he drink the medicine I prescribed for him?”

His heart was drumming!

Ji Yunshu took a deep breath and asked him very seriously, “So now… do you still want to help him leave the palace under the pretext of entering court?”

“…”

“The Virtuous Prince is…”

“I promised him!” These words from Muruo immediately blocked what Ji Yunshu was about to say next.

She fell silent.

Hesitated!

Even felt somewhat helpless!

She met Muruo’s determined gaze and finally bit her lip. “Fine.”

She agreed!

Muruo opened his mouth, as if somewhat shocked that she agreed so quickly.

Ji Yunshu said, “A person must keep their word and not break faith with others. Since you promised him, and I promised I would help you with something, then I will do my utmost to find a way to help the Virtuous Prince attend court. But Muruo, I still must remind you of something.” She paused slightly and said extremely seriously, “If the Emperor truly intended to allow him to leave the palace and establish his own manor, he would have approved it long ago. Why would he keep him trapped in the palace for years under the pretext of recuperation? You must understand the mystery in this. After all, the Crown Prince serves as a lesson from before, and Prince Yi as a warning from after.”

The Crown Prince serves as a lesson from before, and Prince Yi as a warning from after.

These words, Muruo took to heart.

But—

He said, “I want to take a gamble—gamble on my trust in him.”

What more could Ji Yunshu say?

The two fell silent.

The carriage also gradually moved forward.

After Ji Yunshu returned to Bamboo Brook Garden, she sat in her room the whole time, pondering how to help the Virtuous Prince smoothly leave the palace.

Yet she also felt somewhat worried.

And she thought about this until evening.

When Jingrong finished his work and returned, he heard from a young servant that Ji Yunshu had been staying in her room without coming out since returning from outside. He didn’t know what she was thinking about—she was so absorbed that she hadn’t even drunk a mouthful of water.

In the room, Ji Yunshu propped up her chin, her eyes slightly dimmed.

The candlelight before her flickered faintly, penetrating into her black pupils and sparkling with crystalline points of light, carrying an inexplicable melancholy.

She was so lost in thought that she completely failed to notice Jingrong standing at the door!

Jingrong stood there for a long time without stepping inside. He turned his head and asked the young servant, “Did Lord Ji go to the Ministry of Justice on business?”

“No, she went out with Young Master Mu.”

“Muruo?” His brow furrowed deeply. “They went to Yuhua Pavilion?”

“They went to the palace. They stayed inside for almost two hours before coming out.”

Went to the palace?

Muruo took her there?

He thought carefully for a while and seemed to understand something.

When Muruo entered the palace, it was invariably to see Jing Xian. And the reason for bringing Ji Yunshu along was probably related to this matter of court ministers recommending that Jing Xian enter court. Plus, given Ji Yunshu’s troubled appearance, one could imagine that the boy Muruo had definitely thrown her an enormous problem.

The young servant saw him pondering for a long time and asked quietly, “Won’t Your Highness go in to see Miss Ji?”

“No need.”

His expression was grave, his eyes even deeper, and he turned and left.

The next morning, he hurriedly entered the palace and knelt to beseech Emperor Qizhen to agree to let Jing Xian enter court.

Emperor Qizhen refused!

He seemed to harbor misgivings.

But Jingrong was very determined. In the end, Emperor Qizhen issued an edict permitting Jing Xian, whose illness was gradually improving, to enter court, and graciously allowed him to leave the palace and establish his own manor.

When this news spread, it caused a sensation throughout the entire court.

After Ji Yunshu learned of it, she immediately went to find Jingrong.

At this moment, he was feeding fish by the pond!

The pond was very large, with many fish raised in it. When Ji Yunshu first moved here, he had ordered people to dig one, saying that when she was bored, she could come here to feed the fish and relax.

But she had never come even once!

Jingrong grabbed a few grains of fish food and scattered them into the pond, his back to the approaching Ji Yunshu.

She walked up behind him, and the first question she asked was, “Why?”

Why?

Jingrong smiled slightly and continued to leisurely feed the fish, not turning his head. “I’m not interested in the throne.”

“But the Virtuous Prince…” is not simple!

Before the three words could leave her mouth, Jingrong interrupted her.

“Muruo already told me everything.” Matter-of-factly.

Then Jingrong scattered all the fish food in his hand into the pond. A school of carp swarmed over, scrambling to compete for the food.

Colliding into a mass.

He clapped his hands and turned around, looking at the slightly shocked Ji Yunshu. His tone was calm as he said, “A person who has been deep in the palace for so long, yet can so easily control so many things—ask yourself, how could such a person be simple? But regardless of what his purpose ultimately is—whether he’s truly helping me or hoping to be the fisherman who profits when the snipe and clam fight—I’ve said before that I don’t care about the throne. Even if I defeat Jing Yi, I will yield the throne to him. My only wish is that after the Linjing Case is solved, I’ll take you far away from the capital. From then on, I’ll never step foot in court again. Moreover, since you already promised Muruo, and Muruo promised Jing Xian—one is my best friend, one is the woman I love most—besides helping, I have no choice.”