Keeping his word, Jingrong gave the boatman another silver ingot.

Clutching the silver, the boatman beamed with joy, bowing repeatedly while saying “Take care, master” several times.

Entering Zhao Family Village from the village entrance, due to the heavy rain, there were hardly any people in the village. The occasional few moved swiftly, their feet flying as they ran without stopping.

Jingrong and Ji Yunshu held umbrellas, but their robes and shoes were already soaked through. The chill spread from the soles of their feet through their entire bodies—truly cold!

The two finally stopped in front of a dilapidated thatched cottage.

Ji Yunshu knocked on the door. After a long while, the shabby wooden door finally creaked open, pulled from outside to inside.

A white-haired, hunched elderly woman poked her head out and looked at Ji Yunshu and Jingrong.

“Who are you?”

“Madam, pardon the intrusion. May I ask where Sister-in-law Yu lives?”

“You mean A’Yu.” The old woman raised her hand and pointed in a direction. “Go that way, then wind through a grove of trees. You’ll see a house—A’Yu lives there.”

Living in a grove of trees?

Having learned the location, Ji Yunshu nodded in thanks. “Thank you, madam.”

The elderly woman looked at her kindly and smiled. “You two are from out of town, aren’t you? Are you A’Yu’s relatives?”

“More or less.”

Ji Yunshu lied without her face flushing or heart racing.

The old woman nodded and sighed. “A’Yu is truly pitiful. Her husband died young, and her own life hasn’t been easy. These past few years have been hard on her. As relatives, if you can help her out, please do.”

The kind-hearted old woman’s words touched them deeply.

Ji Yunshu agreed and took out some loose silver from her person to give her before leaving.

Throughout, Jingrong said nothing, obediently playing the role of an “attendant.”

Two figures walked side by side in the rain—one tall, one short—holding oil-paper umbrellas, creating quite a picturesque scene.

Jingrong shifted his gaze and, as if his nerves had misfired, asked again.

“Weren’t you here to attend your father’s funeral?”

“…”

Hey! Can we skip this topic and stop asking about it?

At this moment, Ji Yunshu desperately wanted to cover his mouth.

She used the excuse that the rain was too loud and didn’t answer him.

After walking for a while, they finally saw a grove of trees!

Calling it a grove was generous—it was more like a desolate wasteland.

Outside, a few sparsely scattered trees were nearly uprooted by the heavy rain and strong wind!

Along the path, the mud road was soft and sunken. One careless step and you’d fall flat on your back!

Even the poorest families shouldn’t have to live in such a remote place!

Ji Yunshu glanced at Jingrong. “Your Highness’s body is noble. Better not go in. If fine satin gets stained with yellow earth, it cannot be washed clean.”

“Swallow those words back. This prince doesn’t like hearing them.” Jingrong replied to her impassively.

“But…”

“Aren’t you here to investigate a case? In the time it takes you to prattle on, we could have already gone inside.”

How embarrassing!

Jingrong had already lifted his robe and taken the lead, stepping onto the filthy yellow muddy earth. His tall, upright figure entered the desolate, overgrown grove.

Ji Yunshu followed behind, placing her steps in Jingrong’s large footprints, which seemed to make the path less slippery.

One in front, one behind, matching strides!

After walking for some distance, they finally found hope after despair.

But standing before their eyes was a dwelling on the verge of collapse in the heavy rain—utterly dilapidated.

Calling it shelter from wind and rain would be quite a stretch!

Outside the dwelling was also a mess. Things had been blown about by the strong wind, covered in muddy water—absolutely filthy.

“Is there really anyone living in this place?” Jingrong muttered.

“Let’s go in and see.” Ji Yunshu walked forward two steps, then suddenly stopped and turned to Jingrong. “Your Highness, you and I came to visit relatives, but unexpectedly the relatives have moved away. For the moment, we have no place to stay, so we’re going in to ask for a bowl of water to drink.”

“What?”

Jingrong’s eyes widened!

“Your Highness just needs to remember what this humble one said.”

Without further words, Ji Yunshu had already walked to the front of the dwelling. The door was nailed together with wooden boards, with sparse gaps between them through which one could faintly see inside.

However, the interior was quite dim, with an oil lamp flickering weakly—not very bright.

She curled her fingers and knocked several times.

For a good while, no one came to open the door.

Jingrong snorted. “You step aside. This door isn’t sturdy—this prince can kick it open.”

Kick it open, my foot!

Can you have some decency? Stop being so violent, okay?

Ji Yunshu shot him a fierce glare. “This is a poor family’s door. If you kick it, in the dead of winter, you’d freeze them to death! Besides…”

Before she could finish her lecture, the door suddenly opened!

The first thing they saw was a pair of extremely desolate eyes, hidden beneath disheveled hair, carrying a sense of profound darkness.

Only when that face gradually emerged did Ji Yunshu and Jingrong realize with a start.

This was a woman’s face!

It appeared slack with age, covered in wrinkles, bearing the look of one who had weathered many hardships, yet oddly conveying a wariness that kept people at a distance.

Unnerving!

“Who are you looking for?” The voice was weak and indifferent.

Ji Yunshu said gently, “Madam, pardon our intrusion. My elder brother and I came to visit relatives, but who knew they had all moved away. For the moment, we have no place to stay and wish to borrow your dwelling to rest briefly and ask for a bowl of water to drink.”

Perhaps because Ji Yunshu’s tone was gentle and her features refined, the woman also let down her guard somewhat.

She gave them both a once-over before pulling the half-closed door open.

“Come in.” The woman turned and went inside.

Ji Yunshu and Jingrong exchanged glances and followed her into the house.

Inside, though dark and cramped, it was very clean!

Tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and the surroundings held the usual household items of common folk. Though worn, they were all covered with clean cloths and didn’t seem dirty.

Inside, there was also a small room with a cloth hanging as a door, obscuring the view of what lay within.

The two sat down at the table. Jingrong sat upright and proper, his brows and eyes showing no sign of disdain.

It seemed this Buddha had not been pampered!

The woman brought over two bowls of water and said, “You two young masters drink slowly. If it’s not enough, I’ll get you more.”

“Thank you, madam.” Jingrong was very polite.

He held the porcelain bowl and downed the entire bowl of water in one gulp!

It seemed he was truly thirsty!

“Madam, do you live here alone?” Ji Yunshu asked tentatively.

“Yes, just me.”

Shouldn’t there also be a daughter?

Ji Yunshu felt puzzled. “How long have you lived here?”

“Many years now.” The woman’s tone remained flat, revealing nothing.

“May I ask what you are called, madam?” Ji Yunshu asked again.

The woman suddenly raised her eyes and glanced at Ji Yunshu, then hastily averted her gaze, uttering a sentence. “Everyone calls me Sister-in-law Yu.”

They had found the right person!

But where was her daughter, who should now be eight years old?