Shi Zijin’s body was cremated.

Ji Yunshu held that urn of ashes and went with Shi Ziran to the moat’s edge.

Heavy snow fell, blanketing the entire capital.

The two scattered the ashes, which gradually dispersed with the wind and snow.

Ji Yunshu wore a white flower on her head, her face pale, her eyes weak and heavy as she watched the ashes drift away with the wind.

Her eyes couldn’t help but redden again. Shi Ziran shed all his usual roguish air and spoke in a low, somber voice, “Since childhood, we’ve depended on each other. She never liked talking much with others. Even when seriously injured, she would always endure it without saying anything. Sometimes I would think, how could I have such a sister? A sister who always hid her thoughts in her heart? She often said I didn’t understand her, but actually I did. She always wanted to go to the great grasslands, saying the horses there were fat and strong and ran fast. She also said she wanted to see the border of Da Lin, to see our Da Lin’s flag flying on the city walls.”

His voice grew smaller and smaller…

More and more hoarse…

Ji Yunshu held the urn in her hands, tightened her collar, took a breath, and said, “What is owed must be collected.”

“You mean?”

She said: “Given the current situation, who most wants Jingrong dead? Why the sudden re-exhumation? Where did that group of bandits come from? How did the capital guards arrive so suddenly? And why would Prince Xian invite Jingrong to his manor? All of this is far too coincidental.”

Just as he finished speaking—

A voice came.

“It’s not coincidence, it was planned all along.”

Hearing the voice and looking over, Muruo had arrived at some point.

He walked over through the snow with a bitter smile, looking at the heavy snowfall outside. “I think I may have lost.”

Yes, he had lost! “I thought I was being overly suspicious about everything, so even though I knew he’d been feigning illness all these years, and knew he was using that pigeon to secretly communicate with others, I clearly knew all this, but still chose to believe him, to believe he would never harm Jingrong, to believe he was different from Jing Yi. As a result, I was wrong and I lost. The imperial throne can make a person lose all reason.”

The imperial throne can make a person lose all reason.

White snow flew, cold wind blew!

……

Wei Yi opened his eyes. Before him was an unfamiliar room.

Very simple!

He rubbed his still somewhat painful neck and got up from the bed, searching around the room. It was quite dark inside with very few belongings, like a meditation chamber.

Just as he was finding it strange, the door was pushed open from outside and a monk entered carrying vegetarian dishes.

“You’re awake? Have something to eat.”

“Who are you? Where is this?” Wei Yi took a cautious step backward.

“This is Anguang Residence.”

The lodging the Emperor had prepared for the monks coming to the capital for this visit.

“Why am I here? Who exactly are you?”

The monk looked at him kindly and said, “I won’t harm you. Eat something first, then we’ll talk slowly.”

“Take it away!” He emphasized his tone. “I want to leave.”

He took just two steps toward the door when he was blocked by someone who suddenly appeared outside.

It was Zhao Huai!

Wei Yi was confused. “Why is it you?”

Zhao Huai: “Young Master, you should stay here peacefully.”

Huh!

What did he just hear? Young Master?

Instantly, his hands clenched tightly as he looked at Zhao Huai in utter astonishment.

The three words “Young Master” were not unfamiliar to him!

Back in Jinjiang, he had overheard the conversation between Ji Yunshu and Fu Bo in the room. At that time, he had already learned of his identity. No wonder during this period, Zhao Huai and Wen Xian always ran across the rooftops of Prince Rong’s manor secretly watching him.

This day had still come!

His clear eyes darkened a few degrees as he asked, “Why?”

“It’s a long story, your identity…”

“I’m not asking you about that. I’m asking why you brought me here?”

“…”

“If you can’t answer me, then send me back to Shu’er’s side.”

“Young Master…”

“Step aside!”

Zhao Huai refused to move. After hesitating for a while, his brows deeply furrowed, he said, “Come with me.”

He then led Wei Yi out of the room.

Wei Yi cautiously followed behind him to the back courtyard of Anguang Residence.

In the distance, a person stood in the pavilion.

He slowly approached following Zhao Huai’s steps.

Zhao Huai respectfully said to that person, “Master, the Young Master has arrived.”

The man had his back to the two of them. He raised his hand and waved. Zhao Huai bowed and withdrew.

Wei Yi looked at that skeletal thin figure, his chest tightening.

Until the man turned around—

It was a face half-destroyed by fire. Though terrifying and grotesque, those eyes revealed deep affection and sorrow.

He stared directly at that gaze.

In his heart, he probably already understood!

Duke Yuguo’s body trembled, his eyes brimming with tears. He reached out his hand to touch Wei Yi, calling out, “Xi’er.”

He stepped back several paces.

Causing Duke Yuguo’s hand to freeze in midair! “Don’t be afraid, I won’t harm you.” Duke Yuguo’s eyes were bloodshot, speaking in a pained, desolate yet excited tone. “Twenty-one years, a full twenty-one years. When I sent you away back then, you were still in swaddling clothes. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown into an adult. I still remember when sending you away, your mother asked me to give you a name. I chose the character ‘Xi’ for you, hoping that one day, our family could reunite. How many times… I’ve longed for this day. Now, I’ve finally waited for it.”

Choking up!

Wei Yi’s eyes reddened. He looked at the person before him with both strangeness and wonder, unable to utter a single word.

“Xi’er…”

He took one step forward, Wei Yi took one step back.

Always maintaining that bit of distance.

Duke Yuguo finally lowered his hand and said, “Xi’er, back then I had no choice but to send you away. All these years, I’ve thought constantly about reuniting with you.”

“Why did you send me away? Was it really because you worried the Emperor would consolidate his throne and issue a death order, so you sent me away?” Wei Yi asked him.

“I will slowly tell you about what happened back then.”

“I want to know the truth now!”

Stubborn!

But—

Duke Yuguo seemed to have something difficult to say. “Xi’er, no matter what happened back then, from now on, we won’t be separated again. All the bad things are about to pass.”

Wei Yi was confused. “What are you going to do?”

“Take back what belongs to us!”

Word by word, filled with hatred! He walked toward Wei Yi again, his originally affectionate gaze hardening. He said, “This realm belongs to us, the throne also belongs to us. Now, it’s time to take back what belongs to us. When the day of the annual sacrifice comes, we can reclaim those things. Very soon, very soon, just a few more days.”

Insane!

Wei Yi stepped back again, somewhat stunned by the person before him, and said: “I want to see Shu’er.” “No!” Duke Yuguo said coldly, “Right now, you can’t go anywhere. Just stay here.”