Once the yin-yang corpse case was concluded, Ji Yunshu wrote up an investigation report and closed the case.

Subsequently, the county magistrate took out a package of silver and handed it to Ji Yunshu.

“This month’s salary, plus the Zhou family murder case and this case, this official will give you forty taels.”

So it turned out that even in ancient times, there were commissions.

Ji Yunshu received the package of silver and took out her monthly stipend of fifteen taels from inside, then pushed the rest back.

“No need. For these two cases, no additional payment.”

Huh?

Why had Yunshu changed her nature?

In the past, whether working outside or not, whenever things took a bit longer, she would ask for more money. Not asking for more now—wasn’t this making the county magistrate secretly delighted!

Taking those fifteen taels, Ji Yunshu left the yamen. Jingrong accompanied her.

She walked in front, he behind.

All along the way, both remained silent.

Jingrong looked at her small frame, always having an impulse to rush forward and embrace her, but reason suppressed this thought time and again.

Ji Yunshu walking ahead was somewhat dazed, her gaze somewhat vacant.

Probably too lost in thought, her foot stepped on a small pebble and twisted. Her body suddenly lurched sharply to the left.

Suddenly, Jingrong’s large hand grasped her slender arm.

Once both feet stood steady, Ji Yunshu came back to her senses.

She wanted to withdraw her hand from his palm, but helplessly, he confined it firmly.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Please…” The words “let go” didn’t come out.

Jingrong’s ink-dark, ice-like eyes curved affectionately as he called her “Yunshu”!

“Uh?”

She was certain she hadn’t heard wrong.

This Buddha had called her “Yunshu.”

Jingrong saw her surprise and bewilderment, yet he remained impassive and continued, “If this prince insists you return to the capital with me, even if it’s an order to you, would you be willing?”

Unwilling!

She should have answered him as decisively as yesterday.

But that feeling of extreme unwillingness seemed to be shattered bit by bit under his affectionate gaze, leaving her hesitant and indecisive.

“You don’t need to answer urgently now. During this time, this prince will still remain in Jinjiang until you give this prince a reply. But as long as there’s a thread of hope, this prince will definitely strive for you to return to the capital with me.”

She averted her gaze, bit her lip, and after a long while said, “The Capital Case—is it impossible without me?”

“Yes.” Jingrong answered her very firmly.

She didn’t respond.

Jingrong tightened his grip on her wrist. “The Duke Yuguo’s manor should have had seventy-three corpses. The fire burned down the residence, yet there were only seventy-two bodies. One is missing. This extermination case involves seventy-two lives. Now, only you can unravel the mystery from back then. This prince has been away from the capital for half a year. According to the Ministry of Finance’s personnel list for Duke Yuguo’s manor, searching one by one for their trusted confidants, yet unable to know which of those who escaped disaster is actually who. If we can find them, there will be clues to follow up on that extermination case from fourteen years ago.”

He explained in great detail. Combined with Ji Yunshu having previously read the case files of the Capital Case, she naturally understood.

She twisted her wrist while saying, “I understand Your Highness’s meaning. I will think it over carefully.”

“Then promise this prince you’ll definitely think it through clearly.”

“Yes.”

Only now did he release her. Holding her reddened wrist that had been gripped, Ji Yunshu took a deep breath. Looking up, she also wore a very serious expression.

She said, “I will consider this matter thoroughly, but please, Your Highness, don’t be so rough.”

“This prince is very serious, not rough.”

“My wrist has been squeezed red by you—isn’t that rough?” Ji Yunshu glared at him.

Jingrong’s eyes tightened. “Let me see.”

Having said that, those demon claws were preparing to reach toward her again. Fortunately, Ji Yunshu reacted quickly this time, stepping back two paces and tucking her hand into her sleeve, hiding it behind her back.

“This humble one is somewhat tired and won’t chat with Your Highness anymore. Please, Your Highness, don’t follow. This humble one takes leave.”

Having said that, as if her feet had sprouted wings, she quickened her pace and hurriedly left that dangerous area.

Jingrong didn’t pursue, standing in place with a subtle smile, calling out, “Lang Bo.”

A figure appeared from somewhere, standing respectfully at Jingrong’s side.

His hands folded. “Your Highness.”

Jingrong only used his chin to point in Ji Yunshu’s direction. “Follow her. Safely escort her to the Wei manor.”

It seemed he already knew Ji Yunshu had left the Ji family and was now living at the Wei manor.

And naturally, he also knew about Ji Yunshu’s engagement to Wei Yi.

Just not mentioning it didn’t mean he wasn’t angry, or perhaps—jealous!

Lang Bo responded, “Yes.”

“Wait.” Jingrong added instructions. “Be careful. Don’t follow too closely.”

“…” Lang Bo was embarrassed but didn’t dare refute. “Your subordinate understands.”

With a swift movement, he disappeared somewhere again.

The next moment, Jingrong pulled out that ornament pearl from his waist. The water-blue pearl should be from a woman’s hair ornament, removed by Ji Yunshu and set into a hair clasp.

His thin, cold lips curved slightly upward with warmth.

He called out, “Yunshu.”

…

Ji Yunshu arrived at the rear courtyard of the Wei manor and knocked on the door.

When the door opened, Luan’er looked at her with tears and snot streaming down—presumably having guarded the door all night.

“Miss, why are you only returning now? This servant was worried something happened to you and almost went out to find you.”

She was crying and sniffling. Ji Yunshu had already entered.

“I’ve returned now, haven’t I? Why are you crying?”

“This servant was worried.”

Ji Yunshu glanced at her, smiled, and went into the courtyard, asking, “By the way, has anything happened?”

Luan’er shook her head. “The master and old madam haven’t sent anyone over. Master Wei and Madam Wei aren’t at the manor either. But Young Master Wei…”

“What about him?” Ji Yunshu’s steps stopped, having just reached the courtyard entrance.

Luan’er pointed inside. “Young Master Wei waited for you all last night and even went out once to look for you. Now he’s still waiting inside for you. He hasn’t closed his eyes all night, just sitting there blankly.”

Ji Yunshu said nothing and entered the courtyard. Just arriving inside, she saw Wei Yi sitting in a chair, both hands resting on the table, his two hands continuously winding the tablecloth, looking desperately worried.

Hearing someone enter, he glanced sideways and saw Ji Yunshu standing in the doorway. With tears in his eyes, he rushed forward.

“Big brother, Shu’er has disappeared. Has she abandoned me? Big brother, I waited for her so long, but Shu’er just won’t come back. Big brother, is she angry with me? Can you help me find her?”

His choked tone carried nervousness. He grabbed Ji Yunshu’s arm while shaking it.

Luan’er originally had tears in her eyes, but seeing this scene, she secretly smiled.

But Ji Yunshu didn’t find it funny. Her eyes gradually moistened, her heart moved to a complete mess.

She had thought only she waited devotedly for Ji Pei, yet there was someone who would wait devotedly for her.

The next moment, she raised her hand toward the hair clasp on her head, grasped it, pulled with slight force, and removed the clasp. Her ink-black long hair came loose, cascading over her shoulders and falling down her back.

“Big brother?” Wei Yi stepped back, somewhat shocked!

“Wei Yi, I am both your big brother and Shu’er.”

“I…” Wei Yi’s eyes panicked for a moment. His feet paced back and forth as he muttered, “That’s impossible, impossible. Big brother is big brother, Shu’er is Shu’er. No, it’s not like this. Big brother is Shu’er, then who is big brother? And who exactly is Shu’er?”

A fool’s world and their logical thinking were beyond ordinary people’s comprehension!

Ji Yunshu’s eyes were dazzled by his back-and-forth swaying figure, so she simply grabbed him with one hand.

“Stop walking. Wei Yi, I am Shu’er. I’m a woman dressed as a man. Understand?”

He shook his head. “What does ‘woman dressed as a man’ mean?”

“It means like I am now—wearing men’s clothes, styling men’s hair, but actually, I’m female.”

“Oh.” He seemed to understand yet not understand. His eyes suddenly brightened. “Then you are Shu’er?”

“Yes.”

Getting a definite answer, Wei Yi suddenly embraced her, his arms tightly encircling Ji Yunshu’s shoulders, extremely excited.

Ji Yunshu was hugged so tightly she could barely breathe. Fortunately, Luan’er pulled him away.

With a protective air, Luan’er said, “Young Master Wei, you’ll suffocate my young miss like this.”

“Not dead, not dead. Shu’er won’t die.” Wei Yi grinned and waved his hand.

Ji Yunshu smiled. “Wei Yi, I want to rest. Will you also go rest, alright?”

“But I want to talk with you.”

“But I’m tired.”

“Oh.” He pouted, somewhat disappointed, yet said, “Then after Shu’er has rested well, I’ll come find Shu’er to talk again, okay?”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Wei Yi flashed her a smile and then left happily.

Having waited for Ji Yunshu all night, he also needed to rest!

Having slept in the temple hall one night—though there was a fire, she’d still been blown by wind all night. With the case concluded, her energy was gone, and naturally sleepiness came.

After changing clothes, Ji Yunshu lay on the bed for a good sleep!

This sleep lasted until evening. She was awakened by a cold wind. Her spine shivered. She rolled over and slightly opened her eyes.

But suddenly discovered a man sitting beside her. Looking up, she saw a blood-drenched face.

That face seemed to have been hacked countless times with a knife—flesh and blood mangled, even exposing half a skull, flesh hanging down—extremely gruesome.

And those protruding bloodshot eyeballs hidden beneath disheveled hair stared at her motionlessly.

“Ah—”

Ji Yunshu suddenly sat up from the bed, frightened into a cold sweat, scrambling to the corner of the bed, her hands desperately clutching the blanket.

“Who are you?” she shouted at him.

The man said nothing, sitting at the edge of the bed, still motionless. His left eyeball suddenly dropped from its socket and rolled to the floor.

The next moment, many small knife cuts appeared on the man’s clothing. Fresh blood flowed out, staining his clothes and the bedsheet red.

“Help me… help me…”

The man slowly raised his hand, reaching toward Ji Yunshu…