That was…

A wooden plaque!

A perfectly square wooden plaque.

Ji Yunshu was shocked, her pupils involuntarily dilating.

Because at this very moment, the wooden plaque in Bai Yin’s palm was almost… identical to the one her mother had left behind.

Except that Bai Yin’s plaque, due to poor preservation, showed some damage, with even small cracks appearing around its edges.

She abruptly stood up, walked before him, and snatched the wooden plaque away.

Bai Yin hadn’t even had time to react.

This woman’s speed was simply too fast! She carefully examined the plaque she’d seized. The color on the wooden plaque slowly spread like ink, creating a beautiful effect. In the center was printed a pattern—whether it was a flower or a character, she couldn’t tell. Her fingertips lightly rubbed across it, the uneven texture of the pattern racing beneath her touch, stirring her heart into turbulent waves.

She could not calm down!

This wooden plaque was truly identical to her own!

At the same time, Jingrong also stood up, his gaze falling on the plaque in Ji Yunshu’s hand.

He too revealed an expression of shock!

Muruo also understood after a moment—yesterday, Jingrong had mentioned the wooden plaque to him.

Tang Si still couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening.

But she recognized that wooden plaque!

She whispered to Muruo: “That wooden plaque… isn’t that A’Ji’s?”

The one she had pickpocketed from Ji Yunshu back then.

Muruo narrowed his eyes, offering no response.

Quietly waiting for what would come next.

Bai Yin on the ground was somewhat stunned by Ji Yunshu’s actions!

He furrowed his brow slightly, not understanding why this woman was so agitated.

But his instinct told him that not only was the painting related to this woman, but this wooden plaque must also have a significant connection to her.

And… the connection was substantial!

So, lifting his dark, glistening eyes, he said: “This wooden plaque was on me along with that painting at the time. I don’t know what it actually is. I’ve investigated for a long time, but there have been no leads. And the pattern on it—what does it represent? Why was it on me? What relationship does it have to my origins? To this day, I’ve found nothing.”

As he spoke, he observed Ji Yunshu’s expression.

As if trying to find something from her face.

After listening, Ji Yunshu met his gaze and asked: “Are you certain this item has been with you since childhood?”

“At a time like this, would I have any need to lie?”

“You truly don’t know what this wooden plaque means?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t have captured you.” He smiled slightly.

Ji Yunshu frowned: “Then do you remember—twenty-one years ago when you woke up, which forest were you in?”

She intended to question him thoroughly!

Bai Yin’s eyes darkened slightly as he recalled: “In the distant northwest, near your Great Lin’s border city of Yicheng. There was a forest there. Pass through it, and you reach Huyi.”

The distant northwestern Yicheng!

That was precisely the border fortress between Great Lin and Huyi.

Ji Yunshu wondered—what was Bai Yin’s relationship to the person in the painting? And what was his relationship… to herself?

At the same time, Bai Yin’s mind was also full of questions.

He asked her: “I’ve told you everything I know. Shouldn’t you also tell me about yourself?”

Their gazes collided!

What was there to say?

Better to take something out instead.

Ji Yunshu slowly withdrew something from her sleeve.

Holding it in her hand.

Showing it to Bai Yin.

Bai Yin froze.

“This…”

It was the wooden plaque Ji Yunshu’s mother had left her.

Preserved very well, with almost no wear. Facing the astonished Bai Yin, Ji Yunshu said: “This wooden plaque was left by my mother. When she died, she told the nanny who cared for me that this item was more important than my life itself. So I’ve always kept it with me. I tried to research many sources, wanting to know what origins this plaque had. But like you, I found nothing—until this moment, when I finally have a lead.”

“Why do I have one? And you have one too?”

“I don’t know.” Ji Yunshu looked at him, as if a bone were stuck in her throat.

Bai Yin’s shock hadn’t subsided. He furrowed his brow tightly, asking excitedly: “You must know something. You must know, don’t you?”

As he asked, he lunged forward.

But before his hands could touch Ji Yunshu’s garments, Jingrong intercepted him.

He kicked him away!

The man fell backward.

His back hit the ground heavily, his wound tearing open. The pain made him grit his teeth, cold sweat streaming from his entire body.

Jingrong warned him: “You’d best behave yourself.”

He laughed coldly in his wretched state.

Ji Yunshu said: “Bai Yin, whether it’s that painting or the wooden plaque, I believe they are indeed related to me and related to you. You want to know the truth, and I want to know the truth too. But what exactly is going on here? I don’t know either.”

“Don’t know… don’t know—so in the end it’s all for nothing!” He collapsed on the ground.

“…”

“Haha…”

As if he’d gone mad.

He had thought that after searching for so many years, he had long given up looking and investigating, content to help Huhe and Hao conquer the world. But when he saw Ji Yunshu in that forest, he realized he had never truly let go.

He just wanted to know who he was. What was his name? Why had heaven given him clues, only to cut them off?

Watching the man on the ground laughing so miserably, Jingrong couldn’t bring himself to be ruthless. His murderous intent toward Bai Yin gradually dissipated.

His cold brow furrowed deeply as he shouted toward the entrance: “Someone come!”

Lang Bo heard and entered.

“Your Highness?”

“Take him away. Guard him well.”

“Yes.”

Lang Bo used practically one hand to drag Bai Yin up from the ground.

He didn’t resist, allowing himself to be led out.

Inside the tent, the atmosphere was oppressive!

Ji Yunshu looked at the two wooden plaques in her hand, her heart a jumble of emotions!

If the person in the painting truly was her mother, then what was Bai Yin to her?

An enormous question mark.

Jingrong understood her confusion and said: “Since we now have a lead, if we continue investigating, we’ll surely uncover the truth.”

She said: “If the person in the painting truly is my mother, then why did she come to Great Lin twenty-one years ago? And as for Bai Yin, what connection does he have to me?”

At this moment, Tang Si stepped forward and said: “A’Ji, do you remember what I told you back when I stole this wooden plaque you carried with you?”

Hmm?

What had she said?

Ji Yunshu looked at her.

Jingrong and Muruo also looked at her.

She paused, then said: “I said that I had seen the pattern on this wooden plaque before—when I was young, I seemed to have seen it on something of my father’s. Last time when my father came to the capital to find me, I mentioned this to him. At the time he was very nervous, gripping my arm and asking repeatedly. Later he drove me away and never brought it up again. I think my father might know something. Why don’t you go ask him?”