The two pairs of eyes met!

Afterward, Ji Wanxin walked toward her with heavy steps.

“Yinshu.” She called out softly.

Ji Yinshu was stunned for a moment before opening her mouth to ask, “You… how can you be here?”

“His Majesty has issued an edict, summoning me to the palace.”

“His Majesty’s edict?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

The time it takes to burn one incense stick later.

The two sat down in a private room at a nearby teahouse.

The waiter brought tea and asked, “What else would the two young ladies like to order?”

Ji Yinshu waved her hand. “Nothing more.”

“Very well, then please take your time, you two.”

The waiter withdrew.

Ji Wanxin turned her head to glance at her personal maid and instructed, “You go out first.”

“Yes.”

After the maid left, the atmosphere in the private room became extremely awkward.

Ji Yinshu poured two cups of tea, pushed one of them before her, and asked, “How is the family?”

“Aih…” Ji Wanxin sighed. “It’s hard to put into words.”

These four words—hard to put into words—showed just how miserable the Ji family had become! Ji Wanxin’s eyes reddened. She used her handkerchief to wipe her eyes, choking up as she said, “Ever since eldest brother and father died, our Ji family has long since lost its former glory. Second brother was stripped of his position, eldest sister also lost her wits. After we returned from the capital to Jinjiang, we finally experienced what it means when the world turns cold and people’s hearts can be seen. Everyone in all of Jinjiang couldn’t wait to avoid us and refused to be neighbors with us. Those relatives from the past also stopped associating with us. We were traitors and criminals—they too feared being tainted by our misfortune. I could only dismiss the household’s servants and attendants, keeping only a few to manage the household and care for eldest sister. And somehow, we managed to persevere through it all. But… ever since we transported father’s and eldest brother’s remains back to Jinjiang, second brother seemed like a different person. He drank day and night, didn’t care about anything, didn’t ask about anything. No matter how I tried to persuade him, he wouldn’t listen. Eldest sister was also in a daze all day long. I don’t even know how I endured until now. Fortunately, that girl Lingzhi is quite sensible. She’s grown increasingly clever now and even helps share my burdens.”

At least there was a trace of comfort.

The entire account had only one theme—misery!

So miserable!

But the Ji family ending up like this today was karmic retribution. Ji Yinshu already knew her own background. She could be said to have no connection whatsoever with the Ji family—even claiming they had raised her was somewhat far-fetched. But after all, it was the home where she had lived for so many years. In her heart, she inevitably still felt somewhat sorrowful. Yet looking at this pitiful woman before her, and thinking of the countless terrifying and outrageous things she had once done, the sorrow in her heart was erased bit by bit.

But ultimately—they deserved it!

She said in a deep voice, “Second brother has always been prideful. He was originally the Changlin General personally appointed by the late Emperor. Now reduced to this state, naturally his heart finds it difficult to accept. I hope he can pull himself together soon. As for eldest sister, though she has lost her mind, at least she has forgotten everything from before. It’s a blessing, not a curse.”

Ji Wanxin nodded, then asked, “And you, Yinshu, how are you? I heard you and Prince Rong already left the capital. How did you return?”

This…

Not easy to explain!

She didn’t answer this question, but instead asked, “Why would His Majesty summon you to enter the capital and the palace?”

Ji Wanxin shook her head. “I don’t know either. The imperial edict was suddenly delivered to our home. Not daring to delay, I came immediately.”

“What reason?”

“It said my embroidery skills were good, so I’m to enter the palace to work at the Fangjin Bureau.”

This reason was far too flimsy!

In Ji Yinshu’s heart, a tangle of threads twisted together densely. She couldn’t understand why Wei Yi would issue this edict.

Seeing her lost in thought, Ji Wanxin called out softly, “Yinshu, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while longer.

Ji Wanxin told her everything that had happened at home this past year, while Ji Yinshu listened quietly.

Seeing it was getting late, she escorted Ji Wanxin to her carriage.

Before boarding the carriage, Ji Wanxin tightly grasped her hand and said, “Yinshu, no matter what happened in the past, it’s all behind us now. I hope… you and I can still be good sisters.”

Her eyes were full of hope.

But—

Once disloyal, never again trusted!

No matter how pitiful Ji Wanxin appeared, it couldn’t cover up those disgusting things she had done.

Ji Yinshu was iron-hearted in her determination never to trust this woman again.

Mother told me from childhood: the more beautiful a woman is, the more vicious she is!

She withdrew her hand from Ji Wanxin’s grasp and said, “I won’t see you off.”

A trace of disappointment fell across Ji Wanxin’s face, but she quickly concealed it and smiled faintly.

She boarded the carriage and left.

Ji Yinshu watched that carriage, her thoughts slightly heavy.

…

Inside the carriage, Ji Wanxin looked down at her own hand and let out a cold laugh.

The maid looked and asked, “Miss, what’s wrong with you?”

Her fair white hand slowly clenched tight, and her gentle gaze darkened. A trace of eeriness appeared on her deathly pale face.

“What’s mine, none can escape.”

That voice sounded as if it came from underground—cold and chilling, making one’s hair stand on end.

The maid was startled and said nothing more!

Soon, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the General’s Manor. Generally, officials’ residences were built with court funds and belonged to the state, so if an official was dismissed, the residence would be reclaimed. However, the Ji family of those days had been so illustrious that even the late Emperor was wary of the power of the two Ji brothers. So he specially gifted this residence to them, which meant it became the Ji family’s estate.

When they left the capital back then, Jing Zhaoyin ordered the large red gates sealed with official notices. Those seals were still there now, but faded in color, torn to shreds by the wind, and covered with spider webs.

And that plaque inscribed with “General’s Manor” was even more dilapidated and wretched.

The once bustling General’s Manor was now abandoned like this.

Ji Wanxin, supported by her maid, walked to the entrance.

The iron rings on the door had already rusted!

A large lock hung upon them!

She reached out to touch that lock. Her fingertips touched the cold iron, so cold her entire body trembled.

The coachman asked, “Miss, shall we go inside?”

She took a step back. “Open it.”

“Very well.”

The coachman took out a key and opened the lock.

He pushed the doors open!

Accompanied by a creaking sound, as the doors opened, a layer of dust fell down.

The little maid quickly waved her handkerchief forward.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Ji Wanxin coughed, then pushed away the maid supporting her and stepped inside.

Before they left, the interior had been cleaned once, but now it was completely in disarray. The flowers and plants had long since died, and things were scattered everywhere.

Dust was everywhere!

Finally, she walked to the household’s ancestral hall!

This was where Ji Shuhan had committed suicide!

She remembered when she pushed open this door to the ancestral hall, what she saw was her father’s cold corpse.

Involuntarily, her eyes reddened.

Suddenly—

Hurried footsteps came from behind, finally stopping outside.

She turned to look and met a pair of extremely fervent eyes.

Shen Changqin! At that moment, Ji Wanxin smiled faintly at him.