“Say that again!” Li Shimin made as if to strike, and the latter quickly retreated. After walking for a while, he turned back and said something that left Li Shimin not knowing whether to laugh or cry: “Second Brother, give it serious consideration!”

“That rascal!” Li Shimin scolded, then headed toward Jingji Pavilion. Though his expression remained calm along the way, his heart was stirring with ripples. This wasn’t the first time someone had said he liked Meixue – Big Brother had said similar things before.

Did he really like her? No, when he was with Meixue, he didn’t have that feeling of wanting to spend a lifetime together, so… it should just be some fondness, nothing more!

Wugou was the one he truly loved and wanted to walk hand in hand with for life.

Winter nights were long and cold. Yunyi lay in bed listening to the howling cold wind outside the window, unable to sleep. Li Shimin’s figure kept appearing before her eyes – the more she tried not to think about him, the more frequently she thought of him.

The longer they spent together, the clearer she became about Li Shimin’s character – easygoing, benevolent, wise, surpassing many noble and high official’s sons she had seen in Luoyang. This time, he had even saved her and Wu Laosan. Such a person would surely benefit the people when he became an official.

But unfortunately… his surname was Li, he was Li Yuan’s son, and moreover, he was the murderer who killed Moping. All of this destined that she and he could not coexist – he must die!

Yunyi had thought more than once about killing Li Shimin, but only this time when the thought arose did her heart feel stifled, as if a large stone pressed against her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

She forced herself to change her thoughts and pondered Chunxiu’s matter. On the night of the ninth, after Chunxiu secretly watched her bathe, she most likely noticed the tattoo on her shoulder and guessed something, which was why she left the mansion so hurriedly.

In fact, when Chunxiu left the mansion, she had been watching from behind. At that time, she wanted to follow and kill Chunxiu, but unfortunately something came up temporarily and she couldn’t do as planned. She had intended to act the next day, but who knew that since leaving the mansion that night, Chunxiu never returned. She secretly went to the Feng house but couldn’t find any trace of Chunxiu either. Later she learned that Chunxiu had died.

Exactly who was the person the night watchman saw that night, and why would Chunxiu go alone to such a remote place?

No matter how long the night, it eventually passes. For the many dancers, each day was the same – practicing dance in the morning, music in the afternoon, and occasionally when free, gathering in small groups to chat.

However, today everyone gathered around Jiang Caiping, listening intently as she recounted yesterday’s events. When they heard how Li Shimin saw through Feng Cheng’s scheme and solved the mystery of Chunxiu’s death, they all showed fascinated expressions. One dancer cupped her cheeks and said, “Who would have thought Second Young Master is not only accomplished in both literature and martial arts, but also so clever and wise.”

Jiang Caiping remembered her – she was the one who had told Wan Shi yesterday about seeing Meixue leave Lefang. She said indifferently, “Yes, if not for Second Young Master’s wisdom, Sister Wu would have been killed by you!”

The dancer’s face paled and she said awkwardly, “I was only telling what I saw, I didn’t mean anything else.”

Jiang Caiping knew this, but still felt somewhat uncomfortable. After talking for a while, she caught sight of Lady Lin entering from the corner of her eye and quickly rose with everyone to bow.

“Get up.” Saying this, Lady Lin walked to Yunyi’s side. “I heard you were nearly wrongly accused of murder yesterday. Are you alright?”

Yunyi respectfully said, “Thank you for Third Madam’s concern. Yesterday Second Young Master already uncovered the truth about Chunxiu’s death and cleared Meixue’s name.”

Lady Lin nodded, then said, “Steward Lin and the others were really careless. They only needed to check the records of entering and leaving the mansion to know you hadn’t left the mansion those days – no need to make that trip to the county yamen.”

Jiang Caiping said from the side, “Reporting to Third Madam, the entry and exit records were checked early on, but Second Madam said sister was alone in the back garden until the fourth watch on the night of the ninth with no one to testify, which was too suspicious, so she had the Feng family take sister away.”

Hearing this, Lady Lin showed a strange expression and stared at Yunyi. “You didn’t tell them what happened that night?”

Yunyi lowered her eyes. “Since Meixue promised Third Madam to keep this secret, she will certainly try her best to do so.”

“Good.” Lady Lin nodded with relief, then suddenly grabbed Yunyi’s hand. “Come, follow me to Yuxiu Pavilion.”

Yunyi said in surprise, “Third Madam, what are you doing?”

Lady Lin said coldly, “Doesn’t she want to know what you were doing in the back garden on the night of the ninth? Then let’s go tell her, so she won’t be suspicious and paranoid there. Come!”

Seeing Lady Lin’s determined attitude, Yunyi had no choice but to follow her all the way to Yuxiu Pavilion. The maid guarding the door saw her approaching aggressively and quickly blocked her way, saying, “Third Madam…” Before she could finish speaking, Lady Lin had already scolded with a cold expression, “Get out of the way!”

The maid had only recently come to Yuxiu Pavilion and had never seen Lady Lin so fierce before. She was stunned for a moment, and by the time she came to her senses, Lady Lin had already pulled Yunyi inside. She hurriedly ran up to try to stop them, “Third Madam, Madam is teaching Fifth Young Master calligraphy, you can’t just go in like this.”

Lady Lin paid no attention to her and gestured for Ji Chun to push open the door. Wan Shi and her son looked up in surprise, and after seeing Lady Lin clearly, Li Zhiyun stood up and respectfully bowed, “Greetings to Third Mother.”

Lady Lin looked at him with a complex expression and said nothing. The maid said fearfully from the side, “This servant tried to stop Third Madam, but she… insisted on coming in. This servant really had no way.”

“Go out.” Saying this, Wan Shi added, “Zhiyun, practice what Mother just taught you in your room. Remember, keep your wrist straight and use moderate force.”

“Yes, your son understands.” After Li Zhiyun left, Wan Shi adjusted her clothes and stood up, wearing a slight smile. “Why is sister in such a mood to visit Yuxiu Pavilion today? And bringing this dancer too?”

Lady Lin pulled Yunyi forward, her eyes cold as winter stars. “Haven’t you always wanted to know what Meixue was doing in the back garden on the night of the ninth? I specially brought her to tell you.”

“Oh?” Wan Shi raised her eyebrows drawn with spiral black ink and said in surprise, “Sister speaks as if you were with Wu Meixue at that time?”

“That’s right, on the night of the ninth, Meixue was indeed with me.” Faced with Lady Lin’s words, Wan Shi lowered her head and smiled, “I know sister gets along well with this dancer, but there’s no need to protect her so much. Besides, the matter is already over, she…”

Lady Lin suddenly interrupted her words, “Wan Xiuzhen, have you so quickly forgotten what day the ninth day of the first month is?”

Wan Shi was stunned, then smiled and said, “The ninth day of the first month? I really can’t remember. Please tell me, sister!”

Lady Lin walked up to Wan Shi, with hatred carved deep into her bones, and said word by word: “Three years ago on the ninth day of the first month was the day you killed my child!”