After carefully filling and tamping down the pit, she washed her hands clean and returned to the room, moved the cabinet back to its original position, and wiped away the blood traces remaining on the floor to prevent Jiang Caiping from discovering anything unusual.

After completing all this, dawn was approaching. While Jiang Caiping was still asleep, she removed her clothing, sprinkled the medicine Jiang Caiping had given her on the reopened wound on her left shoulder, rebandaged it, and fetched water to wash the blood-stained clothes.

While hanging the clothes to dry, she saw in the direction of the front courtyard a figure suspended in mid-air. She knew that must be Moping. Li Jiancheng, that scoundrel, had actually thought of such a vicious method to force her to show herself—how detestable! After she eliminated Li Yuan and returned to Luoyang, she would definitely have Father Emperor issue an edict to execute Li Jiancheng!

But now… what should she do? She couldn’t go over there, but she also couldn’t just watch Moping die. Over the years, apart from Mother Empress and Aunt Ji, the person closest to her was Moping. She absolutely had to find a way to save Moping!

Just as she was pondering solutions, a drowsy voice came from behind her, “Sister, why are you up so early?”

Yunyi suppressed the thoughts in her heart and turned to Jiang Caiping, who was still rubbing her eyes, saying, “I woke up and couldn’t fall back asleep, so I got up to wash the clothes. Did I disturb you?”

After Jiang Caiping became more alert, she quickly snatched the clothes from her hands, saying, “Leave such things for me to do. What if you hurt your wound again? How would that be acceptable? Would I have to go ask the pharmacy manager for medicine again? By the way, let me help you apply the medicine later.”

Yunyi smiled and said, “No need. Just now, having nothing to do and feeling the wound was somewhat uncomfortable, I already applied the medicine first.”

“Do you feel any better?” Faced with Jiang Caiping’s undisguised concern, Yunyi’s heart warmed slightly as she said, “Don’t worry, the medicine you brought is very effective. It doesn’t hurt at all now.”

“That’s good.” After helping to hang up the clothes, she moved close to Yunyi’s side and said with a grin, “If it’s really useful, I’ll go ask for some more later.” Without waiting for Yunyi to speak, she continued, “Don’t worry, Manager Zhao is actually quite nice. At most he’ll scold me a few times, so don’t be concerned.”

Yunyi knew she was being kind to “herself” and didn’t refuse further. She glanced toward where Shen Moping was hanging and bit her lip, saying, “Caiping, I want to go to the front courtyard.”

“The front courtyard? Sister, what would you go there for when there’s nothing to see?” Seeing Yunyi staring at a certain spot in a daze, she curiously followed Yunyi’s gaze. The next moment, she said in surprise, “Sister, you… don’t tell me you want to go see that Shen Moping?”

Yunyi withdrew her gaze and said, “What’s wrong with that? Isn’t it allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s not allowed, but…” Jiang Caiping looked around and said quietly, “He’s an assassin. Anyone who gets involved with him won’t have good fortune. Sister was arrested and thrown into the dungeon before, inexplicably receiving punishment, wasn’t it all because of those two? Fortunately, the Second Young Master helped sister, otherwise you’d probably still be in the dungeon now.”

“I know, but…” Yunyi tried to speak in Meixue’s tone, “After all, we knew each other once. Seeing them end up like this, I feel rather uncomfortable in my heart.”

Jiang Caiping wrinkled her nose and said, “Who told them to attempt assassinating the Governor? Their current fate is their own doing—they can’t blame others, especially that Shen Yunyi. To think we used to consider her a good sister and didn’t hide anything from her, yet she almost got sister killed. Just thinking about this makes me furious.”

A trace of guilt flashed through Yunyi’s eyes as she said, “Yunyi must have had her unspeakable difficulties in doing this. Besides, everything has already passed—there’s no point in mentioning it again. As for Shen Moping, don’t worry, I’ll just take a look and come back. I won’t delay for long.”

“Sister, you’re just too kind-hearted.” Saying this, Jiang Caiping said, “After I wash up, I’ll accompany you there.”

Yunyi laughed softly and said, “You say I’m too kind-hearted, but aren’t you the same?”

Jiang Caiping made a face and said, “Not at all! I’m afraid you might accidentally offend the people the Eldest Young Master has stationed in that area and implicate me, so I have to watch you closely every step of the way.”

Yunyi shook her head with a smile and said, “Alright, alright, I know you have good intentions. Go quickly.”

In such cheerful banter, Jiang Caiping quickly finished washing up and accompanied Yunyi toward the front courtyard. The closer they got, the clearer she could see. Moping’s body had almost no intact skin anywhere—everywhere were scars covered with dark red scabs. Moreover, because he had been suspended continuously, his wrists and even fingers, tightly bound by ropes, showed a bluish-white color like dead skin. Even if he could survive, his hands would probably be ruined.

When they were still about ten steps away from where Shen Moping was hanging, Jiang Caiping suddenly pulled her back, saying, “Sister, we’re already quite close. Don’t go any further, or it’ll be troublesome if we’re mistaken for accomplices and arrested.”

Yunyi didn’t speak, only stared unblinkingly at Shen Moping suspended in mid-air. If it weren’t for her, Moping wouldn’t have ended up like this. She couldn’t just watch Moping die—she absolutely had to find a way to save Moping.

However, Jiang Caiping had mentioned that Li Jiancheng had stationed many people here. Along the way, she had also discovered several places where figures were hidden. She would probably be captured before she could even act.

Under these circumstances, relying on her strength alone to rescue Shen Moping was simply impossible. What… what should she do?

Just as she was pondering, a cold, stern voice came from behind, “What are you two doing here?”

Jiang Caiping recognized this voice and quickly pulled Yunyi around to face them, nervously lowering her head and saying, “This servant greets the Eldest Young Master.”

The newcomer was indeed Li Jiancheng. He stared coldly at the two and said, “I asked what you’re doing?”

Just as Jiang Caiping was thinking about how to respond, Yunyi beside her had already said, “Reporting to the Eldest Young Master, we were passing by this place and saw someone suspended here, so we stopped to look for a while.”

Li Jiancheng walked up to Yunyi with a slight limp, looked her over and said, “I remember you. You’re the dancer who performed on the day of the assassination. It was also you who brought the assassin into Songtao Residence, giving her the opportunity to harm my father, correct?”

Yunyi lowered her eyes and said, “Yes, but I truly didn’t know Shen Yunyi was an assassin. Otherwise, even if you gave this servant tremendous courage, I would never dare bring her into Songtao Residence to do something that would harm the Governor.”

“Is that so?” Li Jiancheng’s lips curved slightly with a soft, sinister smile as he said, “Just now I saw you staring at this assassin the whole time. I thought you wanted to rescue him.”

Yunyi’s heart tightened. This Li Jiancheng was so suspicious—she had only looked a few more times and already aroused his suspicion. She immediately said, “The Eldest Young Master jests. Those two used me to enter Songtao Residence, then caused me to be thrown into the dungeon and tortured, nearly losing my life. I hate them more than enough—how could I have such thoughts?”