“I like them very much, but they’re too precious—I feel somewhat unworthy of receiving them.” Facing Yunyi’s words, Li Shimin smiled, “Keep them with peace of mind. This is what you deserve.” He sighed, “It’s just a pity that we still haven’t found that escaped assassin. I wonder where she’s hiding.” Speaking of this, he gripped Yunyi’s shoulder firmly, “You had the closest relationship with Shen Yunyi. After the assassination, did she truly never seek you out again?”

The place Li Shimin gripped was exactly where Yunyi was injured. A piercing pain shot from her shoulder, and she could clearly feel that her wound, which had begun to heal, had torn open again from his action. But she dared not show any of this on her face—otherwise, only a dead end awaited her.

Yunyi shook her head, “She truly didn’t. Otherwise I would definitely have told Second Young Master.”

Li Shimin stared at her for a long while. After confirming there were no abnormalities, he slowly withdrew his hand. No blood had seeped through Yunyi’s left shoulder. He was very clear about the force he had just used—it was enough to tear open a wound that hadn’t fully healed and cause bleeding again. But Yunyi wasn’t bleeding, so it seemed… what Nanny Qi had seen really was just a tattoo. She wasn’t an assassin in disguise. But then how to explain her killing Shen Moping? Could it really be as she said, just to save elder brother?

“Second Young Master, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave first.” Yunyi’s words pulled Li Shimin from his contemplation. He said, “I don’t have anything else to do anyway. I’ll walk with you.”

Yunyi nodded, enduring the severe pain in her shoulder as she walked with him toward the music quarters. The cold wind of early winter howled as it blew, making one feel waves of chill.

Li Shimin looked at the withered leaves spinning in the cold wind and suddenly said, “I remember you entered the mansion in September. Counting it up, you’ve been in the mansion for almost two months now. Tomorrow is the first day of the month—have you thought about going home to visit?”

Yunyi’s heart jumped. She lowered her eyes, “This servant naturally wants to, but with the mansion under strict security now, I cannot go out. I can only wait for the next time.”

Li Shimin rubbed his hands together and breathed on them, “I plan to see father later and have the mansion’s restrictions lifted, so you can leave the mansion tomorrow.”

Yunyi asked in surprise, “Lift the restrictions? Isn’t Second Young Master afraid the assassin will take the opportunity to escape?”

Li Shimin smiled bitterly, “We’ve searched for so long without finding the assassin. Do you really think the assassin is still in the mansion?”

“But ever since His Excellency the Governor had his incident, the Governor’s mansion has been completely sealed off. We also discovered traces of Shen Yunyi in the ice cellar before, so she should…”

Li Shimin interrupted her, “Do you know why we had you come for body searches today?”

Thinking of her naked appearance in the side room just now, Yunyi couldn’t help but blush. Even though she had experienced life and death, she couldn’t remain calm about such things. “This servant doesn’t know.”

Li Shimin sighed, “I kept thinking that perhaps the reason we searched the entire mansion but could never catch the assassin was because she had disguised herself and was wearing a mask. But now it seems I was wrong.”

Yunyi said with feigned understanding, “This servant understands now. When Nanny Qi touched my face earlier, it was to confirm whether I was wearing a mask.”

“Correct.” Li Shimin nodded, “As for the result, you saw it too. So we can basically confirm that the assassin is no longer in the mansion. We just don’t know what method she used to slip away from under our noses.”

Yunyi said, “Does this mean we’ll never catch the assassin?”

Li Shimin snorted lightly, “I’ve already had soldiers strictly check everyone entering and leaving the city gates, and search throughout Honghua Prefecture. Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must fish her out!”

“Mm.” Yunyi responded. After walking a bit further, she stopped, “Second Young Master, I’ve arrived.”

Li Shimin nodded, “Then go in. Remember to go home tomorrow to see your family, and take those pearls back with you. They should make your family’s life much easier.”

“I know. Thank you for Second Young Master’s concern.” After watching Li Shimin leave, Yunyi returned to her room. When she learned the news about lifting the restrictions, Jiang Caiping was overjoyed and kept chattering, “Before, because we had to practice dancing, I never had time to go back. Finally when I had time, the assassin incident happened. I thought I’d have to wait until the fifteenth, but unexpectedly the restrictions were lifted just before the first of the month. This is really wonderful.” As she spoke, she took out a small, delicate purse from under her pillow, poured the broken silver pieces onto the table, and counted them one by one. By the end, she was smiling so much her eyes curved like crescents. This was her monthly wage from last month. As a dancer, her monthly wage was slightly higher than ordinary servants. Plus, she hadn’t gone home on the first and fifteenth of last month, so she had saved up a full nine hundred wen, which was seven qian of silver.

She said proudly, “Sister, look quickly! This is the first time I’ve earned so much silver. When I give it to father and mother tomorrow, they’ll definitely be very happy.” Then she counted on her fingers, “This month might be less, but it should be at least seven hundred wen. With this money, life at home will be much better.”

Yunyi looked at the elated Jiang Caiping with complex emotions. For her, going home was something to be happy about, but for Yunyi herself, it was a difficult matter. She didn’t even… know where Meixue’s home was. She only knew that Meixue had been found as a foundling and had only an adoptive father at home.

Her expression caught Jiang Caiping’s attention, who asked puzzledly, “Sister, what’s wrong? You look… not very happy.”

Yunyi quickly touched her face, “Not at all. I was thinking that after more than a month without seeing him, I wonder how father is doing.” She added jokingly, “I haven’t been back for so long, I feel like I’m almost forgetting the way home.”

Jiang Caiping giggled, “That can’t be! Sister used to often tell me about the way home. Even I could find it.”

Yunyi’s heart leaped with joy. She hurriedly said, “Really? Then tell me, how should I get back?” To prevent Jiang Caiping from becoming suspicious, she added, “Let’s see if you really remember or if you’re just saying that to humor me.”

Jiang Caiping indeed took the bait, saying eagerly, “Of course I really remember! How could it be false? It’s at Changshi Lane in Shuangqiao Village. Walk straight down, and when you see the house with a osmanthus tree planted at the gate, that’s it.”

Yunyi carefully memorized her words, then pinched Jiang Caiping’s nose, “At least you, little girl, have a conscience and didn’t forget what I told you.”

“Of course.” Saying this, Jiang Caiping asked, “By the way, sister, what did Second Young Master want when he kept you behind alone earlier?”

“Nothing important. He just asked a few more questions about Shen Yunyi. Second Young Master also told me about lifting the restrictions.”