After bidding farewell to the County Magistrate, Jiang Si and her companions quickly departed from Qingniu Town.

The scenery was especially vibrant after the rain, with trees lining both sides of the road displaying rich green colors that seemed to flow like watercolors.

The scent of damp earth filled the air as horse hooves trudged through the muddy road, slowing their progress.

“Oh, aren’t those the Li siblings?” Jiang Zhan pulled his reins, pointing ahead.

Under a large tree not far away stood a group of people, led by the Li brother and sister.

The siblings lived in Dayang Town, not far from Qingniu Town. Being children of the local gentry, they weren’t as delicate as the noble young ladies and young masters from the capital. The group, including Miss Li, was traveling on foot.

Yu Jin cast a cold glance in their direction.

He wondered if that coward still harbored any ill intentions after being frightened so badly.

Glancing at the carriage, Yu Jin’s heart skipped a beat.

Could they be trying to complain to A-Si?

Young Master Li couldn’t even bring himself to look at Yu Jin, hastily waving to Jiang Zhan instead. “Brother Jiang, my sister wishes to bid farewell to your sister.”

Yu Jin’s expression darkened, a cold smile tugging at his lips.

The little bastard had learned some tricks, trying to get close through his sister. But A-Si wouldn’t bother with strangers showing suspicious enthusiasm.

“Stop the carriage—”

Old Qin, who was driving, immediately pulled the reins at Jiang Si’s command.

A-Man lifted the carriage curtain and helped Jiang Si step down.

“Second Brother, please wait a moment. It would be impolite not to reciprocate when they’re waiting to say goodbye. I’ll go speak with Miss Li for a bit.”

Jiang Zhan naturally wouldn’t stop her, only instructing A-Man, “Support your young miss carefully, the road is slippery.”

Yu Jin darkened his face and rubbed his nose.

As Jiang Si approached, Miss Li lifted her skirts to meet her, speaking first: “Miss Jiang, shall we talk over there?”

Jiang Si studied Miss Li carefully.

She still appeared haggard, with dark circles under her eyes and pale lips, like someone recovering from a serious illness. Yet there was something unreadable in her eyes now.

Jiang Si felt puzzled.

Given how Miss Li had avoided her at Lingwu Temple, what was her purpose in waiting here?

The two women walked toward the roadside, each harboring their thoughts, gradually distancing themselves from Jiang Zhan and the others. A-Man followed at a moderate distance.

Miss Li stopped beside a willow tree, glancing at A-Man from the corner of her eye.

“A-Man is my confidante. Miss Li, please speak freely.”

Seeing Miss Li still hesitating, Jiang Si reminded her, “For two young ladies saying farewell, dismissing the maid might arouse suspicion.”

This comment dispelled Miss Li’s intention to send A-Man away. She hesitantly began, “I just remembered something about Miss Chi—”

“What is it?” Jiang Si maintained a calm expression, though her heart raced.

Any information about Miss Chi would be valuable.

Though she felt certain Miss Chi was the most recent victim, what if she was wrong?

Master Zhen would be staying at the post station in the capital on the nineteenth of the fifth month—she didn’t have much time left.

“I’d like to ask Miss Jiang something first.”

“Please do.”

Miss Li’s lips trembled, her hands clenching and unclenching, clearly nervous.

Jiang Si waited patiently.

“Has something happened to Miss Chi?” Miss Li finally gathered the courage to ask what had been weighing on her mind.

Jiang Si paused before nodding slightly.

Miss Li’s face grew paler. “She—”

She couldn’t finish the question.

Having experienced her lover’s tragic death, the young woman had become particularly sensitive and fearful of death, especially when it concerned someone she knew, even if they had only met briefly.

“I’m here to help her,” Jiang Si finally said, leaving it to Miss Li to believe or not.

Miss Li remained silent for a long while.

“What did you want to tell me, Miss Li?” Jiang Si broke the silence.

Miss Li gazed into Jiang Si’s eyes, choosing her words carefully. “Perhaps I’m misremembering, as I didn’t spend much time with Miss Chi, but I always felt she… she bore some resemblance to you, Miss Jiang…”

“What?” Jiang Si’s heart sank as she involuntarily recalled the female corpse.

That night had been too dark, and she had been busy searching for clues, not paying much attention to that young face.

Who could bear to look long at such a tragic sight?

Were they similar? Jiang Si wondered.

“It’s not exactly the facial features that are similar, how should I put it—just something about the eyes and brows. Here, let me draw Miss Chi’s likeness for you to see.”

Jiang Si’s heart leaped. “You can draw Miss Chi’s portrait?”

Though she hadn’t noticed any resemblance to herself when she saw the corpse that murderous night, she did remember the general features. If Miss Li could draw Miss Chi, she could confirm whether it was the same person.

Miss Li showed some pride: “I’ve had tutors since childhood. While I wasn’t good at much else, I did learn painting well. However, I don’t have any paper or brushes right now—”

“I have some in my carriage.”

Jiang Si simply invited Miss Li into the carriage.

“Fourth Sister—”

Jiang Si poked her head out of the carriage, making a soft plea: “Second Brother, Miss Li and I have become fast friends. Let us talk a while longer. If you’re bored waiting, you and Master Yu can rest by the roadside.”

“Not bored at all. Take your time talking as long as you like.” Faced with his sister’s request, Jiang Zhan smiled broadly, pulling Yu Jin away.

Yu Jin glared at Jiang Zhan in frustration.

Did this man have any principles left?

Though Jiang Zhan couldn’t read Yu Jin’s true thoughts, he noticed his disapproval and chuckled, “Since Fourth Sister asked, why not indulge her in such a small matter? Ah, Seventh Brother Yu, you don’t have sisters, so you wouldn’t understand.”

Yu Jin silently rolled his eyes.

He didn’t have sisters? His large group of sisters would frighten people if they knew.

It was precisely because he had sisters that he couldn’t understand Jiang Zhan’s thinking.

How could a brother have so little authority? He should have sternly led his sister away at a time like this.

In the carriage, Jiang Si had already prepared the ink and brushes.

Miss Li truly was skilled in painting, quickly sketching out the image of a young maiden in the bloom of youth.

Jiang Si bit her lip.

Seeing this portrait, she could now confirm that the subject was indeed the corpse from the garden!

Unlike the corpse’s wide eyes frozen in despair, the girl in the painting had delicate features and bright, lively eyes that did indeed somewhat resemble her own.

A chill rose from the depths of Jiang Si’s heart, accompanied by a surge of overwhelming anger.

She would ensure the Marquis Changxing’s heir paid for his evil deeds.

Jiang Si kept the painting and bid farewell to Miss Li.

As the carriage reached the main road, travel became easier. As they approached a fork in the road, Jiang Zhan turned to Yu Jin, who was riding beside him, “Seventh Brother Yu, since we’ve come all this way, I want to take Fourth Sister sightseeing elsewhere. Are you planning to return to the capital?”

In the sunlight, the young man smiled innocently: “There’s nothing urgent in the capital. I’d like to go sightseeing with Second Brother Jiang.”