The young servant entered the manor to announce them and quickly returned.

“Please come in, both of you. My master is waiting in the great hall.”

He then led Ji Yinshu and Jingrong into the manor.

The Wen manor was different from the Su manor. Here security was tight, and everywhere seemed filled with powerful killing intent. In comparison, the Su manor appeared far too secluded and leisurely.

As soon as the two entered the courtyard, they felt a killing intent gradually assailing them from the surroundings.

Jingrong’s sword-like brows tensed. His sharp eyes quickly swept around the area, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on his long sword.

Suddenly—

He felt a cold sensation from behind. The silver gleam of a weapon reflecting in the light flashed before his eyes.

“Watch out!”

He grabbed Ji Yinshu’s hand and pulled her protectively behind him, while simultaneously turning and drawing his sword to deflect the blade stabbing at his back.

Due to the excessive force, the attacker’s sword-wielding hand immediately went numb. The person was forced back several steps by that force, their feet sliding two tracks through the snow on the ground…

Wen Yu!

Wen Yu’s face showed killing intent, veins bulging at his temples, his gaze falling on the half-masked Jingrong like sharp arrows: “Back in the Nansai desert, I nearly became a soul under your sword. Today you’ve delivered yourself to my door – I’ll make you repay this blood debt with blood!”

Jingrong had no intention of fighting with him, saying coldly: “Second Young Master Wen, what happened back then was a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding? You pursued me to kill me time and again, yet now you say it was a misunderstanding? Today, I must take your life.”

“I’ll say it once more – the one who wanted to kill you in Nansai was not me.”

Wen Yu laughed coldly: “Even if you turned to ash, I’d still recognize you!”

Just as he was about to attack, Ji Yinshu stepped forward, blocking between the two, trying to mediate: “Young Master Wen, please don’t be impulsive.”

“Miss Ji?”

“We came to the manor today precisely to explain what happened back then.”

Wen Yu looked at Ji Yinshu with surprise, his hostile aura diminishing somewhat. He asked: “Miss Ji, didn’t you already leave Yanjing?”

“During this time, I’ve been in Yanjing all along.”

“Then how are you… with this person? Back in the Nansai inn, he nearly took your life. Have you forgotten?”

Back then, she had actively let Jingrong abduct her.

Of course she hadn’t forgotten!

Ji Yinshu tried to say something more, but Wen Yu’s mind was now filled only with thoughts of revenge. His fierce eyes turned to Jingrong, laughing coldly: “Having entered my Wen manor’s gates, you can forget about leaving alive.”

Having said this, he moved past Ji Yinshu and thrust his sword at Jingrong.

To avoid accidentally injuring Ji Yinshu, Jingrong was forced to meet his strikes.

Immediately, the sound of clashing weapons echoed through the courtyard.

Extremely grating.

Wen Yu wanted Jingrong’s life, so his sword strikes were ruthless, leaving no room for mercy.

Jingrong’s moves were all defensive.

After more than ten exchanges, they were still locked in combat.

Neither had gained the upper hand.

Due to the excessive commotion, they attracted the Wen manor’s guards. The guards who rushed out surrounded the courtyard. Just as they were about to step forward to capture Jingrong, they suddenly heard a sharp rebuke.

“Stop!”

At this sound, the guards parted, clearing a path.

Old General Wen and Wen Che were seen approaching rapidly, their expressions stern.

“Ah Yu, stop!” Old General Wen shouted again.

However, Wen Yu’s eyes were red with bloodlust – he simply couldn’t listen.

His heart was set only on revenge!

Seeing this, Wen Che drew the long sword from a guard beside him, then blocked the strike Wen Yu aimed at Jingrong’s heart, deflecting it away.

He positioned himself between the two.

“Elder Brother, move aside! The one who pursued me to kill me in Nansai was him!” Wen Yu tried to continue fighting, but Wen Che blocked his way.

Upon hearing that the masked person before him was the one who had pursued Wen Yu to kill him, a trace of cold severity flashed in Wen Che’s eyes.

He sized up the newcomer from head to toe!

Ji Yinshu quickly walked to Jingrong’s side, asking worriedly: “Are you injured?”

Jingrong sheathed his sword, saying: “He can’t hurt me!”

Indeed!

With Wen Yu’s martial arts skills, he couldn’t harm Jingrong in the slightest.

Wen Che was surprised: “Miss Ji, what are you doing here?” Having said this, he immediately realized something, “You and this person…”

Before he could finish, Ji Yinshu said: “General Wen, this matter is a long story. There’s a great misunderstanding in all this.”

“You mean?”

Ji Yinshu turned to face the stern-looking Old General Wen, performed a courtesy, and said: “Old General Wen, today we came uninvited because there’s something we must tell you. We hope you’ll give us some time.”

Old General Wen looked at this beautiful woman of extraordinary bearing before him, thought for a moment, then asked: “Are you that Miss Ji who saved my son in Nansai?”

“Yes.”

“This old man has heard a bit about you and has always wanted to find an opportunity to thank you in person.”

“I wouldn’t dare accept such thanks.”

“Young lady, you are a benefactor to my Wen family. This old man will naturally treat you as an honored guest.”

Wen Yu’s anger still burned in his heart. He stepped forward saying: “Father, the one who pursued us to kill us that day was him. Today no matter what, we cannot let him go.” He pointed at Jingrong.

Old General Wen immediately rebuked him: “Impudent!”

“Father?”

Old General Wen ignored him and said to Ji Yinshu: “Since Miss Ji says there’s a misunderstanding in this matter, please come into the hall with the young master beside you to explain in detail.”

Ji Yinshu lowered her eyes: “Alright.”

She then followed Old General Wen into the great hall with Jingrong.

Wen Yu was unwilling, raising his sword a few inches, but was immediately restrained by Wen Che, who quietly reminded him: “Father is here. Don’t cause trouble!”

“Elder Brother, how can you also…”

“Observe quietly and wait.” Having said this, Wen Che also went inside.

Wen Yu could only suppress his fury, tossing his sword to a guard nearby before following closely behind.

In the hall, Old General Wen ordered someone to serve tea.

It was cold outside, the wind and snow growing heavier. Braziers had been lit in the hall, sweeping away some of the chill.

After the tea passed their throats…

Wen Che was the first to speak: “Miss Ji, what exactly happened in all this?”

Ji Yinshu didn’t speak, only turned her eyes toward Jingrong.

Jingrong understood her meaning. His cold eyes looked at Wen Yu as he said: “If I’m not mistaken, Young Master Wen should already know that I went to Nansai on General Su’s orders. But the purpose wasn’t to kill you – it was to prevent you from going to Lingtang Commandery to retrieve Prince Jing’an’s body, so that you would bear the crime of dereliction of duty. At that time, the Emperor would have punished your Wen family! But unexpectedly, there was another group of people who entered the Nansai desert with us at the same time. They were the ones who wanted to kill you! Including those who assassinated you on the boat – that was also them.”

“What evidence do you have?”

“At that time in Nansai, I had already lost most of my troops and soldiers. Only one person remained alive. I could only hurriedly rush back to Yanjing and had no time to spare to assassinate you on the boat again! As for what grudge exists between the Wen and Su families that made General Su send me to secretly obstruct you – I believe you understand this point better than I do.”

Wen Yu threw up his hand: “Impossible!”

“Not a single word of what I’ve said is false.”

Hearing this, Wen Che frowned and said: “But… why should we believe you?”

Ji Yinshu suddenly spoke: “Because this concerns the life and death of the Wen and Su families.”