It was time.
Ji Li brought some men over and separated them. A guard brought Su Ziluo away from the tower, with Ji Li at the head of the group. From start to end, Su Ziluo did not once look back.
“Goodbye, Ji Pei.” Her voice was weak.
A shadow jumped down beside her awkwardly – it was Li’er. He stood five meters away, the faint moonlight betraying none of his visage.
“Are you Teacher Su’s servant?”
He nodded, then raised his hands and signed a few gestures.
Ji Yunshu did not understand, “Pardon me, but I’m not sure what you are trying to tell me.”
Li’er did not give up and tried again, but Ji Yunshu still could not make heads or tails out of it. Li’er grew antsy and moved towards her, his anxious features indicating that he wanted to say something, but could not do so. He tried making a few noises, but could not express himself verbally. Ji Yunshu did her best deciphering his gestures, but it was in vain.
Li’er was disappointed. He took a look at the disappearing torch flames, took two bounds, leaped and took off, most likely after Su Ziluo.
Ji Yunshu stared unwittingly at the flickering flames, only leaving the tower when they finally disappeared from her sight. She picked up the last lantern left beneath the tower and walked back to Rong Estate feeling starkly different from when she came – she felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. It was not a bad feeling.
She saw Jing Rong waiting for her at the Rong Estate gates and could not help but recall what Su Ziluo said.
Did she really have another person in her heart? Was it… Jing Rong?
With this thought, she could not bring herself to meet Jing Rong’s gaze. She slighted her body and tried to enter the gates by getting around him. Instead, her arms were firmly held in place by Jing Rong. She was startled, her lantern almost falling to the ground.
The lights in the yard flickered dizzyingly as the chilly winds continued to blow.
Jing Rong grew grave, “How was it? Have the two of you finished what you had to say?”
She questioned instead, “Your Highness already knew that he was Ji Pei, right?”
“Yes.” He did not hide.
Ji Yunshu furrowed her brows but kept silent.
It was a long while later when Jing Rong asked worriedly, “Did you know that there would be consequences from making a deal with my imperial father? Did you ever consider the repercussions?”