He eyed her, “How come you look just like a drowned rat? Did Jing Rong finally evict you?” She sat quietly, not answering.
‘What’s wrong with this woman today? She was all sharp and cynical just yesterday, talking non-stop. What’s with the sudden listlessness?’
Mo Ruo pulled a chair over, raising his tone, “Come on, spill it, what’s wrong? Who knows, given that I’m still awake and in my right mind, I might be able to give you some good advice.”
Ji Yunshu tilted her pale chin after a moment, “If you had to go against your conscience to do something that would save thousands of lives, would you?”
Mo Ruo was stumped. He scrunched up his brows as he fell into deep thought.
“If you asked me to choose between a fine lady and fine wine, then I can definitely tell you that I would choose the wine. But… my conscience against innocent lives? You really got me with this one.”
He had a thoughtful look one moment, then looked up with a twinkle in his eye, “I would choose to save those lives since my conscience has been eaten by the dogs!”
Pfft –
Ji Yunshu almost spewed blood in frustration. I knew I asked the wrong person.
She sighed and kept quiet.
Mo Ruo shook his head at the sight of her ghastly face. He stood up and headed towards the back court and brought over a piping hot bowl of medicine. “Drink up! All of it!”
Ji Yunshu gulped it all down despite not knowing what it was.
Her clothes dried up in no time. She left the blanket and asked Mo Ruo as she walked off, “Where’s Wei Yi?”
Mo Ruo pointed a finger at his crown, “He’s taking a bath!”
He was ambiguous, but Ji Yunshu questioned no further.
Upon returning to the Rong Estate, Ji Yunshu locked herself in her quarters, refusing to be disturbed.
Jing Rong did not come over to bother her either – he most likely needed some time to properly digest what happened at Peach Blossom Spring with Su Ziluo.
Night fell.
Ji Yunshu shivered slightly as she opened the windows and the cold winds gusted in. She was lost in her thoughts once more as she looked up at the starry sky. All she could think of were Su Ziluo’s words, each and every one stabbing her in the chest.
– “Will you leave me, Ji Pei?”
“Never. Even if we had to be apart someday, I would come looking for you.” –
His past words resounded clearly in her mind.
“As long as you agree, I will tell you where Ji Pei is. Is he alive? Is he dead? I will tell you everything you desire to know.”
These words felt like thousands of ants gnawing at her heart, painful and distressing.
The next day.
She sent someone to inform the capital governor that the murderer was discovered. Her report was already completed and to be handed directly to the governor for him to deliver to the Emperor’s hands.
Jing Rong rushed over after hearing the news. “Have you found the murderer?”
She nodded indifferently.
“Who?”
“Ji Li,” she replied carelessly.