"Ah Jin, thank you."
"We're friends, there's no need to thank me, as long as you like it."
"Of course I like it."
Lian Que wielded his sword and swung it a few more times.
It became smoother and smoother.
He said, "Ah Jin, when I grow up, I will definitely protect you. If anyone dares to hurt you, I will use this sword to fight them."
"Alright!"
Even the sparrow could not help but feel tears welling up in its eyes as the memories flooded its mind.
But in fact, he rarely cried.
The only time she cried was when Ah Jin disappeared during the Huyi civil war.
She cried for a long, long time …
As for that sword, he always kept it by his side.
For more than twenty years, it had never been replaced.
He firmly believed that one day, he would wait for Ah Jin!
No wonder Bai Yin told Jing Rong that she seemed to have seen him before.
It turned out that they already knew each other!
…
Ji Yunshu returned to the Literary Ink Gallery.
He chose a fine pen.
He held it in his hand and looked at it carefully.
The shopkeeper knew that she had left with the Marquis of the Southern Kingdom, so they must know each other.
"Young master, you don't look like you're from Gao Ding. How did you get to know Master Ke?"
She said, "Business."
"Oh? What kind of business do you do, young master? "
"A portrait of a dead person!"
The shopkeeper was taken aback.
He thought she was joking.
Drawing a portrait of a dead person? That was the first time he heard of it.
"Young Master, don't joke around. How could Master Ke have any business dealings with you?"
He didn't believe it.
However —
Ji Yunshu suddenly had an idea. She twirled the brush in her hand and asked, "Since you said that Master Ke wouldn't do business with a dead person like me, then who does he do business with?"
"Of course it's something related to literature and ink."
"Oh? It seems that this Master Ke is from a scholarly family. "
"Are you kidding me? Who doesn't know that Master Ke is the Marquis of the Southern Kingdom in Huyi? "
Ugh!
She was shocked!
Marquis of the Southern Kingdom?
The shopkeeper said, "Young master? Young master? "
"Ah?" She came back to her senses.
"What happened to you?"
"I'm fine!" Ji Yunshu gently shook her head.
The pen in her hand suddenly lost its balance and fell from her hand.
It smashed into the ground.
When she reacted, it was already too late.
However, he saw a hand reach over and catch the pen steadily.
She looked up and saw Jing Rong's face right in front of her.
"You …"
Why are you here?
Before he could ask, Jing Rong handed the brush to the shopkeeper and said, "Wrap it up."
The shopkeeper was stunned!
Where did this person come from?
Jing Rong took out some silver and placed it in front of him. He coldly urged, "Hurry up."
"Oh, okay."
The shopkeeper quickly found a box and placed it inside.
And handed it to him.
Jing Rong took it with one hand and held Ji Yunshu's hand with the other.
It was still snowing heavily.
He held the umbrella and pulled her to his side.
A tall and a short figure stood under the umbrella.
His footsteps, one deep and one shallow, were imprinted on the thick snow.
Ji Yunshu looked up at him. "Why are you here?"
He looked at her and said, "How can I be at ease if you come out alone?"
"I just came out to buy a pen."
"I said I won't leave you alone."
She was touched.
He chuckled.
"Oh right, how did your search with Bai Yin go?"
"No news."
Nothing.
Ji Yunshu said, "Since Heir Cheng has already promised us that as long as I help him solve the case, he will definitely help us find Cha He."
Jing Rong was silent.
His heart was heavy.
Ji Yunshu saw his expression and changed the topic. "You met someone today."
"…"
"Ke Cha!"
Jing Rong had an impression of him. He slowed down and said, "The person who gave you the jade pendant."
"Yeah."
"How did you meet him?"
"He was in the Literary Ink Gallery just now. I went to the teahouse with him for a chat and saw that child."
"The child who was cut open for fetuses?"
"He's already two years old. He's grown up quite a bit." She smiled.
"So … did you tell him about the incident in the ruined temple?" Jing Rong asked.
"I mentioned it, but from his expression and tone, he didn't seem to know anything. It seems like he really has nothing to do with those people." Ji Yunshu wasn't sure.
Jing Rong was also at a loss.
Ji Yunshu continued, "Guess what I found out from my chat with the shopkeeper?"
"What?"
"That Master Ke is the Marquis of the Southern Kingdom."
Jing Rong's eyes narrowed and his expression darkened. He was silent for a while. "Didn't you already know when you first met him? A person with a peacock feather tail is either a relative of the imperial family or a noble. "
"That's true!"
"Don't think too much. Let's go back first."
"Yeah."
After the two returned, Ji Yunshu bought a brush and started painting without delay.
Jing Rong continued to stand guard outside.
He stood under the eaves and watched the snow.
This wait lasted until nightfall.
Song Zhi came over with two bowls of porridge.
"Young Master Jing, you've been standing here for so long. Why don't you return to the house?"
Jing Rong turned to look at Ji Yunshu, who was still painting. "It's fine!"
"Why don't you drink some hot porridge? I just made it."
She handed one bowl to him.
Jing Rong took it.
"I'll bring it to Young Master Ji."
Just as he was about to go in, Jing Rong pulled him back.
"No need."
"But Young Master Ji has been painting for so long and hasn't eaten anything. How can her body take it?"
"If you go in now, you'll disturb her. Moreover, she won't drink until she's done."
"Young Master Ji is too desperate."
You've never seen someone more desperate!
Song Zhi could only let it go.
Jing Rong didn't really eat the porridge. He only took a sip before putting it aside. It gradually cooled down.
Song Zhi didn't leave. He stood with Jing Rong for a while.
The two stood under the eaves, looking up at the falling snow.
The white snow glistened under the illumination of the surrounding lanterns.
It was like the starry sky in July and August.
It was exceptionally beautiful.
After a long time …
Song Zhi asked, "Sometimes, I'm actually quite envious of you."
"Envious?"
"Yes!"
"Envious of what?"
Song Zhi thought for a while. "I don't know, but I'm very envious of you."
Jing Rong smiled.
But there was a trace of sadness in it.
He asked, "Young Master Song, have you ever been forced to walk a path that you don't want to walk?"
Huh?
Song Zhi was stunned.
Then, he began to seriously ponder over his question.
Although he was poor, he had never been forced to walk a path that he didn't want to walk.
Even if he was so poor that he didn't even have rice to cook, he still refused to write those vulgar scripts to earn money.
So, everything was voluntary.
He shook his head.
No!
Jing Rong asked again, "Then have you ever felt helpless, to the point where even your brotherly love became nothingness?"
He shook his head again.
"Then have you ever … not even been able to protect your best brother? You could only watch as everything was destroyed with your own eyes?"
His tone was bleak.
Song Zhi had never. He shook his head.
He said, "But I've experienced all these."
Song Zhi, "…"
"Then, why are you envious of me?"
He left these words.
Jing Rong left.
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