"What nonsense are you sprouting?"
"What? Obviously, you yourself just said that you're going to let her stay here, so isn't that like raising her? After all, her parents will die, and she will be the only one left in the Wen Family. So if you let her stay here, isn't that like you're going to be her mother?"
This logic is really nonsensical! Ji Yunshu really didn't bother to communicate with her, but thinking that Little Xiyue would be here all this time, she had to remind her patiently. "I will just take care of her for a while. When her parents are released, they will take her back."
"Ah?" Tang Si exclaimed again. This time, however, she didn't cover her mouth.
"Ah Ji, did you misunderstand? Her father surrounded you with archers and guards and almost killed you. That's a rebellion! If the news reaches the capital, Little Xiyue won't be able to live and you are still waiting for her parents to come out of jail safely? Isn’t it a joke?! If this happened in Houliao, it wouldn't be a simple matter of putting the whole family line to death, it would be the death of the entire clan." I’m not merely saying this to scare you! In Houliao, if someone rebelled, their entire clan would be put to death!
Ji Yunshu took a long breath and said, "Okay, stop being so alarmist, saying some nonsense to a child and scaring her. Besides, her parents will be fine."
"Ah!" This time she wasn't screaming. Her voice was full of confusion. "Those people almost succeeded in their rebellion and you say they’ll be fine? Are you kidding me?"
Ji Yunshu stopped paying attention to her and turned around to sit down next to Little Xiyue, looking at the aggrieved and distressed little face. "Little Xiyue." She gently called out.
The girl remained unresponsive. She was obviously scared by what Tang Si had just said.
"Don't worry, your parents will come out safely."
Hm? Little Xiyue's listless eyes opened with a clear light. She looked at her with hope. "Really?"
"Of course it's true."
"My parents will be okay?"
"Yeah."
"And my brother will be okay?"
"Yeah."
"Everyone's going to be okay?"
"Yeah."
She nodded her head firmly to each question. The corners of Little Xiyue's initially downturned lips lifted a little, revealing her usual, clear, bright smile. Her smile was so innocent.
But Tang Si walked over, glaring and snorting, "I really don't understand you people, and what goes on in your heads. " Your heads are certainly not filled with knowledge, but horseshit!
Little Xiyue's clear laughter reverberated in the courtyard.
Suddenly, Jing Rong and Mo Ruo walked over briskly. At the same time, the laughter suddenly stopped. Little Xiyue instinctively retreated a few steps and hid behind Ji Yunshu, holding tightly to her clothes. With fear in her black eyes, she stared at the extremely scary man in front of her.
Jing Rong exuded a majestic, chilling and bold aura, almost like the sharp edge of a longsword. The mere touch of it would kill a person and drench them in blood.
Ji Yunshu startled, then regained her composure after a moment. She immediately instructed Qiao'er to bring Little Xiyue indoors, then met Jing Rong's gaze squarely.
Mo Ruo was a sensible fellow. He pulled Tang Si, "Let's go, I just happened to find some new books. You come with me to get them and take a good look."
"I'm not in the mood to read right now."
"Do you still want to study medicine?"
"Yes."
"Then let’s go."
Bro, the fun isn't over yet, can you wait a minute? Mo Ruo dragged her away unceremoniously.
The two of them were left alone in the courtyard. But they stood facing each other for a long time without speaking. The tense moment finally broke when a bird on the roof chirped out.
Jing Rong had on a cold expression, obviously rather unhappy, "You went to the prison?"
She pursed her lips and nodded her head, "I know that they are indeed guilty of plotting a revolt. Even dying a thousand or ten thousand times, is not enough to make up for their mistakes. But since you promised me to let them go and instilled a news embargo, it means that you also don't want to see the countless deaths and injuries that would arise from the clash of two armies."
"Mo Ruo suggested that I wait. I think the result of my waiting is that you hope that I will let them go, right?" This was not a question but a statement.
Ji Yunshu analyzed with him, "They did kill a lot of people and almost killed us, but in the end, it was still for the sake of the Imperial Duke. They were loyal to him and left their rationality behind. There are very few such generals and soldiers in the world. I know that you likely think that I am emotional, but you know the pros and cons better than anyone else. I have convinced General Wen. He promised to put this matter aside until the day when the truth of the fire in Imperial Duke Residence is made public. He won't do anything in the meantime."
"Do you trust him?"
"Yes, in light of current circumstances, I could only trust him."
"This prince understands what you mean." Jing Rong said directly, "At first, I was still wavering and worried. Now, no matter what the outcome would be, I will be on your side. Rather than allowing the imperial court to send troops to wipe out General Wen’s army of thousands and end up making bloodshed, it is better to turn the big things into small ones and turn the small things into nothing. Prevention is better than cure." He agreed unreservedly.
Ji Yunshu was pleased and said, "However, there is another concern I have."
"You are worried that Imperial Father had originally sent this prince to Yufu to investigate the disaster relief funds, but if I decide to let them go, then everything involved with the disaster relief funds would have to be suppressed as well."
Exactly! If he wanted to return to the capital, he would have to solve the case of disaster relief funds. However, the case of disaster relief funds was connected to the Imperial Duke Residence. Once reported, it would naturally be exposed and the army of ten thousand would gather together to fight against the imperial court. However, if he concealed it, he would be labeled incompetent. From then on, he would be permanently exiled in Yufu and might never be able to return to the capital. He would then really be a carefree prince. If he chose one, he had to bear the consequences of the other. There was no way out.
Jing Rong took a long breath, "To sacrifice something small for the bigger picture is something not everyone can do. This time, this prince would like to try it." His tone was firm. He made the decision to conceal the incident of disaster relief funds, and likewise, it meant to cover up the entire incident of the subordinates serving the former Imperial Duke and the army of thousands. "I hope that this time… this prince has made the right decision."
Ji Yunshu’s warm eyes turned calm as she looked at his bright and clean profile.
In Mo Ruo's room, Tang Si sat at that table with a thick medical book spread out in front of her. It was a book that Mo Ruo had casually taken off the shelf and thrown to her at random.
Mo Ruo made her sit at the table and she was forced to read several pages, but it was so boring. So she closed the book, held her chin and looked at Mo Ruo in the distance, impatiently, "Are you doing this on purpose? Making me read a book at this time?"
Is there a problem with that? Mo Ruo sat at a distance and was… slowly making tea.
