The moment Li Yunmu heard the voice, he didn’t even have time to react.
The very next second, the woman on the floor began to sob softly.
His raised hand hung awkwardly in midair.
Ji Junjiao strode into the main hall, while Changqing quickly stepped forward and helped Qin Buwen to her feet.
Through tear-filled eyes, Qin Buwen looked at Ji Junjiao, her expressive apricot eyes seeming to speak for themselves.
“My lord, it’s all my fault. I offended Lord Li!”
Ji Junjiao didn’t look at her.
His cold gaze remained fixed on Li Yunmu.
“What utter nonsense!”
The veins on Li Yunmu’s forehead bulged as he glared furiously.
“Y-You! What nonsense are you spouting!?”
“So Lord Li also believes it wasn’t her fault?”
Ji Junjiao’s voice was calm and cool, yet it carried an inexplicable chill that made people shudder.
It was obvious that Li Yunmu had been so enraged by Qin Buwen that he’d lost his composure.
Pointing at her, he loudly accused her before Ji Junjiao.
“Grand Secretary! Where did this wretched maid in your residence come from? How dare she slander a Vice Minister!?”
Ji Junjiao shot him a single icy glance.
Li Yunmu stiffened.
Only then did he come back to his senses.
He had actually raised his voice inside Wenyuan Pavilion…
And had even questioned the Grand Secretary himself.
Realizing what he’d done, Li Yunmu instantly fell silent.
His stunned eyes met Ji Junjiao’s cool, detached gaze.
Li Yunmu wasn’t short by any means.
Yet for some reason, whenever he stood before Ji Junjiao, he always felt as though he were somehow inferior.
“My apologies, Grand Secretary.”
“I allowed this insolent wench to anger me so much that I lost my head. Please forgive my discourtesy.”
Qin Buwen immediately seized the opportunity and hurriedly chimed in.
“Lord Li is right! It’s all my fault. A-Although Lord Li shouldn’t have spoken ill of Grand Secretary… I was too impulsive. I’m willing to accept whatever punishment you see fit…”
“You little—! You still dare to slander me? When did I ever—”
“Enough.”
Before Li Yunmu could finish, Ji Junjiao cut him off.
He cast Li Yunmu a frosty glance before speaking in a low voice.
“She is not a servant of this residence.”
“She is my guest.”
Oh?
Qin Buwen still wore the expression of someone who had suffered a tremendous injustice.
Inside, however, she couldn’t help but complain.
Ji Junjiao is making things up too.
With my current status, how could I possibly be his guest?
Still…
She had no chance of meeting the Emperor at the moment and therefore couldn’t do anything to Li Yunmu herself.
So as long as Ji Junjiao’s words made Li Yunmu miserable…
She was perfectly satisfied.
Li Yunmu obviously didn’t believe it either.
He shot Qin Buwen a resentful glare.
But remembering why he’d come to Wenyuan Pavilion today, he forcibly swallowed his anger.
“My apologies, Grand Secretary.”
“I came today because I have important matters to discuss with you.”
Ji Junjiao was dressed in white today.
In Qin Buwen’s opinion, there were very few men in the world who truly deserved to wear white.
Ji Junjiao was one of them.
His posture was perfectly upright.
A black tasseled sash cinched his waist, outlining his tall, elegant frame.
“Apologize.”
The moment those words left his lips, not only was Li Yunmu stunned—
Even Qin Buwen, who had been sniffling pitifully beside them, froze in surprise.
“Grand Secretary…”
“You expect me to apologize to a mere servant?”
Li Yunmu ground out the words through clenched teeth, his voice hoarse with anger.
Ji Junjiao calmly repeated himself.
“She is my guest.”
“She is not a servant.”
“Furthermore…”
He paused, his tone remaining level.
“Even if she were a servant, if one has done wrong, one ought to apologize.”
Li Yunmu stared at Ji Junjiao in utter disbelief.
His entire body had gone rigid.
Qin Buwen hurried forward a few steps and cautiously tugged at Ji Junjiao’s sleeve.
“My lord… forget it…”
Ji Junjiao frowned slightly.
“A gentleman stands beneath Heaven and Earth with integrity.”
“He should have the courage to take responsibility for his actions, conducting himself openly and honorably.”
“That is all the more true for officials and nobles.”
“Lord Li insulted someone first.”
“He should apologize.”
Qin Buwen fell silent.
For some reason…
She had the strange feeling Ji Junjiao was indirectly scolding her.
It’s fine.
She’s not a gentleman, anyway.
In the end, Li Yunmu still refused to humble himself enough to apologize.
Exactly as Qin Buwen had expected.
Li Yunmu…
He looked humble and gentle on the surface.
But underneath, he was nothing more than a dog that could never truly be tamed.
You never knew when it would suddenly turn around and bite you.
Since Li Yunmu refused to apologize, Ji Junjiao simply instructed Changqing to escort him out.
Watching Li Yunmu storm away in fury, Qin Buwen couldn’t help feeling rather emotional.
Did he really still think this was five years ago…
When everyone indulged him and gave him whatever he wanted?
“Miss?”
Ji Junjiao’s voice pulled Qin Buwen back to reality.
Tears still clung to her face.
Even her eyelashes were damp, making her look heartbreakingly pitiful.
Yet Ji Junjiao appeared completely unaffected.
He merely asked,
“Were you injured anywhere?”
Qin Buwen shook her head.
“My lord, I’m sorry. I delayed your important business.”
His expression remained calm.
“You needn’t concern yourself.”
“This matter had nothing to do with you.”
“Whoever had been standing here today, I would have said the same.”
Qin Buwen blinked.
“My lord, don’t be angry.”
“From now on, I won’t let anyone speak ill of you again!”
Ji Junjiao looked at her with mild confusion.
“Why would I be angry?”
He gazed at the young woman calmly.
“What others hear about me…”
“What they say about me…”
“Even what they see of me…”
“…none of it is complete.”
“They piece together fragments and believe they’ve seen the whole of who I am.”
“I would never become angry over something like that.”
Qin Buwen tilted her head.
“Then why did you insist he apologize?”
Ji Junjiao still seemed puzzled by her question, but he answered patiently nonetheless.
“I already explained.”
“He should apologize because he was wrong.”
Qin Buwen laughed awkwardly.
“With someone of my status… my lord really didn’t need to seek justice on my behalf.”
Ji Junjiao corrected her with complete seriousness.
“Miss.”
“I’ve already told you.”
“You are my guest.”
“You should not belittle yourself.”
“Besides…”
“No matter a person’s status…”
“…justice is always worth fighting for.”
Qin Buwen couldn’t help but smile.
Ji Junjiao…
Ji Junjiao.
You’re such an upright gentleman…
Using someone like you for my own schemes almost makes a petty villain like me feel ashamed.
…
Situ Residence
“My lord, we’ve found out.”
Ming’an knelt before the man as he reported.
“That night, Ji Junjiao went to Prince Chang’an’s residence alone.”
“No one accompanied him.”
“And…”
“The people who bought the Qianjin paper and Huizhou Ink from Half-Mu Pond that day were two women.”
Seated behind his desk, the man slowly set down the letter he had been studying for quite some time.
His gaze turned cold.
“Have you identified the two women?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Ming’an nodded.
“Strangely enough…”
“The two women who purchased the paper and ink are both maids from Wenyuan Pavilion.”
Yan Tang’s handsome brows knitted together slightly.
“Could that letter have been written by Ji Junjiao?”
No.
Impossible.
He recognized that handwriting.
It was undoubtedly Her Highness’s own hand.
Could it be…
Had Her Highness remained in Wenyuan Pavilion all these years?
No.
That didn’t make sense.
If Her Highness had truly stayed in the capital…
Why had she never come to see him?
After turning the matter over in his mind again and again, Yan Tang slowly lifted his eyes.
There was little warmth left in those normally gentle, jade-like eyes.
It seemed…
If he wanted the answer…
He would have to visit Wenyuan Pavilion again and meet those two maids in person.
“Prepare the carriage.”
Yan Tang’s voice was low and cold.
“We’re paying another visit to Grand Secretary.”
“Yes, my lord.”