"Get in the carriage," Ji Lingchuan said, sitting inside and looking down at Song Yihuan.
The carriage was parked in an unnoticeable spot. With Ji Lingchuan around, there was no one moving around nearby, so there was no need to worry about being seen. Song Yihuan steadied the veil hat on her head and quickly stepped forward to board the carriage.
After Song Yihuan was seated, the curtain of the carriage fell. At Ji Lingchuan's order, the carriage started moving.
The conversation in the carriage yesterday was already overstepping the boundaries for Song Yihuan. So today, as soon as she got in, after calling out "My Lord," she didn't say anything else.
Ji Lingchuan replied with a faint grunt and then closed his eyes to rest, as if he had no interest in her at all, as if the person who had asked her for the money bag yesterday wasn't him.
Since he didn't speak, Song Yihuan was happy to be at ease. She lowered her head and took out the Chinese rings and played with them on her own. Soon, she was immersed in the pleasure of disassembling the rings and didn't notice at all that Ji Lingchuan, sitting opposite her, had quietly opened his eyes.
Different from Song Nanxin, she disassembled the Chinese rings very quickly. In no time, she had easily unfastened three rings.
Ji Lingchuan let out a soft chuckle in his heart.
After he had exposed her proficiency in the Chinese rings, she indeed stopped pretending. Well, for a smart woman like her who had a photographic memory, it was no problem at all to solve the Chinese rings.
His fingers touched the rusty Chinese rings hidden in his sleeve, and Ji Lingchuan frowned slightly.
He wondered who had lost the Chinese rings that he had accidentally found in the dilapidated temple behind the Imperial College. Did it have anything to do with Song Yihuan? Why did she say she didn't recognize it?
Watching her unfasten all the rings with his own eyes, Ji Lingchuan said, "Why are you interested in the Chinese rings?"
His sudden words startled Song Yihuan. Her deer - like eyes widened in surprise, and a hint of childishness showed on her bright and charming face.
Coming back to her senses, she lowered her eyes and replied, "At first, I just thought it was cheap and durable. One set of Chinese rings could be played with for a long time without getting damaged. But gradually, I found the pleasure of unfastening the rings and always carried them with me. I'd take them out to kill time when I had nothing to do."
"Once you said that all the poetry and songs you've learned were taught to you by your elder sister after she learned them in the Imperial College. Have you never been interested in the Imperial College? Didn't you ever want to go and have a look?"
Song Yihuan's eyelashes fluttered. "My Lord, I know my place. I never expect things that don't belong to me."
Ji Lingchuan said, "Then why did you dare to try to cling to me? It seems that I'm easier to get than the Imperial College. Am I so worthless?"
Song Yihuan almost choked on his words. She secretly resented herself for choosing to meet Gu Yunzheng in Lanfang Garden that day and being overheard by him. Now he was using this as a handle to tease and make things difficult for her.
Angry in her heart, Song Yihuan retorted, "So, has my Lord changed his mind and is willing to let me cling to him now?"
Ji Lingchuan leaned against the carriage wall and looked at her meaningfully. The depth in his eyes made Song Yihuan's heart skip a beat, and she subconsciously grabbed her sleeve.
No way. Did he really change his mind and have some feelings for her?
However, the next moment, she heard him say indifferently,
"You have a nice imagination. Your background is really pitiful, and the love between Concubine Rou and Qi Lei is indeed touching, but that's all. The reason we're in the same carriage today is all because of that case. But in the end, I'm still your sister's husband. Do you understand?"
Song Yihuan secretly let out a sigh of relief. "My Lord, don't worry. I know my limits."
"When we're out, just call me Brother Ling. Don't mention the title 'My Lord' in front of others," Ji Lingchuan reminded.
Song Yihuan nodded and called out, "Brother Ling."
Her voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of coquetry at the end, which made Ji Lingchuan's throat go dry.
As they were talking, the carriage arrived at the side door of the yamen.
After the carriage stopped steadily, Ji Lingchuan got out of the carriage one step ahead of Song Yihuan. Then he turned around and reached out his hand to the girl behind him.
Looking at the hand in front of her, Song Yihuan was instantly stunned.
She had only seen him do this when they went to the Duke Jiang's Mansion for a banquet, but at that time, the person he was helping was her elder sister. If it weren't for the words he had just said to her in the carriage, she would almost have thought that he had some feelings for her.
The side door of the yamen wasn't completely secluded. Occasionally, one or two passers - by would walk by. Just as Song Yihuan was hesitating whether to rely on his strength, Ji Lingchuan urged,
"What are you standing there for? Do I have to invite you?"
Song Yihuan's ears quietly turned red. Thinking that she was wearing a veil hat and a coarse - cloth shirt and no one could recognize her identity, she finally placed her hand in his palm.
The man's big palm wrapped around her small hand. With just a gentle tug, she safely got off the carriage.
After Ji Lingchuan helped her off the carriage, he quickly let go of her hand and said, "Don't think too much. That was just a simple act of kindness."
Song Yihuan was at a loss for words. She coughed lightly and replied, "I know. Thank you, Brother Ling."
Ji Lingchuan led Song Yihuan into the side door of the yamen. This was the first time Song Yihuan had been inside the yamen. Curious, she quietly lifted the veil in front of her hat and observed the scenery inside the yamen all the way.
The Yamen of the Capital was in a complete tizzy because of this case. Song Yihuan saw several yamen runners running past her from time to time. Among them, she also saw Fuzhou, the attendant beside Ji Lingchuan.
Gradually, the barking of dogs came to her ears. The sound grew louder and louder. Soon, Ji Lingchuan led her to the central courtyard of the yamen, and Song Yihuan saw three hounds tied to the pillars.
These three hounds were of the rarest quality. Each one was energetic and in good shape.
If it were other women, seeing so many snarling hounds might scare them out of their wits. However, Song Yihuan's eyes were bright, and she was even eager to step forward.
The hounds smelled the strange scent and all looked in Song Yihuan's direction. One of them even stood up on its four limbs and pounced towards Song Yihuan.
Ji Lingchuan quickly grabbed the collar of her clothes and pulled her back to his side, scolding, "Are you crazy? Aren't you afraid of being bitten by the dog?"
Song Yihuan was also scared. She touched her nose and whispered, "I was just a bit excited when I saw so many dogs. I like dogs very much."
Ji Lingchuan looked down at her. Even though she was wearing a veil hat, he could guess her expression. It must be the same as when she saw the cat. His eyebrows softened a bit, and he voluntarily explained,
"These dogs are different from ordinary domestic dogs. They are hounds specially trained by the Black Armored Army. They are extremely fierce and won't show any fear even when facing wild beasts in the mountains. These dogs will be very useful when we catch the criminal tonight."