Back then, when he heard that Sima Yi and Ji Shihan were planning a marriage alliance, he panicked.
Although he, Ji Shisu, and even the emperor knew that Sima Yi had other motives, the matriarch of the Ji family didn't know.
Neither did Ji Shihan.
He was afraid that Ji Shihan would accept this absurd marriage, and even more afraid that she would get hurt.
The only one who knew his feelings was his younger sister, Shu Danyao.
So, when Sima Yi moved into the Ji Mansion, Shu Danyao showed up too.
Shu Danyao deliberately caused disruptions and even resorted to seducing Sima Yi, hoping that he would give up on marrying Ji Shihan.
But no one could have predicted that the marriage fell through, and Ji Shihan passed away.
Her death was so sudden that Shu Danqing didn't even have time to prepare mentally.
After Ji Shihan's accident, he sent people to inquire.
She died suddenly, and there were many strange things about her passing.
So Shu Danqing wanted to find out the truth. He wanted to do it for her.
Shu Danqing thought that he hadn't protected her well when she was alive.
At least he could do something for her after her death.
Shu Danqing rushed towards Ye Hua's tent.
By this time, Ye Hua had already gotten up. He was chatting with someone.
"My lord, I'll leave for the capital today. Do you have any message for me to take to Lady Ye?"
Ye Hua had decided to stay with Zhao Luoning and her entourage at Shiguan. Fearing that the emperor in the capital might get suspicious, he sent someone back first to report.
This person was his legal adviser from Huangcheng, also one of his trusted subordinates. So when he came to bid farewell early in the morning, he brought up Lady Ye.
"Tell her that I'm all right and not to worry. Oh, right..."
Just as the man was about to bow and leave, Ye Hua suddenly remembered something and stopped him.
"Tell Lady Ye to take good care of the maid named Hongshao. We still need her testimony about Ji Shihan's death. Whether the Ji family can stay out of trouble depends on that maid."
Ye Hua was being so cautious not because of anyone else, but the current emperor.
Once the cunning rabbit is dead, the hound is cooked.
The Sima Manor could no longer stage a comeback. The Ji family was now at the height of their prosperity.
Especially Ji Shisu and Zhao Luoning. The emperor had already started to be wary of them.
It was hard to say that the emperor wouldn't make a big deal out of Ji Shihan's death.
Ji Shisu was risking his life on the battlefield for the common people. Ye Hua couldn't let the soldiers feel disheartened.
Even if it was to repay Zhao Luoning for saving his life, he couldn't let the Ji family fall into a passive situation.
Thankfully, he had been careful and had his wife take care of the important witness, Hongshao.
"Don't worry, my lord. I'll convey your words exactly as you said."
Saying this, he knelt down and bowed deeply. Then he stood up and walked out.
As the legal adviser was leaving the tent, he bumped into Shu Danqing, who was coming around from behind.
Seeing Shu Danqing in his military uniform, looking heroic and imposing, the legal adviser knew that he must be one of the four generals.
To be on the safe side, he didn't dare to guess his identity randomly. He just bowed and saluted.
"General."
Shu Danqing was so preoccupied with Ji Shihan's matter that he didn't even have the mind to greet the legal adviser.
He passed by the legal adviser, lifted the curtain, and rushed into the tent.
"Lord Ye, what exactly happened to Shihan's death? Have you found out anything?"
Ye Hua didn't expect that after so long, Shu Danqing would rush in so flustered early in the morning, asking about Ji Shihan, the eldest daughter of the Ji family, a topic he least wanted to mention.
Thinking about his conversation with the legal adviser just now, Ye Hua guessed that Shu Danqing must have heard something.
Actually, there wasn't anything too serious about Ji Shihan's matter.
He just didn't know why Shu Danqing was so concerned about the cause of the eldest daughter of the Ji family's death.
"Shihan? Why do you ask?"
In his impression, there didn't seem to be any connection between Ji Shihan and Shu Danqing. It was really suspicious that he would suddenly care about a woman with whom he had no relation.
"Shihan and I were somewhat like kindred spirits. When I heard the news of her sudden death, I felt that something was amiss. Just now, I heard you mention Hongshao. Was Hongshao responsible for Shihan's death?"
If it was that bitch, he would never let her off when he returned to Huangcheng.
He made a solemn vow in his heart.
Shu Danqing swore that if he didn't make those who hurt Shihan pay double the price, he wouldn't be Shu Danqing.
Seeing the grief in Shu Danqing's eyes, Ye Hua believed his words.
The reason why Ye Hua didn't want to talk about Ji Shihan's matter was mainly because she was, after all, the daughter of a noble family.
Even if Ye Hua didn't consider Ji Shihan's personal reputation, he had to think about the Ji Mansion.
But it wouldn't hurt to tell Shu Danqing.
"Ji Shihan committed suicide by swallowing gold. The maid Hongshao is the witness, and the coroner's report is the physical evidence."
Suicide by swallowing gold? How could this be?!
He had thought of many possibilities.
He just never thought that such a gentle and quiet woman would commit suicide!
If she hadn't lost the will to live.
If she hadn't lost all hope for the future.
How could such a delicate and frail woman, who could be blown away by a gust of wind, have swallowed gold to end her young life.
He had been so intent on finding the murderer for her.
Who would have thought that the murderer was Ji Shihan herself.
He only heard a loud noise in his head.
Memories of Ji Shihan flashed through his mind again and again.
The images flashed by so fast.
It was like riding a horse through the long river of time. The images were still, but he couldn't control the speed of time passing.
These rapidly passing images made Shu Danqing feel dizzy.
"Are you okay?"
Seeing Shu Danqing looking so preoccupied, Ye Hua couldn't help but ask.
Shu Danqing shook his head. It took him a great deal of effort to calm himself down.
Facing Ye Hua's concerned look, he bowed and saluted.
"Thank you for your concern, my lord. I'm fine. Where is Miss Ji now?"
Ye Hua was more worried about Shu Danqing. Seeing him looking so absent - minded, as if he had lost his soul.
"I've already sent someone to take her to the public morgue. Once the matter of the Ji family is settled, she can be taken back to the ancestral shrine."
Shu Danqing murmured Ye Hua's words again.
Ye Hua was completely confused.
Why was this guy repeating his words?
But it was obvious that Shu Danqing didn't want to say more, and Ye Hua didn't press him.
Watching Shu Danqing leave the camp absent - mindedly, Ye Hua had to sit down and recall what had just happened.
He had just told him the cause of Ji Shihan's death.
Why did this guy react like this?
Before Ye Hua could solve his doubts, the news from the front line caught his attention.
Since the Sima Manor had withdrawn its troops, the recovery of the lost territory was going extremely smoothly. It was estimated that General Lian would arrive at Shiguan in no more than five days.
The day of their return was finally approaching.