After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

After hearing her words, Xie Jinchen's eyes grew even deeper, as if confirming some clues he already knew.

He nodded slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing gently in the light and shadow. "Indeed. Over the years, I have never stopped investigating."

His long, slender fingers unconsciously brushed against the rim of the teacup. "I sent my most elite bodyguards seven times to secretly follow my father along his route south."

His voice trailed off, “But every time they were about to reach the boundary of that region, they were blocked by an invisible barrier.”

"Sometimes it's a thick fog that suddenly surges out from the mountains and forests."

He suddenly looked up, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. "My men will suddenly lose their focus for a moment in a river bend, and when they come to their senses, Father's whereabouts will be as if they have been erased from thin air, as if he had never been there at all."

Jiang Dusheng nodded thoughtfully, not surprised by this.

It would be strange if they hadn't used some extraordinary means to hide the princess's remains so meticulously.

However... the person who can set up such an exquisite barrier must be extremely skilled.

This, however, piqued her interest.

"This matter..." She looked up, about to continue, but the words suddenly stopped on her lips.

The intense afternoon sun was pouring down relentlessly.

A ray of golden light happened to pass through the gap in the bamboo curtain, sweeping obliquely into the room and landing squarely on Xie Jinchen's cheek and shoulder.

The overly bright spots of light danced, somewhat diluting the aloofness and coldness that usually shrouded his brows.

Especially those deep, unfathomable peach blossom eyes, now enveloped in a warm golden halo, had a softened curve at the corners, and a layer of amber ripples appeared in the depths of her eyes.

evildoer.

These two words suddenly popped into Jiang Dusheng's mind.

"What's wrong?" Xie Jinchen noticed the pause in her voice, and his gaze suddenly returned to her face.

The light and shadow flowed with his head-turning movement, creating a breathtaking beauty in his eyes amidst the interplay of light and shadow.

Jiang Dusheng's eyes flashed, and he quickly withdrew from the brief illusion of light and shadow, returning his thoughts to the main topic.

Without beating around the bush, she asked directly, "Is this matter urgent?"

Xie Jinchen did not answer immediately.

He gazed at her for a moment, then slowly spoke, "In a hurry. Not in a hurry."

He lowered his eyes, watching his well-defined fingers slowly close up, forming a silent fist.

"I've waited for over a decade. A few more days won't make a difference." When he looked up again, all the surging emotions in his eyes had been forcibly suppressed into a deep, silent pool.

Jiang Dusheng thought for a moment and gave his timeframe: "Okay. Then you can wait two more months."

"Two months?" Xie Jinchen was slightly taken aback.

"Hmm." Jiang Dusheng said calmly, "After I leave the Jiang family, I will accompany you on a trip to the South."

"Leave the Jiang family?" Xie Jinchen raised an eyebrow; this answer was clearly somewhat unexpected.

The rumors circulating in Changling City about the Jiang family in recent days flashed through his mind.

The eldest daughter of the Jiang family returned home from the Buddhist temple, but the betrothal gifts of the Chu prince, who was originally betrothed to her since childhood, ended up in her sister's courtyard.

He could easily imagine the subtle twists and turns and the situation that Miss Jiang might face after returning home.

He had assumed she would scheme, fight, or simply stand by and watch, but he never expected her to be so decisive and swift in her decision to leave the Jiang family directly.

He looked at Jiang Dusheng, whose expression was as calm as a deep pool, showing neither grievance nor resentment, but only a clear and decisive mind.

A sliver of curiosity quietly grew in his heart, but he ultimately did not ask any further questions.

Everyone has their own path to walk and shackles that must be broken.

"Okay." He nodded in agreement, said no more, and gestured to the waiter waiting outside the door to serve the dishes.

Exquisite dishes were served one after another, filling the air with their aroma.

Although Wang Dazhuang's paper doll body could not actually eat, it smelled the aroma and its drawn face showed an expression of intoxication.

He very consciously picked up his bowl and chopsticks that were placed aside, went to the small tea table next to him, and made a gesture of sucking in the aroma, his posture exaggerated and comical.

Jiang Dusheng only took a few bites before putting down his chopsticks, his gaze fixed on the window, his expression slightly dazed.

"Not to your liking?" Xie Jinchen noticed her unusual expression and asked.

He remembered that he had ordered mostly light and mild dishes.

Jiang Dusheng shook his head, looked away, and spoke in a somewhat lazy tone:

"No. It's just that my appetite inexplicably worsens every time the moon is full. It's okay when I wake up in the morning, but it gets worse after noon."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jinchen paused slightly in his chopsticks.

He looked up at the sky outside the window and suddenly realized, "Today is the fifteenth."

He put down his chopsticks, looked at her somewhat pale face, and said, "Then I'll go over earlier tonight."

He was referring to the previously agreed-upon arrangement that he would spend the night with her on the fifteenth of each month.

Upon hearing this, a genuine smile suddenly appeared on Jiang Dusheng's slightly pale face.

A hint of a smile appeared in those usually overly calm eyes.

She looked at Xie Jinchen with admiration, her tone relaxed, "Not bad, quite perceptive. Knows how to be considerate of your companions."

She tilted her head slightly, looked him up and down as if assessing something, and then slowly added:

"Young Master Xie, judging by your sharp eyes, what if one day you don't want to be this damned young master anymore, dealing with all those red tape and treacherous human relationships..."

The curve of her lips deepened, and she uttered a startling statement: "We might consider... opening the back gate of our Nanchansi Temple for you."

Xie Jinchen: "..."

He probably never imagined that one day someone would so earnestly suggest that he become a monk.

A scene inexplicably flashed through my mind: a green lamp and an ancient Buddha, a scarlet robe replaced by a Buddhist robe; if this face were free of the three thousand strands of hair, and were to strike a wooden fish...

He shook his head and subconsciously twirled the jade prayer beads on his wrist.

"Miss Jiang is too kind," Xie Jinchen coughed lightly, changing the subject. "Since you don't have much of an appetite, would these snacks be alright? Or, should I have someone replace them with some lighter soups?"

Jiang Dusheng shook his head. "No need."

Her gaze swept over Wang Dazhuang, who was already satisfied with his drug use, and she stood up. Her plain white sleeves slipped down, covering her wrists once again.

She said to Xie Jinchen, "It's getting late, I should go back."

Xie Jinchen also stood up. He did not try to stop him, only saying, "I will have the guards drive you back in a carriage."

"Thank you." Jiang Dusheng did not refuse and nodded slightly.

Jiang Mansion.

Under the porch, the butler was already waiting with a bow. Seeing her get out of the car, he immediately stepped forward to greet her respectfully.

"Young Miss, you're back. Master and Madam are waiting for you in the flower hall."

Jiang Dusheng paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the butler's lowered head. He didn't ask any further questions, only saying, "Lead the way."

The atmosphere inside the flower hall was somewhat somber.

Dinner seemed to have just been eaten, as the cups and plates on the table had not yet been completely cleared away.

Upon seeing Jiang Dusheng enter, Song Suya stood up first, forcing a smile, though tinged with caution:

"Dusheng, you're back? Have you had dinner yet? Would you like the kitchen to prepare some more for you?"

Before Jiang Dusheng could answer, Jiang Mao, sitting in the main seat, let out a cold snort, his voice clearly showing displeasure:

"He's never home, always running around outside, what kind of behavior is that?!"