Jiang Luzhong was still unconvinced but didn’t dare to act rashly again.

Wei Yuan spoke leisurely, “The reason he’s under Yang Yan’s command isn’t because of Yang Yan, but because of Li Yuchun.”

Li Yuchun?

The three Golden Gong bearers were even more confused. Li Yuchun was just a minor Silver Gong bearer. He was talented, but his personality was rigid and inflexible, stubbornly adhering to rules.

Could it be that Li Yuchun had some deep connection with Xu Qi An? Jiang Luzhong speculated inwardly.

Wei Yuan explained unhurriedly, “Li Yuchun can test Xu Qi An’s character, and Xu Qi An needs a rigid personality as his leader. If it were any other Silver Gong bearer, they would have conflicts with him.”

Li Yuchun couldn’t tolerate any misconduct, making him perfect for guiding and advising Xu Qi An. Given Xu Qi An’s nature and ideals revealed in the Heart Questioning Gate, he wouldn’t thrive under any other Silver Gong bearer.

It might even lead to trouble.

Seeing the three pondering expressions, Wei Yuan said gently, “So, how did you come to notice this golden talent?”

Jiang Luzhong didn’t conceal anything: “Marquis Pingyuan’s case is quite tricky. Based on current clues, it’s likely a revenge act by someone from the jianghu. But the perpetrator has long fled, making it extremely difficult to track them down. Since Xu Qi An is skilled at solving cases, I thought of transferring him under my command to work for me.”

This reason was sensible, and the three Wei family members nodded.

Jiang Luzhong continued, “But what caught my attention was another matter.”

Yang Yan immediately looked over.

“On the night Marquis Pingyuan was killed, I brought some aura readers from the Celestial Inspection Bureau to track the culprit. When they saw Xu Qi An, they became extremely excited and insisted on talking to him.”

“As soon as they met, they bowed respectfully. When have the white-robed officials of the Celestial Inspection Bureau ever been so polite to a martial artist?”

Jiang Luzhong shook his head and continued, “Upon inquiry, my subordinate Silver Gong bearer learned that this man has deep connections with the alchemists of the Celestial Inspection Bureau.”

“Deep connections with the Celestial Inspection Bureau’s alchemists?” The delicate Nangong Qianrou seemed to recall something and snorted:

“I remember in the tax silver case, he used alchemy to create fake silver, solving the mystery. Pleasing the white-robed officials of the Celestial Inspection Bureau with alchemy is indeed clever. However, the Celestial Inspection Bureau’s practitioners have always looked down on martial artists. This lad sure knows how to be flexible.”

Yang Yan frowned.

He was the type of martial artist who looked down on everything, viewing practitioners of various systems as insects, believing this was the necessary attitude for high-ranking martial artists.

Despising everything to be fearless of anything.

If Xu Qi An was indeed flattering and currying favor with the Celestial Inspection Bureau’s practitioners, Yang Yan would have to lower his evaluation and impression of him.

“No, it’s not like that,” Jiang Luzhong sighed, refuting, “Those aura readers were extremely respectful towards him as if they wanted to please him. They even said that Minister Song of the Celestial Inspection Bureau referred to Xu Qi An as ‘my teacher.'”

“Nonsense!” Nangong Qianrou didn’t believe it.

Minister Song was the personal disciple of the Bureau Chief. How could he say such a thing, placing the Bureau Chief in an awkward position?

Yang Yan remained silent but also didn’t believe it.

Wei Yuan seemed lost in thought.

…

Xu Qi An finished his street patrol and returned to the Night Watchmen’s Office. As usual, he wrote a report and then left after his shift ended.

Today was his day off, but instead of going home, he headed towards the Imperial Entertainment Bureau.

For a man his age, with vigorous vitality, it was the time when desires were strongest, and he could hardly contain the restlessness within him every day.

To use a more vivid metaphor: Every day, he couldn’t stop thinking about Shen Gongbao.

Today, there was no tea gathering at the Yingmei Pavilion. The patrons listened to music and watched dances. Fuxiang made one appearance, and the guests were satisfied.

The imperial examination is really good; the real bigwigs don’t come to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau anymore… Xu Qi An was invited to drink tea as usual.

In the bedroom heated by a charcoal fire, Fuxiang, wearing an elegant long dress, lowered her head to play the zither. She was poised and graceful, with the air of a well-bred young lady.

She’s quite reserved today, not serving me a bath with her bosom half-exposed… Xu Qi An sat in the bathtub, enjoying the service of the maid.

Xu Qi An gazed at the beauty through the screen.

She happened to look up and smiled charmingly, suddenly exuding a myriad of allure.

That intangible and indescribable seduction made Young Master Xu feel a rush of heat.

It was just for a moment, and that indescribable feeling disappeared. Xu Qi An thought he might have seen wrong through the screen.

The next morning, when Xu Qi An woke up and looked at the water clock beside the bed, he found it was two quarters past Chen hour. He had rarely overslept.

Fuxiang’s sleeping posture was languid, her black hair covering her beautiful face. She was like a lush peony flower that had endured a stormy night, with flower branches trembling under the impact and flower buds being battered by raindrops.

This morning, she looked a bit wilted, needing sleep to recover her spirit.

After washing up with the maid’s assistance and having breakfast, Fuxiang’s chief maid shyly said, “Young Master is strong, but the young lady is after all a delicate woman. I hope Young Master can be gentle.”

Before Xu Qi An could answer, she blushed and said bashfully, “Pingr is willing to share the burden for the young lady.”

It’s not about whether you’re willing or not, it’s about whether I want to or not.

Xu Qi An examined the chief maid’s appearance. She was pretty, but compared to Fuxiang, there was a world of difference.

…

He took the horse from the hands of the Imperial Entertainment Bureau’s “service staff” and mounted it. Suddenly, he heard hearty laughter.

Looking towards the sound, he saw several men wearing Imperial Blade Guard uniforms walking towards the stable together.

One of them had a square face and a tall figure – it was none other than Second Uncle Xu.

Xu Pingzhi, having spent a night of pleasure at the Imperial Entertainment Bureau with his colleagues, was laughing and talking as they approached the stable. There, they saw a handsome young man sitting high on horseback, wearing a Night Watchman’s uniform with a bronze gong on his chest and a sword at his waist.

“…” Second Uncle’s hearty laughter got stuck in his throat.

Uncle and nephew stared at each other in silence. At this moment, silence spoke louder than words, like a silver vase suddenly shattering and spilling its contents.

After a few seconds, both uncle and nephew turned their heads, pretending not to know each other.

The few junior officers of the Imperial Blade Guard didn’t notice, still chatting contentedly:

“I wonder how many officials’ family members will be sent to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau during this year’s imperial examination.”

“We’re in for a treat, haha!”

“Come to think of it, it’s hard to even get a glimpse of Miss Fuxiang now.”

“Fuxiang is now famous throughout the capital, and her reputation will soon spread to other regions. Her status is rising rapidly.”

“But last night, Miss Fuxiang was entertaining a guest. When we passed by Yingmei Pavilion just now, the young eunuch was taking down the sign from the courtyard gate.”

“What good fortune indeed.”

Second Uncle unconsciously looked at Xu Qi An, thinking to himself that the object of their envy and jealousy was his nephew.

Pretending not to know each other, uncle and nephew left the Imperial Entertainment Bureau. Xu Pingzhi and his colleagues bid farewell at the alley outside, and then he spurred his horse to catch up with Xu Qi An, saying in a low voice, “Ning Yan…”

“Second Uncle, you’re despicable!” Xu Qi An righteously and indignantly said, “Aunt is such a beautiful woman who married you, yet you don’t cherish her and come to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau to fool around.”

Aunt was too beautiful, so much so that Uncle always felt blessed by heaven to have married such a beautiful wife.

Mainly because in this era, marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers. If it were Xu Qi An in his previous life, such exquisite seafood would only be enjoyed by the upper echelons of society.

Xu Pingzhi opened his mouth, then said helplessly, “In three more days, it will be the day of His Majesty’s ancestral worship. There will be more social engagements during this period. Don’t tell your aunt…”

“So Second Uncle’s previous claims of not going to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau were lies,” Xu Qi An added another blow, finally asking, “What did Second Uncle want to say to me?”

“Nothing, nothing really,” Second Uncle gave up the idea of lecturing his nephew.

Xu Qi An, who had taken the initiative, nodded slightly.

As they approached the Xu residence, Second Uncle, probably feeling guilty, spotted someone selling green tangerines nearby and turned his head to say, “I’ll go buy a few tangerines. Wait for me here.”

…Xu Qi An was suddenly taken advantage of and couldn’t refute. He nodded helplessly.

On the way, Xu Pingzhi peeled a tangerine and deliberately rubbed the tangerine peel juice on himself.

An old hand at visiting brothels… Xu Qi An inwardly admired, saying, “Second Uncle, don’t throw away the peel, give it to me.”

While handing over the tangerine, Second Uncle curiously asked, “But you don’t need it.”

I’m hiding it from your wife, you’re hiding it from your daughter!

After rubbing themselves with the tangerine peel, they entered the residence.

Aunt smelled the scent on the two of them and frowned in disgust, her delicate eyebrows knitting together.

“I just bought these tangerines. They’re fresh and sweet,” Second Uncle handed over the peeled but uneaten tangerine.

Aunt nodded, her jade-like fingers peeling off a segment and eating it. Then, with an expressionless face, she handed it to Second Uncle.

Seeing his wife sharing, Second Uncle also peeled off a segment and ate it, then passed it to Xu Qi An with a blank expression.

It’s quite heartwarming that everyone shares one tangerine… Xu Qi An smiled as he took it, ate a segment, and then passed it to Xu Yingyue.

Xu Yingyue also ate a segment and then called over Xu Lingyin, who was running around the hall amusing herself.

Xu Lingyin took the tangerine, her short fingers peeled off two segments, and stuffed them into her mouth. In an instant, her little face scrunched up, wincing from the sourness.

The little bean continued to eat the tangerine with a grimacing face.

The whole family felt relieved and handed the entire bag of tangerines to Xu Lingyin to deal with.