Su Jin and Zhu Nanxian thought they had misheard. Their composed, calm expressions simultaneously revealed a moment of bewilderment.

Seeing their reaction, Yao Youcai thought Duke Shen’s name had finally intimidated them both. He gave a cold laugh and embellished further: “Speaking of those who hold overwhelming power in the current court, only two are worthy—the Chief Grand Secretary who serves as regent, Left Censor-in-Chief Lord Liu, and the Duke who is also a Grand Secretary, Minister of the Ministry of Finance Lord Shen Xi. If Young Master Su and Guardian Nan want to manage Cuiwei Town’s affairs, unless you can summon Chief Grand Secretary Lord Liu, even if you could invite the formerly second-to-none Lord Su Shiyu out of retirement, you still might not be able to deal with me.”

Zhu Nanxian had originally thought that since Yao Youcai committed many evils, if he persisted in being obstinate and obstructive, killing him would be fine. But who knew he would immediately bring up Shen Qingyue, inadvertently causing the hand already gripping his throat to loosen.

It wasn’t that he truly believed Yao Youcai’s various evil deeds were directed by Qingyue, but rather that this person so readily raised up the great Buddha Shen Xi, proving he was a complete fool.

This case had already implicated Shen Xi. The waters ran very deep. Leaving this fool alive might prove useful in clearing Qingyue’s name in the future.

Su Jin thought the same way. She ordered Yao Youcai, “Prepare a carriage.”

Beyond his shock, Yao Youcai felt somewhat alarmed.

He had thought that merely speaking the two words “Shen Xi” would make everything perfectly fine. How could he know these two would still stubbornly persist, determined to rescue the Jiang family father and daughter? It was as if they had swallowed an iron weight—their hearts set on opposing Magistrate Yao to the very end.

He scrutinized Su Jin and Zhu Nanxian again. Just what were these two’s backgrounds?

His life still in others’ hands, the carriage was ultimately prepared. Zhu Nanxian first had Jiang Jiutong and Jiang Yue’er board the carriage. After the two had left for a while, he used yesterday’s method to seize a horse and returned with Su Jin to the Yunlai Inn.

The sky was approaching dusk. Chao Qing was waiting anxiously in the inn’s main hall when he suddenly heard wheels rolling outside. A carriage stopped at the inn entrance—the Jiang family father and daughter had returned. Zhu Nanxian rode fast on horseback, following closely behind the carriage with Su Jin.

The inn had been reserved by the Jiang family. The Jiang family’s guards and Cuiwei Town residents were distributed among various rooms. Hearing the commotion, everyone emerged from their rooms and came to the main hall.

Chao Qing was about to ask Su Jin how things had gone when he looked up and saw her eyes actually carried an extremely rare heavy gloom. Shiyu was always composed—for her to appear this way, she must have encountered something very thorny.

Instead, he found it inappropriate to ask. He silently poured tea for the four of them.

Shuxiang stepped forward first, asking softly, “Young Master Nan, you’re not injured, are you?”

Zhu Nanxian looked toward her. His gaze fell on Yunxi beside her. Meeting his concerned eyes, he shook his head. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

The you hour had passed. Everyone had already eaten dinner. Shuxiang’s heart was entirely concerned for Zhu Nanxian. She added, “Young Master Nan surely hasn’t eaten yet. Xiang will go to the kitchen to prepare some food for you.”

She knew Zhu Nanxian had drifted outside for these three years, long since unconcerned about clothing, food, housing, or travel. But thinking of how he had once been the most honored person under heaven, she couldn’t help but worry, afraid the inn’s cook might slight him. She insisted on personally preparing the meal to feel at ease.

However, upon speaking these words, she realized something was wrong. In the inn, how could Zhu Nanxian be the only one who hadn’t eaten?

Shuxiang added awkwardly, “Xiang will also prepare some food for Young Master Su, Master Jiang, and Miss Jiang.”

Zhu Nanxian nodded slightly. “Thank you for your trouble.”

He and Shuxiang were master and servant. Though separated for years, after meeting again following calamity, their relationship was naturally closer than with others. Though the two were frank about it, in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, this scene took on a different flavor.

When Zhu Nanxian came to the Jiang family years ago, fearing his identity would implicate others, he claimed to be completely alone, without relatives or friends.

Jiang Yue’er knew this matter. Later she told her intimate maid Qin’er, so Qin’er naturally also knew.

Guardian Nan was habitually aloof. Normally even when Miss spoke to him, he never responded much. Yet just now he spoke with Xiang in gentle, warm tones—how could they seem like people who just met?

Thinking further, Nanting never meddled in others’ affairs. But these past few days, he first ventured alone into Cuiwei Mountain to rescue Jiang Ci and Yunxi. Then, hearing that Master Jiang and Xiang’s group had been taken by Magistrate Yao, he pursued alone. Finally, breaking into Prefect Zhang’s residence, to protect Xiang and Yunxi’s departure, he stayed behind alone to cover their retreat, falling into danger. It took a full night to escape and return.

Qin’er naturally didn’t know what Zhu Nanxian actually did that night. After wild speculation, only one certainty remained in her heart—it must be this Wood Xiang. She was born with a seductive appearance, inexplicably bringing along a half-grown child—who knows if he’s even her biological son? Now she’s seduced Guardian Nan, making him refer to her as “family” in just a few short days, gratuitously humiliating Miss. No, she absolutely must vent this grievance for Miss.

“Miss Xiang, I’ll help you.”

Seeing Shuxiang already heading to the kitchen, Qin’er caught up, calling out crisply.

Everyone in the room was weighed down with worries. Who had the leisure to pay attention to the calculations in a small maid’s heart? They let her go.

Everyone was worried and had rushed about all day, extremely exhausted. Chao Qing knew that even if Su Jin had thoughts, she might not be willing to speak before so many people. So he suggested everyone disperse to rest first, then discuss countermeasures together tomorrow morning.

The Yunlai Inn wasn’t large—altogether just ten guest rooms. Zhu Nanxian and Su Jin had shown kindness to Cuiwei Town, so the two best Tianzi rooms were naturally reserved for them.

Chao Qing led Su Jin to Tianzi Room One. For a moment he found it difficult to speak. After a long while he finally said, “Uncle Tian, considering that we two are old friends, told us to share a room, but…” He paused. Having already discerned that Su Jin and Nanting were old acquaintances, but not knowing how much Nanting knew of Su Jin’s identity, he didn’t finish the latter half of his sentence. He only said, “I’ll go squeeze in with Guardian Nan and Hero Tan at night.”

Hearing these words, Tan Zhaolin immediately said, “How can that work?!”

When he first met Zhu Nanxian, he was the Thirteenth Prince. Later he became Crown Prince, His Majesty the Emperor, then the Late Emperor—each rank higher than the last.

But Tan Zhaolin was a rough man. To him, Zhu Nanxian’s identity was actually secondary. Most importantly, as a guard, he hadn’t been able to protect Lord Su back then—His Majesty had traded his life for hers.

He, Old Tan, would remember this debt for his entire lifetime.

The Tianzi room had altogether just one bed. He had already planned to make do on the floor for the night. To suddenly have an uninvited guest—what if they slighted Emperor Jin’an?

He placed his hand on the threshold as a barrier. “I don’t care. Anyway, you definitely can’t sleep in the same room as our Lord, but you also can’t come squeeze in with me and Young Master Nan.”

Chao Qing was somewhat surprised. He looked at Zhu Nanxian more closely.

Actually, he had noticed something wrong long ago. This morning, Tan Zhaolin and Xiang’s kneeling was clearly performed simultaneously upon seeing Nanting, both knees touching the ground together. Today upon returning, whether Xiang or Guard Tan, both showed Nanting exceptional respect. Even Su Jin, when speaking with him, carried respect in her words.

Su Jin had already been a first-rank chief minister back then. What kind of person would she respect?

Chao Qing wanted to ask but felt it inappropriate to voice the question. He stiffened for a moment. Fortunately at this time, Su Jin lowered her eyes and said softly, “No need to trouble. Zhaolin, tonight I’ll switch rooms with you.”

Then she lowered her head and pushed open the door, as if afraid they would scrutinize the meaning in her words. She quickly added, “Let’s not discuss this first. Yunsheng, Zhaolin, I have something to tell you.”

Not to mention Tan Zhaolin—Chao Qing had always been perceptive. The moment Su Jin spoke that sentence, he understood seventy to eighty percent.

In his early years he had liked her, thinking she was the one-of-a-kind woman under heaven. But the word “love” was most mysterious. You think it will ferment and become more mellow, but as years pass, it inexplicably becomes bland and tasteless. Seeing Su Jin again was truly like reuniting with an old friend. The initial flutter was nowhere to be found. He had thought everything from the past had dissipated like wind and smoke, yet just now, glimpsing the rosy glow on Su Jin’s cheeks, his heart surged with countless indescribable feelings. It was as if someone stirred memories with a wine ladle, forcibly bringing out pure vintage aromas—smelling it evoked sadness, but tasting it was like plain water, simply vast and empty.

Yes, he could no longer speak of liking her. A bit of flavor remained in memories, so heartache and heartbreak couldn’t be mentioned—”vast emptiness” was most apt.

Chao Qing smiled self-mockingly. When he came back to his senses, Su Jin had already finished recounting today’s events. He hadn’t listened carefully, but more or less still took it in.

Su Jin continued, “Since I’ve obtained the land deed and Master Jiang’s confession, tonight I’ll go to the reception temple in Baoding Alley to find Qiguang and hand things over to him.”

Chao Qing started. “So urgent?” He added, “You’ve rushed about all day. Better to rest well for the night and deliberate thoroughly tomorrow morning.”

Su Jin shook her head. “There’s no time to delay.”

Some matters were truly inconvenient to mention to Chao Qing.

What worried her most right now was actually Zhu Yushen in Yun-Gui. Moreover, the garrison field New Policy case had already implicated Qingyue. The twists and turns within were truly complex. Officials in the capital, officials in Sichuan-Shu—whether Liu Yun, Qingyue, Shu Wenlan, or even including Zhu Yushen, all were involved. What if Zhu Nanxian and Zhu Lin were dragged in too?

Just regarding the garrison field New Policy—though Yao Youcai was a fool, the person above Yao Youcai, or rather, the person truly hiding behind him, might not be foolish at all. On the contrary, extremely clever. At least, she, Su Shiyu, still couldn’t see clearly what medicine he was selling in his gourd.

She only feared long nights bringing many dreams.

Zhu Nanxian discerned Su Jin’s thoughts. He said, “I’ll accompany you. I’ll wait for you outside the reception temple.”

Given his identity, regardless of which imperial envoy had come, as long as it wasn’t Qingyue, it was best not to let anyone see him—especially whoever was in that black-curtained sedan chair, inscrutable and unfathomable.

Su Jin nodded slightly. She was about to leave together with Zhu Nanxian and Tan Zhaolin when she suddenly heard a scream from downstairs in the inn.

Hearing the sound, Zhu Nanxian’s expression changed instantly. “It’s Lin’er and Shuxiang—”