This chaotic and tumultuous day was exceptionally long—so long that time itself seemed to stop.
In Jingsi Residence, after bathing, Yan Sanhe slowly paced in the courtyard.
“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”
Li Buyan leaned against the window, both eyes barely able to stay open from exhaustion.
Yan Sanhe walked over and rubbed her head. “You sleep first. I need to think about something.”
Li Buyan yawned. “Don’t think too late.”
“Don’t worry!”
Yan Sanhe closed the window for her, then after pacing a few steps in the courtyard, pulled open the gate and headed straight for Shi’an Courtyard.
At Shi’an Courtyard, Pei Xiao and Xie Zhifei were enjoying the cool evening air in the yard.
They’d just received news from the Grand Heir—in three days they’d go see off Ji Lingchuan. Seeing him off was fine, but they worried the Grand Heir would anger the Crown Prince again.
Footsteps.
Both men looked up and froze.
This late, why would he come here?
Xie Buhuo approached, his gaze sweeping over the two wine cups on the small table. After a moment of silence: “Why not have the kitchen prepare some drinking snacks?”
Xie Zhifei smiled, using a tone even more dissolute than his usual dissipation.
“Second Brother isn’t sleeping this late—did you run over here to care for your younger brother?”
“Would Third Brother not welcome me?”
“How could that be?”
Xie Zhifei raised his chin. “Someone, bring a bamboo chair for Second Master, add a wine cup.”
“No need.”
Xie Buhuo’s gaze looked lightly toward Pei Xiao. “I just heard Mingting was staying here. Haven’t seen you in a while—came over to say hello.”
“Oh my heavens!”
Pei Xiao said with a cheeky grin, “Troubling Second Brother to come personally—how improper, how improper. Second Brother, what have you been busy with lately? When are you free to go listen to some songs together?”
Xie Buhuo replied warmly, “I’m free tomorrow.”
“How unfortunate—I’m not free tomorrow.”
Pei Xiao shrugged. “We’ll have to meet another time then!”
This tone—anyone listening would find it quite irritating, completely insincere.
Yet Xie Buhuo remained warm. “Alright then, another time.”
Pei Xiao smiled in agreement twice, then turned around and rolled his eyes: Who the hell wants another time with you!
“It’s late—I’ll be going!”
Xie Buhuo nodded to Xie Zhifei. “Third Brother, sleep early. Mingting, you should also rest soon.”
Xie Zhifei was too lazy to even lift his rear. “Second Brother, take care.”
Only then did Pei Xiao turn back around, using his eyes to ask Third Master: What did he come for?
Xie Zhifei curved his lips: How would I know!
Pei Xiao: Seemed a bit ill-intentioned?
Xie Zhifei: Remove “seemed.”
“Miss Yan, it’s so late—what brings you…”
The eyes of the two men who’d been silently flirting suddenly jumped up, one straightening his slightly disheveled clothing, the other straightening his slightly disheveled clothing.
Yan Sanhe looked at the man before her. “I’m looking for Xie Zhifei about something.”
Xie Buhuo stepped aside. “Go right in. Third Brother and Mingting are enjoying the cool air in the courtyard.”
“Mm!”
Yan Sanhe nodded and passed by him sideways.
Moments later, the courtyard gate slammed shut with a bang, followed by the sound of the bolt being drawn.
Xie Buhuo walked to the corner, turned back to look at the courtyard’s dim yellow lamplight, his gaze becoming very strange.
Like anger, like unwillingness, and deep forbearance.
…
In the courtyard.
Yan Sanhe looked at Xie Zhifei.
“Xu Sheng isn’t just anyone—he’s the only son of the Criminal Justice Ministry Vice Minister. Are you certain you can handle it?”
Xie Zhifei couldn’t quite determine what she meant. “Are you worried about something?”
Yan Sanhe said, “I was involved first, then Xu Sheng was involved. I’m a lone girl of no consequence, but behind me stands the Xie family…”
Pei Xiao interjected, “You’re worried the matter will implicate the Xie family?”
“I’m just giving a reminder.”
Yan Sanhe continued, “Perhaps Third Master and the Xie family aren’t afraid.”
Her voice, neither warm nor cold, transmitted directly into his chest. Xie Zhifei felt his heart soak in warm water—extremely warm and comfortable.
“Don’t worry!” Pei Xiao jutted his chin out. “Either way, there’s me!”
Yan Sanhe glanced at Young Master Pei once but ignored him.
“Xie Zhifei, Li Buyan reported the case at your Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office. I gave my statement there. His case with Xu Sheng is a case, my case is also a case, and the case involving the Xie family behind me is even more so a case.”
Xie Zhifei’s eyes brightened. “You mean…”
“Third Master, have you heard a saying?”
Yan Sanhe turned toward the courtyard gate. As she drew the bolt, she said softly, “The wicked complain first!”
Xie Zhifei’s breathing became rapid, and his originally exhausted body felt as if injected with stimulant—all his energy surged up.
In this world, good people fear bad people, and bad people fear the wicked.
If Xu Sheng insisted the Xie family acted, he’d first have to admit he’d moved against the Xie family’s person.
Two cases, one after another—neither had solid evidence. It came down to whose back was stronger, whose backing more solid.
“Mingting?”
Pei Xiao looked smug. “I know what you’re going to say—stop hiding it, praise away.”
Xie Zhifei turned to look at him. “How did you know I was going to praise her?”
“When your ass goes up, I know what shit you’re about to take. Oh boy, my eye for wives is simply heaven-defying.”
Xie Zhifei ignored this person’s manner and grabbed his hand. “Come on, accompany me to see my father.”
Pei Xiao smiled slyly. “Xie Wushi, when we get to your father, what’s our story?”
“What we’re aggrieved about—we have.”
Xie Zhifei’s dark eyes narrowed with a wicked smile. “Who cut off the little brother—we don’t have!”
…
In the capital’s fifth month, two matters of moderate significance occurred.
One involved the only son of Criminal Justice Ministry Vice Minister Xu Lai, who had his manhood severed by a masked man and became a true eunuch.
This case was originally handled by the Western District Military Commissioner’s Office but somehow ended up with the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, based on Xu Sheng’s description, searched the entire city for a thin, small-statured young man.
The other matter involved Cabinet Minister Xie Daozhi’s newly adopted daughter, who was nearly abducted in broad daylight by criminals.
This case was handled by the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office. The head of the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office was from the Xie family, so to avoid suspicion, he proactively transferred the case to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, based on the victim’s description, searched the entire city for two masked men, one with an injured right hand.
Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Feng Changxiu was driven to distraction by these two cases.
Why?
Because the newly-made eunuch Xu Sheng insisted it was Third Master Xie who’d severed his manhood—but had no solid evidence.
Also because Third Master Xie accused the new eunuch Xu Sheng of instructing his attendants to abduct the Xie family’s adopted daughter—but also had no solid evidence.
Behind the Xu family stood Prince Han.
Behind Third Master Xie stood Lord Pei, and behind Lord Pei stood the Grand Heir and the Crown Prince.
Aiya…
Feng Changxiu felt even his hemorrhoids acting up. He simply shoved both cases in a drawer and adopted a strategy—delay!
What cultivation did Xie Daozhi possess?
No matter how Xu Lai jumped up and down, he remained silent.
The civil and military officials watched three days of good theater with no sympathy for the Xu family’s extinction—rather, they felt hidden worry.
Recalling the recent confiscation of the Ji family…
It seemed Prince Han’s faction could no longer restrain itself and was beginning to stir.
There would be no peaceful days ahead!
Three days later.
Dawn had just broken.
A carriage quietly departed from the Ji residence entrance, passed through the southern city gate, and headed straight for the main road.
After traveling over ten li, the carriage was suddenly stopped.