Yan Sanhe: “Which two theories?”

Han Xu: “The first theory is that Lu Shi was injured in that area—he’s a eunuch.”

Xie Zhifei had also mentioned this before.

Yan Sanhe pressed on, “When was he injured?”

Han Xu: “Reportedly as a child. Someone pushed him from a persimmon tree, and that thing was torn. Both fell out, but only one could be put back.”

Yan Sanhe: “…”

Li Buyan: “…”

How could there be a man in this world who became a eunuch because of a persimmon tree?

Yan Sanhe: “What’s the other theory?”

Han Xu enunciated each word: “He’s a cut-sleeve.”

“He actually likes men?”

Li Buyan was so shocked she stood up, then plopped back down: Heavens, this is the most explosive topic I’ve heard in all my years.

Yan Sanhe: “Rumors aren’t necessarily reliable. There are many cut-sleeves in this world, and it hasn’t prevented them from marrying wives, having children, and continuing their family lines.”

“Right!”

Li Buyan felt Yan Sanhe’s cold water was very reasonable. “Among the three forms of unfilial behavior, having no descendants is the worst. This Lu Shi having no wife or children means he’s ended his line, doesn’t it?”

“So the truth may not be as such.”

Yan Sanhe looked at Han Xu. “Fort Master Han, what else did you discover?”

“Nothing more. Apart from attending court, leaving office, investigating and trying cases, he has virtually no other activities, and doesn’t socialize with colleagues.”

Han Xu’s expression showed some apology. “There’s truly nothing more to discover.”

“This is already very good.”

Yan Sanhe: “Buyan, have Tangyuan set out dinner. Fort Master Han…”

“No need to trouble yourself.”

Han Xu stood up. “I still have matters to attend to. Later, after you finish resolving this heart demon, come find me at the postal station and we’ll talk properly.”

Yan Sanhe’s mind was full of concerns and had no appetite for dinner. “I won’t keep you, but I will definitely come find you.”

“Good!”

“Buyan, see him off for me…”

“Don’t see me off, I know the way.”

Han Xu walked to Li Buyan’s side and, just as she had tapped his head earlier, also tapped a few times. “I’m leaving. Thanks for the noodles.”

Li Buyan muttered, “Thanking me for one bowl of noodles—are you stupid, Fort Master Han?”

Han Xu tapped her once more and turned to leave.

“Miss Yan, Miss Yan.”

Zhu Qing came flying into the courtyard. Seeing a man walk out of the study, he was startled while quickly sizing him up.

Who’s this?

As they passed each other, Han Xu’s peripheral vision swept over.

Zhu Qing only felt this person’s gaze was sharp, looking somewhat like a martial artist’s eyes, radiating spirit and energy.

“Miss is in the study.”

At this moment, Li Buyan stood at the door, inviting Zhu Qing in.

Zhu Qing hurried in, lowering his voice. “Third Master sent me to tell Miss that Lu Shi still hasn’t emerged from the palace.”

Not good!

Though Yan Sanhe was shocked, her mind turned extremely fast. “Is it just him who hasn’t come out, or has no one come out?”

“He and several Cabinet ministers.”

“What else did Third Master say?”

“Third Master said the situation might not be good. To prevent complications, he asks Miss to quickly think of a solution.”

Again, their thoughts aligned.

Yan Sanhe: “Where is Third Master now?”

…

Where was Third Master now?

Riding his horse around aimlessly near several palace gates.

Lamps had been lit throughout the capital, yet all the Cabinet ministers were still detained in the palace—clearly the situation was extremely serious.

He wasn’t worried about Father, but about that person—what if in the end they carried out a corpse from the palace? That would be truly disastrous.

“Third Master?”

Huang Qi followed behind him on horseback, looking melancholy. “Why hasn’t my master come out yet? Nothing’s happened to him, has it?”

Xie Zhifei was already annoyed enough. Hearing this, he felt his head would go bald from worry.

Ever since that night Mingting entered the palace, he’d stayed inside without coming out again.

While worrying about Lu Shi, he also felt anxious for this fellow.

“Mingting, oh Mingting, are you dead, or have you been possessed by Imperial Consort Li’s ghost?”

Xie Zhifei ground his teeth. “If you don’t come out soon, I’ll go dig up your family’s ancestral graves.”

“Third Master, Third Master!”

A guard came running, looking up. “Young Master Pei has come out.”

He really scared him out?

“Where is he?”

“He’s already heading straight for…”

Before the words finished, the guard felt two shadows flash before his eyes. Where was Third Master? There was only the gradually fading sound of hoofbeats.

…

In the study, the lamps burned brightly.

Six people gathered together again. No one spoke first—they all just looked at Young Master Pei with sympathetic eyes.

Young Master Pei’s beard was scruffy, his hair disheveled in a bird’s nest state, with eye bags hanging down as if from excessive indulgence, nearly reaching the corners of his mouth.

This still wasn’t the most serious part.

Most serious was the strange smell of smoke and fire permeating his entire body.

Xie Zhifei took a deep breath: “Ugh—”

Young Master Pei’s eyeballs bulged out, looking at Xie Zhifei like he was seeing his father’s murderer.

“Couldn’t hold it in.” Xie Zhifei patted his shoulder apologetically.

“Get lost!”

That one word released half of Young Master Pei’s resentment. Shaking off the ghostly claw on his shoulder released the other half.

“Yan Sanhe, Li Xing’s fortune is connected to Yan Ruxian. Both his sons secretly call Yan Ruxian godfather. Yan Ruxian has two exquisite concubines who were presented by the two sons of the Li family.”

“Anything else?”

“Li Xing also lived in Tang Qiling’s rear courtyard for a year or two. I heard he was later driven out.”

These words made Yan Sanhe’s spirit jolt, her gaze shifting to meet Xie Zhifei’s.

Xie Zhifei nodded slightly to her.

Yan Sanhe took a deep breath. “Young Master Pei, anything else?”

“Also…”

Young Master Pei scratched his hair. “When I was in the toilet, I heard two old eunuchs say sneakily, ‘Retribution has come.’ Don’t know if that counts.”

“It counts.” Yan Sanhe’s words rang with finality.

Young Master Pei’s face showed such excitement—it wasn’t in vain that he’d endured these two days and nights. “Let’s go find Lu Shi right now.”

Huang Qi: “Master, Lu Shi is in the palace.”

Li Buyan: “He’s forcing the Emperor to issue a self-criticism edict.”

Zhu Qing: “He still hasn’t been released!”

What?

What?

What?

Like a basin of cold water poured over his head, drenching Young Master Pei’s heart not just with shock but with chill.

He stared blankly at Yan Sanhe. “Then, what do we do now?”

“Don’t panic yet.”

Yan Sanhe calmed him. “I’ve also discovered Lu Shi’s past. Listen to me first, then after hearing it we’ll discuss the next step.”

“I’ll speak.”

Li Buyan clearly knew that Yan Sanhe had a hard battle ahead and didn’t want her to waste words, so she recounted everything heard from Han Xu.

The study fell silent once again.

After a long while, Xie Zhifei recovered from his shock. “Yan Sanhe, what do we do next? You tell us.”

“Easier said than done.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him. “I need to see Lu Shi.”

In the study, not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

If this had been said yesterday, there might have been some hope. With the three masters Zhu Qing, Li Buyan, and Huang Qi, they could have tried scaling the walls of the Lu Estate.

But now…

“Young Master Pei.”

Li Buyan suddenly called out. “How high would you estimate the palace walls are? How many Imperial Guards are there…”

“You, you, what do you want to do?”

Young Master Pei’s scalp exploded.