The Crown Prince’s condolence visit cast an indescribable, inexplicable meaning over Xie Daozhi’s death. Those with keen senses also detected stirrings in the deep waters.

Xie Daozhi held a cabinet position and was responsible for other duties as well, all important posts.

With his death, those positions were vacant. Who would rise to fill them?

The Xie family’s eldest son was at the Hanlin Academy, the Xie family’s third son was at the Military Command. With their father’s death, three years of mourning was unavoidable. One turnip, one hole—who would fill these two positions?

Xie Zhifei hadn’t followed his elder brother to greet the Crown Prince, but at the Crown Prince’s hint, had no choice but to see him off for a stretch.

Zhao Yishi looked at Xie Zhifei’s thin, pale profile, his eyes full of heartache.

“I can neither grieve nor sorrow for you. Your health isn’t good—you must take care.”

Xie Zhifei nodded silently.

Zhao Yishi stopped walking. “Don’t worry about the future. As long as I’m here, the Xie family will prosper.”

Xie Zhifei hadn’t thought that far ahead, but was still warmed by these brief words.

“Huairen…”

The moment he spoke, his voice choked. Hearing this, Zhao Huairen’s heart ached. His hand touched Xie Zhifei’s back, gently rubbing a few times, like an elder brother patiently comforting his younger brother.

“I’ve heard that the Yellow Springs Road and Ghost Gate Pass are extremely yin, extremely cold places. I don’t know if those few clothes he’s wearing block the wind or resist the cold?”

Zhao Huairen’s eyes filled with tears at these words. Unable to hold back any longer, his hand pressed down lightly, pressing Xie Zhifei’s head onto his shoulder.

This intimacy startled those standing nearby watching secretly.

With one Xie Daozhi dead, the Xie family’s foundation couldn’t collapse at all. Look—the Crown Prince treats Third Master so well. In the future when the Crown Prince ascends, the Xie family’s wealth and glory will only rise higher!

Seeing the guest off to the gate, watching the Crown Prince’s carriage depart, Xie Zhifei turned to go back inside.

After climbing a few steps, his legs somehow went soft. A large hand reached out to steady him.

Xie Zhifei’s gaze slowly turned over, his voice low and pressed into his hoarse throat. “Why did you come?”

Zhu Qing looked anxiously at Third Master, then took out the pouch. “Miss Yan asked me to deliver this to you.”

Xie Zhifei accepted the pouch and squeezed it. “When did she come?”

Zhu Qing: “Just now.”

Xie Zhifei wiped his face, murmuring, “I didn’t even see her.”

“She also has a message for me to tell you. She said she doesn’t manage accounts, so from now on all accounts are given to you to manage.”

Xie Zhifei froze for a moment, then turned his head away, his Adam’s apple trembling lightly.

After resolving the heart demons of the Zhu family and the crows, he went to Muli Mountain to fetch Yan Sanhe.

To coax her, he deliberately gambled with Mingyue, Shan Er-yi, and the others. All the silver he won went to Yan Sanhe for safekeeping, and he shamelessly said this was his future marriage money.

Now she was returning the silver and saying such words—she was telling him:

You still have me!

As if a shattered heart was being pieced back together, as if a wandering soul had found a home again.

Xie Zhifei looked at Zhu Qing, looked for a long while, then said hoarsely, “Go help in the mourning hall.”

Zhu Qing first habitually responded with “Mm,” then was slightly stunned, then tears flowed down, and finally his throat couldn’t suppress the sobbing sounds.

In this moment, his wandering soul also finally found a home.

…

The Crown Prince’s carriage didn’t return to Duanmu Palace but headed straight for the imperial palace.

The new Emperor had just finished bathing and sat before a bronze mirror with a memorial in hand, allowing the palace attendants to comb his hair.

It was the height of summer and his body was fat. Just sitting there, he sweated profusely.

The dragon robe was particularly thick, the collar fastened so tightly no air could pass. After one morning court session, his inner garment was already soaked through. Without bathing, the smell on his body was strong.

“Your Majesty, there’s a white hair—this old slave will pluck it for you.”

The new Emperor’s gaze shifted from the memorial. “Bring it here for me to see.”

A white hair fell into his palm.

The new Emperor looked at it for a long while, then suddenly laughed coldly. “I recall, Minister Xie isn’t yet fifty?”

“In a few more months he’ll reach fifty.”

The new Emperor snorted coldly. His hand turned over and the white hair silently fell to the ground. “What difference is there between people and this white hair? When it becomes an eyesore, it must be plucked.”

As the words fell, someone outside reported.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince waits outside the hall.”

The new Emperor tossed aside the memorial and said flatly, “Invite him in!”

Zhao Yishi entered the hall, saluted the Emperor, and after waiting a long time without being told to rise, couldn’t help but look up.

The new Emperor stared at him coldly. “I heard the Crown Prince went to pay respects at the Xie family?”

“Yes!”

“How strange—why would Minister Xie die, Crown Prince?”

Zhao Yishi had originally wanted to conceal it, but by now it clearly couldn’t be hidden. He could only steel himself and say:

“Minister Xie felt guilty toward the Zheng family, guilty toward the old general, which is why he…”

“Guilty?”

The new Emperor’s tone seemed quite surprised. “…Where is his guilt?”

Zhao Yishi: “He feared Your Majesty would repeat the deposed Crown Prince’s fate, so he sacrificed the Zheng family and General Zheng to preserve Your Majesty’s position as Crown Prince back then.”

The new Emperor raised his long brows and immediately responded, “And preserved your position as Crown Grandson.”

Zhao Yishi only felt his chest was stifled to the extreme. He laughed coldly in his heart and said, “Yes!”

“Then should he be considered a loyal minister or a traitorous minister?”

The new Emperor’s tone was stern. “Should I reward him or punish him?”

Zhao Yishi bowed his body down. “Whether loyal or traitorous, whether reward or punishment—all is at Your Majesty’s discretion.”

“I decide?”

The new Emperor suddenly flew into a rage, grabbing the memorial and hurling it at the person on the ground. “Can I decide for you, Crown Prince?”

Zhao Yishi’s whole body trembled. Gritting his teeth, he raised his head and said:

“Since you cannot, then please grant Minister Xie the title of loyal minister. Without him, there would probably be no us—father and son—today.”

The new Emperor hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to speak so transparently. His expression changed.

But Zhao Yishi didn’t stop.

“The late Emperor taught your son: in conducting oneself, one cannot forget one’s roots. Toward benefactors, repay kindness. Toward enemies, repay enmity. One must not make the close grieve while enemies rejoice!”

The new Emperor, angered to the extreme, instead laughed.

“Is the Crown Prince bringing up the late Emperor to teach me how to conduct myself?”

“Your son dares not.”

A trace of tears flashed in Zhao Yishi’s eyes as he bit out word by word, “Your son only wishes to beseech Your Majesty, to beseech Your Majesty to fulfill Minister Xie’s loyal heart.”

Having said this, he bowed deeply down again.

The new Emperor’s sharp gaze fell on the Crown Prince’s back, but he swallowed all his rage down his throat.

After a long while, he laughed coldly.

“Since the Crown Prince has said that Minister Xie preserved my position as Crown Prince back then—that is kindness—naturally I must fulfill his loyal heart.”

Zhao Yishi raised his head, a trace of joy appearing on his face.

“But the Crown Prince concealed and didn’t report Minister Xie’s scheming against the old general. Publicly, this disregards court laws. Privately, it shows no respect for elders. This warrants severe punishment.”

The new Emperor looked at him with distaste.

“The Crown Prince is fined half a year’s salary to rebuild the collapsed walls of the Zheng family estate, as absolution for the late Emperor’s sake.”

The joy gradually faded.

“Yes!”

“After rebuilding, the Crown Prince shall guard the imperial mausoleum for half a year.”

Zhao Yishi looked at the Emperor in disbelief.

The Emperor pushed out each word. “To seek absolution before the ancestors on my behalf as well!”

—

Yesterday was all about bad luck.

Went to the hospital for treatment, came out to pouring rain. Finally when the rain lessened a bit, the electric scooter was waterlogged and wouldn’t start.

Waited half an hour for rescue—they never came. Had to push the bike in the rain looking for a repair shop, pushed for several kilometers before finding a small shop. Exhausted me completely. Half the day was wasted on this ordeal. Had no choice but to request leave and skip an update.