◎Is This Still Your Majesty’s World?◎

“Master Ji!”

Zhang Yiran came to his senses and lunged forward again. The imperial physicians hurried over, and chaos erupted all around.

Li Zong stared in shock at the man on the ground vomiting blood. Zheng Bikui instinctively looked toward Li Guiyu, who simultaneously looked toward Zheng Bikui.

The two men locked eyes briefly. Zheng Bikui hadn’t yet reacted – he couldn’t be certain whether Li Guiyu was behind this, while Li Guiyu also calmed from his initial suspicion of Zheng Bikui. Seeing Zheng Bikui’s expression, he knew this wasn’t Zheng Bikui’s doing.

Then who was it? Was it Jiqing’s own choice? Or…

“Test for poison.”

Li Guiyu came to his senses and immediately stood up. When the imperial physician rushed over, he shouted sternly: “Test it – what poison?!”

“Save him!”

Zhang Yiran roared, crying out emotionally: “Imperial physician, save him first! Please, he must live, he absolutely must live…”

“It’s jimsonweed. First, move him to the side chamber.”

The imperial physician stood up, saying urgently: “Bring silver needles – we’ll try our best!”

The imperial physician led people in applying acupuncture to Jiqing and carried him toward the side hall.

Zhang Yiran hastily stood to follow, but just as he took a step, he heard Zheng Bikui speak: “Minister Zhang, wait!”

Zhang Yiran stopped in his tracks. Zheng Bikui stared at him: “The case isn’t finished yet, and His Majesty hasn’t spoken. Is Minister Zhang planning to leave?”

Zhang Yiran listened, then turned back in disbelief. Looking at Zheng Bikui, he couldn’t help saying: “He’s dying, and you still want to discuss the case with me?”

“He’s just a commoner – if he dies, he dies,” Zheng Bikui sneered coldly. “But you slandered my father, and I’m seeking justice from you. Is that wrong?!”

“He’s a witness – you killed him, and you still want justice!”

Zhang Yiran couldn’t help but roar angrily. Zheng Bikui’s expression turned icy: “Minister Zhang spouts blood again. You say we killed him? How do we know it wasn’t you and the Supervision Department framing us? His family is still with the Supervision Department – perhaps you failed to coerce his testimony and decided to stage this show here, claiming we’re the murderers!”

“You’ve wanted to kill him for more than just today! Why do you think I placed people with the Supervision Department? Because you’ve been hunting him all along!” Zhang Yiran grew agitated, his emotions unstable: “From Jiangnan to the Eastern Capital, you nearly killed me, too. If I didn’t lack evidence, I would have reported you long ago – why wait until today?”

“Since you lack evidence, what are you babbling about?!”

Zheng Bikui flew into a rage, turning to Li Zong: “Your Majesty, please control this mad dog! Drag him away and execute him!”

“Your Majesty!”

Zhang Yiran raised his voice. Li Zong looked up to see the young man before him, with trembling lips, trying to speak but unable to say anything.

He quietly observed Zhang Yiran. After a long while, he finally said: “Jiqing is now poisoned – that will be handled as a separate case. Besides Jiqing, does Minister Zhang have any other evidence to accuse Minister Zheng?”

Besides Jiqing.

But besides Jiqing, what else was there?

Zhang Yiran breathed rapidly, and Li Zong knew the answer.

He nodded slowly: “Then… since that’s the case…”

“Your Majesty,” Zhang Yiran couldn’t help interrupting Li Zong. His eyes glistened with moisture as he said softly: “Could we wait until Master Ji is stable…”

“What if he dies?” Zheng Bikui said coldly. “If he dies, should we wait for him to come back to life? This case has dragged on long enough. These days, all of Great Xia has been discussing it with great commotion. If it drags on further, what about Your Majesty’s reputation? Zhang Yiran, don’t disregard the state’s foundation for your interests.”

“Your Majesty…”

Zhang Yiran only looked at Li Zong upon hearing this. His eyes held pleading as he couldn’t help saying: “I was the top scholar you selected in the eleventh year of Changshun. At that time, you told me I was considered your disciple, and I should serve as a good official for the emperor, the country, and the people.”

Hearing this, Li Zong’s hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. Zhang Yiran’s throat moved as he continued: “I have always remembered this and acted accordingly. Jiqing and I faced several assassination attempts in Yangzhou. Fearing he would be threatened, I requested the Supervision Department’s protection and had his family settled there. To bring him to the Eastern Capital, I traveled in fear the entire way, not daring to use official roads or contact local governments, carefully making our way to the Eastern Capital, only to nearly be assassinated by Young Master Zheng in the suburbs.”

“Zhang Yiran!”

“Let him speak!” Li Zong finally spoke, glaring coldly at Zheng Bikui.

This small show of protection brought tears to Zhang Yiran’s eyes. His voice hoarse and difficult, he said: “We didn’t fall in Jiangnan, didn’t fall on the long road, didn’t fall in the Eastern Capital… yet we fall in the palace, before Your Majesty, at the very moment we were about to identify the culprit! Your Majesty, I am a court official personally appointed by Your Majesty, yet I couldn’t even protect a single witness! Is this still the imperial palace?”

Zhang Yiran couldn’t help laughing: “Is this world still Your Majesty’s world? Is this royal land still the sovereign’s territory?!”

“Zhang Yiran.” Hearing such insolent words, Yang Chun shouted angrily: “Don’t speak so wildly and rudely!”

“Rude? Am I more insolent than the great families? More insolent than those who kill before the throne?!” Zhang Yiran laughed loudly. “Your Majesty, I have no evidence-no, no evidence left! Evidence can be destroyed, witnesses can be killed at will – where would I get evidence?! In a world ruled by clans and great families,” Zhang Yiran’s laughter grew louder, “how dare we mantises try to stop carriages?”

“So you admit you had no evidence and made false accusations?”

Zheng Pingsheng ignored Zhang Yiran’s outburst, only looking calmly toward Li Zong: “Your Majesty, since Minister Zhang cannot produce evidence, please restore this old minister’s reputation and have him arrested for punishment.”

Li Zong looked up toward Zheng Pingsheng upon hearing this.

Zheng Pingsheng quietly met Li Zong’s gaze. Beside them, Song Xichao and Xie Guangcheng exchanged glances. Song Xichao said carefully, “Your Majesty, this old minister believes concluding the case now would be rather hasty. Perhaps we should first have the Imperial Investigation Bureau investigate how Jiqing was poisoned. When Jiqing’s condition stabilizes…”

“Minister Song,” Zheng Pingsheng looked up toward Song Xichao upon hearing this. “I have already waited a month. Not only have I been waiting this month, but the entire realm has been waiting. Each day this case drags on becomes more disadvantageous to Your Majesty. Ending it quickly and giving the people an explanation is what matters.”

These words silenced Song Xichao. Having weathered court politics for many years, how could he not see that today was merely going through the motions?

But looking at Zhang Yiran kneeling on the ground, he remained silent, unable to speak. He glanced at Li Zong beside him, who was deep in thought, and said hesitantly: “Your Majesty…”

“Let this case end here for now,” Li Zong finally spoke, seeming to compromise. He looked up toward Zhang Yiran in the hall below, saying hesitantly: “Zhang Yiran had insufficient evidence yet accused a minister, and was disrespectful before the throne – truly improper. First, imprison him, and we’ll decide his punishment later.”

Guards came forward and dragged Zhang Yiran away.

Song Xichao and Xie Guangcheng exchanged glances, each lost in thought.

“Now that this matter is concluded, Minister Song, Minister Xie,” Li Zong said, looking toward Xie Guangcheng and Song Xichao, nodding: “Thank you both for your trouble. Please return to your duties along with Minister Zheng. Minister Zheng, when the results of Jiqing’s matter are determined,” Li Zong looked toward Zheng Pingsheng, “I’ll have someone notify you.”

Everyone stood and bowed upon hearing this. Li Zong seemed somewhat tired, only saying: “Heng’er stays. Yang Chun, go handle things.”

Xie Heng remained still, glancing at Luo Wanqing, who stood and followed everyone else out.

Everyone exited the imperial study. Zhang Yiran was led away by guards. Before leaving, he glanced at Luo Wanqing, seeming to want to say something, but seeing the people around, he ultimately held back.

Luo Wanqing immediately understood what he wanted to ask and nodded, indicating she would look after Jiqing.

After everyone had gone far, Luo Wanqing stood alone in the corridor, waiting for Xie Heng. She hadn’t been standing long when she heard Li Guiyu’s voice from behind: “Did Miss do this?”

Luo Wanqing turned to look and saw Li Guiyu with his hands tucked in his sleeves. The guards around him had long been dismissed by him. Luo Wanqing ignored him and looked away.

Li Guiyu didn’t leave because of this. He stood beside Luo Wanqing, saying softly, “I initially thought Zheng Bikui had done something foolish again, but then I realized it wasn’t him. Zhang Yiran wouldn’t use human lives to pave his way, so… only Miss remains.”

Li Guiyu turned to look at her: “Did Jiqing confess everything?”

“I don’t understand what Your Highness is saying.”

Luo Wanqing spoke cautiously, urging: “But I advise Your Highness – I am from the Supervision Department. Your Highness shouldn’t converse with me too long.”

“I’m merely curious about Miss’s reason for acting.”

Li Guiyu stared at her, his eyes appraising: “Miss killed Jiqing – was it for me, or Minister Zhang?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned to look at him: “What do you mean?”

“Why did Miss force him to death? Was it to make His Majesty more suspicious of me, or to hope His Majesty would be less suspicious of Minister Zhang?”

“Your Highness, don’t pin what you did on me.” Luo Wanqing listened to his words without her expression changing: “The Supervision Department is only protecting Minister Zhang as ordered – we don’t interfere with cases.”

Li Guiyu looked at the flawless person before him, feeling as if someone were gently tickling his heart with a feather.

He had never known she could reach this level – that girl who used to pull his sleeve and hide behind him could now stand opposite him so calmly and composedly, playing this game.

He couldn’t control himself from focusing all his attention on her. After watching for a long time, he chuckled softly.

“Sometimes I want to clip your wings, but seeing you soar, I think this is also good. Only it’s a pity…”

Li Guiyu’s expression grew somewhat distant: “The world Miss wants to go to has no place for me.”

“You’re wrong.”

Luo Wanqing shook her head upon hearing this. Li Guiyu looked puzzled.

Luo Wanqing looked up at him seriously: “I don’t want to fly to a world without you – I want this world to be without you.”

Li Guiyu listened as if watching a young bird struggling to spread its wings, a faint smile in his eyes.

He nodded slightly in salute, saying with anticipation: “Then I await with interest.”

As they spoke, the imperial study door opened, and Xie Heng emerged. Luo Wanqing immediately went forward, bowing: “Young Master.”

Xie Heng glanced toward Li Guiyu in the distance, nodded to him, then led Luo Wanqing toward the side hall.

After walking a few steps, Luo Wanqing heard Yang Chun’s voice from behind.

“Arrest all the palace servants who had contact with Jiqing today! This official will personally interrogate them!”