According to the materials submitted by the neighboring county magistrate, this land enclosure was illegal, several lawsuits showed favoritism, not to mention the accounting between various mining operations and kiln owners. These were several major government-licensed private kilns that had to contribute a portion of their output to the state. It was said that Huang Tianba took money from kiln owners and under-reported the production quantities from various mines, thus reducing state tax revenue.

The group first needed to investigate whether Huang Tianba had any discrepancies from the official records, then they would need to visit among the people for thorough investigation.

Li Zhaoting remained humble and respectful, seemingly completely indifferent to Yan Da’s earlier contempt. He bowed politely, “Minister Yan, Minister Gao, take your time. Zhaoting will return shortly.”

Quan Feitong didn’t try to keep them either, smiling, “See you at the inn then.”

In the Great Zhou system, prefectural government offices generally established inns nearby for visiting officials to stay.

Gu Shuangcheng asked with a smile, “How did Senior Brother Quan come here too?”

This was asking why he had come to Minshan so openly.

Quan Feitong raised his eyebrows and replied casually, “Oh, I suddenly remembered I haven’t taken leave for most of the year. Though His Majesty values me and has me coordinate with Grand Tutor Wei’s residence and the two princes to handle court affairs, with no major issues in court and the Grand Tutor presiding, I took some leisure time. I thought Minshan’s scenery was beautiful, and Magistrate Huang and I are old friends, so I came to stay for a few days, enjoy the mountains and waters. Speaking of which, you and I also have fate—your senior brother also just arrived today.”

Yan Da, hearing this coordinated performance, knew it was intentionally provocative. Though Lian Yu had long instructed that Quan Feitong would surely move the battlefield here, he had never imagined him appearing so openly in Huang Tianba’s residence. When he entered earlier, Quan Feitong hadn’t tried to avoid him either—such boldness made his face even more livid with anger, and he left in a huff.

Gao Chaoyi, having already pledged loyalty to Lian Yu, naturally shouldn’t linger. He looked at Li Zhaoting with hidden wariness and followed Yan Da out.

That Huang Tianba was a person who knew when to advance and retreat. Thinking the three from Quan Feitong’s side had matters to discuss, he smiled and personally escorted Yan Da and Gao Chaoyi out.

Only then did Li Zhaoting frown slightly and say to Shuangcheng, “How did you come here? This undoubtedly goes against Lian Yu’s wishes, and you shouldn’t have spoken provocatively to Yan Da earlier.”

Shuangcheng said softly, “I was too bored there, and soon I’ll have to return to the palace…”

Li Zhaoting sighed. He couldn’t really scold her to begin with, and hearing her dejected tone, he couldn’t say the reproachful words.

Quan Feitong sipped his tea and said leisurely, “Don’t blame Shuangcheng anymore. She came because she missed you. Fine, I won’t stay long. You two should tour this residence well and have some private conversation. The pavilions and courtyards here are built quite nicely. Since I came here to ‘sightsee’ with no official business, I’ll stay in Magistrate Huang’s residence to avoid the annoyance of seeing that old Yan.”

“Zhaoting, after you and Shuangcheng meet, ask the servants here to take you to my quarters. Shuangcheng should consider whether to stay here with me—Zhaoting has duties and must lodge at the inn, though visiting here is convenient.”

His eyes glinted with mischief as he finished his instructions and left.

Shuangcheng naturally understood that the two would have secret matters to discuss later. Though she was concerned about Lian Yu, she had proper relationships with Quan Feitong and Li Zhaoting as fellow disciples. Unless absolutely necessary, she disdained spying on their secrets to report to Lian Yu. She bowed in thanks.

Li Zhaoting smiled slightly and reached out to take Shuangcheng’s hand, “Shall we walk in the garden?”

Shuangcheng was startled and stepped aside to avoid him. Li Zhaoting’s hand hanging at his side clenched slightly, but he still smiled calmly and walked out first.

The two walked to the depths of the flower garden. Even bold and composed as Shuangcheng was, remembering the earlier awkwardness, she felt uneasy. After saying a few words, she pretended to laugh, “Though I wanted to chat with Senior Brother to relieve boredom, Senior Brother has official duties and needn’t accompany Shuangcheng. Go quickly to Senior Brother Quan—he’s definitely not here for sightseeing but to help you.”

Li Zhaoting had been listening to her with a smile, but the words “Senior Brother” truly made his heart sink. Though he was extremely patient and appeared gentle as jade, making people feel like a spring breeze, this was ultimately just surface appearance. His gaze deepened as he suddenly grasped her wrist.

Shuangcheng was startled and heard him say in a slightly heavy voice, “Shuangcheng, I’m willing to wait for you—first because I can’t give you anything now, second because I know you have someone in your heart. But please don’t take Li Zhaoting for a fool. You fundamentally don’t want to spend time with me. Did you really come here to relieve palace boredom? No. Though I don’t know why Lian Yu clearly favors you yet left you alone in the suburbs, you came here obviously to anger him.”

Shuangcheng’s face couldn’t help but pale. She had never seen him like this. The great scholar Tingyu praised this young man highly, and she had long known he was no less capable than Quan Feitong. She also greatly admired him—if she hadn’t already given her heart to Lian Yu, she truly couldn’t have abandoned him. But… she hadn’t expected the gentle and refined him to be so perceptive. She stepped back, “Shuangcheng is tired and will retire first. I’ll meet with Senior Brother again later.”

She walked quickly with some panic, but her arm suddenly ached as she was pulled forcefully into an embrace.

She turned in shock to meet Li Zhaoting’s deep, burning gaze. He stared at her intently, then suddenly lowered his head to kiss her lips—Shuangcheng’s heart and soul were in chaos as she said tremblingly, “Zhaoting… don’t…”

Li Zhaoting then slowly released her and said flatly, “Shuangcheng, are you finally willing to call my name?”

Shuangcheng couldn’t help but smile bitterly, slightly shocked, and bit her lip.

In the distance on a small path, a man watching the two pulled at the corner of his mouth. Someone walked up behind him and laughed, “What, has the big brother who’s always been like an immortal, unattached to mortal emotions, also developed feelings for mortal love?”

The one called big brother was indeed Quan Feitong who had just left, and the only person who could address him this way was that famous general from the capital—Chao Huang.

This man had also secretly arrived here.

Quan Feitong’s eyes showed light, amused expression, “Yo, a woman in this world who could move my heart hasn’t been born yet.”

As he said this, a smiling face vaguely flashed through his mind.

Of course, at this moment, he didn’t think much about it, just casually patted his sworn brother’s shoulder, his tone as lazily casual as always, “Chao Huang, I’ve cast a big net this time. What do you think we’ll catch in the end?”