As soon as Qin Shuying’s carriage departed, an inconspicuous black carriage that had been parked in an alley also left.

The black carriage followed Qin Shuying’s carriage at an unhurried pace.

Qin Shuying dismounted twice during her journey—once at a teahouse, and once at a rouge and powder shop.

Finally, on the road not far from the Liang family residence, Qin Shuying’s carriage traveled steadily.

Suddenly, the black carriage behind went mad and charged frantically toward Qin Shuying’s carriage.

Qin Shuying’s carriage was completely unprepared and was immediately sent tumbling end over end. The carriage compartment was violently thrown out, with half of it hanging from the vehicle, spinning several times on the ground before coming to a stop.

The coachman was thrown directly from the carriage shaft, crashed into a nearby family’s courtyard wall, and fell to the ground, causing blood to flow profusely on the ground.

The people in the black carriage knew they had caused a great disaster and fled abandoning their carriage.

People gathered around in small groups, pointing and discussing.

“Isn’t this Earl Pingxi’s carriage? It should be very sturdy—how could it fall apart like this?”

“With the carriage in this state, who knows what happened to the person inside? Why haven’t we heard any sounds?”

“I’m afraid it’s more bad luck than good…”

“Oh my, this is terrible! Look at that coachman with his head bleeding—he’s probably done for!”

“Oh dear, really! Quick, report to the authorities!”

…

Kind-hearted people hurried to report to the Liang family’s main gate, and soon a steward from the Liang family arrived. This steward was quite experienced and methodically directed the Liang family servants to rescue the victims.

The onlookers then learned that the person in the carriage was actually the head mistress of the Liang family—Madam Liang. Madam Liang and her personal maid were unconscious and were finally carried back to the Liang residence by the Liang family’s women servants.

The kind-hearted women and children discussed among themselves: “How pitiful—how long will it take for her to recover!”

“There’s blood on her head—who knows if she’s still alive.”

“That maid protected Madam Liang with her life—she’s truly loyal.”

…

At dusk, upon receiving the news, Liang Zhe immediately rushed home from the garrison post.

However, on the road, he was ambushed by a group of bandits.

Liang Zhe had brought only two attendants and was outnumbered, being cut down by the bandits until he was covered in blood.

Just as he was about to perish, fortunately a caravan of merchants happened to pass by carrying goods. These merchants were righteous people who, seeing the unfair fight of many against few, decided to intervene, ordering their guards to charge forward. The bandits were outnumbered and fled in panic, abandoning Liang Zhe.

That night, news of Liang Zhe’s severe injuries and unconscious state quickly spread throughout the capital.

The incident involving the Liang couple was full of suspicious points. Since Liang Zhe had previously served as Emperor Delong’s personal guard, Emperor Delong specifically appointed Lü Qing to personally investigate the case.

Lü Qing had gained even greater imperial favor due to his success in investigating the Blue Eagles. Having collaborated with Liang Zhe multiple times in investigating the Blue Eagles and Western Barbarian affairs, he had developed some rapport with him, so he was naturally very meticulous in his investigation.

Within just five days, he presented his findings before Emperor Delong.

Lü Qing knelt on the ground, his back already soaked with sweat.

Whether it was due to the heat of late June or because the news in his report was too incredible to believe.

The atmosphere in the imperial study was as ominously oppressive as the aftermath of an earthquake, making one fearful and uneasy. Lü Qing steeled himself and knelt on the ground, trying to minimize his presence as much as possible.

After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Delong said: “Summon Zhao Quansheng for an audience.”

Lü Qing felt the invisible pressure on his shoulders grow several times heavier, almost crushing him.

…

The next day, after Fifth Prince was summoned to the palace, Emperor Delong quickly issued an edict confining him to Fifth Prince’s mansion for three years.

Immediately, a storm swept through the court.

The courtiers all knew that Fifth Prince had angered Emperor Delong. However, Emperor Delong had not, like with Seventh Prince, expelled Fifth Prince from the center of power, but merely confined him for three years.

What exactly did this mean?

And why would Emperor Delong confine Fifth Prince Zhou Li?

One must know that confining Zhou Li was essentially telling people that Zhou Li had lost any possibility of competing for the throne.

Heavy speculation and questions weighed on people’s hearts, yet no one dared discuss them openly. Only in the depths of night would some courtiers’ studies faintly echo with whispered conversations between fathers and sons, or between brothers.

But regardless, Fifth Prince’s mansion gates remained tightly closed. Apart from palace servants and household slaves who occasionally went out for purchases, there was no longer the coming and going of visitors and liveliness of former days.

Fifth Prince’s Mansion.

Fifth Prince gripped a steel whip and brutally lashed a wooden training dummy countless times until he had exhausted all his strength, then collapsed to his knees, letting out low and lonely howls.

He was unwilling to accept it, he couldn’t believe it—that he had been played for a fool by a woman!

That day, Emperor Delong had just issued an edict during morning court for Zhao Quansheng to lead people to thoroughly investigate Duke Chen’s mansion, when in the afternoon someone delivered a message to him saying that the map was deliberately released by Qin Shuying.

Although this message came in a particularly strange manner and clearly had the suspicion of deflecting trouble, Zhou Li, knowing this, immediately had people watch Qin Shuying closely again.

Unexpectedly, the next day he learned that Qin Shuying had gone to Princess Yongjia’s mansion. Zhou Li immediately made his decision—he must ensure that the Qin couple suffered severe damage to vent his anger over two failed night raids!

So he arranged for that black carriage to closely follow Qin Shuying, successfully nearly causing Qin Shuying’s death.

At the same time, he immediately sent people to ambush along the path Liang Zhe must take home, determined to take Liang Zhe’s dog life. Without Liang Zhe’s protection, wouldn’t Qin Shuying be at his mercy!

Liang Zhe was indeed anxious about Qin Shuying’s injuries and traveled through the night to the capital. However, Liang Zhe proved to be incredibly formidable—despite having only three people, he nearly scattered his men and almost escaped.

Fortunately, he had come prepared. When the first group of men was almost completely lost, the second group continued the attack, and they were just a little short of sending Liang Zhe to meet the King of Hell!

But although Liang Zhe remained unconscious, he ultimately didn’t die!

Instead, it was he, Zhou Li, who was found to have connections with Western Barbarian traitors. Twice before he had joined with Western Barbarian traitors to night-raid the Liang family, and this time he had again colluded with Western Barbarian traitors, attempting to kill Liang Zhe.

This was all evidence deliberately spread and fabricated by that ruthless woman Qin Shuying!

How detestable, how detestable!

Even injured as severely as she was, she could still arrange such rumors, swift and decisive, ruthless and merciless!

He must see this woman, see this woman who was colder and harder than stone!

Where exactly had he provoked her that she would be so relentless in trying to destroy him!

His ambitions, his high spirits, his painstaking efforts, his struggles…

All had become a laughingstock!

Therefore, when the palace servants announced that Princess Fuping had come to see him, Zhou Li instinctively roared in fury: “I won’t see her! Tell her to leave!”

His relationship with Princess Fuping was both good and not good.

It was good because they were born of the same mother. It was not good because as he grew older, the vast majority of his attention was focused on his great enterprise—where would he have the mind to care about a sister who was five or six years younger than him?

But without allowing him to refuse, Princess Fuping had already entered on her own: “Imperial Brother!”

Zhou Li took several deep breaths. He wasn’t afraid of his blood sister seeing his wretched state, his fierce expression no longer bearing half the elegant nobility of former days.

“What are you here for?”

Princess Fuping acted as if she couldn’t see Zhou Li’s wretchedness and irritation at all, her voice gentle and her gaze firm: “Imperial Brother, I’ve come to save you, save Mother Consort, and myself as well.”

Zhou Li looked at this delicate and gentle sister, feeling no excitement, only disbelief, making no effort to hide his surprise and doubt: “You?!”