The Imperial Daughter, who had always believed that gentlemen’s revenge should not be delayed even three days and never shied away from petty tactics, returned to the hall with a smile.

On her way back, she saw that the dancing girls had all withdrawn. The Emperor on the high seat, having witnessed the earlier scene, seemed to have developed a favorable impression of Murong Yi and had summoned him forward to speak. The two appeared to be conversing quite happily.

The three generations of the Rong family who had hurried over were all apologizing to her. Tie Ci waved her hand with a laugh, saying to Minister Rong: “Your mother has a fierce temperament. After you return, please counsel her more, and convey my apologies on my behalf.”

Minister Rong repeatedly said he wouldn’t dare.

Rong Lushan looked at her deeply.

Knowing someone has a fierce temperament, yet not hesitating to provoke them.

Tie Ci sighed to First Minister Rong: “I don’t know how I offended your esteemed wife, but she seems to harbor hostility toward me. Everything depends on the First Minister’s mediation.”

Rong Lushan looked at her again.

Why the hostility – do you really have no clue?

Granny Gao served by your wife’s side for decades, and you killed her just like that.

Di Yiwei’s army bore the Di name for decades, and you snatched it away just like that.

Imperial Daughter, you’re so hypocritical – does your father know?

But Tie Ci’s words weren’t wrong – he had to mediate. The current imperial family was no longer something the Rong family could manipulate.

Within and outside the Imperial City, even the Three Great Camps, the imperial family was taking back control. Outside there was Di Yiwei’s army.

In the court, the neutral faction was gradually leaning toward the royalist faction, and both the Rong and Xiao factions never lacked opportunistic fence-sitters.

So he couldn’t let Old Madam Rong harbor resentment and do something inappropriate.

After the First Minister and his son apologized again and withdrew, Tie Ci’s conversation with Rong Pu was much more sincere: “Convince your grandmother, and if you can’t convince her, then control her. As long as she doesn’t go too far, I can tolerate some offense – after all, we’ve had our exchanges. But some people can’t be casually offended.”

Rong Pu understood her meaning and agreed very sincerely.

Yang Yixiu watched his retreating figure with a sigh: “Director Rong isn’t having it easy. The Imperial Daughter’s heart was already hard to win, and his family members keep holding him back one by one.”

Tian Wu, gnawing on a lamb leg with juice dripping, said beside him: “Could he have it harder than the Liaodong Prince’s heir? The Rong family’s old madam only said some harsh words, but that Liaodong one wants to kill the Imperial Daughter.”

Yang Yixiu: “…What you say makes so much sense I’m speechless.”

Tian Wu: “Whoever’s crazier wins!”

Tie Ci, hearing from afar: …This can be competitive too?

…

As twilight approached, the banquet was nearing its end. As customary, fireworks would be lit before Chengqian Hall to celebrate. The external ministers and inner court ladies all went outside the hall to watch the fireworks.

Tie Ci walked through the long corridor and stopped at an inconspicuous corner on the west side, waiting a while before Xiao Wenliu came alone.

The two met with smiles, leaning together on the railing to watch the fireworks. A golden line shot straight up to the sky, exploding with a bang and forming a complete golden dragon with scales and all in mid-air.

The golden dragon roamed in the high sky while exclamations and celebrations arose below. Amidst the cheers, Tie Ci asked her: “Did the Xiao family and Prince Zhao blame you last time?”

She was referring to Xiao Wenliu helping her enter the Imperial City – the Xiao family could easily investigate this.

“I said I was coerced by you and managed to fool them,” Xiao Wenliu said. “It’s fine.”

She turned her head, and Tie Ci’s sharp eyes noticed what seemed to be bruising on the side of her neck. This made her frown, and a thought that had been with her surfaced directly: “If you ever want to divorce and encounter obstacles, just come find me.”

Xiao Wenliu was startled, then smiled and shook her head.

“What, can’t bear to part with that boy Tie Lin?”

Tie Ci didn’t think Tie Lin was worthy of Xiao Wenliu, and their married life obviously couldn’t be called harmonious. But this was ultimately Xiao Wenliu’s private matter – she could only provide an escape route but couldn’t interfere too much.

“He’s still a child,” Xiao Wenliu said. “My parents want me to divorce, but grandfather doesn’t agree.”

Prince Zhao had already lost power, yet Xiao Lihu, this profit-driven man, still wouldn’t take back his beloved granddaughter. Did he have some other scheme?

What could a powerless, armyless Prince offer the Xiao family?

But Tie Ci didn’t intend to gather any information from Xiao Wenliu – it wouldn’t be fair to her. Being Prince Zhao’s daughter-in-law and a Xiao family daughter was already difficult enough.

Xiao Wenliu said softly beside her: “Perhaps when Tie Lin grows up a bit more, things will improve.”

“Don’t expect men to grow up on their own, especially some giant babies and wastrels. They can spend their whole lives sucking on pacifiers hiding under tree shade, pushing all difficulties and storms onto women.”

Xiao Wenliu laughed, turning to look at her with bright eyes: “I love listening to Your Highness speak – it’s most interesting.”

Then she said: “But though I enjoy it, I hope Your Highness won’t seek me out for private conversations anymore.”

Tie Ci fell silent.

Growth and positions would eventually push kindred spirits away from each other, growing ever more distant.

And no matter how powerful she was, she was powerless against many things.

Like fate, like time, like hatred that could never be reconciled, like that bright and innocent little girl in her memories who had ultimately become the haggard and distant young woman before her eyes.

Neither spoke, watching fireworks bloom one after another in the night sky – golden dragons roaming, peonies flowering, rivers and mountains stretching thousands of li, the nation peaceful and people secure. This year’s fireworks were more brilliant and magnificent than previous years, five colors in confusion shrouding the entire sky, seemingly reflecting the entire capital in dazzling colors. From the high vantage of the Imperial City, one could see the capital’s roads extending like blood vessels in all directions, hills gently undulating with lakes like mirrors, countless people excitedly streaming into the streets, their eyes like hers reflecting star-flowers like rain and colored silk hanging from heaven.

This was Da Qian’s prosperous and vast territory – how much tears and blood would it take to protect it?

As the fireworks were ending, Xiao Wenliu heard Tie Ci say: “Alright.”

She seemed to want to smile, blinking her eyes, but before her lips could curve up, her lashes were already slightly moist.

…

Beneath the fireworks, Murong Yi left the palace with the troupe of dancers.

He looked up at the fireworks, in a cheerful mood.

Because these fireworks were set off for her to see, and also because he had just received an invitation – not wasting his efforts to infiltrate this dance troupe and perform this dance.

Just as he descended the steps of Chengqian Hall, he was stopped.

A refined-looking official stood before him, bowing politely: “I am Xie Jin, Investigating Censor of the Ministry of Justice. Having witnessed your dance skills in the great hall, I was amazed and desire to make your acquaintance. I have prepared modest wine and food at Zhegui Tower – please honor me with your presence.”

Having taken a fancy to someone, naturally he should invite them for dinner. With his status, making a sincere invitation, this lowly performer surely wouldn’t dare refuse. When wine warmed hearts, good things might happen. If he had a gentle temperament, he could even be brought into the mansion as a book boy – though his wife was jealous, he’d just have to wrongly the beauty a bit and buy more clothes and food…

Within a few sentences, the beautiful future blueprint with the person before him had been arranged clearly.

But Murong Yi seemed not to understand, blinking and pointing at himself: “Me?”

The censor smiled gently: “Naturally, sir.”

“We’ve never met – why invite me to dinner out of nowhere?” Murong Yi looked puzzled.

Seems to be innocent and easy to trick… oh, well-behaved.

The censor’s smile deepened, with the expression of a fox eyeing a chicken: “What they call instant friendship is just this. I’ve already prepared a fine ten-tael banquet at Zhegui Tower, just waiting for you to take your seat.”

Speaking too literary might confuse this lowly person – better be direct.

Sure enough, Murong Yi immediately smiled: “Good!”

This smile dazzled the censor, making his whole body go soft with delight. Overjoyed, he wanted to invite the man into his carriage, but someone came over to block him, saying strangely: “Oh, what’s this about? Young brother, don’t go with just anyone – some people don’t have good intentions.”

The censor saw it was a clerk from the Ministry of War’s Arsenal Department, always a rough fellow who had nearly been drooling over this dancer during the banquet, but was notoriously stingy. He was interested but unwilling to spend money, angry seeing him about to take the person away.

He smiled: “Brother Zhang, you misunderstand. I felt instant friendship with this gentleman and wish to invite him to dine at Zhegui Tower. Why don’t you join us, Brother Zhang?”

Saying “join us,” he gave Zhang a meaningful look, his eyes revealing some ambiguous intent.

Eating together, drinking together – certain good things weren’t impossible to share either. They were all good colleagues.

Though one belonged to the Xiao faction and one to the Rong faction, recently the two factions’ leaders showed signs of breaking the ice, so subordinates might as well build relationships first – drink good wine together, play with beauties together.

Zhang caught the hint and understood, immediately overjoyed. He threw his arm around Xie’s neck, praising: “Loyal enough, good brother!” He reached out to pull Murong Yi: “Get in the carriage, we’re giving you face by accepting, don’t be coy!”

Murong Yi didn’t resist and followed them to a carriage in the square. The square had countless carriages with servants in groups, all waiting to take their masters home.

Before getting in the carriage, Murong Yi glanced toward the shadows.

Those dancing girls stood far away watching, not coming over.

They weren’t part of their troupe anyway, and he had just stolen their thunder – why meddle in this business?

After a while, several young ladies came out of the palace and summoned the troupe to ask questions, learning that Murong Yi had been taken away. The young ladies immediately became anxious and hurriedly told the eunuchs to report to the Imperial Daughter.

They had managed to bring him in to celebrate the Imperial Daughter’s birthday – he was the Imperial Daughter’s person. How could those bastard officials take advantage?

But soon the eunuch returned saying it was fine, telling the young ladies to return home.

The young ladies fell into confusion.

Fine – how was it fine?

Those two officials brought a bunch of servants, clearly planning to use force if gentle means failed. Even if Master Rong knew some martial arts, two fists couldn’t beat four hands, right?

The messenger was Xiao Chongzi, who vaguely knew something of someone’s exploits and snorted with laughter through his nose.

The Imperial Daughter’s original words weren’t like that.

The Imperial Daughter’s original words were: “Prepare quickly, find two suitable people – they can fill the positions of Investigating Censor and Ministry of War Arsenal Department clerk tomorrow!”

…

In the shadows, a group of guards who had been waiting long watched Murong Yi get in the carriage and couldn’t help frowning.

The leader stepped forward quickly, approaching a green sedan at the edge of the square, saying quietly: “Madam, this isn’t going well. This person actually went with Censor Xie and Clerk Zhang – I heard they’re going to Zhegui Tower.”

In the Rong mansion, Old Madam wouldn’t let people call her Old Madam – they had to call her Madam. So much so that Minister Rong’s wife, though also a command wife, could only be called “Mrs.”

Old Madam Rong always rode alone in her sedan – daughters-in-law and other women in the family weren’t worthy of riding with her.

The old woman had already changed clothes, her hair bun once again gleaming on her head, only her white face still ghastly pale. Hearing this, she said coldly: “Then follow to Zhegui Tower and handle it there. Since those two petty officials are so eager, perfect to blame them.”

“Yes.”

The carriage traveled all the way to Zhegui Tower. On the road, the two seemingly dignified officials examined Murong Yi carefully, finding him more wonderful the more they looked – his beauty naturally extraordinary, surpassing even the women they’d seen, yet without feminine airs. His bearing was spirited without being coarse, neat without being hasty, naturally radiant with every beauty perfectly balanced.

Therefore they didn’t dare be too hasty, restraining themselves in the carriage while one showed off literary talent and the other displayed muscles, taking turns competing to court favor.

Murong Yi maintained a slight smile throughout, pulling sunflower seeds from the small table drawer to eat, eyes sparkling with laughter.

He seemed natural and innocent, yet not stupid, making the two increasingly restless. They finally endured until reaching Zhegui Tower, impatiently crowding around Murong Yi as he got out.

When entering the building, both men glanced at their servants, who understood and cleared out customers from neighboring boxes while positioning themselves in the corridor to keep irrelevant people away.

Only three people remained in the box. The waiter quickly brought up all the dishes and hurriedly withdrew, closing the box door as he left.

Though Xie Jin held a minor official position, his family had considerable influence in the capital. Grand Secretary Xie Miao of Wenhua Hall was his cousin, so he had his regular box at Zhegui Tower.

The two sat on either side of Murong Yi without ceremony and began urging him to drink.

They had finished their pleasant words in the carriage and weren’t without thoughts of taking advantage in the carriage’s darkness, but this person was truly clever – every time their hands reached over, he’d either bend to pick something up or lift the curtain to admire scenery, dodging seamlessly while seeming natural. It was impossible to tell if it was intentional.

The two concluded this must be an experienced player.

That was fine – no need to worry about frightening him.

His evasion was just playing hard to get.

Cheap people being coy – better to get him drunk for convenience.

One cup from the left, one from the right.

You take one, I take one.

Whether the other was drunk wasn’t clear, but Xie Jin and Clerk Zhang were nearly drunk.

Xie Jin had originally maintained a scholarly family’s son’s dignity, but now felt light-headed, drunkenly leaning toward Murong Yi with a smile: “Having drunk so much wine with you, sir, I still haven’t asked your honored surname and given name.”

Murong Yi didn’t avoid him: “Me? My surname is Rong.”

“Could you be related to the current First Minister’s family? Any connection?” Xie Jin asked casually, thinking that if there were real connections to the Rong mansion, he wouldn’t have fallen to this state.

“Distant relatives, I suppose. Rong Pu calls me elder brother.”

Xie Jin was stunned. Just then Zhang returned from relieving himself, walking unsteadily and flopping down beside Murong Yi with a bang, propping up half his face and grinning at Murong Yi.

Drunk eyes seeing beauty was like flowers in mist – even more enchanting and alluring. Zhang had a volatile temper and poor self-control. With wine coursing through him, his mouth moved in: “Hey, calling whom brother? This mouth’s sweet as honey – let this big brother smell…”

On the other side, Xie Jin also leaned in asking: “You said your relationship with the Rong mansion…”

Murong Yi suddenly leaned back.

His hands grabbed both men’s hair and brought them together.

“Bang” – two sweaty foreheads collided loudly.

The two instinctively wanted to scream but Murong Yi was quick, stuffing a crab each in their mouths. They made muffled sounds through their throats, faces flushing red, their foreheads visibly swelling.

Murong Yi laughed heartily, easily lifting both men and walking to the inner room. Zhegui Tower’s boxes had inner chambers with screens and couches for drunk guests to rest and drink tea. He threw them onto the couch where they landed in a pile.

Then he raised his hand and extinguished all the lights on the walls.

In the distance on the long street, someone rode swiftly toward them. Seeing the box lights suddenly extinguish, his expression changed and he accelerated.

But it was still too late.

As soon as the lights went out, rustling sounds came from the trees outside the building, and several black shadows pounced out.

The next moment, with a bang, several people smashed through the window into the box. The leader immediately flicked his hand without a word, cold light flashing repeatedly as over ten throwing knives shot out.

Hearing the sound of knives piercing flesh and smelling blood spreading in the air, the black-clothed man’s eyes flashed as he turned to leave.

But he heard light laughter behind him.

Those who had entered the room were thunderstruck, instinctively trying to flee. In the darkness, Murong Yi raised his hand, and crab legs whistled through the air, striking several knee joints precisely.

Several people fell. Murong Yi relit the lamps, tore off their masks – these assassination-minded people naturally wouldn’t carry identifying items. Murong Yi jumped downstairs, searched the trees where they’d come from, not only finding the Rong mansion badges and guard clothing they’d removed beforehand, but also dragging back the Rong mansion guard who’d been keeping watch.

After breaking all their legs, he rolled up his sleeve, knocked over an oil lamp that fell onto curtains and blazed up.

Then he pinched his throat and shrieked: “Help! Room Three in Section A is on fire!”

Wine houses feared fire most. At this cry, everyone in the building was alarmed, and waiters ran desperately with water buckets.

As flames映 from Room Three in Section A, Murong Yi joined all the panicking customers fleeing downstairs and leaving.

In the distance on the street, the guard who’d ridden swiftly saw the flames and knew he was still a step too late, sighing as he turned his horse around.

Someone behind him asked: “Brother, aren’t we saving them? Those are our Rong mansion people inside.”

The lead guard said: “Young Master said if things had already happened, don’t interfere.”

So the guards returned to report to Rong Pu waiting in a carriage on another street.

After hearing the report, Rong Pu remained silent for a long while: “Understood. Let’s go back.”

The carriage turned toward the Rong mansion. Rong Pu lifted the curtain and glanced at the green sedan hidden in shadows across the street.

Was grandmother still waiting for news?

She was destined to wait for no good news.

Earlier at the banquet, he had casually caused some trouble for Murong Yi, intending only to create difficulties and prevent him from causing mischief in the capital that might interfere with the Imperial Daughter.

Moreover, those lechers who could develop lustful thoughts for a dancer in the great hall and personally act with threats and enticements were obviously corrupt officials normally. In that case, using this incident to kick them from court wouldn’t be bad for the Imperial Daughter. If they only had lustful thoughts without acting, naturally nothing would happen. If they acted, whatever consequences followed would be their own doing.

Who knew grandmother would later clash with Murong Yi? He immediately knew this was bad – with grandmother’s temperament, she’d certainly seek revenge afterward. And from his understanding of Murong Yi, this person wouldn’t let those lechers take advantage, nor let grandmother profit. When both matters combined, they might be used against the Rong mansion.

Grandmother had her own guards – old soldiers from the former Di family army who only obeyed her commands. These years no one in the capital dared provoke grandmother, half because of her status as First Minister’s wife, half because everyone knew she had battlefield veterans at her disposal.

But this was useless against Murong Yi.

He’d sent guards to try preventing what would follow – this was his responsibility as a Rong family descendant.

But he’d also told the guards that once things had happened, don’t interfere anymore.

This was his consideration for the greater situation.

The Rong mansion was too powerful, grandfather too power-hungry, grandmother too domineering – their arrogance had grown excessive and needed dampening.

Suffering some setbacks and losses would help them understand times had changed, that they couldn’t act so ruthlessly.

Only by restraining themselves could the imperial family possibly show leniency for his sake in the future.

If they wouldn’t voluntarily restrain themselves, let someone trim them down.

Rong Pu glanced again at the sedan hidden in shadows and Zhegui Tower where the fire was nearly extinguished – but rather than calming with the fire’s end, it grew more chaotic.

So something had indeed happened.

Rong Pu considered, then ordered ink ground. His carriage was equipped with paper and brush, so he wrote a letter directly at the carriage’s small table, handing it to a servant: “Return to the palace, seek audience with the Imperial Daughter’s chief eunuch, and deliver this letter.”

Murong Yi struck ruthlessly – those two lechers certainly couldn’t survive. Tomorrow court would have two important vacant positions. The Investigating Censor controlled public opinion, and the Ministry of War Arsenal Department was called one of the four fattest positions in court – not only lucrative but controlling crucial information like military equipment and soldier records throughout the realm. Previously these two important positions belonged respectively to the Xiao and Rong factions. Now both had incidents simultaneously for such reasons – the Xiao faction couldn’t fill the gap in time, the Rong faction bore responsibility. He had to quickly select suitable candidates for the Imperial Daughter to control both positions.

Watching the servant depart on his mission, the diligent turncoat Rong Pu leaned back comfortably.

Someone wanted to scheme against the Rong mansion? Let them.

Did they think this would make him suffer?

They didn’t know he, Rong Pu, served only as the Imperial Daughter’s loyal minister!