The night was pitch dark.

In Grand Tutor Manor, when Qi Huaying woke up, she heard Qiangwei beside her telling a maid that Pei Yunying had come to the manor.

Pei Yunying?

Qi Huaying was startled.

With her brother’s corpse still warm, what was he here for?

Qi Huaying threw off her covers and got out of bed, heading straight for the main hall.

In the main hall, Qi Yutai’s coffin was placed in the center. All the lanterns in the manor had been changed to white overnight. When the night wind blew, it created an eerie chill.

Qi Qing sat in his chair, his withered body wrapped in black gauze robes, his expression deathly still. He looked more like a corpse than the person in the coffin.

Footsteps echoed in the silence, particularly clear in the night.

He raised his eyelids, his cloudy old eyes fixing on the person before him. After a long while, he seemed to finally see who it was.

“Marshal Pei,” he said.

Pei Yunying stood still, his gaze sweeping over the coffin in the hall before saying indifferently: “Please accept my condolences, Master Qi.”

The Grand Tutor nodded slightly. His expression showed no grief or sorrow. After a long silence, he spoke calmly: “Just now, the servants said Medical Official Lu came to the manor but was taken away by you.”

“You want to save her?”

Pei Yunying’s eyes turned cold: “You want to kill her?”

The guards at the door became instantly alert, their hands moving to their sword hilts.

Qi Qing raised his hand to stop the guards, then began coughing violently. After coughing several times, he put down the handkerchief from his lips and sighed deeply.

“This is my only son.”

He said: “Pampered and spoiled since childhood, never suffered any grievances. I had hoped he would bring glory to the family, but his talents were mediocre and his fate short.”

Qi Qing looked at Pei Yunying.

The young man before him wore black scale-patterned brocade, heroic and outstanding, like a cold blade in the soft red dust of Shengjing—sharp and deadly.

What a pity he wasn’t his own son.

“Your father has better fortune than me,” he shook his head with a sigh. “Having such an excellent son as you, the Pei family’s future is limitless.”

Pei Yunying said indifferently: “You need not bind me with Duke Zhaoning’s manor.”

“So you would betray the Pei family for a mere female physician?”

Pei Yunying smiled mockingly.

He said contemptuously: “How can there be betrayal when we were never on the same path?”

Qi Qing said nothing, studying him carefully. His aged eyes, though clouded, were suddenly sharp as knives. He suddenly spoke: “Do you already know why your mother died back then?”

The death of Duke Zhaoning’s wife, shot by rebel troops, had happened many years ago.

It was from that time that Pei Yunying had grown estranged from Pei Di—this was a well-known fact.

The insider details from back then were known only to those no longer living. On the surface, Duke Zhaoning had sacrificed his wife to quell the rebellion—merely a choice between righteousness and personal feelings. Pei Yunying’s estrangement from his father was only natural.

However, Qi Qing trusted his instincts more.

Over these years, he had never detected any traces proving Pei Yunying harbored treasonous thoughts. During the royal night banquet, Pei Yunying had protected with his own body and gained imperial trust. Even if this trust wasn’t complete, the Palace Front Division’s position in court couldn’t be easily shaken.

Over the years, Qi Qing had advised Emperor Liang Ming to be wary of Prince Ning, but Prince Ning disguised himself too well. Since Emperor Liang Ming’s ascension, several of the previous emperor’s sons had met with misfortune. Emperor Liang Ming also feared public opinion, which had led to releasing the tiger back to the mountain, allowing that seemingly weak and incompetent Prince Ning to survive.

Failing to eliminate the roots had lost them the initiative. Moreover, he grew older and more decrepit each day, and the Son of Heaven’s heart was gradually slipping from his control. Now even the position of Crown Prince was subject to Emperor Liang Ming’s personal agenda—suppressing the Crown Prince meant suppressing Grand Tutor Manor.

Internal troubles and external threats, ruler and minister estranged—the Qi family was no longer a solid bloc.

And precisely at this time, Yutai had met with misfortune.

“Are you here on behalf of Third Prince to warn this old man?” he asked.

“No.”

Pei Yunying spoke coldly: “I’m here on my own behalf to tell you—don’t touch her.”

He didn’t say the name, but who this “her” referred to was understood between them.

Qi Qing’s expression darkened slightly.

He sneered: “Before Yutai’s incident, he only associated closely with her. She can’t escape involvement.”

“Even if it’s unrelated to her, this woman absolutely cannot be allowed to live.”

The old man spoke slowly: “If I want her dead, what will you do—attack me?”

Hearing this, Pei Yunying actually smiled.

“Grand Tutor is advanced in years. How could I attack an elder?”

He looked up, his eyes bone-chillingly cold, lips curling mockingly: “The Qi family just lost a son, but still has a daughter.”

Qi Qing’s gaze immediately turned fierce: “You dare!”

Pei Yunying smiled and stepped back two paces, his fingertips brushing the long blade at his waist.

“Five years ago at the royal night banquet, the Grand Tutor saw me kill. You might want to test whether your people are faster or my blade is swifter.”

“Touch her, and I’ll kill your… most beloved person.”

His expression was gentle, his smile brilliant, but his eyes were like cold blades and sharp swords, filled with murderous intent.

He wasn’t joking.

Qi Huaying, who had walked to the doorway, immediately turned pale.

During the time she had harbored fantasies about Pei Yunying, she had hoped many times for him to visit the manor. She never expected the first time seeing him at the manor would be such a scene.

Such coldness, sharpness, drawn swords and taut bows.

She pitied herself.

Pei Yunying glanced at her indifferently, that look chilling her to the bone.

Even after he left, Qi Huaying hadn’t recovered from the terror of that glance.

Violent coughing echoed from the hall. Qi Huaying suddenly came to her senses and ran quickly into the room. Qi Qing was coughing severely while clutching his handkerchief. Qi Huaying’s tears immediately flowed: “Father!”

Qi Qing looked at her and closed his eyes.

He had only one son and one daughter.

His son now lay in a coffin.

His daughter had been outstanding since childhood, praised throughout Shengjing for her dignity and propriety, but this propriety meant nothing when storms approached. If he died in the future, who could protect Qi Huaying?

They had reached a dead end.

…

The night was thick as deep ink, with long hours still ahead.

In the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Yuan Zhen hadn’t gone to sleep, pacing back and forth in his room wearing only inner garments.

The Crown Prince’s consort handed him a bowl of hot soup from the side, but Yuan Zhen swept it away with his hand, his expression quite irritated.

He had been under house arrest in the manor for over a month.

Emperor Liang Ming was determined to punish him, strictly forbidding him from leaving the manor. He couldn’t attend the Mid-Autumn night banquet, nor was there any sign of him at the grand ceremony. All the ministers could see Emperor Liang Ming’s intention to change the heir apparent, making Yuan Zhen very anxious.

Father Emperor had never liked him—Yuan Zhen knew this clearly. Compared to himself, Emperor Liang Ming favored Yuan Yao, born to Imperial Consort Chen.

Duke Chen’s faction was gradually growing stronger, which might not be without Emperor Liang Ming’s tacit consent.

Father Emperor wanted to depose the Crown Prince.

Yuan Zhen himself was confused, not knowing when Yuan Yao had reached a position equal to his own. Even if Father Emperor favored him, he himself was the eldest son—what gave Yuan Yao the right?

He gradually began losing his composure. It was Grand Tutor Qi Qing who had always comforted him, telling him not to be impatient. However, last night news came back that Qi Yutai was dead.

Qi Qing’s son Qi Yutai was dead.

Grand Tutor Manor had only one son. Qi Qing supported him for his son’s future, but now the Qi family had no one left to inherit the family business. Whether Qi Qing would still stand on his side, no one could say for certain.

Human hearts were unpredictable.

He suddenly stood up and called for his confidant.

“You, go to Grand Tutor Manor and deliver a message to Qi Qing,” he said.

The confidant was startled: “Crown Prince, those people are watching the Eastern Palace very closely now…”

Emperor Liang Ming was suspicious of him, and the mansion was full of the Son of Heaven’s spies everywhere. Going to Grand Tutor Manor to deliver a message at this time was extremely risky.

Yuan Zhen angrily said: “Go when I tell you to go!”

There was no time left.

He had an intuition that Qi Yutai’s death seemed to herald some kind of beginning. Yuan Yao wouldn’t miss this opportunity. If he couldn’t quickly change his situation, there might never be another chance in the future.

He grabbed his confidant’s collar and spoke urgently.

“Tell him his son is dead, but he still has other Qi family clan members. If Yuan Yao ascends to the throne, when I die, he won’t escape either, and he won’t be able to protect his precious daughter!”

“Tell him to think clearly—live, or die together!”

The Crown Prince stared wide-eyed. The long confinement had made him less composed than before, and even his former arrogance had diminished somewhat, like a madman desperately seeking medical help.

The confidant swallowed his horror and stammered: “Yes…”

…

The night passed with each having their own sleeplessness.

Lu Tong spent this night at the Marshal’s Manor.

Qing Feng and Chi Jian indeed dutifully guarded her, not letting her step one foot outside the Marshal’s Manor.

Pei Yunying also had someone send word to Yin Zheng and Lin Danqing, saying that Xiao Zhufeng had suddenly fallen seriously ill, and Lu Tong was staying at the Marshal’s Manor to treat him, returning in a few days.

Since it concerned the Marshal’s Manor, the Imperial Medical Academy naturally wouldn’t say anything. Yin Zheng came at night to deliver a medical kit. Seeing that Lu Tong was fine, she dismissed her last doubts, only regretting that the lychee kidney braised duck she had bought went cold and ended up entirely in Du Changqing’s stomach. After chattering for a while, she returned to West Street first.

Lu Tong didn’t tell her about these matters either.

One more person knowing would only add to the troubles.

The guards at the Marshal’s Manor were quite enthusiastic toward Lu Tong. Though they didn’t ask why she was staying there, fearing she might be bored, they all competed to chat with Lu Tong to relieve her boredom.

Lu Tong tried to glean some news about Grand Tutor Manor from these people, but whether these guards were tight-lipped or genuinely hadn’t heard any news, the entire morning passed without result.

In the afternoon, however, someone came to the Marshal’s Manor.

The visitor was Chang Jin.

Qing Feng let Chang Jin into the Marshal’s Manor. As soon as he entered, Chang Jin pulled Lu Tong aside to talk.

“Last night I looked for you, and Danqing said you had returned to West Street and would be back early this morning. This morning, she said Vice Commissioner Xiao was seriously ill and you were at the Marshal’s Manor.” At this point, Chang Jin looked around suspiciously: “How come I don’t see Vice Commissioner Xiao?”

“He recovered and went home to rest,” Lu Tong said without changing expression. “What does Medical Administrator want with me?”

Chang Jin looked hurried, as if he had urgent business.

Chang Jin glanced outside and had Lu Tong go inside to talk. This was where Pei Yunying and Xiao Zhufeng handled official documents. With no one there at the moment, Chang Jin pushed Lu Tong inside and closed the door partially.

Lu Tong watched his actions with some confusion.

Chang Jin pulled out a document from his chest and handed it to Lu Tong.

Lu Tong looked at it and was startled.

“This is… the roster of medical officials going to Sunan for plague relief?”

Chang Jin sighed.

“After the Sunan locust disaster, a great epidemic has gradually emerged. The palace is arranging for medical officials to go to Sunan to treat the plague. Originally, I didn’t want to include you.”

“The plague-treating medical officials are mostly senior ones. You’re young and lack experience treating plagues. When you were treating the Qi family’s young master, I didn’t tell you about this, thinking it would be good for you to stay at the Imperial Medical Academy.”

“However, now the Qi family’s young master has met with misfortune.”

Chang Jin looked at her with worry.

“You had past grievances with the Qi family’s young master. Now that he’s died so miserably, though his death has nothing to do with you, Grand Tutor Manor might not refrain from taking their anger out on you. I’ve thought it over—staying in Shengjing would actually be dangerous for you. It would be better to go to Sunan together, temporarily avoiding this place of trouble. After this matter passes and the dust settles, it won’t be too late to return to the capital.”

Lu Tong was stunned.

She hadn’t expected Chang Jin to plan so carefully for her.

Seeing her silence, Chang Jin misunderstood her meaning, thinking she didn’t believe him, and explained: “Medical Official Lu, you originally worked in civilian clinics and aren’t clear about some things. Common medical officials in the imperial city have no backing. Sometimes when patients have incidents, they inevitably become scapegoats.”

“In the past, such things have happened before.”

He sighed: “I’m not being alarmist—I really can’t bear to see you sacrificed for these unrelated matters. The team going to Sunan will depart the day after tomorrow. If you don’t object, I’ll add your name, which can also avoid trouble.”

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: “Young person, removing the fuel from under the cauldron and temporarily avoiding the sharp edge isn’t necessarily a bad strategy.”

Lu Tong gripped the roster in her hand and looked up.

“Medical Administrator helping me like this—aren’t you afraid of bringing trouble?”

Chang Jin was a good-natured person. Since Cui Min’s imprisonment, all the Academy Director’s affairs were temporarily handled by Chang Jin. Adding her name to the roster—if Qi Qing inquired afterward, he would immediately know it was Chang Jin’s idea.

Why offend Grand Tutor Manor for her sake?

Hearing this, Chang Jin smiled embarrassedly.

“Medical Official Lu, actually I went to West Street once.”

Lu Tong was slightly startled.

He said: “After Academy Director Cui’s matter was over, I went to inquire once. Only then did I learn that the consulting physician at Renxin Medical Clinic was actually Vice Academy Director Miao.”

“When I first entered the Imperial Medical Academy, I knew nothing and often failed the clerical assessments. It was Vice Academy Director Miao who lent me his medical books and notes to help me study. Which old-timer at the Imperial Medical Academy hadn’t received kindness from Vice Academy Director Miao back then?”

He smiled: “When I went to West Street, you were at Grand Tutor Manor for treatment and weren’t at the clinic. Vice Academy Director Miao told me you were his benefactor and also his student, asking me to take good care of you at the Imperial Medical Academy and not be too strict with you. He repeatedly urged me not to mention that I had already seen him.”

“No wonder you have such good medical skills—because you have a good teacher.” Chang Jin sighed emotionally. “Vice Academy Director asked me to take care of you, but your medical skills far exceed mine. I have nothing to teach you, and my position isn’t prominent. Now that the Qi family has met with trouble, if I can’t help, wouldn’t I be failing Vice Academy Director’s trust?”

Lu Tong remained silent.

She didn’t know Chang Jin had looked for Miao Liangfang, much less that there was such a connection between them.

“Medical Official Lu,” Chang Jin said seriously, “This is all I can do to help with my full strength. The Qi family has great power in Shengjing, and your situation is dangerous. However, the epidemic in Sunan is severe, and medical officials aren’t completely safe either. Each has their own difficulties. How to choose is up to you.”

“Time is of the essence. I can’t stay long and must return to the Imperial Medical Academy.” He said: “Think it over carefully. When you’ve decided, tell me before noon tomorrow.”

He gave Lu Tong a few more instructions before hurrying away. After he left, two people emerged from under the parasol tree at the Marshal’s Manor entrance.

Xiao Zhufeng glanced at Chang Jin’s departing figure and said: “Your Medical Official Lu has good luck.”

The current situation was already very unfavorable for her, yet at this time there was still a Chang Jin stepping forward to help her—a dramatic turn of events.

Pei Yunying said nothing.

Xiao Zhufeng turned his head: “Reluctant to let her go?” He reminded: “This is her best opportunity.”

“We’ll both be very busy next. With Shengjing in turmoil, her staying here would only create more trouble. Even if you protect her, aren’t you afraid she might impulsively kill her way to Grand Tutor Manor on a rampage?”

Pei Yunying pressed his temples.

Lu Tong wasn’t afraid of death at all.

With her revenge complete, she was determined to die together with Qi Qing to protect everyone behind her. Her resolve to die was too firm, her attitude too decisive—he couldn’t find any way to stop her. Even keeping her locked up at the Marshal’s Manor now could work temporarily but not permanently.

He had originally thought there was nothing in the world that couldn’t be overcome, yet now he was completely helpless against her, like the most difficult piece of wood to place in the wooden tower in his study. No matter what, before her, he was utterly defeated.

After a long while, he said: “I’m just worried.”

How severe the epidemic situation in Sunan really was couldn’t be discerned from just a few sentences in documents.

“Her medical skills are among the best at the Imperial Medical Academy, and she’s better at killing than others. Ten men wouldn’t be her match. What are you worrying about?”

Xiao Zhufeng was displeased. “Instead of worrying about her, you’d better worry more about yourself. Maybe when she returns from Sunan, she’ll just be in time to collect your corpse, and perhaps she’ll even avenge you, giving her motivation to live a few more years.”

Hearing this, Pei Yunying smiled slightly and said indifferently: “Forget it. If I died, seeing her running around and wearing herself out for me, I’d probably have no peace even in the underworld.”

Xiao Zhufeng was speechless.

The two were silent for a while before Xiao Zhufeng spoke: “However, she might not necessarily go to Sunan. She herself left the Lu family during the great epidemic year in Changwu County. Going to Sunan would inevitably bring back painful memories.”

People generally don’t want to face painful memories.

Pei Yunying’s gaze flickered slightly.

He actually didn’t know how Lu Tong would choose either.

He hoped she would stay in Shengjing where he could watch over and protect her, yet feared that staying in Shengjing would only make this stubborn person once again walk toward the abyss without looking back.

A dilemma.

Just as he was thinking, footsteps came from behind. The two turned to see Lu Tong walking out from inside.

She immediately spotted the two under the tree in the courtyard and walked directly toward Pei Yunying.

Xiao Zhufeng silently turned away and quickly left.

Lu Tong stopped in front of Pei Yunying.

Under the parasol tree, the ground was covered with yellow leaves. Beneath the bare, fallen branches, the two stood facing each other.

Wind blew past, and a fallen leaf landed in her hair. He reached up and gently brushed it away for her.

Lu Tong’s gaze moved slightly as she looked up directly at him.

“The Marshal needn’t keep me confined,” she said. “The manor guards are quite tired too.”

Pei Yunying looked down at Lu Tong, seeing her extend her hand and hold up a blue-covered document before his eyes.

“I’m going to Sunan,” she said.