The night was dark, with thick clouds obscuring the moonlight.

In the quiet, long alley of West Street, the clashing sound of blade tips rang out.

Lu Tong pulled Yinzheng back to the medical clinic’s entrance, where two figures were locked in combat outside the door. The assailant hiding at the entrance was no match for the other person, losing after just a few exchanges. He was kicked in the chest and had a long sword pressed against his neck.

The man wearing guard’s clothing turned his head, revealing a somewhat serious face, and asked Lu Tong, “Miss Lu, are you hurt?”

Lu Tong shook her head.

Yinzheng, still shaken from the ambush, was startled to hear the man address Lu Tong as “Miss Lu” and looked at him in surprise: “Miss… you know this person?”

Lu Tong glanced at the subdued assailant on the ground and said, “Let’s talk inside.”

The clinic door was closed, and the man in black was dragged into the small courtyard.

As Yinzheng stood there perplexed and about to speak, she saw Lu Tong pull out a small bottle from her sleeve, walk up to the man, bend down to grip his jaw and force-feed him the entire contents.

This action startled both the guard and Yinzheng.

Afterward, Lu Tong withdrew her hand and casually tossed the empty bottle into the bamboo basket in the courtyard.

Yinzheng swallowed and, looking at the person on the ground, quietly asked Lu Tong, “Miss, are you going to kill him?”

The guard beside them heard this and gave Yinzheng a shocked look.

Lu Tong said, “It’s just some muscle-relaxing powder, to prevent him from killing himself.”

Yinzheng nodded, then catching the guard’s strange look, suddenly realized her inappropriate comment and hurriedly added stiffly, “I was just joking earlier. We’re a medical clinic that saves lives, how could we possibly kill people… But what’s going on here?”

Lu Tong looked down.

In the pitch-black courtyard, the assailant was also dressed in black, almost merging with the night. He was a stranger with fierce eyes glaring at Lu Tong, clearly a vicious criminal.

The knife he had used to attack Lu Tong lay on the ground. Lu Tong went over to pick it up, slowly running her finger along the blade’s back, speaking calmly.

“He came to kill me.”

“Breaking into a private residence, attempting murder… right here in the capital under the Emperor’s feet, such a brazen criminal,” she pondered, then her eyes brightened, “Ah, the murderer of that corpse on Wangchun Mountain hasn’t been found yet, perhaps it was him.”

The guard beside her seemed to want to speak but held back.

The man in black sneered, “Stop wasting breath, if you’re going to kill me, get it over with!”

Lu Tong smiled gently, shaking her head, “We at the medical clinic cannot carry out private executions. Dangerous individuals should naturally be handed over to the authorities.”

She secured the knife: “Report it to the officials, Yinzheng.”

…

The Prince’s mansion was quiet.

The baby’s full-month celebration had ended, the guests had departed, and the post-feast emptiness seemed even more desolate than usual. Pei Yunxi sat inside, tucking in little Baozhu’s blanket. Just as she was about to have the wet nurse take the little girl to bed, Fangzi lifted the door curtain and said softly, “My lady, the heir has arrived.”

Pei Yunxi looked up to see Pei Yunying following behind Fangzi.

He had come from outside, his robes carrying the autumn night’s chill. He set down his sword and walked to Pei Yunxi, glancing at Baozhu.

Baozhu was sleeping sweetly in the wet nurse’s arms. The month-old girl did nothing but eat and sleep, a sight that brought smiles to people’s faces.

Pei Yunying lowered his voice: “Is she asleep?”

Pei Yunxi beckoned, signaling the wet nurse to take Baozhu inside. Then she looked at Pei Yunying, shaking her head: “Why did you suddenly come?”

Pei Yunying sighed, sat down at the small table, and while pouring tea said, “It’s my niece’s full-month celebration, how could I, as her uncle, miss it? I was just delayed on the way.”

Pei Yunxi looked at the person before her, hesitating to speak.

Today at the celebration, Pei Di from the Zhaoning household had also come. She wasn’t sure if Pei Yunying had stayed away because of this – he had never been patient with those Pei family members.

Pei Yunying smiled and asked, “What is it?”

Pei Yunxi pushed aside her thoughts and pretended to complain: “Today at the celebration, several ladies were quietly asking me about you. I guess there were fewer people truly looking at Baozhu than there were looking at you. It’s a pity you weren’t there. By the way…” Suddenly remembering something, Pei Yunxi asked in a low voice, “I heard from the Prince earlier that the Empress Dowager intends to arrange a marriage for you, is there any progress?”

Pei Yunying lowered his head to drink tea, smiling: “Where did such baseless rumors come from?”

“If Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has such intentions, that would be good. You’re not young anymore, it’s time to think about these matters.”

But he showed little concern: “What’s your hurry?”

“Of course I’m anxious!” Pei Yunxi glared at him, “Today while chatting with Doctor Lu, I learned that even she is already engaged. You’re four years older than her – she has a fiancé, what do you have? Not even a sweetheart. Only that dog in your Imperial Guard is female, and even she’s already being pursued by other dogs!”

Pei Yunying couldn’t help but laugh: “How can you compare me to a dog?”

“Even dogs are more sensible than you!”

Pei Yunying: “…”

Pei Yunxi looked at the young man before her, a flash of worry crossing her eyes.

She wasn’t anxious about Pei Yunying’s marriage. With his outstanding appearance and promising future, such a talented young man had no shortage of people wanting to form marriage alliances. But as he gained more imperial favor and rose higher in position, his marriage would become less and less his own choice. Now that the Empress Dowager showed signs of wanting to arrange his marriage if he waited a few more years, there really would be no chance to make his own decision, just like her own situation…

She didn’t want Pei Yunying to follow her old path. Moreover, the current Pei Yunying was like a sword without a scabbard, too sharp and likely to harm himself. If he had someone he cared for, perhaps he would leave some room for maneuver in his actions, which would be better for him.

Pei Yunxi softened her tone, “Aying, tell your sister, what kind of girl do you actually like? The Chief Censor’s eldest legitimate daughter is a great beauty, and her mother asked me about you today. I’ve met that young lady, she’s like a heavenly fairy, truly graceful in every way…”

Pei Yunying pinched his brow, his tone helpless: “There are so many beautiful ladies in the world, I can’t like them all, can I?”

“Then what kind do you like?”

Pei Yunxi had an expression that suggested she wouldn’t give up until she got an answer. Pei Yunying thought for a moment, “Smart ones, I suppose.”

“Smart ones?” Pei Yunxi’s eyes lit up, “The second daughter of the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Assembled Worthies is extremely talented, she could compose poetry at age five, very smart indeed, what about…”

“I don’t even like poetry.”

Seeing his distracted manner, Pei Yunxi grew angry: “Did you come here so late just to annoy me?”

“Not at all,” Pei Yunying said seriously, “I came to bring a gift, so Baozhu won’t say I’m stingy.”

Pei Yunxi looked at his empty hands: “Where’s the gift?”

Just as Pei Yunying was about to speak, the guard Chijian’s voice came from outside: “Master, we’ve caught the person.”

Pei Yunxi was startled and looked at him suspiciously.

“See,” Pei Yunying smiled, “Here comes the gift.”

…

In front of the military patrol station at the entrance of the capital’s alleys, several patrol soldiers stopped an old woman carrying a pole at the door, buying several bowls of spicy lung soup and squatting at the entrance to eat heartily.

It was nearly early winter, and the weather was getting colder day by day. By nighttime, the patrol soldiers got hungry quickly. The spicy lung soup was extremely hot, and after one bowl, their stomachs would feel warm.

Shen Fengying was leaning against the pillar at the patrol station’s entrance, just putting the last piece of the spicy lung in his mouth, when he saw several people approaching.

Leading them was a man who was holding another man in black clothes. The man in black was bound hand and foot, being half-dragged, half-pushed forward by the first man. Behind these two was a young lady. These three people walked through the busy alleys, attracting countless glances. Seeing that they were heading towards the patrol station, Shen Fengying hurriedly swallowed the spicy lung in his mouth, but unexpectedly choked on the oil and started coughing.

The patrol soldiers quickly went to get his water bag. Shen Fengying drank nearly half the bag before finally stopping the spicy sensation in his throat. When he looked up, the three people had already reached him.

He didn’t recognize either of the men, but the lady walking behind them seemed somewhat familiar. Before Shen Fengying could speak, the lady looked at him and said: “Official Shen.”

As soon as she spoke, Shen Fengying suddenly remembered, pointing at the person before him: “You’re that… Mountain Green!”

Heaven have mercy, he still remembered this person. Last month after the capital’s imperial examination case, he received a report saying that a small medical clinic on West Street had killed and buried someone. At the time, Shen Fengying had been eager to make a big case of it, hoping to add to his achievements and reach the peak of his career, but after searching the clinic for half a night, they only found half a dead pig.

A dead pig, not a dead person!

At that time, Shen Fengying’s enthusiasm had been thoroughly doused.

That wasn’t all – who knows whether to call him lucky or unlucky – before he could even figure out the situation, he received another report: a male corpse had been discovered on Wangchun Mountain, with an Imperial Guard pouch on it.

To make matters worse, the Imperial Guard Commander Pei Yunying happened to be right in front of him at the time.

At that moment, Shen Fengying felt his career would probably end right there.

That Commander had gone with him to Wangchun Mountain, and faced with such a compromising situation, Shen Fengying couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. After several attempts to probe, he still couldn’t understand his intentions and had to continue investigating reluctantly. Fortunately, following the investigation, they couldn’t convict the Imperial Guard based on just one pouch, so the case was temporarily suspended.

When he returned to the patrol station, his superior who had rushed over upon hearing the news gave him a severe scolding. Well, after all this pointless trouble with nothing to show for it, forget about promotion – having offended the Imperial Guard, it would be strange if his superior didn’t take it out on him.

Just as Shen Fengying had gradually calmed his emotions over these days, seeing that female doctor now made all his grievances surge up again.

He cleared his throat and pushed through the crowd to approach them: “What’s going on here?”

“I am Doctor Lu Tong from Renxin Medical Clinic,” the female doctor said. “Tonight someone broke into my clinic attempting murder but was subdued. Since this involves life, we specifically brought the assailant before you, sir.”

Shen Fengying’s heart stirred.

The person on the ground was bound with ropes, and dressed in night-stalking clothes. Hearing this, he didn’t argue, just glared viciously – not a good person.

Shen Fengying walked around this person twice, then looked suspiciously at Lu Tong: “Why isn’t he moving?”

The man wasn’t even struggling, appearing completely resigned to his fate.

“Fearing he might kill himself, I gave him some powder from our clinic. Once taken, it causes weakness in the limbs, making it easier for you to question him, sir.”

Though it sounded reasonable, due to the previous pig head incident, Shen Fengying remained cautious about anything Lu Tong said. Not daring to make hasty judgments, he pondered for a moment before calling to the patrol soldiers: “Bring him inside.”

The patrol soldiers escorted the man on the ground into the station.

Late at night, there weren’t many people in the patrol station, as most soldiers were out on patrol. The capital was mostly peaceful, aside from occasional fires, and the patrol soldiers usually just caught the odd thief.

Shen Fengying entered the room and turned around to see the man beside Lu Tong. The man was tall, wearing gray guard’s clothing, with a bearing, unlike ordinary guards. He looked at the person on the ground, then at the man, and cautiously asked: “Were you the one who subdued the assailant?”

The man nodded.

Shen Fengying sat down in the chair in the center of the room and turned to Lu Tong: “Tell me what happened tonight.”

Lu Tong said: “After the clinic closed today, I was retiring to my room with my maid when suddenly we heard someone knocking at the door. When I got up to open it, this person tried to attack me with a knife. Thankfully, this brave man stepped in, caught the criminal, and saved my life…”

“Wait,” Shen Fengying frowned, eyeing the guard, “It’s so late, how did this brave man happen to be there just in time to save you?”

After speaking, he gave Lu Tong a contemptuous look – what decent people would be together, a lone man and woman, in the dead of night?

Hearing this, the guard said: “I am Qingfeng, a close guard of Commander Pei of the Imperial Guard. Today Doctor Lu went to the Prince’s mansion and left her medical box there. The Princess Consort ordered me to return it. I had just arrived at the clinic when I saw the villain attacking.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Fengying jumped up as if his backside was on fire, barely able to speak properly, “The-the Prince’s mansion? What was Doctor Lu doing at the Prince’s mansion?”

Lu Tong answered softly: “The Princess Consort and I got along well, and she specially invited me to attend the young miss’s full-month celebration.”

Shen Fengying felt as if struck by lightning.

The last time he saw this female doctor, she and Pei Yunying were at odds, showing clear hostility. How had she become an honored guest at the Prince’s mansion in just over a month?

How had she climbed into the Prince’s social circle faster than he, a patrol station leader, could get promoted?

Suppressing the sourness and jealousy in his heart, Shen Fengying walked to the person on the ground, kicked him lightly, and said: “Speak! Who are you, and why did you try to assassinate Doctor Lu?”

The patrol station rarely handled major cases, and Shen Fengying’s interrogation manner was very awkward, causing both Lu Tong and Qingfeng to wear complex expressions.

A patrol soldier beside him asked: “Sir, should we hand him over to the Criminal Court?”

“Hand over what? What do you know!” Shen Fengying scolded outwardly, while inwardly pondering. This matter didn’t seem simple at all. Lu Tong was just an ordinary female doctor – the criminal attempting murder right away couldn’t be for money, but speaking of revenge, what grudges could a doctor have?

With the previous lesson in mind, Shen Fengying was especially cautious about every report, afraid of becoming a scapegoat again.

While deep in thought, he suddenly heard the patrol soldiers outside causing a commotion. Shen Fengying impatiently raised his head: “What’s all the noise? Don’t disturb my thinking.”

The next moment, someone spoke: “It seems Official Shen has already found some clues.”

Shen Fengying was startled and quickly turned around to see a young man lifting the curtain to enter.

“…Commander Pei?”

Pei Yunying carried a silver sword, smiling as he walked into the room, glancing at Lu Tong and Qingfeng: “So you arrived early.”

“Sir, this is…” Shen Fengying’s heart pounded – why had Pei Yunying come too?

Lu Tong spoke up: “Because this matter was serious, Master Qingfeng had someone inform Commander Pei. I didn’t expect the Commander would come personally…” She paused before continuing: “Perhaps the Commander thought this person might be the murderer from the Wangchun Mountain case, and that’s why he’s taking such interest.”

Pei Yunying raised his eyebrows slightly, not contradicting her.

Hearing this, Shen Fengying became nervous, “You’re saying this person is the murderer from the Wangchun Mountain case?”

Good heavens, it was because of that person that he had been blamed by his superior. If this was the criminal and he fell into his hands, wouldn’t that be sweet revenge?

Lu Tong nodded slightly: “It’s just my speculation.”

Shen Fengying looked down at the person on the ground. No matter what others said, this person remained silent, appearing completely indifferent, except for a moment of tension when Pei Yunying entered, which was quickly concealed.

“Speak! Why did you attack? Was the Wangchun Mountain case you’re doing?” Shen Fengying kicked him, threatening inexpertly: “If you don’t tell the truth, you’ll face severe punishment!”

The person on the ground remained unmoved, and Pei Yunying laughed softly.

He said: “Official Shen, you won’t get anything this way.”

Shen Fengying wiped his sweat and offered the chair in the room, smiling ingratiatingly: “Please instruct me, Commander Pei.”

Pei Yunying sat in the chair, thought for a moment, and spoke seriously: “I shouldn’t interfere with this matter normally. But the Wangchun Mountain case involves the Imperial Guard’s reputation, so I can’t ignore it.”

Shen Fengying: “Yes, yes, yes.”

Pei Yunying continued: “Before coming, I had Qingfeng search for this person and investigate his background. Official Shen won’t mind my involvement, will you?”

“How could I?” Shen Fengying smiled sweeter than flowers, “Sir, you’ve helped the patrol station enormously. I’m nothing but grateful.”

He had figured it out – Pei Yunying was determined to take this case. Coming here was just to go through the proper channels at the petrol station, making it appear more legitimate.

But why did he need to go through the patrol station at all?

Pei Yunying stared at the person on the ground, his eyes smiling, expression friendly and gentle, looking like just a handsome young official who was easy to talk to, yet his gaze carried a hint of coldness.

He said: “Wang Shan, it’s so late, your wife and children must be asleep by now.”

At the words “Wang Shan,” the person on the ground’s face quickly turned pale, and his body started to shake violently.

The young man looked at him with what seemed like pity, yet also deeper coldness.

He said: “How about we invite them from Huaihua Street now?”

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk!”

The next moment, the person on the ground cried out.

Shen Fengying was shocked.

This person who had just appeared ready to die rather than submit, had his mouth pried open by just two sentences from Pei Yunying. He had heard storytellers say that such assassins wouldn’t reveal a single word even if beaten half to death – this person had no backbone at all.

But in such a short time, how had Pei Yunying already investigated the person’s entire family history? Was he some kind of demon? And being so thoroughly prepared, what was it all for?

The person on the ground said: “I didn’t kill the person on Wangchun Mountain.”

Pei Yunying made a sound of acknowledgment: “Who ordered you to assassinate Doctor Lu?”

For some reason, Shen Fengying felt something was wrong, but it was too late to stop it.

“It was Consort Meng!” The person gritted his teeth and looked up: “It was Consort Meng from the Prince’s mansion!”