The night was dark and heavy, with thick clouds covering the moonlight.

In the quiet long alley of West Street, the sound of blade tips clashing rang clearly in the ears.

Lu Tong pulled Yin Zheng back to the medical clinic entrance as two figures fought continuously outside the door. The attacker who had been hiding by the entrance was clearly no match for the other person. After just a few exchanges, he was defeated, kicked in the chest, and had a long sword held across his throat.

The man in guard attire turned his head, revealing a somewhat stern face, and asked Lu Tong: “Miss Lu, are you injured?”

Lu Tong shook her head.

Yin Zheng hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of being attacked. Hearing the man call Lu Tong “Miss Lu,” she looked at him in astonishment: “Miss, do you know this person?”

Lu Tong glanced at the subdued assailant on the ground: “Let’s go inside to talk.”

The medical clinic door was closed, and the black-clothed man was dragged by the guard into the small courtyard.

Yin Zheng looked suspicious and was about to speak when she saw Lu Tong take out a small bottle from her sleeve, walk to the man, bend down to pinch his chin, and forcibly pour the entire contents down his throat.

This action stunned both the guard and Yin Zheng.

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

Yin Zheng swallowed and looked at the man on the ground, asking Lu Tong quietly: “Miss, are you going to kill him?”

The guard beside them looked at Yin Zheng in shock upon hearing this.

Lu Tong said: “Just some muscle-weakening powder, to prevent him from harming himself.”

Yin Zheng nodded, then noticed the guard’s strange look and realized her slip of tongue. She hastily added stiffly: “I was just joking earlier. We’re a medical clinic that treats patients and saves lives—how could we kill people… But what exactly is going on here?”

Lu Tong looked down.

In the dark courtyard, the attacker was also dressed in black, almost blending with the night. He was a stranger with a fierce glint in his eyes as he glared at Lu Tong—clearly a desperate criminal.

The knife he had used to attack Lu Tong lay on the ground. Lu Tong walked over, picked up the blade, and slowly ran her finger along the back of the knife, her tone calm.

“He came to kill me.”

“Breaking into a private residence, attempting murder… Under the emperor’s feet in the capital, such a vicious criminal appears,” she thought for a moment, her eyes brightening, “Ah, the murderer of that corpse on Wangchun Mountain still hasn’t been found—perhaps it was him.”

The guard beside her wanted to speak but hesitated.

The black-clothed man sneered: “Stop your damn chatter—if you’re going to kill or torture me, make it quick!”

Lu Tong smiled gently and shook her head slightly: “We at the medical clinic cannot engage in private punishment. Dangerous people should naturally be handed over to the authorities.”

She put away the knife: “Report to the officials, Yin Zheng.”

…

The courtyard of the Prince’s Manor was quiet.

The washing ceremony had ended, the guests had dispersed, and the post-banquet calm seemed even more desolate than usual. Pei Yunshu sat in the room, tucking in Bao Zhu’s little blanket. Just as she was about to have the wet nurse take the little girl to sleep, Fang Zi lifted the door curtain and said softly: “Madam, the Young Master has arrived.”

Pei Yunshu looked up to see Pei Yunying following Fang Zi into the room.

He had apparently just returned from outside, his robes carrying the full chill of the autumn night. He set down his sword and walked to Pei Yunshu, looking down at Bao Zhu.

Bao Zhu was sleeping sweetly in the wet nurse’s arms. The little girl, just one month old, did nothing but eat and sleep, and even this sight made people smile.

Pei Yunying lowered his voice: “Asleep?”

Pei Yunshu gestured for the wet nurse to take Bao Zhu into the inner room, then looked at Pei Yunying and shook her head: “Why did you come so suddenly?”

Pei Yunying sighed, walked to sit at the small table, and said while pouring tea: “My niece’s full-month celebration—as her uncle, I naturally couldn’t be absent. I was just delayed on the road.”

Pei Yunshu looked at the person before her, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Today at the washing ceremony, Duke Zhaoning Pei Di had also come. She didn’t know if Pei Yunying had avoided coming because of this—he had never been patient with seeing those Pei family members.

Pei Yunying asked with a smile: “What is it?”

Pei Yunshu pushed aside her thoughts and pretended to complain: “Today at the washing ceremony, quite a few ladies quietly asked me about you. I guess few were truly there to see Bao Zhu—most came to see you. What a pity you weren’t there. Speaking of which…” Suddenly remembering something, Pei Yunshu asked quietly: “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 and smiled: “Where do such groundless rumors come from?”

“If the Empress Dowager truly has such intentions, it would be good. You’re not young anymore—it’s time to worry about these matters.”

He seemed unconcerned: “Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Of course I’m anxious!” Pei Yunshu glared at him. “I was chatting with Doctor Lu today and learned that she’s already engaged. You’re four years older than her—she has a fiancé, but what do you have? You don’t even have a sweetheart. Even that female dog in your Palace Guard unit is being eyed by other dogs!”

Pei Yunying was both amused and exasperated: “How can you compare me to a dog?”

“Dogs are more sensible than you!”

Pei Yunying: “…”

Pei Yunshu looked at the young man before her, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.

Actually, she wasn’t truly anxious about Pei Yunying’s marriage. Pei Yunying was handsome and promising—such a talented man had countless people wanting to form marriage alliances with him. But the more imperial favor he gained and the higher he rose, the less control he would have over his marriage. Now that the Empress Dowager showed signs of arranging his marriage, if he delayed a few more years, he would truly have no chance to make his own choice, just like herself…

She didn’t want Pei Yunying to follow her path. Moreover, the current Pei Yunying was like an unsheathed blade—too sharp and prone to self-injury. If he had someone he cared for, perhaps he would act with more restraint, which would be good for him.

Pei Yunshu softened her tone: “A’Ying, tell your sister—what kind of girl do you actually like? The legitimate eldest daughter of the Censor-in-Chief’s manor is stunningly beautiful, and her mother asked me about you today. I’ve seen that young lady—she’s like a celestial being, truly graceful in every way…”

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

“Then what kind do you like?”

Pei Yunshu had a look of determination not to give up until she got an answer. Pei Yunying thought for a moment: “Smart ones, I suppose.”

“Smart ones?” Pei Yunshu’s eyes lit up. “The second young lady of the Jixian Hall Grand Academician’s manor is incredibly talented—she could compose poetry at age five. She’s very clever. What do you think…”

“I don’t like poetry.”

Seeing his absent-minded manner, Pei Yunshu became angry: “Did you come here so late just to annoy me?”

“No.” Pei Yunying said seriously: “I came to give a gift, so Bao Zhu won’t say I’m stingy.”

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

Pei Yunying was about to speak when the voice of his guard Chi Jian came from outside: “Master, we’ve caught him.”

Pei Yunshu was stunned and looked at him somewhat suspiciously.

“See,” Pei Yunying smiled: “There’s the gift.”

…

In front of the military patrol post at the entrance to the capital’s ward gates, several soldiers had stopped an old woman carrying baskets at the door, buying several bowls of spicy stuffed lungs and squatting at the entrance to eat with gusto.

It was nearly early winter, and the weather grew colder each day. By night, the soldiers grew hungry quickly. The spicy stuffed lungs were fiery hot—one bowl warmed the belly thoroughly.

Shen Fengying leaned against the pillar at the patrol post entrance, just putting the last piece of spicy lung in his mouth when he saw several people approaching.

The leader was a man holding another black-clothed person. The black-clothed man’s hands and feet were bound, being half-dragged, half-escorted forward by the man. Behind these two was a young girl. As the three passed through the bustling ward, they attracted countless stares. Seeing they were heading for the patrol post, Shen Fengying hastily swallowed the spicy lung in his mouth, but was suddenly choked by the oil and began coughing violently.

The soldiers hurried to get him a water bag. Shen Fengying downed nearly half the bag before stopping the burning in his throat. When he looked up, the three had already reached him.

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

As soon as she spoke, Shen Fengying suddenly remembered, pointing at her: “You’re that… scallion on the mountain!”

Heaven be merciful—he still remembered this person. Last month, after the capital’s imperial examination case, he received a report that a small medical clinic on West Street had killed someone and buried the body. At the time, Shen Fengying was eager to make a big case, planning to add to his achievements and reach the peak of his career. Who knew that after searching the medical clinic for half the night, they only found half a dead pig.

A dead pig, not a dead person!

At that time, Shen Fengying’s passionate enthusiasm was thoroughly doused.

That wasn’t all—whether you called it lucky or unlucky, before he could figure out what was happening, he received another report: a male corpse had been discovered on Wangchun Mountain, and the body had a Palace Guard’s purse on it.

And at that very moment, Palace Guard Commander Pei Yunying was right there before him.

Shen Fengying had felt his career might very well end there.

That Commander had accompanied him to Wangchun Mountain, and faced with such a compromising situation, Shen Fengying couldn’t tell what he meant. After several attempts to probe, he couldn’t discern his intentions and could only bite the bullet and investigate. Fortunately, after investigation, a single purse couldn’t convict the Palace Guards, so the case was temporarily suspended.

When he returned to the patrol post, his superior, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, gave him a thorough scolding. Which made sense—after all that fuss with no benefit gained, forget about promotion; offending the Palace Guard meant his superior would be strange not to blame him.

Shen Fengying had gradually calmed his emotions over these days, but seeing that female doctor now brought all his grievances flooding back.

He cleared his throat and pushed through the crowd to approach the three: “What’s this about?”

“I am Lu Tong, a doctor at Renxin Medical Clinic,” the female doctor said. “Tonight someone broke into my clinic and attempted murder. He was subdued, and since this concerns human life, I’ve brought the attacker before you, sir.”

Shen Fengying’s heart stirred.

The man on the ground was bound with ropes, dressed in night clothes. Hearing this, he didn’t refute it, and his eyes were vicious—clearly not a good person.

Shen Fengying walked around the man twice, looking suspiciously at Lu Tong: “Why isn’t he moving?”

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

“Fearing this person might harm himself, I gave him some powder from the clinic. After taking it, his limbs are weak, making it convenient for you to interrogate him, sir.”

It sounded reasonable, but due to the previous pig incident, Shen Fengying remained cautious about Lu Tong’s words, not daring to judge rashly. After thinking for a moment, he called to the soldiers: “Bring him inside.”

The soldiers escorted the man into the patrol post.

Late at night, there weren’t many people in the patrol post—most soldiers were out on patrol. The capital was generally quite peaceful most of the time, and aside from occasional fires, the soldiers only occasionally caught thieves.

Shen Fengying entered the building and turned back to see the man beside Lu Tong. The man was tall and large, wearing gray guard attire, with a bearing unlike ordinary guards. He looked at the man on the ground, then at the guard, and asked cautiously: “Were you the one who subdued the criminal?”

The man nodded.

Shen Fengying sat 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, my maid and I returned to our room to rest when we suddenly heard someone knocking at the door. When I got up to open it, this person tried to attack me with a knife. Fortunately, this hero stepped forward to help, caught the criminal for me, and saved my life…”

“Wait,” Shen Fengying frowned, sizing up the guard: “It’s so late—how did this hero happen to be here so conveniently to save you?”

After speaking, he looked at Lu Tong with disdain. Late at night, a man and woman together—what decent people could they be?

The guard replied: “I am Qing Feng, a close guard of Palace Guard Commander Pei. Doctor Lu went to Prince Wen’s manor today and left her medicine box there. The Princess Consort ordered me to return it. I had just arrived at the clinic when I witnessed the criminal’s attack.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Fengying jumped up as if his seat were on fire, stumbling over his words: “The Prince’s, Prince’s Manor? What was Doctor Lu doing at the Prince’s Manor?”

Lu Tong answered gently: “The Princess Consort and this commoner got along well, so she specially invited me to attend the young miss’s ‘washing ceremony.'”

Shen Fengying felt as if struck by lightning.

When he’d last seen this female doctor, she had been confronting Pei Yunying with hostility. How had she become an honored guest of the Prince’s Manor in just over a month?

How had she climbed up to the Prince’s Manor? Her advancement was faster than his promotion as patrol leader!

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

The patrol post rarely handled major cases, so Shen Fengying’s interrogation posture was clumsy, making both Lu Tong and Qing Feng look at him with complex expressions.

A soldier beside him asked: “Sir, shouldn’t we turn him over to the Criminal Justice Department?”

“Turn over what? What do you understand!” Shen Fengying scolded, but privately pondered that this matter didn’t seem simple. Lu Tong was just an ordinary female doctor—criminals coming straight to kill couldn’t be for money, but if it were revenge, what enemies could a doctor have?

With the previous lesson as warning, Shen Fengying was extra cautious about every report, fearing he’d accidentally become a fool again.

While deep in thought, he suddenly heard the soldiers outside making a commotion. Shen Fengying looked up impatiently: “What’s all the noise? Don’t disturb my thinking.”

The next moment, someone spoke: “It seems Officer Shen already has some leads.”

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

“…Commander Pei?”

Pei Yunying carried a silver blade, smiling as he walked into the room. He glanced at Lu Tong and Qing Feng: “So you arrived early.”

“Sir, this is…” Shen Fengying’s heart secretly drummed—why had Pei Yunying come too?

Lu Tong spoke: “Since this matter is of great importance, Master Qing Feng had someone inform Commander Pei. I didn’t expect Commander Pei to come personally…” She paused before continuing: “Perhaps the Commander thought this person might be the murderer from Wangchun Mountain, which is why he’s taking such interest.”

Pei Yunying slightly raised his eyebrows but didn’t refute.

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 this person that his superior had blamed him. If this person was really the criminal and fell into his hands, wouldn’t he finally get his revenge?

Lu Tong nodded slightly: “I’m only speculating.”

Shen Fengying looked down at the man on the ground. No matter what others said, the man remained silent, looking like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. Only when Pei Yunying had entered did his expression tense momentarily, though it was quickly covered.

“Speak up! Why did you attack? Was the Wangchun Mountain case your doing?” Shen Fengying kicked him and threatened clumsily: “If you don’t tell the truth, we’ll use torture!”

The man on the ground was unmoved, and Pei Yunying chuckled.

He said: “Officer Shen, you won’t get anything out of him this way.”

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

Pei Yunying sat in the chair, thought for a moment, and said seriously: “Normally I shouldn’t interfere in such matters. But the Wangchun Mountain case concerns the Palace Guard’s reputation—I can’t ignore it.”

Shen Fengying: “Yes, yes, yes.”

Pei Yunying continued: “Before coming, I had Qing Feng search this person and found identifying items to investigate his background. Officer Shen wouldn’t mind my meddling, would you?”

“How could I?” Shen Fengying smiled sweeter than a flower. “The Commander is helping the patrol post greatly—I’m grateful beyond words.”

He could see that Pei Yunying was determined to get this case. Coming here was just to go through the patrol post’s procedures to appear above board.

But why did he insist on going through the patrol post’s procedures?

Pei Yunying stared at the man on the ground. His eyes held a smile, his expression kind and gentle, looking like an ordinary young, handsome, and reasonable official, yet his gaze made one feel a chill.

He said: “Wang Shan, it’s so late—your wife and children should already be asleep.”

The moment “Wang Shan” was spoken, the man on the ground’s face rapidly paled, and his body began trembling violently.

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

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

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”

The next moment, the man on the ground shouted.

Shen Fengying was horrified.

This man had previously looked ready to die heroically, but Pei Yunying had only said two sentences and pried open his mouth. You know, he’d heard from storytellers that such assassins wouldn’t reveal a single word even when beaten half to death—this man was too spineless.

But in such a short time, Pei Yunying had already investigated the man’s entire ancestry? Was he a demon? And preparing so thoroughly—what was this all for?

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

Pei Yunying hummed: “Who ordered you to assassinate Doctor Lu?”

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

“It was Side Consort Meng!” The man gritted his teeth and looked up: “It was Side Consort Meng from Prince Wen’s Manor!”