His Majesty issued an imperial edict to arrest Shen Que, while also pardoning Ah’man for her crime of disrespect. The court officials were moved to tears, kowtowing and praising His Majesty as a benevolent and wise ruler.

After the court session, Ah’man was granted permission to return home. His Majesty also dispatched twenty Imperial Guards to protect her safety, lest Shen Que, in desperation, attempt to take her life. Escorted by the Imperial Guards, Ah’man stepped out of the Zichen Hall. Just as she exited, her eyes fixed on a gaunt figure walking ahead in a crimson official robe that hung loosely on his frame. His waist, cinched by an official belt, was as slender as a bamboo. While other officials walked in groups of two or three, conversing with each other, and Lu Huai was surrounded by ten students, only Cui Xun had no one within several feet of him. Ah’man bit her lip and suddenly began to run.

Breathless, she ran in front of him, blocking his path. Her lips quivered, but she finally managed to say with difficulty: “Thank you for today.”

Cui Xun’s gaze was as calm as a deep pool. He replied: “You don’t need to thank me. Today, the greatest contributor was you.”

“Not me,” Ah’man said awkwardly. “If you hadn’t risked your official position and life to stand up for me, I would probably have been executed on the spot by the Imperial Guards.”

She wrung her hands and lowered her head in shame: “Before going to Zichen Hall, you even reminded me to try my best to convince them, but I lost my temper and ruined everything… I’m always like this, too impulsive…”

Cui Xun sighed softly: “You didn’t ruin anything. On the contrary, you did very well.”

Ah’man suddenly looked up. Cui Xun continued: “Every word you said was perfect. Otherwise, how could those Imperial Academy students have spoken up for you? They dislike me so much, they wouldn’t have relented just because I helped you.”

Ah’man stared blankly: “Is that so…”

“Yes,” Cui Xun nodded. “From your journey to Lingnan to your accusation at Zichen Hall, you’ve done everything well. The thorough investigation into Yunting’s death is entirely your achievement.”

Ah’man’s eyes reddened. Cui Xun added: “After Shen Que is brought to justice, you’ll be questioned by the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate. They’re all shrewd people, but you needn’t be afraid. Just tell the truth. During this time, you must take care of your health to endure the lengthy interrogations ahead.”

Ah’man nodded silently. Cui Xun looked at the Imperial Guards waiting behind her and said, “You should go now.”

Ah’man responded with a soft “Mm.” She followed the Imperial Guards, walking forward. After a few steps, she couldn’t help but look back at Cui Xun before biting her lip, turning away dejectedly, and continuing toward the palace gate.

That night, a black-canopied carriage quietly drove into Pei Guanyue’s mansion.

Pei Guanyue had four sons and two daughters. Since his dismissal from office, his sons had become more restrained. His eldest son, Pei Zhang, no longer dared visit Pingkang Ward for prostitutes. The entire family was keeping a low profile. After Pei Guanyue finished his routine scolding of his sons, he leisurely went to his study, where Lu Yumin had already changed his tea three times.

Upon seeing Pei Guanyue enter, Lu Yumin showed no sign of displeasure. He picked up the white porcelain teacup, took a sip, and set it down: “Minister Pei is truly busy with affairs.”

Pei Guanyue sat down with a cold smile: “My lifelong ambition has been to hold high office, receive a generous salary, and bring glory to my family. Perhaps in the eyes of Secretary Lu, who serves the country and the people, this ambition seems vulgar. But as someone without ancestral privilege, how would Secretary Lu understand the hardships? I’ve largely fulfilled this ambition, but unfortunately, all four of my sons are useless and need constant guidance. How could they compare to Secretary Lu’s nephew’s accomplishments?”

After his sarcastic remarks, which essentially expressed dissatisfaction with Lu Huai, Lu Yumin responded moderately: “Indeed, my nephew Huaixin is accomplished. He passed the imperial examination at seventeen, and as the Imperial Academy Supervisor, he received top marks in every examination. Though excessively straightforward, with more tempering, he will surely become Prime Minister material.”

Pei Guanyue snorted: “If the Empress Dowager were in power, Secretary Lu’s fine horse not only wouldn’t become Prime Minister but might not even keep his life.”

Lu Yumin’s expression darkened. Pei Guanyue continued: “Secretary Lu must also be concerned about this, which is why you’ve come to my residence today. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have set foot here in six years despite your disdain.”

Lu Yumin frowned: “Minister Pei, now is not the time to bring up old grievances. You must have heard about today’s events. When Shen Que is brought to Chang’an, the accounts from six years ago might be unearthed. At the very least, Sheng Ah’man has also accused your wife, Madam Wang. Even though Madam Wang has passed away, following the thread, you won’t escape involvement.”

Hearing this, Pei Guanyue also lost his smile: “When all is said and done, without Cui Xun’s instigation today, Sheng Ah’man wouldn’t have succeeded.”

At the mention of Cui Xun, both men’s expressions soured. Pei Guanyue said hatefully, “He’s truly a mad dog, biting for years without letting go.”

He put down the white porcelain teacup and suddenly asked: “Secretary Lu, don’t you find something strange?”

“What?”

“Cui Xun was recently confined to his residence, guarded by the Court of Judicial Review, with all his servants expelled. In theory, his contact with the outside world was severed. How did he see through my scheme and turn the tables?”

Lu Yumin was equally perplexed: “Who knows? It’s like seeing a ghost.”

Pei Guanyue slapped the table: “Exactly! It’s like seeing a ghost.”

Lu Yumin looked puzzled, and Pei Guanyue explained: “If a person can’t leave, can’t a ghost? And there’s another matter. Before Shen Que was exiled, didn’t he clash with Cui Xun at the Spring Banquet? Shen Que came to me ranting that he had encountered a ghost. At the time, I thought it was just an excuse because that waste couldn’t defeat Cui Xun, so I brushed him off. Now it seems Shen Que might not have been lying.”

Lu Yumin’s expression grew serious, but he never believed in ghosts and, unlike Pei Guanyue, didn’t favor keeping Daoist priests and monks. He replied: “Supernatural matters aren’t necessarily credible.”

Pei Guanyue didn’t argue, merely lifting his teacup and taking a sip: “Whether it’s supernatural or not, an investigation will reveal the truth.”

In the study of the Cui residence, a white Xing kiln porcelain lamp burned with a dark red flame. Li Ying was grinding ink while yawning. Cui Xun smiled gently, putting down his writing brush: “If you’re tired, go to sleep first.”

Li Ying rubbed her eyes, stubbornly: “No, I promised to grind ink for you, and I won’t break my word.”

“Have you done it before?”

“For my father…” Li Ying suddenly stopped. She never wanted to mention her father again.

Cui Xun pressed his lips together and took the inkstone from Li Ying: “I’ll grind it myself.”

He held the pine-smoke ink stick, poured a little clear water onto the inkstone, and began grinding with elegant movements at an appropriate pace. Li Ying watched, resting her chin on her hand. Suddenly, she asked: “If Ah’man succeeds in accusing Shen Que, can the Tianwei Army case be reopened?”

Cui Xun’s hand paused briefly. He lowered his eyes and continued grinding: “The Tianwei Army case involves too much. It can’t be reopened just because someone wants it to be.”

“What does it involve?”

Cui Xun pondered, choosing his words carefully since this matter involved the two people closest to Li Ying: “His Majesty regained power because of the Tianwei Army case. He certainly doesn’t want to reopen it. As for the Empress Dowager, she was forced into seclusion at Penglai Palace because of the case. If she proposed reopening it, the common people would surely think she’s trying to revisit old issues to seize His Majesty’s power, so she won’t actively request it.”

After listening, Li Ying felt somewhat dejected. Ultimately, it was all about power. What magic did power possess to cause such suspicion between mother and son?

She recalled Cui Xun saying earlier that her brother’s “thunder and rain are all heaven’s grace,” suggesting he was already dissatisfied with her brother. But her brother was the Emperor, and if their relationship deteriorated too much, Cui Xun would certainly suffer. Wanting to ease their relationship, she asked: “Since my brother regained power because of the Tianwei Army case, do you think he knows the truth?”

Cui Xun slightly furrowed his brow. Instead of answering, he asked: “What do you think?”

Li Ying had been waiting for this question and immediately replied: “I think my brother doesn’t know.”

She explained: “The Tianwei Army was the Great Zhou’s most elite force, and the six provinces of Guannei were Great Zhou territory. The people of the six provinces were my brother’s subjects. If he had known, how could he have been willing to sacrifice the most elite army? How could he have been willing to surrender territory and subjects to the Tujue to trample? Moreover, in the underworld, General Guo also said that the imperial edict forcing him to dispatch troops was fake. Lu Yumin is my brother’s teacher whom he trusts most. It must have been he who forged the edict.”

Cui Xun made no comment after hearing this, but meeting Li Ying’s expectant gaze, he lowered his eyes and said: “Yes, you’re right. His Majesty probably didn’t know.”

Li Ying felt relieved. Then another thought struck her: “But if you knew that both my mother and brother didn’t want to reinvestigate the Tianwei Army case, why have you persisted for so many years?”

Cui Xun had finished grinding the ink. The inkstone contained perfectly balanced ink, and a faint ink fragrance permeated the entire study. He picked up his writing brush, the scar on his wrist deep enough to reveal bone, and began writing a memorial about Shen Que’s case on white hemp paper: “Someone has to persist.”

Li Ying’s butterfly-wing-like eyelashes trembled imperceptibly. She stared at the scar on his wrist, feeling a surge of heartache. She said, “Before, you persisted alone. Now, I’ll help you.”

Cui Xun stopped writing, turned to look at Li Ying, and smiled slightly: “Good.”

A thousand-character memorial was finally completed after adding oil to the lamp twice.

Li Ying held the still-wet hemp paper: “You want to personally escort Shen Que?”

Cui Xun nodded: “Shen Que knows too much. If someone kills him on the way, everything will be in vain.”

Li Ying thought for a moment: “That’s true.”

She asked: “When do you want to leave?”

“The sooner the better.”

Li Ying felt a little sad: “I see…”

That meant they wouldn’t see each other for nearly twenty days.

Cui Xun noticed her sadness. He pressed his lips together and said: “I’ll go with the Military Marquis of the Investigation Department. You should stay in Chang’an.”

He didn’t explain to Li Ying why he couldn’t take her to Lingnan. Perhaps because this journey was too important. He had walked alone for six years, accumulating scars and half a lifetime of infamy. Now that he finally saw a glimmer of dawn, he didn’t want anything to go wrong.

Although Li Ying understood, she still couldn’t help feeling reluctant. Seeing her gloom, Cui Xun took out a small round white jade container from his sleeve: “I have something for you.”

Li Ying curiously accepted it. Even before opening, the white jade container emitted a sandalwood fragrance. Li Ying said, “From the style and scent, this should be lip rouge.”

Cui Xun nodded: “I bought it for you after court today.”

Li Ying had never used lip rouge for thirty years and didn’t know how it differed from thirty years ago. She opened it with delight, then immediately widened her eyes: “What color is this?”

The lip rouge in the white jade container was purple…

Cui Xun said, “The foreign merchant who sold it to me said this is the most popular color these days.”

Li Ying felt speechless: “It’s probably a color that couldn’t be sold…”

“Is it?”

“Who would wear lip rouge this color?” Li Ying began to feel a headache: “Which foreign merchant dared to cheat you, the living King of Hell?”

Cui Xun stammered, realizing he had indeed been cheated: “That merchant probably just arrived in Chang’an and doesn’t know me…”

“Are you stupid… If you had just looked at the young women on the street, have you ever seen anyone wearing purple lip rouge…”

Cui Xun grew more embarrassed. Seeing his discomfort, Li Ying felt the urge to tease him. The Investigation Department’s Deputy Commissioner, fierce and ruthless before others, only blushed around her. She joked: “Commissioner Cui, Young Master Cui, if you’re so easily deceived, don’t get taken away by other young women when you go to Lingnan.”

Her teasing made Cui Xun’s cheeks flush even redder, like the brilliant clouds at the horizon during sunset. He lowered his head and said softly, “I won’t be taken away by other young women.”

Li Ying didn’t hear clearly: “Hmm?”

Cui Xun shook his head and said no more.

In this life, having fallen into the path of asuras, covered in filth, sinking into endless darkness, he was fortunate to be graced by clear moonlight. Thanks to this pure light that didn’t abandon him, guiding his remaining life. Even if the world had more fragrant warmth and jade-like beauty, or country-toppling allure, in his heart, none could compare to even a fraction of the clear moonlight.

For all eternity, he would never be moved by another person again.