Cui Jinbai and Xie Yunhuai were of the same age, both men of exceptional talent – one from a scholarly family, the other from a noble military background.

During the subtle power struggles between scholarly and military nobles, their youthful pride inevitably led to some friction.

Outstanding individuals naturally attract the attention of other outstanding individuals. Both Cui Jinbai and Xie Yunhuai had some understanding of each other.

Xie Yunhuai wasn’t disparaging him but merely stating facts – Cui Jinbai was indeed inflexible and difficult to persuade.

Shen Xihe’s gentle gaze fell on A-Dai, who was munching on pastries with freshly washed hands: “He will listen.”

While Shen Xihe waited for Bu Shulin and Mo Yu to bring Cui Jinbai, Mo Yu rushed to find Bu Shulin, who was on duty that day. However, her frequent absences claiming illness to gamble, fight roosters, or visit courtesans had become so common that when she complained of stomach pain, her superior simply waved her away impatiently, essentially telling her to leave and stop bothering him.

“Why does Youyou want Stone-head Cui?” Bu Shulin asked upon meeting Mo Yu and learning of Shen Xihe’s intentions. She felt rejected. Wasn’t she good enough? Cui Stone-head was like a latrine stone – both hard and stinking!

Since Bu Shulin had caught Xue Jinqiao calling Shen Xihe “sister,” she had changed her way of address. She had wanted to call her “little sister,” but after Shen Yun’an drew his sword at her first attempt, she switched to using Shen Xihe’s childhood name.

After learning Bu Shulin was female, Shen Yun’an didn’t mind anymore – many called his sister by her childhood name. He didn’t care about that, but only he could call her “little sister”!

“Princess’s orders,” Mo Yu replied expressionlessly.

Bu Shulin gave Mo Yu a disdainful look – just like Stonehead Cui, rigid and joyless.

Despite her displeasure, Bu Shulin went to inquire about Cui Jinbai’s whereabouts. He wasn’t on duty today, but with many cold cases at the Court of Judicial Review, this pitiful creature with no friends or life pleasures would surely be there.

When not on duty, he could only bury himself among old case files at the Court, finding life’s meaning in solving cold cases – or so Bu Shulin believed.

Hearing he wasn’t on duty, she correctly guessed he’d be at the Court and strode in brazenly.

When the bailiffs tried to stop her, she pushed them aside: “Don’t you have eyes? You’re interrupting the Young Master’s meeting with his lover!”

The Court’s bailiffs were red-faced with anger. To them, Junior Minister Cui was like a deity, yet this libertine kept tarnishing his reputation. Unfortunately, they neither dared offend Bu Shulin nor could they defeat her.

Cui Jinbai’s face darkened upon seeing Bu Shulin. She deliberately misinterpreted his expression: “Oh my, upset because you haven’t seen your Young Master for two days? I knew you’d be mad, so I came running even though I’m not on duty!”

The entering bailiffs wished they could seal Bu Shulin’s mouth and cover their ears.

Listen to that! Such vulgar words!

“Everyone leaves,” Junior Minister Cui ordered the bailiffs.

One person suffering was enough.

“Oh no, how embarrassing! Just the two of us? Your Young Master is blushing!”

Once they were alone, Cui Jinbai, now practiced at maintaining composure despite torment, demanded: “State your business!”

“I prefer action to words…”

Before Bu Shulin could finish, Cui Jinbai had drawn his sword and held it to her throat.

“No, no, no…” Bu Shulin gently pushed the blade aside. “Blades have no eyes. Hands and feet are for romance, but swords and spears hurt love…”

Before she finished speaking, Cui Jinbai swept his sword horizontally. Bu Shulin dodged like a nimble fish, instantly appearing behind him, spinning to grab his arm and embrace him from behind.

She caught his sword arm as he swung again, forcing the weapon from his grip. Then she threw powder in the air – as Cui Jinbai inhaled, his body stiffened, swayed twice, and collapsed.

Bu Shulin quickly caught and hoisted him onto her shoulder, rushing out of the Court: “I’m having a private meeting with Junior Minister Cui – don’t follow and spoil the mood!”

They wanted to pursue, but – Young Master Bu, could you please run slower?!

Before the Court’s guards could react, Bu Shulin’s voice still lingered though she had vanished.

However, when Bu Shulin arrived before Shen Xihe carrying the unconscious Cui Jinbai, Shen Xihe was speechless.

After dropping Cui Jinbai, the panting Bu Shulin leaned against a table and gulped tea straight from the pot.

After catching her breath, she complained: “He is made of stone – so heavy! Nearly split your Young Master’s lungs!”

“Who told you to carry him here like that?” Shen Xihe quickly had Bi Yu bring a wet cloth to clean Cui Jinbai’s face and used an aromatic pouch to revive him.

“Didn’t Mo Yu say to bring him quietly without alerting others?” Bu Shulin glanced at Mo Yu behind Shen Xihe. “I just wanted to test your sleeping powder – it works much better than what’s available outside.”

“Where did you kidnap him from?” Shen Xihe asked.

“The Court of Judicial Review,” Mo Yu answered for Bu Shulin.

“And this is what you call ‘not alerting others’? Being discreet?” Shen Xihe stared at Bu Shulin.

“This is called misdirection! It’s not the first time I’ve kidnapped him like this – everyone’s used to it and won’t think twice about it,” Bu Shulin said proudly.

Shen Xihe suddenly felt guilty, her conscience pricked her for having Bu Shulin pursue Cui Jinbai to avoid disaster.

This fine young gentleman from a prestigious family, considered an excellent match by noble households, had not only had his reputation ruined by Bu Shulin but suffered both mentally and physically.

Seeing his once-proud peer in such a sorry state, even the usually gentlemanly Xie Yunhuai couldn’t help but clench his fist and cough lightly behind it.

The sleeping powder was Shen Xihe’s creation, so she naturally had the fastest antidote. Cui Jinbai awoke quickly. His cold gaze immediately fixed on Bu Shulin, who sat carelessly at the stone table eating snacks, ignoring his icy stare as she offered him her half-eaten pastry: “I’ve already bitten this – doesn’t that make you want it more?”

Shen Xihe: …

“Show some restraint,” said Shen Xihe, a proper noble lady unaccustomed to such frivolous talk.

Bu Shulin immediately sat up straight, dropping her playful manner and giving Shen Xihe an ingratiating smile: “Force of habit, force of habit! I forgot we’re not alone today – please forgive me!”

Cui Jinbai’s expression, already cold, now turned black as a pot bottom.

Especially seeing Bu Shulin’s fawning face toward Shen Xihe – how could she be so besotted by beauty, suddenly becoming so obedient to the Princess of Zhaoning!

“Junior Minister Cui, I have a matter to request your help with. Please forgive any offense,” even the usually eloquent Shen Xihe spoke somewhat awkwardly.

“I wouldn’t dare take offense. The Princess is of noble status – how could this humble official harbor resentment?” Cui Jinbai replied coldly.

“Hey, mind your tone! You can be fierce with me, but you can’t be…” Bu Shulin nearly said ‘my Youyou’ but caught herself, “…disrespectful to the Princess.”

Cui Jinbai felt his head about to explode.

Her what? Her beloved?