“Jin Shan, have you seen a box from Shiwei Zhai?” Bu Shulin asked.

Jin Shan thought for a moment: “The one with carved peonies?”

“Yes, yes, yes, bring it to me,” Bu Shulin nodded.

“Seeing it was exquisite, I gave it to Lesser Lord Cui,” Jin Shan replied.

Bu Shulin: !!

Her face flushed red with anger as she grabbed Jin Shan’s collar: “Who told you to give that to him!”

“This servant… thought they were just pastries…” Jin Shan couldn’t understand why Bu Shulin was so agitated.

Bu Shulin patted her forehead and strode toward the Court of Justice.

Inside were some erotic poems and fire-avoiding illustrations she’d collected in Henan Prefecture, meant for her close friends.

She had found the Shiwei Zhai pastry box unique, with a hidden compartment that could be pulled open to reveal pastries below. Such things couldn’t be given directly – if family members discovered them, a beating would surely follow – so she had placed the items in the hidden layer.

She had planned to personally give it with subtle hints, but who knew Shen Xihe would bring Xie Yunhuai to treat her poison right after her return, followed by that awkward situation. She forgot about the box of pastries, and among all the things she brought back, Jin Shan just had to choose that one.

Bu Shulin rushed to the Court of Justice, learned Cui Jinbai had gone home, and charged to the Cui residence.

Cui Jinbai wasn’t on duty today. Usually absorbed in reviewing old cases at the Court, he’d been too irritated by Bu Shulin to continue reading, so he returned home early. At home, his servants set down the local specialties and quietly withdrew.

Cui Jinbai didn’t know why he felt so unsettled. Perhaps Bu Shulin reminded him of the past – he and Xie Yunhuai were close in age and often compared in their youth. Xie Yunhuai was exceptionally handsome and socially adept, winning everyone’s favor.

He had been mature beyond his years, typically silent and reserved, falling short of Xie Yunhuai in every way. He had felt resentment in his youth, but as he grew older, he put it behind him – everyone had their strengths, and his current breadth of mind wouldn’t dwell on such things.

Thinking himself broad-minded, having long forgotten old grievances, he hadn’t expected today’s mention would still displease him. His spiritual cultivation was insufficient. Cui Jinbai picked up “The Doctrine of the Mean” to read.

Whenever his mind was unsettled, Cui Jinbai could always find peace reading “The Doctrine of the Mean.” This time was no exception.

After his emotions settled, Cui Jinbai glanced at the package beside him. After some thought, he rose to open it. The Shiwei Zhai pastry box was on top. He didn’t particularly like sweets, but this old establishment was his mother’s favorite.

Something crossed his mind, softening Cui Jinbai’s expression. He opened the box and saw a book titled “The Doctrine of the Mean.” He paused briefly, his lips curving into a slight smile – but when he opened it to find explicit illustrations, he slammed it shut, his face flushing red with anger and embarrassment.

How vulgar, how vulgar!

“Cui Stone-head, Cui Stone-head…” At that moment, Bu Shulin came running in, ignoring the servants’ attempts to stop her and not waiting to be announced.

Cui Jinbai calmly covered the Shiwei Zhai box, just turning around as Bu Shulin entered.

She hurriedly rushed over, saw the opened package with the Shiwei Zhai pastry box on top, and gave an awkward laugh: “Uh… wrong gift. Some pastries were entrusted to me by someone else. I only bought one box, can’t break my word. I’ll… I’ll get you another box another day.”

As she spoke, she lunged for the pastry box, but Cui Jinbai pressed his hand down on it: “Who entrusted you?”

“Third Young Master Ding Jue of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s household.”

Ding Jue was already Bu Shulin’s close friend. When Shen Xihe came to the capital, his brother Ding Zhi was used by the Marquis of Xuanping’s household to have Ding Jue deal with Shen Xihe. Unexpectedly, Shen Xihe resolved it effortlessly. The Marquis of Zhenbei’s household was grateful to Shen Xihe, and knowing Bu Shulin was close to Shen Xihe, Ding Jue’s friendship with her grew stronger.

“You seem quite close indeed,” Cui Jinbai said mockingly with unclear intent.

“Of course, we’re friends bound by life and death,” Bu Shulin pried open Cui Jinbai’s hand and grabbed the box.

Cui Jinbai didn’t stop her. She thought the matter was over, but the next day when she delivered the items to the Ding residence, Ding Jue cried: “My father is sending me to the Court of Justice.”

“What crime did you commit?” Bu Shulin’s first reaction was that this fellow had done something terrible and the Marquis of Zhenbei was sacrificing family ties for justice.

“Can’t you wish me well for once?” Ding Jue said angrily. “Who knows where he heard the Court of Justice had vacancies? He complains I idle all day, says he doesn’t expect me to achieve anything, just hopes I’ll learn some human decency at the Court of Justice.”

As if he weren’t human and needed to go to the Court of Justice to become one.

“Just fake illness to get out of it – isn’t that your specialty?” For a position that could be directly filled, it couldn’t be very important.

“Can’t. The Court of Justice has already sent the document, I’m officially registered. If I don’t go, my father says it’s the crime of deceiving the emperor. He’ll personally kowtow before His Majesty to beg punishment, ensuring our whole family gets exiled,” Ding Jue was utterly despondent. “My father says either learn at the Court of Justice or learn on the way to exile…”

Bu Shulin held back her laughter hearing this: “Your father is ruthless.”

“I envy that your father isn’t around. You don’t have to act subservient every day,” Ding Jue envied Bu Shulin most of all.

Being a hostage in the capital was nothing – good food and wine every day, claiming illness to avoid duty, the emperor not minding, and endless money. Unlike him! Ten strings of cash allowance per month, a bit extra from mother, all spent like a thief.

Sneaking to brothels secretly – another beating if his father found out.

Bu Shulin winked at him.

“Is your eye twitching? Need me to call a doctor?” Ding Jue asked with concern.

Bu Shulin wanted to warn him but, seeing the Marquis of Zhenbei standing behind Ding Jue with a severe warning look, she chose silence.

The Marquis of Zhenbei was General of the Imperial Guards – she belonged to the Imperial Guards!

“I… I’m fine,” Bu Shulin said softly. “I’m leaving.”

“Don’t go, Ah Lin! You don’t know how miserable I’ve been while you were gone. I suspect my father got the wrong baby – he doesn’t treat me like a son at all. If I’m someone else’s son, tell me early so I can go find my birth parents… Ah!”

Before Ding Jue could finish, a kick to his shin sent him kneeling with a thud. Bu Shulin immediately threw out a “farewell” and ran.

From far away, she could still hear Ding Jue’s wailing and the Marquis of Zhenbei’s angry shouts.

Feeling guilty about her earlier disloyalty, Bu Shulin went to find Cui Jinbai to see if she could get Ding Jue withdrawn – someone so lacking in ambition would be happier as a playboy.

“No,” Cui Jinbai rejected flatly.

“Don’t be so unreasonable. Ding Jue isn’t accomplished in letters or martial arts – he’ll just cause trouble at the Court of Justice,” Bu Shulin pleaded earnestly.

“Organizing case files doesn’t require accomplishment in letters or martial arts. Being literate is enough,” Cui Jinbai said coldly.