Before the complaint could even receive a response, Yang Xulin learned of it. Qi Jun’s luck was poor – that day, the Regional Inspector of Hebei happened to be at the prefect’s office. The Inspector had been a classmate of Yang Zhongxing, and after hearing the detailed account and learning of Yang Xulin’s refusal of the bribe, he trusted Yang Xulin even more.

They arrested Qi Jun on charges of defaming and attempting to bribe an imperial official, subjecting him to severe torture to force a confession.

The Qi family also began experiencing mysterious misfortunes one after another. Although Qi Jun was a merchant, he remained unyielding – he died under torture without ever stamping his confession. After learning of this, Qi Pei gathered some essentials and set out for the capital to file a complaint. He was pursued and attacked throughout his journey from Hebei to the capital, taking a full half-year. During these six months, he endured endless torment but somehow managed to survive with his last breath.

Fortunately, he was taken for a disabled beggar and given shelter. The other beggars, seeing his youth and severe injuries, left him at the Lonely Garden. Later, when Cui Dai came to teach the children, sharing his knowledge, Qi Pei witnessed this, leading to subsequent events.

“Princess, please help my family seek justice,” after finishing his story, Qi Pei broke down in tears as he pleaded.

Though Shen Xihe had long known of the corruption in government affairs, experiencing it firsthand was particularly shocking, and her expression turned cold: “Do you have evidence?”

“Yes, the people who robbed our home and escaped – I sent them to the Taoist temple our family has long supported,” Qi Pei’s tear-reddened eyes showed a glimmer of hope. Shen Xihe asking this question meant she was willing to handle the matter.

Of course, Shen Xihe would handle it. This matter happened to involve the Minister of Justice – she had been looking for leverage against them. Otherwise, she would at most have entrusted Qi Pei and the evidence to the reliable Court of Judicial Review.

Now, she would personally involve herself. As she was considering this, shouts came from outside: “Fire! Fire! Everyone come help put out the fire—”

Thick smoke began drifting over. The Lonely Garden’s keeper immediately gathered the children to run outside, with nearby villagers rushing in to help carry the panicked children out.

Through the smoke, Shen Xihe noticed someone moving with steady steps and a clear purpose, avoiding everyone while heading toward them. This person’s posture and behavior were unlike those simply coming to help with the fire.

“Zhenzhu, protect young master Qi,” Shen Xihe ordered. “A Xi, carry young master Qi on your back. Let’s go.”

To avoid attention, Shen Xihe had only brought Zhenzhu and A Xi. After Shen Yun’an’s encounter with the bandits, Shen Xihe worried about Shen Yueshan and assigned secret guards to follow. For this visit to the Lonely Garden, she hadn’t brought many people either.

Unexpectedly, the Yang family was so brazen as to set a fire to cover up their attempt to silence witnesses.

Shen Xihe took the lead. The approaching person was indeed targeting Qi Pei. Initially just observing them, upon seeing Qi Pei on A Xi’s back, his expression changed. But before he could act, Shen Xihe raised her left hand, shooting a needle into his neck.

He stiffened, then collapsed, caught by Zhenzhu.

Shen Xihe had used a paralytic needle this time – he was a witness, so she couldn’t let him die easily, nor was he worth wasting a poisoned needle on.

Just then, two more people rushed up from behind to attack Zhenzhu – likely the ones who had started the fire.

Shen Xihe, A Xi, and Zhenzhu were skilled fighters and could easily handle these trained attackers. They quickly subdued them and started moving out, but five or six more people rushed in, charging straight at them.

Zhenzhu stepped forward, drawing her flexible sword. At this moment, Mo Yu, who had been keeping close watch over Shen Xihe outside, leaped in. She spun and kicked one attacker away, landing gracefully before Shen Xihe: “I’ll handle this.”

With those words, she protected Shen Xihe and A Xi as they rushed out. Someone had somehow spread the fire rapidly, and when the liquid started splashing around with the smell of tung oil, Shen Xihe’s expression tightened – during the chaos, someone was throwing oil instead of water while pretending to help!

The Lonely Garden’s wooden buildings, now doused with oil, burned even more fiercely. Qi Pei had been placed in the innermost courtyard. By the time they left that courtyard, before reaching the outermost one, the fire had already surrounded all the buildings.

Mo Yu grabbed Shen Xihe’s waist and leaped up, but whistling arrows shot through the air, forcing her to land again with Shen Xihe.

By now the smoke was thick, choking in the cold wind, while searing flames leaped from all sides as if to engulf them. Zhenzhu had killed their pursuers and could only pull Shen Xihe’s group to shelter in an area of the courtyard without overhead beams.

“You protect the Princess, I’ll deal with those outside!” Mo Yu left Zhenzhu in charge and flew up. Dense arrows shot toward her again.

Mo Yu gracefully twisted to dodge, ignoring the raging fire under the eaves. She used her toes to push off, leaping to avoid a volley of arrows. Before she could catch her breath, another barrage came. Despite her agility, one arrow grazed her shoulder. She landed without changing expression.

Rolling to avoid another wave of arrows, she jumped onto their waiting carriage at the gate, using it as cover while charging toward the hidden attackers.

Shen Xihe stood in the open space, safe from the fierce flames but dizzy from the thick smoke, despite using her fragrance pouch and Zhenzhu wetting a handkerchief with snow for her. She couldn’t last much longer.

Seeing Shen Xihe swaying from the smoke, Zhenzhu searched around and spotted the closed door ahead. Assessing the fire, she thought if she could break down the door forcefully, it might not collapse and Shen Xihe could escape.

However, the door was covered in flames. Without hesitation, Zhenzhu grabbed two handfuls of snow and charged at the burning door. Shen Xihe frantically tried to grab her but was too late, watching helplessly as Zhenzhu crashed against it, pressing her snow-filled hands against the burning door cracks. The snow hissed into the water, and ignoring her scorched hands, she rammed hard.

The fire-weakened door wasn’t sturdy, and Zhenzhu had learned door-breaking techniques in the Northwest. This impact created a crack.

She retreated, her burned hands reaching for more snow. Between bouts of extreme pain, Shen Xihe tried to stop her but could barely stand, inhaling a large amount of smoke that sent her into a coughing fit.

A Xi couldn’t bear to watch. Setting Qi Pei down, he also grabbed snow and joined Zhenzhu in ramming the door.

As they created a crack in the door, a thick, flaming beam fell from above. A Xi grabbed Zhenzhu, shielding her underneath him as the beam landed heavily on his back, the heat making his pupils contract in pain.