“One year, for unknown reasons, Father Emperor flew into a rage and banished Mother Empress to the Cold Palace, even intending to depose her. But the civil and military officials persuaded him against it through their remonstrances. I was too young to remember at the time,” Princess Huaiqing said helplessly.

“Although Mother Empress was released from the Cold Palace the following year, Father Emperor never visited her chambers again. Fourth Imperial Brother also fell out of favor because of this. And I have never been liked by Father Emperor since childhood.

“Chen Guifei is actually a very jealous and petty person. Even though the Crown Prince was later named heir apparent, she remained uneasy and always hostile towards me and Fourth Imperial Brother.

“This isn’t just my narrow-minded view. Do you know why Linan doesn’t get along with me?”

Xu Qi’an’s heart stirred: “Was it instigated by Chen Guifei?”

Huaiqing slowly nodded: “Linan is deeply favored by Father Emperor, who indulges her in everything. In the first few years, Chen Guifei worried about the Crown Prince’s unstable position, so she often encouraged Linan to cause trouble and make things difficult for me.”

Poor Linan, she must have been bullied terribly by you… Even though Linan was the troublemaker, Xu Qi’an still felt sorry for her. It wasn’t out of favoritism for Biaobiao – after all, both wives were equally dear to him.

He just felt that with Biaobiao’s level, she would be bullied to death by Huaiqing.

On second thought, this might be exactly what Chen Guifei wanted. The more she understood her daughter, the more she encouraged her to provoke Huaiqing, in order to achieve the desired effect.

Imagine how Emperor Yuanjing, who doted on Linan, would dislike Huaiqing when he saw her repeatedly bullied to tears by Huaiqing.

“What was His Majesty’s reason for wanting to depose the Empress?” Xu Qi’an asked.

“There was no reason, which is why the officials remonstrated so strongly,” Huaiqing shook her head.

Deposing an empress was like deposing a crown prince – it was both a family matter for the emperor and a major state affair. Even the scholar-official class couldn’t easily divorce their wives, let alone the empress, who was the mother figure of the nation.

Without a reason, how could the civil and military officials possibly agree to Emperor Yuanjing deposing the empress?

But if there was no reason, why would Emperor Yuanjing suddenly become enraged and want to depose her?

There must be some hidden story behind this.

“In which year of Emperor Yuanjing’s reign did this happen?” Xu Qi’an asked, then felt he was being too nosy and added:

“It might be related to the Fu Fei case… Ah, I don’t mean to suspect Her Majesty the Empress.”

Princess Huaiqing glanced at him and said flatly: “If you’re curious, just ask directly. No need for so many excuses.”

…Xu Qi’an felt a bit embarrassed.

“The 13th year of Yuanjing,” Huaiqing looked away into the distance and said: “As for the reason, I don’t know. Even when I asked Mother many times later, she never answered.”

The 13th year of Yuanjing, that sounds familiar… Xu Qi’an nodded: “Thank you for telling me, Princess.”

He had thought Emperor Yuanjing didn’t name the Fourth Prince as heir because the Crown Prince was rather dull, but now it seemed there might be deeper reasons behind it.

Indeed, although the Crown Prince wasn’t particularly clever, how much better could the Fourth Prince be… Well, the possibility that the Fourth Prince was hiding his abilities couldn’t be ruled out… He’d have to ask Lord Wei later. With his sharp judgment, the Fourth Prince would be exactly as Lord Wei described him.

After walking a few steps, Huaiqing suddenly said: “Why did you end things so hastily today? With your abilities, you shouldn’t need to go home to ‘deliberate’.”

Xu Qi’an felt that since Huaiqing was being quite frank with him, he should be candid as well. This would help maintain a good relationship.

“This humble official just wanted to delay things,” Xu Qi’an said.

“Delay things?” Huaiqing frowned.

“Yes.” Inhaling the Princess’s faint fragrance, Xu Qi’an said helplessly:

“This humble official offended too many people in the Sangbo and Yunzhou cases. His Majesty doesn’t like me either. He originally planned to posthumously grant me the title of viscount. But it was canceled because of my resurrection.

“Later, His Majesty promised that if I investigate Fu Fei’s case well, he would reinstate me as the Viscount of Changle County.”

I really have it tough.

“You think Father Emperor might go back on his word?” Princess Huaiqing agreed: “This plan isn’t bad. As long as you’re not granted a title, you can delay for another day.”

Xu Qi’an glanced at her in surprise. As expected of Wei Yuan’s disciple, their thought processes were quite in sync.

The saying “the emperor’s word is law” doesn’t mean the emperor never lies, but refers to national policies and imperial edicts issued by the emperor.

So, as long as Emperor Yuanjing didn’t grant him a title, Xu Qi’an would keep delaying, to prevent that dog emperor from going back on his word.

“It’s getting late. This humble official will return to the manor now,” Xu Qi’an looked at the sky. If he went back now, he could still make it for lunch.

“Mm.” Huaiqing nodded.

…

Meanwhile, in Emperor Yuanjing’s bedchamber.

Half an hour before lunch, Emperor Yuanjing returned to his chambers after finishing meditation. The Head Eunuch ran in gleefully, with a beaming smile:

“Your Majesty, there’s been a major breakthrough in Fu Fei’s case, a major breakthrough!”

Emperor Yuanjing was stunned, then immediately put on a serious expression and said sternly: “Speak.”

The old eunuch relayed word for word the information reported by the young eunuch to Emperor Yuanjing, who listened silently without comment.

“Your Majesty…” the old eunuch lowered his eyes respectfully: “This old servant dares to ask, does this mean the Crown Prince is cleared?”

Emperor Yuanjing shook his head slightly: “It’s too early to say… To have a preliminary grasp of the case in just two days, Xu Qi’an is indeed talented, but he’s a bit too crafty.”

He snorted coldly and said: “Go urge the Inner Cabinet to draft the edict soon. No need to choose an auspicious date anymore.”

Last time he had the old eunuch deliver the imperial edict to the Inner Cabinet, they accepted it but delayed under the pretext of no auspicious dates recently.

“As you command.”

…

Uncle Xu, responsible for day patrols, returned to the manor carrying his helmet, the sword at his waist swaying with his steps.

There was a half-hour break at noon. As a centurion, Xu Pingzhi would return home for lunch at this time and have some tea.

The kitchen was still busy preparing lunch. Aunt was planting newly bought orchids in the backyard, wearing a light blue gauze robe and a matching pleated long skirt embroidered with intricate cloud patterns.

As she bent over to plant the orchids, her slender waist and voluptuous hips were accentuated.

Uncle Xu stood at a distance, holding his helmet, and cleared his throat: “Dear, I’m hungry. Could you go to the kitchen and hurry them up?”

Aunt continued planting flowers, ignoring him.

“Dear?”

“What are you calling for,” Aunt said with a cold expression: “Is the great Lord Xu planning to dine out with colleagues tonight and not come home?”

Uncle Xu was stunned: “What do you mean by that, dear?”

Aunt finished planting the last orchid, patted her hands, and put them on her hips, smiling coldly:

“There’s a saying, how does it go? Right, blood is thicker than water. That nephew of yours hasn’t forgotten you now that he’s made it big, secretly slipping you money.”

Uncle Xu was bewildered upon hearing this, thinking to himself that it had been ages since Dalang last slipped him money, before he left for Yunzhou. How did this old account get dug up now?

“That’s not true. Dalang just jumped out of his coffin yesterday, went out that day, and didn’t come home at night. How could he have time to slip me money?”

Uncle Xu was definitely not going to admit it. He wouldn’t admit it even if it were true, let alone something that never happened.

Hearing this, Aunt exploded. Her willow-leaf eyebrows stood on end as she shouted: “Xu Pingzhi, so you really were planning to take that fifty taels of private money to a brothel!

“Erlang told me this morning that Xu Ningyan secretly slipped you fifty taels. I thought if you admitted it, we could let it go. I didn’t expect you really wanted to keep it secret!

“You won’t admit it? Would Erlang lie to me? Xu Pingzhi, you ungrateful bastard! I’ve managed this household, poured my heart and soul into it, even raised your unfortunate nephew. Is this how you repay me?”

“Where’s Erlang? Tell him to come out,” Uncle Xu was angry now.

“Pah! Erlang is taking a nap. Don’t disturb him. Don’t try to change the subject. Are you going to hand over the fifty taels or not?”

“…I’ll hand it over. Please don’t be angry, dear.” Uncle Xu hung his head dejectedly as he entered the bedroom. To prevent his wife from discovering where he hid the banknotes, he walked very quickly.

Entering the bedroom, he went straight to Lingyin’s small room, lifted his daughter’s bedding, and found all his private savings underneath – a total of eighty taels.

Uncle Xu gritted his teeth and steeled his heart, taking out two twenty-tael notes and two five-tael notes.

At this moment, he suddenly noticed a bag of green tangerines on the small table by the bed.

Green tangerines weren’t just simple tangerines in Xu Pingzhi’s eyes, so he was particularly sensitive to them. He immediately became suspicious.

“Green tangerines are sour and astringent, usually only used medicinally. Why buy them for no reason? And why put them in Lingyin’s room?”

With doubts flashing through his mind, Uncle Xu left the small room and returned to the courtyard, obediently handing over the banknotes.

Aunt’s expression softened slightly. She snorted and pulled out a dainty little purse from her bosom, putting away the banknotes.

Xu Pingzhi took the opportunity to ask: “Why are there green tangerines on Lingyin’s table? Did Dalang buy them?”

“Erlang bought them,” Aunt said, quite satisfied now that she had received the fifty taels.

Erlang bought them? What would Erlang buy these for… His purpose in buying green tangerines should be different from mine… Wait!

Uncle Xu had a sudden realization: “Erlang didn’t come home last night either, just like Dalang, right?”

“Erlang went out drinking with his classmates. As for your nephew, who knows where that rascal went gallivanting off to.” Aunt rolled her eyes.

If not for the previous few instances of social death, Xu Pingzhi would have strongly agreed with his wife’s words. But now, he knew what kind of person his son was.

Dalang didn’t come home all night, and neither did Erlang… Based on what I know about Dalang, he most likely went to the pleasure quarters, but the green tangerines were bought by Erlang…

“Erlang smelled of tangerines, right?” Xu Pingzhi asked casually.

Aunt nodded absent-mindedly, admiring the orchids she had planted.

The answer was obvious now… It must have been Dalang teaching Erlang. Without a doubt, Dalang had sold me out, so Erlang made up this nonsense about private money to teach me a lesson… You little bastards, you dare to scheme against your old man.

Xu Pingzhi said solemnly: “It seems Erlang has been having headaches lately.”

“Hm?”

Aunt looked over in confusion. She did care about her son quite a bit.

“Green tangerines can soothe the mind and treat headaches. They have many benefits. Otherwise, why would people sell such sour and astringent things?” Xu Pingzhi explained.

Green tangerines do indeed have medicinal properties, but treating headaches was made up by Uncle Xu. After all, his wife, who rarely did any work and wasn’t very educated, wouldn’t be able to see through it.

“It must be the pressure from the spring examinations,” Aunt suddenly felt very sympathetic.

“Dear, Erlang isn’t married yet. As his mother, you need to take good care of him. Don’t spend all day fussing over flowers and plants,” Uncle Xu lectured:

“Erlang bought these to eat himself. Why did you put them in Lingyin’s room?”

Aunt wasn’t the doting mother type, perhaps due to her pride in her own beauty. She was particularly arrogant and delicate. Her concern for her children fell far short of being attentive and caring.

That’s why she was often driven to exasperation by the annoying Lingyin. At mealtimes, she would hand the young girl over to Lü’e to look after, while she happily enjoyed her own meal.

“Erlang gave them to Lingyin himself. I thought it would be a waste to throw them away, so I put them in her room for her to eat when she comes back from school,” Aunt explained.

“Alright, don’t say anymore. Hurry and take the green tangerines to the kitchen. Have the cooks make them into soup. Erlang will want to drink it when he wakes up. Oh, and make a bowl for Dalang too,” Xu Pingzhi said, then quickly added:

“This soup doesn’t taste good. Dalang probably won’t want it, and you as his aunt can’t force him. Have Lingyu make it together. When he comes back in the evening, he won’t be able to refuse drinking it.”

Aunt nodded and went to fetch the green tangerines, swaying her slender waist.

Just as lunch was ready in the manor, Xu Dalang returned. He took off his gong and sword, tossed them on the ground, sat down at the table, and called out:

“Second Uncle, do you come home for lunch now?”

“I’ll be coming home for lunch from now on. I received a new assignment this morning. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be patrolling the inner city instead of the outer city,” Xu Pingzhi said as he drank his soup, his expression cold.

Moving from the outer city to the inner city meant his position hadn’t changed, but his treatment had been upgraded by one rank.

“That’s great news!”

Xu Qi’an took the bowl and chopsticks handed to him by Lü’e, thinking to himself that Second Uncle seemed unhappy today for some reason.

At this moment, Xu Erniang came out looking sleepy. He glanced at his elder brother, and the two brothers shared a knowing look.

“Father, did you have a fight with Mother today?” Xu Erniang probed as he sat down.

“Hmph, none of you let me have any peace of mind. Only Erlang is good, after all, he came from my womb,” Aunt glared at uncle and nephew.

Xu Erniang’s lips curled slightly.

Xu Pingzhi casually looked at his wife’s personal maid and said: “Lü’e, go to the kitchen and see if the soup is ready.”

Lü’e obediently responded and left the side hall with small steps.

“What soup?”

Xu Qi’an, who had spent all his money the night before, asked with interest.

“To nourish you and Erlang,” Aunt said.

Xu Qi’an and Xu Xinnian exchanged glances, feeling uneasy. How did Aunt (Mother) know they needed nourishment?

Soon after, Lü’e came in carrying a large bowl of soup. A strong sour smell wafted over.

The large porcelain bowl was placed on the table. Sliced green tangerines floated in the yellow broth, their peels still intact.

Aunt personally served Xu Xinnian a bowl of soup, complaining, “Er Lang, why didn’t you tell your mother about your headache? With the spring imperial examination approaching, it’s my fault for not taking better care of you.

“This green tangerine soup is specially made for you.”

Green tangerine soup?!

Xu Xinnian’s expression turned blank. He thought, how can you make soup from green tangerines? Isn’t that going to make someone sick?

“Mother, my headache is just from drinking too much. I had to socialize with my colleagues last night…” Xu Xinnian cast a somewhat guilty glance at his elder brother.

Green tangerine soup… Who came up with such a dark culinary creation? Xu Qi An nearly laughed out loud and maintained a serious expression, saying, “Green tangerine soup is very nourishing; Er Lang should drink more.”

“You have to drink some too,” Uncle Xu said淡淡ly: “This soup was painstakingly brewed by Lingyue and your aunt.”

“?”

A big question mark appeared in Xu Qi An’s mind.

“Do I, a dignified warrior at the Spirit Refinement level, need this stuff?” Xu Qi An retorted.

“Elder Brother!” Xu Lingyue said softly, “Just drink a bowl. They’ve worked hard to make it.”

Xu Qi An couldn’t help but glance at his younger brother.

The younger brother was also looking at him.

Both brothers hoped the other would take the lead.

“…”

“Ton ton ton ton ton…”

In the end, they both downed a large bowl, choking and tearing up as their stomachs roiled.

“Hahaha, let’s eat!” Uncle Xu chuckled, sipping his drink with a simple smile.