At Shaoyin Palace.

Lin’an was in a good mood. Today, Emperor Yuanjing had proposed deposing the Empress in court. After half a day of fermentation, almost everyone in the Da Feng officialdom knew about it.

Being in the palace, Lin’an had naturally heard the news as well.

The Second Princess, dressed in a gorgeous red gown, sat on a swing under a grape trellis, humming a tune. Beneath her skirt, two small, exquisite embroidered shoes swayed happily.

Her good mood was justified. The Empress had admitted to framing the Crown Prince and killing Noble Consort Fu, which meant her brother, the Crown Prince, would soon be released from the Court of Judicial Review.

Her mother would no longer have to cry every day.

And that dog of a servant had also returned alive. In just a few short days, their fortunes had truly turned around.

Lin’an felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

“Huaiqing must be very sad right now. Hmph, that’s what the Empress gets for framing my Crown Prince brother… Well, since I’m in such a good mood, I won’t go boast to her for the next few days.”

The urge to stir up trouble was bubbling up inside her, but considering that Huaiqing’s fists were bigger than hers, Biaobiao chose to follow her heart’s desire and wait a while before provoking Huaiqing again.

When the time came, she’d bring along that dog of a servant. He was a hero who had fought thousands of enemy soldiers, so he’d certainly be able to protect her well.

A guard from outside the garden approached, stopping about a dozen meters away. He cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, Official Xu has arrived.”

Biaobiao’s face instantly lit up with a bright smile. “Quickly, invite him in.”

She remained seated on the swing but turned her head, eagerly anticipating his arrival.

Xu Qi’an entered, led by a young eunuch. He casually sat down at the stone table under the grape trellis, eating the fruits prepared for Lin’an by the palace maids, pastries made by the imperial kitchen’s chef, and drinking the specially provided tea.

“Eh…” A palace maid standing nearby let out a small sound.

“Hm?” Xu Qi’an looked at her, puzzled.

“That’s for the Princess to drink,” the palace maid said in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Oh, sorry, sorry.” Xu Qi’an picked up the cup and took another sip.

At this, Biaobiao couldn’t hold back anymore. Her face flushed pink as she scolded, “Xu Ning Yan!”

Just then, a breeze blew through, causing the grape vines to sway gently. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on her round, smooth face. Her small mouth was rosy, her nose straight and delicate, and those enchanting peach blossom eyes seemed to hold back words. Set against her blushing cheeks, they exuded an indescribable, alluring charm.

An innately coquettish woman.

Both Huaiqing and Lin’an were exceptionally beautiful women… Unfortunately, although the other two princesses were pretty, they fell quite short of being described as “peerless beauties”… Xu Qi’an lamented inwardly.

Otherwise, he would use every means possible to catch all the princesses of Da Feng in one net.

Official Xu is not only the favorite official of the Grand Princess but also of the Second Princess. His future prospects are boundless… the young eunuch thought to himself.

In this vast capital, apart from the princes and princesses in the palace, perhaps only this Official Xu could interact with Princess Lin’an in such a manner.

Over the past few days, the young eunuch had accompanied Xu Qi’an in investigating cases, witnessing firsthand his interactions with Princess Huaiqing and Princess Lin’an. Even a blind person could see how much the two princesses valued and appreciated Xu Qi’an.

“Hasn’t the case been solved?” Biaobiao asked in a crisp voice. “You dog of a servant, why do you still need to come to the palace to investigate?”

She had deduced that Xu Qi’an was still investigating based on the presence of the young eunuch. Otherwise, he would have come to Shaoyin Palace alone.

“The case isn’t over yet…” Xu Qi’an let out a heavy sigh, putting on a sad expression. “Your Highness, am I one of your people?”

“Of course you are!” Biaobiao nodded without hesitation.

“I’ve been bullied,” Xu Qi’an said, covering his face, overcome with sorrow. “My family is in a particularly difficult situation. Since I was young, my second uncle told me that children from poor families have to grow up fast…

“But that damned dog from Jingxiu Palace extorted ten taels of silver from me.”

Although Biaobiao could be quite catty, she was still very loyal. Hearing this, she indeed became furious. She jumped off the swing in a flash, raising her delicate eyebrows:

“Let’s go to Jingxiu Palace. I’ll see justice done for you.”

The money was a small matter, but bullying someone who belonged to her, Lin’an, was a big problem.

Xu Qi’an “obediently” followed beside the Princess, maintaining an expression of one who had suffered great injustice. After walking for a while, he casually asked:

“Your Highness, doesn’t Noble Consort Chen have a palace maid named Lang’er?”

“Mm-hmm,” Lin’an nodded.

“This palace maid has been in Jingxiu Palace for a long time, right?”

“Yes, she’s been serving by Mother’s side since entering the palace.”

“Can Your Highness tell me about this person? For example, what she likes, what she dislikes, if anything has happened to her recently.”

“How would I know what a palace maid has been doing recently?” Biaobiao said righteously. She thought for a moment and added, “She does like to eat mung bean cakes though. I often see Mother giving her the leftover mung bean cakes, and she loves eating them.”

As they conversed, they arrived at Jingxiu Palace.

From a distance, they saw the eunuch guarding the door who had just “extorted” ten taels of silver from Xu Qi’an.

Xu Qi’an stepped forward and slapped him, then pointed at the eunuch covering his face and said, “Your Highness, this is the one who extorted money from me.”

“You…” The guard eunuch covered his stinging face, both angry and furious. He hadn’t expected Xu Qi’an to bring the Second Princess back to cause trouble.

After all, he was someone from Noble Consort Chen’s palace. Even a seventh-rank official at the Prime Minister’s door had some status, and he was at Noble Consort Chen’s door.

Usually, outside officials wouldn’t dare to be so forceful with palace eunuchs. If they suffered any grievances, they would mostly swallow their anger and endure it silently.

“Slap him again,” Lin’an ordered coldly, maintaining the demeanor befitting a princess in front of others.

Xu Qi’an delivered another slap, causing the guard eunuch to stagger, his ears ringing.

“You dare to extort money from my people? I’ll spare you this once for my mother’s sake. If you dare disrespect Official Xu again, you’ll be demoted to hard labor directly.”

Lin’an’s pretty face was as cold as frost. “Spit out the silver.”

Willing to give a chance to an insignificant door-guarding eunuch, she was actually quite a kind-hearted girl, more pure than most royal women… Xu Qi’an thought to himself. It was precisely because of this personality that she was easily taken advantage of by scoundrels.

Lin’an and I have a good relationship. I need to keep a close eye on her to prevent her from being harmed by scoundrels.

The guard eunuch was extremely reluctant. Five taels of silver was more than his monthly allowance. But he didn’t dare disobey the Second Princess’s order and had to hand it over.

He took out the silver note he had just warmed up in his hands and presented it with both hands: “This slave was blind to true worth. Please forgive me, Official Xu.”

Xu Qi’an didn’t take it. “I gave you ten taels.”

Ten taels?!

The guard eunuch looked up, dumbfounded, and argued, “It was clearly five taels. How can Official Xu falsely accuse this slave?”

Xu Qi’an immediately turned to Biaobiao and said loudly, “Your Highness, look at this dog who pays lip service but disobeys in secret. He doesn’t take you seriously at all.”

Lin’an glared at him with her peach blossom eyes that could never really look fierce.

“This slave wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare…”

The guard eunuch fumbled for a long time and produced three taels of silver and a handful of loose silver. With a dejected face, he said, “This is all this slave has.”

Xu Qi’an smiled and pocketed the silver: “Doing good deeds may not always be rewarded, but not doing good deeds will eventually lead to retribution.

“I’ll teach you a lesson. Consider this silver as tuition.”

Some people always think that when they do something wrong, an apology is enough, and if others keep pressing the issue, it’s the other party being unreasonable. If an apology were enough, what would we need laws for… You swindled me out of five taels of silver, and you think just returning it is enough? Dream on.

Then, he turned to look at Biaobiao’s rounded profile, “Since we’re here, Your Highness, why don’t you take me into Jingxiu Palace? It just so happens that I need to wrap up the case of Noble Consort Fu.”

At that, Biaobiao led him across the courtyard gate and into the yard.

“Your Highness, I need to find a palace maid named Lang’er. Could you please help me summon her?”

Xu Qi’an followed a palace maid into a side hall, while Biaobiao went to visit her mother. He called out to the retreating red dress, but the red dress didn’t look back, only responding in a coquettish voice, “I know, I know!”

Entering the side hall, a young palace maid stood not far away.

Xu Qi’an asked, “Where is the latrine?”

“Please wait a moment, sir,” the palace maid responded softly. She went out and found a young eunuch, saying, “Take the official to the latrine.”

Xu Qi’an followed the eunuch out of the side hall to the latrine in the south of the main courtyard. After closing the door, he took out the Confucian version of the “magic book” from the Earthly Book fragment, tore off the page recording the Aura-Observing Technique, and ignited it with his qi.

Two streams of clear qi shot out from his pupils, then retracted.

“Using it so much, the magic book has already thinned by half. This won’t do. Such a useful thing, I want to keep using it. After the spring imperial examinations, I’ll go to the Cloud Deer Academy to meet my three teachers. Hmm, I need to think of some poems to freeload off them in advance…”

Returning to the side hall, he drank tea while waiting for the palace maid named Lang’er.

…

In the inner courtyard, main house.

Noble Consort Chen reclined lazily on a soft couch, with two personal palace maids attending to her, one massaging her shoulders and the other kneading her legs.

In Emperor Yuanjing’s harem, there was no Noble Imperial Consort, so Noble Consort Chen could be said to be second only to one and above all other consorts. Moreover, before long, her status in the harem would truly be unrivaled.

Holding a book in her hands, Noble Consort Chen smiled and said, “This ‘Spring Courtyard Moon’ is so well written. I’m enjoying it more and more today.”

Lang’er smiled slightly, “It’s because Your Grace is in a good mood that the book seems so good.”

Another palace maid smiled and agreed, “Indeed, although the Crown Prince hasn’t been released from the Court of Judicial Review yet, it’s only a matter of time. Your Grace has been crying every day recently, and we servants have been so worried.”

Lang’er said in a low voice, “I never imagined that the dignified Empress would use such vicious methods, harming Noble Consort Fu and framing the Crown Prince. And we thought she was truly kind-hearted.”

Noble Consort Chen frowned and rebuked, “Do not speak ill of the Empress.”

“Your Grace, you’re being too cautious,” another palace maid giggled. “His Majesty has proposed deposing the Empress in court. Once the officials confirm it, she will no longer be the Empress.”

“Perhaps our Lady will become the Empress before long.”

Noble Consort Chen frowned repeatedly, wanting to scold the two outspoken palace maids, when suddenly she heard light footsteps approaching.

“Mother, Lin’an is here!”

A shadow flickered outside the door, and Lin’an’s silhouette was cast into the room. Then, her fiery red skirt swayed like a flame dancing in the wind.

The two senior palace maids instinctively fell silent, ending their conversation.

Noble Consort Chen’s face softened with motherly affection. She straightened her slender waist and beckoned, “Lin’an, didn’t you just visit this morning?”

“I missed you, Mother. I wish I could stay in Jingxiu Palace and keep you company every day,” Lin’an replied.

Lin’an was a girl who knew how to be coquettish. Beautiful and sweet-tongued, she was doted on by both Emperor Yuanjing and Noble Consort Chen.

“Then stay and chat with Mother for a while. You can return to Shaoyin Palace when you get bored,” Noble Consort Chen said, holding her daughter’s hand and seating her beside herself.

“Okay!”

After sitting down, Biaobiao said in a sweet voice, “I mainly missed Mother, but I also have a small matter to attend to.”

Noble Consort Chen’s smile remained unchanged as she asked softly, “What matter?”

Biaobiao looked at Lang’er and instructed, “Official Xu has something to ask you. He’s waiting in the side hall of the outer court. Go see him.”

Then she explained to Noble Consort Chen, “It’s Xu Qi’an, the night watchman I’m nurturing. Mother, you remember him too. He’s the one working on Crown Prince Brother’s case. It seems he has something to ask Lang’er, but the door guard wouldn’t let him in.”

Noble Consort Chen pondered for a moment, then waved her hand. “Lang’er, go and see him.”

“Yes,” Lang’er replied. With her hands placed flat on her lower abdomen, she gracefully stepped over the threshold and left the courtyard, her figure gradually receding into the distance.

Lin’an shifted her gaze back and continued on the topic, “Mother, Crown Prince Brother’s innocence being restored is largely thanks to Xu Qi’an. Mother, you don’t know how hard I’ve worked to nurture him.

“You always say Huaiqing is good at nurturing talents and building power bases, but Lin’an isn’t bad either. When I first met him, he was just a small constable in Changle County. Isn’t it because of my painstaking cultivation that he’s become so outstanding?”

Noble Consort Chen exclaimed in surprise, “How did you come to know a small constable?”

“Oh, don’t worry about those details. The point is, the talent I nurtured saved Crown Prince Brother, right?”

“Yes, yes, yes. It’s all thanks to Lin’an. If it weren’t for the person Lin’an nurtured helping out this time, your Crown Prince Brother would have been in danger,” Noble Consort Chen said, pinching her daughter’s plump, oval face.

…

In the side hall, Xu Qi’an sat in a chair, holding a teacup and gently blowing on it.

Even the tea used to entertain guests in this Jingxiu Palace was far more fragrant than the good tea Aunt treasured.

“But compared to the tea Lin’an was drinking earlier, it’s still quite inferior. I should ask Lin’an for a few taels of tea leaves later, so Uncle and Aunt can also taste the imperial tribute tea,” Xu Qi’an thought to himself.

He took a sip of tea with satisfaction, then looked at the young eunuch standing beside him and smiled, “Little公公, you’re sent by His Majesty to supervise me. In official terms, that makes you an Imperial Envoy. Please, sit down, don’t stand.”

The young eunuch showed some insight and replied helplessly, “Only outside the capital would I be considered an Imperial Envoy. Here in the palace, I’m still just a servant. It’s like those Provincial Governors who are mighty outside, but back in the capital, they’re just small Imperial Censors.”

This made Xu Qi’an laugh. “Well said, well said!”

If Governor Zhang returned to the capital, he’d be a nobody, but out there, he was mighty. Even big shots like the Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Regional Military Commissioner had to respectfully address themselves as “this lowly official” to him.

“By the way, Little公公, you serve in His Majesty’s bedchamber, right?” Xu Qi’an asked.

The little eunuch nodded.

“After you reported yesterday, did His Majesty go to the Empress’s Phoenix Perch Palace?”

Xu Qi’an had been harboring a question for a long time. Yesterday, when he discovered Huang Xiaorou’s connection to the Empress from the Crab Pavilion, the clues began to point towards the Empress. However, the records of the Imperial Dispensary’s income and expenditure had been quietly torn out, so there was no concrete evidence proving it was the Empress who had saved Huang Xiaorou.

Given Emperor Yuanjing’s wisdom and shrewdness, he shouldn’t have rushed to question the Empress before the case was clear.

If Emperor Yuanjing were really such an impulsive and brainless person, he should have directly deposed the Crown Prince when the case first broke.

“No…” The young eunuch shook his head, hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice:

“It was Noble Consort Chen who went to His Majesty’s bedchamber to cry and accuse the Empress of framing the Crown Prince. His Majesty, considering his relationship with the Noble Consort, then went to Phoenix Perch Palace to question the Empress. That’s when this slave was called by His Majesty for questioning. At that time, this slave hadn’t even reported actively yet.”

How did Noble Consort Chen know about the progress of the case?

No need to say, it must have been Biaobiao who told her. That naughty girl, seeing that the case had made a breakthrough and the Crown Prince was one step closer to being cleared, naturally went to share the joy with her mother.

As they were talking, a woman in a lotus-green palace dress stepped over the threshold and entered the side hall.

She had delicate features and fair skin, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old. Her eyes were round almond-shaped, like Chu Caiwei’s, but not as big.

Chu Caiwei’s big eyes always reminded Xu Qi’an of two-dimensional paper wives.

Combined with her round, oval face, she was sweet and cute, worthy of the title of big-eyed cutie.

The palace maid entered the side hall, curtsied gracefully, and said, “Greetings, Official Xu.”

“Sister Lang’er,” Xu Qi’an smiled and returned the greeting.

Lang’er stood in the side hall, nodding slightly, “What does Official Xu want to ask? Her Grace is still waiting for this slave to attend to her.”

Xu Qi’an immediately said, “My apologies, I’m also here on imperial orders.”

After a pause, he cut to the chase and asked, “Sister Lang’er, did you visit the Imperial Dispensary a few days ago?”

Lang’er nodded.

“What for?”

“Since the Crown Prince’s incident, Her Grace has been crying every day and is in low spirits. That day she had a headache, so this slave went to the Imperial Dispensary to get some medicine to soothe her mind and clear her head,” Lang’er answered frankly.

“Did you tear out any pages from the Imperial Dispensary’s account books?” Xu Qi’an asked.

He had been this direct and efficient with the other palace maids and eunuchs on the list as well. With the Aura-Observing Technique, it was like having a foolproof lie detector, even better than surveillance.

Although the Aura-Observing Technique had many limitations – it could be blocked by magical artifacts, didn’t work on cultivators, and couldn’t be used to accuse officials above the fourth rank, and in the case of Noble Consort Fu which concerned the national foundation, it couldn’t be used as evidence – it wasn’t restricted for these eunuchs and palace maids. Besides, Xu Qi’an was only using it as an aid.

First, I determine if you’re the wolf, then I investigate you. This was much simpler and more convenient than following clues step by step.

Lang’er was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Xu Qi’an to be so blunt. She shook her head, “No.”

Phew, she’s telling the truth… Xu Qi’an, using the Aura-Observing Technique, sighed with disappointment inwardly.

It seemed his judgment was wrong. The person who tore out the account pages wasn’t someone who entered the Imperial Dispensary within the past five days, but earlier. As for sneaking into the Imperial Dispensary, that possibility was low.

Because Emperor Yuanjing’s Imperial Dispensary stored precious elixirs and medicines – the dog emperor had used his private treasury for alchemy – it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe the Imperial Dispensary as a treasure vault.

Since it was a treasure vault, it was naturally heavily guarded outside. It wasn’t a place one could just sneak into.

“There are two possibilities: either the person who tore out the pages entered the Imperial Dispensary more than five days ago, or there’s a traitor within the Imperial Dispensary. I’ll question the palace maids and eunuchs working in the Imperial Dispensary next…”

Thinking this, Xu Qi’an stood up, cupped his hands, and said, “I’ve finished my questions, but this case isn’t over yet. I might need to visit again in the future.”

He gave this warning in advance to avoid being turned away at the door again.

Hearing this, Lang’er’s eyes showed obvious impatience.

Xu Qi’an quickly said, “I’ll send some small gifts to Sister Lang’er later. The mung bean cakes from Guiyue Tower in the capital are their signature pastry.”

He knew Lang’er liked to eat mung bean cakes. Lin’an had told him on the way to Jingxiu Palace.

“No need,” Lang’er shook her head, with a distant and somewhat resistant attitude, and said coolly, “This slave doesn’t like mung bean cakes.”

Am I disliked?… Hm, this woman looks like she’s at the age of being as hungry as a wolf, yet she has such a bad attitude towards a rare beauty like me.

Is it that the effect of the Rebirth Pills isn’t miraculous enough, or is it that her flower path has never been swept by a guest, so she doesn’t know the goodness of men?

“If that’s the case, then I won’t bother you anymore…”

Suddenly, Xu Qi’an froze.

In the vision provided by the Aura-Observing Technique, Lang’er’s emotions were very stable. She wasn’t lying.

Not lying?!