The Yu residence.

In the main courtyard, Minister Yu Dali lay on the bed, his face pale as death, his lips dry and cracked with still-wet bloodstains on them. The physician had been applying medicine to him for several hours before finally managing to bandage all the whip wounds on his body one by one. But the blood seeped through, gradually staining the bandages red—a shocking sight to behold.

“Doctor, how is my father?” Yu Wei asked anxiously.

The physician raised his sleeve to wipe away his sweat, took a sip of water, and said, “Young Master Yu, rest assured. The wounds on Master Yu’s body have been properly treated. Though there are many wounds, none are deep. As long as he rests well and recuperates, naturally there will be no serious problems. This old physician will prescribe some medicines shortly—they must be taken on time…”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Afterward, the physician gave some additional instructions on matters requiring attention before leaving.

When Minister Yu Dali awoke, it was already dusk.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he found himself already at home.

What?

Wasn’t he still in the Ministry of Justice’s prison?

Yu Wei had been keeping watch at his side. Seeing his father awaken, he asked a few concerned questions, then quickly brought a bowl of water for him to drink.

Master Yu leaned against the edge of the bed, his head still dizzy and foggy. After his spirit recovered somewhat, he weakly asked, “This matter… how was it handled?”

Yu Wei recounted in detail the entire process of Ji Yunshu’s trial of the case.

Master Yu was also extremely shocked.

He truly hadn’t expected the truth to be like this.

It was completely unexpected.

But—

After Yu Wei finished speaking, he began to stammer and hesitate, his expression not very good.

Seeing this, Master Yu asked, “Are you still hiding something from me?”

“Father…”

“Speak!”

“Because of this matter, His Majesty has already ordered your official position removed, telling you to recuperate well at home.”

Damn it!

“What did you say?” Master Yu was shocked. “Removed my official position?”

Yu Wei nodded tremblingly, having guessed his father would have this reaction.

Although Master Yu had risen in rank extremely quickly due to his smooth and clever way of dealing with people, ever since he sat in that chair as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he had begun handling cases and affairs properly and correctly, without the slightest carelessness. Who knew he would stumble before the horse, ending up in such a state now?

He spent quite a while barely accepting this reality, but asked curiously, “Who is assuming the position now?”

He wanted to see who had such a huge windfall land on their head.

Yu Wei’s expression became even more unpleasant. He said, “Father, you should rest well first. Don’t worry about other matters for now.”

“Did His Majesty promote you?”

“No… no.”

“Then who is it?”

Yu Wei couldn’t withstand his father’s interrogation and could only utter two words: “Wang Ye.”

“What?”

“Wang Ye, Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works Wang Ye.” Yu Wei mustered his courage and spoke clearly.

What?

Master Yu’s eyes widened greatly, extremely astonished, his eyes carrying anger and unwillingness. “How could they choose him? That Wang Ye is someone who devours people without spitting out the bones!”

If it had been anyone else, it would have been fine, but why did it have to be Wang Ye?

Yu Wei quickly tried to persuade him, “Father, calm down. This official position is lost, but we can compete for it again in the future. As long as you’re alright, another day your son will go to the temple and pick a few hackberry leaves to sweep over your body and drive away the bad luck.”

“Still sweeping? The position has already been swept away.” Master Yu waved his hand, deeply worried. “That Wang Ye has absolutely no ability to assume the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. The wall collapse at our residence—what was the reason? Wasn’t it because their Ministry of Works cut corners! Back then, the person responsible for the repairs was Wang Zhe, a bureau director from the Ministry of Works’ Construction Bureau—precisely Wang Ye’s nephew. The uncle and nephew pair secretly embezzled funds within the Ministry of Works, collecting ill-gotten money. Who knows what the Censorate does for a living? The matter is clear as day before their eyes, yet they claim they can’t find evidence. If Wang Ye becomes Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who knows how many wronged souls there will be.”

The Court of Judicial Review was like his child—he couldn’t allow others to pour sand into it.

Alas…

He complained for a long while, with Yu Wei just quietly listening beside him.

Actually, Yu Wei had quite a good relationship with Wang Ye’s nephew Wang Zhe. The two often arranged to go out for small gatherings together.

Speaking of why the two had such a good relationship, one had to go back three years. At that time, when the Ministry of Works was to repair the Yu residence, they sent Wang Zhe, who was then only an assistant director of the Ministry of Works, to be the chief engineer. Thus he had more contact with Yu Wei. Since their temperaments were quite similar and they had many common topics of conversation, their relationship naturally improved. Later, Wang Zhe received a promotion and was now already a bureau director in the Ministry of Works.

Therefore, when Master Yu kept going on about Wang Ye and Wang Zhe uncle and nephew taking dirty money, Yu Wei didn’t say a word.

After his father’s anger subsided, he persuaded, “Father, your health is what matters. Actually, it’s good now—you can rest well at home. You should enjoy the blessings of having children and grandchildren.”

Master Yu gradually calmed down as well.

Forget it, forget it!

Staying away from officialdom might not necessarily be a bad thing!

…

After Jingrong returned from the palace, he had been shutting himself in his room the entire time.

Ji Yunshu had wanted to find him several times, but each time she reached his door, she still didn’t go in. Because she didn’t dare go in, didn’t dare ask Jingrong, because she knew that answer would greatly disappoint her. Yet even though she already knew the result, she clung to the last shred of hope, hoping all of this was fake.

But even if she could deceive others, she couldn’t deceive her own heart.

As the sky gradually darkened, she sat in the courtyard, raising her head to stare at that fuzzy round moon in a daze.

Her eyes carried worry and sorrow.

Zhulán came from the room carrying a cloak to drape over her. “Miss Ji, what are you thinking about?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know either.”

“These past two days, this servant hasn’t seen Miss go find the Prince, and the Prince hasn’t come to find Miss either. Could it be…” Did you have a fight?

Zhulán blinked her eyes and inquired cautiously.

Ji Yunshu extended her finger and lightly tapped her head. “What nonsense are you talking about? The Prince has been busy with important matters these past two days, and I’ve been busy with the Yu family’s case. Naturally, we’ve seen less of each other.”

“This servant thought…” She laughed with a chuckle. “But the Prince and Miss are such a perfect match, and the Prince likes you so much—how could he bear to fight with Miss?”

“You little girl.”

Zhulán laughed, then asked, “But Miss, you and the Prince returned to the capital this time to send off Minister Qin’s funeral and vindicate Minister Yu. Now that everything is completed, then… are you leaving the capital again? Please don’t! You’ve only stayed for a few days. Zhulán can’t bear to part with you.”

One moment laughing, the next crying.

Extremely adorable.

Ji Yunshu touched her head and said, “You girl, are you really that reluctant to part with me?”

“Of course! Miss, please stay a while longer. Zhulán truly can’t bear to part with you. Who knows how long you’ll be gone once you leave this time? What if you don’t come back? This servant…”

As she spoke, she began crying again.

Ji Yunshu sighed.

Actually, she herself didn’t know either!

To leave? Or to stay?