Another commotion arose in the court hall. No one had expected that the usually sharp-tongued Wei Zhi would inexplicably open his mouth to confess guilt. Even Hu Shengshan frowned.

“This subject is guilty.” Feng Zhiwei prostrated herself quietly and said, “During the thirteenth year of Changxi when this subject served as Director at Qingming Academy, out of gratitude for Dean Xin’s recognition and kindness, after discovering he privately possessed the ‘History of Great Cheng’s Glory’ and ‘Denunciation of Disloyal Subjects and Traitors,’ to avoid bringing disaster upon him, this subject intentionally concealed and hid this, never reporting it to the court. This was this subject placing personal sentiments and individual gratitude above loyalty to Your Majesty and the court. This is this subject’s crime.”

“Grand Scholar Wei’s words are mistaken.” Xin Ziyan finally couldn’t restrain himself and said with a cold laugh, “Five years ago you were grateful for my recognition and didn’t report me. Five years later, how did you suddenly stop being grateful?”

“Grand Scholar Xin, where do these words come from?” Feng Zhiwei turned her head to look at him with surprise. “Wei, like all ministers in the hall today, only just learned that the River Region scholar privately possessed the ‘Records of Tiansheng’ and about the so-called shrine matter.” As she spoke, she kowtowed to the Emperor of Tiansheng. “It’s just that after hearing about the ‘History of Great Cheng’s Glory’ and ‘Denunciation of Disloyal Subjects and Traitors’ matter, this subject felt ashamed and panic-stricken. To have concealed it for five years was already improper. To still try to cover up this subject’s crime now would be deceiving the sovereign in the hall itself. This subject absolutely dares not.” Having finished, she turned back and said sincerely to Xin Ziyan, “Compared to the great righteousness of loyalty to the sovereign, Wei must reluctantly sacrifice personal sentiments. Please forgive me, Grand Scholar.”

Xin Ziyan felt a surge of cold air catch in his throat—he had concluded it was Wei Zhi’s machinations based on Ning Yi’s one glance, but he truly had no evidence that he was causing trouble behind the scenes. Who knew what role Wei Zhi had actually played in this matter? Given the meticulous and devious nature of his methods, it was quite possible he hadn’t personally acted before the Emperor of Tiansheng but had slowly infiltrated through other means. Even the Emperor of Tiansheng might not have suspected he was the schemer.

Ning Yi smiled silently—truly a complete performance of singing, acting, reciting, and fighting.

“Grand Scholar Wei probably isn’t feeling ashamed and confessing guilt after hearing about Grand Scholar Xin’s private possession of prohibited books, is he?” Hu Shengshan said coldly. “I’m afraid if Prince Chu hadn’t produced that Justice Ministry document, Grand Scholar Wei’s heart might not necessarily feel ashamed—”

“Enough!” The Emperor of Tiansheng, who had been silently wearing a dark expression in the hall, suddenly roared.

Everyone immediately fell silent and hurriedly prostrated themselves.

“You’re all a bunch of bastards who disregard imperial grace!” The Emperor of Tiansheng swept the scrolls on his desk to the floor. “Deceiving superiors and concealing from below, ignorant and foolish!”

“This subject knows his guilt! This subject is willing to share guilt with Grand Scholar Xin! This subject failed Your Majesty’s imperial grace previously and cannot save my teacher and friend now. This subject has long had no face to live between heaven and earth!” Feng Zhiwei immediately declared loudly, “I ask Your Majesty to graciously permit this subject to go to the execution ground together with Grand Scholar Xin, to fulfill this subject’s heart of loyalty and righteousness!”

The entire court was in an uproar. Xin Ziyan swayed. Ning Yi’s expression changed. The Emperor of Tiansheng frowned, his mood uncertain.

“Grand Scholar Wei is determined to achieve both loyalty and righteousness, not hesitating to live and die together with Grand Scholar Xin. This prince also greatly admires this.” Ning Yi suddenly said flatly, “This prince only has one matter he doesn’t understand and wishes to consult Grand Scholar Wei about.”

“Oh?” Feng Zhiwei tilted her head, appearing to listen attentively.

Ning Yi looked at her deeply and said, “Grand Scholar Wei became famous very early. Some of your poetry and writings from your early years studying at Qingming were collected and organized by people, printed into volumes. This prince was also fortunate enough to obtain a copy. This prince remembers Grand Scholar Wei has a five-character poem.” He recited softly, “A message to the Jiangnan region, how many times have the plum blossoms bloomed? The guest beneath the Golden Terrace, once promised the swallows would return. Grand Scholar Wei, this prince remembers that Jiangnan was Great Cheng’s old name. Since our dynasty established its capital in the Imperial Capital, Jiangnan has been changed to Jianghuai. How could Great Cheng’s old name still appear in your poetry? Looking at the entire poem’s meaning, could it be that Grand Scholar Wei still harbors nostalgic feelings for the former Great Cheng?”

Having finished speaking, he smiled lightly. His smile was cold as a blade’s edge, like his words—appearing mild but actually ruthless.

Feng Zhiwei tilted her face slightly to look at him, her expression calm, but inwardly waves surged instantly—that year when she first obtained Empress Shen Ying’s posthumous work, the book contained some descriptions of local customs that naturally used Great Cheng’s old names. Influenced by this, her poetry sometimes carelessly carried them over. Later, busy with affairs and away from the Imperial Capital for long periods, by the time she wanted to retrieve her old works after the incident in the thirteenth year of Changxi, they had already spread widely due to her great fame.

But she had never heard of any collection of her writings circulating publicly. Or rather, had this collection always existed as only one copy, in his hands?

“Grand Scholar Wei.” Ning Yi, having begun, didn’t stop. Without waiting for her answer, he continued, “This prince also remembers Grand Scholar has a seven-character quatrain with the line: ‘Won’t return until all enemy barbarians are killed, will still lead iron cavalry into Golden Emblem.’ This line is full of spirited resolve and killing intent. This prince likes it very much. When Grand Scholar Wei composed this poem, you were only an ordinary Qingming student without the later campaign against Yue. To already have such iron-blooded masculine ambitions truly surpasses our generation. However, those final two words ‘Golden Emblem’ are quite puzzling. If this prince remembers correctly, when our Ning clan imperial family gained Great Cheng’s old capital, we renamed Wangdu to Imperial Capital. Originally above Wangdu’s city gate were golden dragon and phoenix emblems, only they were later scraped off—Grand Scholar Wei, do you intend to lead iron cavalry beneath the gates of Great Cheng’s former capital with its golden emblems?”

Gasps of shock sounded throughout the hall. In the hall above, the Emperor of Tiansheng was rapidly flipping through those excerpted poems.

“Though Grand Scholar Wei’s time as a student at the academy wasn’t long, quite a lot of poetry and prose has been passed down.” Ning Yi’s elegant smile in the hall’s dim light was dazzlingly brilliant yet made people’s hearts grow cold. “Looking at that piece ‘Record of a Visit to Slanting Sun Pavilion,’ it contains the line, ‘Most exalted is the sovereign, most humble are the subjects.’ Grand Scholar Wei, our dynasty’s Your Majesty is wise and martial, generous and benevolent in governance, always showing only grace and no harsh treatment to subjects. Look at your own meteoric rise to understand this. Such a benevolent Son of Heaven, a sage ruler of this generation—why do you utter such resentful words?”

Having finished, he smiled lightly at Feng Zhiwei.

All the assembled ministers trembled at this smile, thinking they must rush home after court to burn all paper with writing on it.

Hu Shengshan kept his head lowered, counting the gold bricks on the floor, feeling layer upon layer of cold emanating from his old bones. From beginning to end, he hadn’t understood the reason for today’s strange court struggle. He also knew something of the relationship between His Highness and Wei Zhi—what had happened for no good reason? Moreover, seeing what His Highness threw out today, it was obviously long prepared, yet at that time their relationship clearly wasn’t good… Old Hu also shuddered, thinking he should look back to see if he had written anything inappropriate.

In the hall’s shocked atmosphere, Ning Yi remained calm as usual. Only facing Feng Zhiwei, having thrown out such ruthless strikes, not hesitating to make his trusted followers feel cold, he only wanted to see her explode in fury or collapse, using the most decisive method to quickly end this antagonism, to escape the dense bitterness rising from the depths of his heart.

Yet he knew even more clearly and desperately that this was only the beginning.

She wouldn’t give up.

And would never lose so easily.

Sure enough, after a long moment, the corner of Feng Zhiwei’s eyes swept up as she smiled at Ning Yi.

Her smile was composed yet carried a hint of severity. Even Xin Ziyan felt his heart tremble seeing such a smile. Only Ning Yi’s expression remained unchanged, nor did he avoid her gaze.

Yes, just as expected.

“Your Highness truly took great pains.” Feng Zhiwei spoke only flatly, then turned her head and said simply and clearly, “Most humble are the subjects—if subjects cannot serve the sovereign with the most humble hearts, how can we speak of loyalty to sovereign and nation?”

The Emperor of Tiansheng’s gaze, dark and clouded, flashed slightly.

“‘Will still lead iron cavalry into Golden Emblem’—why does Your Highness only excerpt that one line? Why not report the entire poem’s title? ‘The Xinyou Year, Encountering Snow at Night Discussing Former Sages’ Heroic Deeds.’ That year this subject and literary friends boiled snow to brew tea for night discussions, speaking of the day when Tiansheng led troops into Wangdu. Many heroic predecessors shed blood on battlefields with magnificent courage. Moved by these reflections, I composed this work. This line speaks precisely of the year when Tiansheng generals led troops to capture Wangdu’s city gates. Iron cavalry entered the Golden Emblem Gate, thus achieving our Tiansheng’s great enterprise—like this, nothing more.”

Her smile carried faint mockery, an expression of “Your Highness, you’re taking things out of context and making mountains out of molehills—what are your intentions?”

Ning Yi closed his eyes, remaining silent.

“As for that line about the Jiangnan region.” Feng Zhiwei fell silent for a moment, then bowed her head and said, “This subject made an error in writing. There’s nothing to say.”

With this statement, the assembled ministers who had been waiting for her final brilliant and forceful rebuttal erupted in astonishment. However, Ning Yi raised his eyebrows—Feng Zhiwei remained extremely shrewd with perfect grasp of propriety. The first two most crucial accusations had already been refuted very effectively. Finding another reason for this one would instead easily give people the feeling ‘this person is too skilled at sophistry,’ so she retreated to advance, saying nothing, directly admitting it.

His Majesty was suspicious by nature. She had grasped his character—doing everything only to seventy percent, just right.

“Your Highness is learned and wise, broad in knowledge.” Feng Zhiwei said flatly, “In matters of written words, naturally you can interpret them however you wish. This subject feels, however, that Your Highness has wasted too much effort. In any case, this subject has already prepared to share guilt and death with Grand Scholar Xin. Your insistence on adding these few lines—are you planning to upgrade beheading to slow slicing, or preparing to drag this subject’s coffin out later for corpse desecration?”

Ning Yi’s complexion paled.

Words that pierced the heart coming from her mouth were truly sharp as knives.

For an instant his fingers moved, but ultimately he withdrew his hand.

“I’ve heard enough and am weary.” The Emperor of Tiansheng in the hall examined Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei below with suspicious eyes. He too was somewhat unable to fathom what was going on between these two today. The two words “factional strife” flowed through his mind. His earlier surging anger gradually subsided. The old Emperor’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized those below, revealing a trace of cold laughter. “Each one so eloquent—I truly didn’t know you all had such fine oratory skills! Someone come—”

Everyone’s hearts immediately rose.

“Take them down! Separately confine them in the Capital Guard offices. After the responsible authorities investigate clearly, then determine the verdict!” The Emperor of Tiansheng pointed at Xin Ziyan and Feng Zhiwei. Xin Ziyan’s face turned pale. Feng Zhiwei wore a faint smile, an appearance of viewing death as homecoming.

“If there are hearts that disorder the nation and betray the sovereign, even if all five Grand Academicians of the Cabinet are implicated, I will definitely execute without mercy!” The Emperor of Tiansheng’s expression was iron-blue. Without even glancing below, he flicked his sleeve and left.

The assembled ministers felt solemn.

Ning Yi quietly exhaled a long breath.

Western Capital Iron Horse Bridge was a place the Imperial Capital’s common people rarely visited. This area had been a mass burial ground in earlier years. Later, an iron-black building was constructed atop the mound—uniformly gray-black wall bricks with deep red eaves. That mottled red resembling rust easily made people think of some unclean and cold substance. Since this building’s completion, neighboring residents often heard terrifying screams emerging at midnight, making people’s hair stand on end. Before long, the few remaining households moved away completely. In local people’s legends, this was an infamous bandit’s underground residence. Beneath the gray-black compound’s wall corners lay buried countless blood-stained white bones.

Early one morning, summer’s blindingly white sunlight struck harshly beneath the deep red eaves, projecting countless hurrying black shadows. Like ghosts, they quickly came and went before the gray-black compound, occupying all the compound’s defensive positions, emanating an atmosphere of strict security. Before long, two horse carriages came rumbling up with countless guards silently following all around. The carriages stopped before the compound. Guards with stern expressions stepped forward. First they received a man in blue cloth robes. That person looked around in all directions, laughed coldly once, and entered with head held high.

Then the second carriage stopped. A young man in plain white clothing descended—barely past the age of twenty, lips holding a smile. He too looked around in all directions, then casually waved to the guards waiting at the entrance, greeting them cordially like a superior inspecting: “Everyone has worked hard.”

The guards coughed a few times, bowed to the young man, and said, “We’ve wronged Grand Scholar Wei.”

Feng Zhiwei nodded with a smile, raised her head to look at the compound’s gate—two simple characters “Capital Office” hung there unpretentiously.

Capital Guard Office.

This was a secret location that not only common people didn’t know about, but even many court officials weren’t clear about. It was one of the highest-level secret prisons directly under the Golden Feather Guard. The Golden Feather Guard handled all major treason cases. Some cases unsuitable for the Justice Ministry were mostly secretly resolved in these places.

This Capital Guard office in the west was, besides the heavenly prison on the west side of the imperial palace, the most strictly guarded facility confining the highest-level serious criminals.

She smiled and waved to a group of people who had quietly followed, then walked in following a large contingent of guards as if strolling through a garden.

A batch of officials with Qingming origins led by Qian Yan, after the two figures disappeared, stood in place looking at each other in dismay. Dean Xin and Director Wei imprisoned simultaneously, and supposedly because they attacked each other in court? How should they, this group of Qingming students, handle this?

Once the “River Region Book Case” erupted, the powerful Qingming students with well-informed sources had already contacted all officials of Qingming origin in court, students still in the academy, and scholars residing in the capital preparing for this year’s autumn examinations, planning to jointly guarantee them, storm the civil judicial offices. Many people also rushed about everywhere, asking favors from examination-year predecessors and pulling connections, planning to make a good scene once His Majesty handed down punishment. Who would have thought the winds and clouds would suddenly shift, the court hall would involve mutual entanglement, and even Director Wei would be dragged in? At this moment to guarantee Dean Xin, Director Wei would receive suppression. To try guaranteeing both, never mind whether it could succeed—at this very moment the Qingming students had already split into two factions, guaranteeing Xin or guaranteeing Wei. Without unity in such matters, what use could it serve?

In terms of influence over Qingming, Xin Ziyan and Feng Zhiwei each occupied half the territory. Without Xin Ziyan, many students from humble origins couldn’t use Qingming to enter the court. Without Feng Zhiwei, many Qingming students’ official careers wouldn’t have been so smooth. At this moment everyone was in uproar and transformation—no one could persuade anyone else.

“Without Dean Xin, you couldn’t even enter Qingming’s gates. What qualifications do you have to say whom to rescue or not rescue?”

“Without Director Wei, with your foot-binding-cloth-like stinking essays, could you have entered the top three? Bah!”

“Dean Xin is the literary leader, a great scholar of the realm!”

“Director Wei is an unparalleled national scholar, a meritorious official of the state!”

“Dean Xin!”

“Director Wei!”

The clamoring voices startled birds into flight, flapping their wings to pass over a grove of trees behind. In the grove, two people stood silently, hands behind their backs, not speaking.

After a long moment, the old man with graying whiskers and a walnut-like face sighed, “Scholars truly are like scattered sand. Old Xin spent a lifetime managing Qingming, yet in the end he’s not as good as Wei Zhi who inserted himself halfway.”

“No, it’s not like that.” Ning Yi’s complexion was somewhat pale. In the grove’s dappled light and shadow, his expression was gloomy. “Though Master Xin has shown grace to Qingming for many years, he has a scholar’s unrestrained nature. Regarding matters like forming factions for private interests and secretly accumulating power, he always felt his heart wasn’t upright enough and disdained doing them. But Wei Zhi—famous from youth, an unparalleled national scholar, capable of stabilizing the nation with literary talent and pacifying it with military might. Young scholars are all hot-blooded youths who will naturally have several more degrees of admiration for this type of legendary figure accomplished in both civil and military arts. Add to this his approachable and amiable nature, bestowing favors everywhere—in just a few short years to have captured all hearts is reasonable and natural.”

“Your Highness’s analysis of human hearts—this old one cannot match.” Hu Shengshan turned his head to look at him, his expression quite strange. “It’s just that hearing Your Highness’s tone, you seem to have been vigilant toward Wei Zhi very early on. Then why…”

Ning Yi fell into silence. After a long moment he said, “Some people—it’s not that if you’re vigilant, you can completely restrain them.”

Hu Shengshan nodded with deep feeling, pointed at that prison, and said, “Look at this move of Wei Zhi’s—using force against force, how beautiful. With his imprisonment, the most powerful Qingming cannot rescue Lord Xin. Yet those in court who don’t know the inside story will still praise him for achieving both grace and righteousness. Good, good—I’ve truly been convinced by this fellow! If only we hadn’t dragged him into the water in court. Now we’ve fallen into being blamed by thousands!”

“Elder Hu, you’re mistaken. Wei Zhi at that time should have already planned to accompany Master Xin to prison.” Ning Yi shook his head. “This person’s thoughts are meticulous. Before acting, he has already considered the consequences. Imprisoned or not imprisoned, he definitely has preparations for both scenarios. Rather than let him stay outside to manipulate matters, better to lock him up for peace of mind. Moreover, as long as seeds of suspicion are planted in His Majesty’s heart, there will always be a day when they sprout. Just watch.”

“I hope it’s as Your Highness says.” Hu Shengshan stood lost in thought for a long moment, then suddenly said, “That day in court, actually no one could see it was Wei Zhi’s handiwork. Why did Your Highness immediately conclude it was him?”

Tree leaves in the grove rustled in the wind. The gaze Grand Academician Hu turned with narrowed slightly, cunning as a fox.

Ning Yi raised his head to look at the golden sunlight streaming through the leaves. His refined jawline was firm, his thin lips tightly closed—also a firm posture of unwillingness to speak.

Before his loyal and devoted old minister, he didn’t want to lie. He could only respond with silence.

Hu Shengshan suddenly stepped back, lifted his robes, and knelt down properly before him.

Ning Yi narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t surprised, nor did he move.

“This old subject doesn’t know Your Highness’s thoughts and has no intention of probing.” Hu Shengshan looked up at Ning Yi, his voice somewhat hoarse. “It’s just that young Xin now faces a life-and-death crisis. This old subject only asks Your Highness, considering that young Xin has followed loyally since childhood without wavering… do not abandon him.”

He knocked his head down deeply.

Ning Yi lowered his head, looking at the old man’s graying hair—dazzlingly bright in the fragmented sunlight.

He closed his eyes.

This old minister who had rolled through the officialdom’s seas all his life had still keenly detected the abnormality between him and Zhiwei.

He had guessed that he still held a trump card in hand but was simply unwilling to throw it out.

A breeze swept leisurely by. In the distance came the sound of pigeon whistles. In one corner of the azure sky, a dark gleam flashed—that was the crossbow atop the Capital Guard office’s watchtower, rotating day and night.

After a long time, Ning Yi said softly:

“Alright.”

The secret discussion in the small grove scattered with the wind. But the dialogue in the office’s dark prison cells rang out crisp as nails being thrown.

“Why did you harm me?” Xin Ziyan sat cross-legged before his cell door, examining Feng Zhiwei across from him carefully and meticulously, as if recognizing her for the first time today.

Feng Zhiwei turned her gaze away, looking around in all directions, smiling bitterly. Whose arrangement was this? Actually placing the two people’s cells facing each other, separated by barely more than ten feet. Add to that Old Xin’s such earnest gaze—truly even someone like her who had seen storms and waves felt somewhat restless because of this.

On the water-seeping cell wall, the oil lamp’s glow was dim. She suddenly noticed across the way that Xin Ziyan’s temples already showed a hint of white hair.

This discovery made her somewhat dazed. In a trance, she recalled that year beneath the back wall of Orchid Fragrance Courtyard—the moon-white robe, the clear chanting atop the tree as if beside her ear. When he had fallen into the dust at her feet, his upturned face had been beautiful as flowers.

In a blink, years had passed.

Some meetings begin as fate but end as calamity.

Her hand pressed on her knee. With a complex gaze, she looked at Xin Ziyan for a long moment. This was her benefactor. This was her enemy.

After a long moment, she said quite abruptly, “Dean, have you ever done anything unconscionable in your life?”

“No.” Xin Ziyan answered quickly and decisively.

Feng Zhiwei actually paused in surprise, a slight anger rising in her heart. She laughed coldly. “So you’re still a perfect person.”

Xin Ziyan looked at her with a strange expression and said, “Could it be you’re targeting me because I’m a perfect person? That’s fine too. I consider myself not a great hero or true man, but I’ve never done ghostly or demonic deeds. If it’s for this reason that you’re jealously plotting against me, I can also die gloriously.”

Feng Zhiwei was both angered and amused by his scholarly nature. After a long moment she said, “A perfect person? Who under heaven dares call themselves perfect? Could it be you’ve never made a mistake in your entire life? Never implicated any innocent person?”

Xin Ziyan fell silent. Feng Zhiwei laughed coldly, hugging her knees as she watched the lamplight. After a long moment, she heard him say, “Putting it that way, I do recall—there is still one matter…”

Feng Zhiwei turned her head to look at him.

“Years ago I temporarily managed the Golden Feather Guard for Prince Chu. At that time, you and he went together on a mission to Nanhai.” Xin Ziyan said leisurely, “I handled a case of Great Cheng remnants. Perhaps you heard of that case—Fire Phoenix Female Marshal secretly raised Great Cheng’s final imperial descendant for ten years. After the case broke, the Great Cheng remnant was poisoned to death. Fire Phoenix Female Marshal… committed suicide.”

Feng Zhiwei’s brows, in the oil lamp’s glow, showed a faint cold green pallor. She said indifferently, “Yes, I heard of it. What’s wrong with that? As Golden Feather Commander, eliminating Great Cheng remnants was your duty. What’s unconscionable about it?”

“The matter itself I don’t feel guilty about.” Xin Ziyan stood up, somewhat agitatedly waving the iron chains in his hands, pacing back and forth rapidly. “At that time if I didn’t act, others would. His Highness had long grasped the Feng family’s secrets but kept refusing to act because of the Feng family’s daughter. Once this matter became known to His Majesty, His Highness would face great disaster. His Highness has always been decisive, yet he would let female matters interfere. I swore loyalty to him from the time he was ten years old. How could I stay out of this matter?”

“Then why do you still speak of guilt?” Feng Zhiwei laughed coldly. “You achieved both loyalty and righteousness, a meritorious minister to the nation, yourself, and Prince Chu. It was the most correct course of action!”

Xin Ziyan heard her bitter tone and stood dazed for a long moment. Suddenly he slumped against the wall and said in a low voice, “Yes, I wasn’t wrong at the start of this matter, but I was wrong in the result. Regardless, Marshal Qiu was innocent in that case. She didn’t know that was a Great Cheng remnant. She… originally didn’t need to die.”

Feng Zhiwei closed her eyes, and in her heart’s surging tides said softly, “Is that so?”

“There’s also the Feng family’s girl.” Xin Ziyan said dazedly, “She also lost her mother innocently because of this, married far away to the grasslands. That year I went to the northern border to supervise the army and saw her. She was very different from the Feng Zhiwei who composed poetry in the golden hall in my impressions. Though that woman wasn’t beautiful externally, she was wise internally. She originally didn’t need to marry far away. Perhaps she could even have been with His Highness… such a fine marriage match…” He smiled somewhat bleakly and stopped speaking.

Feng Zhiwei didn’t open her eyes. Her hands pressed on her knees. Still that soft phrase: “Is that so?”

“But what does this have to do with you?” Xin Ziyan’s thoughts pulled away from old matters. Looking at Feng Zhiwei coldly, he said, “Counting my entire life, only this matter leaves regrets. Even if someone truly wanted revenge for this, it should be Feng Zhiwei…” His eyes suddenly flashed as he asked tentatively, “I know you have old ties with the Qiu household. Could it be you’re a relative of the Feng family?”

“Why must the Dean wildly speculate?” Feng Zhiwei opened her eyes and smiled calmly. “In any case, you and I are both here now. Life or death rests in His Majesty’s hands. Why concern yourself with so many origins and causes?”

“In any case, you’re determined to make me die without understanding!” Xin Ziyan angrily pointed at her, then suddenly said, “Wei Zhi, don’t be smug. I’m not without ways to deal with you. It’s just that His Highness’s intentions aren’t clear. I’m waiting for his moves first. Don’t push me too far—”

Feng Zhiwei smiled at him and closed her eyes to rest.

Xin Ziyan, angered by her impervious attitude, staggered backward and simply sat down with his back turned to her in a huff, ignoring her. He faced the wall corner thinking for a long time, then suddenly leaped up and forcefully struck the wall with the chains on his hands.

The thunderous clanging was deafening, spreading far and wide. Feng Zhiwei looked at him in astonishment, thinking he had gone mad with anger.

Though just moments ago not a single jailer was visible, in the blink of an eye a pile of black-clothed men appeared ghost-like, approaching and bowing to Xin Ziyan: “What are Grand Scholar’s orders?”

“Quickly go notify my wife and my sisters-in-law.” Xin Ziyan said rapidly, “Tell them I’m going on a long journey far away and had to leave in such a hurry I couldn’t return home first. Tell her not to be angry and wait for me to return.” Thinking it over, he added instructions: “Make sure people conceal the news of my imprisonment. Absolutely, absolutely don’t let them know. Not a single one. Absolutely, absolutely!”

“Yes. Does Sir have any other orders?”

Xin Ziyan sniffed, looked around in all directions, then suddenly blushed. After a long moment, he beckoned that Golden Feather Guard to come closer.

That person approached in confusion. Xin Ziyan furtively leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Hey, help me tell her not to get angry. Getting angry is bad for the body. When I return, if she wants to hit the left side, hit the left side. If she wants to hit the right side… hit the right side… *cough cough*.”

That guard pressed his lips together, showing an expression wanting to laugh but not daring to. After a long moment, he also coughed: “Yes, I’ll definitely convey it!”

Xin Ziyan straightened up and waved his hand carelessly with a serious expression: “Go!”

After the guard left, Xin Ziyan sneaked a peek at Feng Zhiwei, who seemed not to have heard. Relieved, he exhaled a long breath and was just about to sit down when he suddenly heard Feng Zhiwei ask curiously, “What left side and right side?”

“…”

After a long moment, Xin Ziyan said angrily in shame, “None of your business!”

Feng Zhiwei smiled, then suddenly said, “Years ago at Qingming Academy, there was a great spectacle.”

Xin Ziyan had intended to ignore her, but hearing this, curiosity arose. He asked, “A great spectacle?”

“The spectacle of beauties wielding knives in pursuit of their husband.” Feng Zhiwei said leisurely.

Xin Ziyan’s face immediately reddened. He didn’t speak. Feng Zhiwei sighed and said, “When I first and second met the Dean, the Dean was being pursued and chased by his wife wielding a vegetable cleaver. At that time, not just me—all Qingming students thought your esteemed wife was a lioness from Hedong… my apologies, no offense intended.”

“She is indeed a lioness from Hedong.” Xin Ziyan said matter-of-factly, “You don’t need to pretend to be polite.”

Feng Zhiwei gazed at him intently for a long moment, then smiled. “Everyone thought that after so many years of losing face because of your wife, the Dean must harbor deep resentment. But actually…”

“Deep resentment?” Xin Ziyan raised his feminine eyebrows and smiled. When he smiled, his picturesque features showed gentle emotion. “Why would I resent her? If it weren’t for her, the Xin Ziyan of those years would have long since fallen to become a beggar and died on the streets. How would there be today’s ascension to the hall and cabinet, power and glory? Everything I have was given by her. She just likes to be a bit jealous—what’s there to fuss about?”

Feng Zhiwei actually paused in surprise. After a long moment she said, “So Sir and Madam are so deeply in love. I suppose those visits to brothels back then were just playing along…”

“The brothels were also real.” But Xin Ziyan shook his head seriously. “To my wife, this heart is as clear as heaven and sun, I would definitely live and die together with her. To other beauties, this feeling is also eternal as earth and heaven, absolutely every word sincere. You mustn’t casually insult my sincere feelings.”

Feng Zhiwei: “…”

She had just been choked by the uniquely independent yet romantic and loyal Old Xin when across the way Old Xin suddenly collapsed with a thud.

Feng Zhiwei started in alarm. Before her eyes, another person had already appeared.

Face covered messily with a mask cloth, a pair of eyes rolling around restlessly and quite mischievously.

Feng Zhiwei took one look and sighed, thinking His Highness truly deserved having once managed the Golden Feather Guard—his subordinates came and went through the office as if it were their own front door.

“Ning Cheng, next time remember the mask cloth should cover the eyes.” She lazily leaned back.

Ning Cheng angrily tore off the mask cloth and threw it at her feet. Feng Zhiwei glanced at him and said, “Have you come to kill me?”

“I really want to!” Ning Cheng said loudly.

Feng Zhiwei smiled at him.

Ning Cheng paced restlessly on the floor for a few steps, pointed at the unconscious Xin Ziyan, and said, “You just heard him. What did he do wrong? He’s like this… he’s like this…” He rolled his eyes searching for descriptive words. Feng Zhiwei reminded him coolly: “Pure as a child’s heart.”

“Right, pure as a child’s heart.” Ning Cheng said with sudden understanding. “Someone with such a pure child’s heart—why do you grab onto that bit of old business and insist on hitting and killing?”

“That bit of old business.” Feng Zhiwei said flatly. “Two lives.”

“They’re already dead. People should look forward—” Ning Cheng said halfway when he suddenly widened his eyes, suddenly realizing something, stammering, “Xin Ziyan… Xin Ziyan… why are you targeting Xin Ziyan? I heard your memory was sealed. In your memories, it should have been the Golden Feather Guard Commander who killed your mother and younger brother, not Old Xin!”

Feng Zhiwei raised her eyes to look at him, smiling with near anguish.

This kid’s reaction wasn’t slow at all.

“You never lost your memory at all!” Ning Cheng exclaimed in shock, wringing his hands. Turning to leave, he said, “I have to go back and notify His Highness. You deceived him!”

“No need.”

“He knows.”

Two answers emerged simultaneously, yet not from one person’s mouth.

Ning Cheng’s raised foot hung suspended in midair. After a long moment, he looked forward, then looked back. He felt he’d come to the wrong place and been caught between two pieces of bread as meat filling.

At the cell door, the blazing sunlight cut out the silhouette of Ning Yi’s tall form. His expression looking down was extremely cold, carrying the awareness and vastness of destiny.

However, Feng Zhiwei smiled faintly, saying somewhat mockingly, “I’m afraid even His Majesty never imagined this Capital Guard office truly is just Prince Chu’s back door.”

Ning Yi didn’t answer. After a long moment, he waved his hand. Ning Cheng furtively slipped away. Ning Yi slowly descended the steps, saying, “Just the freedom to come and go can’t exchange for Master Xin’s release from prison. You can rest assured.”

“I’m not worried about anything.” Feng Zhiwei leaned back against the damp cell wall, saying frankly, “Entering or leaving—it’s not that important.”

Ning Yi stopped one step before her cell door, crouched down, and carefully felt the straw mat beneath her.

Feng Zhiwei didn’t speak.

Ning Cheng blinked, listening to the two people’s matter-of-fact dialogue. After waiting a long time, he finally couldn’t bear it and said, “Can you please explain the meaning of that sentence just now? What do you mean ‘no need’? What do you mean ‘he knows’?”

“It means he knows.” Feng Zhiwei smiled faintly. “My memory was never sealed at all. And he knows my memory wasn’t sealed. But he deliberately let me think he didn’t know my memory wasn’t sealed. And I know he knows my memory wasn’t sealed but also deliberately pretended to think he didn’t know… hey, don’t faint.”

Ning Cheng’s head heavily struck the wall…

“If I hadn’t proposed having Master Zong seal your memory, how would you have been willing to approach me again?” Ning Yi looked down at Feng Zhiwei, his gaze gentle. “Between you and me lies that year’s snow. Under circumstances where we both don’t forget, what reason would you have to approach me? That year I chased your footsteps from the Imperial Capital to the grasslands to Great Yue. You went farther and farther away. Finally I understood—only if you ‘lost your memory’ would you have a reason to return to the Imperial Capital and start over with me from the beginning. Isn’t that right?”

Even if that beginning was the start of revenge, it was better than silent, distant avoidance.

“Your Highness took such pains.” Feng Zhiwei was silent for a long moment, then laughed shortly. “How dare I not fulfill your wishes?”

“I would rather you approach me frankly to scheme against me, deliver a thunderous blow when the time is ripe, than have you forced to avoid me and go far to the ends of the earth because that hatred exists, silently growing old in places I don’t know, or suddenly appearing after many years to give me one blade.” Ning Yi extended his hand in the prison’s shifting light and shadow toward that woman’s fixed figure, saying softly as if in a dream, “Zhiwei, I would rather you always be at my side, at the closest distance, to kill me.”