At the gate of the prince’s residence, the entrance bustled with activity.

Guests coming and going submitted their invitation cards and gift lists. The gatekeepers outside were overwhelmed, frequently announcing arrivals in loud voices and inviting people inside. When encountering those of high position and great power, they became even more enthusiastic.

Zhou Yinzhi held some standing within the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But now, when he submitted his gift list, he received only an ordinary expression from the prince’s residence servants, which showed just how many princes and nobles were gathered here today.

This was originally the Jiang family marrying off a daughter. Zhou Yinzhi, having relied on Jiang Boyou’s recommendation to enter officialdom, should have prepared a generous gift. However, after some consideration recently, he recalled that Jiang Xuening’s relationship with this elder sister of hers didn’t seem harmonious, so he reduced the originally prepared gift by half.

Only during the Grand Princess’s marriage alliance, Jiang Xuening had instructed him to handle some matters, but later said they were no longer needed.

Moreover, he had never heard of her moving about outside recently.

Grand Tutor Xie, whom he had met during the Tongzhou affair, seemed to have only an ordinary teacher-student relationship with her. And that Young Master Dingfei, whose name had been spread around wildly some time ago, was not only a wastrel, but his Xiao family was also teetering on the edge of collapse…

Zhou Yinzhi stood at the gate of the prince’s residence, but his heart was truly anxious: His Majesty now placed greater importance on the Embroidered Uniform Guard. One of the original Magistrates in the Guard had received a promotion, and his former position had just become vacant. He had designs on this position, but having only been promoted to Chiliarch last year, by any calculation this Magistrate position didn’t seem likely to fall to him. But if he missed this opportunity, who knew when the next vacancy would occur?

Just as he was contemplating this, suddenly from the main street outside came an announcement: “Consort Xian has arrived—”

The surroundings immediately quieted considerably.

A luxurious carriage stopped at the entrance. Xiao Shu, with dignified and refined bearing, stepped down from the carriage with the support of a palace attendant’s hand on a eunuch’s back. She glanced around and said indifferently: “This palace and the principal and two secondary consorts His Highness Prince Linzi is marrying today were all former classmates, so I came specially to attend the banquet. His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress are still behind and have not yet arrived. You gentlemen need not be nervous.”

Everyone paid their respects to her.

But they couldn’t help muttering in their hearts: The Xiao family was currently caught in the whirlpool of the reinvestigation into the Ganzhou disaster relief silver case, struggling to cope. Yet this newly enfeoffed Consort Xian was quite high-profile—how was it that she seemed completely unaffected?

Since she had come, others naturally had to make way for her.

Originally Zhou Yinzhi was at the entrance, having already submitted his card, with one foot about to step inside.

Seeing Xiao Shu walking toward this direction, he withdrew his foot, stepped back several paces, and bent to bow as Xiao Shu approached.

Xiao Shu originally hadn’t been looking at anyone, but at this she couldn’t help glancing at him.

With this glance, she saw the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s black-based flying fish robe he wore, and her eyebrows raised slightly. Having been attending to Shen Lang recently, she naturally knew he seemed to have thoughts of making significant use of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so she paid extra attention.

She smiled faintly: “Thank you, sir.”

After speaking, she didn’t linger and went directly inside.

Zhou Yinzhi was slightly surprised. He frowned slightly in thought, but a dark gleam flashed in his eyes.

After Xiao Shu left, the outside became noisy again.

Servants from the residence came to guide guests inside.

In various halls, people were already seated everywhere.

Those with some status were all arranged in the flower halls.

Most of the officials from the court had arrived. Usually cautious and serious, today they rarely put down their airs—at least superficially casting aside old grudges, raising cups and exchanging toasts, chatting and laughing merrily.

Officials from the Six Ministries also sat quite close together, divided into two sides. The Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Revenue at one end; the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of War beside them.

After his role in Tongzhou, Xie Wei had taken the substantive position of Vice Minister of Works, so he happened not to sit with Jiang Boyou.

Jiang Boyou was Vice Minister of Revenue, and by coincidence sat very close to Zhang Zhe.

Not far away were Minister of Justice Gu Chunfang, Minister of Personnel Yao Qingyu, Vice Minister of Justice Chen Ying, and others.

Since today was after all Jiang Boyou marrying off his daughter, everyone offered him congratulations.

After a few drinks, Jiang Boyou kept waving his hands, smiling bitterly: “It’s not really that worthy of celebration. My eldest daughter is obedient and sensible, but I have a second daughter who’s like a demon king of chaos—quite troublesome!”

These words were no exaggeration.

Everyone had heard some gossip, but it wasn’t appropriate to speak plainly. In any case, they praised Jiang Xuening extravagantly and continued urging him to drink: “Your daughter has the beauty of flowers and the moon, and was once the Princess’s companion. She must be a virtuous and gentle lady. How can one believe street gossip?”

Chen Ying chimed in: “Yes, I knew at first hearing it was false.”

Others wondered: “Why is that?”

Now that Gu Chunfang had taken charge of the Ministry of Justice, Chen Ying was accustomed to using underhanded methods, which Gu Chunfang detested. Not knowing what thoughts he harbored, he actually glanced at Zhang Zhe, saying with a half-smile: “We gentlemen don’t know Lord Jiang’s beloved daughter, but isn’t the other person mentioned in the street gossip a while ago sitting right before our eyes? Something about Miss Jiang the Second having some connection with Lord Zhang. Look at our Lord Zhang—does he seem like someone who would have entanglements with any young lady?”

Everyone was stunned, their gazes turning toward Zhang Zhe, reacting after a moment—

Come to think of it, that was true.

This newly appointed Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Justice had been sitting here for some time, yet had spoken barely a word, so laconic that everyone subconsciously overlooked him. Only now when Chen Ying mentioned him did they suddenly realize. Indeed, wasn’t Zhang Zhe in that gossip from a while ago?

Always dressed plainly, in an ink-blue robe, with an ordinary black jade hanging at his waist attached to a black brocade pouch with silver patterns, sitting with his back straight, his face full of silent severity, making people feel he was not easy to approach.

Imperial Tutor Xie Wei—recognized throughout the court as refreshing as a spring breeze.

But this one? The Ministry of Justice privately called him “death face.”

Even the chief clerks in the yamen trembled when they saw him, adding extra layers of clothing. Who could believe such a person had any entanglement with some young lady, or that some young lady would lack eyes enough to fancy him?

Since that day at Shuxiang Inn when he was caught up to and questioned, Zhang Zhe had never seen Jiang Xuening again. He subconsciously avoided thinking of her, burying himself daily in case files and investigations, fearing that if he had a moment of leisure, he couldn’t control those delusions in his head that caused him pain.

Suddenly hearing this name now was like a heavy hammer striking his chest.

His expression was originally cold and solemn, showing no fluctuation, but his fingers resting on the edge of the wine cup tightened. Only this subtle movement was difficult for others to notice.

Jiang Boyou had little dealings with the Ministry of Justice in the past. During that period of gossip, he had been paying more attention to that absurd Young Master Dingfei, fearing this person might become entangled with Ningning, so he hadn’t paid much attention to Zhang Zhe.

After all, he had heard this person was of noble character, not that sort.

He figured others were throwing mud at Ningning. After all, as her father, he had only ever seen sons of princes and nobles circling around his daughter, but had never heard of Ningning actively pursuing anyone. That rumor was utter nonsense.

However, now because of Chen Ying’s words, he raised his head to examine him carefully.

Gu Chunfang knew Zhang Zhe was not good with words, and also disliked Chen Ying’s troublemaking manner. Stroking his beard with a smile, he said lightly: “Gossip wounds people. Lord Jiang teaches his daughters well—both young ladies were selected as the Princess’s companions. I heard Miss Jiang the Second even gained Grand Tutor Xie’s particular favor. The petty villains spreading rumors in secret can only damage reputations temporarily. Over time, rumors self-destruct. Lord Jiang need not worry.”

Not mentioning Xie Wei would have been fine, but once mentioned, Jiang Boyou’s entire mood soured.

Only since these words came from Gu Chunfang, first out of goodwill, and second not knowing the inside story, he couldn’t say anything. He forced a smile and changed the subject: “I’ll borrow Lord Gu’s auspicious words. Speaking of which, Chief Clerk Zhang is also twenty-four or twenty-five, it seems he hasn’t discussed marriage yet?”

This time it was Minister of Personnel Yao Qingyu’s turn to look displeased.

Who told his daughter to have discussed a match with Zhang Zhe?

Originally he had appreciated Zhang Zhe and wanted to betroth Yao Xi to him. Who would have thought his daughter actually looked down on him and insisted on breaking the engagement? Later in the palace, because she pushed Imperial Consort Wen, nearly causing her to miscarry, she was reprimanded and sent home. Now she was like someone bewitched, insisting someone had harmed her, having fallen into a mad, deranged illness, unable to appear before people.

If this matter were spoken of, it would be quite disgraceful.

Zhang Zhe sat upright, lowering his eyes to reply: “First, I am obstinate and inflexible; second, my fate is bitter and harsh. I dare not implicate others.”

Jiang Boyou couldn’t help being stunned.

Yao Qingyu, however, glanced at Zhang Zhe, his expression slightly clearing. He only sighed that Zhang Zhe didn’t mention the previous broken engagement, showing his noble character. But the more he knew this, the more he felt his daughter truly had no discernment.

He sighed: “What talk of fate or not—baseless nonsense!”

Everyone had more or less heard about the unsuccessful match between Zhang Zhe and the Yao residence, originally thinking there must be some friction between Yao Qingyu and Zhang Zhe. They never expected Zhang Zhe to call himself “bitter and harsh in fate,” yet Grand Tutor Yao with such status would actually refute him. On the surface it was criticism, but upon reflection, he was actually speaking up for Zhang Zhe.

Why exactly the engagement was broken, no one outside knew.

Jiang Boyou, serving as an official at court, had some ability to read expressions. Hearing this, he actually became rather curious about Zhang Zhe: As a Cabinet Minister, Grand Tutor Yao’s standards were not low. To be selected by him as a son-in-law was already quite extraordinary. For the matter not to work out, yet still have Grand Tutor Yao speak up for him—that was rare indeed.

Zhang Zhe was among the few civil officials in the court who had risen through clerical examination, which compared to the court full of officials who entered through the imperial examinations, wasn’t particularly glorious.

But he was taciturn, restrained, and cautious in conduct.

Compared to those wastrel sons in the capital, he was truly countless times better. Though he seemed not very easy to get along with, there wasn’t a trace of malicious or turbid energy about him—his heart must be quite good. He looked like someone who could keep Ningning in line, and wouldn’t mistreat a young lady.

Jiang Boyou’s thoughts stirred slightly, and he began inquiring in a seemingly casual manner: “I’ve only heard that Chief Clerk Zhang’s ancestral home is in Henan, and the reason he came under Lord Gu’s tutelage was to vindicate his father. Coming to the capital, it seems it’s only been a few years?”

Zhang Zhe said: “Yes, only three years.”

Jiang Boyou said “Oh” and asked: “Are you settled in well?”

Zhang Zhe’s fingers gripping the cup tightened further, but he lowered his eyelids and answered as usual: “The climate is similar, there’s no discomfort.”

Jiang Boyou continued: “And is your mother’s health still good?”

…

Gu Chunfang, that old fox, finally heard the implications and couldn’t help glancing at Jiang Boyou, then turning to look at Zhang Zhe. But when his gaze fell, he saw those tense fingers holding the cup, and looking again at that silent profile, he suddenly felt something unusual.

This disciple of his…

It seemed he wasn’t as calm as he appeared on the surface, but rather like he was enduring some torment.

Here, Jiang Boyou chatted congenially with others, looking more and more as though Zhang Zhe was quite suitable.

There, Xie Wei sat with others, hearing the conversation between Jiang Boyou, Gu Chunfang, Zhang Zhe and others behind him in his ears. Yet he gave a cold laugh inwardly, malicious energy growing in his eyes, though his face still showed nothing. He only drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, the burning liquid searing down to his internal organs.