Jiang Boyou had been waiting in his study for quite a while.

The events that had occurred in the palace in recent days had long reached his ears. However, in the end there had been no real danger, and His Majesty had even bestowed rewards upon Jiang Xuening. Even their household had received quite a few gifts, forcing him as a father to only express gratitude for the imperial family’s grace, not daring to inquire too much about anything.

But thinking back—

The Yongyi Marquis Residence had just been placed under detention when Ningning was framed by someone in the palace. How could it be such a simple matter?

Jiang Boyou was in his forties. Though he had been fortunate enough to rise to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, looking back now, it was only because he had helped Xie Wei travel to the capital back then, which had aided the current emperor’s ascension to the throne. He could barely be considered to have merit from the dragon’s rise, which was why he was getting by fairly well in court now.

But he truly had no ambition to be a high official.

At this position, things were already extremely perilous. Going any higher meant nothing but deception and intrigue, life-and-death struggles with enormous implications. Very few could retire with success intact—most experienced wealth and glory, then disaster in a single morning.

Just like today’s Yongyi Marquis Residence…

“Alas…”

Jiang Boyou looked at the copy of the “Zuo Zhuan” before him that he could never seem to finish reading and heaved a long sigh.

The old steward lifted the curtain and entered to report: “Master, the Second Miss has returned.”

After speaking, he stepped aside.

As soon as Jiang Xuening descended from the carriage, she went straight to Jiang Boyou’s study. At this moment, she lowered her head slightly and entered from outside the door, bowing respectfully to Jiang Boyou seated behind his desk: “Your daughter pays respects to Father and wishes Father well.”

Ningning had been raised in the residence and was always unruly and intractable. Even though she seemed to have matured and become more composed in the period before entering the palace, when Jiang Boyou thought about the palace affairs, he always felt deeply worried.

Now, seeing her standing safely before him, he actually felt somewhat distressed.

He rose from his seat, walked over, and placed his hand on her shoulder. He looked her over carefully, up and down, for a while before nodding: “Good, good. Sit down and let’s talk.”

A heated kang had been set up by the window, all laid with brocade cushions and pillows.

Jiang Boyou sat in the seat of honor.

A serving maid in the room brought a brocade stool and placed it in the lower seat. Jiang Xuening sat down, observed Jiang Boyou’s expression, then said: “Tang’er said Father was specifically waiting for me at home. I wonder what matter you wished to discuss?”

Her face was serene, no longer showing the perverse and violent air of someone always holding their breath when looking at others as in the past. Having entered the palace once, she seemed to have gained so much more of a noble young lady’s cultivation and bearing than before.

Yet she inexplicably revealed a sense of repression.

Jiang Boyou had always hoped she could be as sensible and proper as Xuehui. Now, recalling that arrogant and domineering little girl, he actually felt it wouldn’t be bad if she could remain that way forever.

He laughed self-deprecatingly, then thought of what he was about to say. For a moment, he found it somewhat difficult to speak. After a while, he lowered his head and said: “I’ve already heard about what happened to you in the palace. You must have also heard about the affairs of the Yongyi Marquis Residence outside, haven’t you?”

Jiang Xuening nodded.

Jiang Boyou then said: “A few days ago, a major incident occurred in the palace. The jade ruyi scepter presented to the Empress Dowager by the Imperial Household Department was actually carved with treasonous words. These few phrases were originally the Heaven Cult’s slogan of ‘acting on Heaven’s behalf.’ No matter how much they investigated, it would have been fine if it traced back to remnants of Prince Pingnan’s faction. But somehow, the Yongyi Marquis Residence was implicated, suspected of colluding with remnants of Prince Pingnan’s faction and even with the Heaven Cult. They even claim to have seized correspondence between the Marquis Residence and them. Although the facts haven’t been verified yet, the court has already surrounded the residence first to prevent the Marquis household from fleeing or causing trouble, just waiting for the truth to come to light before passing judgment. I’m afraid the prospects are grim!”

Correspondence!

Even though she had prepared herself, when Jiang Xuening heard more concrete news from Jiang Boyou, she still felt a crushing weight like destiny itself.

It had been the same in her previous life.

The reason the Yongyi Marquis Residence had been convicted was precisely because the court had indeed discovered that the Marquis household had connections and correspondence with Prince Pingnan’s rebels. Yet this was also what puzzled her most in her previous life…

Jiang Xuening looked at Jiang Boyou: “I’ve heard that Prince Pingnan’s faction has already exhausted their fortune, not to mention Prince Pingnan himself is already dead. The current rebels are nothing but scattered sand, not even comparable to the Heaven Cult. The Yongyi Marquis Residence controls one-third of the world’s military power. Twenty years ago, together with the Dingguo Duke’s residence, they led troops to repel the rebel armies of Prince Pingnan and the Heaven Cult, breaking the siege of the capital. By all accounts, they should be mortal enemies. How could they still have connections with the rebels after so many years?”

“Indeed, even you find it unreasonable, don’t you?” Jiang Boyou smiled bitterly. “But precisely because of this, it seems very real. After all, it’s truly a case of pitying the hearts of parents under Heaven!”

Jiang Xuening was stunned.

She didn’t understand what Jiang Boyou meant by this.

Seeing her confusion, Jiang Boyou slowly explained: “This disaster stems entirely from the tragic incident of the ‘Three Hundred Righteous Children’ twenty years ago. All these years, the three families have never publicly discussed it, as if the matter had never happened. But now that dark currents have surged up, we know that none of them have ever forgotten. Especially the Yongyi Marquis Residence—they remain deeply resentful about it…”

It was the story Jiang Xuening knew.

However, compared to what Fang Miao had said in Yangzhi Study, Jiang Boyou’s account actually contained details that Fang Miao didn’t know.

Or perhaps it was still just the tip of the iceberg.

“The Xiao clan was once allied by marriage with the Yan clan. At that time, Empress Dowager Xiao served as empress in the palace, Xiao Yuan inherited his title and became Duke Dingguo. Through Empress Dowager Xiao’s matchmaking, he married the elder sister of the Yongyi Marquis, Lady Yan, as his wife. Before long, she gave birth to a son named ‘Dingfei,’ who was early on granted the title of heir apparent.

“The imperial family, the Xiao clan, and the Yan clan—thus they were connected as one.

“When Prince Pingnan and the Heaven Cult rebels led their army into the capital, Lady Yan was taking the young Heir Dingfei to feast in the palace with the empress and crown prince—that is, the current Empress Dowager Xiao and His Majesty.”

Jiang Xuening immediately noticed that subtle difference: “But according to rumors, His Majesty survived by hiding in the palace back then, while the heir apparent, because his age was similar to His Majesty who was still crown prince at the time, was captured by the Heaven Cult and Prince Pingnan’s rebels, becoming one of those ‘Three Hundred Righteous Children.'”

If the young heir was in the palace at the time, how could he have been captured?

If the young heir was captured, how could the crown prince have escaped disaster?

Jiang Boyou had also been in the capital back then. Though he was only a minor scholar, he could be considered to have personally experienced this event. Regarding many rumors in the world today related to the “Three Hundred Righteous Children,” he mostly just laughed them off when he heard them.

But after laughing, he ultimately sighed with emotion.

He sighed and said: “The rebels captured three hundred children but still couldn’t find the crown prince, so they announced throughout the entire capital that they would threaten with the lives of these three hundred children, forcing the imperial family to hand over the crown prince. Although the world has always held that the ruler is above and subjects below, with all people worshiping the Son of Heaven, how could these children’s parents sit by and watch their own flesh and blood perish? The capital had been breached, the imperial family was about to fall, and rumors were flying everywhere throughout the city. Even the imperial family had to consider the people’s hearts. However, the crown prince was of imperial bloodline, a descendant of the royal house, the emperor then and the future Son of Heaven! How could he fall into the hands of rebels for the sake of merely three hundred commoner children?”

Jiang Xuening’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Jiang Boyou inexplicably laughed and said: “At that time, only the heir apparent in the palace was of similar age to His Highness the Crown Prince, and he was familiar with palace affairs, with etiquette and bearing that were flawless. Later, when the siege of the capital was lifted, all the survivors in the palace claimed that although Heir Dingfei was young, he had a great sense of duty toward nation, ruler, and subjects. First for the crown prince’s safety, second for the lives of the three hundred children, he stepped forward boldly, pretending to be the heir to the throne and presenting himself to the rebel traitors. They just didn’t expect that the rebel bandits would be so inhumane—after getting him, they didn’t keep their promise to release those children. Instead, before the reinforcements arrived, they slaughtered them all, leaving not a single survivor!”

The tragic scene from that year seemed to still be before his eyes.

Jiang Boyou shook his head: “The young heir from back then most likely also perished, but since the incident occurred in the winter months, by the time they could dig the bodies out from the ice, they were all difficult to identify. That’s why Lady Yan still held onto a thread of hope, believing her child was not among them. She insisted on searching, to the point of falling out with the Xiao clan completely and divorcing to return to the Yongyi Marquis Residence. Though she passed away from illness within two years, the Yongyi Marquis Residence has continued her will all these years, constantly searching in secret for the young heir’s whereabouts.”

After listening, Jiang Xuening felt a chill in her heart. She vaguely understood but said: “You mean that the reason the Yongyi Marquis Residence was found to have correspondence with Prince Pingnan’s rebels is because they still wanted to find the young heir’s whereabouts, and aside from the Heaven Cult, those who knew the most about these matters back then were Prince Pingnan’s faction…”

Jiang Boyou nodded: “This matter is also a source of anguish for the imperial family and the Xiao clan!”

The young heir back then was only six or seven years old. That talk of “though young, he had great sense of duty and stepped forward boldly”—it was fine to tell common people, but he had been immersed in official circles for many years and truly didn’t believe these fine-sounding platitudes.

Jiang Xuening recalled various clues from her previous life.

So the correspondence with Prince Pingnan’s rebels was to search for that “Heir Dingfei” who perhaps had long ceased to exist in this world…

She felt bewildered: “So the Yongyi Marquis Residence’s disaster is actually unsolvable?”

Jiang Boyou knew that she and Yan Lin were childhood friends, and her heart must feel terrible right now. But compared to those great families that could make the entire court tremble with a stomp of their feet, their family was truly insignificant.

He remained silent for a long while before saying with guilt: “It’s your father’s incompetence. When the Marquis inquired some months ago, he even mentioned the marriage between you and Yan Lin, saying that as soon as that boy’s coming-of-age ceremony was over, they would begin preparations. Though the Young Marquis always climbs over our residence walls and I often scold him, I actually admire his youthful nature—he’s both literary and martial, different from those wastrels in the capital. I was very satisfied with him. But alas, fate plays tricks on people. That our Jiang residence isn’t implicated is already a great fortune. I can’t bring myself to do something as base as kicking someone when they’re down, but to offer help in the snow would risk bringing fire upon ourselves…”

This meant that her marriage with Yan Lin was no longer possible.

Jiang Boyou must have thought that she and Yan Lin shared deep affection, and if he didn’t inform her of this news in advance, he feared that upon suddenly learning of it, she might do something shocking and irrational.

However, Jiang Xuening felt incomparably calm upon hearing this.

It was within expectations, after all.

Moreover, from the very first day of her rebirth, she had been thinking about how to face this situation. Now that it had finally arrived, she instead felt a strange numbness. The anxiety in her heart was gone, leaving it as clear as a lake.

The study was completely quiet.

Jiang Boyou only looked at her with worried eyes.

Jiang Xuening sat quietly for a long while, then actually rose slowly and bowed to Jiang Boyou once more: “Now that the Yongyi Marquis Residence faces imminent disaster, your daughter knows Father has no power to turn the tide. But the Marquis household has shown grace to the Jiang residence, and Yan Lin has shown grace to your daughter. Therefore, today Xuening has an unreasonable request.”

Jiang Boyou had never seen her with such a solemn manner and couldn’t help but be stunned.

Yet Jiang Xuening calmly stated her plan: “In the past, Young Marquis Yan gifted me many precious items. If the Marquis household faces disaster, they will certainly have their property confiscated. What matter in the court and countryside doesn’t require money to manage? Even if they are convicted in the future and the family members exiled, there’s no place that won’t need silver. Your daughter wishes to sell these old items, but I fear that in urgent times the price will be cheap, and even more that in these troubled times it will implicate our residence. Therefore, I wish to ask Father for help.”

That’s right.

The Yongyi Marquis Residence’s disaster came without warning. Now that heavy troops surrounded the residence, it was no different from house arrest. Even with vast family wealth, there was nowhere to use it. Once the final verdict fell and they were convicted, having their property confiscated would be the lightest punishment.

Jiang Boyou had always known that Yan Lin held nothing back toward Ningning, only thinking that Ningning was heartless and thoughtless.

He never expected that she still remembered others’ kindness and was willing to repay it.

His eyes grew teary, and he was about to agree, but upon further thought, he couldn’t help but worry: “But with the situation so critical now, no one in the court or countryside dares speak for the Marquis household. Even if we prepare the money, we don’t know where to use it for management, much less who would dare manage affairs for the Marquis household…”

Jiang Xuening closed her eyes slightly and only said: “Father need not worry. Your daughter has her own methods for the rest.”

Sometimes, though one feared raising a tiger that would become a threat, when left with no choice, one could only feed it.

The Yongyi Marquis Residence, which used to have visitors streaming through its gates like a marketplace, was now surrounded by heavy troops. Even birds and sparrows didn’t dare stop on the steps.

The carved beams and painted rafters were all stained with desolation.

How many years of prosperity seemed to have become but a dream. Everyone was panicked and fearful for themselves, not knowing when the hanging executioner’s blade would fall upon their necks.

Marquis Yan Mu lay on his bed, his face somewhat pale, coughing incessantly.

Yan Lin sat by his window holding a medicine bowl, laughing at him: “A few days ago when it rained, I told you not to drink alcohol. You didn’t listen and even dragged me along. Now your cold has flared up, along with your headaches. Do you know you were wrong?”

Yan Mu was very disdainful: “This medicine is all bitter.”

Qingfeng, who served at Yan Lin’s side, had just entered. He looked up to assess the situation, lowered his voice, and asked: “Lord Marquis, Young Marquis, the invitations that Lingyun Pavilion prepared last month for the Young Marquis’s coming-of-age ceremony have been delivered. The steward is checking them with those soldiers at the residence gate. He especially sent this subordinate back to ask whether these invitations… are still wanted or not, should they be sent or not?”

Yan Mu glanced at Yan Lin.

The wooden spoon Yan Lin was using to stir the medicine bowl paused. Without even lifting his eyelids, he only said: “Want them, and we’ll still send them. Why wouldn’t we send them?”

Yan Mu sighed: “With the Marquis household in its current state, even if we send the invitations, how many people would dare come? Why bother?”

Yan Lin remained unmoved, his face extremely calm: “Without encountering danger and difficulty, one cannot see people’s hearts. Since Heaven has now granted us the opportunity to see clearly, why should Father and I disappoint it?”

Yan Mu was stunned.

Yan Lin only said to Qingfeng: “Go tell the steward.”

Qingfeng looked at his young master with some astonishment, as if he hadn’t expected him to say such words. After quite a while, he finally reacted, bowed in acknowledgment, and withdrew.

Yan Lin attended to Yan Mu drinking his medicine.

Yan Mu remained silent for a long time.

Only after finishing all the medicine, leaning against the pillow Yan Lin had propped up for him, did he blink his eyes and speak with some difficulty: “‘Constant dripping wears away the stone, grains of sand form a tower’—twenty-three years of learning the qin. Did that Teacher Xie truly say this to you?”

Yan Lin stared at the now-empty medicine bowl and said: “Yes.”

Yan Mu suddenly laughed, old tears slowly flowing down his wrinkled eyes.