Twenty years ago, the Xiao and Yan clans were related by marriage.

However, with that child not yet seven years old unfortunately perishing in Prince Pingnan’s siege of the capital, this fragile relationship connected by marriage bonds easily shattered.

Xiao Yuan had sat in the position of Duke Dingguo for over twenty years.

Back then, old Duke Dingguo had three legitimate sons under his knee, and the position of Duke Dingguo should not have fallen to him to inherit. However, all of the capital knew he was lucky—his legitimate eldest brother who should have been made heir apparent contracted a serious illness and was burned into an imbecile. When the Duke’s estate was hesitating over whom to designate, he “became friends through fighting” with Yan Mu, the new Marquis Yongyi, at the training grounds, then married Yan Mu’s blood sister Yan Min as his wife. Through this, he easily reversed his disadvantageous position within the inner household, gaining both a dignified and capable wife as well as support from her natal family. Soon after, old Duke Dingguo requested enfeoffment for him and established him as heir apparent. After old Duke Dingguo’s death, Xiao Yuan naturally became the Duke.

Xiao Dingfei was his only legitimate son with Yan Min.

This child was clever and bright, possessing the bloodline of both the Xiao and Yan clans. One could say that from birth he received the entire capital’s attention and was designated by His Majesty as heir apparent at age five.

But Xiao Yuan didn’t like this child.

Especially after Prince Pingnan’s campaign, whenever he heard anyone mention this name, he couldn’t help but darken his expression, even turning against people.

Because Yan Min had actually divorced him after this incident!

Marquis Yongyi’s estate had only recently, through battlefield achievements over several generations, slowly accumulated sufficient merit to reach its current position. But Duke Dingguo’s estate had maintained its lineage unbroken for hundreds of years—a true aristocratic clan.

Before Xiao Yuan, no Duke had ever divorced his wife!

For a man, there should only be the discarding of a wife—divorce was the ultimate humiliation!

Women with their long hair and short sight—how could they understand the weight of court politics?

Xiao Yuan wanted to refuse to release his wife, but unfortunately Yan Min had the Marquis’s estate backing her, and the imperial family also felt guilty toward the Yan clan. After Grand Empress Dowager Xiao’s admonishment, he finally wrote the letter of release and divorced Yan Min.

But from then on, the Xiao and Yan families severed all contact.

Twenty years had passed, and Xiao Yuan had never set foot in Marquis Yongyi’s estate.

Today was the first time in twenty years!

Soldiers in heavy armor with swords in hand all followed behind him. The imperial decree from those nine-tiered palace towers, personally written by His Majesty, was gripped in his hand. All the grievances suffered and resentment harbored over the years were now vented freely at this moment!

Xiao Yuan ascended the steps. His hair already graying, he wore a dark robe and upturned shoes, a tall cap atop his head. After entering the hall, his footsteps stopped. His eyes, carrying a dangerous gleam, swept across everyone present. Seeing Xie Wei still crowning Yan Lin, he frowned slightly before finally looking toward Yan Mu, who had already stood up beside him.

Yan Mu’s face had already darkened and frozen: “My Marquis Yongyi’s estate has fulfilled its duties faithfully for generations, loyal to the emperor and loving the people. What does Duke Dingguo mean by his words just now?”

Xiao Yuan laughed coldly: “Naturally, it’s all His Majesty’s meaning! An hour ago, news came from Tongzhou that someone secretly instigated a mutiny among fifty thousand troops stationed at the main camp, claiming they would seek justice for your Marquis Yongyi’s estate! Yan Mu, oh Yan Mu—back during Prince Pingnan’s campaign, our two families could be said to have both suffered greatly. Yet I never expected you would dare secretly contact rebel factions. His Majesty, in his benevolence and righteousness, intended to spare your family the death penalty, but who would have thought you would dare attempt rebellion! Your day of death has finally arrived!”

Tongzhou main camp, military mutiny!

Which of those present didn’t navigate court politics?

When they first heard Xiao Yuan say the word “mutiny” from afar, they had already guessed. Now hearing him elaborate, they only felt the hair on their backs standing up, and one by one they couldn’t help turning their heads to look at Yan Mu.

Yan Mu was also stunned upon hearing of the Tongzhou camp mutiny, but immediately after hearing the phrase “our two families could be said to have both suffered greatly,” the desolation filling his chest suddenly transformed into boundless fury!

He fiercely slammed the table beside him!

All the teacups on the table toppled over, falling to the ground and shattering into pieces!

Yan Mu’s eyes bulged as he stared at Xiao Yuan, his gaze nearly bloodshot, questioning through gritted teeth word by word: “Your Xiao clan also dares to claim it suffered greatly from Prince Pingnan’s campaign?!”

Within the vast front hall, not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

On one side, an imperial decree had arrived and disaster loomed for Marquis Yongyi’s estate. On the other side, the heads of the once-prominent Xiao and Yan clans confronted each other in the hall, swords drawn!

Those with smaller courage, like some of the study companions who had come today, were already frightened pale.

Even Jiang Xuening felt as if someone’s palm was tightly gripping her throat—

Knowing about something was one thing; experiencing it firsthand was another.

The young man’s coming-of-age ceremony ultimately couldn’t avoid being stained with blood, shrouded by the dark cloud of family destruction.

For an instant, Yan Lin was about to stand, to go to his father’s side and face together with him this cruel and unknown fate that had come crashing down today.

However, Xie Wei before him simply reached out his hand to the side once more.

How could the praiser have ever witnessed such a scene?

Holding the lacquered tray at the side, his legs went weak with fright and he nearly knelt down.

After Xie Wei extended his hand for quite some time without anyone passing him anything, he lifted his eyelids slightly and said gently, “The pin.”

The hall was at its quietest moment. No one dared speak, a taut string stretched tight in everyone’s minds, fearing something was about to happen. When Xie Wei’s seemingly bland voice rang out, no one had anticipated it. Some people’s eyebrows twitched, and the soldiers with hands on sword hilts nearly drew their blades to strike. Turning their heads, they saw it was Xie Wei.

The praiser still hadn’t reacted.

Not until Xie Wei furrowed his brow slightly and repeated, “The pin.”

The jade crown for binding hair was paired with wooden pins. Earlier only the left side had been inserted, leaving one side remaining.

Who could have imagined that with the blade already at his neck, he was still concerned about the crowning ceremony?

Only then did the praiser belatedly take the wooden pin and pass it almost mechanically to Xie Wei’s hand.

Xie Wei didn’t even glance at anyone else, simply holding the wooden pin and inserting it into the hair-binding jade crown.

Duke Dingguo Xiao Yuan’s gaze also fell upon him at this moment. His already furrowed brow unconsciously tightened further. Though he knew this Master Xie was an imperial confidant, born of the Jinling Xie clan and an extremely capable person, this unperturbed demeanor completely ignored everyone present.

He was too lazy to waste more words with these people.

In Xiao Yuan’s view, everyone in Marquis Yongyi’s estate was no different from the dead, so he directly waved his hand and said coldly, “Enough talk. All lords who attended today’s banquet please do not move. Arrest all of Yan clan’s followers!”

“Yes!”

All the soldiers behind him received the order and were about to press forward.

However, unexpectedly, a voice suddenly came from the side asking, “According to Great Qian law, when an imperial decree is transmitted, the decree must be read aloud to those receiving it. Since Duke has brought the imperial decree, why begin arresting people without reading it?”

Xiao Yuan was stunned for a moment.

According to regulations, this was indeed the case, but as for an imperial decree from the palace, would he dare falsely transmit it?

His eyes immediately carried a murderous air.

Following the voice, he saw a tall, thin young man standing at the end of the crowd, wearing a dark blue robe. He wasn’t in formal attire, so his official rank couldn’t be determined—likely not high. Looking at his cold, bland features which seemed quite unfamiliar, he said coldly, “Who are you?”

That person had both hands tucked into his wide sleeves, hanging down folded. His demeanor was bland and not at all nervous as he simply said, “This official is Chief of the Bureau of Personnel in the Ministry of Justice, Zhang Zhe.”

Zhang Zhe.

Upon hearing this name, Xiao Yuan had an impression, recalling he was that former Investigating Censor of the Office of Scrutiny for Punishments who had stirred up much discussion in court recently—a difficult censorial official! His eyelid immediately twitched.

The imperial decree was gripped in Xiao Yuan’s hand.

With everyone watching, even if he felt it damaged his dignity, he didn’t dare openly refuse to read the decree!

In any case, it was just the effort of reading one decree.

At this time, Xiao Yuan hadn’t thought much further. He laughed coldly, “thanked” Zhang Zhe for the reminder, unrolled the decree, and began reading with “By Heaven’s mandate, the Emperor decrees.” The general meaning was indeed no different from what he had said upon entering the estate—first, the military mutiny was a grave matter; second, colluding with Prince Pingnan’s rebel faction was unforgivable. Duke Dingguo Xiao Yuan was ordered to personally lead the Imperial Guards to raid Marquis Yongyi’s estate, and all persons within the estate were to be arrested and imprisoned.

After a “By this decree,” Xiao Yuan abruptly closed the imperial decree and said darkly, “Now the decree has been read. You should all believe it, yes? Even if you gave this Duke courage as vast as heaven, how would I dare forge an imperial decree? Come—”

“Duke, Marquis Yongyi hasn’t received the decree yet.”

Zhang Zhe watched from the side. Seeing him about to order arrests, he lowered his eyelids and added another bland comment.

“…”

“…”

“…”

This time, let alone Duke Dingguo Xiao Yuan who was responsible for transmitting the decree—even Marquis Yongyi Yan Mu, who had already accepted in his heart the fate of imminent disaster, couldn’t help but be dumbfounded, unable to understand what this Lord Zhang was trying to do.

However, Xie Wei’s eyebrow arched the moment he heard the two words “Zhang Zhe.”

The crowning was complete. Yan Lin stood up, bowed once more to Xie Wei, and turned to look.

Xie Wei’s gaze quietly rested on Zhang Zhe’s face, saying nothing.

Xiao Yuan nearly choked to death on these words. His face alternated between livid and flushed. Gritting his teeth, he only said, “Does this Duke not know? Do I need you to remind me?”

Then he thrust the decree forward and said, “Marquis Yongyi, come forward to receive the decree!”

Yan Mu came forward to receive it. Looking at Zhang Zhe, he also found him unfamiliar, thinking the Marquis’s estate shouldn’t have such a friend, not knowing what medicine he was selling in his gourd.

Xiao Yuan figured that all matters should be settled by now and this Zhang fellow should have no more thorns to pick. He waved his hand once more to have people come arrest everyone.

However, this time, before he could even speak, his eyelid twitched!

Because he actually saw this Zhang fellow step toward Yan Mu, withdrawing the hands tucked in his sleeves as if to examine the decree with Yan Mu. But his face turned toward Xiao Yuan’s direction as he asked, “May I ask Duke, you just said the news of the Tongzhou camp mutiny arrived an hour ago, and then His Majesty issued the decree to raid the Marquis’s estate?”

What is this man trying to do!

Xiao Yuan wore a sword at his waist and was now somewhat unable to restrain himself, gripping the hilt as he answered coldly, “Indeed.”

Zhang Zhe then said to Yan Mu, “Please lend me the decree to examine.”

Xiao Yuan was becoming frantic: “A lowly minor official showing off before experts—what exactly are you trying to do!”

Yan Mu’s eyes rolled, but he directly handed over the decree.

Zhang Zhe received it. His fingers with prominent joints gently unrolled it as he said, “Duke, please calm your anger. Raiding and exterminating a clan is a grave crime. According to law, even if it’s His Majesty’s will, political orders at all levels must be verified and sealed by the Central Secretariat before they can be issued. Yesterday this official heard that Lord Chu Xiyi of the Central Secretariat was ill. Since news of the Tongzhou mutiny only arrived an hour ago, summoning Lord Chu to the palace would take some time, and transmitting the decree for you to come here and raid the estate would cause another delay. One hour might not be enough time. Therefore…”

By this point, his gaze had fallen upon this imperial decree.

The secret he had heard from Gu Chunfang in his previous life was indeed true—

The decree to raid Marquis Yongyi’s estate was indeed written by Shen Lang himself. However, when the decree was announced that year, it actually only bore the Emperor’s seal, not the Central Secretariat’s seal! Later, the imperial decree that appeared in the case files of Marquis Yongyi’s estate had both seals complete. It was said to have been sealed with the Central Secretariat’s seal by the newly appointed Chancellor Director of the Central Secretariat only after raiding the estate and slaughtering half the people there.

The former Chancellor Director Chu Xiyi was dismissed from office, returned home old and sick, and died at home from poverty and illness within half a year.

Of those colleagues who went to pay condolences, only Gu Chunfang went.

From this, the matter became known. One could roughly deduce that back then, Chu Xiyi held the position of Chancellor Director of the Central Secretariat, equivalent to a chief minister of the dynasty—how did he end up in such a state?

Zhang Zhe’s gaze moved from the blank space where the Central Secretariat’s great seal should have been and returned to Xiao Yuan’s face, simply saying, “Duke, this decree probably cannot be announced yet and doesn’t count as valid.”

Xiao Yuan could bear it no longer and drew his sword, directly pointing it at his throat!

His words were already filled with uncontrollable fury: “How dare you, wretch, speak such nonsense! A decree personally written by His Majesty—is it for you to question?! Today this Duke shall sever your head and deal with you as a rebel!”

Jiang Xuening had never expected Zhang Zhe to step forward, much less speak such words. His recitation of Great Qian Dynasty law was indeed flawless, but she didn’t know what the situation had been on this day in her previous life. Her heart immediately leaped in her chest, nearly jumping out of her throat!

Chen Ying had quietly distanced himself from Zhang Zhe the moment he started speaking.

However, Zhang Zhe himself was incomparably calm.

He extended his hand to return the decree. The flashing cold blade reflected his bland, cool face—without sorrow or joy—as if kindly advising, he said, “Duke may kill this official without consequence, but the decree still needs to be sent back to the palace for the Central Secretariat to affix its great seal before it can be issued.”

The decree had already been delivered, soldiers had already surrounded the estate, yet this man said the Emperor’s words didn’t count and must be sent back for a seal before returning to raid the estate!

Preposterous, absolutely preposterous!

In nearly fifty years, Xiao Yuan had never encountered such an absurd situation. He nearly expired from rage, smoke seemingly pouring from his seven orifices, unable to speak a complete sentence, his hands shaking uncontrollably: “You! You, you—”