As dawn broke, Pei Yan stood in the courtyard, still feeling a dull ache in his chest. He took a deep breath, using his cultivation to suppress his internal injuries.
Footsteps approached, and An Chen rushed in, “My Lord, we’ve found Official Jin!”
“Speak,” Pei Yan commanded.
“After a thorough investigation, we discovered that the owner of that residence is Xue Yao, the proprietor of Ruifeng Trading Company. When we arrived at the Xue family home, Xue Yao had already taken poison and died. We couldn’t save him, but we found Official Jin in a secret chamber within the Xue family’s secondary residence.”
Pei Yan’s brow furrowed slightly. “Investigate everything about Xue Yao and Ruifeng Trading Company thoroughly. And what of Official Jin’s condition?”
“He seems somewhat disoriented but has no apparent injuries. We believe he’s in shock and have already called for a physician to examine him.”
Pei Yan nodded. “We need to investigate who’s behind Xue Yao carefully.”
“My Lord, do you suspect any particular faction?”
“It’s hard to say. Even if the Crown Prince or Prince Zhuang’s people were bold enough, they wouldn’t dare collude with the Huan Kingdom. If proven, it would be high treason. So, why did Yi Han insist on rescuing Official Jin and handing him over to Xue Yao? And who’s behind Xue Yao? I’m very interested to find out.”
In a side room of the Xue family’s secondary residence, Official Jin was still shaken. Pei Yan entered with a smile, “Official Jin, I apologize for the ordeal you’ve endured. It was my fault.” He continued, “You’ve suffered for ten days, and I’ve been worried sick for ten days, unable to eat or sleep properly. Thankfully, we’ve rescued you. Heaven has shown mercy, sparing our two nations from the ravages of war.”
Official Jin hurriedly replied, “Thank you, Lord Pei! But who exactly kidnapped me and brought me here?”
Pei Yan sighed, “It’s a long story. You’ll understand everything once you meet with Deputy Envoy Lei.”
He sat down beside Official Jin, his piercing gaze making the official feel somewhat dazed. “Official Jin, may I ask, did anyone come to see you while you were held here?”
Official Jin nodded hesitantly, “Yes, a masked person visited me several times.”
“What did you discuss?”
Official Jin seemed confused and reluctant to speak, but under Pei Yan’s imposing presence, he gradually broke down and revealed everything. “He asked me about some old matters from our imperial court. He inquired if I knew the whereabouts of a songstress sent to our country by the Yueluo Clan over a decade ago. He also asked about the detailed process of King Weiping’s assassination by a Yueluo Clan catamite before and after the incident.”
Pei Yan pondered, “Is Official Jin very familiar with these matters?”
“To be honest, Lord Pei, I once served as the Head of the Internal Records Office in our country. All the historical records of our imperial court had to pass through my hands before being archived.”
Pei Yan nodded slightly and helped Official Jin to his feet. “Since Official Jin is unharmed, please come with me to have an audience with His Majesty. This will put everyone’s minds at ease, and it’s time to sign the peace treaty between our two nations.”
The peace treaty was signed smoothly. Pei Yan had uncovered the true culprit, and although Yi Han wasn’t captured, everything was proven to be his doing. Moreover, Official Jin had been rescued. The Huan Kingdom people had their bitter truths to swallow and knew it was unwise to make a fuss, given the complex palace intrigues involved. As for whether they could punish Yi Han upon returning home and use this opportunity to strike at the Second Prince’s faction, the evidence wasn’t in their hands, so they could only swallow their pride.
To facilitate the smooth signing of the peace treaty, the Hua Dynasty didn’t pursue the matter further. Both sides tacitly agreed that the fire at the embassy was caused by a careless groom knocking over an oil lamp and that Official Jin had fallen into the river while escaping, only to be rescued and regain consciousness after more than ten days.
As for the three foreign envoys who knew the truth and could testify, Pei Yan had already instructed the Ministry of Rites to send them lavish gifts. These envoys from small countries had long admired the Hua Dynasty’s prosperity and wealth, which was why they were willing to serve as envoys and travel so far. Now that they had unexpectedly struck it rich, they naturally kept quiet about the truth, burying it in their stomachs.
With the person found and the truth revealed, the peace treaty was signed smoothly that morning. The Emperor was extremely pleased. After the Huan Kingdom envoys left, he praised Pei Yan profusely. The Crown Prince was all smiles, coming over to hold Pei Yan’s hand with great admiration. Prince Zhuang, initially displeased, quickly changed his demeanor. The entire court was filled with words of praise, and even the usually reserved Qingliu faction had words of commendation.
Pei Yan remained humble, repeatedly expressing his unworthiness until the Emperor ordered the court to adjourn and the officials dispersed.
Pei Yan walked out of the Qianqing Gate alongside Prince Jing, who smiled and said, “Shao Jun, I’ve prepared wine at my residence tonight to celebrate your success.”
Pei Yan hurriedly replied, “Your Highness, tonight won’t work. I’ve sustained some internal injuries and shouldn’t drink. Besides, it’s not appropriate to celebrate now. I’ll explain the details to you later.”
As they were talking, Wei Zhao approached in his plain robes with flowing sleeves. He smiled at Pei Yan, “Congratulations, Shao Jun, for solving this perplexing case. You truly deserve to be called a pillar of the court and a loyal minister of the state.”
Pei Yan smiled, “Third Lang, you flatter me. I don’t deserve such praise.”
Wei Zhao glanced sideways at Prince Jing without bowing, then entered the Qianqing Gate.
Prince Jing stared at Wei Zhao’s tall, handsome figure and said softly, “He and Second Brother must be very displeased. I fear he might be acting on Second Brother’s instructions to speak ill of you before Father.”
Pei Yan smiled, “That’s unavoidable.”
Jiang Ci slowly woke up, seeing the sun high in the sky. She jumped out of bed, but Yan Shuang Qiao was nowhere to be seen.
She dressed hurriedly, grumbling, “Big Sister didn’t even wake me up. Now I’ve overslept again.” She pushed open the door and saw Shao Jizong sitting in the courtyard. She smiled, “Good morning, Young Master Shao!”
Shao Jizong couldn’t help but laugh, pointing at the sun, “Indeed, it’s still early, the sun hasn’t set yet.”
Jiang Ci felt a bit embarrassed and looked around, “Where’s my Big Sister?”
Shao Jizong walked over and took out a letter from his bosom, handing it to Jiang Ci. “Miss Yan was called away by Miss Su early this morning. It seems to be about her father’s matter, requiring her to go to the Huan Kingdom. The matter was urgent, and she didn’t have time to bid you farewell. She asked me to pass this letter to you.”
Jiang Ci opened the letter and read it carefully, learning that her senior had gone to search for Yi Han. She felt a bit dejected but also secretly relieved that her senior had finally left the capital without being burdened by her. At least now she wouldn’t know about Jiang Ci’s poisoning. If Jiang Ci were to die from the poison, there would be one less person to grieve.
As she was lost in thought, Shao Jizong spoke again, “Miss Jiang, Lord Pei learned of Miss Yan’s departure and has sent people to escort you back to the Prime Minister’s residence. They’re waiting outside.”
Jiang Ci felt utterly helpless, knowing she couldn’t escape the Prime Minister’s grasp. She listlessly followed the Changfeng Guards back to the Prime Minister’s residence.
It was already noon, and she hadn’t had breakfast, so she was quite hungry. Returning to the Western Garden and not seeing Cui Liang, she hastily prepared some food. Just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks, Pei Yan walked in.
Pei Yan had been busy since last night, tracking Yi Han, arranging personnel, engaging in a fierce battle with Yi Han, and then suppressing his internal injuries to attend court in the morning. He was both hungry and tired. Upon entering, he said nothing, just snatched the bowl and chopsticks from Jiang Ci’s hands and began eating.
Jiang Ci glared at him and had to go back to the kitchen to get another bowl of rice. When she returned to the room, there was little left of the already meager dishes on the table.
Over the past few days, she had been severely oppressed by Pei Yan and had a belly full of resentment. The two poisons intertwining in her body made her feel constantly under pressure. Last night, she had witnessed her senior’s bittersweet parting with Su Yan, which left her heartbroken. Today, her body felt unwell, with a cold pain in her lower abdomen. All these emotions—resentment, pity, grief—mixed and were triggered by Pei Yan’s actions.
She slammed the rice bowl on the table. Pei Yan looked up at her askance but ignored her. Jiang Ci could no longer control herself and suddenly swept all the bowls and chopsticks off the table onto the ground with a loud crash, scattering ceramic shards everywhere.
Pei Yan was stunned. He saw Jiang Ci glaring at him with tears in her eyes, her chest heaving violently as if she were extremely angry. He couldn’t help but smile, “Who upset you? Why are you so angry?”
Jiang Ci wanted to punch that hateful smiling face of his, but she knew it was unrealistic. She could only let out a loud “Ah!” and rush into the room, slamming the door shut. Leaning against the doorframe, she slowly sank to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Amidst her sobs, she vaguely heard knocking on the door. She hugged her head and shouted, “You evil crab, you shameless cat, you’re all bad people! You’ll all face retribution!”
The knocking outside stopped, and footsteps retreated. Jiang Ci simply let herself cry loudly until her eyes were swollen red. Exhausted and hungry, she fell asleep leaning against the door.
In the courtyard, Pei Yan stood by the window, silently watching Jiang Ci cry through the gauze curtain. He shook his head slightly. When Jiang Ci fell asleep, he opened the window and nimbly climbed into the room. He bent down to pick her up.
Looking at her tear-stained face, he chuckled softly, carried Jiang Ci to the bed, tucked her in, and sat quietly by the bedside for a moment before leaving.
Jiang Ci woke up less than half an hour later, feeling her eyes badly swollen but the pain in her abdomen was somewhat relieved. She sat dazed on the edge of the bed for a while, still feeling hungry, and struggled to get up.
As Jiang Ci opened the door, a delicious aroma wafted in. She turned to see a table laden with sumptuous dishes. Without thinking too much, she rushed to the table and ate her fill.
Feeling satisfied, her mood gradually improved. She knew the food must have been prepared on Pei Yan’s orders. She stepped out of the room and saw Pei Yan lying on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, basking in the autumn sun with a book covering his face.
Jiang Ci’s anger had subsided, and remembering she still needed to ask him to cure her poison, she decided not to antagonize him further. She slowly walked up to Pei Yan, unsure how to begin, and just stood there blankly.
Pei Yan moved the book from his face and glanced at Jiang Ci. “Full?” he asked lazily.
Jiang Ci let out a light snort.
Pei Yan smiled. “Since you’re full, you have the energy to work. Come, massage my legs.”
Jiang Ci hesitated for a moment, then smiled sweetly. “All right.” She brought over a small stool, sat beside Pei Yan, and gently massaged his legs.
The day was pleasant, and the afternoon sun warmed Pei Yan comfortably. He hadn’t slept all night and had suffered some minor injuries. Now that his plan had succeeded and the peace treaty was signed, he could relax. With a full stomach and Jiang Ci massaging his legs, he gradually dozed off. When he woke, it was already dusk.
Pei Yan opened his eyes to find Jiang Ci still intermittently massaging his legs. After spending the afternoon in the sun, her cheeks were flushed, and fine beads of sweat had formed on her forehead. Still groggy from sleep, Pei Yan chuckled, “You must be the most foolish maid, massaging your master’s legs even while he sleeps.”
Jiang Ci hung her head and said softly, “I haven’t sold myself into servitude. Why do you always treat me like your maid?”
Pei Yan half-closed his eyes. “You’ve entered my residence. Do you still think you can leave?”
Jiang Ci looked up at the deepening twilight sky. “Even a bird in a cage always dreams of flying free. How much more so for a person?” She looked back at Pei Yan and said quietly, “My Lord if you never find that person, will you keep me locked up for life?”
“Is it so bad to spend a lifetime in my residence, dressed in fine silks and eating delicacies?” Pei Yan asked slowly.
Jiang Ci suddenly smiled. “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie, My Lord?”
“The truth, of course. I rarely hear sincere words.”
Jiang Ci smiled and said, “Then I’ll speak frankly, My Lord. Please don’t take offense. In my heart, this residence is like a large birdcage. You, My Lord, are like the largest eagle in this cage. A flock of birds surrounds you, vying for your favor, yet not a single one makes you feel at ease. It seems these birds serve you, but in reality, you’re exhausting yourself providing for their food and needs. If one day you’re gone and this cage breaks, all these birds will scatter, seeking a new cage!”
This was the first time Pei Yan had heard such a novel interpretation. After a moment of stunned silence, he burst into laughter. Standing up and stretching his arms, he felt refreshed, having slept more comfortably than ever before. He turned to Jiang Ci with a smile. “You’re the one who crawled into my birdcage. Whether I let you out depends on my mood.”
Jiang Ci quickly asked, “Then what would improve My Lord’s mood?”
Just as Pei Yan was about to reply, Cui Liang and An Chen entered the Western Garden side by side. Pei Yan’s gaze lingered on Cui Liang for a moment before he leaned close to Jiang Ci’s ear and whispered, “If you can serve Ziming comfortably, I’ll be in a good mood. Who knows, I might even help you cure the poison.”
The last time Pei Yan had ordered Jiang Ci to serve Cui Liang, she hadn’t understood the implications of “serve.” Now, seeing the mocking smile on his lips, she suddenly realized his meaning. Angry and embarrassed, she was left speechless.
Pei Yan turned to Cui Liang with a smile. “It seems there wasn’t much work at the Ministry today, Ziming. You’re back early.”
Cui Liang smiled mildly. “I took a few days off. When Minister Cheng learned I was slightly injured, he didn’t assign me too many tasks.”
“Ziming, you’ve just recovered. It’s best not to overexert yourself. I’ll speak with you tomorrow. You should rest early.”
Cui Liang hurriedly replied, “You’re too kind, My Lord.”
Pei Yan glanced at Jiang Ci once more before leaving the Western Garden with An Chen.
Cui Liang, not having seen Jiang Ci for two days, noticed her flushed face and the fine beads of sweat on her forehead. He smiled, “What’s wrong, Xiao Ci? Did you eat something spicy?”
Jiang Ci stomped her foot, turned around, and said, “I’m going to cook.” She rushed into the kitchen and shut the door tightly.
An Chen followed Pei Yan closely, reporting as they walked. “We’ve investigated. Ruifeng Trading Company entered the capital five years ago and has fifteen branches nationwide. Xue Yao was from Pingzhou and had only one sister in his hometown, who passed away last year. In the capital, Xue Yao had one wife and one concubine, with two children each. We’ve interrogated them harshly but learned nothing.”
“Have you ordered the seizure of Ruifeng Trading Company’s branches in various locations?”
“Yes, but for the three branches in the capital—”
“We were a step too late?”
“Yes. When our men arrived at those three shops, they were already empty. Account books, banknotes, and property deeds had all vanished. Even the land deeds and banknotes found earlier in Xue’s main residence only amounted to about a thousand taels.”
Pei Yan smirked. “The person behind this moves quickly. While we were arresting people, they were destroying evidence and transferring assets. Ruifeng Trading Company must be this person’s main source of funds. Investigate further, and don’t overlook any clues.”
The head steward, Pei Yan, approached and bowed. “My Lord, the Madam requests your immediate presence.”
Pei Yan turned to An Chen. “You go ahead. Release Xue Yao’s family but keep them under surveillance. See if we can lure out any fish.” He took two steps, then suddenly turned back. “Oh, and focus on investigating the relationship between Ruifeng Trading Company and those three missing people.”
“My Lord, do you suspect the person behind Xue Yao is from the Star Moon Sect?”
“I fear my guess is not far off.”
Pei Yan entered the East Pavilion of the Butterfly Garden with a smile. He saw Madam Pei painting an autumn chrysanthemum and bowed. “Mother, I pay my respects.”
Madam Pei didn’t look up. After a moment, she said flatly, “I hear the peace treaty has been signed?”
“Yes.”
“And the envoy has been found?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me the entire process of how you handled this matter.” Madam Pei’s delicate wrist moved skillfully, painting several green chrysanthemums slightly curled by the autumn wind.
Pei Yan was taken aback but recounted the entire investigation process, omitting only the matters related to Jiang Ci.
Madam Pei listened silently, not speaking, her brush moving continuously. When Pei Yan finished his narration, she also completed her final stroke. She took her seal and pressed it in the upper left corner of the painting. She gazed at the seal for a long time before slowly asking, “Do you know what grave mistake you’ve made?”