Clouds rolled and stretched across the sky, and beneath the dappled shadows of trees, the man before him stood like a refined gentleman, bowing to him with a distant smile.

Yet Xia Mingyuan felt this smile was blindingly harsh under the sun’s glare. His face twitched rapidly, and pressing down his somewhat trembling right hand, he sneered coldly: “Truly my good son-in-law. I certainly underestimated you before.”

Xiao Du slowly straightened his body, leisurely brushing dust from his robes, still smiling as he said: “Father-in-law is a figure of heroic stature. If Xiao Du had been even slightly careless in my planning, I’m afraid I would never have qualified to be your son-in-law.”

Xia Mingyuan naturally understood the sarcastic undertone in these words. He secretly gritted his teeth, speaking with some reluctance: “Speak then. What do you want?”

Xiao Du’s gaze swept over the personal guards beside Xia Mingyuan, saying: “This is not a place for conversation. I must ask father-in-law to come with me alone to the study for a private discussion.”

Xia Mingyuan snorted lightly, shaking off Han Kun’s supporting hand as he prepared to walk toward Xiao Du. Han Kun frowned, hesitating whether to follow with his men, but Xia Mingyuan waved him off and whispered a few words in his ear before declaring loudly: “You all stay here. I’ll go and return shortly.”

With that, he wore a stern expression, hands clasped behind his back as he followed Xiao Du through corridors and courtyards. Though he tried to maintain calm on his face, his mind constantly calculated the bargaining chips in both his and his opponent’s hands, yet he could never guess what cards the other held.

The two walked into the study. Xia Mingyuan’s gaze lingered on the silver bow hanging on the wall before he naturally adjusted his robes and sat down, saying: “How is it that such a grand marquis’s mansion doesn’t even know to offer tea to guests?”

Seeing that he could still maintain such composure at this moment, Xiao Du felt a measure of admiration and called toward the door: “Bring a pot of good tea for the Chancellor.”

A pot of excellent Biluochun tea was quickly placed on the desk. Xiao Du waved for the tea-serving servant to leave, ordering him to close the door tightly and wait in the gallery.

Xia Mingyuan unceremoniously lifted the tea cup and drained it in one gulp. The warm tea somewhat eased the tightness in his chest, and only then did he exhale a long breath, saying: “You’ve gone to such elaborate lengths to set up this grand scheme, all for that qilin seal?”

A faint smile played at the corners of Xiao Du’s mouth as he said: “Father-in-law is indeed a clever man, figuring it out so quickly.” He was too lazy to beat around the bush any longer, producing the qilin seal from his robes and examining it with interest: “I’ve long heard that Chancellor Xia possesses a qilin private seal, commanding both secret guards and personal troops. Today I finally have the honor of seeing it in person. It’s truly crafted with unparalleled skill.”

Xia Mingyuan stared at the qilin seal that had been stolen from him, remembering his recent ordeal. His eyes nearly blazed with fire, and he could no longer maintain his composure, slamming the table and roaring: “What exactly do you want to do?”

Xiao Du was about to speak when he covered his lips and coughed lightly several times, picked up his tea cup for a few sips, then replied methodically: “Nothing much. I simply want to invite father-in-law to hear a story.” He set down the tea cup, raising his eyes to stare at Xia Mingyuan: “A few days ago, I accidentally discovered that a concubine in my mansion was colluding with outsiders, constantly selling information about my whereabouts to others, which led to my being hunted multiple times. Under intense interrogation, she became desperate and tried to poison me, even attempting to frame Yuanxi. Fortunately, father discovered evidence and had her locked up. Upon investigation, we found she actually possessed Chancellor Xia’s qilin seal, and she was forced to confess that all of this was done under Chancellor Xia’s orders.” His gaze gradually sharpened, though his lips curved in a smile: “I wonder if Chancellor Xia finds this story exciting enough. If I were to tell it to His Majesty, would he believe it?”

Xia Mingyuan sneered: “With both witness and physical evidence, reasonable and logical, without any flaws – even I’m almost convinced that I ordered this poisoning. But what if I tell His Majesty that you forcibly seized this seal?”

Xiao Du sighed: “At that time, I was lying unconscious in bed from poisoning, while Chancellor Xia brought several personal guards, each highly skilled in martial arts, who stood guard at your door all night without rest. I ask you, how could we have seized the qilin seal that you kept on your person while leaving Chancellor Xia completely unharmed? Moreover, only you know the mysteries within this seal. If you hadn’t personally issued the command, who else could have done it?”

“You!” Xia Mingyuan trembled with rage. He had indeed calculated every step precisely. What happened last night couldn’t even be verified by his own guards, so how could he expect others to believe him? He unwillingly closed his eyes and sighed deeply: “Enough, enough. I was too careless and fell into your trap.”

Xiao Du sneered: “Father-in-law wasn’t careless – you simply wanted me dead too badly. Without personally witnessing my death, how could you feel at ease?”

Xia Mingyuan glared at him fiercely: “So you pretended to be poisoned to lure me in. But how did you manage to make me think two days had passed in that secret room?”

Xiao Du smiled pleasantly: “The secret room trick was simple enough to expose. Using blood that had dried for two days and fake scabs made you think two days had passed. I also hid special fuel in the fire starter that, when lit, would make you feel extremely thirsty. Even someone like Chancellor Xia would find it difficult to remain calm in such a dry, agitated, nearly suffocating environment. Then using fake guards to give you one last glimmer of hope, you could only rely on that qilin seal to summon rescue to save your life. However…” He paused: “Everything else was fake, but the poison was real.”

Xia Mingyuan shuddered in shock, saying incredulously: “To lure me in, you actually poisoned yourself?”

Xiao Du’s expression remained calm: “Because I wasn’t certain whether Zuo Qiao would be willing to cooperate with our performance, nor whether he could deceive your discerning eyes if he did act. So only by truly being poisoned could I make you willing to stay, preferring to take some risks for the chance to see if I was really about to die.”

Xia Mingyuan stared at him intently, his gaze carrying a hint of appreciation: “No wonder the title of Marquis Xuanyuan once made the Wu people flee in terror. I never imagined you were not only extraordinarily brave on the battlefield but could be so ruthless with yourself. No wonder you survived even after that brutal battle at Pingdu Pass.”

Hearing the three words “Pingdu Pass,” Xiao Du’s eyes flared with anger, his hands clenching into tight fists until the qilin seal pressed painfully into his palm. Only then did he slowly relax, staring at Xia Mingyuan word by word: “As long as I live, I will never let the events of Pingdu Pass happen again.”

Xia Mingyuan seemed quite satisfied with his reaction and picked up his tea cup again: “Even if you give this seal to His Majesty, so what? Do you think he would really convict me over such unverified matters?”

Xiao Du replied coldly: “I’m naturally not naive enough to think this seal alone could convict Chancellor Xia. But what if I really died? What if I said that with just this qilin seal, I could make His Majesty certain that Chancellor Xia was responsible?”

Xia Mingyuan’s eyes widened as he slammed the table and stood up, shouting: “Xiao Du, are you mad? You want to gamble with your life against mine!”

Xiao Du also stood up, pacing to Xia Mingyuan’s side, meeting his gaze without retreat: “That’s right, I’m gambling my life against yours. I wonder if father-in-law dares to bet his fortune and life!”

Xia Mingyuan was overwhelmed by his imposing presence and unconsciously stepped back until he collapsed into his chair. In that moment, the determination and resolve emanating from this young man actually inspired a sense of awe in him. He finally understood why this person could lead armies and sweep across battlefields in his youth, and why after experiencing such terrible circumstances, he could still stand up and become his opponent again.

Xia Mingyuan slowly straightened in his seat, saying coldly: “It seems I truly did underestimate you. Speak then – what do you want?”

Xiao Du walked to the desk and took out writing materials: “Very simple. I only want Chancellor Xia to write a memorial to His Majesty, stating that the Xia family will no longer interfere in any military affairs of the Xiao family army and will never touch even the slightest aspect of the Xiao family army. If this is violated, you’re willing to voluntarily resign from the position of Chancellor. I think His Majesty would be quite pleased to see such a memorial.”

Xia Mingyuan turned to look at him and suddenly laughed: “So this is what you want. Do you really think that staying away from the Xia family will let the Xiao family army rest easy? Xiao Du, oh Xiao Du, despite growing up alongside His Majesty, can you still not guess whose taboos the Xiao family army has truly violated?”

Xiao Du’s hand trembled slightly. He naturally understood what he was implying, but he was unwilling to think deeply about it. He simply placed the brush beside Xia Mingyuan’s hand: “Just write as I’ve instructed. There’s no need to waste effort on other provocations.”

Xia Mingyuan looked at the paper and brush before him. Though he was extremely unwilling, he knew all too clearly in his heart that from the moment Xiao Du risked his life to gamble against him, he had already lost. He was old now, possessing too much and seeking too much. He no longer had such passionate courage for desperate gambles. He had no choice but to reluctantly take the paper and brush, writing the memorial as Xiao Du dictated and stamping it with his private seal.

Xiao Du took the memorial and read it carefully, finally exhaling a long breath. His taut nerves finally relaxed as he smiled: “Tomorrow I’ll present this memorial to His Majesty. Father-in-law has worked hard. If you don’t mind, I’ll have Uncle Zhou prepare food and wine to properly host you shortly.”

Xia Mingyuan looked coldly at the smile on his face and suddenly said: “Do you know how heartbroken Yuanxi was during the days you were unconscious? Yet you were only scheming against her father. How can you face her?”

Xiao Du’s smile froze on his face, his hand holding the paper trembling slightly. How could he not know how heartbroken Yuanxi would be? He had calculated this plan countless times, and his only concern was her. But he had no choice but to do it, and absolutely could not let Xia Mingyuan detect anything.

So he set down the memorial in his hand, concealing the pain in his eyes, and said indifferently: “So what? To achieve great things, sacrifices must be made.” He glanced sideways at Xia Mingyuan with a sneer: “Besides, I know exactly what move Chancellor Xia was making by insisting on marrying your daughter into my family.”

A cunning glint flashed in Xia Mingyuan’s eyes as he spoke with knowing tone: “So the Marquis means that since Yuanxi is merely a chess piece, it doesn’t matter if she’s sacrificed.” He suddenly turned toward the doorway and called loudly: “Yuanxi, you heard everything, didn’t you? You should understand now how this so-called husband of yours truly sees you!”

Xiao Du was shocked, and the paper in his hand fell to the floor. He heard the door creak open with a “squeak,” and Yuanxi stood rigidly in the doorway. Those eyes that had looked at him with such tenderness countless times now held only deep sorrow and pain.

Xiao Du could no longer care about anything else and hurried over to grasp her hands tightly, fearing that if he was too late, she would disappear from his side.

But Yuanxi raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze as if seeing a complete stranger she’d never met before. She slowly said: “Did you never think to tell me that the person you wanted to deal with was my father?”

Xiao Du felt this gaze cutting into him like bone-deep agony. His eyes reddened involuntarily as he said softly: “Give me time. I’ll explain everything to you.”

Yuanxi shook her head gently: “You don’t need to explain. I understand everything.” She tremblingly closed her eyes, unwilling to look at this face she had once thought she could entrust her life to. Tears finally fell, but her voice was resolute and cold: “But I’m sorry – I cannot accept this.”

These past few days, she had shed too many tears. When you cry too much, you eventually grow weary of it, so let it stop here. She didn’t want to shed any more tears for him.

Xia Mingyuan watched this scene coldly and finally stood up from his seat, walking to Yuanxi’s side: “Yuanxi, come home with me. Your Seventh Concubine hasn’t been well lately and has been hoping to see you again. There’s nothing here worth holding onto anymore.”

Xiao Du’s heart was in turmoil. He quickly blocked the doorway, his voice already trembling but still firm: “Yuanxi is my wife. Without my permission, no one can take her away.”

Xia Mingyuan snorted lightly and was about to speak when Yuanxi said softly: “Father, I’m tired. Please take me home.”

This sentence completely shattered all the armor he had struggled to maintain. Xiao Du’s body trembled, his heart wrenching in pain. He understood all too clearly – she had said: take me home. This place was no longer her home.

In his moment of distraction, Yuanxi had already left the study with Xia Mingyuan. Xiao Du suddenly came to his senses and tried to step forward to stop them, but felt a sweet taste rising in his throat. He bent over and coughed up blood.

Xiao Chun, who had hurried over upon hearing the news, was frightened and quickly ran in to support his swaying body: “My lord, your poison hasn’t fully cleared yet. You absolutely cannot exert your internal energy again. Madam will calm down when she returns and naturally come to understand.”

Xiao Du sank down weakly, feeling as if half his body had departed, leaving only what was incomplete and broken, his very soul no longer whole.

Just as chaos filled the room, someone rushed in from outside, shouting urgently: “My lord, something terrible has happened! Concubine Cai has hanged herself in her room!”