It was supposed to be a bright sunny day, but for some reason, it suddenly turned overcast. The wind blew past the storeroom in front of the Tingwei Yamen(Ministry of Justice), making it a bit chilly.

Jiang Xuanjin coldly watched Liu Yunlie, who had gathered over a hundred guards and was writing orders with a fierce demeanor as he strode out.

He had known Liu Yunlie since the royal rescue battle eight years ago; they were as close as brothers. Liu was straightforward and easily used by others as a pawn—just like now, a few words from Li Fengxing had stirred him up so much that he even called out Jiang Xuanjin’s courtesy name.

If it were someone else, Jiang Xuanjin could have used his status as a prince to suppress them. However, status meant nothing to Liu Yunlie; even if the emperor were present today, he would still go to the Jiang residence.

Qingsi was in the washing pool, and it was inevitable that a confrontation would occur today.

With so many thoughts swirling in his mind, Jiang Xuanjin remained silent on the way. Upon arriving at Moju, both Liu Yunlie and Li Fengxing rushed inside eagerly, but after just a few steps, they retreated.

“Eh? Why are there so many people?” Someone blinked and stepped out, puzzled, “Is there something going on?”

Jiang Xuanjin paused and looked up, only to see Bai Zhuji, dressed in soft satin, with delicate brows and a fragrant complexion, smiling gracefully as she blocked the entrance.

Li Fengxing’s expression soured at the sight of her, while Liu Yunlie politely cupped his hands and said, “Madam, I hope you are well. We have come to handle some matters, and I hope you can forgive the disturbance.”

Jiang Xuanjin’s eyes brightened slightly as he glanced at Cheng Xu, who understood and quietly withdrew.

This was a great opportunity; as long as Bai Zhuji could delay this group for a while, Cheng Xu could send Qingsi away before she was captured. This way, he could avoid a lot of trouble and even turn the tables on Li Fengxing.

In a moment of desperation, Jiang Xuanjin felt grateful and looked up at Bai Zhuji, wanting to give her an encouraging glance to keep her blocking the door.

However, Bai Zhuji, who had been blocking the door, immediately smiled and ran over to him!

“Your Highness!” she called out sweetly.

Jiang Xuanjin’s face stiffened as he watched her open the door, shaking his head repeatedly.

Don’t come over; stay at the door!

Completely ignoring his gaze and actions, she dashed to his side, looking very concerned as she asked, “What happened to your neck? Are you feeling unwell? Do you want me to massage it for you?”

Jiang Xuanjin: “…”

The guards followed Liu Yunlie into the door, and Li Fengxing turned back to glance at him, smiling as he cupped his hands before striding inside.

Jiang Xuanjin felt a headache coming on. He rubbed his temples and looked at the person in front of him, saying, “Why don’t you understand what I mean?”

“Huh?” Huaiyu looked confused, “What do you mean?”

“I shook my head to tell you not to come over and to hold them off. Why did you run over faster than anyone else?” He was a bit annoyed.

Huaiyu’s eyes widened: “As soon as I saw you, I just wanted to run to your side. Who would think about what your head shake meant?”

Such a bold declaration!

Jiang Xuanjin was momentarily speechless, biting his lip as he looked at her, unsure whether to be angry or amused.

“Do you want to eat some sweet soup?” she asked. “The kitchen just sent some over, and I saved some for you.”

Saying this, she unceremoniously grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the main building.

The guards had already begun searching through Moju, creating a chaotic scene. Jiang Xuanjin’s expression darkened as he watched, but the person in front of him seemed oblivious, pushing him down to sit in a room and spooning sweet soup to his lips.

“Here, ah.”

Frowning, he glanced at her and muttered, “It’s too sweet; I won’t drink it.”

Li Huaiyu looked at him in surprise: “You don’t like sweet things? Then why does your mouth taste so sweet?”

“…”

How could she say such shameless things so naturally? Jiang Xuanjin was about to explode, glaring at her, momentarily forgetting that they were searching for people outside, only wanting to sew her mouth shut!

Huaiyu smiled at him for a moment, then leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “Did you know your face is red?”

“Shut up.”

“It’s especially pretty, like the evening glow over a snow-capped mountain.”

“Shut your mouth!”

The louder he shouted, the more it revealed his embarrassment.

Huaiyu laughed heartily, planting a kiss on his cheek before sitting back in her place, sipping the sweet soup while staring at him, as if contemplating which was sweeter: the soup or his lips.

Jiang Xuanjin cursed under his breath, propping his forehead with his hand to shield his eyes, feeling his face heat up more and more.

Before long, the noise of searching outside gradually quieted down. Liu Yunlie entered the main room, standing in front of him with a frown.

What was bound to come had arrived. Jiang Xuanjin raised his gaze, already thinking about how to explain Qingsi’s situation to him.

However, after a moment of silence, Liu Yunlie surprisingly said, “I acted rashly; I hope Your Highness can forgive me!”

Hmm? Jiang Xuanjin was taken aback, glancing behind him to see Li Fengxing with a pale face, silent. If he had captured Qingsi, he would have surely spoken up to mock him, but since he didn’t, it meant…

With a flick of his sleeve, Jiang Xuanjin instantly became serious, coldly saying, “Liu Tingwei has always acted with prudence; how can there be any rashness?”

This tone was both sarcastic and slightly angry, perfectly capturing the emotion.

Huaiyu, sipping her sweet soup, cast an admiring glance at him.

Liu Yunlie felt somewhat awkward, bending lower as he forced himself to say, “I listened to hearsay and came to Your Highness’s residence to take someone without verifying; it was indeed inappropriate.”

If he had captured someone, there would still be room for discussion, but since he hadn’t, it was a crime. Earlier, hearing Li Fengxing speak so confidently, and with Ziyang Jun not explaining, he thought it was a sure thing, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase.

Realizing this, Liu Yunlie angrily shot a glance at Li Fengxing.

Li Fengxing looked aggrieved, cupping his hands and saying, “Qingsi was indeed in Your Highness’s hands before, but I don’t know where she has been hidden.”

“Do you have any evidence?” Liu Yunlie frowned.

“This… I didn’t lie.”

Empty words were useless! The Tingwei Yamen had always been a place where evidence spoke! Liu Yunlie withdrew his gaze, feeling very dissatisfied with Li Fengxing, but for now, he had to apologize to Ziyang Jun first.

“This matter is Yunlie’s fault.” He sighed, “I hope Your Highness can be magnanimous.”

Jiang Xuanjin coldly snorted, appearing very difficult to appease. No matter how Liu Yunlie apologized, he remained indifferent.

Finally, Liu Yunlie could only say, “I will have the unique Buddhist scriptures from my residence sent over.”

“Good.” Jiang Xuanjin responded quickly.

Feeling both amused and exasperated, Liu Yunlie quickly took the opportunity to say, “Then I will take my leave.”

“Take care, my lord.” Jiang Xuanjin nodded, pulling Huaiyu up and accompanying them to the door.

Watching the group leave in a hurry, Huaiyu couldn’t help but exclaim, “Good thing they left quickly; otherwise, what would we do if they all stayed to drink sweet soup?”

Jiang Xuanjin turned his head, staring at her for a moment before asking, “Where is she?”

“Which person?” She feigned ignorance.

Turning to face her, Jiang Xuanjin narrowed his eyes, “In this courtyard, besides me, you are the only one who can persuade them to let Qingsi go.”

“Oh, you mean Qingsi.” Huaiyu suddenly realized, then turned to Lingxiu behind her, “Please bring her back.”

Bring her back? What kind of statement was that? Jiang Xuanjin was puzzled and was about to ask again when he inadvertently caught sight of the faint blue marks on her neck.

Slightly taken aback, he reached out to pull aside her high-collared garment.

“What are you doing?” Huaiyu jumped in surprise, quickly raising her hand to cover it, but Jiang Xuanjin’s movements were swift, grabbing both her hands and pulling her in front of him, while his other hand quickly reached for her neck.

The bluish-purple fingerprints on her neck were glaringly obvious.

“What happened?” His face darkened.

Li Huaiyu struggled a bit, looking pitiful as she said, “It’s tiring to stand; my feet hurt!”

He picked her up in his arms, frowning, “Tell me!”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Huaiyu smiled brightly, “It’s nothing serious. When I went to persuade Qingsi earlier, I accidentally crossed the line and got caught by her.”

“Nonsense!” Jiang Xuanjin stepped into the house, “Didn’t I tell you not to cross the line?”

“But it wasn’t a loss!” She said proudly, “I persuaded her; she not only didn’t kill me but also felt guilty toward me, even loosening her chains without running away.”

How could that be possible? Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. Once Qingsi was released, she would definitely escape. Only this fool would believe that someone would stay out of guilt.

After entering the house and finding a place to sit, he casually placed her on his lap and then withdrew his hand to carefully check her injuries.

Snuggling against him, Huaiyu happily asked, “What reward will you give me for helping you so much?”

“This doesn’t count as helping.” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head indifferently.

Huaiyu glared, “Then what does it count as?”

As he touched the marks on her neck, he said coldly, “It counts as mitigating your punishment.”

How bold to provoke Qingsi and almost lose her life! Letting her off so easily was already a favor!

Huaiyu drooped her brows, clutching his clothing with a pitiful expression.

He pretended not to see, taking the ointment from Yufeng and coldly applying it to her wounds. His long fingers gently rubbed along her neck, cool yet soft.

A shiver ran through Huaiyu, and she instinctively swallowed. As Jiang Xuanjin’s fingers pressed against her throat, he could clearly feel the movement beneath his fingers, a wave rolling down into her collar.

His movements suddenly froze.

“Miss, they’re here!” Lingxiu returned from outside, calling out brightly.

Huaiyu was startled and quickly tried to get up, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, she was pulled back by the person behind her.

“Don’t move.” He commanded in a low voice, his tone slightly hoarse. With a firm grip, he pulled her back into his embrace, holding her tightly.

Feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation, Huaiyu glared at him, “Didn’t you say we should maintain decorum? How can we face people like this?”

With a muffled grunt, he replied, “I decide what’s appropriate.”

This domineering and overbearing demeanor—where did he learn it? Huaiyu wanted to tease him, but as she leaned back, she pressed against something, and she froze, her words caught in her throat.

The room suddenly fell silent, and both of their faces turned slightly red.

Qingsi quietly entered the main room behind Lingxiu. She intended to greet her master, but upon raising her eyes to see the scene inside, she froze.

On the soft couch, the two were nestled together, one turning to the left and the other to the right, both wearing strange expressions, yet their bodies were pressed closely together.

What does this mean? Qingsi frowned, no longer bothering to greet them, just standing there watching.

Li Huaiyu cleared her throat and smiled at her, “I told His Highness you wouldn’t run away, and he still looked skeptical.”

Qingsi glanced at Ziyang Jun, her gaze still unfriendly, but she obediently stood there without making any other moves.

Jiang Xuanjin turned to look at her, “Have you come to a decision?”

Qingsi nodded coldly.

“Why?” Jiang Xuanjin was puzzled. This was something completely unbelievable, considering this person had previously been intent on taking his life.

Qingsi glanced at him, then turned to look at Li Huaiyu, her gaze softening instantly.

Huaiyu smiled and explained, “This girl is inherently kind. As long as you speak to her nicely, how could she not listen? Previously, you kept her locked up without telling her you wanted to reopen the case for Danyang, nor that you wouldn’t kill her. Naturally, she would harbor hostility toward you. I explained it to her and told her you are a good person. She believed me, and that’s why she came to a decision!”

A tool for killing, yet Qingsi was inherently kind? Jiang Xuanjin sneered.

Was he really a good person who aided the wicked? Qingsi also scoffed.

Caught between the two cold laughs, Huaiyu paused, dissatisfied, and asked, “Did I say anything wrong?”

“No.” They both replied in unison.

“Then good.” Clapping her hands, Huaiyu looked at Jiang Xuanjin, “Since she’s not running away or trying to kill you and is willing to tell you what you want to know, can we not keep her locked up? Let her bathe, eat, and sleep well?”

As soon as this was said, Cheng Xu, who had been standing nearby, was startled: “Madam, that’s not possible!”

“Why not?”

“Qingsi has high martial arts skills; allowing her to roam freely in Moju without confinement is too dangerous!”

“Who said she would roam freely?” Huaiyu replied, “She’s in such poor condition that she needs to find a room to recuperate. If you’re worried, just don’t remove the shackles for now.”

After a pause, she winked at the person holding her, “Is that okay?”

With a soft tone, she added a hint of coaxing.

Jiang Xuanjin coldly said, “Do you think that kind of talk will work?”

Cheng Xu nodded repeatedly. His master was such a cautious person; how could he be swayed by a woman’s charm to agree to such a dangerous request? Even if Qingsi appeared docile, who knew if she was just waiting for an opportunity to assassinate the prince? With the prince’s wisdom and composure, he would definitely…

“The shackles on her hands and feet are not to be removed. Cheng Xu, take her down to find a room, let her bathe and change, and then feed her something.”

“…?” Cheng Xu was stunned, unable to finish his thoughts as he was struck by his master’s words.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing his lack of reaction, Jiang Xuanjin turned his head, “Didn’t you hear me?”

“I… I heard.”

“Then go do it.” He said, “Once she’s settled, bring her back for questioning.”

“Yes.”

Watching Cheng Xu’s shocked expression, Huaiyu covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes turning into crescent moons. What had she said? The beauty trap was indeed effective; Lu Jingxing didn’t believe it!

Once everyone had exited the room, Li Huaiyu turned and clung to Jiang Xuanjin, teasingly saying, “Don’t you think our actions just now can be summed up in one phrase?”

“What phrase?”

“Beauty brings disaster!” She slapped her thigh, “Ziyang Jun, for the sake of a beautiful woman’s smile, disregards his own safety to let her release an assassin—if this gets out, I’ll be compared to Daji and Bao Si!”

After seriously examining her for a moment, Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, “You’re overthinking it.”

“Huh?”

“Throughout history, the most beautiful women have always been the ones who brought disaster. As for you…” He paused, “You can only be considered a disaster.”

Huaiyu was taken aback, and when she realized he was mocking her for not being “beautiful” enough, she immediately pinched his chin, glaring fiercely, “That’s fine; you’re the beauty, and I’m the disaster. Together, we’re still a beauty bringing disaster!”

Saying this, she hugged him tightly, forcefully “bringing them together.”

Jiang Xuanjin was nearly out of breath from her grip, gently patting her back, “Let go; I don’t want to die young.”

“Not letting go!” Huaiyu acted spoiled.

A smile crept onto Jiang Xuanjin’s lips, one he didn’t even notice, as he allowed her to cling to him. After a while, he stood up, carrying her with him to the desk.

Huaiyu clung to him and looked back, “What are you doing?”

“What else can I do?” Jiang Xuanjin pulled out a stack of documents and said, “I’m returning a favor.”

“A favor? For whom?” Li Huaiyu asked curiously.

Feeling a bit stiff, Jiang Xuanjin supported her waist, looking into her eyes and asking, “Can’t you remember what you said?”

Had she forgotten her own words?

Huaiyu looked confused.

Irritated and no longer wanting to hold her, Jiang Xuanjin placed her in a nearby chair and turned to begin writing a memorial.

His calligraphy was excellent. As he wrote, one hand rolled up his sleeve while the other held the brush, exuding elegance and talent. Huaiyu watched him for a while, then quickly jumped up to grind ink for him, sneaking peeks at what he was writing.

Jiang Xuanjin didn’t avoid her gaze, allowing her to see.

“This…” After understanding the contents of the memorial, Huaiyu was astonished, “I told you about this before, and you didn’t believe me?”

Jiang Xuanjin shot her a glance, “If I didn’t believe you, would I have investigated?”

“But you investigated too quickly; this matter should be quite troublesome!”

“The witness is in the dungeon; what’s troublesome about that?” Jiang Xuanjin dipped his brush in ink, his gaze deep.

Huaiyu hesitated, “But recently, everyone knows you’re not on good terms with him. If you report this now, won’t they think you’re taking personal revenge?”

Pausing with the brush in his hand, Jiang Xuanjin turned to her, asking curiously, “Am I not taking personal revenge?”

Li Huaiyu: “…”

It was over. She felt that the upright and honorable Ziyang Jun was starting to be led astray by her.

The incident of Xu Xian’s imprisonment caused a huge uproar in the court. During the morning court session, Li Huilin was furious, and Li Fengxing took the opportunity to speak, denouncing the national pillars who had become national pests. He then brought up the drought in Jiangxi, condemning the corrupt officials for their crimes, each word resonating powerfully.

Li Huilin nodded repeatedly, turning to the lower right and asking, “What does Your Highness think?”

Jiang Xuanjin calmly stepped forward and presented a memorial to the emperor.

“The case of General Xu’s embezzlement is fraught with doubts, and with no witnesses, it can be postponed for further examination. The case I am reporting, however, is one that can be decided immediately.”

Upon hearing this, Li Huilin quickly had someone present the memorial, opening it to read carefully before closing it with a solemn expression.

“Lord Li,” he asked, “If Xu Xian’s crimes are confirmed, what punishment should he receive?”

Li Fengxing, curious about what Ziyang Jun had submitted, quickly regained his composure and replied, “To treat the common people as ants, to fatten oneself on the flesh of the people. Regardless of past merits, such a minister should be exiled and never allowed to return to the capital.”

“Oh?” Li Huilin nodded, “That sounds fair; let’s proceed with that. Someone—”

“Present!” The imperial guards stepped forward.

“Strip Lord Li Fengxing of his official hat!” he commanded coldly.

“Yes!”

Li Fengxing was taken aback, his hands being restrained behind his back, and a chill ran down his head. He quickly shouted, “Your Majesty! What crime have I committed? What crime have I committed!”

Jiang Xuanjin turned his head, calmly watching him, “The drug merchant Meng Hengyuan in prison exposed that you received one hundred thousand taels of silver from him. You embezzled and abused your power, and to protect his life, you were willing to distort the truth and deceive Your Majesty. That is one crime.”

“In the sixth year of Daxing, Jiangxi also suffered from drought. The court allocated five hundred thousand taels for disaster relief, yet you incited the then envoy to embezzle two hundred thousand taels, leading to thousands of starving people and a suffering populace. That is the second crime.”

“Most merchants in the capital have been extorted by you, and those who refuse are made to suffer in the matter of tribute. As a court official, you treat the common people as ants, fattening yourself on their flesh. That is the third crime.”

“These three crimes are listed in the memorial, and evidence has been presented to the Tingwei Yamen. If Lord Li feels wronged, then find a way to prove your innocence.”

Staring wide-eyed at Jiang Xuanjin as he finished speaking, Li Fengxing was dumbfounded. He thought the case of Meng Hengyuan had already passed, so how could he still be caught by the tail?

If it were just that one case, Li Fengxing would have accepted his misfortune, as Meng Hengyuan was indeed unworthy of a scheme. But how could Jiang Xuanjin know about the events of the sixth year of Daxing and the merchants in the capital? How could he possibly know?

Jiang Xuanjin stood before him, as if he had guessed what he was thinking, and said, “Liu Tingwei once said: there’s no wall that doesn’t let the wind through. As long as something has happened, someone will always know.”

Standing opposite him, Liu Yunlie deeply glanced at Li Fengxing.

The imperial guards were already dragging him out. Li Fengxing’s face turned pale, and he trembled as he shouted, “Your Majesty, I am wrong! You must not believe Ziyang Jun’s one-sided words! I am wronged!”

His shrill voice echoed from the court entrance to the palace gates.

Li Huilin ignored him, instead speaking in a deep voice to the lower officials, “The subsequent records will be handed over to Lord Liu for organization and archiving.”

Liu Yunlie nodded in agreement.

As the court adjourned, everyone began to discuss the matter. Liu Yunlie caught up with Jiang Xuanjin, puzzled, “Why didn’t you let me finish the interrogation and instead report directly to the emperor?”

According to his usual temperament, he would seek justice by allowing the Tingwei Yamen to provide a result before reporting, as his status in the emperor’s heart meant that whatever he said would be believed. To prevent becoming “the one word is worth a thousand,” Jiang Xuanjin rarely directly reported to anyone for sentencing.

Today was indeed a departure from the norm.

Looking ahead, Jiang Xuanjin replied, “With a person like Li Fengxing, who can talk so smoothly, it’s better to deny him the opportunity to cover up his evidence. It’s more efficient to convict him first, seal his residence, and then slowly proceed with other matters.”

Such a style of doing things… Liu Yunlie frowned, deeply observing him, “You’ve changed quite a bit recently.”

“Hmm?” Jiang Xuanjin asked, confused, “What do you mean?”

“You’ve become too overbearing.” It was reminiscent of the former Princess of Danyang.

Liu Yunlie didn’t dare to say the latter part of his thought, but his doubts grew heavier in his heart.

Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, brushing off the discussion, and said, “Make sure the unique copies are sent to my residence early.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the palace gates.

Liu Yunlie stood in place, his expression complex as he watched, contemplating whether to verify the evidence against Li Fengxing at the Tingwei Yamen.

The sudden imprisonment of the prominent Lord Li Fengxing during the morning court session and the immediate sealing of the Li residence undoubtedly caused panic among many officials. They were not only fearful of the severity of the embezzlement charges but also of the weight of Ziyang Jun’s words.

Previously, Li Fengxing had dared to provoke Jiang Xuanjin repeatedly because he believed that with Jiang Xuanjin’s upright and composed nature, even if he offended him, he wouldn’t seek personal revenge but would argue with reason—this was the demeanor of a gentleman and the best loophole for a villain to exploit.

A gentleman must uphold propriety, understand the law, and act openly, while a villain does not. As long as they achieve their goals, a villain will stop at nothing. The struggle between gentlemen and villains has always favored the latter, even if scholars often write about “gentlemen being open and upright, while villains are always anxious,” it doesn’t change the fact that there are many villains who are quite pleased with themselves.

However, he never expected that Jiang Xuanjin would abandon this demeanor, no longer engaging him directly but silently collecting evidence of his corruption, and when he reported it, it would directly cause him to fall from grace.

It was simply unexpected and beyond remedy!

In the prison, Li Fengxing wore a look of despair, still unable to comprehend how Jiang Xuanjin had learned of his previous crimes.

Qingsi stood quietly in the main room of Moju, still wearing shackles on her hands and feet, but she had changed into a maid’s dress, and her disheveled hair was styled into a bun.

“What else do you know?” Jiang Xuanjin asked his gaze deep as he looked at her.

He initially thought she was using tactics to gain Bai Zhuji’s sympathy, harboring ulterior motives. However, with the incident involving Li Fengxing, she had taken the initiative to provide him with evidence of his crimes, and from today’s events, it seemed that the information was indeed useful. Li Fengxing’s panic proved that those things had indeed happened.

Yet, he had never heard a whisper of it before.

“What else does Your Highness want to know?” Qingsi asked indifferently.

Collecting his thoughts, Jiang Xuanjin said, “I want to know too much. You might as well tell me first why you know so much about Li Fengxing.”

Qingsi paused, glancing sideways at the person on the soft couch.

Li Huaiyu was holding a bowl of sunflower seeds, cracking them like a squirrel, her expression relaxed and cheerful, as if she hadn’t noticed what they were discussing at all.

So Qingsi spoke directly, “Your Highness should know that the Princess of Danyang liked to travel outside the palace.”

Mentioning this, Jiang Xuanjin sneered, “That’s called debauchery.”

Qingsi pretended not to hear and continued, “In the sixth year of Daxing, she encountered many refugees on the streets of the capital. Upon inquiry, she learned that they were people who had fled their homes due to the drought in Jiangxi. Although the court had allocated funds for disaster relief, the sight of refugees everywhere naturally angered the princess, and someone reported the envoy and Li Fengxing to her.”

The refugees’ testimonies lacked direct evidence, and even if the princess knew that Li Fengxing was deceiving the court, she couldn’t do anything about it. After that, she began targeting Li Fengxing, often finding trouble for him elsewhere, which meant that no matter how many achievements he had, he could no longer receive additional salary.

Li Fengxing thus harbored hatred toward the princess.

Jiang Xuanjin listened, somewhat stunned: “And the merchants in the capital…”

“Manager Lu is a close friend of the princess. He conducts business in the capital and has seen the affairs of the officialdom. He has lost opportunities for tribute several times because he refused to bribe anyone.” Qingsi said, “He knows better than anyone what Li Fengxing has done. However… he cannot report it.”

As a merchant, even if you are the wealthiest in the world, you cannot compete with the power of the official hat. If he were to report Li Fengxing, he would have to risk his entire fortune and half his life. This kind of losing proposition was not something Lu Jingxing would engage in. If he didn’t report it, the princess naturally wouldn’t drag him down with her, and he could only find ways to help them resolve it through other means.

Jiang Xuanjin fell silent, his brows gradually knitting together.

Would the Princess of Danyang care about the suffering of the common people? Would she distinguish between good and evil? She had been targeting Li Fengxing not out of caprice, but because Li Fengxing himself was not a good person. This was different from what he had known.

The good person he had always thought of had now become a bad person. What about the bad person he had always thought of? Could it be that he was truly a good person?

It felt like he was vaguely grasping the answer, but he didn’t dare to be certain, and a sense of restlessness crept over him.

Li Huaiyu, cracking sunflower seeds, suddenly stopped. She looked at him for a moment, then jumped off the soft couch and ran to his side, extending her fist straight toward him.

“What’s wrong?” He frowned, turning his head.

With a grin, Huaiyu opened her fist, revealing a pile of shelled sunflower seeds in her palm.

Jiang Xuanjin was taken aback.

She pinched one and offered it to him, smiling brightly, “Try it; is it good?”

As he chewed, a refreshing flavor filled his mouth, and he relaxed his brow, but he shot her a glare, “You cracked all these just for me?”

“Yep!” She nodded vigorously, stuffing one seed after another into his mouth, then asked, “Do you know why?”

What else could it be? He figured she would say something like “I like you” or “I want to share delicious sunflower seeds with you.” Jiang Xuanjin shot her a sideways glance, clearly disapproving.

However, she leaned in close to his ear and said with a smile, “You look so good when you’re serious! I want to kiss you, but it’s embarrassing to do it in front of others, so I’m kissing the sunflower seeds, and the seeds are kissing you!”

His chewing suddenly halted, and Jiang Xuanjin paused. The seeds in his mouth were stuck, and he could only glare at her, feeling a flush creeping up his neck.

“Ha ha ha—” Seeing his reaction, Huaiyu burst into laughter, leaning against the desk, laughing so hard she nearly fell over.

Qingsi looked up in shock, seeing her master laughing heartily while Ziyang Jun’s face was slightly flushed with annoyance. The atmosphere in the room was warm and ambiguous, making anyone else feel superfluous.

Weren’t these two previously at odds with each other?

From the day Jiang Xuanjin entered the officialdom, he had never been fond of the Princess of Danyang. At first, she enjoyed talking to him, but after realizing he wasn’t friendly, they became like enemies, constantly mocking and confronting each other. The princess had even died at Jiang Xuanjin’s hands.

But what was going on now? It was one thing for the princess to come back to life, but how could Ziyang Jun seem like a different person, blushing and getting flustered?

Blinking rapidly, Qingsi was stunned.

“Why don’t you go out for a bit?” Huaiyu laughed enough and turned to her, “I’ll have Lingxiu brew some medicine for you. Drink it and rest well.”

“Yes.” With her head lowered, Qingsi dreamily retreated.

Jiang Xuanjin watched her back, slightly puzzled, “How did you manage to persuade her?”

Huaiyu paused, sensing his suspicion, and quickly turned back, innocently blinking, “I just persuaded her like that; there were people present, so you can ask someone. I don’t know why she listened to me; maybe she felt guilty for almost killing me. After all, I’m like a flower, a celestial beauty…”

“Enough.” Jiang Xuanjin interrupted, unable to listen any longer as he rubbed his temples.

Huaiyu smiled brightly, grabbing his hand, “Do you have time now? Come with me to see the flowers?”

“No.” He shook his head, “Guests are coming later.”

Guests? Huaiyu was confused but wisely didn’t ask further, tossing out a “I’ll go see by myself,” before running out to squat by the wall, waiting.

Half an hour later, someone in a deep black cloak, with a hat covering their entire head, sneaked into the main building of Moju, staying for an hour before leaving with a package.

Huaiyu frowned, her curiosity piqued.

That night, as the two went to bed, they still embraced each other shamelessly, but the person beside her seemed preoccupied, hardly paying her any attention.

Huaiyu pouted unhappily, “Have I lost my favor just a few days after getting married?”

Jiang Xuanjin snapped back to reality, looking confused, “What do you mean by lost favor?”

“You’re not paying attention to me!” She propped herself up, leaning on his chest, looking at him with wide eyes, “Tomorrow we’re going back to my family; aren’t you going to ask me about the Bai family’s rules?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her, “You know the Bai family’s rules?”

“Uh…” Realizing she wasn’t too clear on that, Huaiyu climbed back to her pillow, “Forget I said anything.”

Pulling her back into his arms, Jiang Xuanjin closed his eyes and said, “Tomorrow, just follow me.”

Of course, she would follow him; it was nice to have a big tree to lean against! Thinking of the difficult aunts in the Bai family, Huaiyu pouted. She still remembered the account from the wedding day; this time, she would see how they would justify themselves.

Returning home was an important matter, and the Jiang family didn’t dare to be negligent. Early in the morning, they prepared a carriage and gifts for them. Jiang Shen, with tears in his eyes, pulled Jiang Xuanjin and said, “This trip is fraught with danger and difficulties; Third Brother, you must take care!”

He sounded as if he were about to embark on a perilous journey.

Jiang Xuanjin looked at him expressionlessly, “With the election coming up, Second Brother, you should take care too.”

Jiang Shen: “…”

After watching the Jiang brothers bicker, Huaiyu pulled Jiang Xuanjin onto the carriage, setting off on the journey back.

Having not rested well the night before, Jiang Xuanjin felt a bit drowsy, leaning against the carriage to close his eyes. He was jolted awake when the carriage swayed, nearly hitting the side wall.

Huaiyu found it amusing and reached out to pull his neck over, letting him rest on her lap.

“It feels a bit familiar,” he murmured.

Huaiyu smiled, patting his body, “Isn’t it familiar? When we first met, you also rested on my lap like this.”

Jiang Xuanjin’s lips twitched slightly, and he opened his dark eyes to look at her silently.

“Okay, okay.” Huaiyu corrected herself, restoring the facts, “I forced you down into my embrace.”

With a huff, Jiang Xuanjin said, “That’s inappropriate behavior.”

“What’s inappropriate about it?” Huaiyu retorted, “At that time, I was just worried about you!”

“It was clearly when we had just met.”

“So what if we had just met?” She said, “As soon as I saw you, I thought you looked like my future husband, so I started worrying about you in advance. Is that not okay?”

What a ridiculous argument! Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, slowly closing his eyes, but he was also puzzled.

Why was this person so attached to him from the very beginning?

The carriage swayed slowly for an hour before arriving at the Bai residence. Before getting off, Li Huaiyu had already prepared herself to face the cold faces of that group again.

However, upon disembarking, she saw a group of flowers—people, all smiling like blooming flowers.

Led by Bai Liangshi, the Bai family members swept away their previous harshness, greeting them with smiles and bows, making Li Huaiyu unable to believe her eyes as she looked at the plaque at the entrance twice.

This was the Bai residence, right?

“Dezhong is already waiting in the main hall.” Bai Liangshi approached, her demeanor very amiable, “You two should hurry inside!”

After glancing at her, Li Huaiyu grabbed Jiang Xuanjin’s sleeve and followed him inside.

Inside the Bai residence, red silk was hung everywhere. Upon entering, there was washing tea, and after walking a few steps, servants greeted them, saying, “Good day, Young Master,” creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Huaiyu looked around, lightly exclaiming, “They’ve changed their ways, huh?”

Jiang Xuanjin remained silent as they entered the main hall, first bowing to Bai Dezhong.

After two days without seeing him, Bai Dezhong seemed to have lost a bit of weight, but he still stood straight as a board, his demeanor flawless. After returning the greeting to Jiang Xuanjin, he first asked her, “Did you follow the rules?”

Li Huaiyu confidently replied, “I did! I showed filial piety and respect, and everyone in the Jiang family praised me!”

Jiang Xuanjin shot her a glance, clearly disdainful of such blatant lies.

Bai Dezhong’s eyes were filled with concern as he looked at Jiang Xuanjin and asked, “Did my daughter act appropriately?”

Jiang Xuanjin collected his thoughts and replied, “She acted appropriately, with proper measure, earning the respect of everyone in the family.”

As soon as he spoke, the people nearby exchanged glances, their disdain even more pronounced than before.

Jiang Xuanjin gritted his teeth, thinking that if it weren’t for not wanting to worry the elders, he wouldn’t have to say such hypocritical words.

Bai Dezhong nodded, looking relieved, and asked a few more questions before waving his hand for the servants to serve the meal. The Bai family members took their seats one by one, and everything went smoothly without any hiccups, finishing lunch without incident.

After the meal, Jiang Xuanjin went to speak with his uncles, while Li Huaiyu was surrounded by Bai Liangshi and others in the pavilion.

“Look at that. A married girl is indeed different; her brows and eyes have opened up!” Bai Liushi teased as she approached.

Li Huaiyu looked at her expressionlessly.

The laughter faded, and Bai Liushi cleared her throat, glancing at Bai Liangshi. Bai Liangshi pursed her lips and said, “We are all family; any misunderstandings from before are in the past…”

“Who has reconciled with you?” Huaiyu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Am I that magnanimous?”

Bai Liangshi was momentarily speechless, awkwardly saying, “If you’re still angry, then we all apologize. On the day of your wedding, we acted impulsively and didn’t do things right. As elders, we were wrong.”

“Yes.” Bai Liushi added softly, “Didn’t His Highness not allow us to sit at the family table later?”

Jiang Xuanjin didn’t allow them to sit at the family table later? Huaiyu was taken aback, blinking. She didn’t know about this; no one had mentioned it to her. After seeing Huilin so happy, she didn’t know whether the Bai family members had gone or where they had sat.

However, Bai Liangshi didn’t continue on that topic but instead pinched her handkerchief and muttered, “No matter what, we are still elders. Can you hold grudges against us?”

“What grudges? Zhuji wouldn’t be so unreasonable.” One of the aunts spoke up, leaving no room for her.

With this back-and-forth, Li Huaiyu yawned.

“Do you all want something from me?” she asked impatiently.

The group exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat unnatural. Finally, Bai Liushi spoke first, “You’ve married well, marrying Ziyang Jun, who is the most influential in the court. I heard he sent the Lord Chancellor to prison with just one word yesterday. The emperor trusts him the most.”

“Yes, others are useless; his word is worth a thousand gold!”

After praising him for a long time and going around in circles, Bai Liangshi finally said, “Among our younger generation, Fusheng and Qilin are both of marrying age. But they don’t have any official positions, and it’s not good for matchmakers to come calling! You are the Young Mistress; can you speak to Ziyang Jun for your two brothers and help them secure some official positions?”

This tone was so casual as if official positions were just two coins at a bun shop.

Li Huaiyu found it amusing, “Isn’t it simple to get an official position? The selection is coming up soon; just report their names, take the exam, and they’ll have it!”

Bai Liangshi frowned, “Your two brothers are not the type to pass the selection. If they could, we wouldn’t be asking you!”

“Even asking me is useless.” Huaiyu shrugged. “Ziyang Jun is known for his integrity and propriety in the court. How can you ask him to do something so selfish?”

Feeling a bit annoyed, Bai Liangshi said, “There’s always a way to be flexible. After all, he is our Bai family’s son-in-law. What’s wrong with helping family members secure an official position? It’s just a matter of a word from him!”

“Just because he can do something with a word doesn’t mean he has to do it for you.” Huaiyu scratched her ear, smirking, “Are you sure you’ve helped him or saved his life? Do you think that just because you’re related, you can shamelessly ask for favors?”

This straightforward remark made the group uncomfortable. Bai Liangshi, furious, slammed the table, “Bai Zhuji, we’re all lowering ourselves to ask you, and you’re still being so arrogant!”

Touching her nose, Li Huaiyu leaned against the railing and laughed, “Yeah, what can you do to me?”

Her tone was so arrogant that it made everyone in the pavilion furious. Bai Liushi spoke up, “Don’t think that just because you married Ziyang Jun, you can be carefree. You know what dirty deeds you’ve done; don’t you understand in your heart? If you push too hard, it’ll be bad for us, and you won’t have it easy either!”

This statement was somewhat nonsensical. Huaiyu lowered her head and thought for a long time, “What dirty deeds have I done?”

With a cold laugh, Bai Liangshi said, “What about the thirty-six loads of dowry you brought on your wedding day? Do you think no one knows?”

The people who delivered the dowry were meticulous, specifically sending Bai family members to carry it, but the Bai family’s servants weren’t blind; they would talk about what they saw.

Huaiyu paused, deeply looking at the group, then stood up and patted her skirt.

“Let’s go.” She said.

Everyone was confused, and Bai Liushi frowned, asking, “Where are you going?”

“Where else would I go? To find my father, right? Aren’t we going to talk about my dowry?” Huaiyu raised an eyebrow, “What’s the point of saying it here? We need to reason it out in front of the head of the family.”

The previously aggressive group immediately wilted at her words, hesitating, with no one willing to move.

There were still twelve loads of dowry hidden in Bai Liangshi’s courtyard…

Watching them, Huaiyu secretly shook her head, thinking that Bai Zhuji had run into a group of relatives who were a pain.

Having said what needed to be said and having intimidated them, Li Huaiyu thought this matter would be settled.

However, reality proved that she was too naive.

In the afternoon, as they set off back to the Jiang residence, Jiang Xuanjin and she were at the carriage side bidding farewell to Bai Dezhong when Bai Liangshi suddenly stepped forward and said to Jiang Xuanjin, “Your Highness, you must take good care of Zhuji. Many people are eager to have her! Manager Lu even added thirty-six loads of dowry for her, fearing that you wouldn’t treat her well!”

This loud statement echoed at the entrance of the Bai residence, and in an instant, the surroundings fell silent.

The richest merchant in the capital, Lu Jingxing, had added dowry for the fourth Miss Bai Zhuji next door, and it had amounted to thirty-six loads. What was going on here?

Bai Dezhong immediately scolded Bai Liangshi to step back, while Li Huaiyu’s expression darkened, her gaze sharp as she turned to look at her.

Bai Liangshi smiled smugly, seemingly unbothered by being publicly reprimanded by Bai Dezhong, as she pinched her handkerchief and stood on tiptoe, looking at Jiang Xuanjin with a look of anticipation.

With such a loud voice, Jiang Xuanjin couldn’t possibly not hear it. As a prince, how would he view the fact that another man had given dowry to his wife?

Would he be angry? Or humiliated? Everyone was curious.

Feeling the burning gazes behind him, Jiang Xuanjin slowly turned around, his dark eyes sweeping over Bai Liangshi before looking at the slightly angry person beside him.

Li Huaiyu was also looking at him, her eyes devoid of panic, only urgency, as if she were afraid he would fall for their trick, clenching her hands and wanting to explain to him.

However, before she could speak, he pressed his hand against her throat.

His long fingers pressed against her lips, gently brushing them, and the person in front of him softened his gaze, looking seriously and sincerely into her eyes, saying:

“I will treat her well.”