HomeSpring BanquetChapter 52: Reopening an Old Case

Chapter 52: Reopening an Old Case

The warm water surface was covered with a thin layer of mist, blurring their features. Jiang Xuanjin breathed lightly, looking angrily at the person before him.

“You are utterly reckless!”

Ripples spread across the water, reflecting shimmering light into his eyes. Li Huaiyu sighed, reaching out to smooth his eyebrows, her fingertips gently massaging the ends of his brows.

“I haven’t done anything to you, why are you so fierce?”

The steam rose to his face, Jiang Xuanjin frowned at her, his thin lips tightly pressed together.

Huaiyu chuckled softly, pressing his shoulders as she rubbed bath beans onto him, coaxing him gently, “Don’t be shy, don’t be angry. We snuck in here; no one outside knows.”

“A gentleman is cautious even when alone.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means it doesn’t matter if anyone knows; absurd actions are still unacceptable,” he said, huffing.

Huaiyu nodded repeatedly, “You’re right, you’re right… Turn around, I need to do your back too.”

Jiang Xuanjin: “…”

He tried to push her away, but she wouldn’t budge. Huaiyu blinked, looking up to see his serious expression, his eyes stubborn, showing he was not willing to compromise.

Amused, Huaiyu decided to reason with him, “What’s wrong with bathing together?”

“Do you even need to ask?” He frowned, “It’s a frivolous and indecent act!”

“We are a married couple,” Huaiyu argued. “We’ve consummated our marriage, so why can’t we bathe together?”

Jiang Xuanjin was momentarily stunned, at a loss for words.

Taking advantage of his distraction, Huaiyu smoothly turned him halfway around, applying the bath beans to his back as she spoke, “Rules are dead, people are alive. Look, bathing with me means you have someone to assist you, isn’t that beneficial?”

“You can’t reach the middle of your back, can you? I can help you with that!”

“Isn’t it boring to stay here alone? I can keep you company and chat with you!”

… The more he listened, the more it seemed to make sense.

Jiang Xuanjin looked down at the water, confused, unable to remember why bathing together was inappropriate.

Her soft body pressed against him, warming his back. She leaned in and gently nibbled on his earlobe, whispering seductively, “Stop thinking about it; there’s nothing to think about!”

The water in the bath splashed, blinding Jiang Xuanjin for a moment. He let out a low grunt, finally giving up the struggle. He reached into the water and pulled the person splashing beside him into his arms.

Outside the main building, Chengxu and Yufeng waited and waited. As the sky darkened, they still saw no sign of their two masters emerging from the house.

“Your Highness?” Chengxu, concerned that the water might be getting cold, couldn’t resist knocking on the door.

There was no response from inside.

Confused, Chengxu pressed his ear to the door. “Why is it so quiet in there?”

Yufeng suggested, “You should open the door and check.”

“You do it if you’re so brave!” Chengxu shook his head vigorously, clearly uneasy about the idea. “I don’t want to end up cleaning the stables again.”

Previously, he didn’t need to knock before entering the main building; he would simply go in to report matters. However, the last time he entered at an inopportune moment, he had caught the two masters… in a compromising situation.

Back then, the lady laughed it off, but his thin-skinned master… had sent him to the stables to clean horses for an entire afternoon.

No way he was pushing that door open!

Seeing Chengxu’s hesitation, Yufeng scoffed, “Coward.”

“If you’re not scared, then you do it!” Chengxu retorted.

The two of them pushed and shoved each other for a while, but neither dared to open the door. Finally, they both pressed their ears to the door, hoping to hear something.

However, just as they began to listen, a cold voice behind them asked, “What are you doing?”

Their heads collided with a loud “thud,” as they jumped in surprise.

Jiang Xuanjin frowned, clearly displeased. Without saying much, he carried the half-asleep Huaiyu through the door.

The night wind made her long dress flutter, and Chengxu and Yufeng stood rigidly on either side of the door, catching the faint scent of bath soap in the air.

Chengxu, somewhat bewildered, scratched his head and asked Yufeng, “Did they just come from the bathhouse?”

Yufeng nodded. “They’ve changed into their nightclothes.”

“When did they go over there?”

“I didn’t see.”

Chengxu was puzzled. Bathing wasn’t such a big deal, so why the secrecy? Moreover, what had made their master so cheerful? His eyes were practically sparkling.

Inside, Jiang Xuanjin laid Huaiyu on the bed and nudged her head gently. “Don’t sleep, your hair’s still wet.”

Yawning sleepily, Huaiyu wrapped her arms around him and muttered, “So what if it’s wet? I’m so tired.”

She had started the night intending to tease him, but in the end, she couldn’t keep up. It wasn’t her fault though; this body, Bai Zhuji’s, was just too weak.

She was about to snuggle closer to him when Jiang Xuanjin unexpectedly pushed her away.

“Stingy,” she mumbled, eyes still closed. Assuming he was being his usual aloof self, she rolled over onto the pillow and quickly fell asleep.

However, a moment later, Jiang Xuanjin returned. He slipped a hand under the back of her neck, lifting her head.

“Hmm?” Huaiyu cracked open her eyes in confusion.

She saw his cold, handsome face looking down at her. His long, slender fingers held a dry cloth, and he was methodically drying her hair.

“You’ll get sick,” he muttered disdainfully.

Huaiyu blinked in surprise.

As he gently rubbed her hair dry, she felt as if something inside her chest was being tenderly massaged. She blinked again, then suddenly laughed.

“You’re such a stubborn person,” she remarked.

He shot her a sidelong glance and huffed, his expression full of disdain. Yet his hands were meticulous and gentle. As he continued, he suddenly paused, staring at her stomach for a moment.

“Hmm?” Following his gaze, Huaiyu covered her lower abdomen. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s gotten a bit round,” Jiang Xuanjin said softly.

Huaiyu couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve been making me eat more at every meal lately. How could it not be round?”

Realizing it was due to overeating, he averted his dark eyes, half-lidding them in contemplation.

“You…” Huaiyu, sensing what he was thinking, looked away guiltily.

Her rounded belly was simply due to overeating, nothing more.

The room fell silent. Jiang Xuanjin continued drying her hair while Huaiyu tried to go back to sleep, but her mind was too cluttered to rest.

The next morning, Jiang Xuanjin went to court. Qingsi came in to help Huaiyu get up, quietly informing her, “The fish we caught is Sun Qing, the Stable Officer.”

Hearing this familiar name, Huaiyu sneered, “He doesn’t give up, does he?”

“We should’ve killed him back then,” Qingsi shook her head.

Sun Qing was once the deputy general under the command of Lord Pingling and held a deep grudge against the Li siblings. After Lord Pingling’s death, Sun Qing had his arm broken by the Eldest Princess of Danyang, was stripped of his rank, and demoted to guarding the stables under the Imperial Stables Officer.

Danyang had believed death would be too easy for him. She wanted to hear his bones break and see his former arrogance crushed to vent her anger.

Unexpectedly, even as a mere Stable Officer, he could still cause trouble.

“Indeed, you should always remove the roots when cutting weeds,” Huaiyu muttered. “But there’s a silver lining. Since he’s shown himself, we can trace him back to those behind him!”

Qingsi added, “Lord Ziyang has already instructed the Department of Justice to investigate.”

“With Liu Yunlie at the Department of Justice, what can they uncover?” Huaiyu shook her head. “We need Han Xiao’s help for this.”

At the mention of Han Xiao, Qingsi frowned. “When I went to the Lu Mansion last night, Manager Lu said that Master Han’s situation has been difficult recently.”

“General Xu has just suffered, and Yun Lanqing hasn’t been promoted for a long time. It’s no wonder his situation is difficult,” Huaiyu said, not surprised at all.

Han Xiao was hot-tempered, and when Yun Lanqing was around, he could somewhat restrain him. Without him, who knew whom he might clash with next?

Qingsi’s expression was solemn. After Huaiyu finished dressing, she smiled and patted Qingsi on the shoulder, “No need to worry too much. Perhaps Lord Yun will be promoted soon and be able to support him.”

How could that be possible? Promotion required significant merit, and Yun Lanqing, currently holding the rank of a Ritual Official, had no opportunity to gain such merits.

Qingsi shook her head, thinking her mistress was merely trying to comfort her.

Yet, within a couple of days, Yun Lanqing indeed received imperial favor and was promoted to Chief Minister.

Jiang Xuanjin wasn’t surprised. Yun Lanqing deserved the promotion; his advancement had merely been delayed by others. Now, having found another opportunity to rise, it was a stroke of luck.

However, Liu Yunlie commented to him after the morning court, “A Ritual Official suddenly getting involved in the construction of the Luohua River embankment? I don’t believe no one helped him.”

Jiang Xuanjin found him tiresome. So what if someone did help? The Luohua River embankment indeed had issues. If Yun Lanqing hadn’t noticed, when the summer floods came, half of the capital would be in trouble.

Since the merit was genuine, it didn’t matter who helped; he deserved the promotion.

Returning home and mentioning this to Bai Zhuji, she laughed, her eyes curving into crescents, “How could I understand the affairs of the court? But Lord Yun seems kind. It’s good he got promoted.”

She viewed things simply, not caring about factional biases, and cheerfully agreed with his words, appearing carefree.

Jiang Xuanjin’s lips curved slightly.

Huaiyu, sitting on his lap, was carefully filing his nails, “Speaking of the Chief Minister, I remembered hearing in town today that the previous one, Li Changshi, is being exiled?”

“Hmm.” Jiang Xuanjin’s free hand played with her loose hair. “All charges against Li Fengxing have been confirmed. Exile is a fitting punishment.”

“Did Minister Yi also suffer misfortune?”

“Yi Yang is involved in the matter, and the charges against him are not minor. It was your father who personally submitted the report. Although Commander Liu has yet to pass sentence, it certainly won’t be light.”

Nodding in realization, Huaiyu murmured, “The officialdom is so fickle. These people were once so illustrious, yet in an instant, they have nothing.”

Illustrious? Jiang Xuanjin thought otherwise. Although these two had decent ranks, apart from their efforts in bringing down Danyang, they were mostly just law-abiding officials with no remarkable achievements.

Thinking of Danyang, he paused, suddenly remembering he had something to ask Minister Li. He quickly stood up, holding Huaiyu.

“What’s wrong?” Huaiyu was startled.

“I need to go out for a while,” Jiang Xuanjin said.

“Just back from court and you’re leaving again?” Huaiyu was unhappy.

Pinching her waist, he said softly, “Come with me, and bring Qingsi along.”

Her eyes lit up, and she immediately smiled. Without asking where they were going, she called for Qingsi and followed him out, hopping cheerfully.

Jiang Xuanjin went to the relay station on the outskirts of the capital, where Minister Li was temporarily held. Once the person for the handover arrived, he would be escorted out of the city.

As soon as Huaiyu stepped into the courtyard, she saw Minister Li sitting in the corner of the prison cart, covered in chains, dirty, and devoid of the sharpness in his eyes, looking very dejected.

“Why are you here?” Seeing Jiang Xuanjin, Minister Li cursed through gritted teeth, “I don’t need anyone’s hypocritical farewell!”

Jiang Xuanjin looked at him with cold indifference. “Farewell? I’m only here to ask you a few questions.”

Minister Li was taken aback. He glanced at Jiang Xuanjin’s face, seeming to guess something, then turned his head away and muttered, “I don’t know anything.”

“Really?” Jiang Xuanjin stood beside the prison cart. “You should be clear in your heart. At this point, no one can save you.”

Indeed, no one could save him. After all this time and all the methods he tried, he was still facing exile to the frontier. No one even bothered to bribe the officials escorting him.

Minister Li wasn’t without resentment; he just didn’t want to be laughed at.

As he tried to bury his face deeper, he suddenly heard Jiang Xuanjin say, “If you can clear up my doubts, I might just lend you a hand if I’m in a good mood.”

A ray of light in the darkness, the last straw before drowning!

Minister Li jerked his head up, eyes gleaming.

Lord Ziyang was known for keeping his word, far more reliable than those who tried to appease him with empty promises.

“What does His Highness want to know?” His attitude shifted.

Jiang Xuanjin said, “It’s nothing major, I just want to know why you lied to frame the Eldest Princess back then.”

Minister Li paused, giving him a deep look. “So, His Highness is still concerned about the old case of Sima Xu.”

“Are you planning to lie to me again? Or will you explain the whole story?”

Glancing at Miss Bai Si, who was watching with a curious expression, Minister Li pursed his lips and said, “In my current state, what good would lie do? His Highness is a wise man, I can’t deceive you. I might as well tell you everything once and for all.”

“I had an old grudge with the Eldest Princess Danyang. I couldn’t do anything about it initially, but after Chancellor Sima died, someone told me I could take the opportunity for revenge. I listened to him and testified at the Commandery Office, accusing the Eldest Princess.”

Both Jiang Xuanjin and Li Huaiyu were taken aback.

“Who was that person?” Jiang Xuanjin asked.

Minister Li sneered, “Who else could it be? Commander Liu Yunlie. The testimony was prearranged with him. Otherwise, how would I know that Chancellor Sima left the palace banquet during the hour of Xu?”

Liu Yunlie?! Jiang Xuanjin was shaken, his face darkening instantly.

Li Huaiyu frowned at him, her throat tightening as she clenched her fists. “So, the testimony was fabricated.”

“The testimonies in Sima Xu’s case were mostly false,” Minister Li said disdainfully. “With Commander Liu’s help and the public’s desire to see the Eldest Princess dead, the case was quickly and meticulously settled. Didn’t His Highness notice anything amiss at the time?”

As he finished speaking, a young maid who had been standing with her head down suddenly rushed forward and kicked the railing in front of him.

With a loud bang, the prison cart almost tipped over.

“Ah!” Minister Li grabbed the wooden bars in front of him, shouting angrily at the maid, “What are you doing?!”

The young maid slowly raised her head, looking at him coldly.

“Qingsi?!” Recognizing her, Minister Li was stunned, then gritted his teeth and said, “So you were indeed hidden by Lord Ziyang. I wasn’t wrong!”

Qingsi scoffed and kicked the prison cart again.

“Calm down, calm down,” Huaiyu intervened, pulling her back a few steps with a gentle laugh. “He at least told the truth. Why get so worked up?”

“Accomplice.” Qingsi stared at Minister Li and uttered these two words. Then she turned to Jiang Xuanjin, frowning. “And you too.”

Jiang Xuanjin didn’t argue. He stood silently, his face turning pale.

It was true that Danyang’s death was seen as justified by the public. At the time, even he had hoped for her demise, following the official documents and believing she deserved punishment.

But now Minister Li claimed the testimonies in the documents were all false.

What did this mean? Was he completely mistaken about what he thought was right? Was Lord Ziyang, who prided himself on fairness, biased and unjustly condemned someone, sending them to their doom?

He slowly gathered his sleeves, his eyes cast down. His long eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, a mix of anger and confusion.

Seeing him like this, Li Huaiyu felt vindicated. Did he finally realize his mistake? Did he finally understand that she was innocent? Lord Ziyang, who had never done anything wrong before, had committed an irreversible mistake. What was to be done now?

But as she watched him a little longer, she began to feel sorry for him.

He didn’t mean it… With his character, if he had known she was innocent, he would have surely defended her against everyone’s accusations. Unlike others in the court, he had only targeted her because her actions seemed wrong.

Huaiyu realized that she, too, had been biased against Lord Ziyang before, never truly understanding him.

After a moment of contemplation, Huaiyu reached out and pulled him away from the prison cart.

“Recognize your mistake and change. There’s nothing wrong with that,” she said generously.

As long as he helped clear her name, she might even forgive the grievance against her!

But Jiang Xuanjin had no idea who this person was before him or that Danyang could be resurrected. He only felt burdened by the sins now weighing on him, sins that could not be redeemed. He couldn’t even process such comforting words; his eyes were filled with turmoil, restless.

“Your Highness.” The officer in charge of escorting approached and bowed. “The transfer order has arrived. The prisoner is to be taken on the road.”

Minister Li panicked. He looked at Jiang Xuanjin hastily. The latter slowly regained his composure and said coldly, “The case against the prisoner is not yet concluded. He cannot be taken away. Keep him here for now. I will seek an audience with His Majesty.”

The officer was puzzled for a moment, not fully understanding. Jiang Xuanjin didn’t explain further. He simply turned to Huaiyu and said, “You go back home and wait for me.”

“Alright.” Li Huaiyu nodded with a smile. She gently released her grip on his hand, turned, and swiftly walked away, her figure disappearing quickly into the distance.

Minister Li squatted inside the prison cart, looking somewhat astonished. “He… intends to go directly to His Majesty? How is that possible? Sima Xu and the Eldest Princess are already dead. What good would reopening the case do now?”

Huaiyu glanced at him sideways. “There’s still justice in this world.”

“Ridiculous!” Minister Li retorted. “For the sake of justice, he wants to stir up trouble after everything has settled? It’s of no benefit to him at all!”

Indeed, there was little benefit in reopening the case. It would likely antagonize a significant portion of the court. If she were in Jiang Xuanjin’s position, Huaiyu wasn’t sure she would have the courage to wade into such troubled waters.

Yet Jiang Xuanjin showed no hesitation at all.

Such a fool—there was surely no one else like him in the entire court or even the realm.

Smirking to herself, Li Huaiyu thought to herself what an extraordinary man she had married.

On the first day of August, over four months after the passing of the Eldest Princess, Lord Ziyang suddenly entered the palace and demanded a reinvestigation into the Sima Xu case before the Emperor.

The court was thrown into turmoil. The Three Dukes and Nine Ministers who received the news hurried to the palace.

Among them, Commander Liu Yunlie arrived first, his face the most grim. He had considered various ways to deal with Jiang Xuanjin, but he had never imagined that he would truly bring the old case to light.

Truly mad!

“What is the intention behind His Majesty’s actions?” Qi Han arrived and bowed to the Emperor, immediately questioning Jiang Xuanjin.

Standing in the center of the grand hall, surrounded by an increasing number of courtiers, Jiang Xuanjin didn’t turn his head. His gaze was fixed on the emperor sitting on the throne, looking anxious.

Beside him, Yun Lanqing was slightly excited. Seeing Jiang Xuanjin remain silent, she stepped forward to defend him. “What other reason could there be? His Majesty is not capricious; he must have discovered something suspicious. Chancellor, are you questioning His Majesty’s motives without seeking the truth?”

Qi Han replied sternly, “The old case involves many complexities and has already been resolved. Bringing it up again now will inevitably disrupt the order of the court.”

“Disrupt the order of the court?” Xu Xian, standing nearby, chuckled softly. “Wasn’t it declared back then that the evidence was irrefutable? If the Eldest Princess deserved her fate, why fear a retrial?”

Qi Han was momentarily speechless. Minister Situ Jing stepped forward and respectfully offered his opinion, “In my view, there is no merit in reopening this case.”

The discussion among the courtiers grew heated, each arguing their point fervently. Jiang Xuanjin didn’t utter a single word.

He dared to propose a retrial because he had already considered all the consequences. Unless the Emperor disagreed, there was nothing that could stop him now.

As someone who loved his elder sister dearly, Li Huailin couldn’t possibly disagree. He was simply taken aback by this sudden turn of events, and his expression was complex as he pondered for a long while.

When he finally snapped out of his thoughts, he glanced at the noisy court and shouted angrily, “Outrageous!”

The ministers who were vehemently debating instantly quieted down, bowing their heads respectfully.

Li Huailin stood up and paced a few steps in front of the dragon throne, speaking with annoyance, “His Majesty is here to seek our counsel, not yours. I haven’t even spoken yet, and you’re all arguing already?”

“It’s just a retrial of a case. If His Majesty deems it necessary, then a retrial it shall be. It was judged before, so why can’t it be judged again now?”

“Your Majesty!” Liu Yunlie interjected, “It’s nearly autumn harvest time, and affairs are busy. Who has the time to deal with this case?”

Jiang Xuanjin calmly replied, “Since it was I who proposed it, naturally I will preside over it.”

Liu Yunlie gritted his teeth, glancing sideways at him. “Your Majesty, do not forget, it was you who passed judgment in the previous case!”

“Exactly. That’s why a retrial by me would be the most just,” Jiang Xuanjin replied, casting a sidelong glance at him. He then looked up at Li Huailin and continued, “If there was no mistake in the judgment, then I admit to the charge of disturbing the court. If there was a mistake, then I also accept responsibility.”

With these words, those who had quietly questioned Lord Ziyang immediately fell silent.

Everyone was stunned, including Li Huailin.

“Your Majesty?”

There was no benefit to him in reopening the case. Whether he advanced or retreated, he would face consequences. Yet, he persisted like this?

For a moment, Liu Yunlie and others didn’t know what to say. They exchanged glances but couldn’t find any further arguments.

“Please proceed, Your Majesty,” Jiang Xuanjin said, bowing.

The grand hall fell into silence, the atmosphere heavy. Several veteran courtiers had grim expressions, with some subtly shaking their heads as if to dissuade him.

However, after a moment’s contemplation, Li Huailin nodded.

“I grant your request.”

Glancing across the hall, he continued, “Lord Ziyang will preside, with support from the Ministry of Justice. I give you one month. Do not disappoint me.”

Jiang Xuanjin relaxed his brows.

“Thank you for your grace, Your Highness,” he bowed deeply, earnest and sincere.

The previously calm Northern Wei court was now in turmoil once again. The Three Excellencies and the Nine Ministers discussed fervently, memorial after memorial regarding Lord Ziyang flew into the study. Many believed His Highness had gone mad, possibly cursed by the spirit of the Eldest Princess.

Even within the Jiang family, there was astonishment. As soon as Jiang Xuanjin returned home, he was summoned by the elderly patriarch.

Upon hearing the news, Huaiyu hurried to arrive. The patriarch stood with his dragon-headed cane, sternly stating, “I taught you fairness, not to act alone!”

“This time, Elder Brother won’t support you,” Jiang Chong shook his head. “You’ve gone too far. How can you withstand the opposition of all the court officials alone?”

Jiang Shen, lounging indifferently nearby, noticed her entering the room and smiled, saying, “Little Sister-in-law is here?”

All eyes turned towards her. Li Huaiyu composed herself and stepped forward to greet, “Greetings to Father and all uncles.”

Upon seeing her, the patriarch’s anger did not subside but rather spread to everyone present. “Jiang Baishi, now that you’re married to him, you should advise him properly!”

Huaiyu innocently blinked. Not only did she not know how to advise him, but even if she did, with Jiang Xuanjin’s temperament, would he listen to her in such matters?

Beside her, Jiang Yan’s expression was complicated as he spoke, “If Little Sister-in-law could advise, it would be a good thing. But I fear instead of advising, she might think that Little Uncle is doing the right thing.”

The young master was quite discerning. Li Huaiyu chuckled inwardly, her expression serious as she asked with confusion, “What has His Highness done wrong?”

“It’s not that he’s wrong, he may not be wrong at all, but what he’s doing is ill-timed,” Jiang Chong frowned. “Reopening old cases, openly opposing the elders and ministers in court, ignoring advice and consequences. Regardless of the outcome in a month, he will face punishment! What is this?”

Listening intently, Huaiyu whispered to the person beside her, “Is the situation very unfavorable?”

Jiang Xuanjin calmly replied, “It’s nothing.”

“Nothing?!” Jiang Yan couldn’t help but interject. “You’ve just come out of the palace, and Prime Minister Qi, Grand Tutor, Minister Lin, and Magistrate Liu are all together in the study, discussing petitions. It doesn’t look like they’ll have anything good to say. Those who used to respect and honor you are now turning against you one by one. You’re a target of criticism!”

Is it that serious? Li Huaiyu was taken aback, glancing nervously at him.

Jiang Xuanjin looked displeasedly at Jiang Yan for a moment, then said, “I know what I’m doing.”

His stubborn temperament, once set on a course, not even eight horses could pull him back! The patriarch sighed deeply, no longer intending to say more. He simply instructed, “Go back and think about what to do. Jiang Baishi, stay.”

Named by the patriarch, Li Huaiyu obediently stood still, watching Jiang Xuanjin bow and leave, feeling somewhat uneasy.

“Jiang Baishi,” the patriarch spoke once they were out of earshot, “I’ve heard that Xuanjin showers you with favor. Since you enjoy his grace, you should think for his sake.”

She nervously chuckled and bowed her head. “Father, I will heed your command.”

“Quite sensible,” the patriarch nodded approvingly. “Persuade Xuanjin wisely. The reputation accumulated over these years should not be jeopardized over an old case. This isn’t just his affair; a misstep could easily ensnare the entire family. After dinner, both Chong and Shen will visit Moju. They’ll discuss matters, and you should be there to support them.”

With the decision to reopen the case already made, what was there left to advise? The situation had escalated so much that even if Jiang Xuanjin regretted it now, it was too late to turn back.

Nevertheless, seeing the solemn faces of her family members, Li Huaiyu reluctantly agreed, “I understand, Mother-in-law.”

Jiang Yan watched her and couldn’t help but ask, “Where did you and Little Uncle go before he entered the palace?”

“Well…” Huaiyu feigned ignorance, “We just took a stroll in the streets.”

“If it was just a stroll, how did Little Uncle suddenly remember the case of Prime Minister Sima?” Jiang Yan frowned.

With his question, even Jiang Chong looked at her with some doubt.

Feeling a chill down her spine from their scrutiny, Huaiyu maintained her innocent expression. “How could I possibly know His Highness’s thoughts? He never discusses court affairs with me.”

Jiang Shen chimed in, trying to ease the tension, “Don’t trouble Little Sister-in-law. We can ask Third Brother directly later.”

The patriarch at the head nodded, “Yes, you can go back now.”

“Yes,” Huaiyu felt relieved as she retreated, secretly glad to have dodged further interrogation.

However, as she walked away, Jiang Yan remarked quietly in the hall, “See, Little Sister-in-law is indeed suspicious.”

The household servants knew where they had gone. Jiang Baishi had lied about going to Bai Ma Temple.

Initially, Jiang Chong didn’t believe Jiang Yan’s concerns about Bai Ma Temple, thinking he was overthinking it. But now, he was beginning to wonder.

Was Jiang Baishi intentionally deceitful, or was it unintentional?

The patriarch waved his hand, “We’re all family. Let’s not jump to conclusions without evidence.”

Evidence? It wouldn’t be hard to find. Jiang Yan clenched his fists. If he was wrong in his suspicions, it was one thing. But if Jiang Baishi truly harbored ill intentions toward Little Uncle, he wouldn’t let her off easily!

Back at Moju, Huaiyu searched around and found Jiang Xuanjin in his study by the wash basin, buried in a pile of documents.

Approaching him, she poured a cup of tea.

Jiang Xuanjin looked up, pursing his lips. “Are you here to persuade me?”

“Yes!” Huaiyu nodded, holding out the teacup to his lips with both hands. “To persuade you to rest more and not strain yourself.”

He paused slightly, frowning. “Father must have asked you to persuade me for a reason other than that.”

After he sipped the tea she offered, Huaiyu smiled. “Since you already know their intentions, why should I say more?”

If he had married a more conventional wife, she would surely be whispering in his ear, earnestly persuading him now. But she was different, not giving the elders’ words any weight at all.

Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, feeling a weight lifted off his chest, and continued to review the documents he held.

Huaiyu obediently kept him company.

After dinner, Jiang Chong and Jiang Shen indeed arrived. One sat on each side of Jiang Xuanjin, discussing topics ranging from family interests to the welfare of the people.

Following the patriarch’s orders, Huaiyu dutifully supported from the sidelines, constantly interjecting with affirmations like “yes” and “indeed.”

Jiang Chong was not entirely satisfied with her performance and muttered under his breath, “Little Sister-in-law.”

“Huh?” Li Huaiyu looked bewildered. “What’s wrong?”

What’s wrong? He expected her to assist in persuading Jiang Xuanjin, but all she did was echo his words without adding anything else. Jiang Chong frowned, his suspicions deepening.

Seeing his expression, Huaiyu felt a pang of anxiety and quickly turned to Jiang Xuanjin, saying, “Elder Brother makes perfect sense!”

Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her, pursing his lips as he addressed Jiang Chong, “Why make it difficult for her?”

No response to his advice, but quick to protect her. Jiang Chong was somewhat at a loss.

An hour later, the two men returned disappointed. Huaiyu sat absentmindedly on a stool when suddenly she was swept up in someone’s arms.

“You don’t have to listen to everything they say,” Jiang Xuanjin whispered. “Just listen to me.”

Her mind refocused, a warmth spreading in her chest, Huaiyu smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Aren’t you afraid of spoiling me and disregarding seniority?”

He wasn’t exactly someone who prioritized seniority anyway. Jiang Xuanjin shook his head and placed her gently on the bed, planting a light kiss on her forehead.

“I’ll be busy in the next few days. Stay put and don’t wander around,” he instructed.

Arching an eyebrow, Huaiyu hooked her arms around his neck, preventing him from getting up, and said seriously, “Then we must seize every opportunity.”

Jiang Xuanjin was about to ask what opportunity when she wrapped her legs around his waist without hesitation.

“I still have documents to attend to.”

“Tomorrow is fine for the documents. Attend to me first!”

“…,” He was a little annoyed but couldn’t resist her persistence. They tumbled into the red canopy, and between breaths, he said with mild irritation, “You…

“What?” Huaiyu smiled mischievously, pressing against him, pinching his chin. “I’m bold and shameless. But don’t you also enjoy it?”

“Who enjoys it?” he countered.

She giggled softly, silencing him with kisses, her hands wandering under his clothes, caressing his waist. “Do you enjoy it or not? Hmm?”

His body heated inch by inch. Jiang Xuanjin gritted his teeth, finding it difficult to say, “I… don’t…”

Before he could finish, she bit his neck lightly.

“Lord Ziyang shouldn’t lie,” she said seriously.

Jiang Xuanjin became annoyed, flipping her over and pressing her down. Hoarsely, he said, “You’re too bold. You need to learn some respect.”

Under him, she paused, then licked her lips provocatively, her eyes gleaming. “Please teach me, Your Highness~”

It was a temptation as if asking for his life.

With a soft sigh, he lowered his head and unabashedly bit her fair neck.

The candlelight flickered but didn’t extinguish, casting red shadows intertwining in the inner chamber, amidst passionate entanglement.

Before, it was all calculation and intimacy between them. But this time, Li Huaiyu didn’t think of anything, just held onto him tightly, giving him whatever he wanted. Listening to his voice, she also felt stirred.

She felt stirred.

“Jiang Jie,” unable to bear it, she whispered his name, not just once but repeatedly.

He nervously covered her mouth with his hand, resting his head against her ear, his voice trembling. “Don’t… don’t call out…”

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