The fragrant sweat lightly glistened, and the spring rain dampened the examination hall. Amidst the soft gasps and murmurs, the moonlight filtered through the intricately carved window, casting the shadow of a beautifully sculpted peony right over her heart.
Huaiju lowered her head and saw it, breathlessly asking him, “Is it beautiful?”
Jiang Xuanjin’s gaze darkened slightly as he reached out, pulling her closer, and bit down on the ear pendant she had yet to remove, mumbling, “Beautiful.”
“Then do you like it?”
Upon hearing this question, he refused to respond, only loosening the ear pendant to bite her lips, a hint of embarrassment and anger evident in his demeanor.
Huaiju chuckled lightly, not expecting him to truly answer; she was merely enjoying the playful banter.
However, after the rain had just subsided, as she was on the verge of drifting off to sleep, she heard a hoarse voice whispering in her ear, “I like it.”
Huaiju froze for a moment, instinctively wanting to turn around, but the person wrapped their arms around her, burying their head in the nape of her neck.
“Go to sleep.” The two words were somewhat harsh.
Li Huaiju raised an eyebrow, staring blankly at the incense burning in the room. After a while, a smile slowly crept onto her lips, growing wider with each passing moment.
The next morning.
When Qingsi entered the main room to attend to her master, she found that His Highness had already risen, dressed in his nightclothes with long hair cascading down, sitting at the dressing table with a silly grin on his face.
“…” He looked so foolishly happy that she didn’t know what to say.
“Hey? You’re here?” Seeing her in the mirror, Huaiju turned around, her brows and eyes curving in delight. “It’s another sunny day today!”
Seeing her so happy, Qingsi felt a surge of joy as well, though she didn’t smile; she merely pressed her lips together and placed the medicine bowl in front of her.
The bowl was filled with a dark, bitter concoction. Li Huaiju stared at it and asked, “How much is left?”
Qingsi replied, “One dose.”
“That’s just right.” Picking up the bowl, she walked to the window and slowly poured out the medicine.
“No need to prepare it anymore.”
Her pupils constricted, and Qingsi looked at her in shock. “My lady?”
Huaiju turned back, placing the empty porcelain bowl on the table, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “He dared to say he likes me; why shouldn’t I take a gamble on a beautiful and harmonious life?”
Everything was progressing smoothly, wasn’t it? As long as she didn’t reveal her identity, Jiang Xuanjin would never know. Once the case of Sima Xu was resolved and Danyang’s grievances were cleared, she could simply be Bai Zhujing, a devoted wife and mother, and perhaps live a fulfilling life.
“You…” Qingsi was incredulous. “How could you think like this?”
“Surprising, isn’t it?” Huaiju laughed twice, pressing her hand against her heart, her gaze dropping. “I was surprised too. When the thought popped into my head last night, I even wondered if Bai Si was back to take over my body.”
“But it’s not; this is my thought.”
“I want to give it a try.”
Her tone was resolute. This was the familiar tone of her Highness. But how could such a decision come from her? She and Jun Ziyang… Not to mention the old grievances from the past, even now, their relationship was built on deception and manipulation. How could someone as cautious as her dare to take such a risk?
Qingsi instinctively shook her head, wanting to advise her, but she knew that when her Highness decided on something, she would always be prepared with countless arguments to persuade her. In the end, she would never win the debate.
There was no room for negotiation.
Taking a deep breath, Qingsi firmly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her gaze was resolute.
“Alright.” She replied.
Since it was her Highness’s decision, she would follow her lead.
Upon hearing this, Huaiju’s smile blossomed again. She bounced back to the dressing table, picked up a hairpin, and said to her, “Come help me style my hair.”
Qingsi responded, just as she was about to reach out to take it. Suddenly, she heard something rustling at the door.
“Who?” Reacting quickly, she darted outside.
Lingxiu was carrying a basin of water inside and nearly bumped into her, barely steadying herself. She looked up and asked, “Why are you in such a hurry?”
Qingsi was taken aback, glancing around to see if anyone else was present.
“Did you just arrive?”
“Yes.” Lingxiu walked past her into the room, placing the basin down. She wrung out her clothes and asked, “What’s going on with you, Qingsi?”
“It’s nothing.” Huaiju smiled. “Martial artists tend to get nervous with the slightest disturbance.”
“I see.” Lingxiu nodded, not probing further. She quickly tidied the bedding and arranged the gauze curtains before stepping back outside.
Watching her retreating figure, Huaiju quietly asked Qingsi, “Is there a problem?”
Qingsi shook her head. “There shouldn’t be.”
Lingxiu was timid; anyone who spoke loudly to her would make her tear up. If she had truly heard something, she wouldn’t be so composed.
Huaiju nodded and then picked up a flower pin from the makeup box.
Lingxiu left the main building, carrying the basin far away, appearing perfectly normal.
However, once she turned a corner and was out of sight, she suddenly felt her legs go weak and collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
“Bai Si is back to take over my body…”
The words she had just heard echoed in her mind, and her face turned pale, her body trembling uncontrollably.
After breakfast, Qingsi went out for a while. When she returned, she brought an astonishing piece of news.
“Manager Lu said someone attacked the people from Feiyun Palace.”
Huaiju frowned. “Did they succeed?”
“No, the assassin was instead captured by His Majesty,” Qingsi said. “The person is now locked up in the prison.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, Huaiju smiled. “They tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing rice; they deserve it.”
“Also, it seems that Lord Yun has sensed something and has been questioning Manager Lu about you.”
“Well…” Huaiju scratched her head. “It’s better if I confess in person when I have the chance. As for Lu Jingxing, let him bear it for now.”
Qingsi pressed her lips together. “Manager Lu seems quite resentful.”
When has he ever not been resentful? But every time, he would complain verbally yet help her without hesitation.
Huaiju stroked her chin. “Once this matter is settled, I must thank him properly.”
Thank him with what? Qingsi shook her head. “Manager Lu lacks nothing.”
“That’s not necessarily true.” Huaiju thought for a moment and chuckled.
On this exceptionally sunny day, Lu Jingxing sat on the second floor of Canghai Yizhu Pavilion, lazily fanning himself with a Nanyang jade fan, gazing into the distance, slightly lost in thought.
Beside him, Jiu Wu was reporting news, glancing at him with a slight frown. “Are you listening?”
“Hmm?” He lazily responded, turning back with a smile. “I’m listening. You’re saying that Jun Ziyang is quite formidable and has clashed with Liu Tingwei?”
Jiu Wu sighed. “With your demeanor, I thought you weren’t paying attention.”
“Don’t mind me; that’s just how I am.” Lu Jingxing smiled, “I never take anything seriously.”
Jiu Wu shook his head. “The princess often praised you, saying that if you hadn’t strayed into commerce, you would have certainly become a pillar of the nation.”
Does she still praise him? Lu Jingxing was quite surprised, then laughed, “A pillar of the nation is too much. If I entered the court, I would have become a remnant of Danyang.”
This was indeed true. Even if he didn’t hold an official position, Manager Lu was more dedicated to the affairs of the princess than to his own business.
As this thought crossed his mind, Jiu Wu suddenly asked, “Do you truly only have a platonic relationship with the princess?”
The fan in Lu Jingxing’s hand suddenly stopped. He raised an eyebrow at him. “Why do you ask that?”
Jiu Wu replied, “Close friends like Jun Ziyang and Liu Tingwei can still turn against each other. Yet you and the princess have been close for nearly five years without a single quarrel.”
Laughing lightly, Lu Jingxing shook his head. “Who says we don’t argue? When I was with her, neither of us spared each other’s words. It’s just that I’m magnanimous; if we got into a fierce argument, I would let her have her way.”
He had no choice but to yield. Li Huaiju was quite domineering; if she couldn’t win an argument, she would resort to physical confrontation, saying, “Dare you to retaliate? I’ll immediately shout to catch the assassin and have your shops closed down!”
Lu Jingxing felt that the reason he was attracted to her and became friends with her was that she was unique—she had exceptionally thick skin and completely lacked the modesty and shyness expected of a young lady.
He never referred to Li Huaiju as a beautiful confidante; if he had to use a title, it would be something like a good brother. Thus, for so many years, he never thought he had any other feelings for her.
Until she passed away.
With a snap, he closed the folding fan and lowered his gaze. “Let’s not dwell on the past. I need to go help Jiang Xuanjin.”
Since their current goals aligned, there were some things he might as well share with him.
At the Tingwei Mansion.
Jiang Xuanjin and Liu Yunlie sat across from each other, the atmosphere tense.
“The princess and Sima Xu never got along during their lifetimes. If we consider motives, her suspicion remains the greatest.” Liu Yunlie said solemnly. “A few days before Sima Xu’s death, they even argued in court…”
“Lord Liu.” Interrupting him, Jiang Xuanjin said, “Do you think I insist on reopening the case for no reason?”
Liu Yunlie was taken aback, glancing at his knowing expression, and turned his head away. “I don’t know.”
“Then you might as well ask Li Fengxing.” Jiang Xuanjin said, “Have him recall how he fabricated evidence back then!”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yunlie looked at him in astonishment, then smiled. “So you knew about this matter all along.”
Not flustered, not panicked, and even smiling? Jiang Xuanjin frowned, looking at him in confusion. “As a dignified Tingwei, aren’t you ashamed to incite someone to commit perjury?”
“Your Majesty, you may not know.” Liu Yunlie clasped his hands. “Sima Xu was indeed killed by the princess, but she is deeply scheming and cunning. At that time, she destroyed all the evidence cleanly. If we use normal methods, she would escape unscathed. I was left with no choice but to resort to underhanded tactics.”
Jiang Xuanjin regarded him as merely making excuses, his gaze icy.
Liu Yunlie continued, “When Pingling Jun died suddenly, everyone knew it was the princess’s doing. It was precisely because there was not a shred of evidence that she was never held accountable. With this precedent, I had no choice but to take a risk.”
“Prime Minister Sima has served the Northern Wei for fifty years; we can’t let him die as unjustly as Pingling Jun.”
Pingling Jun, the younger brother of the late emperor, the uncle of Danyang. In the fourth year of the Great Prosperity, the princess visited his residence, took a look at him, and shortly after, he died from poisoning, his death being tragic.
Jiang Xuanjin had heard of this incident. After a moment of contemplation, he lowered his gaze. “No one knows what happened between Pingling Jun and the princess, but regarding the Sima Xu case, without evidence, how can you assert that it was the princess who killed him?”
“Who else would be so ruthless? Prime Minister Sima was praised by everyone in the court and had no enmity with others, except for the princess.” Liu Yunlie shook his head. “You must have seen how they argued in court over the emperor’s regency.”
Sima Xu advocated for the princess to return power to the emperor and establish a cabinet for assistance. The princess found it absurd and scolded Sima Xu on the spot, creating a tense atmosphere.
Given the princess’s personality, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to seek revenge over this matter.
Jiang Xuanjin pondered, adjusting his sleeves slightly.
Seeing him wavering, Liu Yunlie quickly added, “I don’t know who misled Your Majesty, but you must understand that the princess has held power in the court for eight years as a woman. She is not an ordinary person. With her cunning and depth, even if she is dead, she might have left behind a backup plan. You must not fall into a trap.”
No matter how terrifying the dead may be, they cannot compare to the schemes of the living. Jiang Xuanjin scoffed, regaining his composure. “Since you admit to inciting Li Fengxing to commit perjury, then his previous testimony is no longer valid. If you still insist that the princess is the murderer, find other evidence to convince me.”
With that, he stood up and stepped outside.
“Your Majesty!” Liu Yunlie followed suit, quite angrily saying, “If we can’t find evidence, are we going to let this case be overturned?”
This question was unnecessary. Jiang Xuanjin didn’t even bother to respond, merely glancing back at him before stepping out the door.
Leaving the Tingwei Mansion, he felt far from calm inside.
It was true that Danyang and Sima Xu had a falling out. If he didn’t quickly investigate Sun Qing and the assassins behind him, this fact would give the original ruler the upper hand.
However, if Liu Yunlie’s perjury was truly just to bring Danyang to justice, then who was the real murderer?
“Your Majesty.”
As he walked, Cheng Xu suddenly called out to him.
Jiang Xuanjin looked up and saw someone standing by the carriage ahead.
Frowning slightly, he stopped, a layer of displeasure clouding his eyes.
“Hey, they say one should smile three times when meeting someone to show proper etiquette. It’s fine if you don’t smile when you see me, but why glare?” Lu Jingxing smiled charmingly while fanning himself.
“What do you want?”
A few cold words, not friendly at all.
Lu Jingxing sighed. “I thought you needed evidence for the Sima Xu case, but it seems you’re not interested.”
His eyes narrowed, and Jiang Xuanjin stepped closer. “What evidence?”
Pointing his closed fan toward the teahouse across the street, Lu Jingxing took the lead. Jiang Xuanjin frowned, thought for a moment, and followed him.
In the quiet private room, the aroma of tea wafted through the air. Lu Jingxing swayed his ceramic cup and asked him softly, “In your eyes, what is the relationship between the princess and Prime Minister Sima?”
Jiang Xuanjin replied, “Confrontational.”
“They only clashed that once in court, and there hasn’t been another since, right?” Lu Jingxing smiled. “In the days following that court meeting, have you seen them argue again?”
Recalling for a moment, Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “How do you know all this?”
He was a merchant; how could he be aware of such court details?
With a light laugh, Lu Jingxing replied, “Don’t forget, I’m a ‘friend’ of Danyang, the princess. I know things that others don’t.”
Manager Lu had a close relationship with the princess. There were even rumors that he would enter the harem as a prince consort. He certainly knew more than Qingsi.
Realizing this, Jiang Xuanjin no longer doubted him and said, “Speak clearly.”
Taking a sip of fragrant tea, Lu Jingxing said, “On the surface, Danyang appears arrogant and domineering, but she is very clear about right and wrong. After the conflict with Sima Xu, she wrote a secret letter to the Sima residence, explaining the drawbacks of establishing a cabinet.”
“Prime Minister Sima is a wise man; he understood at a glance that Danyang’s intention in arguing with him was not to cling to power but to prevent the establishment of a cabinet. Thus, he replied, and the two reconciled.”
“With this premise, the princess could not possibly harbor murderous intent toward Prime Minister Sima.”
Jiang Xuanjin listened, somewhat confused. “A secret letter? Danyang?”
How could such a headstrong person write a letter just because of a disagreement? Listening to Lu Jingxing, Danyang didn’t seem like a troublemaker but rather like a wise ruler.
“If you don’t believe me, go to Feiyun Palace and the Sima residence to find out.” Lu Jingxing said, “Anything can be faked, but the handwriting won’t be.”
Jiang Xuanjin had a good grasp of calligraphy. He could easily discern even the most skilled forgeries.
Seeing Lu Jingxing’s confident demeanor, he thought it wouldn’t hurt to check.
When he returned to Moju, the entire Jiang residence was already dark.
Jiang Xuanjin pushed open the door to the main room and was not surprised to see a round lantern lit on the table, with Bai Zhujing sleeping soundly beside it.
His heart softened. He tiptoed inside and gently carried her to bed.
“Hmm.” Even the slightest movement woke her. She groggily glanced at him and mumbled, “You’re back?”
“Mm.” He pinched her sleeve to wipe the drool from her mouth and said, “Next time, you don’t have to wait for me; just go to bed.”
“That won’t do.” Huaiju shook her head. “I can’t see you during the day. If I sleep early and wake up to find you gone, wouldn’t that mean I can’t see you at all?”
Jiang Xuanjin sat down at the edge of the bed and asked softly, “Do you want to see me?”
“Of course.” She snuggled closer, wrapping her arms around his waist, and hummed with her eyes closed, “I wish I could grow on you so I could see you all the time.”
Jiang Xuanjin chuckled softly.
Huaiju was startled and quickly opened her eyes, but the man in front of her had quickly composed himself, his face devoid of a smile, calmly saying, “Just wait until I finish this busy period.”
Pouting, she pinched his face and said, “Smile again!”
“Don’t be silly.” Grabbing her hand, Jiang Xuanjin said, “Aren’t you tired? Go back to sleep.”
“I’m not tired; I’m just bored.” With a sulky face, Huaiju complained, “I’ve been stuck in Moju all day. Besides watering the trees in the backyard, I just wandered around the front yard. I even took a two-hour nap, and when I opened my eyes, I found I was the only one in the room. It was so uncomfortable.”
Thinking for a moment, she looked up at him and blinked. “How about I change into a maid’s outfit, and you can take me wherever you go?”
“No way.”
“What’s wrong with that? Remember last time I went out with you, I even helped you?” Huaiju puffed her cheeks. “Taking me along is a win-win situation. Why would you refuse such a good thing?”
Jiang Xuanjin slowly shook his head, though his gaze softened slightly.
Huaiju immediately threw herself into his arms, pretending to be pitiful. “I’m so bored alone. Do you know how many tiles are in the main building? Five hundred sixty-six! There are eighty-eight window flowers and seventy-two ants!”
“If you don’t take me with you, I’ll count the leaves on that orange tree in the backyard!”
Glancing at her, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “Did you really count them, or are you just talking nonsense?”
Even if she was just talking nonsense, she couldn’t admit it! Huaiju rolled around, acting spoiled. “I don’t care; I’m going with you tomorrow, wherever you go!”
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, appearing uninterested in her antics.
However, the next day, two people were seated in the carriage heading to the Sima residence.
“What are we doing?” Li Huaiju, dressed as a maid, curiously lifted the curtain to look outside.
Jiang Xuanjin replied, “Looking for something.”
The Sima residence was originally Sima Xu’s estate, not an official residence, so after his death, the place remained intact, and no one touched anything. The family didn’t receive guests, but when the old steward heard it was Jun Ziyang, he still let them in, guarding the study while they searched.
As Huaiju rummaged through the bookshelf, she asked, “What exactly are we looking for? At least give me a general idea.”
Glancing at the door, Jiang Xuanjin whispered, “A letter.”
Thinking for a moment, he added, “It should have a wax seal.”
Her fingers paused, and Huaiju raised an eyebrow. “A secret letter?”
Jiang Xuanjin nodded and gently opened the box under the bookshelf.
Having a vague idea of what he was looking for, Li Huaiju continued to search, but after nearly turning the study upside down, she found nothing resembling a secret letter.
Jiang Xuanjin grew suspicious and turned to the steward. “Has anyone come here since the Prime Minister’s passing?”
The steward nodded. “The late master had many old friends; after his death, they inevitably came to pay their respects.”
With a grim expression, Jiang Xuanjin brushed his sleeves and stood up, cupping his hands to the steward before leading Huaiju out.
“What’s wrong? Did someone take what you were looking for?” Huaiju asked softly.
Jiang Xuanjin replied, “I don’t know if Lu Jingxing is deceiving me or if someone truly took the letter. Let’s go to Feiyun Palace and search again.”
The Sima residence had it, and Feiyun Palace might have it too. Li Huaiju was already well aware of what Jiang Xuanjin was looking for, so she quickened her pace to keep up with him.
Feiyun Palace had once been the most luxurious residence in the palace; her father had doted on her, wanting to fill her palace with all the treasures. The palace maids said that even when the lights were out at night, the gems and pearls in Feiyun Palace would reflect the moonlight.
However, the palace before her had lost its former splendor and liveliness. Entering through the door, it was eerily quiet; apart from the guiding maid, there was not a single other figure in sight.
With painted walls and carved beams, she could have closed her eyes and still known where everything was.
Her throat tightened involuntarily.
Upon entering, Jiang Xuanjin’s expression also darkened. It wasn’t for any other reason; it was just that this place was several times larger than the Sima residence, and searching for a small letter was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.
Once inside the main hall, he turned to remind the person beside him, but when he looked up, he saw her staring at a certain spot in the inner chamber, her expression unexpectedly sorrowful.
“What’s wrong?” Following her gaze, he saw the Ruyi Hehuan couch in the inner chamber.
Countless images flashed through his mind.
In the pleasant spring of March, he stood calmly before it, offering a cup of He Dinghong.
“Your Highness, please.” He had said at the time.
Danyang, dressed in a Yaochi Peony Palace outfit, sat gracefully on that couch, accepting the poisoned wine he offered and drinking it all in one go.
“Your Majesty, you must live a long life.” She had smiled with resentment.
His heart trembled slightly. Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, focusing again. Looking to the side, Bai Zhujing was still staring at the soft couch, her eyes filled with wonder.
“This couch is truly beautiful!” She held her heart with both hands as if the sorrow he had just seen was merely an illusion.
Jiang Xuanjin was stunned for a moment, then lowered his gaze, reaching out to rub his brow. “Stop looking; let’s find the letter.”
“Okay!” Huaiju nodded obediently, following him into the inner chamber.
Given Danyang’s temperament, the secret letter was likely hidden in a mechanism. Jiang Xuanjin didn’t search through the cabinets but instead began to knock on the walls, moving from the east wall to the west wall.
Li Huaiju watched anxiously, unable to remind him of anything, so she could only pretend to casually check the bookshelf.
After searching for a while without any results, Jiang Xuanjin couldn’t help but say, “Could it be that Lu Jingxing deceived me?”
Who deceived him? Huaiju couldn’t hold back any longer. Seemingly casually, she walked over to the Hehuan couch, lifted the soft cushion, and exclaimed, “Ah!”
Jiang Xuanjin looked over to see that beneath the cushion she had lifted was a square piece of wood, a different color from the surrounding area.
He walked over, reached out to lift the small wooden board, and saw a stack of envelopes hidden in the box beneath it.
“So many.” Huaiju feigned surprise, helping him take out the letters, casually flipping through them until she pulled out the one with the neatest handwriting, subtly flashing it under Jiang Xuanjin’s eyes.
“This is it.” Grabbing her wrist, Jiang Xuanjin opened the envelope and quickly scanned it.
It was a letter written in Sima Xu’s hand, and the content matched what Lu Jingxing had said; he hadn’t lied.
“Let’s go.” Holding the stack of letters, Jiang Xuanjin stood up and left with her.
Huaiju smiled, following him closely. Just as they were about to exit, she couldn’t help but glance back.
Feiyun Palace was quiet, covered in a thin layer of dust. No one would ever again hold Huailin on the Hehuan couch and ask, “Who is better, me or the Empress?” Nor would anyone drink and make merry in this palace, drunkenly asking Qingsi if she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
This place ultimately no longer belonged to her.
Clenching her fists, Li Huaiju turned her eyes away, lowering her head to follow Jiang Xuanjin, her face foolishly exclaiming, “This place is really big.”
Jiang Xuanjin was lost in thought about the large stack of letters in his hand. He responded to her, instinctively freeing one hand to hold hers.
Feeling warmth in his palm, Huaiju grinned, pulling her sleeve to cover their hands, holding onto him tightly.
The secret letter Sima Xu wrote to the princess had been found. As long as they could find the letter the princess had originally written, it would be enough to prove that the two had reconciled privately and that the princess had no motive to kill Sima Xu.
However, the letter written by the princess had been taken by someone, and searching the Sima residence again would be futile. Jiang Xuanjin returned to Moju, looking at the large stack of letters, feeling somewhat troubled.
Aside from the letter written by Sima Xu, most of the letters were from Han Xiao, Xu Xian, and others, and after reading two, he lost interest. They were merely reporting certain matters to Danyang.
The most pressing issue now was how to find the letter written by the princess.
“Are you still going out with me today?” Another sunny day dawned. Jiang Xuanjin got up and changed his clothes, looking at the person on the bed who could barely open her eyes, softly asking.
Huaiju waved her hand. “After all the trouble you caused yesterday, I have no strength left. You go by yourself; I’ll join you tomorrow.”
The person by the bed shook her head but didn’t press her, taking Cheng Xu and leaving.
As soon as the main door closed, Huaiju opened her eyes, dragging herself out of bed, and softly called, “Qingsi.”
Qingsi responded and came in, hearing her command, “Bring me pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. Don’t let anyone see.”
“Understood.”
Isn’t it simple to obtain the princess’s secret letter? She was right here; couldn’t she just rewrite one?
With a smile, Huaiju took the brush Qingsi handed her, instinctively licking the tip of the brush with her tongue before dipping it in ink and starting to write. Once she finished and dried it, she deliberately folded and crumpled it a few times to make it look old before having Qingsi take it out.
When Jiang Xuanjin left the palace after court, he saw Lu Jingxing outside again.
“Your Majesty, did you find the letter?” he asked with a smile.
As Jiang Xuanjin approached him, he said, “Danyang’s letter is missing.”
“I know.” Lu Jingxing blocked half his face with the fan. “Because I have it.”
Jiang Xuanjin was slightly taken aback, frowning. “What do you want that for?”
“What else could it be? At that time, when the walls fell, everyone pushed me away, and no one believed what I said. I had no choice but to keep the letter safe.” He reached into his sleeve pocket and handed it to Jiang Xuanjin. “Take a look.”
The handwriting on the envelope was very familiar; the simple words “To the Prime Minister” were written in a crooked manner, unmistakably Danyang’s style.
Taking the letter, Jiang Xuanjin opened it and glanced at it. It was indeed written by Danyang, and the content matched what Lu Jingxing had said.
“Thank you.” He said.
Lu Jingxing raised an eyebrow, shaking his fan with a chuckle. “She is closest to me; why are you thanking me for helping her?”
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t respond, taking the letter and heading toward the Tingwei Mansion.
Lu Jingxing stood in place for a while, then turned to leave. However, he noticed many people from the palace looking at him.
Gathering his folding fan, he bowed to the officials, smiling in a rather unserious manner, before turning and getting into the carriage, instructing Zhaocai to return to Yizhu Pavilion.
At the Tingwei Mansion.
Liu Yunlie repeatedly read the letter Jiang Xuanjin brought several times, astonished. “How could this be?”
“Are you still certain that it was Danyang who killed him?” Jiang Xuanjin asked coldly.
Liu Yunlie was bewildered, staring at him for a long time before quietly saying, “I don’t know about this matter.”
He didn’t know either. Who besides Lu Jingxing could know these things? If someone had believed Danyang a little earlier, Lu Jingxing would have brought out these two letters, and the situation might have turned around.
“Back then… when I learned that Prime Minister Sima had an accident, Lord Qi came to find me.” Liu Yunlie murmured. “He said the murderer must be the princess and persuaded me to discuss how to convict her for the sake of the court’s stability.”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “Why didn’t you say this earlier?”
“Such matters, if spoken of, would be betraying someone.” Liu Yunlie’s face turned pale. “But now that you’ve brought this, I suddenly feel something is off.”
It was more than just off; he was being used as a pawn! Jiang Xuanjin shook his head repeatedly. “You’ve judged countless cases, yet you made such a mistake!”
“I…” Liu Yunlie’s voice dropped, sounding somewhat guilty. “Who knew it would turn out like this…”
Jiang Xuanjin asked, “What about Sun Qing? Has he spoken?”
Liu Yunlie shook his head. “We’ve used all forms of torture, but he refuses to speak.”
Jiang Xuanjin stood up and headed toward the prison.
Sun Qing had once been a military general, and the group he led were all soldiers under Pingling Jun. Their purpose was clear: to avenge Pingling Jun.
But relying solely on him as a stable steward, it was impossible to carry out such meticulously planned and timely actions. There was someone behind him. That person held significant power and could save him, which was why Sun Qing refused to speak.
Upon entering, Jiang Xuanjin saw him and merely knocked on the bars, saying, “Your crime has been determined; you will be executed in the autumn, personally signed by Prime Minister Qi.”
The person sitting in the corner was startled, by the sound of chains Shiking loudly.
“What did you say?”
“You have committed treason and murder; shouldn’t you be executed?” Seeing his reaction, Jiang Xuanjin had a sense of what was going on but continued to dig the pit. “I would like to spare you, but Prime Minister Qi said that if we don’t kill the chicken to warn the monkey, it will disrupt the court’s atmosphere.”
After saying this, he turned to leave, as if he had merely come to inform him.
“Your Majesty, wait!” Sun Qing panicked, grasping the bars. “I was just following orders; my crime doesn’t warrant death!”
He had originally thought that exile would suffice. He could arrange for someone halfway through to help him, and he could live out the rest of his life as a bandit. But how could Qi Han abandon him after using him?
It was merely a cooperative relationship; he had never intended to pledge loyalty to Qi Han. Now that Qi Han had abandoned him, he couldn’t blame him for breaking his promise.
Jiang Xuanjin turned back and asked, “Whose orders were you following?”
“Qi Han, Prime Minister Qi.” He answered without hesitation. “Yi Yang is his granddaughter-in-law. On the day of the coffin robbery, he had already arranged everything and told me how to act. The assassination attempt on you was also his idea!”
So it was indeed Qi Han? Jiang Xuanjin’s expression darkened as he adjusted his sleeves.
“Your Majesty, if you agree to spare my life, I have more things to offer you.” Sun Qing said. “Those things are enough to clear your name and fulfill your wishes, and all I want is to live!”
Returning to the bars, Jiang Xuanjin said, “If you’re willing to testify against Qi Han, I can guarantee your life. But if you want to leave this prison, it depends on the weight of what you offer.”
Sun Qing asked, “What about the letter the princess wrote to Sima Xu? How much weight does that carry?”
His heart trembled slightly, and Jiang Xuanjin thought he had misheard. “What?”
“You all don’t know, do you?” Sun Qing smiled confidently. “The princess once wrote a letter of reconciliation to Sima Xu just before he died. If that letter comes out, her suspicion of murder would be greatly reduced.”
The prison was dimly lit, and Jiang Xuanjin stood silently, his face buried in shadows. “Why do you have that letter?”
“Qi Han ordered me to steal it. He took me to pay respects and told me to find the letter and destroy it. I kept my wits about me and saved the letter.” Sun Qing said. “If you spare my life, I’ll give you the letter and help you testify against him.”
“First, tell me where the letter is.” Jiang Xuanjin said. “After I verify its authenticity, I will ensure your safety.”
“Is there any doubt?” Sun Qing mumbled, glancing at him. Knowing that Jun Ziyang was a man of his word, he still said, “The letter is with my wife. You just need to find her.”
……
The two identical letters, if not placed together, would be indistinguishable.
Jiang Xuanjin’s gaze was icy as he picked up the letter Lu Jingxing had given him.
When viewed alone, there was no issue, but compared to Sun Qing’s letter, the envelope looked much newer, and the ink was clearer, and written later.
Gently pinching the paper, it was common folk’s xuan paper, slightly different from the paper used in the palace.
The content of the letter was the same, with only a few words differing. He could assume that Lu Jingxing had no ill intentions and was merely trying to help Danyang.
But where did this second letter come from? He was adept at recognizing handwriting; it was impossible for someone to imitate Danyang’s handwriting; it could only have been written by her.
But why would she write a second letter? There was no reason for it.
Lost in thought, he recalled Liu Yunlie’s words—given her cunning and depth, even if she were dead, she might have left behind a backup plan.
Could it be that this was a backup plan left by Danyang?
Just as he was pondering, the door to the main building creaked open.
Almost instinctively, he quickly stuffed the letter back into his sleeve pocket. When he turned around, he found Bai Zhujing entering with a late-night snack.
“Did you even knock?” he said, slightly annoyed.
Huaiju held a bowl of sweet fermented rice dumplings in one hand, placing a bowl in front of him while hugging her own, eating as she spoke. “Look at my hands; where do I have the time? I had to push the door open with my foot.”
The sweet aroma filled the air, and Jiang Xuanjin couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, elegantly enjoying the dumplings with a spoon.
This person in front of him never seemed to heed the family rule of “no talking while eating,” chattering away. “The orange tree has sprouted new branches today; maybe it will bear fruit next year. Your second brother seems to have quarreled with your second sister-in-law; they finally fought! Your second sister-in-law returned to her family, but your second brother doesn’t seem to care. These dumplings are delicious, right? I specifically had Qingsi buy them from a well-known shop.”
If it were before, he would have certainly been displeased; who talks so much while eating?
But now, the warm light from the lantern on the table and the way she spoke animatedly made him feel at ease, a sense of stability he had never felt in over twenty years.
Unable to help himself, he reached out to wipe the soup from her face with his sleeve.
Huaiju was taken aback by his sudden action and then looked at him with starry eyes. “You finally don’t mind that I’m dirty!”
In the past, he had always used her sleeve to wipe his hands!
Jiang Xuanjin put down the spoon and said softly, “Clothes should be changed eventually.”
This explanation was unnecessary; Huaiju directly pretended not to hear, happily sipping from her bowl. Then, with a burning gaze, she stared at him as he ate.
Compared to her ravenous eating, Jiang Xuanjin appeared like a figure from a painting, dignified and elegant, taking one dumpling at a time, not spilling a drop of soup.
Huaiju swallowed hard.
Noticing her gaze, Jiang Xuanjin thought she hadn’t eaten enough and scooped a spoonful to offer her.
“I’d rather eat you.” She opened her mouth and bit his spoon, grinning mischievously.
Jiang Xuanjin shot her a glare as if he wanted to scold her, but he didn’t put the spoon down. He could only attempt to convey his disapproval through his eyes.
Li Huaiju was not someone who could be deterred by a mere glance. Remembering the Jiang family rules, she chuckled, biting the spoon and teasing him, “I said you’re a feast for the eyes; what are you thinking?”
“Your ears are turning red; Jun Ziyang, you’re quite frivolous~”
He was furious, letting go of the spoon, but Huaiju was quick, grabbing his hand along with the spoon, laughing as she said, “Want to run? I’ll make you talk while holding it!”
What could be more entertaining than watching Jiang Xuanjin break the family rules? Li Huaiju was utterly delighted by this, relishing his flustered yet helpless expression.
Jiang Xuanjin glared at her for a long time, realizing it was ineffective. His hand was still trapped, so he simply stood up.
Huaiju followed him, unable to resist asking, “What are you going to do?”
What else could he do? Couldn’t speak or write? Jiang Xuanjin felt frustrated, picking up the brush from the table with his left hand and neatly writing down two characters—“Shameless!”
“Wow, you can write with your left hand?” Huaiju exclaimed. “And it’s quite good!”
Jiang Xuanjin gritted his teeth, continuing to write: “Let go!”
“If you call me ‘dear wife,’ I’ll let go.” Huaiju grinned, her smile shameless.
The vein on his forehead twitched. He shook his head firmly.
“Not saying it? Then writing will do.” Huaiju generously said, handing him a new piece of Xuan paper.
The brush tip hesitated slightly, and Jiang Xuanjin wrote a dot, then paused, his expression shifting as a blush crept onto his face.
“Write quickly!” Huaiju pouted, urging him. “My hand is getting sore!”
Who does that? She was the one trying to make things difficult for him, yet she complained about her hand hurting.
Jiang Xuanjin snorted softly, closing his eyes to write. He quickly shoved the finished paper into her arms and pried her hand away.
“Hahaha—”
Looking at the neatly written “Dear Wife” on the xuan paper, Li Huaiju laughed so hard she nearly fell over, clutching the paper and running outside while shouting, “Qingsi, hurry! Find someone to frame this!”
“Bai Zhujing!” Jiang Xuanjin finally released the spoon, calling out loudly.
However, she ran off quickly, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Xuanjin stood stiffly for a moment, shaking his head helplessly.
The table was cluttered with brushes and ink, looking somewhat messy. He instinctively reached out to tidy up, and as he pinched the Xuan paper, he suddenly froze.
It felt somewhat familiar.
Recalling the letter in his sleeve, he instinctively took it out, unfolded it, and compared it with the paper on the table.
The color, softness, and texture were identical.
His expression changed slightly as he stared at the letter Lu Jingxing had given him for a while, then walked to the window and held it to his nose to smell.