Li Fengxing had previously served as the Chief Clerk assisting Prime Minister Sima, harboring deep-seated grievances against Li Huaiyu. During her confinement in Feiyun Palace, Li Fengxing submitted twenty memorials, each one crafted with the intent to bring about her demise. For this individual, the purpose of being in court over the years had been singular— 

First, to see Li Huaiyu dead; second, to eliminate all those associated with her!

Now that she was dead, Li Fengxing sought out Jiang Xuanjin. What could this mean? It was self-evident.

Standing upright, Huaiyu wasted no time and slipped behind a pearwood screen. 

Jiang Xuanjin frowned and glanced at her. “What are you doing?” 

“What else? Protecting the reputation of your Ziyang Jun,” the voice from behind the screen replied cheerfully. “Am I supposed to let others see a young lady in your room?” 

A young lady? Hearing those words from her lips made Jiang Xuanjin want to scoff coldly. 

He rose, tidying up as he coughed lightly. “If you need to hide, you should go somewhere else.” 

“No way!” Huaiyu poked her head out from behind the screen, her expression earnest. “I feel uncomfortable if I can’t see you for even a moment!” 

“Liar.” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. 

“Oh, you don’t believe me!” Huaiyu stamped her foot. “I have a genuine heart, and you’re going to crush it on the ground!” 

Setting down the cloth he used to wash his face, Jiang Xuanjin turned to look at her, his eyes devoid of emotion. “You have a heart?” 

The calmness of his words made Huaiyu shudder slightly, and she instinctively averted her gaze, laughing as she jumped out and took his hand. “Do you want to feel if I have a heart?” 

Saying this, she placed his hand over her chest. 

Jiang Xuanjin stepped back in shock, staring at her, his temples throbbing. “Impudent!” 

He thought yesterday had been the height of shamelessness, yet today she was even more brazen. Was this audacity increasing daily? 

Having freed his hand, Huaiyu chuckled softly and turned back behind the screen. 

Jiang Xuanjin glared at the screen, suddenly feeling the urge to kick it. 

“Your Highness, someone has arrived outside the medicine hall,” Cheng Xu reported, cupping his hands. “It seems they are in quite a hurry.” 

“Hmm.” Suppressing his anger, he sat down in a nearby chair. “Invite him in.” 

“Understood.” 

Cheng Xu left, and Jiang Xuanjin looked at the open door, softly warning, “Don’t blame me for not warning you. If you hear something you shouldn’t, trouble will come your way.” 

“Have you never heard the saying?” the voice from behind the screen replied nonchalantly. “To die under a peony is to be a ghost with style.” 

Jiang Xuanjin: “…” 

One day, he would have to sew that mouth shut! 

“Your Highness!” Li Fengxing soon entered, his face serious. He bowed and stated directly, “I’ve heard that Your Highness recently captured Princess Danyang’s maid, Qingsi.” 

Huaiyu’s expression changed behind the screen. 

Jiang Xuanjin maintained a composed demeanor, not rushing to respond. He covered his mouth and coughed lightly. “Please, take a seat, my lord.” 

Li Fengxing took a deep breath, suppressing his impatience, and sat at the table. 

“If I recall correctly, my lord, you should be busy with the examination of the officials. Why are you inquiring about this matter?” 

Li Fengxing paused, then frowned. “The princess has passed away, yet her remnants are still at large, causing trouble. How can I not be concerned? Your Highness knows the princess’s methods; I fear she died unwillingly, leaving behind some form of retaliation.” 

“Such matters have already been entrusted to me by His Majesty,” Jiang Xuanjin replied, glancing at him indifferently. “Are you worried that I will not handle it properly?” 

“…I wouldn’t dare, but a few days ago, Your Highness captured Qingsi. Why has she not yet been imprisoned in the Tingwei prison?” 

Jiang Xuanjin picked up a nearby medicine cup and took a sip, his gaze fixed on the brown liquid, remaining silent. 

Li Fengxing was a person of quick temper, but before Ziyang Jun, he dared not act rashly. He waited in silence, feeling increasingly anxious as Jiang Xuanjin showed no signs of responding. 

“What is Your Highness thinking? Right now, Han Xiao and Xu Xian are waiting for Qingsi’s testimony to convict. As long as the remnants of Princess Danyang are captured, Your Highness’s wishes will be fulfilled!” 

Jiang Xuanjin did not lift his head. “My wish has always been for the young emperor to take power and for the imperial authority to be stable. What you speak of is your selfish desire, not mine.” 

Huaiyu, listening from behind the screen, silently scoffed. 

What a fine statement! The wish was merely for the young emperor to take power and for the imperial authority to be stable. If that were truly the case, why go to such lengths to kill her? 

Li Fengxing was momentarily speechless, his face turning slightly pale. After a moment of silence, he softened his tone. “Regardless, capturing the remnants of Danyang is not contrary to Your Highness’s wishes.” 

“Remnants?” Jiang Xuanjin slowly chewed on the words, scoffing as he looked at the man before him. “Are the remnants you speak of General Xu Xian, who is loyal to the country, or the important ministers Han Xiao from two dynasties? Or perhaps Yun Lanqing, who just returned from a mission to Xiliang and achieved great merit?” 

These individuals had deep ties with Princess Danyang, yet they were also pillars of the nation. 

Li Fengxing was left speechless. He looked up at Jiang Xuanjin and suddenly realized he had sought the wrong person. 

He had thought that Ziyang Jun would support the killing of Danyang, thus standing on their side. In truth, this man was merely a loyalist, with the same goals as him. He would lend a hand to matters aligned with his purpose, but he had no interest in those that differed. 

Clenching his fists, Li Fengxing stood up. “I was presumptuous; this matter should still be decided by Your Highness.” 

Jiang Xuanjin nodded, exchanging a few pleasantries before seeing him off. 

As the door opened and closed, Huaiyu emerged from behind the screen, her previously complex expression completely vanished, replaced by a mischievous smile. 

“Your Highness, you’re so impressive!” she praised, clutching her heart. 

Glancing at her, Jiang Xuanjin coughed twice. 

“Oh dear, look at this poor soul, sick yet still worrying about these matters.” She sidled up to him and pulled him up from the chair. “Come on, let’s go lie down.” 

“Let go.” He frowned. 

“I won’t let go. Don’t say such useless things.” 

“…” 

With a smile, she pushed him onto the bed and tucked him in. Propping her chin on her hand, she blinked at him. “Don’t you think I’m good at taking care of people?” 

Jiang Xuanjin had no patience for her nonsense. “Get to the point.” 

“All right, I’ll be direct.” She clapped her hands and smiled. “Are you taking in maids?” 

“Not taking any!” Realizing her intentions, Jiang Xuanjin firmly rejected her, leaving no room for negotiation. 

Huaiyu’s face fell. “You’re so heartless! We’ve kissed, hugged, and slept together…” 

“Shut up!” Jiang Xuanjin propped himself up, his expression stern. “I’ll have Cheng Xu send you home right now.” 

“No!” Huaiyu pouted, shaking her head vigorously. “Either you send me yourself, or you take me in!” 

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Xuanjin coughed even harder, beginning to wonder if this was a curse placed on him when Danyang died. How had he ended up encountering such a person?