“Operation?” This term was simply too unfamiliar. Not just Emperor Qiwen—the Chief Eunuch had never heard it either.

The Chief Eunuch looked at Feng Jiu, his face full of confusion. “May I ask, sir, what is an ‘operation’?”

“It’s a method of treatment, to reconnect her ladyship’s meridians. But before that, she must first be nourished with medicine to strengthen the meridians.”

The terminology was too technical, and they likely wouldn’t understand it, so Feng Jiu didn’t want to explain in too much depth.

In any case, that was the general idea.

Emperor Qiwen and the Chief Eunuch exchanged glances, still not quite understanding, but knowing there truly was a way to heal her legs was enough—that was the important part.

“Your Majesty, this one has a few more words to say, though I’m not sure if I should speak them,” Feng Jiu suddenly said.

Emperor Qiwen’s attitude toward her now was naturally far better than before. He said nothing, but the Chief Eunuch could read his intention.

The Chief Eunuch said, “Sir, please speak freely.”

Feng Jiu nodded. “I wonder if Your Majesty and the Chief Eunuch recall that during the recent assassination attempt in the palace, this one wounded one of the assassins?”

“Of course we remember.” The Chief Eunuch’s expression changed as he stared at her face, glowing pale in the moonlight. “Could it be that you know who the assassin is?”

Though Emperor Qiwen said nothing, his attention was now entirely fixed on Feng Jiu.

Feng Jiu’s expression didn’t change, her words as calm as ever. “At the time, this one used a short blade to wound the assassin’s wrist. Though the cut wasn’t deep, it would surely leave a scar.”

“And this person’s martial skill is formidable. This one has been in the imperial city for months now and has heard that some figures within the city possess truly remarkable martial ability.”

Emperor Qiwen said nothing, but the Chief Eunuch looked troubled. “Sir, the imperial city is full of skilled fighters. Martial prowess alone makes it difficult to narrow down who it might be.”

If they were to gather everyone with formidable martial skill for inspection, that would simply be impossible—it would only provoke widespread resentment.

“This one originally didn’t think much of it, but tonight, hearing that there was another assassination attempt here…”

Feng Jiu didn’t continue, but Emperor Qiwen didn’t question how Feng Jiu had learned of tonight’s assassination attempt.

She had just come from inside, and the people there knew of it—it wasn’t strange that they’d told her.

“But I wonder, Your Majesty, how does the investigation into the assassin proceed?” Feng Jiu looked at Emperor Qiwen, pretending not to know what had happened earlier at Xuanhua Hall. “If Your Majesty has already captured the attendants, perhaps allow this one to identify them—it might just be the same assassin as before.”

The previous assassin was absolutely a thorn in Emperor Qiwen’s heart. They had sent out large numbers of men, though to maintain the calm of the imperial city, they hadn’t openly investigated.

But there were still a great many plainclothes guards searching throughout the imperial city, and yet to this day, they still hadn’t uncovered any information.

These people daring to even break into the imperial palace was an absolute provocation to Emperor Qiwen. If he didn’t find them, how could he feel at ease?

Could it be that last night’s assassin and that night’s assassin are one and the same?

Originally, he hadn’t suspected Nanmeng Rong at all. Detaining Nanmeng Rong last night was truly because she had gone too far.

To draw a sword against the Son of Heaven in his presence—that was clearly rebellion.

Never mind whether she was the assassin or not—that act alone was enough to justify having the entire Nanmeng family’s household seized and the clan exterminated!

Prompted by Feng Jiu’s reminder, a chilling thought suddenly crossed Emperor Qiwen’s mind. Could it be that, knowing he wouldn’t dare move against the Nanmeng clan, the assassin had grown bold enough to brazenly enter Xuanhua Hall?

“Your Majesty, I wonder if last night’s assassin has been captured. Might this one be allowed to identify them?”

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Feng Jiu seemed to still know nothing, continuing to think of ways to help him find the assassin. “I was the one who wounded him. If this one could just see his wrist, I would know for certain whether it’s the same assassin as that night.”

The Chief Eunuch looked at Emperor Qiwen, also waiting for his answer.

In truth, his thoughts matched Emperor Qiwen’s—originally he truly hadn’t been suspicious, but now, suddenly, his thoughts had taken a strange turn.

Emperor Qiwen nodded, and only then did the Chief Eunuch look at Feng Jiu and say, “Sir, to be honest, last night’s assassin entered Xuanhua Hall and then vanished without a trace.”

“Xuanhua Hall?”

“Xuanhua Hall is Consort Rong’s residence,” the Chief Eunuch explained.

“Consort Rong? Isn’t she from the Nanmeng clan?” That Consort Rong was from the Nanmeng clan required no investigation at all—anyone living in the imperial city would know it.

So the Chief Eunuch, not suspecting Feng Jiu at all, simply said, “Indeed, she is from the Nanmeng clan.”

“Your Majesty.” This time Feng Jiu fixed her gaze directly on Emperor Qiwen. “Previously, the Duke had sent people to invite this one to examine him, but this one truly couldn’t spare the time, so I hadn’t agreed.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“This one could go in person to apologize, hoping the Duke would forgive this one’s ignorance. This one failed to recognize a person of importance and feared the Duke might grow angry at this one in the future.”

“Then have the Chief Eunuch accompany you to the Nanmeng residence. Say that Consort Rong ordered you to go give the Duke and the General a routine pulse examination.”

Emperor Qiwen stood up and walked off.

The Chief Eunuch felt troubled—His Majesty was truly enraged, no longer caring about openly confronting the Nanmeng clan.

Then again, the matter of Consort Rong’s detention would surely reach the Nanmeng residence very soon—how many eyes and ears did the Nanmeng clan have within the palace?

Such matters could be concealed for a time, but not forever.

Since it couldn’t be hidden forever, why not be bold about it—let them know His Majesty truly had been provoked this time.

“There’s no time to delay. You two go there tonight.”

Emperor Qiwen left this task behind and, accompanied by his guards, took his leave.

The Chief Eunuch looked at Feng Jiu. Feng Jiu said, “I’ve heard the Duke’s temper is somewhat… fierce. Please bring some men along, Chief Eunuch.”

“Very well.”

…

Tonight, destined to be uneasy.

The Chief Eunuch didn’t bring many people, but he did bring a few skilled fighters.

“Rong’er sent you here to give this Duke a routine pulse check?” Duke Nanmeng Ye eyed Feng Jiu standing below, snorting coldly. “So this is Feng Jiu? Aren’t you the one who couldn’t even be invited here properly?”

Feng Jiu put on an expression of trepidation, hastily apologizing. “Previously, our people had failed to recognize someone of importance, mistakenly believing someone had falsely claimed to represent the Duke, which is why we declined.”

“But after further investigation, this one learned it truly was the Duke’s man. So when giving Consort Rong her routine pulse examination, this one pleaded with her ladyship, and she agreed to send the Chief Eunuch to bring this one here. This one offers apologies to the Duke.”

Nanmeng Ye snorted coldly. What use was apologizing now? With even the Chief Eunuch coming along, could this possibly just be a simple pulse check?