“Mu Mu!” Feng Jiu’er cried out in surprise. Mu Mu stepping forward to confess had not been within her expectations at all.

“Mu Mu, do you know what medicine this is?”

Huo Yan still did not know exactly what was in that packet, but for the most part, he had already guessed.

To say that today’s matter was entirely Feng Jiu’er’s fault — that was not necessarily true!

But now, with Zheng, the aide-officer of the Imperial Guards Court, present here, there was absolutely no possibility of suppressing this matter and investigating it quietly.

Huo Yan looked at Mu Mu, his expression grave beyond words.

“This aide-officer knows you value loyalty and have always been protective of your comrades, but — matters that have nothing to do with you are best left alone!”

Driving away one Feng Jiu’er cost Huo Yan no grief. At least for now, Feng Jiu’er’s performance had yet to earn a place in his estimation.

Those so-called rumors from before — saving people, this and that — were, in the end, not things he had witnessed with his own eyes, and Huo Yan was not one to place easy faith in hearsay.

But Mu Mu was different. He had high hopes for this young man. In the future, he would without question accomplish great things.

To have a talent like this emerge under his command was a once-in-a-century occurrence. Even if Mu Mu could suppress his own abilities, he could not conceal the brilliance that radiated from him.

Huo Yan had placed his greatest expectations in this new student — he was very likely to become the top student of this entire cohort.

And now, Mu Mu wanted to use himself to shield Feng Jiu’er. How could that be allowed?

As for Aide-Officer Zheng, the moment he heard this, his eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

“In matters such as these, it takes two hands to make a clap. Even if Feng Jiu’er had the intention of committing a lewd act, she would still need the man who defiled himself with her.”

He pointed at Mu Mu and gave a cold snort. “By the looks of it now, the one who committed this filth with her — is you!”

“Mind your words!” Mu Mu stepped forward, and the icy aura emanating from him caused Aide-Officer Zheng — who was accustomed to his own arrogance — to involuntarily retreat a step.

The cold energy on his person was heavy! Most critically, when he fixed someone with those frigid eyes, it gave you the inexplicable feeling of royalty in their presence.

That air of nobility so frightened Aide-Officer Zheng that he stepped back directly.

Yet — how could a mere student possibly carry any air of nobility?

Among the younger generation of the imperial family, was there anyone he did not recognize? What was this so-called Mu Mu? Who was he supposed to be?

Aide-Officer Zheng had been forced back by Mu Mu’s cold aura, but once he collected himself, he flew into a rage at once.

“You! You dare intimidate this aide-officer! Men!”

“Hold on. Aide-Officer Zheng, you say Mu Mu intimidated you — do you have evidence?”

Feng Jiu’er cast him a sidelong glance, her indifferent gaze carrying the unmistakable flavor of contempt.

She said, “What we all just heard was Mu Mu asking Aide-Officer Zheng to mind his manners. Is that also a crime? Are not all people within our Zhengwu Court, from top to bottom, expected to treat others with courtesy?”

“I…” Aide-Officer Zheng was momentarily at a loss, unable to find a response.

Huo Yan had no desire to deal with him any further. It was plain that Mu Mu was determined to involve himself in this, but Huo Yan was not willing to lose a promising officer of such potential.

“Very well. This aide-officer will take them to the medical hall to verify what medicine this packet contains.”

Huo Yan swept a glance over the several guards who had accompanied him, and said in a measured tone, “Take them.”

“Aide-Officer Huo…”

“Aide-Officer Zheng, I thank you and your Imperial Guards Court for bringing this to my attention. However, since you are not a member of my Longwu Court, I would ask that this matter be returned to the Longwu Court for handling.”

“That, I’m afraid, is not possible.” Aide-Officer Zheng had come prepared — he was not about to be dismissed with a sentence or two. He said, “The informant who tipped off this aide-officer was someone from the Imperial Guards Court!”