Just as Yan Sanhe mentally uttered those three words, at the Northern Bureau gate, a fast horse stopped with a “whinny.”

A person jumped from the horse and flashed an identification token at the gate guards.

“Take me to see Ji Lingchuan.”

The guard looked closely at the token bearing the two characters “Qin Qi,” then looked up at the visitor. His heart leaped with shock, hands and feet turning ice-cold.

Officials had nine ranks and six degrees. Eunuchs naturally also had ranks. Most important were the Twelve Directorates, Four Offices, and Eight Bureaus—collectively called the Twenty-Four Yamens.

The Ceremonial Directorate was first among the Twelve Directorates and chief of the Twenty-Four Yamens.

Qin Qi was an attendant eunuch of the Ceremonial Directorate. Though not like the seal-holding chief eunuch who was below one, above ten thousand, he was still someone who specifically handled the Emperor’s affairs.

So late at night, the Emperor dispatching someone to see Ji Lingchuan—there must be major business.

The guard respectfully said, “Eunuch, follow me!”

“Lead the way.”

“Yes!”

The two quickly crossed the corridor, arriving at the prison gate.

The Jinyiwei on duty saw it was Qin Qi and was so frightened his soul scattered. Thinking Ji Lingchuan was still in that small courtyard and hadn’t returned, his heart weakened as he fell to his knees with a thump.

Seeing the prison’s iron chains were unlocked, Qin Qi’s face changed drastically. He pulled the iron gate open and rapidly descended the steps.

Before reaching the innermost area, he could already see from afar that the cell door was also open.

Who dared privately release a court criminal?

Simply outrageous audacity!

Qin Qi practically flew over. Approaching closely, he peered inside.

Not right—someone’s there.

That person wore a gray-white robe, sitting cross-legged on a tattered straw mat. He slowly raised his head, revealing a face of stunning, heavenly beauty.

Qin Qi was greatly shocked. “Your Highness, you, how are you here?”

Zhao Yishi’s pitch-black pupils were like the deep sea, his smile faint.

“Qin Qi, why can’t I be here?”

…

“My lord, Lord Xu, Lord Xu!”

A guard came running hurriedly, leaning close to Xu Lai’s ear and whispering a few sentences.

Xu Lai’s eyes flew open wide.

“What did you say?”

“My lord, no time for ‘what’! Must quickly notify the Prince—at this hour, Qin Qi leaving the palace, don’t know if it’s fortune or calamity!”

Xu Lai jumped up, pacing back and forth several times before stopping. “You said the Imperial Grand Heir is in Ji Lingchuan’s cell—where is Ji Lingchuan?”

“This subordinate guards here. Doesn’t know about outside matters. Just heard it mentioned.”

“Still standing there? Go investigate quickly!”

“Yes!”

The guard scurried away.

Xu Lai took several deep breaths, quickly calming himself. His thoughts returned to half a quarter-hour ago.

Half a quarter-hour ago, Ji Twelve’s breathing grew weaker and weaker—already half a corpse.

The Imperial Grand Heir could sit still no longer and left with a flick of his sleeves.

After he left, Xu Lai decided while Ji Twelve still had one breath, he’d sever another finger and send it to Ji Lingchuan.

Just about to sever it when someone arrived from the palace…

Xu Lai kicked the straw pile where Ji Twelve lay, sneering coldly. “Now I can’t touch you. Consider yourself lucky, boy!”

As his words fell, Ji Twelve, who had had no breath at all, suddenly sat up.

Xu Lai was so frightened he leaped away with a “yowl.”

Those preparing to execute punishment also got a fright, breaking out in cold sweat all over their backs.

What situation?

Not a corpse reviving, is it?

Just then, the “corpse” looked down at its left hand. Its eyes suddenly bulged wide. Then its mouth opened, loudly clamoring:

“Where are my fingers? Where did my fingers go… hurts so much… ahhh… it hurts…”

What situation was this?

Everyone listening felt their scalps split, all looking at Xu Lai.

Xu Lai slowly turned his head, widening his eyes to look at Ji Twelve once more. Just then, Ji Twelve suddenly stopped crying and also looked toward him.

Four eyes met!

Xu Lai looked at those dark, hollow eyes, scared out of his wits, and fled.

“Not good—corpse revival!”

…

The vermillion gate creaked open.

Xie Zhifei walked out carrying Yan Sanhe.

Li Buyan came forward. “Give her to me!”

Xie Zhifei didn’t move. “After dissolving念化魔, she faints—is it like this every time?”

“Mm.”

“What’s the reason?”

Li Buyan stepped forward to take Yan Sanhe, looking up at Xie Zhifei with a gentle smile. “What other reason could there be? She’s tired!”

Xie Zhifei’s brows furrowed tightly.

Last time she said tired, he believed. Riding horseback for days and nights without sleep—how could one not be tired!

But this time…

Just as he wanted to ask more, from the corner of his eye he saw someone rushing over anxiously. His eyelid twitched involuntarily.

“Third Master, major trouble! Someone came from the palace. I must quickly get Ji Lingchuan back.”

“Who came?”

“Heard it’s Qin Qi.”

Xie Zhifei’s heart went cold. “How could it be him?”

“Third Master, stop asking! How would I know the answer?”

Xie Zhifei quickly gripped that person’s shoulder. “Ji Lingchuan is overcome with grief—can’t walk.”

“I’ll carry him!”

“Brother, I’m sorry. If you’re implicated, come directly to the Xie manor to find me.”

“If that day comes, I won’t be polite.”

That person waved at Xie Zhifei. “You all leave quickly too. Can’t stay here anymore. Go, go!”

Xie Zhifei decisively ordered, “Mingting, put him down. Let’s go!”

Pei Xiao looked at Ji Lingchuan collapsed in a heap on the ground, then at Xie Zhifei’s grave face. He quickly clasped fists at that person. “Thanks, brother!”

In the darkness, the three moved swiftly, not daring a single pause.

Someone coming from the palace now—unknown if fortune or calamity. But one thing was certain: their secretly bringing Ji Lingchuan out probably couldn’t be concealed.

Fortunately, they’d taken Cai Si’s waist token beforehand and found a seamless excuse. Otherwise, this truly would be catastrophic disaster.

After leaving, they didn’t see the Imperial Grand Heir’s carriage. Only then did Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao remember Zhao Yishi was still inside the Northern Bureau.

Pei Xiao asked, “What do we do? Wait for him or not?”

Xie Zhifei looked at the person in Li Buyan’s arms and decisively said, “Don’t wait.”

Pei Xiao asked again, “Then where do we go now? The real bodies are still at Xuanzang Temple!”

Xie Zhifei hesitated. “Here’s close to the Cai residence. Go to Cai Si’s for one night, return his token while gathering information.”

Pei Xiao looked worried. “Will Cai Si let us in?”

“Already implicated him anyway—not short this one time!”

Xie Zhifei crouched before Li Buyan. “Put her on my back. I’ll carry her!”

Li Buyan: “…”

“Why hesitate?”

Xie Zhifei barked angrily, “Your martial skills are best—counting on you to protect us three!”

Li Buyan could distinguish priorities. Without another word, she placed Yan Sanhe on Xie Zhifei’s back, then casually asked:

“This Cai Si you keep mentioning—who is he exactly?”

“Chief of the Jinyiwei Northern Bureau.”

Xie Zhifei straightened up, hitching the person on his back higher. “Stop wasting words—move quickly!”

The three turned two alley corners and arrived at the Cai residence.

Just as Pei Xiao was about to step forward and knock, suddenly the gate creaked open.

The person inside, the people outside—all startled at the encounter.

Xie Zhifei put on a fawning smile. “Middle of the night, where is Fourth Master headed?”

Cai Si extended a withered, elongated finger, forcefully pointing at Xie Zhifei.

“Third Master Xie, what a fine thing you’ve done!”