Grand Heir’s villa, lamps already lit.

Zhao Yishi wore a white inner robe, sitting cross-legged on the couch.

Behind him, Pei Yu was treating the two whip wounds on his back.

“Starting tomorrow, you won’t need to apply the ointment anymore. Don’t let the wounds get wet, and when they itch, endure it—don’t scratch.”

Zhao Yishi smiled. “Uncle Pei still treats me like a child!”

“If not a child, then what?”

He’d been treating the boy’s ailments since childhood—any illness or pain passed through his hands for treatment. In Pei Yu’s heart, both the Grand Heir and Third Master were his children.

Yan Xi brought in medicine. “Your Highness, time for your medicine!”

Zhao Yishi frowned. “Uncle Pei, how much longer must I drink this? It’s bitter.”

“Still saying you’re not a child—drinking medicine is just like when you were small.”

Pei Yu smiled. “Let’s stop tomorrow then.”

Only then did Zhao Yishi pick up the medicine bowl and gulp it down in one go.

Yan Xi took the empty bowl. “Imperial Physician Pei, the chief steward from the residence is waiting outside, says it’s urgent.”

“What urgent matter would bring him here?”

Pei Yu quickly gathered his things and bowed to Zhao Yishi. “Your Highness, rest well. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Yan Xi, see him out for me.”

“Yes!”

The two left. Shen Chong, who’d been waiting on the side, immediately stepped forward and whispered in Zhao Yishi’s ear.

Zhao Yishi’s expression changed rapidly.

“Is this true?”

“Master, absolutely true. The case has been transferred from the Western District Military Commissioner’s Office to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Xu Lai is at Prince Han’s residence crying and complaining right now!”

“No wonder the Pei family’s chief steward came all the way here—the Xu family’s line is about to end!”

Zhao Yishi fell silent for a moment. “Has the Embroidered Uniform Guard found any leads?”

“In response, Master, Miss Li was dressed as a man and acted very efficiently. Xu Sheng insists the perpetrator was a man.”

“Keep watch. If there are any leads unfavorable to Miss Li, eliminate them secretly.”

“Yes!”

Zhao Yishi rose from the couch and paced the room a few steps, then suddenly smiled.

The laughter wasn’t light nor heavy, like an early summer night breeze, refreshing.

“This Miss Li is quite interesting.”

Shen Chong also curved his lips. “Master, her courage is too great, and her methods too ruthless.”

Great indeed.

That night returning to the capital from Xuanzang Temple, five people crammed in one carriage, and that girl’s eyes opened wider than copper bells, staring at him unblinkingly.

Looking across the realm, women who dared stare at him like that were few and far between.

Zhao Yishi savored those eyes, his smile deepening.

“Master, there’s another matter. News just arrived from the south—Nanningfu Prefect Zhou Ye died by self-immolation.”

“Self-immolation?”

The smile froze on Zhao Yishi’s lips. “Why?”

“He contracted a serious illness with no cure.”

“When did this happen?”

“A month and a half ago.”

“Something from over a month ago—why is it only reaching the capital now?”

“They say they needed to investigate the cause of the fire.”

Zhao Yishi pondered briefly. “Nanningfu is remote and mountainous, and it’s a poor place. With this position vacant, no one will covet it, which makes it convenient for placing our people.”

“Master is placing people in such a distant location for the sake of Master Ji?”

“You’ve figured out all my thoughts.”

Zhao Yishi looked at him deeply. “When is Ji Lingchuan departing?”

“In three days.”

“Make arrangements—the three of us will see him off!”

Shen Chong was about to respond when his eyes suddenly widened. “Who’s outside?”

“Your Highness, it’s me!”

Shen Chong looked to Zhao Yishi for instruction. Zhao Yishi’s lips curled in a cold smile. After a moment, his expression returned to normal.

He nodded, signaling Shen Chong to proceed.

Moments later, a palace-dressed beauty entered gracefully.

She wore a stone-blue single robe, her figure like drooping new willows, her bearing like flowing sunset clouds. In her hands, she carried a small food box.

“This concubine made a bowl of heart-soothing and lung-nourishing soup for Your Highness. Would Your Highness taste it?”

“Mm.”

The beauty approached, glanced shyly at Zhao Yishi, then lowered her head again.

A woman’s most beautiful moment is when, seeing her lover, she lowers her head and smiles shyly, with unspeakable reserve.

Zhao Yishi walked to the woman’s side and gently brushed his hand—black hair fell down.

“Your Highness, what are you doing?” The woman’s voice held reproach, but her eyes were full of smiling intention.

“Yu Niang’s hair—freshly washed?”

Zhao Yishi picked up a strand and sniffed it at his nose.

He was so gentle, his whole person jade-like in warmth and handsomeness. Xue Yuniang couldn’t help but press her face close, delicately inhaling the pleasant sandalwood scent on his body.

“Not just my hair was freshly washed—other things were also just…”

Xue Yuniang raised her face, biting her full, gorgeous lips, her gaze clinging to him. “Your Highness…”

Zhao Yishi chuckled softly, his somewhat pale lips gently covering hers.

“Your Highness.”

Shen Chong’s voice sounded outside. “There’s news from the palace.”

Zhao Yishi froze, his finger tapping Xue Yuniang’s lips. “You go first. I’ll come see you when I’m free.”

“Yes, this concubine takes her leave.”

Yu Niang’s gaze clung reluctantly to Zhao Yishi as she left, looking back with every three steps.

Shen Chong waited until she’d left the courtyard before entering the inner room. “Master, I didn’t come too late, did I?”

“Perfect timing!”

Zhao Yishi’s gaze turned cold.

Xue Yuniang—the consort the Emperor had selected for him. Of low birth, but with exceptional beauty and figure.

The smile on her face was real, the affection in her eyes was real—perhaps even her heart for him was real.

But who knew what calculations and deadly intentions lurked behind that sincere heart?

…

Du Residence, inner quarters.

“Miss, Miss, I found out.”

Ni’er stepped forward. “That wretch is perfectly fine. Right now she’s having dinner with Third Master Xie at Spring Breeze Tower!”

Du Yiyun flew into a rage, grabbing her teacup and smashing it on the ground.

Ni’er, afraid she’d hurt herself, quickly helped her into the inner room and shouted at the maids outside, “Are you alive or not? Hurry up and clean it!”

The door closed. Ni’er lowered her voice. “In this servant’s opinion, it must have been Third Master who rescued her—otherwise she couldn’t have been so lucky.”

“It must have been him!”

Du Yiyun’s chest heaved. “He’s at the Five-City Military Commissioner’s Office with the best intelligence network.”

“Then… could Master Xu’s manhood also have been cut off by someone Third Master sent…”

Du Yiyun’s heart jumped as she turned to look deeply at Ni’er.

“Miss, think about it—if it wasn’t Third Master, who else would have such audacity to move against the Criminal Justice Ministry Vice Minister’s only son?”

Du Yiyun waved her hand, signaling her to stop talking, and sat down in her chair.

Originally she’d thought Xu Sheng’s manhood was severed by Yan Sanhe. Since Yan Sanhe was fine, she must have had help.

She’d carefully investigated Yan Sanhe’s background—just a wild girl from Yunnan Prefecture whose parents were dead, with no relatives, relying on some connection to the Old Madam to come to the capital seeking refuge.

In the vast capital, the only one who could help her was that Xie Laosan.

Following this logic, Ni’er’s words were correct.

“To draw out that Xie Laosan, we need to let his father know that Xu Sheng secretly plotted to abduct Yan Sanhe.”

Du Yiyun’s mind turned rapidly.

“Yan Sanhe’s maid reported it to the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office. The case is documented in black and white—it can’t be escaped. You pass this news to the Ministry of Justice.”

Ni’er asked, “And then?”

“Then…”

Du Yiyun smiled coldly.

“Xu Lai will think: ‘My son wanted to abduct someone, and the very next moment his manhood was severed—is this coincidence?'”