Tang Jianxi seemed unwilling yet had no choice but to steel himself and nod.
This attitude was very meaningful.
Yan Sanhe asked, “Can you tell us this eldest martial brother’s name?”
Tang Jianxi shook his head.
“Why can’t you say it?”
Yan Sanhe’s gaze suddenly sharpened. “You’ve already mentioned Chu Yanting.”
“Martial Sister told me never to speak this person’s name for the rest of my life.”
Tang Jianxi’s face, that of a man beyond worldly concerns, was full of sinister cold smiles. “I also disdain to say it. It would dirty my mouth.”
Hearing this, all six were secretly shocked.
Not wanting to hear a beloved’s name from anyone else for one’s entire life—there was only one possibility: she hated him to the bone!
Yan Sanhe: “We made inquiries at the Jiaofang Bureau and only learned about you and Chu Yanting. So after Tang Zhiwei entered the Jiaofang Bureau, this person never appeared?”
“How would a shameless wretch ever appear!”
Though Tang Jianxi couldn’t say the name, that didn’t prevent him from cursing.
“Despicable villain, beast in human clothing, ungrateful wretch, wolf-hearted and dog-lunged creature—I’d love to curse his eighteen generations of ancestors…”
Since ancient times, where there’s loyalty, there’s treachery. Where there’s good, there’s evil.
Tang Jianxi used the most vicious language to curse, from which it could be seen this person must have failed Tang Zhiwei’s deep devotion.
Who could this person be?
Her arm was poked. Yan Sanhe turned her head.
Xie Zhifei said seriously, “This is a key figure. No matter how difficult, we must find out somehow. We can’t just gloss over it.”
“I know.”
Yan Sanhe said coolly, “I’m just thinking about how to ask. The scope is too broad.”
“Not difficult to ask—just takes some effort.”
Xie Zhifei shifted his gaze to Tang Jianxi. “Is this person currently in the capital?”
Tang Jianxi didn’t hesitate and immediately nodded.
Excellent!
This narrowed the scope by more than half.
Yan Sanhe gave Xie Zhifei a thumbs up. “You curse him as a despicable villain. They say when petty people gain power—is this person currently serving as an official in the court?”
Tang Jianxi’s inner excitement couldn’t be contained. He nodded forcefully.
Serving in court?
Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao’s blood suddenly surged with excitement.
Both had grown up in official families. Who got promoted, who got dismissed among the capital officials—even if these official sons didn’t want to know, someone would chatter about it in their ears.
Wasn’t this precisely their area of expertise?
Officials were divided into civil and military, high and low ranking.
Tang Qiling’s student could only be a civil official.
Young Master Pei’s eyes rolled. “Has this person reached the Inner Cabinet?”
Tang Jianxi shook his head with a cold laugh.
Young Master Pei: “Is this person in the Six Ministries?”
Tang Jianxi shook his head.
Not in the Inner Cabinet, not in the Six Ministries.
Young Master Pei’s heart raced with excitement. He quickly reached out to tug Xie Zhifei’s arm: Brother, the scope has narrowed quite a bit!
Xie Zhifei shot him a look that said “stay steady for me”: “Besides the Six Ministries, there are the Three Judicial Offices. Is this person in the Three Judicial Offices?”
Tang Jianxi looked deeply at Xie Zhifei and nodded.
Holy hell!
Actually in the Three Judicial Offices!
Young Master Pei and Xie Zhifei simultaneously thought: Could it be that bastard Xu Lai? He’s a典型 example of a petty person gaining power.
Young Master Pei was so excited that his back began to sweat. “The Three Judicial Offices refer to the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate. Is this person in the Ministry of Justice?”
Tang Jianxi shook his head.
Damn, it’s not that bastard Xu Lai after all. Young Master Pei was immediately disappointed.
Xie Zhifei: “The Court of Judicial Review?”
Tang Jianxi still shook his head.
Then only the Censorate remained.
At the crucial moment, Young Master Pei couldn’t sit still. He stood up, rubbing his palms together while pacing back and forth. “The Censorate, the Censorate…”
Strange.
He momentarily couldn’t recall who the key figures in the Censorate were.
Young Master Pei looked toward Xie Zhifei: Brother, you do it!
“The Censorate has Left and Right Chief Censors, second-rank official positions; Left and Right Vice Censors, third-rank positions; Left and Right Associate Censors, fourth-rank positions.”
The Censorate was the supervisory office one level above the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office. The Metropolitan Censors specifically supervised the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s Office, so Xie Zhifei knew everyone inside like the back of his hand.
“Is this person currently second-rank?”
Tang Jianxi, hearing this, gnashed his teeth in anger and cursed, “A petty person gaining power.”
Holy crap!
Really a second-rank high official!!
Xie Zhifei’s heart shook violently. He urgently called out, “Mingting.”
Don’t call, don’t call!
I’m also very excited right now—my heart’s about to jump out of my chest.
Pei Mingting vigorously rubbed his hands, wishing he could rub out sparks. “The Censorate’s Left Chief Censor is Lu…”
“Slap!”
Tang Jianxi struck the table and stood up.
“Despicable traitor—don’t use his name to pollute my ears.”
There are certain moments in life when things feel unreal, like auditory hallucinations. There are also certain moments when it’s as if someone’s struck an acupuncture point—everything freezes.
Lu Shi?
Lu Shi?
It’s actually fucking Lu Shi!
Young Master Pei took a few quick steps to Xie Zhifei’s side, forehead to forehead, eyes to eyes. “Xie Wushi, quick—pinch me!”
“No, no, no!”
Xie Zhifei’s heart pounded so hard it knocked against his throat. He extended his arm. “You pinch me first.”
“Together!”
Young Master Pei also extended his arm, shouting, “One, two, three!”
Two hands twisted simultaneously, two muffled groans sounded simultaneously…
It’s real!
Not a dream, not an auditory hallucination.
Third Master stared at Young Master Pei in shock. Young Master Pei stared back at Third Master in shock. Both were stunned.
The study fell into a deathly silence.
Yan Sanhe had heard Xie Zhifei mention Lu Shi three times.
Once was the Ji Lingchuan corruption case—Lu Shi wore crimson robes to impeach Ji Lingchuan, and Ji Lingchuan’s home was raided.
Once was Xu Lai’s case—Lu Shi wore crimson robes to impeach him, and Xu Lai was dismissed from office.
Most recently, just a few days ago, Lu Shi wore crimson robes to impeach Yan Ruxian. Third Master said it had thrown all the civil and military officials into a state of anxiety.
But what she didn’t understand was why Third Master and Young Master Pei, who’d both seen the world, would react as if they’d seen a ghost.
How could Yan Sanhe know that for these two, the name Lu Shi wasn’t surprising—it was terrifying.
Young Master Pei even struggled to ask, “Master Tang, could you think carefully again—are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?”
“Whether there’s a mistake or not, Young Master Pei should go ask him directly to get absolute clarity.”
Tang Jianxi’s face was somber. “Now, in my study, in my presence, I don’t want to hear about him, much less discuss him.”
“Each side compromised, and only then could both achieve their desires.”
Young Master Pei had originally wanted to demand “Would you die if we discussed it?” but seeing the fury on Tang Jianxi’s face from the corner of his eye, he could only swallow the words.
Yan Sanhe: “Pei Mingting, sit down!”
But I can’t sit still right now!
I’m so curious right now!
I really want to know what the hell is going on right now!
Young Master Pei roared inwardly, but his bottom obediently sat down.
As soon as he settled, Yan Sanhe turned to look at Li Buyan.
Li Buyan untied the bundle from her back and took out the water field garment and embroidered shoes, placing them on the desk.
“Master Tang, this outfit was what Jingchen was wearing when she died. Think back—have you seen her wear it?”
“I…”
The sudden appearance of the deceased’s belongings before his eyes made Tang Jianxi’s upper and lower teeth chatter against each other.
“I have seen it!”