With the Emperor’s departure, the Cabinet ministers naturally need not remain in the palace.

Walking to the Outer Golden Water Bridge, Xie Daozhi was surprised to find Du Jianxue and several Ministry of Rites officials conversing quietly below the bridge, all wearing extremely unpleasant expressions.

His Majesty had already made his attitude clear in the hall—he would execute several people as a warning to all.

Du Jianxue was close to the Prince of Han, and the Emperor had assigned this case to the Crown Prince. There was something subtle in all this.

Xie Daozhi withdrew his gaze and walked on, not wanting those people when one sharp-eyed person spotted him.

“Minister Xie.”

Xie Daozhi’s steps paused as he gave that person a slight nod. “Minister Xue.”

Minister Xue scurried forward with a worried face. “Those sordid affairs were all done by previous administrations and have nothing to do with us. I beg Minister Xie to, for Minister Du’s sake, put in a good word for us before His Majesty.”

Xie Daozhi raised his eyelids to glance at Du Jianxue.

“His Majesty is an enlightened ruler who neither wrongs good people nor spares bad ones. There’s no need for us ministers to put in good words. Minister Xue, I take my leave.”

Minister Xue watched his retreating back, teeth aching with resentment. “Now our Ministry of Rites people have all become plague gods that everyone avoids. Had it been before…”

“Ahem, ahem, ahem…”

The sudden coughing interrupted Minister Xue’s words. He turned to see Minister Du’s face dark enough to drip water.

Minister Xue gave a dry smile.

“Minister Du needn’t worry. Even if Minister Xie won’t help us speak, he’ll surely speak for you. After all, you’re old friends and former colleagues—your friendship is extraordinary.”

Hearing this, Minister Du couldn’t stand there another moment and swept his sleeves as he left.

A sedan chair waited at the entrance. Du Jianxue dove inside, and as the curtain fell, the worry on his face finally dared show fully.

With the Crown Prince thoroughly investigating the case, the situation was quite inauspicious. Even if he was innocent, if the Crown Prince had ulterior motives, he couldn’t avoid being implicated.

The worry on Du Jianxue’s face slowly transformed into ruthless determination.

No.

I cannot just wait for doom!

…

At the Five Cities Military Commissioner’s yamen, Xie Zhifei sat restlessly when he saw Zhu Qing running toward him from afar.

“How is it? Is there news from the palace?”

“Boss, yes.”

Zhu Qing caught his breath and leaned close to Xie Zhifei’s ear, whispering everything.

After listening, Xie Zhifei slumped into the armchair, unable to speak for a long while.

A eunuch daring to interfere in two sessions of Spring Examination fraud—no wonder so much was confiscated from his household. His audacity reached the heavens.

“Quickly tell me—how did His Majesty handle it?”

Zhu Qing relayed all the news he’d gathered, then added, “Boss Bai said to keep the brothers near the Ministry of Rites and Imperial Academy on standby for now. The rest can go about their regular duties.”

Even without Bai Yanlin saying so, Xie Zhifei had planned exactly this.

The Emperor having the Crown Prince thoroughly investigate showed his attitude clearly—he wanted to give the empire’s scholars an accounting. The scholars wouldn’t be foolish enough to still cause disturbances, but precautions were still necessary.

“Go tell the brothers.”

Xie Zhifei stood up, supporting himself on the armrests. “When you’re done, come out with me.”

Zhu Qing: “Are we going to Miss Yan’s?”

Xie Zhifei nodded.

Regarding Lu Shi impeaching Yan Ruxian for Spring Examination fraud, after thinking it over, he still felt it was too coincidental. He had to see Yan Sanhe and hear her thoughts.

Zhu Qing spoke seriously: “Boss, you’re now the Commander-in-Chief. So many eyes are watching—you should still be careful.”

Xie Zhifei’s expression went blank for a moment.

Thinking carefully, he felt Zhu Qing was right. His backside hadn’t even warmed this seat yet—he couldn’t let anyone catch him at a disadvantage.

“Then I’ll go see her after the yamen closes.”

Xie Zhifei adjusted his sitting posture, suddenly thinking of another question. “Du Yiyun’s father—I wonder if he’s implicated in this matter?”

Zhu Qing responded with a silent turn, expressing his disgust for that family.

Xie Zhifei watched him leave coldly, thinking this fellow kept his temper buried deep in his bones.

Actually, being implicated would be better—it might even drag in Du Jianxue’s backer, the Prince of Han. How much trouble that would save!

…

At the residence.

Li Buyan lay on a bamboo couch, bored beyond measure as she watched the person behind the desk.

For a full two hours, this person had been staring at a few names on paper, unmoving, not even shifting her gaze.

Could staring at a few names make flowers bloom?

Li Buyan couldn’t figure it out. She rolled up again and tiptoed to Yan Sanhe’s side.

Among the names, Yan Ruxian had been added at some point, specially outlined in vermillion ink.

What exactly was strange about Yan Ruxian?

This person clearly had nothing to do with Jingchen’s heart demon—they couldn’t be connected with a ten-foot pole!

“Buyan, Yan Ruxian’s residence has been sealed, hasn’t it?” Yan Sanhe suddenly spoke.

Li Buyan thought about it. “Should be.”

Yan Sanhe: “A sealed residence shouldn’t have anyone there, right?”

Li Buyan: “Should be.”

Yan Sanhe: “Yan Ruxian’s residence is the former residence of Tang Qiling?”

Li Buyan: “That’s what Third Master said.”

Yan Sanhe: “Today Lu Shi impeached Yan Ruxian again?”

Li Buyan: “Correct!”

Yan Sanhe: “The reason for impeachment is exactly the same as Tang Qiling’s household raid—Spring Examination fraud?”

Li Buyan felt her brain needed some walnuts for nourishment—she was getting dizzy from all this. “Yes.”

Yan Sanhe: “Doesn’t it sound very suspicious?”

Li Buyan scratched her head. “Not suspicious—coincidental, maybe?”

Yan Sanhe’s black eyes slowly lifted, their depths holding still waters running deep. “Whether it’s suspicious or coincidental, we can discuss later. Right now…”

“Right now what?”

“I want to walk through and look around Yan Ruxian’s residence.”

Excellent—this lady was just worried about having nothing to do!

Li Buyan’s eyes narrowed. “…Shall we scale the walls?”

…

Scaling walls in broad daylight was actually difficult for Yan Sanhe.

But she could climb trees, which made things less difficult.

The two first circled the residence’s perimeter to find a large tree. When no one was around, Yan Sanhe climbed up.

Li Buyan easily leaped onto the wall, then reached out to pull Yan Sanhe up and over.

They were inside the courtyard.

Looking around, they simultaneously gasped.

This residence was truly magnificent. Even this inconspicuous spot by the wall was beautifully landscaped—clearly meticulously designed.

Li Buyan clicked her tongue while asking, “Sanhe, where should we start?”

“I want to see two places.”

Yan Sanhe had planned this beforehand. “One is the theater that Old Master Tang mentioned, and the other is the rear courtyard where Lu Shi lodged as a young man.”

“Why only these two places?”

“Because…”

Two words squeezed through Yan Sanhe’s teeth: “Curious.”

“We’re currently on the northwest side of the residence, so let’s head to the rear courtyard first.”

Just in case, Li Buyan drew her soft sword from her waist and gripped it. “Stay close behind me. Don’t wander too far.”