“Thank you for today.”

Xie Zhifei lifted his teacup, using the tea to hide the emotion on his face. When she saw the scholars gathering, the first person she thought of was him.

As he set down the teacup, his face had returned to its previous calm. “Actually, I was prepared early on for the scholars to cause trouble.”

These words had an underlying meaning that Yan Sanhe could hear.

“I was meddling unnecessarily.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Xie Zhifei looked at the slender wrist resting on the table. “Your safety is far more important than my official position.”

Yan Sanhe’s heart trembled violently.

This feeling could no longer be described as strange.

Clearly, he had avoided that concerned look from her.

Clearly, he kept hinting that he had no feelings for her at all.

It was like the two sides of a handkerchief—one side embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water, the other embroidered with a clean break.

Why would one person’s attitude toward another be so contradictory?

…

Once something weighs on a person’s heart, insomnia is inevitable.

At this moment, even if Yan Sanhe held ten more handkerchiefs in her hands, the Duke of Zhou wouldn’t come to entice her into sleep.

“Stop tossing and turning like you’re being fried in oil, my lady.”

Li Buyan was so sleepy her eyes wouldn’t open. “When soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth dams it up. When a dog of a man comes, serve him with a dog-beating stick. What proper woman loses sleep over a man!”

Yan Sanhe laughed despite her irritation and kicked Li Buyan’s rear with her foot. “I’m thinking about Lu Shi.”

“Lu Shi is also a man, also equipped with those two liang of flesh.”

Li Buyan yawned. “Sleep, just sleep.”

Yan Sanhe didn’t immediately understand what “those two liang of flesh” meant. Once she did, her face reddened and she stretched out her foot to kick Li Buyan again.

Her foot suddenly stopped.

That’s right—Lu Shi was a man, and men had the seven emotions and six desires.

Even a eunuch like Yan Ruxian had a whole harem of beautiful wives and concubines. Why could Lu Shi live his life as a solitary seed?

For the position of censor?

To leave his name in history?

But throughout history, men who left their names in the annals didn’t let those two liang of flesh remain idle!

Even Wu Guanyue, that generation’s hero beloved by the common people, wasn’t particularly proper in matters between men and women.

This was another suspicious point!

…

In another courtyard.

Young Master Pei glared at Xie Zhifei with a look that could devour him.

“Fine, stop looking.”

After a long stare-down, Xie Zhifei silently conceded defeat.

“I was just instructing her not to act rashly and not to get herself caught up in trouble. We can always think of a solution.”

“Why couldn’t you say this in front of all of us?”

“Speaking to her privately emphasizes the importance of the matter. You know well enough that girl fears nothing—neither heaven nor earth.”

Xie Zhifei covered his eyes with his palm, saying wearily, “Can you believe she actually mixed in with those rioting scholars today?”

Young Master Pei defended his beloved. “Without great courage, how could she dispel obsessions and resolve heart demons?”

“That’s exactly why I had to warn her!”

Xie Zhifei impatiently rolled over to face inward. “Sleep, sleep.”

“Don’t you have plenty of brothers and comrades in the Brocade Guard?”

Young Master Pei couldn’t sleep.

He not only had to speak up for his beloved but also think of solutions for her. “Spend some silver to have them accommodate us—see if we can arrange a meeting with Lu Shi.”

Xie Zhifei sat up abruptly and pointed forcefully at the person on the imperial concubine’s couch.

“Stuff all these terrible ideas back where they came from. At this critical juncture, let alone spending silver—even if you spent knives, it wouldn’t work!”

“If it won’t work, it won’t work. Why are you so fierce?”

Young Master Pei yawned, his eyes brimming with tears.

“If there’s really no other way, we could only spread a rumor that Lu’s residence is haunted by ghosts and spirits, then bring monks from my Monastic Registry Office to perform a ritual, with Yan Sanhe disguised as a young monk to get inside.”

What kind of idea is that, you fool!

Xie Zhifei pulled the quilt over his head.

He wouldn’t deal with this sort of person.

…

Duanmu Palace.

Zhao Yishi took Shen Chong’s hand and stepped down from the carriage. Yan Xi, who had been waiting anxiously for ages, came running over with an umbrella.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince is waiting for you in the study and asked you to go there upon your return.”

Zhao Yishi’s brow didn’t move at all—only the fingers behind his back twisted slightly.

“Understood.”

Yan Xi moved the umbrella further toward Zhao Yishi, obsequiously saying, “Your Highness, please follow along and watch your step carefully.”

“Give the umbrella to Shen Chong. You may go back first.”

Yan Xi’s steps halted. He quickly handed the lantern to Shen Chong and respectfully stepped aside. “Yes!”

Zhao Yishi looked at him coldly, saying nothing more.

Yan Xi quietly lifted his eyelids, watching the two shadows recede into the distance, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

Cursing his loose tongue for begging His Highness to plead for Yan Ruxian—now look what happened, he’d brought misfortune upon himself too.

In the study, lamps blazed brightly.

As Zhao Yishi stepped inside, he bowed to the person behind the desk.

Zhao Yanluo looked up with an expressionless face. “How is the investigation progressing?”

Zhao Yishi: “The matter involves too many people. Currently there’s no progress.”

Zhao Yanluo: “What’s your view on today’s scholar riots?”

“The speed, the number of people, the opportune location—these aren’t things a few inexperienced scholars could arrange.”

When the Crown Prince stepped out through those vermilion doors, Zhao Yishi hadn’t followed. He’d listened quietly from behind the doors.

Even without Zhu Qing’s message, he could have figured out the suspicious elements.

“Father, there must be someone behind the scenes fanning the flames.”

Zhao Yanluo sneered coldly, the flesh on his fair face quivering. “It seems your imperial uncle has quite a network in the capital.”

“Not only an extensive network—his mind is quite vicious too. Fortunately Father handled it properly, otherwise…”

“He won’t let me have a single day of peace!”

Zhao Yanluo tapped his fingers on the desk. “Investigate secretly. Use this opportunity to clean house as well.”

These words greatly shocked Zhao Yishi.

His father, like his build, was tolerant and magnanimous. He rarely took the initiative to strike—clearly tonight’s situation had affected him.

Thinking back, it was indeed frightening. What if someone else had mixed in among the scholars, and what if that Yang Yijie had acted recklessly…

It would have been an entirely different situation.

“Father, rest assured. I’ll investigate thoroughly in secret.”

“Du Jianxue is the current Minister of Rites. Do you think this time we should…”

“Father.”

Zhao Yishi immediately interrupted. “His Majesty is extremely concerned about this case. Before we have solid evidence, it’s best not to act rashly and risk bringing fire upon ourselves.”

Shifting topics, he continued, “I’ll have someone watch him secretly. For officials at his level, few have completely clean backsides.”

“Mm.”

Zhao Yanluo nodded with satisfaction, then asked, “Yan Ruxian—do you think His Majesty will spare him?”

“Before the scholar riots, it was hard to say. After the scholar riots… certain death!”

Zhao Yanluo’s expression suddenly darkened, his mouth opening and closing, his face full of worry.