Yan Sanhe was equally astonished.

To force the Emperor into issuing an edict of self-reproach and still remain safe—she didn’t know if it was the Emperor’s magnanimity or Lu Shi’s extraordinary luck.

“I have a feeling that everything is within his control.”

Yan Sanhe’s dark eyes met Xie Zhifei’s. “I also have a feeling that the truth is about to be revealed.”

Wait…

The truth already?

Xie Zhifei turned to look at Young Master Pei, whose face looked even more confused than his own.

“Young Master Pei.”

Yan Sanhe called softly. “Someone has solemnly invited me to watch a performance. Out of courtesy, how should I respond?”

“Not you—us.” Xie Zhifei tapped the table in protest.

Under this man’s intense gaze, Yan Sanhe corrected herself: “How should we respond?”

Speaking of this, Young Master Pei had a bellyful to say. “First, we must dress formally.”

He looked at Yan Sanhe with some disdain.

“A young lady must look like a young lady—holding either a handkerchief or a round fan. The fan to conceal smiles, the handkerchief to wipe tears.”

Yan Sanhe: “…”

Young Master Pei’s gaze shifted, growing even more disdainful.

“Gentlemen must look like gentlemen—dress respectably, show proper spirit and bearing, walk with noble bearing—not lazily like women.”

Xie Zhifei: “…”

Young Master Pei’s gaze swept over those three people, rolling his eyes in disdain several times.

“Maids and servants should at least dress cleanly and presentably. As for the rest… forget it, you couldn’t manage the rest anyway.”

Li Buyan, Zhu Qing, and Huang Qi all turned to look at Yan Sanhe: Quick, curse him out.

“Listen to Young Master Pei—tomorrow we dress formally. Also…”

Yan Sanhe said slowly, “Tonight everyone rest well and gather your strength. Those who aren’t up to it—don’t follow me into Changchun Garden. Buyan, remember to bring incense.”

Bring incense?

That meant performing念化解魔.

Everyone’s hearts immediately surged with excitement.

…

When Yan Sanhe had something on her mind, she’d toss and turn for ages unable to sleep.

Once she let go of her worries, she slept faster than anyone—almost losing consciousness the moment her head touched the pillow.

Li Buyan, however, tossed and turned for ages without a hint of sleepiness.

Young Master Pei was equally sleepless.

After returning to his room and calming down, he thought himself into a cold sweat.

Tomorrow’s performance—Lu Shi would definitely attend.

If Lu Shi came, the Emperor’s spies would follow.

If he and Xie Fifty went so openly, would they…

Young Master Pei sat up with a start, threw on some clothes, and rushed to Xie Zhifei’s room.

Xie Zhifei had already gone to bed and was just drifting off when he heard the door open, then a head appeared above his eyes.

“Xie Fifty, what if… tomorrow we enter Changchun Garden through the back door? If we’re discovered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard…”

“Let me ask you.”

Xie Zhifei truly couldn’t stand this man’s stupidity. “In this matter, would Yan Sanhe let the two of us take risks?”

“Definitely not—she’d have chased us away long ago. It’s our own stubborn bones insisting on getting involved.”

“Let me ask you again.”

“That chokehold from Lu Da—did he really want Yan Sanhe’s life?”

“It seemed so at first.”

Young Master Pei’s eyes slowly rotated. “But thinking back now, it might not have been trying to kill her, but forcing her not to get involved.”

“So tomorrow’s performance, Lu Shi will definitely have considerations and arrangements. Do you believe it or not?”

“I believe it.”

“Then that’s settled.”

Xie Zhifei reached out to straighten Pei Xiao’s clothes.

“Tomorrow dress a bit flashy, don’t forget that folding fan—let people see that our Young Master Pei is also a dashing figure. As for other matters, leave them to your future wife. She knows what she’s doing.”

“Tsk tsk, my wife is so clever.”

If I wasn’t reluctant to let her suffer with someone else, how could I let you benefit, kid!

Xie Zhifei closed his eyes wearily, hinting he could leave now.

But Young Master Pei didn’t get the hint.

“So tell me, what kind of deceptive method will Lu Shi use to enter Changchun Garden and meet us?”

“How should I know?”

“Guess.”

Guess your sister!

Xie Zhifei completely lost patience and roared: “Are you going to let anyone sleep or not?”

“Tsk tsk, such a temper.”

As Young Master Pei walked out, he couldn’t resist one more jab: “Too late to find a woman for relief tonight—reluctantly use your five brothers instead.”

“Get lost!”

A pillow flew at him.

…

When the sky was still dark, Steward Lu Da entered the east courtyard as usual.

The east courtyard was quiet.

Lu Da felt his way to the bedside in the dark and called softly: “Master.”

Hearing the voice, Lu Shi didn’t open his eyes but pushed himself up using the bed board.

Lu Da rolled his trousers up past his knees and used burning moxa to fumigate Lu Shi’s right knee.

Lu Shi’s right leg had been injured and would ache faintly on cloudy or rainy days. In the worst cases, he couldn’t even stand.

Imperial Physician Shen, the best orthopedist at the Imperial Medical Bureau, had recommended moxa fumigation.

One moxa stick took most of an hour to burn through before Lu Shi was fully awake.

After washing up, he went to the courtyard to practice martial arts—one of his daily necessities, rain or shine.

After practice, drenched in sweat, he went to the bathhouse to wash.

When he emerged, daylight had broken. Lu Da waited outside the screen with clothes.

Today was a rest day with no court, so Lu Shi wore casual clothes.

“Master has lost weight again.”

Lu Da looked at his empty sides, turned and left, returning with needle and thread.

He knelt down and quickly stitched at Lu Shi’s waist.

Clothes were a person’s face.

While the master could compromise on everything else, he was meticulous about clothing—he wouldn’t leave this courtyard with even a wrinkled hem.

As Lu Da worked, Lu Shi let him and asked, “Is the garden all arranged?”

Lu Da didn’t look up. “Master, it was set up yesterday evening. After breakfast, would you like to inspect it?”

“No need. I still have official business to handle.”

Breakfast was millet porridge, two pieces of sweet potato, and three small dishes of vegetables. After eating, Lu Shi entered his study and didn’t emerge until noon to eat in the side hall.

After just a few bites, he heard the sounds of theater drums and gongs in the distance.

Lu Shi’s chopsticks paused. “The performance has started?”

“Master, they wouldn’t dare start without you. They’re just rehearsing.”

“Let’s go!”

Lu Shi set down his chopsticks calmly. “Take a look.”

Master and servant walked out of the courtyard one after the other.

Two guards stood at the courtyard gate.

Seeing them emerge, the guards said respectfully: “Minister Lu, where are you headed?”

“To the rear courtyard to watch a performance.”

Lu Shi had always been gracious, even bowing slightly when speaking to the guards.

After he’d walked away, one guard asked curiously, “Minister Lu enjoys watching theater?”

The other guard: “Never heard that before!”

“Listen—theater drums and gongs playing.”

“No wonder there was activity in the rear garden yesterday—they were building a stage.”

“He’s really carefree. At a time like this, he’s not afraid…”

The words trailed off, only exchanging a mutually understood glance.

They two guarded this courtyard, while the front gate, back gate, corner gates, and side gates each had two Embroidered Uniform Guard brothers.

To put it nicely, they were protecting the old censor. To put it bluntly…

“Dang, dang, dang, dang…”

A series of urgent gong sounds came.

The guard sneered: “Well, well, this grand performance has really begun!”