Lu Shi turned to look at the three young people gathered around him, his gaze finally settling on Yan Sanhe’s face.

“Child, you’re seventeen this year?”

Why ask this question again?

This was the fourth time.

Yan Sanhe nodded silently.

“From Yunnan Prefecture?”

“Yes.”

Lu Shi took half a step back and bowed to Yan Sanhe, shocking her into quickly returning the gesture.

“Great Elder, this is absolutely improper.”

“Thank you.”

Lu Shi looked at her starry eyes, wanting to say something when his peripheral vision caught Lu Da and Cheng Fuyao hurrying over.

“Master, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has found us.”

Lu Shi’s expression was calm. “You three wait until the Embroidered Uniform Guard leaves before departing. What you heard and saw tonight—just consider it all a dream.”

Yan Sanhe: “What about you, Great Elder?”

“Naturally I’ll return from whence I came. Three of you, farewell.”

Lu Shi looked at Yan Sanhe with deep eyes, then turned and left.

Whether it was psychological or not, Yan Sanhe felt his glance held many unsaid words.

Actually she also had many questions left unasked.

Would he issue an edict of self-reproach?

How would he deal with you?

What do you plan to do next?

Just as she was thinking this, darkness suddenly fell before her eyes. Before she could cry out, Yan Sanhe collapsed.

From his peripheral vision, Xie Zhifei saw the person beside him falling and immediately reached out to catch her. His speed was so fast that Pei Xiao, who had also extended his hand, was quite annoyed.

Damn it, why am I always half a beat slow!

Just then, Li Buyan, Zhu Qing, and Huang Qi also rushed back from various places.

Xie Zhifei looked at Li Buyan: “She’s fainted. You and Huang Qi take her back to the residence first.”

Huang Qi: “What about my master?”

Xie Zhifei placed Yan Sanhe on Li Buyan’s back.

“Your master and I will continue watching the play. Zhu Qing, secretly follow the Great Elder.”

“Yes!”

Xie Zhifei nodded to Cheng Fuyao: “Trouble Troupe Master Cheng to lead them to the back gate.”

Cheng Fuyao: “Do you remember the way back to the theater?”

Xie Zhifei: “We do.”

“Then follow me.”

The six people split into three routes and quickly departed.

At the corner, Xie Zhifei couldn’t help looking back at the water pavilion.

Wind had risen. In the vast night, the two lanterns hanging outside the water pavilion swayed chaotically.

“Stop looking—let’s go.” Pei Xiao tugged at him.

Xie Zhifei cooperatively hooked his arm around Pei Xiao’s neck. “Did you remember the Great Elder’s words?”

“I did—just treat it as a dream.”

Xie Zhifei released his hand, as if convincing himself: “Right, go back and sleep—forget everything.”

Returning to the theater, the stage was still lively. They were performing “Lin Chong’s Night Flight,” the martial actor’s singing resonant and forceful, yet neither could hear a word.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had come looking, obviously for the Great Elder. How had the Great Elder deceived them to come to Changchun Garden?

Just as they were anxiously distracted, Cheng Fuyao entered, cupping his fists: “Third Master, Young Master Pei, how is the performance?”

Xie Zhifei crossed his legs, smiling: “This is my first time hearing this play. Troupe Master Cheng, in Lin Chong’s Night Flight—was he caught by his pursuers?”

“Even if caught, someone would respond. Third Master just watch the play in peace.”

Xie Zhifei understood the meaning—Li Buyan’s three had not only safely left through the back gate, but Cheng Fuyao had also arranged carriage transport.

Half his heart settled, but the other half still hung at his throat.

Fortunately Zhu Qing soon returned, plopping into a chair and using his finger dipped in tea to write two characters: Palace.

Palace?

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao’s hearts dropped, then immediately hung up again.

For the Embroidered Uniform Guard to bring the Great Elder to the palace at this hour—it must be that person’s idea. What were they planning?

Settling accounts after autumn?

Xie Zhifei stood up restlessly. “Let’s go too.”

“Pull me up—my legs are weak, I can’t get up.”

Young Master Pei had been shocked more tonight than in Zhou Ye’s mansion. Not only were his legs weak, his heart was pounding.

Xie Zhifei yanked him up with one pull.

Walking out of Changchun Garden, the night wind already carried misty drizzle. Landing on their faces, it was indescribably cold.

Xie Zhifei suddenly thought of something: “How did the Great Elder get into Changchun Garden?”

Zhu Qing said quietly: “The Lu residence hired a theater troupe today. He disguised himself as an actor and left with them.”

No wonder the Embroidered Uniform Guard came looking.

Xie Zhifei’s eye twitched: “Mingting, the palace is still conducting Buddhist rites now, right?”

Pei Xiao felt for his waist token and gritted his teeth. “Zhu Qing, get me into the palace.”

Xie Zhifei quickly cautioned: “Don’t take risks.”

“Nonsense—you even need to tell me that? This young master values his life.”

Pei Xiao walked to the carriage, hand lifting the curtain as his head turned: “You go quickly and check on my wife.”

“I’ll check on her later.”

Xie Zhifei said softly: “On such a cold day, I need to go home first and have a few drinks with my father.”

Drinking was fake—gathering intelligence was real.

Pei Xiao thought to himself this kid was quick on his feet and quick in mind.

…

Night had deepened. Rain finally began pattering down, the entire palace shrouded in dampness.

A small eunuch was very amiable: “Minister Lu, please follow this servant.”

Lu Shi adjusted his casual clothes, smoothed his hair until not a strand was out of place, then took the umbrella the eunuch offered and walked into the rain.

The eunuch saw his back ramrod straight, his steps carrying considerable presence, and couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

Called to the palace in the dead of night yet still composed—among all officials in court, probably only this old censor.

Climbing the last step, Lu Shi closed the umbrella, brushed off the rain on his clothes, and stepped into the Imperial Study.

The Emperor reclined on a couch, holding a scroll. Seeing someone enter, he didn’t move.

Lu Shi stepped forward and knelt in obeisance.

The Emperor set down the scroll, glanced at his clothing, and smiled faintly: “Where has the Great Elder come from?”

“Responding to Your Majesty, from Changchun Garden.”

Lu Shi still knelt on the ground, hands supporting himself: “Tonight I performed onstage, fulfilling a wish I’ve held for many years.”

“Oh, what did you perform?”

“Romance of the West Chamber.”

The Emperor wasn’t very surprised.

“I recall Romance of the West Chamber tells of a wealthy young lady and a poor scholar.”

“Precisely.”

“What role did the Great Elder play…”

“The scholar.”

“Then the wealthy young lady was…”

Lu Shi slowly straightened his body. “My unbetrothed fiancée, Miss Tang of the Tang family.”

“Crack—”

The tea cup shattered on impact. The Emperor’s face filled with fury.

The warm chamber fell into deathly silence that lasted a long time.

Smart people sparring—words need not be spoken clearly, yet both understand perfectly.

For this long time, the Emperor gasped several breaths, suppressing his peaked rage, and sneered:

“So the Great Elder hasn’t forgotten!”

Lu Shi spoke word by word: “Responding to Your Majesty, some things I dare not forget, cannot forget, and am unwilling to forget.”

The Emperor’s face instantly paled, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

“Lu Shi, you have enormous audacity!”

“Your Majesty.”

Lu Shi’s body slowly prostrated. “This minister deserves death.”

The Emperor felt pain in his chest, pointing at Lu Shi: “Good, good, good… I shall grant your wish!”