Deep in the palace, the Mid-Autumn family banquet continued.

The Emperor had over a dozen sons. Those of age were at their fiefdoms and couldn’t enter the capital without summons. At the banquet, besides the Crown Prince and his wife, there were only a few underage princes and princesses.

In previous years, there had also been the most favored Crown Prince’s son keeping the Emperor company, talking and drinking with him.

This year, with the Crown Prince’s son on assignment in Jiangnan, only Consort Wang used every trick in her arsenal, addressing His Majesty left and right, trying to cheer the Emperor up.

However, Emperor Yonghe couldn’t be cheered at all. Especially seeing the Crown Prince’s corpulent body, he felt every dish tasted bland.

He increasingly missed one person.

“Crown Prince.”

“Your Majesty?”

The Crown Prince started to rise, but seeing the Emperor wave his hand, he supported himself on the table to sit back down.

“Yesterday your brother submitted a memorial saying he wants to come to the capital to attend to me. Absolutely absurd.”

Emperor Yonghe laughed coldly. “Does this mean there’s no one to attend me here?”

Zhao Yanluo: “The Prince of Han acts from filial piety.”

Emperor Yonghe looked at him silently, then asked coldly, “Filial piety is well and good, but ancestral rules must still be observed. Otherwise, if all my sons learned from him, wouldn’t that create chaos?”

Zhao Yanluo, having been father and son with the Emperor for half a lifetime, couldn’t miss the meaning in these words. He felt his heart grow cold with despair.

He bit down on his back teeth and forced a smile. “The Late Emperor governed through filial piety. The Prince of Han wishing to attend Your Majesty closely is precisely observing the rules.”

A hint of smile appeared on the Emperor’s face. “According to the Crown Prince’s meaning then…”

“Summon the Prince of Han to the capital.”

“Best to summon the Crown Prince’s son back as well.”

Consort Wang picked up some pickled bamboo shoots for the Emperor with her chopsticks. “This consort loves listening to the Crown Prince’s son speak—so unhurried and patient.”

“Foolish!”

The Emperor feigned anger. “Is my Crown Prince’s son merely for keeping you womenfolk company?”

“Yes, yes, yes—the Crown Prince’s son is meant to help Your Majesty with great matters.”

Consort Wang muttered quietly, “The Crown Prince’s son must also keep Your Majesty company talking through the night. This consort and other womenfolk can only be envious from the sidelines.”

“You…”

The Emperor glared at Consort Wang, then smiled at the Crown Prince. “Later, write a letter for me to the Crown Prince’s son, telling him once his assignment is complete, to return to the capital soon…”

“To keep Your Majesty company in conversation—”

After Consort Wang finished, she laughed “puchi” first, and the other princes and consorts all laughed along.

The inner attendant, seeing some liveliness at the banquet, quickly summoned performers to sing and dance. They continued until the Emperor grew slightly drunk and departed with an attendant’s support before things finally settled.

Once the Emperor left, the others also dispersed. Shortly after, only the Crown Prince and his wife remained.

“Your Highness, we should go as well.”

The Crown Prince smiled slowly and raised his cup toward the Crown Princess. “It’s thanks to you for bearing such a good son!”

The Crown Princess watched the cold smile at the Crown Prince’s mouth, feeling her heart pound anxiously.

…

Upon entering the inner chamber, Qin Qi was waiting inside. The Emperor waved away the attendant’s hand, and the slight drunkenness on his face vanished completely.

An attendant brought tea and silently withdrew.

Qin Qi stepped forward to report. “Your Majesty, word from the Embroidered Uniform Guard—Li Xing has confessed everything.”

The Emperor glanced at him. “What did he confess?”

“He says he was coerced and bribed by Yan Ruxian.”

Qin Qi pulled several papers from his robe. “The rest of his crimes are on these papers.”

“No need to read them. I don’t want to.”

The Emperor didn’t reach for them, only looked at Qin Qi with severity. “Since he’s confessed and submitted to the law, what crime should I impose on him?”

Everyone knew Yan Ruxian had no choice but to die. How dare you, Li Xing, push all the blame onto a dead man…

Qin Qi didn’t hesitate even a moment. “This servant believes Li Xing and his son should have their nine familial relations executed.”

“Good!”

The Emperor slapped the small table with one palm, clearly very satisfied with Qin Qi’s suggestion. “If we don’t execute nine familial relations, it won’t satisfy the people’s anger.”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

Qin Qi smiled. “Now the common people are all applauding, praising Your Majesty as a rarely-seen enlightened ruler and sage monarch.”

The Emperor stood and walked to the window in silence. A full moon hung in the sky, coldly illuminating this mortal world.

“Qin Qi, do you know why I’m burying Lu Shi in the imperial mausoleum?”

“This servant cannot fathom it.”

“You may go.”

“Yes.”

As Qin Qi bowed and withdrew, stepping over the threshold with one foot, he heard the Emperor say from afar, “Because in life he was my man, in death he is my ghost!”

…

In the Xie residence study, the conversation continued.

“Father, Yan Ruxian was His Majesty’s most trusted person. Look at what he did behind the scenes!”

Xie Zhifei fingered a corner of his robe, speaking slowly. “This was the trigger.”

Following that, another old censor directly forced him to issue an edict of self-reproach.

He sighed. “Whoever it was would need to open their eyes wide and look more carefully at the people around them. This precisely shows Father is one of His Majesty’s close people—those nearby become more suspect.”

Xie Erli nodded. “Father has reached his current position with difficulty. At this critical juncture, stillness is better than movement. As long as Father walks righteously, even if His Majesty temporarily doubts, he’ll understand eventually.”

Xie Zhifei spoke more bluntly. “Father, you remaining in your position keeps the Xie family stable.”

Looking at his two sons, Xie Daozhi suddenly felt old.

When one grows old, courage shrinks, and words and actions become timid.

True enough.

Anyone sitting in that position would be suspicious—probably not even trusting their own sons.

Xie Daozhi nodded. “Very well, you may all go.”

With his nod, both sons’ hearts settled.

Xie Zhifei rose lazily, then heard his father sigh. “Third Son, when on duty from now on, you must be more vigilant!”

Be vigilant about what—isn’t it just the Prince of Han returning?

Even if he doesn’t return, Third Master has been keeping watch for Huairen!

He laughed. “Father, don’t worry!”

…

Leaving the study, the brothers unconsciously slowed their pace.

Both had words to say!

“Third Son, what do you make of the second household’s affair today?”

Xie Zhifei looked down at his shoes, answering coolly with four words: “Singing in harmony.”

Xie Erli’s face showed a trace of imperceptible relief—the brothers had thought alike again.

Xie Zhifei tapped his eldest brother’s foot with his toe. “Just watch the show from here on. Brother only needs to understand one thing—no one can make that girl’s decisions for her.”

“Only you understand!”

Though Xie Erli scolded with his words, his face showed considerable relief.

Concubine Liu was someone who kept silent, but the more restrained a person, the greater their ambitions. Some matters required vigilance.

“Come, keep your little nephew company eating mooncakes and playing pitch-pot.”

The Xie family’s third generation had only one sapling—Xie Huaizhou. This little sapling’s favorite person was his Third Uncle.

Just now at the dinner table, the little fellow’s eyes had glanced toward Xie Zhifei several times, his face full of anticipation.

Every year after the Mid-Autumn reunion dinner, Xie Zhifei would play a few rounds of pitch-pot with the little fellow to practice his arm strength.

Xie Zhifei gave Steward Xie a look, telling him to attend to other matters first, while he followed his elder brother to Fangzhou Courtyard.

Just reaching the courtyard gate, they heard Lady Zhu’s voice.

“Son, recite a poem about the moon for Mother. Let’s get in the spirit too.”

“‘The courtyard ground white, crows roost in trees, cold dew silent, wetting osmanthus flowers. Tonight the moon shines bright for all to see, who knows in whose home autumn thoughts dwell.'”

“Good, though rather melancholic. Oh my, Third Brother has arrived.”

Little Huaizhou ran over, first respectfully calling Xie Erli “Father,” then taking Xie Zhifei’s hand.

“Third Uncle, let’s go.”

One pull—no movement.

Another pull—still no movement.

The little fellow couldn’t help looking up. “Third Uncle, what’s wrong?”