Xie Zhifei’s voice suddenly dropped much lower.

“He trusts no one, suspects everyone—doesn’t even trust his own son. Though he treats Huairen well, he’s secretly guarding against him.”

Pei Xiao covered his mouth, his voice muffled.

“According to Huairen, his mind is as deep as a well—no one can fathom what he’s thinking. His face is always perfectly composed, showing no emotion whatsoever.”

Xie Zhifei leaned down close to Yan Sanhe.

“Many say he’s ruthless and merciless. After the Former Crown Prince’s defeat, all who had followed him, openly or secretly, almost all…”

Xie Zhifei made a beheading gesture and said no more.

Pei Xiao sighed. “Kindness can’t raise wealth, righteousness can’t lead troops. How many who sit on that throne aren’t ruthless? It’s just that he went too far.”

“It seems…”

Yan Sanhe gave a cold laugh. “He’s the one most like the Late Emperor.”

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao didn’t need to continue this thread—he was indeed most similar, by no means benevolent, yet both possessed outstanding talent and grand strategies.

In the silence, Zhu Qing led Zhu Yuanmo inside.

Xie Zhifei quickly set down his teacup and stood. “Big Brother Zhu, which way did you enter?”

“Back gate.”

Zhu Yuanmo removed his cloak, his tone very certain. “Don’t worry, no one followed.”

Yan Sanhe pulled back her thoughts and spoke. “What we need to discuss now is how to meet Imperial Physician Shen face-to-face, then find a way to pry open his mouth.”

“The premise is…”

Xie Zhifei had to emphasize again: “While ensuring our safety.”

Imperial Physician Shen and the Emperor had an extraordinary relationship.

If they asked questions and Imperial Physician Shen immediately went to the palace to report…

Everyone would be finished!

Though Imperial Physician Shen had a good reputation outside and decent character, since this matter involved the Witchcraft Case, they couldn’t be too careful.

So.

What good method existed that could make him reveal the truth from those years while also ensuring he’d take the matter of meeting Yan Sanhe to his grave?

Li Buyan’s gaze swept over the frowning Yan Sanhe, the stern-faced Zhu Yuanmo, the head-scratching Third Master Xie, and Young Master Pei with his chin propped up and vacant stare…

Great!

All at a loss.

…

Chonghua Palace.

Study.

A hidden guard leaped down from the wall, pushed open the study door, and knelt to report.

“Your Highness, after court today, the Zhu residence’s eldest master returned to the residence and didn’t go out. The Zhu residence’s third master went to the Military Commissioner’s Office early in the morning to see Third Master Xie. The Zhu residence’s second master left the city at the hour of noon. When he returned to the Zhu residence, three people accompanied him.”

“Who?”

“Magistrate Pei from the Buddhist Registry, along with Yan Sanhe and her maidservant.”

Zhao Yanjin and Dong Xiao exchanged glances. “What did those three go to the Zhu residence for?”

“Unknown.”

The hidden guard: “Half an hour later, the maidservant left first. Magistrate Pei and Yan Sanhe came out one tea’s time later.”

Zhao Yanjin: “Anything else?”

“Half an hour ago, the Zhu residence’s eldest master left the Zhu residence’s side gate by carriage and went to Young Master Pei’s villa in the city. He didn’t use the front entrance—he entered through the back door. This subordinate had left before he emerged.”

The hidden guard swallowed.

“Your Highness, these people are all extremely cautious. They look around repeatedly before entering and exiting. This subordinate didn’t dare get too close—could only watch from a distance.”

“Well done. Reward him.”

Zhao Yanjin waved his hand, indicating the guard should withdraw first.

After the door closed, he could no longer hide his excited expression. “Boren, you guessed too correctly. The Zhu family indeed has something suspicious.”

“Not only the Zhu family—that girl called Yan Sanhe is also somewhat strange. An unmarried lady from the inner quarters—how can she constantly be running around outside?”

Dong Xiao: “I remember last time she left the city, it was also with the Zhu residence’s second master and Young Master Pei together. I also remember the Grand Prince frequenting the villa.”

Zhao Yanjin’s interest was immediately piqued.

An unmarried young lady from the inner quarters—not mixing with this man then traveling with that man, with a martial arts-skilled maidservant at her side?

It sounded so strange!

Dong Xiao rose and walked before Zhao Yanjin, speaking word by word: “Your Highness, I always feel these people are secretly plotting something.”

After a brief silence, Zhao Yanjin coldly bit out one word.

“Investigate!”

…

In the villa’s study, deathly silence still prevailed.

During the prolonged silence, Li Buyan’s gaze wandered back and forth countless times, finally settling on Young Master Pei.

“Young Master Pei.”

“Ah?”

Pei Xiao’s breathing quickened.

What’s this person doing, staring at him so intently? Doesn’t she know one should be subtle?

Li Buyan: “You’re unusually quiet today.”

What does that mean?

“Every time at the most critical moment, Young Master Pei can always think of some trick. Why no movement today?”

Li Buyan smiled with ill intent. “Is it… not… working… anymore?”

Why did this ancestor emphasize “not working”?

This involuntarily made one’s imagination run wild—was Young Master Pei not working up top or down below?

This kind of humiliation—any man couldn’t tolerate it!

Young Master Pei looked at her sideways and snorted. “This young master is working just fine!”

“Well then…”

Li Buyan drew out her tone. “Then come up with a plan!”

Come up with what?

If this young master could come up with something…

Hey, hey, hey?

What kind of look is this ancestor giving me?

Dominated by self-respect, Young Master Pei slammed the table and spouted random nonsense: “Use her daughter’s deep sins as the angle.”

Li Buyan: “Then what?”

Young Master Pei continued spouting: “Then turn one coffin into three, if three won’t work, make it four, if four won’t work make it five.”

Li Buyan: “Then what?”

It was all nonsense anyway—no need to think.

Young Master Pei glanced at Zhu Yuanmo. “Then find a way to make him see black smoke rising from the Shen family ancestral grave.”

Li Buyan: “Continue.”

Malicious schemes in Young Master Pei’s belly couldn’t stop gushing forth.

“Threaten him that if he doesn’t tell the truth, the Shen family will only bear daughters from now on, no sons—their line will be cut off completely.”

Li Buyan: “…”

“Still not enough?”

Young Master Pei gritted his teeth, a fierce light entering his eyes.

“If that’s still not enough, we’ll sneak into the Shen family ancestral grave, pry open his daughter’s tomb, crack open the coffin, and say his daughter has a heart demon. Hmph, by that point, we’ll have scared him to death if nothing else. I don’t believe he won’t talk!”

As the last word finished, not even the sound of breathing could be heard in the study.

Seeing everyone staring at him, Pei Xiao instinctively shrank his neck. “Is it too lacking in virtue?”

No one spoke.

Pei Xiao’s eyelids drooped. “…Just pretend I farted just now.”

Yan Sanhe: “That fart was excellent.”

Huh?

Pei Xiao’s eyes shot up.

Li Buyan: “Three coffins are enough. Four or five would be excessive.”

“Black smoke rising from the ancestral grave is simple—just light a fire from a distance.”

Zhu Yuanmo stroked his chin. “But fire is relatively easy to detect as fake. We need to think of something else.”

“But no one can tolerate having their line cut off.”

Xie Zhifei: “On this point, we can make it even more severe.”

Pei Xiao: “…”

Damn!

I was just talking randomly, and they’re actually taking it seriously?

Every one of them seriously lacking in virtue!