The four-nine city was divided into inner and outer cities.

The inner city had nine gates, four corner towers, and three water gates.

Between the Bell Tower and Drum Tower lay an alley called Thousand Autumn Alley.

At the alley’s end stood an estate.

Unlike other estates, this one’s vermillion gate bore no plaque. At first glance, one might mistake it for some official’s kept mistress’s residence.

In the deepest courtyard of the estate, lamps were lit.

Night deepened.

Dong Xiao entered the courtyard, and two black-clad shadow guards approached.

The taller guard clasped his fists. “Master Dong, the person is inside.”

Dong Xiao asked casually, “What does she look like?”

“Master will know when he sees.”

The guard couldn’t help commenting, “Not particularly beautiful or exceptional.”

Dong Xiao walked into the main hall with hands clasped behind his back.

In the room’s center sat a chair. A plainly dressed young woman was bound to it along with the chair, her head hanging low.

Looking at this thin frame, indeed nothing special.

Dong Xiao stepped forward and lifted the young woman’s face. His pupils suddenly contracted, his heart jolting.

“What does Master think?”

Dong Xiao’s gaze passed inch by inch over this face, then using an ordinary, sparse tone, he sneered coldly:

“Plain as water, ordinary appearance.”

He released his hand, slowly turned around, and added, “One of you go report to His Highness. The other guard outside the courtyard.”

“Yes.”

“Wait. When will she wake?”

“The Menghan medicine’s effect lasts about one more cup of tea’s time. If you can’t wait, use water to wake her.”

Dong Xiao: “Go fetch a bucket of well water.”

The guards turned and walked out. Reaching the courtyard, the two parted ways.

One went to the well, drew a bucket of water, and carried it into the room.

“You may go.”

Dong Xiao: “Remember to close both this door and the outer courtyard gate.”

“Yes!”

The door closed.

Dong Xiao stood motionless in place, waiting until the sound of the courtyard gate closing reached him before turning around.

His gaze didn’t focus but remained vacant at some point.

When certain fragments slowly surfaced in his mind, his gaze gradually sharpened, becoming profound and fierce.

Dong Xiao lifted the water bucket and violently splashed it forward.

The young woman’s body jerked violently.

Yan Sanhe woke, forcefully opening her eyes to find everything before her blurred, water continuously dripping from her hair.

Where is this?

Wasn’t she making new clothes at Jinxiu Silk Shop?

Her mind was briefly confused.

Her head felt heavy and painful, temples throbbing. Yan Sanhe wanted to rub her temples, but upon reaching out discovered she was bound.

At this moment, she heard breathing nearby.

Yan Sanhe jerked her head up sharply, discovering someone seemingly standing before her—indistinct and unclear.

She shook her head while forcefully blinking several times.

Her vision finally cleared.

A middle-aged man.

The man wore black robes, hands clasped behind his back, wearing neither crown nor hat on his head. His half-gray hair was bound, secured with a jade hairpin.

Looking at this person’s face.

The face was neither fat nor thin, extremely well-maintained. His features were also decent, just that his eye sockets were deeply sunken, making him look unlike ordinary people.

She remembered now.

Originally she’d been thinking deeply in the Jinxiu Silk Shop’s courtyard when her nose suddenly detected a scent, then she lost consciousness.

“Do I have enmity with you?” she asked.

The man’s eyes remained motionless, staring at her as he shook his head.

“Grievances?”

Still shaking his head.

Yan Sanhe slowly exhaled. “Since there’s no enmity or grievance, why capture me?”

The man stepped forward several paces.

Yan Sanhe’s expression immediately became guarded as she said urgently, “Who are you? Who sent you? What are you capturing me for?”

The man suddenly laughed coldly. “Little girl, what is your courage made of?”

These words were like thunder exploding from the horizon, ripping open Yan Sanhe’s muddled mind.

Her outing today had been a sudden whim—even Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao didn’t know.

During New Year’s, the silk shop was crowded. The shop entrance was filled with carriages, attendants and embroiderers rushed about busily.

She stood in the courtyard with attendants occasionally passing by.

To knock her unconscious in broad daylight using the fastest method, then silently abduct her…

This showed someone had been secretly watching her all along, waiting for an opportunity, and possessed quite formidable skills.

This scene felt familiar. A month ago, it had happened at the villa gate—those being watched were Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao.

At the time, she’d even reminded them their identities were exposed and to be careful.

Only one person would be interested in those two’s identities.

Understanding all this, Yan Sanhe’s gaze sharpened. “What is your courage made of? Do you know who I am?”

The man’s expression finally showed substantial change, his gaze at Yan Sanhe deepening.

“Who. Are. You?”

Three words, spoken extremely slowly.

Yan Sanhe met his probing gaze and said hoarsely, “I’m Xie Daozhi’s goddaughter.”

He laughed coldly. “Since when does Xie Daozhi have a goddaughter?”

Yan Sanhe countered, “If I’m not Xie Daozhi’s goddaughter, why would you go to such great effort to capture me?”

He was stumped by the question.

“Aren’t you afraid my godfather will impeach your master?”

Yan Sanhe looked at him with some pity. “Under the Son of Heaven’s feet, there’s still some law. Don’t invite disaster upon yourself.”

Dong Xiao burst out laughing.

A slip of a girl, bound hand and foot, not worried about her own situation or life but instead threatening him?

Rare!

“You tell me—who is my master?” he said with a smile.

“I’ve been close with Xie Chengyu and Pei Mingting lately.”

She deliberately used their courtesy names to show extreme intimacy. “I’m a woman from the inner quarters with no enemies. Thinking it over, the enemies must be theirs.”

“What a woman from the inner quarters!” Dong Xiao blurted out.

But having said it, he immediately felt something was wrong—this tacitly admitted they’d been monitoring her every move.

As expected, someone had been secretly watching her all along.

When did the watching begin?

How long had it continued?

She and the Zhu family people went in and out together—it seemed the Zhu family couldn’t escape either.

Reasoning this far, Yan Sanhe finally understood why she had this calamity.

Zhu Yuanmo had memorialized that Prince Han was the ill star for the spring campaign against the Tatars;

Prince Han wouldn’t accept fate naturally—he’d counterattack. The best counterattack was proving Zhu Yuanmo was Crown Prince faction, close with the Grand Grandson.

She, this “woman from inner quarters,” thus entered Prince Han’s sight through association.

Then they discovered this “woman from inner quarters” not only didn’t stay in the inner quarters but frequently went out, so they grew suspicious of her identity.

Plus, having watched for so long without finding substantial evidence, they captured her, wanting to pry open her mouth.

Everything made perfect sense!

Having reached this conclusion, Yan Sanhe showed a slight willfulness on her face, making herself appear more fearless.

“What I can guess, the Xie family can also guess. This brother, let me remind you—you have one night to cover your master’s tracks. Otherwise, tomorrow at morning court…”

She said no more. These words were sufficient.

The Cabinet Minister’s goddaughter;

Behind Xie Chengyu and Pei Mingting stood the Imperial Grand Grandson;

Your master—he couldn’t afford to offend any of them;

Unless he wanted mutual destruction!

—