Oh my dear mother!

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao looked at each other, goosebumps rising all over their bodies.

In their shock, Xie Zhifei was the first to recover.

“Big Brother Zhu, can you sense what this omen of great evil and wickedness corresponds to?”

“My good Third Brother.”

Zhu Yuanmo smiled bitterly: “If I could even guess that, I’d be a god.”

Young Master Pei’s mind turned rapidly. “One is the late Emperor, one is the new Emperor. Could it correspond to the Zhao clan?”

A subtle flicker passed through Zhu Yuanmo’s eyes, but it was gone in an instant. “It’s possible it corresponds to the Zhao clan, but it’s also possible it corresponds to…”

Young Master Pei: “What?”

Zhu Yuanmo slowly uttered two words: “National fortune!”

What?

What?

What?

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao looked at each other—you at me, me at you—completely dumbfounded.

“You need not worry. Everything has its destiny. We mortals can only watch the excitement. Besides, my guess may not be accurate.”

Zhu Yuanmo, having resigned from office, was much more at ease and relaxed than before. “The new Emperor appears useless, but I think he’s actually formidable.”

In just a few words, he recounted what had happened in the spirit hall.

At the end, he added softly: “I’m asking you to pass word to His Highness to be especially careful in all things.”

…

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao returned to the Bureau of Monks. Zhu Qing and the others hadn’t returned yet. The two men brewed a pot of good tea and sat waiting.

But even the finest tea, when drunk, had lost its flavor.

After one trip to the Zhu residence, their mood had become even heavier.

The new Emperor, having sat in his position for only one day, had already arrested the Minister of Rites and replaced the Astronomical Bureau Director—such thunderous methods left people completely unprepared.

What about the Crown Prince then?

He had always despised the Crown Prince. Would he harden his heart and even replace the Crown Prince?

If reasoning continued along this line of thought, the bell not sounding corresponded to something real and concrete.

“Mingting, when Zhu Qing and the others return, if it’s confirmed that every temple’s bell didn’t make a sound, how do you plan to handle this matter?”

Xie Zhifei set down his tea bowl. “I mean, will you speak of it or hide it?”

Pei Xiao: “Can it be hidden?”

Xie Zhifei: “Since we’re going to speak of it, to what extent?”

“Speak of the facts we heard and saw. As for the evil omen, you know, I know, Heaven knows, Earth knows.”

At critical moments, Pei Xiao’s attitude was absolutely unambiguous. “Like Zhu Yuanmo said, we’re mortals—we can’t control so much, nor should we.”

“Same thought as mine.”

Xie Zhifei leaned his head over. “After daybreak, we’ll make a trip to Chonghua Palace and say what should be said.”

At this moment, Ding Yi came rushing in.

“Third Master, Young Master Pei—we went to six temples, and every single one, every single one was missing the last toll.”

Within expectations.

Xie Zhifei: “Where are those two?”

“Still heading to the seventh one. Afraid you masters would worry, they had me come back first to report.”

“Good then!”

Xie Zhifei slowly stood up, looking down at Pei Xiao from his height. “No need to wait for daybreak. Let’s go see him right now.”

…

When the new Emperor moved into the palace, he took most of Chonghua Palace’s palace servants with him. The Imperial Household Department was busy with the late Emperor’s funeral and hadn’t yet had time to add more people.

This was convenient for Xie Zhifei and the others—they met the person without expending half an effort.

After not seeing each other for many days, all three brothers had thinned by a circle. When their gazes met, there was an unreal feeling.

Especially for Xie Zhifei.

Ever since learning of Yan Sanhe’s background, he’d almost immediately understood why the one hundred and eighty people of the Zheng family had to be completely exterminated—

Because of Yan Sanhe’s identity.

And the person capable of killing all the Zheng family members in one night, throwing the dirty water on Wu Guanyue and his son, and having a motive, in his view, could only be one person.

The Zhao Yishi before him was that person’s grandson, blood of his blood.

Xie Zhifei had originally thought that he was he, and Huairen was Huairen—they couldn’t be conflated. So he’d still enthusiastically arranged to celebrate for him.

But at this moment, truly seeing him, standing before him, he discovered his heart wasn’t without a trace of prejudice.

There was.

Your grandfather stole the former Crown Prince’s throne and killed my entire Zheng family!

“Xie Fifty, why are you just standing there? Sit down!”

Seeing Xie Zhifei still in a daze, Pei Xiao pulled him to sit down, picked up the tea to moisten his throat, and related the matter of the bell from beginning to end to Zhao Yishi.

The expression on Zhao Yishi’s face from start to finish had only one quality—shock.

“Huairen, what do you make of this matter? Should it be reported up or not?”

Pei Xiao scratched his head. “Chengyu and I can’t make up our minds.”

Zhao Yishi looked out the window, not saying a word.

From his silence, Pei Xiao guessed the answer.

“If we want to hide it, it’s not impossible. People are all afraid of taking responsibility. I’ll step forward to mediate, spend some silver, and I can seal the mouths of the bell tollers.”

Zhao Yishi shook his head. “If that happens, those people from the bell pavilion will become wronged ghosts.”

Xie Zhifei was stunned.

No matter what, he hadn’t expected that with things having reached this point, the dignified Crown Prince’s concern would actually be for those few people at the bell pavilion.

“Since the matter has already come to light, then report it up.”

Zhao Yishi said slowly: “Hiding it would be disadvantageous for Mingting.”

Pei Xiao had concerns in his heart. “If we really report it up, I’m afraid His Majesty will be angered half to death. After all, this is his enthronement ceremony, and he waited so many years for it.”

“One lie requires a hundred lies to cover it up.”

Zhao Yishi’s brow furrowed. “We can’t be softhearted at this time. If he hears about this matter from someone else’s mouth, he’ll probably be even angrier, and many people will be held accountable, with you bearing the brunt.”

“Hey, it’s not that I…”

Pei Xiao’s heart warmed beyond measure. “Fine, fine, fine—I’ll listen to you. I’ll submit a memorial first thing tomorrow morning… Hey, Xie Fifty, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Xie Zhifei came back to his senses. “Huairen is right. When one should act decisively but doesn’t, one will suffer the chaos. If you submit the first memorial on this matter, His Majesty will look upon you with new eyes.”

“Please don’t.”

Pei Xiao shuddered in fright. “I just want to peacefully be my fifth-rank minor official. Looking with new eyes and such—I can’t bear it.”

“I heard Miss Yan has returned.”

At this moment, Zhao Yishi suddenly changed the subject. “I suppose the heart demon of those crows has also been resolved?”

“Resolved. The incense lighter was Dong Xiao, who served beside the Prince of Han. He was originally the former Crown Prince’s zither master. He used zither music to help the Crown Prince sleep. After three years together day and night, he and the former Crown Prince understood each other well and regarded each other as confidants.

When the three-year contract ended, the former Crown Prince kept his promise and let him go. He always felt grateful. When the Prince of Han raised his rebellion, it was he who was at his side inciting it.”

Each word of this passage, Xie Zhifei didn’t know how many times he’d practiced it in private, studying and deliberating over every word, afraid there would be loopholes.

“The Prince of Han started his uprising, Dong Xiao fled the capital and headed straight for the Qinhuai River. His meeting with the Crown Prince happened at the Qinhuai River’s edge. It just so happened that Yan Sanhe also traced the investigation there…”

A troubled expression appeared on his face. “As for the specific process, she refuses to say. Ask too much and she gets angry with me. I’m at a loss with her too.”

Zhao Yishi pointed at him, the implication being that he should at least have some manly backbone and not be manipulated by a young woman.

Xie Zhifei offered an ingratiating smile and said nothing.

Zhao Yishi’s expression turned stern as he said solemnly:

“Since the Zhu family’s heart demon is resolved, let this matter end here. Don’t mention anything about Dong Xiao, crows, or wronged souls anymore. Just treat it as if it never happened.”

This is exactly what I was waiting for you to say!

Xie Zhifei secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. “Rest assured. I’ll instruct both the Zhu residence and Yan Sanhe’s side not to leak a single word.”

Zhao Yishi: “Does Miss Yan know about the bells not making sounds?”

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao simultaneously shook their heads.

Pei Xiao: “Should we tell her?”

“This isn’t a cracked coffin. I’m afraid even telling her would be useless. Let it be then.”

Zhao Yishi suddenly stood up, walked to the curio cabinet, and reached out to touch the lucky bamboo growing in the beautiful vase.

“From today on, you two should both be more careful in your conduct, even more low-key than before.”

Pei Xiao, thinking about how he’d been delayed from attending the banquet today, quickly asked: “Were you summoned to the palace by His Majesty today? Was there some matter?”

“Nothing in particular.”

Zhao Yishi looked at Pei Xiao and sighed softly.

“Don’t hope that His Majesty will look upon you with new eyes. As long as someone is connected to me, their days ahead won’t be good.”