First year of Taikang, fifth month, fourth day.

The hour of the rat.

Before Qianqing Palace, the Crown Prince who had knelt in the rain for two days and nights suddenly collapsed, his head pitching forward.

The inner servants hurried forward. Touching his forehead, it was frighteningly hot.

Moments later, Empress Zhang rushed into Qianqing Palace and fell to her knees before the new emperor, weeping miserably.

The new emperor, who had been sitting in silence for ages, finally stood and wearily waved his hand.

“Summon the imperial physicians.”

The hour of the tiger, third quarter.

The civil and military officials walked across Golden Water Bridge, ascended the steps, and entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Unexpectedly, on the dragon throne of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Son of Heaven in bright yellow dragon robes was already sitting upright.

The hundred officials quickly took their positions and performed the ritual of one kneel and three kowtows.

After the ritual.

The new emperor spoke heavily. “Today I have a matter to announce to the realm.”

Qin Qi hastily stepped forward, unfurled the yellow scroll in his hands, and read aloud.

“By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor decrees: After reinvestigation by the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate, regarding the extermination case of the Zheng Yu household, the true culprits were not the exiled monarch of Qi Kingdom, Wu Guanyue and his son…”

…

“Miss Yan, Third Master, Young Master Pei, His Highness requests your presence.”

Shen Chong’s gaze fell on the three behind them. “Miss Li, His Highness specifically instructed that you should also go see him.”

Li Buyan, who had been looking down at ants on the ground, looked up at these words and met Pei Xiao’s eyes.

Their gazes met and instantly separated.

The surprise in Li Buyan’s eyes—Pei Xiao saw it clearly. For a moment, the taste in his heart was indescribable in a thousand or ten thousand words.

He withdrew his gaze and asked in a seemingly casual manner: “How did morning court go? His Majesty, did he…”

“It’s already been announced to the realm.”

These six words made everyone breathe a long sigh of relief, especially Xie Zhifei, who silently pressed his hand against his heart.

Shen Chong urged: “Miss Yan, let’s depart. His Highness hasn’t slept for two days and nights. He’s sustained purely by his vital energy waiting for you!”

Yan Sanhe nodded. “Let’s go.”

“Wait.”

Li Buyan lifted her legs and walked toward the courtyard. “I’ll tell Han Xu.”

She walked very quickly, almost leaving the courtyard in two or three steps. Pei Xiao imperceptibly furrowed his brow.

One Huairen, one Han Xu—both had left marks on her heart. Only he himself was nothing.

Nothing at all!

…

Duanmu Palace.

The light streaming through the window fell on Zhao Yishi’s tightly closed long lashes. That fragile quality was something Crown Princess Wu had never seen before.

Lady Wu took the medicine bowl from the maid’s hand and personally tasted it, her voice soft and gentle. “Your Highness, it’s time to take your medicine.”

Zhao Yishi didn’t open his eyes, only waved his hand, signaling her to leave.

Just then, inner servant Wang Yin walked in. “Your Highness, Miss Yan and the others have arrived.”

Zhao Yishi’s dark eyes suddenly opened, bright light bursting from within.

“Show them in quickly.”

“Then… this concubine takes her leave.”

Lady Wu’s smile was indescribably stiff. Even the motion of setting down the medicine bowl seemed reluctant and unwilling.

In the months since becoming Crown Princess, this was the first time she’d seen bright light burst from his eyes.

She deliberately slowed her steps. As she crossed the threshold, she happened to see Shen Chong leading people in.

A party of four—Lady Wu’s eyes only saw the young woman walking at the rear.

That young woman had a heroic bearing, the corners of her mouth curved in a shallow arc, her walking manner as free and unrestrained as a boy’s.

For some reason, Lady Wu’s heart suddenly turned sour.

The four slightly bowed to the Crown Princess in courtesy before entering the bedchamber. Upon seeing the man on the bed, not one of them spoke.

This person wore moon-white inner robes. His complexion was three shades paler than those robes, his lips completely colorless.

“What are you all standing there for? Sit.”

His voice was hoarse to the extreme, unbearably grating to the ear. For the堂堂 Crown Prince to be reduced to such a state—whoever saw it would feel terrible.

Li Buyan lowered her head and sighed almost inaudibly.

Xie Zhifei saw the medicine bowl on the table still steaming. He picked it up. “Drink it yourself, or should I feed you?”

Zhao Yishi took it and drained it in one gulp. As he handed the bowl back, he lifted his eyes to glance at Li Buyan.

“Everyone sit down. I have important matters to discuss.”

This one glance—everyone except Li Buyan saw it clearly.

Pei Xiao turned his head, his eyes not knowing where to look.

“Today’s announcement to the realm was read by Qin Qi. A quarter hour after he finished reading, a secret report came from the Three Great Camps.”

Zhao Yishi’s deep eyes looked at Yan Sanhe. “Half the warhorses became vigorous—able to eat and drink, able to run and jump.”

“Is it true? Is it true? Is it true?”

Pei Xiao instantly forgot the sourness that had just welled up in his stomach. He grabbed Xie Zhifei and shook him, overjoyed. “Ah, we finally bet right on this matter, bet right!”

Xie Zhifei was shaken until dizzy, but he too breathed a sigh of relief.

“What about the Northern Territories? Is His Majesty planning to deploy troops?”

“The Four-Nine Cities has Tatar spies. The warhorse matter, unexpectedly, was likely leaked. That’s why the Tatars dare to both provoke and deploy troops along Hua Kingdom’s border.”

Zhao Yishi: “His Majesty says now is not yet the time for war. He’s ordered the Three Great Camps and the Northern border armies to intensify combat drills starting today.”

Xie Zhifei immediately understood the benefits of doing this—deter enemy nations so they wouldn’t dare act rashly; rest and recuperate, buying time for Hua Kingdom.

“Miss Yan.”

Zhao Yishi: “Half the warhorses have recovered—does that mean half the Zheng family’s heart demon has also been resolved?”

Yan Sanhe said nothing more, only nodded.

Zhao Yishi didn’t mind her coldness. If not for her determination, matters would have developed in an uncontrollable direction.

He was grateful.

“Then what does Miss Yan plan for the next step in resolving the other half of the Zheng family’s heart demon?”

“I told you before.”

Yan Sanhe’s expression was calm. “Investigate clearly why he did this.”

Whether from the medicine or from these words, Zhao Yishi felt his body breaking out in cold sweat again, unbearably clammy.

“Miss Yan, are you… certain he did it?”

Yan Sanhe looked at him calmly and fell silent again.

Some answers needn’t be spoken—the answer lay in everyone’s heart.

“Fine.”

Zhao Yishi took a step back. “Let’s assume he did it. Where’s the problem?”

Yan Sanhe said three words softly: “Haitang Courtyard.”

In that instant, both Xie Zhifei and Li Buyan’s hearts pounded like thunder.

Xie Zhifei: As expected, her next target is locked on Haitang Courtyard.

Li Buyan: Soon, very soon, she’s about to find her true roots.

Only Pei Xiao still knew nothing. “Yan Sanhe, what about Haitang Courtyard? Where’s the problem?”

Yan Sanhe held up three fingers.

“First, all the other courtyards in the Zheng household had two, even three or four people handling corpses. Haitang Courtyard clearly had female corpses, yet only Chen Pi handled corpses alone. Why?”

Pei Xiao: “And the second?”

Yan Sanhe: “Why did the fire start first in Haitang Courtyard?”

Pei Xiao: “And the third?”

“Why didn’t the four people in Haitang Courtyard, who clearly ate the same dinner as everyone else, get drugged with sleeping powder?”

Yan Sanhe paused, then smiled lightly. “I want to know—what secret is hidden in the Zheng family’s Haitang Courtyard?”