Harboring such tangled, complex thoughts, Jianglü on the road passing Luming Residence happened to see his eldest brother’s young attendant reader secretly waiting expectantly in some tree-shaded darkness of the garden.

Actually saying “waiting expectantly” wasn’t quite accurate, but the other was alone and not observing celestial phenomena—clearly waiting for someone.

Feeling premonition of something, Jianglü’s heart suddenly pounded. Eyes straight ahead, he walked past with his attending eunuch. After passing the corner, he had the eunuch continue forward carrying illuminating candlelight while he himself used starlight to circle to the corridor’s other side. The deep brown robe he wore was most concealed in darkness. Yet that young Superior Minister wore bean-green upper garment and stone-blue lower garment. Even trying to use tree trunks to hide his form, he didn’t escape Jianglü’s eyes.

Speaking of which, eldest prince Fu Su was confined under house arrest, yet as his attendant reader, this young Superior Minister received no punishment. Still standing alone in deep night—exactly who was he waiting for?

In dim, unclear night darkness, secretive thoughts infinitely expanded. Countless possibilities flashed through Jianglü’s mind, forcing himself to hold increasingly heavy breathing.

Watching that young Superior Minister’s thin figure, Jianglü before long discovered a tall, robust youth beside him.

“Did you get it?” The young Superior Minister was very urgent, immediately stepping forward.

“Got it.” That tall, robust youth lowered his voice, but Jianglü could still recognize him as General Wang Jian’s legitimate eldest grandson Wang Li.

These two weren’t mortal enemies? How could they privately have contact? Jianglü clenched his jaw. He’d once schemed against that young Superior Minister precisely to drive them apart, just unexpectedly it was useless effort. But regret aside, Jianglü instead widened his eyes even more, watching the two’s movements.

“Why insist on this object? I barely stole it out. Almost alarmed the guards.” Wang Li spoke while pulling from his bosom a cloth-wrapped elongated object—not long, not even one chi.

“Accept defeat. Agreeing to do something, don’t complain.” The young Superior Minister was obviously delighted, quickly taking that cloth package and tucking it into his bosom. At the end, he didn’t forget to look around, confirming no one left or right.

Wang Li was somewhat unhappy. Seeing the young Superior Minister planning to leave, he directly grabbed his shoulder, lowering his voice solemnly. “Though for the eldest prince, this risks too much.”

The young Superior Minister pondered a moment. Anyone could see his hesitation and struggle. But finally, he stubbornly said, “Sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace together.”

Simple eight words, yet striking ground resoundingly.

Listening from the side, even Jianglü felt indescribable jealousy. If he were cornered like Fu Su, perhaps no one would stand firmly behind him like this Superior Minister Gan.

His mind momentarily slack, his originally suppressed breathing grew several degrees heavier.

Wang Li over there immediately reacted, approaching while demanding, “Who’s there?” But when he jumped over the corridor to the other side, he found nothing.

The young Superior Minister didn’t care. After Wang Li returned empty-handed, he raised his head to tease flatly, “Even if seen, no matter. Just stole a brush—look how nervous you are.”

“What do you mean ‘just stole a brush’? This was given to my grandfather by General Meng. No one’s ever used it. If my father learns of this, he’ll definitely break my legs!” Wang Li also felt he was making a mountain of a molehill, but couldn’t lose momentum. Glaring, he complained in low voice.

“Enough, enough. Your father and grandfather are both garrisoned in Zhao. I’m just borrowing a few days. After using, I’ll return it.” The young Superior Minister curled his lip. Wasn’t he also forced?

Fu Su was punished to copy books, using a newly made writing brush General Meng Tian gave him. This new brush was hundreds of times better than previous bamboo-strip brushes. But unfortunately, the manufacturing technique hadn’t spread yet. Even Fu Su only had one. So wanting to help Fu Su copy books required at least using the same brush. Otherwise, forget imitating handwriting—even blind people could see they weren’t written by one person. He originally didn’t want this either, but seeing Fu Su daily slowly leisurely copying books, looking unhurried about lifting house arrest, angered him. He could only help copy books so he could return to the warm pavilion for deliberations earlier.

“This… truly no matter?” Wang Li hesitated, still asking worriedly.

The young Superior Minister knew the other wasn’t asking whether stealing the brush would cause trouble, but whether helping Fu Su copy books would receive the King of Qin’s punishment—also why he earlier said he risked too much.

Being cared for truly felt good. But the young Superior Minister’s currently upturned lip corners were due to other reasons.

Talkative Chaofeng had already warned him when Jianglü approached. Wang Li unclearly said these several sentences. Coincidentally, Chaofeng just notified him—something happened at the side hall storing Zhao Ji’s corpse. The phoenix-shaped purple clam hairpin on Zhao Ji’s head was actually stolen. Even it didn’t notice who stole it.

When Jianglü learned this news and recalled his and Wang Li’s actions, he’d probably think he’d caught their handle. Next step should be rushing to tattle to the King of Qin, right?

Little knowing, at such times, those most eager to jump out received the King of Qin’s suspicion most.

Instead, him asking Wang Li to steal the brush to help the eldest prince copy books was just a harmless minor fault.

“Just now, who was it?” Having practiced martial arts since childhood with sharp eyes and ears, Wang Li naturally knew someone was indeed there earlier. But thinking stealing his own old man’s brush didn’t warrant such fuss, he didn’t chase to see clearly—just asking casually.

“Jianglü.” The young Superior Minister came back to himself, feeling he should warn Wang Li properly. Probably guards would come knocking soon. But he couldn’t say too much—just touching on it.

“No matter. Someone who doesn’t even recognize a xiu ding truly isn’t worth mentioning.”

“What’s a xiu ding?” Wang Li asked curiously, not feeling at all embarrassed he also didn’t recognize xiu ding.

The young Superior Minister hadn’t expected Wang Li actually had such a carefree personality. Raising his brows, “Dings divide into three major categories—huo ding, sheng ding, xiu ding. Huo ding for boiling sacrificial meat—the largest ding. Sheng ding for holding cooked meat. Xiu ding holds seasoning meat soup, used paired with sheng ding, so also called ‘accompanying ding.'”

Wang Li was also there that day. Thinking briefly, he understood. “Then Prince Jianglü’s chosen bronze vessel that day…”

“Correct. Accompanying ding.” The young Superior Minister lightly laughed. Precious huo ding and sheng ding had long been collected by Fu Su first into Gaoquan Palace’s private treasury. Generosity also had limits. Things that shouldn’t be coveted needn’t even be brought out.

Wang Li suddenly felt very sympathetic toward Jianglü. Someone without even the opportunity to choose was too tragic.

Calculating time, the young Superior Minister touched the brush in his bosom, feeling he should quickly return to Luming Residence to copy books, preparing to meet the guards’ test. But Wang Li at this moment grasped his wrist.

“This completes the first thing I promised you, right?” Wang Li said very seriously.

“Correct.” The young Superior Minister nodded. Though his expression still didn’t change, his eyes and brows carried some teasing. “So eager to be rid of me?”

Wang Li’s face reddened. Didn’t want to say after losing, he tossed and turned many nights unable to sleep well, thinking he’d be assigned huge difficult tasks. He’d even prepared to sell himself for life to Fu Su or this Superior Minister Gan. But it was just stealing a brush—such a simple small matter. This huge psychological gap made him somewhat embarrassed into anger. That’s why earlier he deliberately acted so serious, rendering the brush-stealing process thrillingly dangerous.

“Hmph! That’s inevitable! Quickly think of the remaining two things!” Wang Li said viciously. After pausing, he immediately added, “Don’t speak with me before people.”

“Truly wanting to sever relations?” The young Superior Minister’s expression immediately dimmed.

Wang Li pressed his lips tight, not wanting to say he feared losing face before people. Losing martial combat to such a frail youth absolutely couldn’t be spoken of! But seeing this young Superior Minister’s somewhat pale face in moonlight, he couldn’t say anything. He could only shamefully release his wrist, quickly fleeing into darkness.

Watching Wang Li’s retreating figure, the young Superior Minister reached to smooth his grasped-wrinkled sleeve. His tender face had long lost the earlier dejected expression.

Wanting to sever relations? How easy could that be!

Since Jianglü had already personally witnessed their contact, even if soon splashing dirty water failed, Wang Li would definitely be stamped with eldest prince Fu Su’s seal.

And himself…

The young Superior Minister mockingly curved his lips.

He actually still naively fantasized about leaving Fu Su.

Actually, he long couldn’t leave anymore.

Sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace together… was it?

In the oppressively atmospheric warm pavilion, Jianglü stood aside with lowered head, struggling to suppress his upturned lip corners.

He’d originally still hesitated whether to report this matter to Father King. After all, those fragments that young Superior Minister and Wang Li spoke couldn’t serve as proof. But just returning to the warm pavilion wanting to ask guards for information, he discovered the warm pavilion was already somewhat chaotic. Upon inquiry—Zhao Ji’s purple clam hairpin was actually lost.

This clearly was stolen by those two!

Jianglü dared not delay. Happening to encounter Father King arriving after hearing news, he directly reported this matter. He was also extremely cautious, not subjectively judging the other stole the purple clam hairpin. Just methodically describing what he saw, emphasizing he didn’t hear Superior Minister Gan and Wang Li mention the three words “purple clam hairpin,” but because the two matters’ timing was too close, everything was his speculation.

Guards immediately obeyed the king’s command, thoroughly investigating Luming Residence. Jianglü somewhat regretted he couldn’t follow along, unable to see that Superior Minister Gan’s shocked expression on site.

Guards went for half a quarter hour before returning with that young Superior Minister and Wang Li. But Jianglü saw the other’s calm expression, his heart sinking. Subconsciously feeling he’d probably been calculated against.

Sure enough, what was presented was a brush made by General Meng Tian and half a scroll of just-copied “Canon of Yao,” even ink marks not yet dry. That young Superior Minister entered the warm pavilion and directly knelt straight down pleading guilt. But his spine remained perfectly straight. Each sentence spoken earnestly, instead making people feel if he didn’t help the eldest prince copy books, it would be heinously criminal and conscience-stricken.

But the more Jianglü listened, the more he felt this Superior Minister Gan was sophistry. He was just one step from pulling his eldest brother into the abyss. Already standing at cliff’s edge—how could he resist not trying to kick the other?

“He lies! That lost purple clam hairpin is definitely with him!” Seeing Father King’s expression trending toward relaxation, Jianglü finally stepped forward, emphasizing with increased tone.

Kneeling on bluestone bricks, the young Superior Minister raised his head, blinked his eyes, innocently and surprisedly asking, “Fourth Prince, how do you know what’s lost is one purple clam hairpin, not a pair?”

Jianglü immediately choked speechless.

Pin-drop silence in the warm pavilion. Everyone’s gazes fell on Jianglü, especially King Zheng of Qin sitting on the high platform—his gaze almost tangible.

How did he know what was lost was one purple clam hairpin? Right—how did he know?

Clearly, the dragon-phoenix purple clam hairpins were a world-famous pair… The gift list also wrote a pair…

Jianglü sweated profusely, struggling to recall. Suddenly remembered that lord whose face he’d never seen had casually mentioned it once. Somehow he happened to remember.

But… this kind of reason, even he wouldn’t believe if spoken…

Raising his head to meet Father King’s icy gaze, Jianglü’s legs softened. With a “thud,” he dejectedly knelt down.

While kneeling beside him, the young Superior Minister’s spine remained perfectly straight. His expression remained flawless, but lowered eyes flashed cold light. He could catch Jianglü’s verbal flaw so quickly also because of Fu Su’s arrangements.

That mysterious lord occasionally appearing beside Jianglü was naturally arranged by Fu Su instructing Gu Cun—even explaining to the latter happened before him. Originally thinking these ghostly tricks wouldn’t be useful at all, but facts proved it was this simple.

Looking at Jianglü hunched kneeling on the ground trembling, the young Superior Minister’s lip corners curved into a mocking smile.

Just recognizing what the other wanted made inducing them into traps very easy.

And the best method for revenging someone wasn’t making them suffer physical harm, but making them unable to obtain what they most cared about and wanted—a lifetime of seeking but not obtaining.

So that seemingly carefree eldest prince, in his bones, also wasn’t so upright and harmless.

If no one provoked, fine. But if someone dared extend claws, don’t blame being counter-schemed.

Recalling Master’s words about Go players also dividing into grades, the young Superior Minister had to uncomfortably admit the eldest prince barely counted as an intermediate Go player.

“Seemingly magnificent hair buns actually only need one simple hairpin for fixing.

“And wanting to undo such complex, chaotic hair buns only requires pulling that hairpin.

“Mother Queen, you spoke correctly. Many seemingly complex matters sometimes actually solve with the simplest methods.

“Jianglü recklessly harms people yet isn’t competent for heavy responsibility. After this matter, the King of Qin won’t let him touch the power center anymore. Seems I must select among other princes again…”

In an unremarkable room, a man sat cross-legged. Half his face hid in shadows candlelight couldn’t reach. If Zhao Ji knew after death, she’d probably jump up angrily cursing this murderer who killed her.

Before him sat a brocade box containing that pair of dragon-phoenix purple clam hairpins causing great turmoil, emanating dark, sinister light under dim candlelight.

The man stared intently at this pair of dragon-phoenix purple clam hairpins with eyes concealing infinite demonic evil. After a very long time, he mockingly laughed lightly.

“Mother Queen, I avenged you. Regardless whether the King of Qin knows why Zhao Ji died, Zhao’s prostitute also won’t survive next month.

“But you actually lost your life competing with that prostitute for this pair of things. Mother Queen, you’re also not as clever as you said…”