Hu Chang froze, instinctively glancing at the screen behind him. There was no movement from within, and cold sweat began streaming down his back.

“This subject… this subject does not know what crime he has committed?”

The Emperor’s face was stern. A eunuch brought the documents back out from behind the screen.

“The assassins at the Empress Dowager’s banquet were all people from within the palace. According to Vice Minister Gu’s investigation, quite a few were under your command.”

Hu Chang knelt there, his eyes darting about. “This subject commands many people. Oversights are inevitable. If anyone committed treasonous acts, this subject… this subject willingly accepts the crime of inadequate supervision.”

“Only inadequate supervision?” The Emperor smiled lightly. “Take a look at these documents.”

With a wave of his hand, the eunuch beside him presented the documents before Hu Chang. Hu Chang picked them up and looked. The front section identified the assassins, verified their appearances, traced their origins—all were confirmed to be palace personnel. The latter section pointed the accusation at him, stating that misconduct by palace personnel was the fault of whoever was on duty at the time—namely, him.

Hu Chang felt somewhat angry as he read, just preparing to refute, when he saw a letter affixed at the very end.

It was a secret letter addressed to him, with no sender indicated. It only contained the time for creating the incident and arrangements for the personnel he was to deploy. This should have been something he kept hidden on his person. Why was it here?

Cold sweat formed on his forehead. Hu Chang held the documents and looked up at the Emperor on the throne. “Your Majesty, this…”

“Is someone falsely accusing you?” the Emperor asked softly.

Hu Chang was too nervous to speak. The letter was right here, with his name on it. If he continued to deny it now, would the Emperor believe him?

“It seems Vice Commander Hu isn’t very good at lying. With such a panicked expression, I need not ask you whether it’s true or false. Just tell me—who wrote this letter?”

“This subject is guilty!” Hu Chang put down the documents and kowtowed to the Emperor. He didn’t want to die! He was merely following orders. Who knew that not only would that affair fail, but someone would actually dare investigate him?

One had to understand—he represented Empress Dowager. Everyone in the court knew this. There was no need to ask who wrote this letter; His Majesty should know full well. But he insisted on making him say it aloud, to have grounds for convicting the Empress?

If he spoke, his entire family would be finished. If he didn’t speak, perhaps Empress Dowager could still protect his whole family’s lives.

Gritting his teeth, Hu Chang mustered all his strength and slammed his head against the ground. Blood immediately splattered, and he conveniently fainted.

The Emperor’s face showed no surprise, though the court officials were startled into confusion. Palace attendants hurriedly came forward to carry the person away, lest the sacred eyes be polluted.

Gu Chaobei had long anticipated this would be his fate and only looked down at his shoe tips, not making a sound.

“Since Vice Commander Hu has admitted his guilt, he should be dealt with accordingly.” The Empress spoke lightly from behind the screen. “What does Your Majesty think?”

The Emperor chuckled softly, stroking the imperial seal in his hands, not immediately responding to her.

Yuwen Changqing inwardly called it cunning—Gu Chaobei was truly too cunning!

Originally, the Emperor had given him a difficult problem—whether to investigate the Empress or not. But this fellow had only investigated as far as Hu Chang, produced a secret letter like this, and thrown the difficult problem right back to His Majesty.

Hu Chang wasn’t the true mastermind—everyone knew this. The question was, given such a letter, would the Emperor continue investigating, or would he take the graceful exit the Empress offered and let the matter rest?

With some admiration in his eyes, the Emperor looked at Gu Chaobei and sighed. “Beloved Minister Gu is young and accomplished. This case shall be considered closed.”

Military authority still rested in the Empress’s hands. He could make an example of someone, but he couldn’t push too hard.

“Gu Chaobei, step forward to receive your appointment.”

The court officials all lowered their heads. Gu Chaobei alone knelt forward. “This subject is here.”

“Beloved Minister Gu has merit in investigating the case and relieving my concerns, and won that day’s wager. Therefore, from today forth, you officially assume the position of Vice Minister of Justice.”

“This subject thanks Your Majesty.” Gu Chaobei obediently kowtowed.

He had exploited a loophole and played a trick, but to truly face head-on those most exalted husband and wife in the realm—that would be foolish. Better to provide a point of balance where everyone was happy. How wonderful!

Without the slightest guilt, Gu Chaobei fastened the sash of Vice Minister of Justice and flashed eight white teeth in a smile toward that glittering dragon throne.

“Oh my, Baihe, your regular customer apparently got thrown in prison!”

In the Drunken Flower Pavilion, Madam Ying cracked melon seeds and clicked her tongue. “Such a high-ranking official, they said he was a favorite before the Empress, yet he disappeared just like that?”

The woman called Baihe stretched lazily, leaning against the doorframe. “Who cares about him? Better that he’s dead—cleaner that way. Lustful as a ghost, he wore out quite a few girls in my establishment.”

Madam Ying spat out a seed shell and laughed. “He used to come here often just a few days ago—tsk tsk. You’d better dress up nicely and find the next wealthy patron.”

“Yes.” Baihe smiled, glancing at the table downstairs that had been empty for so long. “The matter is done, yet that person still won’t come. Truly, those who come aren’t the ones I want, and the ones I want never come. Fate.”

Gu Chaobei was officially appointed, and the Emperor’s rewards were substantial—a hundred taels of gold alone. However, when Shen Guiyan checked the list against the items, she discovered the gold and silver were missing.

“Baoshan, where is the young master?”

Baoshan still wore a sulky expression, peeling melon seeds in her hands. “He came back, asked how Miss was doing, then changed clothes and went out. From his appearance, he definitely went to the Drunken Flower Pavilion.”

Something flashed through Shen Guiyan’s mind. “Wasn’t today’s court matter spreading like wildfire? I heard Vice Commander Hu was imprisoned?”

“Indeed.” Baoshan said, “That vice commander was never a good person—oppressing common people, bullying palace maids. Recently when he left the palace, he always went to brothels. When word spread that he was imprisoned, quite a few courtesans applauded.”

Baoshan, with her ears everywhere, truly knew everything. Shen Guiyan’s finger tapped the gold and silver on the list as she asked softly, “Then… which brothel did Hu Chang most like to visit?”

“Why does Miss ask this?” Baoshan looked at her curiously, then said, “No need to even ask. In the capital, there’s only one Drunken Flower Pavilion that high officials and nobles most love to visit. The courtesans inside have prices that make one gasp, but they’re proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—each with their own special skills, naturally different from other establishments. Anyone with status only goes to the Drunken Flower Pavilion. Going elsewhere would invite ridicule.”

Sure enough, the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

Shen Guiyan finally understood what Gu Chaobei had done with the money. After thinking it over, she took up her brush and crossed out the gold and silver on the list.

Gu Chaobei returned very late, and somewhat guiltily. Entering the room to see Shen Guiyan already asleep, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief, slipped in, removed his clothes, and prepared to get into bed.

He had now risen to prominence. Though only a vice minister, it was bestowed by the Emperor’s own mouth, so naturally his status was even higher. Going to the Drunken Flower Pavilion for a round, he nearly couldn’t tear himself away.

Ye Wendao had said, “With such good fortune now, you must go back and thank your wife. She truly brings prosperity to her husband. Otherwise, relying just on you, having a minor position through ancestral privilege would be good enough.”

Gu Chaobei had heard these words so much recently his ears were nearly deaf from them, but thinking about how he spent every day in pleasure while a beauty like a flower waited for him at home without a single complaint, he did feel somewhat guilty.

Just as he climbed onto the bed, he saw today’s reward list still lying by the bedside. Gu Chaobei scanned it by moonlight and noticed a blob of ink.

Shen Guiyan had actually crossed out the gold and silver amounts.

Gu Chaobei froze. He had been so anxious on his return, thinking she would ask where the money had gone. Weren’t wives all like that? Always afraid their husbands were keeping vixens outside, managing money with an iron grip. But she hadn’t even asked—she’d just crossed it out.

Holding the list for a while, Gu Chaobei lay down, gently shifting toward Shen Guiyan’s side, taking her hand and tenderly holding it in his, then closing his eyes.

What more could a husband ask for?

The man in black was handed over by Shen Guiyan to Baoshan’s care. Baoshan had Zhuiyun change him into a servant’s clothes, then kept him in her room to recover.

“Let me do it instead.” Zhuiyun frowned. “You’re a young woman—it’s not convenient for you to care for a man.”

Baoshan shoved him out the door and snorted coldly as she shut it.

This miss holds grudges!

Zhuiyun stood outside bewildered, looking at the tightly closed door. He touched his nose, somewhat helplessly going up to continue persuading. “It really should be me. Open the door…”

Everything was fine in the North Courtyard, but the East Courtyard and main courtyard weren’t so good.

Shen Guiya ate bird’s nest and shark fin daily to recover, also sending various precious supplements to Madam’s quarters. But this meant expenditures in the manor’s other courtyards had to be greatly reduced. Concubine Liu was somewhat dissatisfied and went to speak with Madam, but Madam refused to see her, saying she needed to recuperate.

With a whole room of antiques gone, she needed to heal not just her physical injuries but her heart as well.

Concubine Liu had no choice but to seek out Shen Guiya. However, Shen Guiya’s temper during her recovery period was terrible, and she also refused to see her. Concubine Liu was an elder after all, and one with a bad temper—she immediately stormed to the East Courtyard and caused a huge scene.

Gu Chaodong was so annoyed he fell ill. The imperial examinations were just then approaching. Taking the test while sick, he had no idea what he was writing. When he emerged, his face was completely pale.

“Didn’t do well?” Shen Guiya asked, looking at his expression.

Gu Chaodong said irritably, “If you weren’t in this courtyard being as unsettling as a plague god, would I have done poorly? Don’t hover in front of me—get out!”

Shen Guiya had just gotten out of bed to ask about his results. Who knew Gu Chaodong would have this attitude? Her heart immediately soured. “Good intentions taken for garbage! I don’t want to see you either!”

She already had the divorce papers. Whether she wanted to leave or stay was her business. Recently she’d been investing silver to have Yushu help her make essence to sell. Surely before long she’d see returns. Once she had lots of money, she wouldn’t continue staying here suffering indignities!

Just leaving the East Courtyard intending to walk in the garden, she ran right into Concubine Guan.

“Oh my, this is terrible.” Concubine Guan came up to support her, looking anxious. “I heard the eldest young master didn’t test very well. Won’t all the glory go to the North Courtyard then?”