As the Jinlin Guard Commander, it couldn’t be more convenient for Cheng Maoming to present letters before the Emperor.

He secretly obtained specimens of Qin Yunchuan’s handwriting and compared them repeatedly with the letters, confirming they were undoubtedly written in Qin Yunchuan’s own hand before going to see Emperor Tai’an.

Emperor Tai’an was not in a good mood.

The Empress Dowager had advanced in years, and recently her health had been somewhat poor.

“Your Majesty, these are secret letters this humble subject has obtained. Please review them.”

Emperor Tai’an opened the letters expressionlessly and scanned through a few lines. His expression changed.

By the time he had finished reading all the letters, dark clouds had gathered on his face.

“These letters… how did you obtain them?”

“A subordinate captured a suspicious individual. After interrogation, he learned the man served Daoist Master Mingxin. These letters were discovered on his person.” Cheng Maoming recited the fabricated lie without batting an eye.

Since he was reporting this to the Emperor, he naturally couldn’t let this achievement slip by. He could hardly say they’d been delivered right to his doorstep, could he?

That would only make the Emperor think the Jinlin Guard incompetent.

“Where is Daoist Master Mingxin?”

Though Emperor Tai’an appeared relatively calm, Cheng Maoming knew a storm was about to break.

He knelt down. “That man would rather die than reveal Daoist Master Mingxin’s whereabouts. He couldn’t withstand the torture and died. It’s all this subject’s incompetence.”

“So you’re saying Daoist Master Mingxin is in the capital, but his whereabouts are unknown?” Emperor Tai’an asked in a heavy voice.

Cheng Maoming lowered his head in acknowledgment.

Emperor Tai’an slammed the dragon throne. “Summon Qin Yunchuan!”

Qin Yunchuan rushed to the palace.

“This humble subject greets Your Majesty—”

Several letters were thrown directly in front of Qin Yunchuan.

Qin Yunchuan’s eyes contracted. He picked up one and looked at it.

Actually, there was no need to look—how could he not recognize letters he himself had written to Daoist Master Mingxin?

“Minister Qin truly values old connections.” Emperor Tai’an’s voice came from above, carrying bone-chilling coldness.

Qin Yunchuan panicked. “Your Majesty, please allow this subject to explain!”

Emperor Tai’an said nothing, staring at the minister kneeling on the ground.

“This subject’s correspondence with Daoist Master Mingxin was to keep him pacified while discovering his hiding place.”

“Is that so?” Emperor Tai’an sneered coldly. “From these affectionate words in the letters, I see nothing of the sort.”

“Your Majesty, this subject has received Your Majesty’s regard and been permitted to instruct the Crown Prince. What reason would I have to harbor treasonous thoughts!” Qin Yunchuan pressed his forehead to the floor. “Please, Your Majesty, investigate clearly.”

Emperor Tai’an gave another cold laugh. “I would like to investigate clearly, but Minister Qin corresponded with a traitor for several months without giving me the opportunity to do so.”

“Your Majesty, this subject’s loyalty to you can be verified by heaven and earth…”

Emperor Tai’an watched coldly as Qin Yunchuan professed his loyalty, feeling only fury in his heart.

And Qin Yunchuan’s explanations grew increasingly feeble.

He understood all too well how suspicious the Emperor was.

After a long while, Emperor Tai’an spoke coldly: “In consideration of your merit in instructing the Crown Prince, I permit you to retire from office.”

Qin Yunchuan’s entire body shook. In a trembling voice he said, “This subject thanks Your Majesty for your gracious favor.”

The next day, Qin Yunchuan submitted a memorial requesting retirement, shocking all the officials.

Given Qin Yunchuan’s age and prospects, it made no sense at all.

As for the matter of Daoist Master Mingxin appearing in the capital, with Emperor Tai’an’s authorization, not one of those in the know, including Qin Yunchuan himself, dared utter a single word.

Qin Yunchuan’s ancestral home was far away in the south. After Emperor Tai’an approved his request, he soon departed the capital with his entire household.

On the day of his departure from the capital, many official friends came to see him off. The large, bustling group drew the attention of numerous commoners.

Lin Hao mixed in with the crowd, watching Qin Wenyuan with his vacant, lifeless eyes, raising her hand to smooth her hair that had been tousled by the late autumn wind.

She’d said it long ago—first practice on the nephew, save the uncle for settling accounts after autumn. And now, after autumn had arrived.

Qin Wenyuan seemed to sense something and looked over. Seeing the four of them—Lin Hao and her friends—standing together, fury appeared in his hollow eyes.

He stared at the four of them with murderous eyes until someone beside him pulled him away.

Entering a teahouse, Zhu Jiayu patted her chest. “Thank goodness Grand Tutor Qin has retired and returned to his ancestral home. Did you all see Qin Wenyuan’s eyes? He looked like he wanted to kill us.”

Chen Yi’s brows relaxed, finally completely at ease, and her tone became lighter. “I saw. What a pity that looks can’t kill.”

“Why do you suppose Grand Tutor Qin retired?” Tao Qing wondered.

“Who knows? In any case, the whole Qin family has left the capital. We completely don’t need to worry about that mad dog Qin Wenyuan biting people randomly anymore.” Zhu Jiayu looked at Lin Hao with a beaming smile. “Ah Hao, it’s fortunate you didn’t swallow your anger back then. Now I truly feel vindicated.”

It was because Ah Hao had stood up first that she’d had the courage to clash head-on with the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince’s nephew.

Lin Hao smiled sweetly. “I had a premonition at the time that by now it would feel satisfying.”

“Why was that?” the three pressed.

Lin Hao blinked. “Because it’s clear autumn skies.”

The three all laughed, taking this as playful banter.

For the prosperous, bustling capital, the departure of Qin Yunchuan’s household was like a small pebble thrown into a vast lake—the ripples quickly disappeared.

What the vast majority of people didn’t know was that the Qin family, barely two hundred li from the capital, encountered bandits.

Qin Yunchuan and his nephew Qin Wenyuan both died on the spot. His son lost a leg but managed to survive.

The once illustriously prominent Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince had come to this end. Those who heard the news sighed with emotion.

Emperor Tai’an listened to Jinlin Guard Commander Cheng Maoming’s report and nodded with satisfaction.

He could never have allowed Qin Yunchuan to live.

Even if Qin Yunchuan truly harbored no treasonous intent, who knew if he might become entangled with those people after being forced to resign?

A capable man who could no longer be used by him absolutely could not be left for the enemy.

Emperor Tai’an felt no remorse. In his view, leaving the lives of Qin Yunchuan’s household intact was already an act of mercy.

As for that nephew who had unclear relations with Heir Pingjia?

Inauspicious.

“Cheng Maoming.”

“This subject is here.”

“You must find Daoist Master Mingxin and his people for me.”

Having resolved the hidden danger that was Qin Yunchuan, all that remained was the mortal threat that was Emperor Pingle.

Thinking of his elder brother who had been missing for years, Emperor Tai’an’s mood grew heavy again.

Over these years, he had considered that Emperor Pingle might have lost his life in that chaos, and the body simply hadn’t been found due to the disorder, but he had never relaxed the search.

One must guard not against a thousand possibilities, but against that single chance.

And the appearance of Daoist Master Mingxin indeed indicated that Emperor Pingle was still alive!

Where was he hiding? How many men did he have? And which ministers in the court were in contact with him?

Thinking of these things, Emperor Tai’an could not feel at ease.

“This subject receives your command.” Cheng Maoming said respectfully.

Before a fortune-telling stall that no one patronized, Du Qing, having changed his attire, walked past without a sideways glance.

Not long after, the fortune teller packed up and went home.

“Master, our people have sent word—Qin Yunchuan encountered bandits on his way back to his ancestral home and died on the spot.”

Daoist Master Mingxin was silent for a long while, then sighed. “Worthy indeed of one who seized the imperial throne.”

Compared to the weak-natured Emperor Pingle, Daoist Master Mingxin had to admit that the current occupant was actually more suited to that position.

“What of the rest of the Qin family?”

“Qin Yunchuan’s nephew also died. His son became a cripple. Overall, the Qin family’s casualties weren’t great.”

Daoist Master Mingxin pondered for a moment, his expression grave.

Emperor Tai’an had shown some mercy toward Qin Yunchuan after all.

Those letters, it seemed, had merely been bait Qin Yunchuan used to draw him out.