In the Ministry of Justice prison, after that snowfall, it became even darker, damper, and colder. Accumulated snowmelt seeped through cracks and dripped down drop by drop, forming muddy puddles along the path to the cells.

The firmly locked cell door suddenly opened with a grating sound.

Grand Commander Luo sat in a dim corner. Hearing the sound, he didn’t even raise his head.

“Grand Commander.” The visitor called out.

Hearing this address, Grand Commander Luo’s eyes changed.

Sheng’er had told him to wait, and from this greeting that contained hidden enthusiasm, he had probably waited long enough.

The person drew closer and called out “Grand Commander” again.

Grand Commander Luo lifted his eyelids slightly, his expression indifferent. “Eunuch is too kind. This guilty subject doesn’t deserve such an address.”

The palace eunuch sent by Zhou Shan smiled and quickly said, “Grand Commander, don’t say that. This servant has been sent by imperial decree to summon you to the palace.”

“To the palace?” Grand Commander Luo’s eyes showed confusion.

“Yes, His Majesty has summoned you.”

Grand Commander Luo froze again, murmuring, “His Majesty wants to see me?”

His eyes gradually reddened as he covered his face with both hands, trembling continuously. “I knew His Majesty still thought of me…”

The eunuch very considerately gave Grand Commander Luo time to be emotional. Only after his emotions had calmed did he say, “Grand Commander, please come with this servant.”

When Emperor Yong’an was waiting in the Imperial Study, he had already sent Wei Han away. By the time he finished his second cup of tea, a eunuch finally came to announce the visitor.

“Bring him in.”

Heavy footsteps sounded. A person in tattered clothes with disheveled, filthy hair was brought in. Because he was slightly hunched over, his originally tall stature appeared shorter.

For a moment, Emperor Yong’an actually didn’t recognize this as the trusted official he had once valued.

As soon as Grand Commander Luo entered, he fell to his knees with a thud. “This guilty subject Luo Chi kowtows to Your Majesty.”

Then he began to cry.

Starting from quiet sobbing, it turned into wailing with streaming tears.

Emperor Yong’an sat behind the dragon desk silently listening. He kept waiting, but Grand Commander Luo showed no sign of crying enough. His face cold, he said, “Enough. Cry anymore and get out!”

The crying stopped. Grand Commander Luo opened his tear-reddened eyes and looked at Emperor Yong’an with grievance.

Emperor Yong’an waved his hand. “Everyone withdraw.”

The eunuchs filed out of the Imperial Study, and the door closed tightly.

After a long while, the door opened. Grand Commander Luo strode out with large steps. His hunched body had become ramrod straight, and his eyes harbored a gleam.

At the same time Grand Commander Luo departed, a squad of soldiers surrounded Lande Meeting Hall and brought out the Liuqing County magistrate.

The Liuqing County magistrate’s face showed terror as he demanded with stern voice and manner, “Who are you people? I am a dignified court official. On what grounds do you arrest me without cause?”

The leader of the officers flashed the token in his hand and said coldly, “Magistrate, please don’t make a scene, or it will be even more embarrassing.”

When the Liuqing County magistrate saw the token, his legs went soft as he mumbled, “I’m innocent… you can’t arrest me…”

Outside the meeting hall, a crowd of onlookers had already gathered, pointing at the main gate. When they saw the grief-stricken Liuqing County magistrate emerge, the discussion grew even louder.

“Who is this person? Why was he suddenly arrested?”

“No idea. Those staying here are all officials from other places who’ve come to the capital. Probably some official who committed a crime.”

Among the crowd of onlookers were three to five people who, upon seeing clearly who was being brought out, immediately slipped away quietly.

In a corner no one noticed, a cold arrow aimed at the panic-stricken Liuqing County magistrate.

Closer, even closer.

The hand drawing the bow released, and the feathered arrow flew straight toward the Liuqing County magistrate like a shooting star.

A scream rang out.

The one who fell was an officer.

On the verge of collapse, the Liuqing County magistrate immediately slid downward.

The crowd fell into chaos.

Seeing the attempt had failed, the person hiding in the shadows immediately abandoned the bow and fled.

A figure swiftly gave chase.

One fleeing, one pursuing—they quickly left the chaotic crowd behind.

“Stop! Do you think you can still run?” As he ran, the cold wind cut across his face like a knife, but it didn’t prevent Shi Yan from cursing. “When grandpa catches you, you little punk, I’ll cut off your head and use it as a ball to kick!”

How pleasant it would be to tease Da Bai instead, but here he was drinking cold wind—all because of this punk.

That person’s feet moved even faster as he darted into a long alley.

The alley was narrow and deep. Dirty accumulated snow remained at the base of the walls, making it seem endless.

Shi Yan chased behind. Seeing the distance between them widening, he cursed, “This little bastard runs pretty fast!”

That person kept running, not turning back no matter what Shi Yan yelled.

Shi Yan silently gritted his teeth.

This bastard was clearly accustomed to such work—strike once and if it fails, run without being easily disturbed by external interference.

Ahead, there was a patch of brightness. He was about to reach the alley’s exit.

A figure stood there.

That person’s eyes were sharp. Seeing clearly the face of the person standing ahead, his footsteps faltered.

In that moment of hesitation, Shi Yan caught up.

Though that person’s feet were fast, his martial skills weren’t a match for Shi Yan. What’s more, Shi Yi had also arrived. Before long, the two brothers subdued him.

“Run! Go ahead and keep running!” Having chased the man with a bellyful of anger, Shi Yan punched him.

That person bent over in pain. Looking at Shi Yan, then at Shi Yi, realization and dejection flashed through his eyes.

When he’d seen the person at the alley exit looked exactly like the one chasing him, he’d thought he was seeing a ghost. It turned out they were twin brothers!

After this realization, that person immediately tried to bite down on his poison tooth.

Shi Yi’s hand shot out like lightning to dislocate the man’s jaw and remove the poison tooth.

Shi Yan then reached out and groped all over the person, finally pulling out a small peachwood axe.

“Ha, so it really is you people.”

That person’s complexion changed drastically. He opened his mouth to say something when the back of his neck received a chop.

Shi Yan tossed the unconscious person onto Shi Yi’s back and clasped his hands behind him. “Let’s go. The master is still waiting.”

Shi Yi shouldered the person and silently followed.

News of the Liuqing County magistrate’s near assassination was quickly reported to Emperor Yong’an.

Emperor Yong’an was greatly enraged, slapping the table as he asked Wei Han, “Have you caught the person?”

Just as he was preparing to flip the table upon hearing something like “not yet caught,” he heard Wei Han calmly say, “Caught him.”

After a brief silence, Emperor Yong’an asked again, “Who made a move against the Liuqing County magistrate?”

They’d only just discovered there was a problem with the Liuqing County magistrate, and someone immediately moved against him. Those people truly were capable.

“Currently under interrogation.”

“As soon as you get results from the interrogation, report immediately.”

After Wei Han departed, Emperor Yong’an contemplated for a moment before instructing Zhou Shan, “Send some tonic supplements to the Grand Commander’s household.”

After a pause, he added, “Go personally.”

“This servant obeys the decree.”

Grand Commander Luo left the palace gates and headed straight for the Luo residence.

The servants of the Grand Commander’s household were wielding sticks to drive away someone throwing rotten vegetable leaves at the Luo residence’s main gate.

That person ran far away, then spat in the direction of the Grand Commander’s household. “Bah! You think it’s still like before? I’m waiting to see the authorities come confiscate the property!”

He turned his head and saw Grand Commander Luo, freezing. Then, as if seeing a ghost, he pointed at Grand Commander Luo. “You, you…”

Grand Commander Luo strode past this person without sparing him even a glance.

The servant of the Grand Commander’s household dropped the wooden stick in his hand, stammering, “Gr-Grand Commander—”