Before this petition could receive a response, Yang Xulin learned of it. Unfortunately for Qi Jun, the provincial governor of Hebei Circuit happened to be at the prefectural office that day. The governor had been a former classmate of Yang Zhongxing, and after detailed inquiries into the matter—coupled with Yang Xulin’s refusal to accept bribes—the governor trusted Yang Xulin even more.
Qi Jun was arrested on charges of slandering and bribing a court-appointed official, then subjected to severe torture to force a confession.
The Qi family also suffered a series of inexplicable misfortunes. Though Qi Jun was a merchant, he remained unyielding—enduring the torture until his death without ever signing a confession. Upon learning of this, Qi Pei gathered his valuables and set off for the capital to appeal. He was pursued relentlessly along the way, and the journey from Hebei Circuit to the capital took him a full six months. During those months, he endured immense suffering, barely clinging to life until he arrived here.
Fortunately, he was mistaken for a disabled beggar and taken in. Later, other beggars, seeing him young and severely injured, abandoned him at the Solitary Garden. It was only when Cui Dai returned to the Solitary Garden to teach the children, imparting his knowledge, that Qi Pei witnessed this and the subsequent events unfolded.
"Your Highness, I beg you to uphold justice for my Qi family," Qi Pei pleaded, breaking into sobs after finishing his account.
Shen Xihe had long been aware of the flaws in many court policies, but experiencing it firsthand left her deeply shaken. Her expression turned cold as she asked, "Do you have evidence?"
"Yes. The person who stole from my family managed to escape, and I sent him to a Taoist temple that our Qi family has long supported," Qi Pei replied, his red-rimmed eyes glimmering with hope. The fact that Shen Xihe had asked meant she intended to intervene.
Shen Xihe certainly would intervene—this matter implicated the Minister of Justice directly, and she had been searching for leverage against them. Otherwise, she would have merely entrusted Qi Pei and the evidence to a trusted official at the Dali Temple.
Now, she decided to involve herself personally. As she pondered this, the sound of clanging gongs erupted outside: "Fire! Fire! Everyone, help put out the fire—"
Thick smoke billowed in, and the Solitary Garden’s keeper immediately gathered the children to flee. Villagers from nearby rushed over, some entering to help carry the panicked children to safety.
Through the smoke, Shen Xihe noticed a figure moving with steady, purposeful strides, skillfully avoiding everyone and heading straight toward them. His posture and actions were unlike those of an ordinary person coming to help extinguish the fire.
"Zhenzhu, protect Young Master Qi," Shen Xihe ordered. "A Xi, carry Young Master Qi on your back. Let’s go."
To avoid drawing attention, Shen Xihe had only brought Zhenzhu and Sui Axi with her. After the previous incident where Shen Yunan encountered bandits, she had grown uneasy about Shen Yueshan’s safety and assigned Hidden Guards to accompany him. This time, she had brought few people to the Solitary Garden.
Unexpectedly, the Yang residence had grown so bold as to set a fire to cover up an assassination attempt.
Shen Xihe took the lead. The approaching man was indeed targeting Qi Pei—initially sizing them up, but upon spotting Qi Pei on Sui Axi’s back, his expression shifted abruptly. Before he could act, Shen Xihe raised her left hand and shot a needle into his neck.
He stiffened, then collapsed unconscious, caught by Zhenzhu.
This time, Shen Xihe had used a tranquilizing needle—this was a witness, after all. She couldn’t let him die easily, nor was he worth wasting a Poison Needle on.
Just then, two more men rushed forward and attacked Zhenzhu. These were likely the arsonists who had started the fire.Shen Xihe and Sui Axi, along with Zhenzhu whose martial skills were exceptional, dealt with the two armed opponents with ease. They swiftly subdued them and were just heading out when five or six more people rushed in. Taking in the scene, the newcomers charged directly at them.
Zhenzhu stepped forward, drawing her soft sword. At that moment, Moyu, who had been waiting outside and never left Shen Xihe’s side, leaped into action. She spun around, kicking one assailant flying, and landed gracefully in front of Shen Xihe. "I leave this to you," she said.
With that, she shielded Shen Xihe and Sui Axi as they fought their way out. It was unclear how the fire had started, but the flames grew increasingly fierce. When some liquid splattered over, the smell of tung oil filled the air. Shen Xihe’s expression tightened—someone was taking advantage of the chaos, splashing oil instead of water under the guise of firefighting!
The orphanage was built of wood, and with oil poured over it, the fire raged uncontrollably. Qi Pei had been placed in the innermost courtyard. By the time they exited that courtyard but hadn’t yet reached the outermost one, the blaze had completely engulfed the buildings.
Moyu wrapped an arm around Shen Xihe’s waist and leaped upward, but a volley of cold arrows whistled through the air, forcing Moyu to descend with Shen Xihe.
By then, the smoke had thickened drastically, choking them in the biting wind as scorching flames surged from all sides, threatening to envelop them. Zhenzhu, having dealt with her pursuers, could only pull Shen Xihe and the others to take cover in an open area of the courtyard without roof beams.
You protect the princess! I’ll handle the attackers outside!" Seeing Zhenzhu arrive, Moyu soared upward again, but a dense shower of arrows shot toward her.
Moyu twisted nimbly to evade them. Ignoring the raging flames under the eaves, she tapped her toes for leverage, leaping aside to dodge one volley. Before she could catch her breath, another round was fired. The arrows were too dense; despite her agility, one grazed her shoulder. She showed no change in expression as she rolled to the ground.
Another roll helped her avoid another batch of arrows. She then sprang onto their carriage parked at the entrance and, using it for cover, charged toward the hidden assailants.
Shen Xihe stood in the open area, unharmed by the flames, but the heavy smoke made her head swim and her limbs weak. Even though she used the scented sachet she carried and Zhenzhu moistened a handkerchief from the nearby snow for her, Shen Xihe couldn’t hold out much longer.
Seeing Shen Xihe swaying from the smoke, Zhenzhu scanned the surroundings and spotted the closed gate ahead. After assessing the fire, she believed she could force the door open without causing a collapse, allowing Shen Xihe to escape.
However, the door was covered in flames. Without hesitation, Zhenzhu grabbed two handfuls of snow and rushed toward the burning gate. Shen Xihe frantically reached out to stop her but was too late—she could only watch as Zhenzhu slammed into the door, pressing her snow-filled hands against the fiery seams. The snow sizzled into water, and despite the searing pain, Zhenzhu pushed with all her might.
The door, weakened by the fire, wasn’t sturdy. Having learned door-breaking techniques in the northwest, Zhenzhu’s impact actually created cracks.
She retreated, her burned and peeling hands grabbing more snow. The pain was excruciating. Shen Xihe tried to stop her but was too unsteady to stand, coughing violently from inhaling a mouthful of thick smoke.
Sui Axi, unable to bear it any longer, set Qi Pei down, also grabbed two handfuls of snow, and joined Zhenzhu in ramming the door.The door was smashed open with a crack, and a thick, flaming beam crashed down from above. Sui Axi swiftly wrapped his arms around Zhenzhu, shielding her beneath him. The beam landed heavily on his back, the searing heat making his pupils contract sharply.
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