"These past few days, the Crown Prince has been working with the clerks from the Ministry of Justice to organize the old case files stored in their archives. The ministry's repository contains important case records from over the past decade, requiring considerable time to sort through. With the spring hunt approaching, the Crown Prince aims to complete the filing before departure, so he has been resting at the Ministry of Justice these past two days."
Hu Quan, a eunuch from the Longevity and Health Palace, escorted Qin Guan to the Ministry of Justice under the Empress Dowager's orders. The guards at the ministry, upon seeing the palace token from the Longevity and Health Palace in Hu Quan's hand, immediately showed due respect and led them deep into the compound.
Though Qin Guan had never visited the Ministry of Justice before, she had been to the Court of Judicial Review. Compared to other places, the Ministry of Justice carried an air of solemnity similar to the court. Hearing Hu Quan's explanation, she finally understood why Yan Chi had missed the palace banquet and been absent for the past two days.
The clerk leading the way knew Qin Guan had come by the Empress Dowager's command but was unsure of her identity. Noting her extraordinary grace and demeanor, he assumed she must be a noble lady from some prominent family in the capital and thus treated her with utmost care. He guided them through secluded corridors and paths to the rear hall of the ministry. Occasionally, they encountered a few officials who, upon seeing Hu Quan in eunuch attire, recognized them as palace emissaries seeking the Crown Prince and discreetly withdrew.
Upon reaching the rear hall, the clerk said, "Please wait a moment. I shall announce your arrival."
Qin Guan nodded and waited outside. Hu Quan frowned, "It's so cold out here. They should have invited you inside."
Qin Guan smiled faintly, "It's alright—"
Further inside, in the archives of the Ministry of Justice, over a dozen clerks were categorizing and organizing documents. Bai Feng approached Yan Chi, who was seated in the main position, and reported, "Master, we still haven't found it."
Yan Chi's brow furrowed slightly, his phoenix eyes narrowing.
Sitting authoritatively in the main seat, his gaze swept over the young clerks, who dared not even breathe loudly. Though they had organized files before, this time, with Yan Chi personally overseeing the task, no one had a moment's respite. For the past two days, everyone had been on edge, while Prince Rui's heir seemed tireless—aside from resting three hours each night, he had not left the repository.
Neither former ministers of justice nor any other senior officials had possessed Yan Chi's stamina to endure such conditions, let alone his meticulous patience. Many claimed the heir apparent was only skilled in warfare and inexperienced in governance, yet he had brought his battlefield decisiveness into the ministry. In just three months since assuming his post, the Ministry of Justice had shed all traces of its former indolence. Final reviews of critical cases from various provinces were now completed much faster, clearing the backlog from the previous year. Even the Court of Judicial Review and lower judicial offices had become more diligent, and the Emperor had repeatedly praised the Minister of Justice. However, those within knew these achievements were entirely due to Prince Rui's heir.With cases and litigation tasks being handled swiftly, the Emperor frequently bestowed rewards. During the Shangsi Festival, even the Ministry of Justice received extra stipend rice beyond their regular monthly salaries. Reflecting on this, although they no longer enjoyed the leisurely idleness of former times, the subordinates dared not voice the slightest complaint. After all, working under this Crown Prince, if they obediently applied themselves, they might still earn some rewards. But if they acted against his will, it wouldn't just mean fewer rewards—light punishments involved losing their positions, while severe ones could even cost them their lives.
"He's actually not at the Ministry of Justice—" Yan Chi murmured softly.
Bai Feng nodded. "Highly likely he's not at the Ministry. Could he be at the Court of Judicial Review?"
Hearing this, Yan Chi's expression darkened slightly. "If he's at the Court of Judicial Review, we have no jurisdiction there."
Bai Feng pondered for a moment with a grave expression when he noticed a minor official peeking cautiously at the doorway.
Frowning, Bai Feng quickly approached. "What is it?"
As Yan Chi's trusted guard, Bai Feng commanded respect—and fear—from the minor official. Under Bai Feng's cold gaze, the official stammered, "Guard Bai, th-there's someone outside looking for the Crown Prince."
Bai Feng raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?"
The official hurriedly replied, "Someone from the Longevity and Health Palace is seeking His Highness."
The Longevity and Health Palace? The Empress Dowager? Bai Feng thought briefly. "For what matter? Is there an oral decree from the Empress Dowager?"
The official thought for a moment and shook his head. "They didn't say. Just that they came to see the Crown Prince."
Bai Feng said, "Wait here," and returned to Yan Chi's side.
"Master, someone from the Longevity and Health Palace has arrived."
Yan Chi's brows lifted slightly. "What is it? Is Her Majesty unwell?"
Bai Feng frowned in confusion. "They didn't say. Just that they want to see you."
Only then did Yan Chi stand up, though he remained puzzled. Even if something was happening at the Longevity and Health Palace, they wouldn't normally come directly to the ministry offices. What urgent matter could the Empress Dowager have?
Yan Chi walked to the entrance. "Where are they?"
The official quickly responded, "Waiting outside the front gate."
Yan Chi nodded and headed out with Bai Feng. After passing through two corridors, Yan Chi spotted Hu Quan guarding the gate. Initially thinking Hu Quan had come alone, he then noticed another figure standing faintly behind him. Frowning, Yan Chi quickened his pace and soon recognized Qin Guan.
"How long have they been here? Why wasn't I informed earlier?!" Yan Chi's stern voice immediately paled the official's face.
"I reported it as soon as I brought them in!"
Yan Chi ignored the official and strode swiftly to the gate. Seeing Yan Chi, Hu Quan promptly bowed. "Greetings, Your Highness—"
Qin Guan, who had been facing away from the gate, turned upon hearing this. Seeing Yan Chi, she curtsied in greeting.
"Why have you come?" Yan Chi asked, then turned to Bai Feng. "Have a brazier brought to the rear hall."
Bai Feng acknowledged the order and went to make arrangements. The minor official, puzzled by Yan Chi's evident regard for Qin Guan, followed Bai Feng a few steps before asking, "Guard Bai, who is this young lady...?"
Bai Feng shot him a cold glance. "This is Ninth Miss of the Loyal Marquis Manor. Next time she comes, treat her with care."
The official shivered. Ninth Miss of the Loyal Marquis Manor—wasn't she the renowned Medicine Immortal who saved the Empress Dowager and earned fame throughout the capital?!
Meanwhile, Qin Guan followed Yan Chi into the resting quarters prepared for him at the Ministry of Justice.The government office naturally couldn't compare to royal residences or the palace. This simple inner chamber showed some thoughtful decoration, yet on such a cold day, there was neither heating stove nor warm tea - not a trace of human warmth to be found. The bed was impeccably tidy, leaving one to wonder if Yan Chi had ever rested here.
However, once Qin Guan arrived, Bai Feng quickly brought a stove and hot tea.
Yan Chi pressed a cup of warm tea into Qin Guan's hands. "What happened? Did Grandmother send you?"
Hu Quan accompanied Qin Guan. As a eunuch from the Longevity and Health Palace, if Qin Guan had come of her own accord, given her dislike for ostentation, she certainly wouldn't have come to the Ministry of Justice offices, let alone brought Hu Quan along.
Though holding the warm tea, Qin Guan's expression remained troubled.
She studied Yan Chi carefully for a moment before asking, "With the Northern Wei and Western Liang envoys entering the palace, why didn't you attend the palace banquet?"
Yan Chi had noticed Qin Guan's unusual demeanor but didn't remark on it, merely smiling slightly. "Why should I attend the palace banquet? Since joining the Ministry of Justice, I've discovered many case files haven't been organized for years, with some backlogged old cases remaining unsolved. I wanted to sort them out, so I've been at the office these past few days."
Qin Guan found this strange. Didn't the Northern Wei princess suffer from lovesickness for Yan Chi? Not only that, she claimed to know Yan Chi. Why then did Yan Chi show no reaction upon hearing of their arrival in Great Zhou? Could he be pretending?
Though normally straightforward, facing such circumstances made Qin Guan more circumspect. She snorted inwardly. "Is your work at the office finished?"
Yan Chi's smile deepened. "Within two days."
Familiar with Qin Guan's character, Yan Chi found it odd that she hadn't gotten to the main point after all this time. What could be the matter?
Qin Guan nodded. "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager sent me today."
Yan Chi watched Qin Guan leisurely, waiting to hear what she would say.
Qin Guan hesitated briefly before speaking. "Since you've been at the Ministry of Justice these past few days, you probably don't know which envoys came from Northern Wei and Western Liang?"
Yan Chi shook his head. "Though I haven't entered the palace, I still know who the envoys are. What about them?"
Qin Guan frowned slightly. He knew? He knew Tuoba Wu had come yet showed no reaction?
"Among these envoys, is there anyone you recognize?"
Yan Chi shook his head again. "How could I know any of them? They're all visiting Great Zhou for the first time."
Qin Guan set down her teacup, her brow furrowing tightly. "You're lying!"
Yan Chi looked startled, then laughed. "How am I lying? Do I know someone?"
Qin Guan stood up, her expression now quite displeased. "Don't you know Tuoba Wu?"
"Tuoba Wu?" Yan Chi frowned, thinking for a moment before saying, "You mean that Northern Wei princess?"
Qin Guan pressed her lips together. "Exactly! Are you going to claim you don't know her?"
Yan Chi looked genuinely innocent. "I truly don't know her—"
"Then why did she ask about you immediately upon arriving in Great Zhou? Before the Empress Dowager herself, she declared she suffers from lovesickness for you! Not only that, she asked the Empress Dowager where you were. She came to Great Zhou specifically to see you!"
Qin Guan spoke rapidly. Though she hadn't wanted to appear overly concerned, she couldn't restrain herself now.
Having never experienced matters of the heart before, this was her first time learning what such feelings truly felt like.She felt deeply stifled inside. Though her tone didn't sound particularly angry, the subtle accusatory undertone was markedly different from her usual demeanor. Yan Chi watched her for a moment, realizing she was genuinely upset, then chuckled helplessly and stepped forward to embrace her. Unexpectedly, Qin Guan immediately retreated a step, her eyes regarding him with intense suspicion.
Yan Chi's smile widened, both amused and bewildered. "So the Empress Dowager sent you to question me?"
Qin Guan nodded. "Exactly—"
At these words, a faint glimmer flashed in Yan Chi's eyes, and his smile grew even more delighted. Currently angered, Qin Guan couldn't grasp the hidden meaning behind his amusement and simply stared straight at him, waiting to see how he would try to talk his way out of this.
Unable to withstand her piercing gaze, Yan Chi raised both hands in surrender. "I swear, I absolutely do not know that Northern Wei princess. As for the lovesickness she claims to suffer from, it's utterly baseless. You have to believe me!"
Qin Guan seemed to have been waiting precisely for this reassurance. The pent-up frustration in her heart eased slightly.
She hadn't originally doubted Yan Chi regarding romantic entanglements, but Tuoba Wu had come knocking at her door, speaking with such earnest conviction. As a princess of a nation, she wouldn't make baseless claims. Thus, Qin Guan had grown suspicious. She had initially engaged in some indirect probing before directly questioning him, all while awaiting Yan Chi's response. His firm denial of knowing Tuoba Wu had already set her mind at ease.
Though relieved inwardly, she couldn't let her guard down too quickly. Qin Guan continued frowning. "Then why would the Northern Wei princess claim to suffer from lovesickness for you? You've spent years in the Northwest Frontier Army. While the northwest doesn't border Northern Wei directly, it's not too far either. All these years, has there truly been no incident involving Northern Wei? Otherwise, why would a princess of her stature keep asking about your whereabouts?"
Yan Chi stepped closer. "This is truly a calamity falling from the sky. I only learned Tuoba Wu's name when the envoy reported it upon arriving in the capital the day before yesterday. My people make a habit of monitoring major developments in the capital. Otherwise, I wouldn't even know the princess's name—how could I possibly know her? During my years in the northwest, I never even encountered any women, let alone a princess. And why would a Northern Wei princess venture into military camps?"
Qin Guan snorted lightly. "Could it be that the princess has lost her mind?"
Seeing that Qin Guan was no longer rejecting him, Yan Chi seized her hand. "That's highly possible."
Hearing this, Qin Guan tried to pull away, but Yan Chi had no intention of releasing her. Instead, he drew her into his embrace, smiling. "I wouldn't lie to you. If she hasn't lost her mind, then there must be some misunderstanding. Over the years, although we've had limited interactions with Northern Wei, there have indeed been a few incidents involving them. Western Liang lies to the west, Northern Wei to the north. The Rong invaders attacked the Great Zhou's Cold Plains between Western Liang and Northern Wei—essentially cutting diagonally between the two nations."
"That stretch of Cold Plains was once contested territory between Northern Wei and Western Liang. Later, when both nations also suffered Rong invasions, the plains were largely abandoned. Though Northern Wei people endure cold well, they lack strong cavalry. Western Liang's military strength is also weak. Relying on the Northwest Frontier Army, their borders remained secure. On several occasions when the Northwest Frontier Army clashed with the Rong invaders, the defeated Rong forces retreated toward Northern Wei. Outmatched, Northern Wei had no choice but to seek assistance from the Northwest Frontier Army. At the time, to completely eradicate the Rong threat, our forces collaborated with Northern Wei a few times. However, I never personally handled these matters—I only met two Northern Wei border garrison commanders. I've never seen any princess..."Yan Chi held Qin Guan in a half-embrace, gazing into her eyes as he spoke each word with deliberate clarity.
Hearing this, the petty grievances in Qin Guan’s heart simply melted away.
Yan Chi seemed to possess an innate, unwavering, and righteous aura of authority—his words and actions commanded trust without question. Qin Guan knew this was tempered in the crucible of blood and fire on vast battlefields. In Shuoxi, only strategies for conquering cities and seizing territories mattered; even cunning tactics were those forged amidst thousands of troops and real blades!
Qin Guan’s lips tightened. "Even if you have a clear conscience, that princess from a respectable kingdom has fallen lovesick over you."
Yan Chi brushed his fingers over her lips, a flicker of mischief in his eyes. "You want to know the truth? It’s simple—I’ll have someone investigate. Once everything is clear, your doubts will vanish." He then frowned. "For a young woman to speak so openly of such matters—truly, the world’s morals are declining!"
Qin Guan felt both annoyed and amused; Yan Chi was clearly teasing her on purpose.
"The Northern Wei people aren’t from Great Zhou—naturally, they’re different from us!"
Only then did Yan Chi laugh. "Exactly. But her careless remark nearly caused you to misunderstand me—that’s a grave offense—"
Knowing he was deliberately provoking her, Qin Guan relaxed her expression and tilted her head. "But if she recognizes you, how is it you don’t know her? With her looks, if you’d seen her before, you surely wouldn’t have forgotten."
Yan Chi chuckled, scooping her up and placing her on the long couch behind them. He clasped her hands in his. "Who in this world could make me remember them after one glance?"
His bright eyes fixed on her as he spoke, and Qin Guan laughed. "The Northern Wei princess is indeed striking—why wouldn’t she be unforgettable? Seeing her reminds me of Yue Ning. If Yue Ning wore red attire, she’d likely be just as captivating."
Yan Chi smiled without replying, simply watching Qin Guan’s eyes. "Do you know where I first saw you?"
Qin Guan thought for a moment. "At Marquis Anyang Manor? The night the heir apparent’s wedding went awry?"
Yan Chi nodded. "That night, I was quite far from you, but even from a distance, I felt you were unlike any woman I’d ever met. I was about to leave the manor, but I couldn’t help watching as you stood there, humiliating Governor Huo’s son until he had no face left. I was both astonished and amused—you could say it was love at first sight..."
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