The Emperor's death had always been suspicious from the start. Although the palace had sealed off the news to prevent panic among the people, with so many civil and military officials involved, the palace's secret was too significant to be concealed. Colleagues in various government offices were well aware of it, though none spoke of it openly.
Qi Feng stood in the courtyard, idly playing with a paperweight in his hand. Mo Cong asked curiously, "What exactly is Xuan Li up to? Going to such great lengths just to implicate Zhao Jin? Isn’t that making a mountain out of a molehill?" Mo Cong, being aligned with Xiao Shao, had long understood that those opposing them were Xuan Li's people. There was no doubt that Xuan Li was involved in the Emperor's death. Initially, everyone thought Xuan Li merely wanted the Emperor to pass away naturally from illness. But then came the poisoning—Xuan Li must have deliberately left clues, yet his goal seemed solely to implicate Zhao Jin.
If the entire Zhao family had been implicated, that would have made sense. But the reason given was personal enmity between Zhao Jin and Dong Yinger, which had nothing to do with the Emperor's murder. It was merely Zhao Jin attempting to harm Dong Yinger, accidentally causing the Emperor to ingest poison. If the goal was only to drag Zhao Jin into this, why would Xuan Li intervene? Moreover, Xuan Li had no grudge against Zhao Jin, and he was never one to act without purpose. This left Mo Cong utterly perplexed.
"Not quite," Qi Feng shook his head. "Xuan Li never wastes effort. A mere Zhao Jin wouldn’t warrant his involvement."
"Then, Fourth Brother, are you suggesting there’s more to this?" Mo Cong asked.
"Naturally," Qi Feng's voice lowered. "The Zhao family is fiercely protective, and Zhao Jin is already betrothed to Jiang Xin Zhi—they’re in the same boat now. No matter what, it won’t be easy for Jiang Xin Zhi to extricate himself. But most importantly, their target has always been one person."
"The Thirteenth Prince?" Mo Cong began to understand. Everyone knew Jiang Ruan was close to Xuan Pei, and Jiang Xin Zhi, being her blood brother, would naturally stand with her. If Jiang Xin Zhi could act in Jiang Ruan’s stead, it implied an alliance between Jiang Xin Zhi and Xuan Pei. By dragging Jiang Xin Zhi down, Xuan Pei would inevitably be implicated as well.
"So that’s it!" Mo Cong exclaimed in realization. "Xuan Li is cunning beyond measure. If this is part of his scheme, he must have already prepared the next steps. Fourth Brother, you and Third Brother must have a plan to counter this, right? Share it with me?" Mo Cong had absolute faith in Xiao Shao and Qi Feng. Qi Feng managed the Hundred Zhang Tower behind the scenes, while Xiao Shao led the Brocade-clad Guards at the forefront—their coordination was seamless. Even facing such a cunning adversary, while the entire Mo family, including Old Master Mo, was troubled, Mo Cong himself remained unworried. If the sky fell, his senior brothers would hold it up; nothing would go wrong.
Qi Feng glanced at him and smiled. "I won’t tell you."
Mo Cong deflated. "Fourth Brother, after all our camaraderie as fellow disciples...""You just need to keep a low profile in the court and comfort your family's patriarch. Don’t let the current political situation dazzle him. Neutrality is good, but a wise man knows when to adapt. As for who has the better chance between the Eighth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince, you already know without me saying it. Instead of wasting time talking to me, you’d better persuade your patriarch. After all, you’re still a member of the Mo family—don’t act like you’re completely detached from family affairs." Qi Feng straightforwardly lectured Mo Cong.
Though Mo Cong was intelligent, he was still young and had joined his master’s disciples later than the others. Playful by nature, he was like a child and hated being lectured the most. Hearing Qi Feng’s words, he immediately felt a headache coming on and hurriedly said, "Stop, stop! Fourth Brother, don’t say anymore. I won’t ask, alright?" He glanced outside. Xiao Shao had been busy running around lately and was never at the residence. After visiting several times without seeing him, Mo Cong asked, "Is Third Brother still preoccupied with Third Sister-in-Law’s matter? There’s still no news at all?"
Qi Feng’s eyes darkened at the question. After a long pause, he shook his head. "No." This plan had been decided between Jiang Ruan and him back then. No matter how unwilling he was, he knew it was the best course of action. Later, to avoid alerting the enemy, he had the Brocade-clad Guards investigate discreetly. But even now, they still hadn’t found any trace of her. Even Qi Feng couldn’t help feeling a twinge of worry. Yet he also knew that Xiao Shao bore far greater anxiety than he did. At this point, they could only press on. He could only hope that the Emperor’s death would serve as a catalyst, forcing Xuan Li to act sooner—only then could the plan proceed smoothly.
...
In the dungeon, Zhao Jin looked at Lin Zixiang, who had come to visit, and asked anxiously, "How are things?"
Lin Zixiang’s expression was grim. "Your father has been sent to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. This matter is no small thing—the Emperor’s death is already a sensitive issue, and now your Zhao family has landed in deep trouble. The Zhao residence has been sealed off. I asked my father to plead with the Empress Dowager, but it was useless. I’m sorry, Zhao Jin." Lin Zixiang was heartbroken. She truly wanted to help Zhao Jin, but her father was merely a Chief Minister in name, with no real power. At most, he could only talk—how could he possibly influence the decisions of those in power?
Seeing this, Zhao Jin instead comforted her. "It’s not your fault. This matter was just too big to handle. By the way, Zixiang, what did my father say? Did you tell him to pin everything on me?"
Zhao Jin had already realized that since this was ultimately Dong Yinger’s scheme against her, as long as she died, everything would be resolved. No matter what, the entire Zhao family couldn’t be dragged down with her. If they admitted it was solely her doing, then it would only be her crime—an attempt to harm Dong Yinger that accidentally led to the Emperor’s death. At least the Zhao family could extricate themselves and survive. But if the entire family was implicated, they would all be charged with the deliberate assassination of the reigning Emperor.
Lin Zixiang fell silent for a long moment before shaking her head. "Your father and your two brothers love you too much. How could they let you bear all the blame alone? You know that’s impossible."In truth, if the two young masters of the Zhao family and Old Master Zhao had simply claimed ignorance of the matter, they could have extricated themselves from it. After all, the Zhao family currently appeared to have no reason to harm the Emperor, and the evidence now seemed irrefutable. Yet, who could have guessed that Old Master Zhao and the two young masters were such stubborn men? Having doted on Zhao Jin since childhood, how could they stand idly by? Not only did they refuse to shift all blame onto Zhao Jin to save themselves, but they also desperately pleaded her innocence, insisting that Zhao Jin would never send poisoned ginseng into the palace, nor would Dong Yinger ever plot murder—this was undoubtedly a frame-up, a scheme by someone.
At such a sensitive time, such cries of innocence only violated the Ministry of Justice’s taboos, immediately escalating the already tense situation. Upon hearing this, Zhao Jin was momentarily stunned before letting out a bitter laugh. "In the end, I’ve only brought them trouble."
Lin Zixiang sighed in agreement. "As daughters, at least your father is willing to protect you. When Ruan Meimei was imprisoned..." She trailed off. Jiang Ruan and Jiang Quan had never gotten along—that cold-hearted man would have gladly thrown stones at her when she was down, let alone risk his life to protect her. The fates of people could be so different. Yet now, Old Master Zhao’s favoritism might not necessarily be a good thing.
"You should go back," Zhao Jin said wearily. "I need to think."
"What is there to think about?" Lin Zixiang asked warily. "Don’t do anything foolish, like staging a scene of guilt-ridden suicide in prison." Such things were not uncommon—one person taking all the blame and ending their life to protect their family.
Zhao Jin smiled faintly. "With what could I kill myself? This place has me under tight watch. Besides, even if I did, it’s not certain my father and brothers would be released. At the very least, we must wait for the truth to come out. Don’t worry."
Lin Zixiang considered this and nodded. It was true—if Zhao Jin were to commit suicide out of guilt now, it would only make things worse. Given her protective nature toward her family, she wouldn’t act so rashly. "Alright, then take care of yourself."
Zhao Jin nodded. Only after Lin Zixiang left did she rub her temples and lean back against the wall, sitting on the damp straw covering the floor. At night, even rats scurried about. Having lived in privilege all her life, this was her first time in prison. Remembering that Jiang Ruan had also once been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, she couldn’t help but let out another self-deprecating laugh.
She deeply admired Jiang Ruan. Despite lacking martial skills, Jiang Ruan always managed to emerge unscathed from the most perilous schemes and conspiracies. She seemed extraordinarily clever, always turning others’ plots to her advantage. When Jiang Ruan had been in the Heavenly Prison, she surely hadn’t been as disheveled as Zhao Jin was now. She must have waited calmly, like a beast lying in ambush, biding her time for the perfect moment to strike and annihilate her prey.
But Zhao Jin lacked Jiang Ruan’s abilities. She knew Dong Yinger had set her up, yet she had no way to fight back. Worse, a single misstep could drag her family down with her. Zhao Jin took a deep breath and glanced at the pendant at her waist—a crescent-shaped piece of amber, originally a necklace given to her by Jiang Xin Zhi, which she had later fashioned into a pendant. This entire ordeal had begun because of Jiang Xin Zhi. Were it not for him, Dong Yinger might not have harbored such deep hatred for her.Now, the decision she was about to make—if there was anyone she felt guilty toward, apart from her own family, it would probably be Jiang Xin Zhi. But... she didn’t regret it. Zhao Jin closed her eyes and suddenly called out, "Guard, guard!"
She was summoning the jailer. Due to Jiang Xin Zhi’s special instructions, the guards here treated her fairly well. Hearing her call, one of them approached and asked, "What is it?"
"I want... to write a letter of confession," Zhao Jin said.
Things in this world often change in the blink of an eye. Before Zhao Jin’s confession letter could be sent out, a sudden upheaval occurred in the palace.
The incident began when someone discovered the same poison in Mu Xirou’s chambers as the one found in the old ginseng Zhao Jin had sent into the palace. Mu Xirou and Zhao Jin had no connection whatsoever, so the situation seemed suspicious. A search of Mu Xirou’s quarters was conducted, and a seal was uncovered. With this seal, certain palace guards could be freely mobilized, allowing easy movement within the palace. And this seal did not belong to anyone else—it was the seal of the Thirteenth Prince, Xuan Pei.
The revelation sent shockwaves through the court.
The Thirteenth Prince, Xuan Pei, was still very young. To suggest he had any improper involvement with Mu Xirou would be far-fetched. But why would Mu Xirou possess Xuan Pei’s seal? There was only one explanation—Mu Xirou was Xuan Pei’s agent all along.
Further investigations in Mu Xirou’s chambers uncovered numerous suspicious details. In a place like the palace, once suspicion arose and a thorough investigation was launched, it was almost impossible not to find something incriminating. Though Mu Xirou’s flaws were subtle, they were eventually exposed. Thus, it became almost certain to everyone that Mu Xirou was indeed Xuan Pei’s operative.
If Mu Xirou was Xuan Pei’s agent, and Mu Xirou was connected to the Thirteenth Prince, then why was it Zhao Jin who delivered the items to Dong Yinger, inadvertently poisoning the Emperor? The situation was tangled like a ball of yarn, with no clear thread for anyone to grasp, making it all the more perplexing. And just at this moment, someone stepped forward, claiming to know the truth and offering to testify.
This person was none other than Xuan Pei’s personal palace maid, Chaoyang.
Chaoyang knelt before Empress Dowager Yide, kowtowing as she spoke: "This servant knows what truly happened. Lady Mu was always the Thirteenth Prince’s agent. The Thirteenth Prince sought to seize the throne, so he gave Lady Mu poison to slip into His Majesty’s medicine when the opportunity arose. However, Lady Mu rarely attended to His Majesty—it was always Dong Xiuyi who took care of him, leaving her no chance to act." Chaoyang paused, glancing timidly at Empress Dowager Yide before continuing, "And then... it was because of the Princess of Great Peace. The Princess and the Thirteenth Prince had long formed an alliance. But now, with the Princess’s fate uncertain and the Thirteenth Prince desperate to act, the Princess’s elder brother, General Jiang, devised a plan. General Jiang’s fiancée is the young lady of the Zhao family, who was once close friends with Dong Xiuyi. They thought to use this connection to send two old ginseng roots into the palace... Dong Xiuyi, devoted to His Majesty, would surely treasure such rare ginseng and send it to the imperial kitchens to be brewed alongside His Majesty’s medicine."Chaoyang kowtowed, her face filled with fear. "After learning of this matter, I have been deeply uneasy. But I am lowly and insignificant—who would believe me if I spoke out? So... so I kept it hidden, thinking perhaps they wouldn’t dare to be so bold. Yet now, it has truly come to pass. Day and night, I have lived in terror, and today I can no longer bear it. Empress Dowager Yide, the young lady of the Zhao family was merely used. The one who truly sought to harm His Majesty was General Jiang—no, it was the Thirteenth Prince!" Chaoyang blurted out in one breath, then kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead soon bleeding from the force.
Both Xuan Pei and Xuan Li stood there. Xuan Li’s expression remained stunned as he looked at Xuan Pei. "Thirteenth Brother... was it truly you?"
"Eighth Brother, you wound me deeply," Xuan Pei said unhurriedly. "We are brothers by blood, yet you would rather believe a lowly palace maid and begin to suspect me over it. Naturally, this was not my doing."
Empress Dowager Yide said nothing, silently watching the two of them. In the room, Mu Xirou’s expression was oddly calm as well. The imperial guards waited outside, ready to seize Mu Xirou at a moment’s notice. After all, poison identical to that found in the ginseng had been discovered in her chambers—this was undeniable. And with that alone, Mu Xirou could never extricate herself from this affair.
"Empress Dowager, every word I speak is true. I am not lying. This concerns His Majesty’s life—even if you gave me a hundred more lives, I wouldn’t dare to fabricate such a thing!" Chaoyang continued kowtowing. "Now that I have spoken the truth, I no longer seek to live. I only wish for peace of mind, so that when I meet my parents in the afterlife, I may face them with dignity." By declaring her willingness to die, her words carried weight—for the words of the dying are often sincere.
Dong Yinger stood to the side, covering her mouth, her face a picture of distress and disbelief. "How could this be? How could this happen?" she murmured. Suddenly, she turned a furious gaze toward Xuan Pei. "His Majesty treated you so well! Why would you harm him like this? Thirteenth Prince, your heart is as venomous as a snake’s!"
Xuan Pei chuckled. Despite the mounting evidence against him, he appeared remarkably composed. "Indeed, Dong Xiuyi, Father treated me so well. Why would I harm him? How can you believe the ramblings of a mere palace maid?"
"She is your personal attendant," Dong Yinger countered. "Why would she falsely accuse you for no reason?"
"Exactly. I, too, would like to know—why would she falsely accuse me for no reason?" Xuan Pei smiled as he looked down at Chaoyang, who knelt on the ground. Chaoyang had always been clever and well-groomed, and as Xuan Pei’s favored attendant, she was known throughout the palace as his head maid. Now, Xuan Pei asked lazily, "Chaoyang, I would also like to ask—I have treated you well all this time. Why would you slander me?""I did not falsely accuse Your Highness, I did not falsely accuse Your Highness," Chaoyang shrank back in terror, as if utterly afraid of Xuan Pei. Yet upon closer inspection, that fear seemed somewhat feigned, not entirely genuine. However, these subtle expressions in her eyes went unnoticed by anyone present. Their attention was entirely captured by the words spilling from Chaoyang's lips: "Your Highness, you seek to seize the throne, but you must not kill His Majesty. That would be patricide, regicide... This servant is too afraid, too afraid..."
"Heh," Xuan Pei chuckled with amusement. "How strange. I am His Majesty's son by blood. This empire might very well be handed to me by His Majesty in the future—it is rightfully mine. Why would I need to seize it?" His words carried profound implications. Xuan Li's eyes flickered, and Empress Dowager Yide frowned slightly. Xuan Pei continued, "Of course, His Majesty might also choose to bestow the empire upon Eighth Brother. But ah, little Chaoyang," his smile was radiant, "His Majesty has never once hinted at whom he intends to pass the throne. I do not know, Eighth Brother surely does not know—could it be that you know?"
Chaoyang froze, staring at Xuan Pei with a mix of shock and dread. The exquisitely handsome youth smiled brilliantly, appearing like some carefree young nobleman idly passing by on horseback. It should have been the warmest of smiles, yet now it carried an unfathomable chill that seeped straight into one's bones. Xuan Pei said, "Chaoyang, are you suggesting that His Majesty has already decided to pass the throne to Eighth Brother, and that I, unwilling to accept this, committed this regicidal atrocity? I would like to know—how did you come by His Majesty's decision? Where is the Imperial Edict proclaiming Eighth Brother as heir? Since you claim to know, don't hold back. Produce it for us to see."
Mingyue, standing nearby, couldn't help but silently laugh. Xuan Pei's brand of deadpan sarcasm could be immensely satisfying to witness at times. Of course, as someone aligned with Xuan Pei, she found it thoroughly enjoyable—others might not share her sentiment. Xuan Li's expression shifted slightly, and Chaoyang's body began to tremble uncontrollably.
She knew exactly how terrifying the youth before her was. Though she had repeatedly warned Xuan Li that Xuan Pei was far from the harmless facade he presented, Chaoyang always felt there were depths to this young man that remained hidden. What she saw now was only what Xuan Pei allowed her to see. She knew he was cunning and manipulative, but she was certain there were layers upon layers of schemes and tactics she hadn't yet uncovered.
The pressure was already bearing down on her. Under Xuan Pei's gaze, Chaoyang felt an icy chill permeate her entire being. This was a sensation she shouldn't be experiencing—she was an elite assassin, trained to probe the depths of human hearts. She was nothing more than a sacrificial piece Xuan Li had cultivated, a chess piece deployed solely to advance the greater game, with no possibility of survival. A piece already resigned to death should fear nothing in this world, yet Xuan Pei's gaze filled Chaoyang with genuine terror.What kind of feeling this was, Chaoyang didn't know. She stayed by Xuan Pei's side, diligently playing the role of a somewhat timid and cautious palace maid. Growing up alongside such a special master, she gradually became bolder. Chaoyang completely immersed herself in the role, as if she were just an ordinary maid. She was the most excellent assassin, carefully planning for that final strike. She believed she hadn't revealed the slightest flaw.
Now, as long as her accusation cast even the tiniest suspicion on Xuan Pei—suspicion from someone close to him—that alone would be enough. Whether there was evidence or not no longer mattered. If Xuan Pei did not refute it, it would give the Imperial Censor grounds to condemn him in the future struggle for succession, costing him a great deal of public support. If he did refute it, Xuan Li had countless ways to incite conflict, thereby solidifying Xuan Pei's crime of treason.
No matter which path he took, Xuan Pei faced a dead end.
Mingyue looked up at Xuan Pei once more, who had a faint smile on his lips, not a trace of surprise on his face. Chaoyang carefully recalled every minute expression on Xuan Pei's face, hoping to detect any hint of panic or similar emotions. But to her dismay, she suddenly realized that from the moment she accused Xuan Pei of patricide until now, he hadn't shown even the slightest hint of surprise. Even if it were acting, even if it were forced composure, such emotion was far too natural.
Could he have anticipated all of this? Chaoyang shook her head inwardly—impossible. Just moments ago, Mu Xirou's face had betrayed a flicker of alarm, an expression that couldn't be faked. If Mu Xirou hadn't foreseen this, how could Xuan Pei have known? It must be that this young man was simply accustomed to hiding his emotions.
Xuan Li stepped forward and asked Empress Dowager Yide, "Imperial Grandmother, what should we do now?" He cast a troubled glance at Xuan Pei. "Thirteenth Brother is young and would never do such a thing. There must be some misunderstanding here. But if we ignore this matter now, I fear it might..." By emphasizing Xuan Pei's youth, he implied that Xuan Pei might have been manipulated by someone else. Everyone knew who that someone was—Jiang Xin Zhi, who was once again being implicated.
Empress Dowager Yide swept her heavy gaze over everyone present before finally settling on Xuan Pei, whose expression remained composed. Suddenly, she waved her hand and said sternly, "Take Jiang Xin Zhi and Mu Xirou to the dungeons for interrogation. As for the rest—investigate!"
Her decision not to imprison Xuan Pei as well showed she still held a sliver of hope. In truth, even if there were evidence pointing to Xuan Pei, unless it was irrefutable and could immediately convict him, Empress Dowager Yide would never act rashly against him. The court was already in chaos, and if this scandal were to erupt, the stability of the Da Jin Dynasty itself might be at risk. No matter the internal strife, external threats were far more pressing. Having sat on the throne for decades, Empress Dowager Yide knew full well that the Southern Borderlands were stirring, likely waiting for just such a moment of disorder. She would never give them the opportunity to strike.
Xuan Li glanced at Chaoyang, who was kneeling on the ground, and asked, "And this maid...?"
"Lock her up as well!" Empress Dowager Yide said coldly, rising to her feet and sweeping her sleeves as she departed. She said nothing more, not even commenting on Xuan Pei's situation—an extremely unusual move. But then, Empress Dowager Yide had never adhered to predictable patterns, and no one could ever guess her thoughts. Rather than trying to decipher her intentions, the onlookers preferred to revel in Xuan Pei's predicament.
Xuan Li walked over to Xuan Pei and sighed. "Thirteenth Brother, what truly unfortunate timing." His expression was that of a caring elder brother standing up for his younger sibling, and from a distance, it might have looked like a touching scene of fraternal affection. Yet his words carried a subtle hint of provocation—the mockery reserved for a loser.
Though Empress Dowager Yide had not passed judgment on Xuan Pei, he would likely be placed under house arrest from now on. For a prince, this was far from ideal. Once confined, he would be cut off from his supporters in the court, left in the dark about events outside. During his confinement, the world beyond could undergo earth-shattering changes. To become deaf, blind, and crippled within the palace walls was to be utterly powerless."Why would you say that, Eighth Brother?" Xuan Pei asked curiously. "My luck has always been good. Just when I thought my days were numbered, I unexpectedly gained Father Emperor's favor." He smiled slightly. "Master Huijue once read my fortune and said my life would be one of hardship followed by sweetness. No one knows how luck will turn until the very end. Perhaps in a few days, my fortunes will reverse again."
Xuan Pei paid no heed to Xuan Li's words, almost as if deliberately provoking him. His ability to infuriate others was never to be underestimated—even someone as restrained as Xuan Li couldn't suppress a flicker of anger in his eyes, though it quickly subsided. He smiled in return. "In that case, I wish Thirteenth Brother the best of luck."
......
In the palace, Xuan Li wasn’t the only one preoccupied with these matters. Even Liu Min, who had long remained silent, was now deeply troubled.
His feelings for Jiang Ruan had always been forbidden. The day she married another, Liu Min knew there would never be a future between them. He wished for her happiness, yet seeing her and Xiao Shao so deeply in love left a bitter ache in his heart. But Liu Min was a man of restraint. Knowing he could never have her, he understood that forgetting was for the best.
Liu Min was aware of the close bond between Jiang Ruan and Xuan Pei. Since the Emperor had appointed him as Xuan Pei’s tutor, Liu Min had devoted himself wholeheartedly to imparting all his knowledge. When he had served as the Crown Prince’s tutor, the prince’s incompetence and lack of scholarly aptitude had made teaching a frustrating ordeal. But the Thirteenth Prince, Xuan Pei, was different. Initially, Liu Min had taken special notice of him because of Jiang Ruan, but as they spent more time together, he came to admire the young man’s unique insights and extraordinary mind. Despite his royal status, Xuan Pei approached governance with a grounded perspective, free from the impetuousness of youth and displaying remarkable prudence—a true prodigy.
Liu Min believed the Emperor had assigned him to teach Xuan Pei as a way of paving the prince’s future path. Their relationship was that of a mentor and his prodigious student. In his life, Liu Min had only two pupils: one mediocre and inept, the other brilliant and destined for greatness. Any teacher would cherish such talent, let alone someone like Liu Min.
He sighed. But now, with the Emperor’s passing, the court was left leaderless. As a scholar, Liu Min could neither take up arms nor influence the broader political landscape like the high-ranking ministers. Nor could he do anything for Jiang Xin Zhi while Jiang Ruan’s fate remained uncertain. A sudden sense of helplessness washed over him, and he murmured, "A scholar is the most useless of men."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" A hand clapped his shoulder. Liu Min turned to see Mo Cong. Back at the Imperial Academy, Mo Cong had once extended him a helping hand, and later, they had both passed the imperial examinations. But while Mo Cong came from a powerful family, Liu Min had climbed the ranks through sheer ability, so their interactions had been few. Seeing him now, Liu Min was momentarily taken aback.
"Don’t sell yourself short, Grand Scholar," Mo Cong joked. "Countless scholars in the Da Jin Dynasty look up to you, dreaming of becoming a top graduate like you. If even you say such things, wouldn’t it dishearten them? How will the imperial exams continue?"
Liu Min shook his head. "What good is being an official if I can’t do anything? I once thought I could change the world single-handedly. Now I see it was nothing but a fool’s dream."Mo Cong glanced at him: "You're truly a strange one. Back in the academy when you were ostracized, you were aloof and proud. Now that you've entered court and have many flatterers, you've become cynical instead?" He shook his head: "I originally hoped you could help Third Sister-in-law with something, but now it seems I'll have to reconsider."
"Third Sister-in-law?" Liu Min was taken aback, suddenly remembering this person's close relationship with Jiang Ruan's husband Xiao Shao. His heart beat faster as he hesitantly asked: "Hong... the Princess of Brocade Glory?"
Liu Min thought to himself that indeed, as outsiders said, this man had long coveted his Third Brother's backyard. But he still clapped his hands and said: "Exactly!"
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