Yang Kezhi gazed at the face that had hardly changed from her memories, her expression shifting as her eyes glistened with tears.

“You reckless fool…” she muttered, still unforgiving. “You disappear for years, then when you show up, it’s in broad daylight with such a spectacle, afraid that people won’t notice how the princess has gone astray?”

Hearing that Kezhi was still willing to scold her, Xuan Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief, though a dull ache formed in her chest.

Her nose stung with emotion as she clung to the furious proprietress. “Back when we were young, didn’t my aimless uncles often take us to the entertainment bureau? Just watching a dance and listening to music, what’s the big deal?”

“Please stop scolding me, it hurts Zhao Le’s heart,” she added quietly.

She offered a soft smile to her old friend, and Yang Kezhi’s last bit of anger faded. She bit her teeth and muttered, “You troublemaker.”

The decor inside the music house was rich with ancient charm, yet it also boasted foreign items procured from the western markets.

For instance, on the first floor, between the folding screens, there was a Persian rug with spiral patterns.

A few barefoot dancers were practicing soft movements on it.

Among them was a new foreign dancer with chestnut hair and a high nose, her face covered with a red veil.

Her slender waist swayed like autumn grass in the wind, exuding a unique charm.

Xuan Mingzhu felt her mood lift. “Has the music house gained a new lead performer lately? If I don’t come to support them, the beauties of Luoyang will all be neglected.”

“Listen to yourself, still that same playful, flirtatious nature,” Yang Kezhi teased, leading her upstairs.

Xuan Mingzhu, still somewhat familiar with the place, tossed a gold ingot into the lap of the veiled foreign dancer midway up the wooden stairs.

“Do you play the ruan? Play any tune, doesn’t matter which.”

Yang Kezhi rolled her eyes but also felt a warmth in her heart.

It had been a long time since she had seen Xuan Mingzhu act so carefree.

Their deep connection had never relied on sweet words, and the passage of time hadn’t lessened their mutual understanding.

The two entered the upper room, sat opposite each other, and Yang Kezhi, once a highborn lady and now the proprietress of the music house, looked carefully at Xuan Mingzhu’s face.

Then she burst into tears on the spot.

“All those years ago, I scolded you for favoring love over friendship. It was all just words of anger. I always knew that the music house flourished thanks to your secret support all these years. I also knew that when you decided to become a humble housewife, it was because you truly loved your husband, right to the core.”

“Sister,” Xuan Mingzhu replied helplessly, “After so many years apart, is the first thing you want to show me your tears?”

Given the situation now, she dared not reveal her illness; she couldn’t imagine how Kezhi would react.

Yang Kezhi shook her head and tightly held Xuan Mingzhu’s hand, staring straight into her eyes. “Let me finish. The bond between us doesn’t depend on whether we see each other. These past years, I’ve missed you, but I was also afraid of you coming. Really, if you hadn’t come, I’d think, ‘Well, she’s heartless, but at least she’s living a happy life.’ But when you showed up today, I felt a sinking feeling in my heart.”

“I just knew that man, Mei, wasn’t treating you right…” She began to sob again.

What is a friend?

It’s someone who can instantly see whether you’re doing well or not, who scolds you harshly, yet cries their heart out for you at the same time.

“You were right to scold me back then, and you’re right to scold me now,” Xuan Mingzhu said softly.

Indeed, she had been blinded by love and had behaved selfishly.

When she first married Mei Heting, she was a princess of only twenty-nine years, and he had just been selected as the third-place scholar in the Hanlin Academy.

She had feared that her husband’s reputation would be tarnished, that gossipers would laugh behind his back, saying he had married a princess who was never home.

So, not only did she stop visiting Yichun Music House, she also turned down every invitation to banquets, hunts, or gatherings in the capital.

In those years, she deeply hurt the feelings of the old companions who had once followed her on hunts in the east of the city or drinking in the western towers.

She had essentially lost herself.

And she had foolishly believed she was doing something virtuous, telling herself, “I’ve reformed; I’m no longer a wild soul.”

“There’s nothing wrong with him,” she said softly. “He’s a good man.”

It’s just that his goodness was devoted to public service, to the emperor and the people, but never to her.

Now, when she spoke of these things, it felt light and distant, as if they no longer mattered.

After all, Mei Heting hadn’t forced her to make those sacrifices—she had done so willingly.

If there was any fault, it was her own foolishness, and she accepted that.

Her only regret, perhaps, was that while Mei Heting had never asked her to change, he had also never refused the benefits that came with her transformation.

He had calmly enjoyed the advantages she brought, yet was always too stingy to offer her a simple word of praise.

It made her feel not only cheap but also foolish.

Xuan Mingzhu lightly shrugged, like a lone traveler who has finally laid down a heavy burden after a long journey.

“I came here today because I’ve realized something and to apologize to you. Please don’t cry, sister.”

She lifted her head and drank a cup of secret milk liquor from Yichunfang, savoring the taste alongside the sound of the moon lute played downstairs, then suddenly laughed and scolded, “These years have truly been lived like a dog!”

Yang Kezhi shot her a glance.

She didn’t want to delve into the couple’s issues, so she refrained from asking.

Gathering her sleeves, she poured another cup of sweet milk liquor for the little ancestor who craved it, carefully eyeing the fresh and charming red mole between her brows.

Yang Kezhi ultimately smiled, her mood lightening.

“What does it matter now? Is the wayward son turning back again?”

Xuan Mingzhu, with bright eyes and a wide smile, laughed heartily, “Let it all be revealed!”

The two had not seen each other for years, and there were countless words to exchange.

Yang Kezhi inquired about the little miss from the Princess’s residence, wondering why she hadn’t been brought along today…

Just as they were chatting, a sudden scream erupted from downstairs.

“Master Liu, no, ah!”

Xuan Mingzhu and Yang Kezhi exchanged glances.

The latter turned pale and called out, “Qingli,” swiftly pushing open the balcony door.

Xuan Mingzhu followed her outside, leaning over the railing to look down.

In the center of the lotus-patterned Persian carpet, a man in a pale green robe lay face down, motionless.

“That reckless Liu man! He’s ruined my fortune early in the morning!”

Yang Kezhi gritted her teeth and scolded, turning to the pale-faced girls nearby, “What happened to him? Who provoked him?”

“It wasn’t us! Master Liu just came in and insisted that Sister Chunwu feed him liquor. Suddenly, he began to convulse and fell to the ground…”

The crowd babbled in panic, giving Yang Kezhi a headache.

She turned decisively to Xuan Mingzhu, saying, “Don’t look down; it might dirty your eyes. I won’t be receiving guests today. Have Qingli take you back. Since you’re willing to come out, we can gather whenever you like in the future.”

Qingli, the lively girl who had welcomed the guests earlier, stood protectively by Xuan Mingzhu’s side, concerned that the Princess might be disturbed by the commotion.

Xuan Mingzhu didn’t rush to leave.

Narrowing her eyes, she called down, “Everyone stay away from him! Where’s the guard? Go check if he’s still breathing. Where’s Chunwu? Keep her safe, don’t let her be afraid or run away. Find another boy who wasn’t present to report this to the authorities. The rest of you stay put in the brothel and supervise each other!”

Then she turned and quietly asked Yang Kezhi, “Do you know that man?”

Yang Kezhi looked at Xuan Mingzhu, surprised by her composed commands.

After a moment, she replied, “Yes, he’s the son of the Minister of Personnel, Liu Shilang. He always comes here to stir up jealousy.”

The guard below called out, “He’s not breathing!” The surrounding performers gasped in fear.

Xuan Mingzhu frowned slightly. “Who is the head of the Imperial Guard in Xinghua?”

Yang Kezhi, caught off guard by the question, instinctively replied, “I thought you’d ask who the Commandant of the Nine Gates was instead.”

Xuan Mingzhu was momentarily stunned.

She hadn’t even realized that being around Mei Heting these years had made her more practical and cautious in her actions.

In the past, she wouldn’t have cared about a mere head of the Imperial Guard.

Xuan Mingzhu laughed angrily. “Otherwise, should I just go to the palace and ask His Majesty to speak on your behalf to dismiss this case?”

Qingli stood by, anxious and bewildered: Someone had died below, yet the Princess and the proprietress seemed to be in the mood for jokes?

She didn’t know that, to Xuan Mingzhu, this really was a joke.

It didn’t matter if the man was a minister’s son or the son of the Prime Minister; as long as the cause of death had nothing to do with Yichunfang, she could make sure it would not cause any waves.

She had just forgotten this shortcut after not being overbearing for many years.

“Don’t worry, with me here, the brothel’s business won’t be delayed.”

As soon as she finished speaking, voices from outside the brothel murmured, “The people from the Dali Temple have arrived!”

Upon hearing “Dali Temple,” Xuan Mingzhu felt a sense of familiarity wash over her, as if she had forgotten something important…

When she lowered her gaze, she met the eyes of a man in deep scarlet official robes walking into the brothel.

Xuan Mingzhu’s brows lightly moved.

Her heart felt unexpectedly calm and untroubled.

— She had once heard an old person in the palace describe a feeling.

Something she was very familiar with could feel strangely foreign when heard from someone else’s lips; a word she clearly recognized might suddenly become unrecognizable after staring at it too long; a face she saw every day could, at a certain moment, feel completely unfamiliar, like that of a stranger.

This was the feeling of being lost in one’s own mental world, trapped within invisible barriers.

It wasn’t until the lights went out and the fire died that she realized how much lighter her spirit could be.

In the silence of the room, a clear, deep voice was heard: “The man, over thirty, is lying face down with his eyes closed, showing no breath or pulse. He has a bun but no crown, and there are no abnormalities at the fontanelle, Baihui point, or his brows. His tongue is pressed against the roof of his mouth, and his hands are stiff and curled. There are no external injuries that could cause death.”

He instructed the accompanying officers to record everything, noting that a more thorough autopsy would be conducted later at the Dali Temple.

Standing up, the man kept his eyelids lowered, meticulously wiping each finger with a handkerchief, from the base to the tip, leaving no detail unchecked.

His long eyelashes drooped indifferently, and compared to his calm demeanor while handling routine affairs, the gravity of the murder case radiated an air of unapproachable solemnity.

Those behind him understood Lord Mei’s way of handling cases; when the Vice Minister didn’t speak, no one dared to break the silence.

Once he finished cleaning, he suddenly let go of the handkerchief, which fell like a snowflake, landing perfectly on the deceased’s head.

In a low voice, he gave a few instructions to his deputy before heading toward the second floor, ascending the stairs draped in red gauze.

He stopped in front of Xuan Mingzhu.

His cold voice felt out of place in this perfumed atmosphere. “This is a matter of grave importance; it cannot be trifled with.”

Xuan Mingzhu looked at him with a calm demeanor.

Mei Heting’s dark eyes seemed to hold ice as he emphasized, “If the Princess wishes to see me, must it be in this manner? I only have a few hours left before I return home. Can’t the Princess wait? Do you know the consequences of obstructing justice? If the Yushitai finds out, it will have serious repercussions.”

Yang Kezhi finally understood; it was unfathomable that this prince, blessed with good looks, could be so foolish.

Xuan Mingzhu suppressed a sarcastic remark. “Did I follow you here? If I wasn’t confused, I came before you…”

Suddenly realizing it was the princess’s ceremonial carriage outside, she understood.

The carriage was faster than a typical one, and since she rarely came to such places, he naturally assumed she was anxious to see him.

Hearing about the incident, he rushed here, thinking he might find her waiting.

It was not completely unjustified; she had indeed done something similar in the past.

In the first year of their marriage, she had wanted to celebrate Mei Heting’s birthday in a special way, so she sweetly wore the beautiful golden embroidered dress he had praised the day before and waited outside the Hanlin Academy.

She had intended to surprise him.

But, just like today, she ended up receiving a scolding from him.

Looking back, it was unbearable; even though the obsession was gone, Xuan Mingzhu still felt a twinge of pain in her heart.

She had once poured her true feelings from a burning chest for him.

She had also longed for and genuinely rejoiced in those youthful days, pure as crystal.

In the stillness of the upper and lower floors, her good mood for visiting friends was swept away by his words, her eyelashes trembling lightly.

“Step aside.”

Mei Heting didn’t want her to make the same mistake again.

He grasped Xuan Mingzhu’s wrist, saying, “Your Highness, listen. Your status is precious and differs from ordinary ladies. Every word and action sets an example for the imperial family. You cannot act impulsively or overstep your boundaries.”

Yang Kezhi suddenly lost her temper. “Qingli!”

Regardless of whether he was the one in charge of the case, her temper was boiling over!

Even during the reigns of Emperor Jinming and the late emperor, they would never dare to speak harshly to the Grand Princess, yet here he was, reprimanding her without restraint!

Through gritted teeth, Yang Kezhi said, “Qingli! The chilled sweet cheese from an hour ago is just right now. Why haven’t you served it to the Prince? Let him have a bowl to calm his nerves before he leaves! The Grand Princess came all the way to visit; you should know how to treat guests properly. Don’t forget how to balance flavors and remember to be perceptive! Can’t you even see that?”

Mei Heting was momentarily taken aback.

Qingli quickly seized the opportunity to interject, “Yes, the Grand Princess has kindly come to visit us today. Who would have thought such an incident would occur, truly alarming the Prince and showing our brothel’s oversight.”

A moment of blankness passed in Mei Heting’s mind.

An hour ago, she had come to visit friends.

— She wasn’t here for him.

Now, seeing her face pale slightly, she indeed looked frightened.

What had he just said to her?

Xuan Mingzhu gently withdrew her hand, glancing at the red marks on her wrist.

With a composed and regal expression, she walked past the man by her side.

Avoiding his reflexive attempt to reach for her, her long gown trailed behind her as she descended the stairs.

“With Master Mei’s hasty deductions, I must question the Dali Temple’s capability to handle criminal cases.”

Mei Heting, who had been about to follow her, stood frozen, doubting his own ears.

Xuan Mingzhu walked to the folding screen.

The body had already been placed on a stretcher by two bailiffs, and she stepped directly onto the Persian rug without hesitation, her voice sharp and commanding:

“The Dali Temple has three days to close this case. Chief Censor Cui must personally deliver the case files to the Grand Princess’s residence. If it’s delayed by even a day, he will be demoted to Huizhou.”

Cui, the Chief Censor of Dali Temple, was from Huizhou, his hometown.

The hall fell into an even deeper silence than before.

The young girls who had been terrified by the murder at the music house suddenly felt reassured upon seeing the authoritative but calm demeanor of the Grand princess.

Her words seemed to side with the music house(brothel), as if she had cast a protective net over them.

They felt as though a radiant light was emanating from her, and their fear gave way to deep respect.

The only ones suffering now were the officers of the Dali Temple, each holding their breath.

Even Li Qian, a Dali Temple evaluator, had his hair standing on end.

Usually, the Grand princess would indulge Mei Heting’s every wish, no matter how unreasonable, but today, she had publicly humiliated him.

Li Qian nervously licked his dry lips and cautiously spoke up:

“Your Highness, since Lord Mei is in a favorable position, perhaps he could oversee the progress of the case…”

“Ridiculous,” Mei Heting snapped, finally recovering and quickly descending the stairs.

He strode toward Xuan Mingzhu, his voice cold: “Your Highness, even if you are upset, there should be limits. Women have no right to interfere with judicial matters.”

The room fell into a tense silence after Mei Heting’s retort.

But Xuan Mingzhu remained calm, her dignity unshaken by his harsh words.