They had just returned when a carriage slowly stopped in front of the Jiang residence.

“This is the place.” The woman burst into tears of joy.

She stepped forward. “Please inform your lady that Mu Liuyun seeks an audience with Princess Xihe.”

The gatekeeper glanced at the middle-aged woman and sneered.

“Our lady does not practice medicine, nor does she grant children. If you want a child, go pray to Goddess Nuwa or Yue Lao.”

Seriously, people were coming to see the young lady for all sorts of ridiculous reasons.

Just this morning, he had already turned away more than thirty people.

All of them had come seeking children.

Some even came to report the death of an old parent, as if the young lady was supposed to do something about it.

“Madam, including you, I’ve already sent away thirty-six groups of people this morning. Please, have mercy on me and leave.” The gatekeeper was almost ready to kneel and beg.

He had never imagined that a mere gatekeeper’s job would be this exhausting.

“Madam, what should we do now? Our young lady…” the little maid asked worriedly.

Madam Mu sighed deeply.

Ever since her daughter returned that day, she had been in a state of distress.

She kept muttering the same three words all day: “It’s all my fault.”

Not knowing what else to do, she had no choice but to come here.

No matter what, she had to meet with the princess.

Perhaps only the princess could save Liuyun now.

With determination in her eyes, Madam Mu ordered, “Let’s go to the Ding Family Inn. We will wait!”

Shortly after they left, news arrived that Lan Fang Pavilion had been wrecked.

Chun Zhi hurried back to report, “Master, Madam, today Miss Sima was dissatisfied with our perfumes and nitpicked about everything. Our staff carefully served her, yet she suddenly lashed out with her whip, smashing our counters and injuring many people.”

“Furthermore, due to the city gates being under strict watch, our goods meant for other locations have been blocked.” The third young master was getting anxious.

“Unbelievable!” Jiang Fengyuan was furious. “The entire Sima family, from top to bottom, is nothing but trouble!”

Madam Chen remained calm. “How many people were hurt?”

Chunzhi answered, “Miss Sima whipped about thirty people, leaving them with deep, bloody wounds.”

Madam Chen thought for a moment and then said, “Withdraw some silver from the accounts to compensate all the injured staff.”

Chun Tao was displeased. “Madam, it was Sima Pingting who injured them. Why should we pay for it?”

Wasn’t this just suffering a loss for no reason?

“They were injured in our shop. If we don’t compensate them, it will harm Lan Fang Pavilion’s reputation. Do as I say. Have the place cleaned up and resume business.”

“Yes, Madam,” Chunzhi acknowledged the order.

Jiang Yuanxi finally recalled who they meant by “Miss Sima.”

[Sima Pingting—the one who tried to whip me that day.]

As soon as she spoke, the men of the Jiang family were no longer calm.

One by one, they were filled with righteous indignation, barely restraining their anger.

[Thankfully, Princess Sister stopped her. That whole family is terrible. Should I pay the Sima household a visit tonight?]

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuanwu’s eyes lit up.

To that end, Jiang Yuansheng even sent someone to buy high-quality talisman paper and cinnabar.

They also bought various small objects, all following the specifications used by Daoists.

Jiang Yuanxi held a bundle of these items, finding them fascinating.

[A peachwood sword, an incense burner.]

[A black donkey hoof—can this be eaten? Should I boil it or roast it?]

[Should I pluck the hair off first?]

Jiang Yuanxi carefully examined the black donkey hoof.

She also had talisman paper for storing items, and without hesitation, she stuffed all the miscellaneous objects into her robes.

She used three entire talismans.

Stuffing everything into her garments, she eagerly awaited the evening so she could call her second brother.

As night fell, with the servants fast asleep…

One by one, the men of the Jiang family sneaked out of their rooms.

Jiang Yuanwu and Jiang Yuanxi were just about to leave when they turned and saw their eldest brother gazing at the moon, their third brother reading a book in the dark, and their fourth brother sleepwalking.

Seeing the two sneaking out, Jiang Yuansheng turned his head. “Yuanxi, if you’re going out to have fun, why not bring your brothers along?”

Jiang Yuanfan tossed his book aside. “Count me in.”

Jiang Yuancheng stopped pretending and ran over. “How could you leave me out of something like this?”

Jiang Yuanwu sighed. “Alright, alright, I see you all want to rebel. Fine, let’s go together.”

Jiang Yuanxi grinned. “Let’s go, let’s all go!”

[A family should stick together.]

She held onto the hems of her four brothers’ robes, grinning from ear to ear.

Tonight was bound to be a sleepless night.

…

In Shengjing, the air was humid and stifling, especially at night.

The man in bed frowned, his hands moving as if trying to ward something off.

“Master! Master!” Steward Chen called out, waking him up.

Feng Jinye gasped and sat up, his eyes unfocused.

Steward Chen had someone bring in a device with a hand-crank. He turned the handle, sending a cool breeze over Feng Jinye, helping him clear his mind.

“Master, how do you feel now?” Chen asked softly.

“I’m fine,” Feng Jinye replied hoarsely, his voice rough from sleep.

If Chen hadn’t woken him up, he might still be trapped in that bloody nightmare.

“Master, Shengjing is more humid than the north. I had this fan made—it should help a little. Our men went to the First Prince’s residence, but that girl doesn’t even recognize you.”

“She doesn’t?” Feng Jinye rubbed his forehead.

Of course—he hadn’t met her yet. Naturally, she wouldn’t recognize him.

Steward Chen hesitated before speaking. “Master, word has it that the Crown Prince has taken a liking to Jiang Yan and wants to make her his princess consort. If you interfere now…” Chen trailed off, but his meaning was clear.

“Chen, you misunderstand.” Feng Jinye only wanted to confirm something.

Seeing that his master had made up his mind, Steward Chen didn’t press further. Instead, he changed the topic.

“The Eldest Prince obtained the account books from Stone Baby Village and arrested many of our people today. Should we intervene?”

Many of their informants in the court had been removed.

Three years of planning, and they had lost a significant portion of their resources upon returning.

Though these informants weren’t crucial, they were still valuable in emergencies.

Feng Jinye got out of bed, his long hair cascading down his back. His deep eyes were like a bottomless abyss.

“No need. It’s not time for us to act yet.”

Steward Chen sighed. What a shame—it had taken so much effort to plant those spies.

He didn’t understand why his master was being so patient.

They had already eliminated Duke An and Yan Song, yet the master still hadn’t made a move.

Feng Jinye gazed into the dark night.

“There’s something hiding in the shadows. I need to find it.”

“Master, there’s word that Prime Minister Sima has been targeted. His mansion lost 300,000 taels overnight, and mysteriously, the national treasury gained the exact same amount.”

Steward Chen suspected the emperor might be setting up Sima, but Feng Jinye shook his head.

“The emperor wouldn’t act like that. Someone else is involved.”

For 300,000 taels to disappear overnight without a trace… This was no ordinary feat.

Feng Jinye narrowed his eyes. Was there… “someone else” at play?

Steward Chen was perplexed.

“Should we continue watching Jiang Yan?”

Feng Jinye clenched his fists. After a long silence, he said, “No need.”

Since her heart was no longer his, there was no point in holding on.

A ruler must know when to let go.

Besides, with so many unknown variables, he had to reconsider everything.

He straightened his sleeves. “Tell our men to speed up their plans.”