Chapter 42

The horse’s hooves drum like thunder, breaking through the mountain peaks. In the dense forest, the mountain wind howls, and the fallen petals are swept up and dance wildly in the air.

Fluffy white catkins fly towards them, forcing Xu Yunqi to close her eyes and press close to his back.

Since last night, Pei Muheng has been pouring tea and preparing meals as usual, but he hasn’t spoken a single word to her or glanced in her direction—only a cold and fleeting look passed by her eyes.

Xu Yunqi realized something belatedly, so when mounting the horse, she didn’t dare to hold onto him. Pei Muheng reached out, wrapped her hesitant wrists around his waist, and rode south.

At noon, they arrived in Dongchang Prefecture, where the group stopped at an inn located at a mountain junction.

The further south they went, the hotter the weather became. By afternoon, the weather turned cloudy, and after sitting for just a moment, fine rain started to fall like a mist, enveloping the mountain path. Passersby sitting by the shed all took a breath, feeling somewhat cooler.

Pei Muheng finished his meal and planned to ladle soup for Xu Yunqi, but upon seeing that it was a bowl of wild vegetable soup, he withdrew his hand.

It was a square table where the couple sat next to each other. Xu Yunqi finished eating a sesame cake and noticed that Pei Muheng was disdainful of the simple food. She proactively ladled a bowl for herself and sipped it in small mouthfuls.

Seeing her enjoy the soup, Pei Muheng curiously ladled a bowl for himself, took a sip, and found it surprisingly sweet. When he put down the bowl, he noticed that his wife glanced at him in surprise, but when he looked her way, her gaze quickly avoided his. Pei Muheng laughed to himself, thinking about last night, and couldn’t help but rub his brow. He should have expected this.

The inexplicable anger quietly dissipated.

As the rain intensified, fearing the bumpy mountain roads would make it difficult to ride, the secret guards went to the Grand Canal to rent a boat, and the group switched to traveling by boat.

Two days later, the boat arrived at the dock on the outskirts of Yangzhou.

Just as they were about to enter the city, Pei Muheng encountered a secret agent from Prince Xi’s residence stationed in Yangzhou. The secret agent informed him of the situation.

“The issue started with the matter of transporting grain in exchange for permits. The Ministry of Revenue issued a quota to Yangzhou: 100,000 dan of grain and 100,000 bolts of raw silk. The allocation was in the hands of the prefectural government. Merchants who had raw silk wanted to get permits for the raw silk. Those with connections had already divided up the quota of 100,000 bolts of raw silk. The remaining merchants had to transport grain to the border to exchange for salt permits, and they were very dissatisfied.”

“Coincidentally, this year, there was flooding in Jiangnan, causing grain prices to soar. In the past, they could exchange silver directly for salt permits at the same price. This year, they had to add more silver to buy the equivalent amount of grain. The merchants were not happy with this. Taking advantage of the recent changes in the cabinet, they caused trouble at the prefectural government.”

“The prefect of Yangzhou is a subordinate of the Twelfth Prince and has been entrenched in Yangzhou for many years, wielding great influence. He suppressed the unrest with an iron hand. Unfortunately, the soldiers were too heavy-handed, and two people accidentally died. This stirred up a hornet’s nest, causing the merchants to strike. Some even went to the saltworks to create trouble.”

“The Yangzhou Saltworks is the largest saltworks in our Jin Dynasty, where the majority of merchants within the realm come to procure salt. They blocked the entrance of the saltworks, preventing merchants from other places from exchanging salt and creating chaos. Coincidentally, some vagrants followed suit and deliberately stirred up trouble. Learning from the incident at the prefectural government, the commander of the saltworks refrained from taking harsh measures. Yet, some vagrants broke into the saltworks offices, and amidst the chaos, someone secretly attempted to assassinate Eunuch Xu, who is a person of the Directorate of Ceremonies. Everyone realized the gravity of the situation and stopped.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Muheng’s face turned grave.

Eunuch Xu, the overseer of the saltworks, is the godson of Liu Xiwen of the Directorate of Ceremonies. Essentially, Xu is an informant for the Emperor and the Directorate of Ceremonies in Yangzhou. Who would be foolish enough to attempt his assassination? Either Xu was extremely unlucky, or someone had maliciously plotted against him. Given the unstable political situation and the recent cabinet upheavals, it’s possible that some opportunistic individuals sought to cause trouble.

Pei Muheng was the one who initially proposed the grain-for-silk exchange, which Xun Yunhe implemented. If this case isn’t handled properly, returning to the capital would be difficult to explain.

“Have the people been caught?”

The spy answered, “All the vagrants have been caught and are locked up in the prefectural office. Sir, do you want to interrogate them overnight?”

Pei Muheng shook his head, “The document from the capital will arrive in Yangzhou soon. In the meantime, continue to observe the movements of all parties. I want to see who is causing trouble in the shadows.”

Then he said to Xu Yunqi beside him, “Yunqi, come with me immediately to the Salt Transport Division to save people.”

The local officials of Yangzhou are intricately connected with powerful local gentry and wealthy merchants. Rushing into an investigation might let them lead us by the nose. The best course of action is to save Xu Rong’s life first and then pry open his mouth, targeting our efforts precisely.

The Salt Transport Division is not controlled by local offices but is directly under the Ministry of Revenue. Apart from officials stationed by the Ministry, there are also censors from the Censorate and chief eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonies. Among them, the chief eunuch is in charge. Part of the revenue from the salt industry goes to the Directorate of Ceremonies and enters the imperial palace; part of it is embezzled by various parties, and the rest goes to the national treasury.

The couple disguised themselves again on the boat before entering the city. They arrived at the Salt Transport Division at night. Pei Muheng dressed as a doctor, while Xu Yunqi carried a medical box as a servant. After some twists and turns, they finally entered the inner office and saw the severely wounded Xu Rong.

An inner attendant greeted them inside while another stood guard at the door.

Xu Yunqi carried the medical box into the room, which was a very spacious bedroom with beaded curtains and silk drapes. Even the incense in the air carried a luxurious scent. Rounding the screen, they heard a few painful moans. Looking over, they saw a corpulent man in white lying on the bed. His face was bloodless, and his breathing was unstable, indicating he was gravely injured.

Xu Rong used to work in the Directorate of Ceremonies. He was sent out of the capital three years ago and recognized Pei Muheng. Seeing him, Xu Rong’s eyes turned red, “Third Young Master…”

Pei Muheng entered the office in disguise, not daring to make any noise. He sat on the embroidered stool in front of Xu Rong and asked in a low voice, “Are the people around you trustworthy?”

Xu Rong glanced at the two inner attendants in the room and nodded, “They are all people I have personally trained.”

Pei Muheng didn’t ask further and stepped aside, signaling Xu Yunqi to come forward.

Xu Rong glanced at Xu Yunqi’s attire, assuming she was a junior imperial physician brought by Pei Muheng. He was skeptical because the most famous physicians in Yangzhou had already come for consultations in the past few days, prescribing many medications, but he had not seen any significant improvement.

However, he had to give face to Pei Muheng. So Xu Rong prepared to undress so that Xu Yunqi could examine his wound.

Seeing Xu Rong’s action, Pei Muheng instinctively stopped him, “Wait.”

Xu Rong and Xu Yunqi both looked up at him.

Xu Yunqi had already rolled up her sleeves and laid out the medical box on the small table in front of her, ready to examine the wound.

Pei Muheng explained with a complicated expression, “She is my wife.”

Xu Rong was so shocked that his jaw nearly dropped. He had heard in Yangzhou that the emperor had arranged a marriage for Pei Muheng, which seemed unsatisfactory. Now he understood the extent of the dissatisfaction. He couldn’t imagine Pei Muheng bringing her along and allowing her to treat him. Without thinking too much, Xu Rong tried to kneel and kowtow to Xu Yunqi, “How could I trouble the Princess Consort…”

Pei Muheng, fearing Xu Rong would underestimate Xu Yunqi, added, “She is the eldest daughter of Grand Secretary Xun.”

At this, Xu Rong dared not say anything further, looking at Xu Yunqi in embarrassment, “This this…”

Xu Yunqi smiled and said, “In front of me, you are a patient. At this moment, I am just your doctor.”

These words seemed to comfort Xu Rong and also to speak to Pei Muheng. Pei Muheng taking her out of the capital to see patients was already a significant progress. She didn’t expect him to fully accept everything overnight.

Without waiting for Xu Rong to respond, she asked, “Where is the wound?”

Xu Rong pointed to his waist, “I was stabbed here.”

Xu Yunqi nodded, noticing that the bandage in that area was stained with blood. When it came to diagnosing patients, their lives were the most important. She couldn’t afford to worry about Pei Muheng.

“Lie still, let me see the wound.”

Xu Yunqi took a pair of scissors and cut open the clothing in that area, revealing a white bandage. She carefully cut through the bandage, exposing the wound itself, which was still red and purple, showing signs of infection.

After observing for a while, Xu Yunqi frowned and said, “The wound has affected the kidney and was poorly treated, hence the delay in healing.”

She immediately called Xu Rong’s attendants to assist. After giving Xu Rong an alcohol-based anesthetic and making sure he fell asleep, she began to properly treat the wound, clearing the internal blood clots.

Pei Muheng sat quietly beside his wife, observing. Once Xu Yunqi immersed herself in treating the patient, she seemed to transform. The gentle and weak demeanor she usually had vanished, replaced by a calm and determined presence. She was precise and meticulous, with her brows occasionally furrowing and smoothing, like a sharp and resilient sword.

He couldn’t help but wonder if she wouldn’t mind treating the wound if he hadn’t stopped her earlier, or if she had seen many such cases while practicing medicine outside.

Recalling what Yin Xing had said, a sudden wave of jealousy surged within him. He felt an overwhelming sense of restlessness. Yet, after thinking it over, he realized he could no longer hold onto his previous grievances.

Fortunately, Xu Rong’s corpulence meant that although the stab had injured his kidney, it wasn’t too deep. After releasing the blood clots and cleaning the wound, she applied a layer of regenerative powder and stitched the wound. It was no longer a concern.

The two had entered the inner office at night and only finished by the time the night was late. Pei Muheng personally handed her a handkerchief. As Xu Yunqi cleaned her hands, she instructed the attendants, “Leave the cut open, there’s no need to bind it with bandages. Apply the remaining powder in the morning and evening, avoid contact with water, and keep the room cool.”

When Xu Rong woke up, only Pei Muheng was there. Xu Rong immediately felt the coolness at the wound site and was immensely relieved. He tearfully expressed his gratitude to Pei Muheng, “Thank you, Prince and Princess Consort, for saving my life…”

Pei Muheng quickly stopped him, “Do not move to prevent the wound from reopening.”

“You must not tire Xu Yunqi any further.”

Xu Rong lay down obediently, and then Pei Muheng asked about the saltworks incident. Grateful for saving his life, Xu Rong disclosed everything without any concealment.

Pei Muheng then realized that while it was easy to set a national policy, implementing it was as hard as reaching the sky.

This trip turned out to be worthwhile. The saltworks in Lianghuai are the largest, and Yangzhou has the highest number of salt merchants in the country. As long as the national policy is implemented in Yangzhou, there will be no worries for the entire realm.

Next, Pei Muheng began investigating the case.

He spent three days “eating, drinking, and having fun” in Yangzhou with Xu Yunqi. When the imperial document arrived in Yangzhou, he took the decree and entered the prefectural office to conduct the investigation.

The investigation went unexpectedly smoothly. It was soon discovered that the vagrants were not real vagrants but were disguised impostors. The prefectural officer handed Pei Muheng a blood-stained arrowhead, “Your Highness, look at this arrowhead; it bears a mark similar to the navy’s fish arrow.”

Pei Muheng’s mind buzzed, and he immediately understood everything.

The navy stationed in Yangzhou is under the jurisdiction of Governor Qu Weizhen of Liangjiang, who is a trusted aide of Yan Ping and openly an ally of Prince Qin.

However, Qu Weizhen is a calm and elegant person who has repeatedly repelled pirates and pacified the seas. The people of Jiangnan regard him as a pillar of the nation, and there is even a saying in the court, “Jiangnan cannot be without Qu Weizhen for a single day.” It is clear that Qu Weizhen’s long-term presence in Jiangnan has disrupted the plans of some people.

And who that person is, is self-evident.

Prince Qin foolishly thought he was using him to cause trouble for the Twelfth Prince, not realizing that Prince Qin had already fallen into another’s trap. By using this case to bring down Qu Weizhen, Prince Qin inadvertently offended Liu Xiwen, the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonies. Meanwhile, someone else took advantage of the situation to place their own people, making it a brilliant plan that achieved three goals with one stroke.

No wonder they call him the best archer of the Jin Dynasty; his arrows never missed their mark—old ginger indeed spicier than the young ones.

Pei Muheng chuckled to himself, then tiredly looked at the officials of the prefectural office, “Lord Chen, I am new here and somewhat unaccustomed to the environment. Please allow me to rest for a day, and we can continue the trial tomorrow.”

The Yangzhou Prefecture Office arranged for Pei Muheng to stay in the Yangzhou Palace. When he returned to the palace, Xu Yunqi was entering the courtyard with large bundles of medicinal herbs, clearly in good spirits.

“Third Master, I just bought a lot of medicinal herbs from the market. You wouldn’t believe it, but some Western medicine is incredibly effective in treating wounds. When I was traveling with my grandfather to Panyu, I met a Western doctor who taught me the technique of cesarean section.”

His wife’s eyebrows were full of smiles. During this trip, Pei Muheng saw many different expressions on Xu Yunqi’s face, proving she was not meant to be confined to the household.

Huang Wei, who had followed the imperial decree, eagerly took Xu Yunqi’s bundles and led the couple to the dining hall next door.

Xu Yunqi took a sip of mouthwash tea and noticed the worry on Pei Muheng’s face. She instinctively asked, “Third Master, do you have any troubles?”

In the past, she never asked him this. No matter the political situation, it had nothing to do with her. Today, the question slipped out without thought.

He was willing to take her out, not confined by social prejudices, allowing her to treat people and discuss state affairs without avoiding her. This trust unknowingly made Xu Yunqi less guarded around him.

This guardedness was not intentional but rather ingrained in her bones since childhood.

Pei Muheng replied, “I’ve encountered trouble with the investigation and cannot proceed.”

An investigation that Pei Muheng cannot continue must involve high-ranking officials in the court, so Xu Yunqi did not ask further. At that moment, Huang Wei brought in the food, and the two stopped talking and began to eat.

After the meal, Xu Yunqi returned to the inner chambers to wash up and change clothes while Pei Muheng went to the study.

He stood alone by the window, contemplating.

With Yan Ping stepping back, Qu Weizhen was Prince Qin’s last card. Once Qu Weizhen was brought down, Prince Qin would completely lose his qualification for the throne. Pei Muheng naturally welcomed this outcome but still couldn’t get past this hurdle.

Why?

Qu Weizhen is not only a member of Prince Qin’s party but also the parent official of millions of people in the fourteen provinces of Jiangnan. These people are now His Majesty’s subjects, and they will continue to be his subjects in the future. Qu Weizhen must be protected.

How to balance and navigate between the Directorate of Ceremonial, the Twelfth Uncle, the Prefectural Government, and His Majesty is a challenge.

Pei Muheng carefully pondered for a moment and had a plan in mind. The prefectural government officials seemed to have noticed something amiss, so the next morning, they did not hold court. Instead, they sent the amiable Lord Tongzhi to invite Pei Muheng for a drink.

“Your Highness, it is rare for you to visit Yangzhou City. Today, I would like to invite you to see a spectacle.”

“Oh, what kind of spectacle?” Pei Muheng asked with a smile.

Tongzhi pointed towards the direction of the Jinshui River, “Our Lord Prefect is famously filial, and today happens to be his father’s 70th birthday. He has invited all the elderly men of the same age in Yangzhou City to a feast, which will be held at the Mingyu Pavilion by the Jinshui River. People from all walks of life in Yangzhou, young and old, will attend the banquet. We would be honored if Your Highness could grace us with your presence.”

Pei Muheng had no reason to refuse, “Please wait a moment, Lord Tongzhi. I will change my attire and come out.”

This banquet was optional for Xu Yunqi to attend, but Pei Muheng still hoped his wife would join in the fun. So he went back to the courtyard to invite Xu Yunqi. She had also been mischievous in the past, accompanying the streets of Yin Xing to see the circus. She abandoned her pharmaceutical work, changed into a servant’s outfit, and followed Pei Muheng out.

The group arrived at the Mingyu Pavilion at the beginning of noon. The Mingyu Pavilion is a three-story circular building, with the entire third floor filled with seats. Two staircases lead straight to the second floor. Colorful ribbons fluttered between the floors, and the building was resplendent. In the middle of the second floor hung a plaque. Tongzhi, standing at the entrance, pointed upwards with an excited expression, “In the eighth year of Chengkang, when His Majesty first toured the south, he arrived in Yangzhou. The prefectural government built this Mingyu Pavilion for His Majesty, and he inscribed a plaque on the spot and hung it up. Does Your Highness know who funded the construction of this building?”

Pei Muheng, looking at the grand and magnificent building, shook his head, “I do not know.”

“Yangzhou’s richest man, Jia Hualian.”

Pei Muheng smiled gently at the name. It was not unfamiliar to him. His grandfather had mentioned during a family banquet that when he traveled south to Yangzhou, Jia Hualian spent half of his fortune building the Dragon Boat Palace and other pavilions for him to tour. Everywhere he went, he saw prosperity and peace. His grandfather was gratified by the wealth of the people and their well-being.

Seeing such a grand scene today, it seemed they intended to repeat the old trick.

Pei Muheng brushed his sleeves slightly and stepped forward, “Then I shall witness the prosperity of Yangzhou City.”

The first two floors were filled with elderly men over seventy years old from Yangzhou City and notable figures. The third floor was reserved for officials and celebrities of Yangzhou.

Pei Muheng, along with Xu Yunqi and Huang Wei, ascended the steps. The officials, led by the prefect of Yangzhou, knelt and saluted. They exchanged pleasantries for a while before taking their seats.

Pei Muheng’s dignified presence instantly attracted the attention of many female guests from all floors.

“I want to see what the prince from the capital looks like!”

“Is he as handsome as the Twelfth Prince?”

Pei Xun had accompanied the emperor on several southern tours and visited Yangzhou multiple times to pay respects to his maternal grandmother. The people of Yangzhou were not unfamiliar with him, and many noble ladies still considered him their ideal match.

“Who in the world can compare to the Twelfth Prince?”

“Hey, not necessarily. The other day, I disguised myself as a servant to sneak into my father’s court session. This Prince Zhao Ming is even more handsome in person than his reputation suggests; he’s like Pan An reborn.”

This remark stirred excitement among the female guests.

Meanwhile, the main banquet was filled with clinking glasses and lively conversation. The prefect of Yangzhou, leading the officials, toasted Pei Muheng, but he responded with tea. Some bold officials expressed their dissatisfaction, but Huang Wei explained, “You may not know, but our prince cannot drink alcohol. Even a sip gives him a rash, and His Majesty knows this. Even His Majesty never forces him to drink.”

No one would go against the emperor’s wishes, so they left it at that. Without alcohol, the banquet felt dull, so they turned their attention to Huang Wei, who soon became tipsy. Tongzhi’s gaze then fell on Xu Yunqi. Kneeling obediently beside Pei Muheng, she looked surprisingly handsome and was solely focused on her meal, seemingly indifferent to her surroundings.

“How about you, sir, have a drink with me?” Tongzhi asked.

Pei Muheng frowned, “Lord He, she is from the inner court and cannot drink. If you want to drink, I will have tea with you.”

Xu Yunqi glanced at her husband and saw Pei Muheng defending her in public, which might draw attention. Socializing was normal, and she had done it before. So she raised her cup cheerfully, “I will drink with you.”

Pei Muheng was surprised, gently holding her wrist to stop her. Xu Yunqi smiled at him, “Just a few drinks.” Her tone was calm.

Lord Tongzhi, seeing the small attendant’s generosity, became even more excited, “Good, good. May I know your name, sir?”

“My surname is Xu,” she replied clearly.

Everyone started addressing her as “Lord Xu” enthusiastically.

Having an attendant from the inner court was not unusual for Pei Muheng, but his protection and mention of her origin led people to believe she was from the Directorate of Ceremonial, either sent by the emperor to monitor Pei Muheng or to gain experience. Regardless, her future seemed promising. Figures like the prince were out of reach, but the Directorate of Ceremonial’s influence spread far and wide, and no one dared to offend them. Even the prefect rose to toast her.

Pei Muheng watched as his wife smoothly navigated the social scene, downing cups of yellow wine without changing her expression.

Watching her adept behavior, it was clear this wasn’t her first time. Pei Muheng was half speechless, half puzzled.

Alcohol harms the body, and Xu Yunqi stopped after drinking five small cups.

Unfortunately, she underestimated these seasoned officials. “Lord Xu drank Lord Liu’s wine but refuses to drink mine. Does Lord Xu look down on me? Just now, Lord Xu mentioned being from Jingzhou. I am also from Jiangxia, Jingzhou. As fellow townsmen, Lord Xu, you must drink two cups with me…”

Half an hour later, Pei Muheng dragged Xu Yunqi onto the carriage.

Xu Yunqi had drunk quite a bit and quietly leaned to one side to rest.

Pei Muheng, furious, turned her around, held her slender shoulders, and forced her to look at him.

“Xu Yunqi, you actually dared to drink! Do you know those officials are all seasoned veterans? You drank at least ten cups.”

Xu Yunqi’s cheeks were a bit redder than usual. She didn’t mind and waved her hand, her eyes curving softly, “I’m fine.”

When she left, she had prepared some hangover pills meant for Pei Muheng but ended up using them herself. She had secretly taken one before drinking, so she was fine.

Pei Muheng realized, “You’re quite good at drinking?”

“Mm…” She murmured, raising her slightly bloated forehead, “Accompanying my grandfather in the world, when we met like-minded people, he always drank. I naturally accompanied him for a few cups. Oh, and Yin Xing too…”

“And you?” she asked with a slight teasing tone, her bright eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, less calm and composed than usual, “You can’t drink?”

Pei Muheng heard the hint of disdain and laughed in exasperation, “I really couldn’t drink when I was a child, but it got better as I grew up.” More importantly, he didn’t like drinking. Unless absolutely necessary, he hardly touched alcohol; he didn’t like losing control.

Xu Yunqi’s lips curved, and she smiled lazily. Her waist was soft, like a fish ready to leap away at any moment. Pei Muheng had to use some force to pull her into his arms.

The carriage suddenly jolted, and Pei Muheng leaned in closer. They were now very close, and the man’s rich, clean scent was intoxicating. Unwilling to be outdone, Xu Yunqi mischievously blew a puff of alcohol-laden breath at him, then covered her face and secretly laughed.

Pei Muheng had never seen her like this before; it was as if something had gently brushed against his heart.

“Yunqi, are you drunk?”

Xu Yunqi shook her head very slowly, “I’m not drunk.”

A flush of red lingered at her brows and eyes, a rare and fleeting moment of charm.

Pei Muheng controlled his heartbeat and calmly asked, “Really not drunk? Then call me ‘husband’ and let me hear it.”

Xu Yunqi stared at him blankly, her eyes lifeless, not responding.

Pei Muheng, disappointed, tugged at the corners of his mouth.

He believed she wasn’t drunk now.

---

Drunken Rain Pavilion in the capital.

Compared to the sunny weather in Yangzhou, the capital experienced a light drizzle on this day.

Seeing that autumn was approaching, Madam Zhang prepared autumn clothes for her daughter Xu Ruo. Unfortunately, the seamstress at the mansion was mediocre, and Xu Ruo didn’t like the clothes, insisting on going outside to have them tailored. Madam Zhang took her younger son and daughter out to the street.

It had been ten days since the incident, and the court was calm and quiet. According to Xu Ke, Xun Yunhe worked tirelessly day and night, seemingly forgetting the matter. Madam Zhang sighed softly, relieved that it had passed.

Madam Zhang took her daughter and son to a tailor shop to get measured for new clothes. Passing by the Drunken Rain Pavilion, she noticed the lush lotus leaves by the riverbank in the distance. Xu Ruo insisted on going to play, so Madam Zhang sent her son to accompany his sister while she sat in the Drunken Rain Pavilion to avoid the rain.

The rain fell steadily, and crystal-clear droplets rolled back and forth on the lotus leaves, occasionally slipping into the water with the breeze.

At this moment, a call was heard from the stone path across the pond.

“Sweet candied hawthorns for sale! Sweet candied hawthorns for sale!” An old man in his fifties, wearing a bamboo hat, leisurely carried his goods from door to door.

Madam Zhang’s expression momentarily froze, then she suddenly instructed her maid, “Go buy a few sticks from across the way.”

The maid obeyed, leaving only the old wet nurse who had struck the drum in court that day by her side.

The sound of the rain grew louder, and footsteps were heard on the steps behind. Madam Zhang quickly turned around, “Are you back already…”

A tall, handsome figure stood by the corridor’s pillar. His well-tailored dark robe accentuated his well-maintained physique. His features had lost the youthful radiance, replaced with a calm, restrained demeanor honed by experience.

Xun Yunhe’s deep eyes fixed on her without moving, and he spoke hoarsely, “Qing Niang.”

Madam Zhang clutched her embroidered handkerchief tightly and stood up in shock, looking at him in a mix of surprise and distress. Her lips trembled, unable to speak. Her eyes instinctively glanced towards the children in the distance, tears almost spilling out, “You… why are you here?”

Xun Yunhe’s gaze was too intense for her to meet. She bit her lip, tears falling like rain.

Seeing her like this, Xun Yunhe felt an indescribable irritation rising in his chest, “Why do you think I’m here?” he said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word.