Shi Buyu got up and led the others into the room. “Did you find anything?”

“Yes, we did.” Yan Shian put down the Buddha peach and sat beside Shi Buyu. “Cheng Jing really gave us a surprise. On the surface, he appears neutral, but he had long pledged allegiance to Grand Preceptor Fu. In reality, he’s a man of Chancellor Zhang.”

“You underestimated him.” Shi Buyu had guessed this person was either with the Chancellor or the Grand Preceptor, but it turns out his identity overlapped—he’s a double agent.

Yan Shian looked at her. “What’s the plan?”

“Of course, to expose him. The Grand Preceptor’s cunning is like a needle’s tip. He and Chancellor Zhang have been rivals for so many years, fairly matched. But now, Chancellor Zhang has driven such a big nail into his side—that’s a blow to both his face and reputation.”

Shi Buyu picked up a Buddha peach and sniffed it, still craving more, but her stomach was really full. “If he can swallow this insult and keep focusing all his energy on capturing the Shi family, then he’s very likely the one behind it all. But if the Shi family isn’t as important to him as saving face, and he instead turns against Chancellor Zhang, then he’s not.”

Yan Shian nodded. Things have priorities; just watch which way he leans.

“We’ll find out tomorrow.”

---

The next day after the morning court session, news spread all over the capital about how the Chancellor and the Grand Preceptor nearly came to blows at court.

The city, which had been quiet since the prisoner rescue incident, suddenly became lively again. Tea houses, taverns, and restaurants were filled to the brim after several days. Waiters rushed between tables with light, quick steps.

At first, people kept their voices low, but when they noticed fewer patrolling soldiers in the streets, their voices grew louder.

“Today the Emperor didn’t attend court. I heard the Grand Preceptor and Chancellor fought fiercely, almost coming to blows.”

“They didn’t fight, but plenty of spit must have flown.”

“The two factions have been battling for years; this is nothing new.”

“But it’s been years since it got this intense. What’s this fight about?”

“I heard the Grand Preceptor’s household took in a new concubine arranged by the Chancellor.”

“No, I heard Grand Preceptor Fu bribed someone from Chancellor Zhang’s faction.”

“…”

“Grand Preceptor Fu found out last night and immediately started investigating.”

Since the academy was off today, Yan Shian came right away with news: “This morning at court, the Grand Preceptor’s people accused Cheng Jing, listing six or seven crimes. If the Chancellor doesn’t intervene, the lightest punishment is exile, and execution isn’t impossible.”

“The Chancellor must act, or who will dare serve him in the future?”

“The Grand Preceptor won’t let him off easily.” Yan Shian smiled. “They’ll be fighting for a while.”

Shi Buyu fiddled with her fingers. “Since the Grand Preceptor is cleared, suspicion falls heavily on Chancellor Zhang. You should keep an eye on him. If, while battling the Grand Preceptor, he still obsessively targets the Shi family, then it’s most likely him. Also, while the Shi family was imprisoned, he forbade anyone from seeing them.”

“He’s already being watched. If it is him…” Yan Shian paused. “I haven’t heard he has a grudge with the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery.”

“No grudge, yet he can be this ruthless—it shows this matter is serious. Has the capital’s lockdown lifted?”

“Mostly, yes. The western market reopened, and the curfew returned to normal hours.”

Shi Buyu nodded thoughtfully.

Yan Shian stood. “My classmates invited me out. The situation’s less tense, and your cousin can go out too.”

Shi Buyu waved goodbye, then went to her study. Though small, her courtyard was fully equipped with everything—and nothing but quality items.

She ground ink, laid out a full sheet of xuan paper on the desk, dipped a small brush in ink, and wrote two names side by side: Zhang Xuzhi, Fu Wei. Then she mapped out their networks of relationships.

When there are two or more princes, factional struggles are inevitable—even among full siblings—and the Dayou Dynasty was no exception. The emperor had few children; only two sons and a daughter survived. One son and the daughter were born to the Noble Consort, the other son’s mother died in childbirth and the boy was raised under the care of Consort Duan.

With no empress in the palace, the Noble Consort held the highest status. Although no heir had been named, the Noble Consort had been favored above all others for years. Her son, though fourth in line, was the oldest living prince.

The fifth prince’s birth mother was of low rank. Consort Duan was gentle by nature, and the prince was raised to be cautious and timid.

With no legitimate heir declared, the eldest son’s claim was undisputed. Compared to the fifth prince, the fourth prince was quite outstanding.

Shi Buyu wrote under Zhang Xuzhi’s name: “Fourth Prince.” The Noble Consort was a distant relative of the Chancellor, and it was through the Chancellor that she entered the palace, making the Chancellor’s faction the staunch supporters of the Fourth Prince.

The Grand Preceptor had no choice but to support the Fifth Prince.

Over the years, the emperor favored the Chancellor, but also kept the Grand Preceptor in check. The two parties contended back and forth, but with the palace prince factions unequal in strength, the Chancellor maintained the upper hand.

Of course, the Grand Preceptor was hiding his true strength.

Was Zhang Xuzhi’s attempt to annihilate the Shi family connected to this? But the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery’s household was far weaker than before. Even siding with the Fifth Prince, it wasn’t a situation demanding such drastic action.

Wan Xia entered carrying a teapot and poured a cup of flower tea for the young lady. Watching Shi Buyu write down each name carefully, her eyes lingered on one name for a long time.

Shi Buyu glanced at her, put down the brush, and took a sip from the tea cup. “If you’re worried, just go see for yourself. I’m safe here.”

Wan Xia shook her head. “Sometimes it’s better not to see.”

“Then don’t. I worry that if you see them, you won’t be able to let go—and then you’d leave me behind.” Shi Buyu poured tea for her. “After this is all over, we can go anywhere in the world. No need to confine yourself to this small city. Aunt, you just stay with me, and I’ll take care of you in your old age.”

Wan Xia’s heart, full of sorrow, was instantly emptied. Being promised care in old age was the closest thing to intimacy she had ever heard from the young lady, a kindness earned after thirteen years.

---

When she first came to the young lady’s side, even saying ten words barely got a response—no reply was ever wasted. For a long time, the young lady’s gaze was unfamiliar. At night, she had to pretend to sleep just to let her rest easy. It took almost a year before the young lady accepted her.

The old master had said things would gradually improve. Sure enough, after the young lady turned six, she no longer needed so much time to accept someone; by seven or eight, she could roughhouse with others. But those she trusted most, besides the old master, was her.

“I once had a child, but lost him.”

Shi Buyu suddenly realized: “So that’s why you cared for me as if I were your own child.”

“…”

Wan Xia’s bitterness never surfaced, and she retracted what she was about to say, continuing instead: “Yes, I lost one child, but gained another, so it wasn’t as painful.”

“I lost my family then, but I wasn’t sad.” Shi Buyu held her tea cup up to her. “From the day I was born, the Shi family has cherished me like this.”

Wan Xia gently stroked the young lady’s head. Although the young lady was not close to the Shi family and did not call them family, she had never forgotten their kindness. That’s why, when she learned of the Shi family’s trouble, she fought so desperately to save them.

The old master once said that if the young lady hadn’t been born into the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery’s household, she wouldn’t be who she is today.

Indeed.