“I think I know why they fell out,” Shi Buyu chuckled lightly. “The Eldest Princess only sees the present—she’s long cast the past aside and is focused solely on gaining more benefits for herself. But Qinghuan still remembers who her father was. She assumed her sister, who shares her blood, would think the same way, only to realize too late they’re no longer walking the same path. Does the Emperor know why they quarreled?”

“There’s been no sign the Emperor did anything about it. Most likely, the Eldest Princess smoothed things over. She knows Qinghuan well—if she dares to make life hard for her, Qinghuan would drag her down to hell with her.”

Shi Buyu let out a sigh. “Qinghuan really has a good temper.”

Yan Shian thought to himself that… well, “good” was relative.

“This morning in court, the Emperor punished the Grand Preceptor over a minor matter, ordering him to reflect behind closed doors for three days.” Meeting Shi Buyu’s gaze, Yan Shian added, “Just received word—the Prime Minister has sent out four squads beyond the city, all heading toward the Taoliu County docks.”

That was the false trail Shi Buyu had arranged—the bait had worked, and they were now chasing shadows in that direction.

“There are many places one can reach from that dock. I’m curious what they’ll manage to find. But I’ve noticed something else.” Shi Buyu sat up straighter. “Prime Minister Zhang is the Emperor’s blade.”

“In other words, it’s the Emperor who wants to wipe out the entire Loyal and Brave Marquis household.” Yan Shian frowned slightly. “Could it really be because the Marquis uncovered something that the Emperor wanted to bury?”

“It’s only our guess. It doesn’t prove anything. Let’s wait. So long as they haven’t caught any of the Shi family, he’ll never have peace and won’t sit idly by. For now, the initiative is in our hands.” Shi Buyu’s eyes lit up. “Maybe, we can even do something to draw the snake out of its hole!”

Yan Shian’s heart stirred. “Like what?”

“No rush. Let them keep looking for now. Once they’re exhausted, we’ll toss them a candy.”

Candy—or candy coated in arsenic? Yan Shian looked at the gleeful Shi Buyu, who looked ready to start making those candies herself, and felt a strange sense of anticipation. He’d been on the defensive far too long.

---

June weather changes on a whim. One moment the sun blazed down, the next, rain poured in sheets, finally cooling the stifling heat. After several days of indulging in storybooks, Shi Buyu was at last shoved out the door by the exasperated Agui.

The capital was bustling, lively at every corner. Here someone was performing sword tricks, there people were playing pitch-pot, and she even saw a monkey helping its owner put on a play.

The owner spoke with great emotion, and the monkey performed accordingly—rolling at the right moment, striking a pose when needed, even walking in figure eights now and then, drawing hearty laughter from the crowd. When it held out a straw hat to collect tips, the onlookers were generous.

Shi Buyu took a large handful of coins from Agui’s pouch and dropped them in.

“Yan Ze said the food at that restaurant’s not bad. Would you like to try it, miss?”

Shi Buyu was just getting hungry. As she headed toward the restaurant, she grinned mischievously. “If it’s bad, I’ll take some back for Yan Shian.”

Wanxia humored her. “Let’s order one of everything.”

Shi Buyu’s mood lifted instantly. Good or not, everything was now labeled “bad,” and she was determined to take a share back for Yan Shian—right in front of Yan Ze.

Unfortunately, the good mood didn’t last long.

A table by the window had just been vacated. After ordering, Shi Buyu looked down at the broad street from above, and even she had to admit that the capital was truly grand. No wonder so many yearned to come here and make their mark.

“Agui…”

Wanxia suddenly stood up, opened the window wide, and leaned out.

Shi Buyu closed her mouth and waited.

Soon, Wanxia pulled back and whispered, “Miss, it’s a dispatch rider.”

A dispatch rider—those words only made Shi Buyu think of war reports.

Soon, the sharp command “Clear the way!” rang out, followed by the sound of pounding hooves. She stood and looked down—flanked by four guards, the dispatch rider held a war report high as he galloped forward. His hoarse voice was thunderous.

“Report! Sitong City has fallen! Report! Sitong City has fallen! Report! Sitong City has fallen!”

Three times in a row. The bustling capital fell into sudden silence.

After the Loyal and Brave Marquis had sent out the new Axeguard Garrison, Dayou had now lost yet another city—a defeat it hadn’t suffered in years.

As the hoofbeats faded, the dispatch rider’s voice vanished too. A sharp crack rang out as someone smashed their wine cup.

“Pah! Disloyal and unrighteous Loyal and Brave Marquis!”

Shi Buyu turned to the speaker. Whether drunk or genuinely angry, the man’s eyes were wide and bloodshot, face red with fury, clearly enraged.

Wanxia gripped her mistress’s arm, motioning her to sit.

The denunciations of the Loyal and Brave Marquis were just beginning.

The entire third floor was filled—every table occupied—and everyone was cursing the Marquis for betrayal and treachery.

As she listened, Shi Buyu began to smile. People were fascinating like that. They didn’t know the truth, but acted like they’d seen it with their own eyes, heard it with their own ears. And when the truth finally comes out, when they realize they’ve wronged someone—they cry a little, shed a few tears, say “I misjudged you,” and somehow that makes up for all the cruel words spoken before.

As for how much the person at the center of the storm had to endure—who cared? After all, they weren’t the ones weathering the storm.

The waiter brought the food. Halfway through the meal, Shi Buyu suddenly remembered her “real” mission and called the waiter over, asking him to wrap up one of each dish in oil paper. To fool Yan Ze, she didn’t even use a lunchbox.

Wanxia felt reassured. If her lady still had the energy to play pranks, then things weren’t too serious.

After they left the restaurant, Shi Buyu asked her to go find the monkey performer and invite him to come act out a drama in the restaurant—a loyal subject, full of righteous devotion, who ends up dying a wretched death. That reassured her even more. Her lady’s greatest strength was that, when she was upset, she never turned on herself—she took it out on others. And once she did, her mood would lift.

Shi Buyu really wasn’t too shaken. Seeing Yan Ze made her even cheerier. “Yan Ze, has your master come back yet?”

“He has. He’s in the study.” Yan Ze eyed the bundles in her hands warily. “Cousin, what’s all this?”

“Oh, just bought a few things for your master to try.” Shi Buyu handed him the parcels with a smirk. “They’re heavy. I’ll trouble you, Steward Yan.”

Yan Ze clearly didn’t know her well enough yet. The fact she was willing to hand it over made him relax halfway, and his professional smile returned. “Had a good outing today, cousin?”

“Not bad. Watched a monkey show. Pretty entertaining.”

“Yes, some monkey acts really are quite skillful.”

Yan Ze echoed her comment while trying to read her expression. He’d already received the news—Sitong City had fallen. The scout had shouted it through the streets, and her lady had happened to be out. She must’ve heard it.

But from the look of her now, she seemed… unaware?

When they reached the study, Yan Shian came out to meet her, immediately checking Shi Buyu’s expression.

“Back right on time!” Shi Buyu grabbed the bundles from Yan Ze and handed them to Yan Shian. “Found some tasty things—brought you a share.”

“Cousin!”

Shi Buyu smiled sweetly at the wide-eyed Yan Ze. “Steward Yan, is something the matter?”

There was something—something big! Food from outside, given to the young master, and he’d been the one to carry it! Yan Ze stared at the parcels, wishing he had the power to set them on fire with a glance.

But under Yan Shian’s warning gaze, he could only withdraw.