When she returned to the Mingyue Pavilion, Xiao Yunting was already waiting on the second floor.
He was so familiar with the place it was as if he were at home. Qi Yuan frowned slightly, but considering the urgency of the matter, she didn’t say anything. She simply sat down and got straight to the point: “I killed Xu Xinqiao. He didn’t reveal anything useful.”
Old Zhao had come with him this time.
Old Zhao’s martial skills were excellent—good enough that even from a distance, he could hear everything the young lady Qi said.
And…
She sounded shockingly justified.
But Xiao Yunting didn’t find anything wrong with it. He frowned slightly and said in a low voice, “Someone followed you.”
The authority of the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial wasn’t just for show. The Embroidered Uniform Guard were even more omnipresent.
Which meant, from the moment Qi Yuan was attacked, everything she did was already under their surveillance.
Qi Yuan made a calm sound of acknowledgement: “I know. So after I killed Xu Xinqiao, what do you think they’ll believe?”
What would they think?
Xiao Yunting narrowed his eyes. “Simple. They’ll think… you’ve already figured out that the real mastermind behind the smuggling is Xu Huan.”
Xu Xinqiao didn’t exactly seem like someone who could keep secrets.
In fact, he couldn’t.
If Qi Yuan had pressed him just a little more, he probably would have spilled everything.
But saying that now was useless.
Qi Yuan smiled and said, “Exactly. So if I were Xu Huan, and I knew you had that kind of evidence on me…”
I’d silence you.
Xiao Yunting’s temper exploded: “You’re using yourself as bait again!”
Qi Yuan looked at him, puzzled: “What does that have to do with Your Highness?”
It wasn’t the first time she’d done something like this.
If someone could kill her, let them try.
And if they couldn’t, she’d kill them.
There were only two possible outcomes—either way, she could accept it.
Xiao Yunting grabbed her wrist, finally losing his composure: “Why can’t you trust me?! I’ve already sent people to investigate the others involved in the Jizhou smuggling ring. They’re taking bribes. If they’re taking bribes, then there’s a profit chain. Once I get the ledgers and the evidence, I can prove your family’s innocence. You don’t need to risk your life!”
Qi Yuan looked at him quietly for a moment, then pulled her hand away without hesitation.
“In this world, after crawling through the mud and blood this long, there’s only one truth I believe in: The only person you can rely on is yourself.”
Her words, each sharp as a blade, pierced Xiao Yunting’s heart.
He clenched his fists. “Fine. You’re powerful. You’re unmatched in martial arts. No one can kill you.”
Qi Yuan thought he was acting childishly, throwing a tantrum over something like this. She expected him to storm off any moment.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he took a deep breath, sat back down, and said with a dark expression: “Qi Yuan, I found something else too. Xu Huan may be known for his incorruptibility—even renting a house in the capital—but his cousin built a family mansion in their hometown that takes up half of the western city.”
Qi Yuan understood.
All the silver gained from smuggling had to go somewhere.
Transport it to the capital?
With so much silver, under what pretense could they bring it in?
And once it was here, how would they hide it?
That was the problem.
Since the property in the capital was rented, then naturally all that wealth must’ve been funneled into the Xu family’s ancestral home.
Seeing Qi Yuan remain silent, Xiao Yunting said calmly, “I’ll have people submit memorials to speak in defense of the Old Marquis and the Marquis.”
“No!” Qi Yuan shook her head and looked directly at Xiao Yunting. “Your Highness, don’t let anyone speak in defense of my grandfather and father. On the contrary—have your people submit memorials to impeach them.”
Old Zhao: …Did he hear that right? Has the young lady lost her mind?!
But Xiao Yunting immediately understood Qi Yuan’s intention.
Smuggling weapons and colluding with foreign enemies was such a vicious accusation—Pu Wuyong had orchestrated this because no matter whether the plot succeeded or failed, it would destroy the Qi family’s standing in Emperor Yongchang’s heart.
Even if the real culprit was eventually exposed.
But if—if—Qi Yuan were repeatedly targeted for assassination, and public officials all turned against the Qi family with overwhelming momentum, only for it to later be revealed that the massive stash of silver was hidden in the Xu family’s ancestral home… and on top of that, the people Xiao Yunting had already sent to Jizhou returned with d*mning evidence…
Then the louder the uproar now, the stronger Emperor Yongchang’s future sympathy toward the Qi family would be.
He would know—someone had truly been trying to frame the Qi family.
Xiao Yunting didn’t hesitate. He rose immediately: “I’ll make the arrangements. You be careful.”
Qi Yuan smiled lightly. “I will. Don’t worry, Your Highness.”
Don’t worry?
Xiao Yunting gave a bitter smile. She never listened to anything he said.
But what could he do?
He just couldn’t stand by and watch.
Logically, from New Year’s Eve until the eighth day of the new year, all government offices were supposed to be closed—meaning a full recess.
But of course, there were exceptions.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards were one such exception.
Pu Wuyong sat with a cold expression as a confession was delivered. He didn’t even look at it. “No confession? Then what’s the point of showing this to me?”
Little Xuzi grinned beside him. “Grandpa, the people over there said it was Commander Lai’s idea. Since His Majesty hasn’t ordered torture, they can’t use harsher methods yet—so they’re just investigating for now.”
Lai Chenglong!
Pu Wuyong had long found him an eyesore.
He frowned and tossed away the handkerchief in his hand. “I seem to recall there’s an illegal mining case in Shanxi, isn’t there? Have Commander Lai take a trip. He’s still young—why should he just stay in the capital, doing nothing?”
Little Xuzi quickly responded with a smiling, “Yes, Grandpa!”
After a pause, he lowered his voice: “Qi Yuan killed Xu Xinqiao… she must have gotten her hands on something…”
Pu Wuyong clicked his tongue. “I hate women who kill. So unladylike. Tell Xu Huan to be clever for once—surely he doesn’t need me to get my hands dirty for this?”
Little Xuzi immediately understood. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll go speak to Lord Xu right away—he’ll definitely understand your good intentions.”
And Xu Huan did understand.
More than that—he had no choice.
All these years, he had used Xu Xinqiao’s post as patrol censor in Jizhou to collude from both ends. He’d provide the weapons, Xu Xinqiao would sell them—the profits were astronomical.
Even after giving Pu Wuyong a cut, what landed in their own pockets was still a fortune beyond imagining.
This kind of matter must never be exposed.
He didn’t even have time to grieve for his nephew’s death. Killing Qi Yuan now was the most urgent matter!
So on one hand, he arranged for his political allies to submit memorials impeaching the Qi family—urging the Emperor to punish them severely. On the other hand, he was secretly preparing to have Qi Yuan assassinated.
It was that girl who had caused all of this!
