“That period was difficult, but things have stabilized now.”
“That’s good.” Having said this, Yuan Fuyu turned and led the way toward the guest quarters.
Xie Huaizhou stood on the highest floor of the Fanglin Pavilion with its soaring eaves.
Leaning against the intricately carved edge of the removable window with one hand, his gaze followed Yuan Fuyu as she walked along the corridor beside the Zhuochen Pond.
Cui Siniang indeed knew much—more than even Pei Du and He Yichen, the Princess’s most trusted aides—yet she hadn’t told the whole truth.
During that heavy rain in Wu City years ago, the person the Princess rescued in the suburbs… wasn’t Cui Siniang at all.
When Yuan Fuyu was brought by Pei Du to the guest courtyard, Su Ziyi and the others were gathered around He Yichen—whose wounds had been dressed—questioning him in the pavilion at the center of the yard.
Jinshu waited outside the pavilion.
“Where are my guards?” Yuan Fuyu asked Pei Du.
“Don’t worry, Miss Cui, they’ve been settled in. But this is, after all, the Princess Manor… they cannot move about freely,” Pei Du replied.
As Yuan Fuyu entered the courtyard gate, He Yichen—his face bruised and swollen—hurriedly rose and limped over to meet her.
But upon seeing Pei Du, He Yichen swallowed the words he had been about to say. He shot Pei Du a glare before lowering his eyes to look at Yuan Fuyu.
“Don’t be so hostile toward Pei Du. Starting today, he’s your and Yang Jiancheng’s direct superior.” Yuan Fuyu smoothed her sleeves and turned to Pei Du. “They’re both familiar with the Mystic Eagle Guards. When can they assume their duties? Today?”
Pei Du frowned deeply. “The Mystic Eagle Guards now report to the State Council, not the Princess’s private forces. It will take two days.”
“Then they can go review the case files today, I assume?” Though phrased as a question, her tone brooked no argument. She asked He Yichen, “Are you able to go?”
He Yichen nodded.
Pei Du knitted his brows. “But—”
Yu Yunyan, who stood with arms crossed leaning against a pavilion pillar, looked thoroughly impatient. She detested hesitant speech. “If you have something to say, spit it out!”
Before Pei Du could speak, Yuan Fuyu smoothly interjected first: “Last night’s events, having passed through the hands of Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family and Lord Xie, must already be spreading like wildfire.”
Yuan Fuyu glanced at He Yichen. “If anyone sees you and tries to stop you for questioning, avoid them if you can. If you can’t avoid it, say we went to Pei Residence to see Pei Du, intending to reinvestigate the Princess’s death from years ago, and that no assassination took place. As for the Qianjin Pavilion assassins, you know nothing.”
He Yichen bowed his head. “Understood.”
Having obtained the outcome he wanted, Pei Du cupped his hands toward Yuan Fuyu and the others in the courtyard, then left with his men.
Yuan Fuyu walked into the pavilion in the yard, casually sweeping her sleeves as she sat in a chair beside the Go board. Resting her right elbow on the armrest, she rubbed her fingers, lost in thought.
Jinshu stepped forward, used a tea scoop to serve tea, placed the cup beside Yuan Fuyu’s hand, and retreated to the side.
Li Yunping and the others watched the pensive Yuan Fuyu, waiting quietly without urging her to speak.
Yuan Fuyu wondered whether Pei Du had also been deceived, or if he had never intended to tell her the truth.
Her death wasn’t caused by Xie Huaizhou or Pei Du. No one was connected to her death—so it was just the mad act of the already-dead Lu Pingxuan trying to kill her?
Ridiculous…
What did Lu Pingxuan stand to gain? To have three generations of his relatives exterminated after killing her?
Therefore, she had to investigate this matter herself.
Until she uncovered the truth, Yuan Fuyu wouldn’t believe a single word anyone said.
Including the vows Pei Du had sworn.
After a long while, Yuan Fuyu snapped out of her thoughts to find Su Ziyi, Li Yunping, and the others, along with He Yichen—his face shiny with ointment—all watching her intently.
Her fingers, which had been rubbing together, paused.
“After the commotion in the dungeon last night, aren’t you all going to rest?” Yuan Fuyu asked.
“We’re waiting for your instructions!” Yu Yunyan said. “Aren’t we investigating Ah Qu’s death? He Yichen and Yang Jiancheng are going to check the archives at the Mystic Eagle Guards. We’re following your lead—what do you want us to do next?”
Yuan Fuyu thought of Master Cui and Master Cui, who were still imprisoned by the Golden Wu Guards, and said, “There is one thing I truly need your help with.”
“What is it? Just say it…” Liu Mei said boldly.
“The Golden Wu Guards have captured my father and second uncle. Su Ziyi, you and Liu Mei should make a conspicuous trip to help me get them out,” Yuan Fuyu said.
Both Su Ziyi and Liu Mei were quite sharp-tongued and would surely be able to secure their release from the Golden Wu Guards.
Moreover, with all the rumors swirling outside now— if the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, who were said to have gone to assassinate Xie Huaizhou and Pei Du, personally went to demand their release, Zhai Heming wouldn’t be foolish enough to refuse and let the rumors Xie Huaizhou had spread turn against him.
“Should we bring them to the Princess Manor after getting them out? Should we have Pei Du inform Xie Huaizhou?” Liu Mei asked.
“No need to bring them to the Princess Manor. Just have them return to the inn.”
“Alright!” Liu Mei agreed.
“What about us?” Yu Yunyan asked Yuan Fuyu.
“Before He Yichen and Yang Jiancheng return with any findings, let’s rest and recuperate.” Yuan Fuyu stood up and said to Jinshu, “Have the Princess Manor staff bring hot water. I want to bathe. Send someone to the inn to fetch my clothes.”
After the turmoil last night and the unpleasant conditions in the dungeon, Yuan Fuyu disliked the smell on her now.
Yuan Fuyu believed that He Yichen and Yang Jiancheng would definitely uncover something…
Xie Huaizhou had agreed to her request too readily earlier.
Without even setting any conditions.
Was it truly because he valued her as the Princess’s confidante that he granted He Yichen and Yang Jiancheng the authority to investigate?
Yuan Fuyu didn’t believe it.
It was merely because a major conflict was imminent, and he needed to stabilize the court situation.
Also because he couldn’t kill her now and feared she might turn to collaborate with Zhai Heming.
But Yuan Fuyu knew Xie Huaizhou—he was not one to swallow losses easily.
Back when Xie Huaizhou was by her side, those who had made him suffer losses had long since had weeds growing over their graves multiple times.
However, if Xie Huaizhou hadn’t been sharp-clawed back then, she wouldn’t have supported him in the first place.
Later, he would surely set a trap for her.
Seeing Yuan Fuyu leave, Yu Yunyan sniffed her own clothes and said, “I need a bath too. I still smell like the dungeon.”
“I’ll wash up as well,” Lin Changxue said, turning to head toward her guest quarters.
After escorting Yuan Fuyu to the guest courtyard, Pei Du returned to report to Xie Huaizhou.
“This Cui Siniang’s relationship with the Princess might be closer than we imagined,” Pei Du said, frowning as he looked at Xie Huaizhou lounging lazily in his chair. “She even knows about my affairs and made me swear an oath to the Princess’s spirit in heaven.”
“Keep a close watch on her,” Xie Huaizhou said, still clutching the Xiaoshi Bureau’s communication records from Wu City before the Princess’s death. His ink-black eyes were icy. “Since she wants to investigate, let He Yichen and Yang Jiancheng uncover some leads and divert their attention toward Zhai Heming.”
Pei Du nodded.
Xie Huaizhou casually tossed the Xiaoshi Bureau ledger onto the table. “She wants to see Yuan Fuqu, right? Then bring her over on the day Zhai Heming visits the Anping Princess Manor…”
Pei Du couldn’t bear it: “But if she and He Yichen investigate all the way to Anping Princess, Zhai Heming will kill them. After all, she is the Princess’s confidante.”