“Alright.” Liu Qingbai readily agreed, standing up and taking a seat in the empty spot next to Jiang Yunxi. He proactively extended his right hand.
Jiang Yunxi was still captivated by the man’s hand upon seeing it again. His fingers were long, fair, and clean, with distinct joints, like finely carved jade—so beautiful it was hard to look away. She directly grasped his hand and examined it carefully.
“This prince has never seen palm reading that requires touching the hand.” Zhan Beiyuan said coldly. She truly showed no regard for the distinction between men and women.
“There are many types of palm reading. One is a superficial glance at the surface, and another is Bone Feeling. Your Highness, not being a member of the Mystic Gate, naturally wouldn’t understand. Isn’t that right, Young Master Liu?” Jiang Yunxi said before releasing his hand.
Unfortunately, Liu Qingbai was not the Ziwei Star.
“Miss Jiang is correct.” Liu Qingbai agreed. The woman’s hand was somewhat cold, no wonder she carried such a heavy aura of Yin Energy. This kind of Yin Energy was not noticeable to ordinary people, but as a member of the Mystic Gate, he could see it.
“Did Your Highness hear that?” Jiang Yunxi smiled, her eyes curving as she looked at the disgruntled man.
Zhan Beiyuan snorted coldly.
“Young Master Liu’s palm lines are excellent, indicating a life of great wealth and honor, with happiness and fulfillment in old age.” Jiang Yunxi relayed what she saw. His facial features were auspicious, but there was a calamity in his fate. If he strayed onto the wrong path, he would fall into an abyss.
“Thank you for your auspicious words, Miss Jiang.” Liu Qingbai smiled gently.
“However, I have a piece of advice for Young Master Liu.”
“Please speak.”
“Stay true to your original intent, and you will achieve your goal.” Jiang Yunxi said each word with emphasis. She hoped he would truly take these words to heart and remember them firmly; otherwise, no one would be able to save him in the future.
Liu Qingbai’s expression stiffened slightly before he smiled warmly and said, “I will keep Miss Jiang’s words in mind.”
Jiang Yunxi smiled and said nothing more.
After dinner.
Jiang Yunxi and Zhan Beiyuan returned to the manor with the two children, along with a large pile of gifts—meeting presents from Emperor Su Ming for Momo and Mianmian.
As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the prince’s manor.
“Take care of the children tonight. I have to go out to handle some business.” Jiang Yunxi handed the children over to Zhan Beiyuan, thinking it would be a good opportunity for the father and his two sons to spend time together.
“What business do you have to attend to so late at night?”
“I went to the Jingzhao Yin Office today to beat the Drum of Injustice. Now I need to find evidence.”
“You have a grievance?” Zhan Beiyuan frowned. What could have happened on her second day back in the capital?
“Not me, it’s her.” Jiang Yunxi patted the cloth bag hanging from her waist.
“The bag?”
“It’s the soul and spirit inside the bag.”
Zhan Beiyuan: “…”
Jiang Yunxi looked at Momo and Mianmian. “Listen to your father. Mother will return after finishing her business.”
With that, she turned and left.
She needed to find the place where Xie Sirou and her family’s souls and spirits were sealed. Xie Sirou said she didn’t know where that Dry Well was located.
“Father, don’t worry. Mother will be fine.” Mianmian tugged at his long robe, smiling with crescent-shaped eyes.
“Father, Mother is very capable.” Momo’s handsome face showed pride.
Zhan Beiyuan grunted in acknowledgment, thinking to himself that he wasn’t worried about that woman at all. Then, quite naturally, he took each child by the hand and led them toward Fanghua Courtyard. “Does she often go out at night?”
“Mother is very busy! During the day, she treats patients and saves lives. At night, she helps all kinds of ghosts with their problems and deals with wicked people and ghosts.” Mianmian said with a giggle.
Zhan Beiyuan: “…”
When she did these things, she told the children about them. Wasn’t she worried they would be afraid?
After bringing the two children to Fanghua Courtyard, Zhan Beiyuan accompanied them as they unwrapped the gifts sent by Emperor Su Ming one by one. Then he had the nannies bathe the children and waited until they were asleep before leaving Fanghua Courtyard.
“Qi Yan, go to the Jingzhao Yin Office and find out what injustice Jiang Yunxi reported today,” Zhan Beiyuan instructed as he walked.
“Yes,” Qi Yan acknowledged the order and quickly went to carry it out.
…
The next day.
Jiang Yunxi was awakened by voices talking in the courtyard. She quickly threw off the covers and got out of bed. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Zhan Beiyuan teaching the two little ones martial arts, which pleased her greatly.
“Your Highness doesn’t have to attend court today?” she asked, yawning as she walked over, looking like she hadn’t fully woken up. She had searched for a while last night but hadn’t found the Dry Well used to suppress the souls and spirits of Xie Sirou’s family.
“No,” Zhan Beiyuan replied indifferently. Qi Yan had told him last night. He hadn’t expected her to be investigating a case from ten years ago. After so much time had passed, how would she find new evidence?
Jiang Yunxi’s eyes lit up, and she said with a beaming smile, “Today, I’ll leave the two children in your care.”
Zhan Beiyuan’s handsome face darkened slightly. “Although I don’t have to attend court, I need to go to the military camp to handle matters.”
“Take them with you. Let them train with the soldiers,” Jiang Yunxi said animatedly. Wouldn’t that be even better? Training at the military camp is great.
“They’re only five years old,” Zhan Beiyuan reminded her.
Jiang Yunxi looked at him and said earnestly, “Five years old is the perfect time to start training.”
Zhan Beiyuan said gravely, “Don’t you think you’re being too harsh?”
“A lenient mother raises failures; a strict mother raises talents. I’m doing this for their own good,” Jiang Yunxi stated seriously. Even if Momo and Mianmian didn’t learn anything, they could still live comfortably for the rest of their lives. But she wanted them to become useful people.
Not just privileged second-generation heirs who only know how to eat, drink, and have fun.
“Was the person you went to the Jingzhao Yin Office to accuse yesterday Marquis Wenxin?” Zhan Beiyuan changed the subject.
“Your Highness is very well-informed. That night when I went to the street to help you, I happened to encounter the soul and spirit of Marquis Wenxin’s wife, Lady Xie. I learned the whole story from her. As a member of the Mystic Gate, I must see this through to the end,” Jiang Yunxi stated her position.
No one could stop her from doing this.
“Ten years have passed. The dead can no longer speak,” Zhan Beiyuan felt compelled to dampen her enthusiasm. Unless she found new, useful evidence.
“Then make the living speak,” Jiang Yunxi said, a chilling coldness flashing in her eyes.
Xie Sirou had poured her heart and soul into serving the Marquis Wenxin Estate, only to be watched by her own husband as she drowned. Her family suspected foul play in her death, and in the end, Marquis Wenxin had them all killed and seized the Xie family’s wealth.
Such a heartless person deserves to be torn to pieces!
Zhan Beiyuan could see the determination on the woman’s face and felt a touch of admiration. She had just returned to the capital and dared to do such a thing. Anyone else wouldn’t have beaten the Drum of Injustice for a ten-year-old case.
“If you need help, tell me.”
“You’re willing to help?” Jiang Yunxi was somewhat surprised.
“If the injustice is real, I will not stand by and do nothing,” Zhan Beiyuan declared with righteous conviction. He had always despised those who were utterly devoid of conscience and committed heinous crimes.
Seeing that he was willing to get involved, Jiang Yunxi naturally didn’t refuse out of false modesty. He was more familiar with the capital than she was. So, she told him everything about Xie Sirou and the misfortunes of the Xie family.
“How outrageous! Father, Mother, you must punish the villains.” Momo clenched her fists, her little face puffed up with anger.
“Father, Mother, hurry and catch the bad people.” Mianmian’s dark eyes sparkled as she spoke in a sweet, childish voice.
The two little ones exchanged a glance, thinking that the more time Father and Mother spent together, the more they would discover each other’s virtues.