Half a month after Registrar He's murder case, the Court of Judicial Review secretly submitted a memorial to the Emperor's hands, personally delivered by the Vice Minister of the Grand Council of the Imperial Secretariat, He Anchang.

The Emperor and He Anchang had a long secret discussion, only the sound of a pen being dropped was heard from the study. Immediately the next day during morning court, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zuo Kai formally accused Prince of Qin's heir, Xin Wen, in Registrar He's murder case, requesting an imperial decree to supervise the trial of Xin Wen and blaming the Prince of Qin for negligence in his upbringing, implying connivance. The Emperor remained silent.

Qingping Liaoyuan Provincial Administration Commission's Xie Jingsheng quickly followed, submitting a memorial stating that although Xin Wen held no official position, he engaged in selling official posts and donating titles, which was truly improper, and he had privately abducted official women from other manors to become prostitutes, a crime for which he should be arrested and imprisoned. The Emperor was furious, ordering the Court of Judicial Review to immediately arrest the heir Xin Wen, docked the Prince of Qin of half a year's salary, and ordered him to close his manor for self-reflection.

Xin Wen was imprisoned, but this case was presided over by Zuo Kai, with He Anchang, Xie Jingsheng, Left Grand Censor Fu Mingxue, Commander of the Capital Guards Taishu Bai, and Right Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Hou Rongcheng, a total of six people, supervising.

"Two of the Crown Prince's people were inserted overnight. It seems the Crown Prince is determined to protect the Prince of Qin." Xie Jingsheng watched Fu Mingxue and Taishu Bai conversing in the courtyard from upstairs, saying, "Taishu Bai is thorny."

"Yet he is also the easiest person to control." He Anchang watched alongside him, saying, "As the Commander of the Capital Guards, Taishu Bo's duty is to guard the capital and protect the imperial palace. If he completely throws his weight behind the Crown Prince, His Majesty will likely remove him first. What I'm concerned about is Fu Mingxue."

"Left Grand Censor?" Xie Jingsheng raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at him. "You don't seem like someone who would be impeached by the Censorate."

He Anchang said indifferently, "Naturally, I wouldn't. But you, you can't afford to."

"If I were still serving in the capital, it would be easy to say, but now I'm stationed in Qingping, what can he impeach me for?" Xie Jingsheng said innocently, "Moreover, I've always upheld justice impartially and never done anything against imperial laws."

"You've done quite a few things in the capital." He Anchang turned back to the desk. "Be careful to have the Brocade Uniform Guards clean up thoroughly."

"Understood." Xie Jingsheng smiled, but his eyes were fixed on Taishu Bai, like a hawk hunting a rabbit.

He Anchang could ignore Taishu Bai, but Xie Jingsheng could not. Compared to Fu Mingxue, Taishu Bai was more important to the Crown Prince. Taishu Bai commanded 30,000 men from the Capital Guards Bureau, which was the only military force the Crown Prince currently had to contend with the Prince of Tang, who was stationed in a vassal state. These 30,000 men weren't many for a full-scale battle, but if one day they were used to take the capital, they would be more than enough. If the Prince of Qin in the capital was an eye for the Crown Prince, then Taishu Bai was his guard dog. For now, they couldn't take down the Crown Prince, but cutting off two people from his hand was something Xie Jingsheng was extremely happy to do.

However, after several days of investigation, the case made no progress. The reason was that Taishu Bai had ordered an investigation into the women sent out by Xin Wen in the capital, but the numbers never matched up. He was already feeling somewhat anxious, and the Emperor was very displeased about this. Taishu Bai was even more speechless with bitterness; he had clearly found the right places, but couldn't find the people who were sent there previously. Someone had already cleaned up the traces, determined to make him swallow this bitter pill.

Just then, Bai Jiu entered the palace to play chess with the Emperor. During their game, he noticed the Emperor's poor expression, and indeed, within moments, he heard the Emperor say, "What do you think of Taishu Bo?"

Bai Jiu, holding a chess piece, was focused on the board, and said indifferently, "Lord Taishu is strict and fair." After speaking, he looked up slightly and smiled at the Emperor, "He looks serious, he's someone who acts on imperial decree."

"Acts on imperial decree." The Emperor narrowed his eyes and repeated the phrase.

Bai Jiu slowly placed the chess piece, "Lord Taishu has never made a mistake guarding the imperial palace."

"How do you know he hasn't made a mistake?" The Emperor followed with a move, saying, "Wasn't the Dragon Boat Festival Palace Banquet a mistake? If he had watched carefully, this incident wouldn't have happened."

"That's inevitable." Bai Jiu's narrowed eyes were half-closed, saying, "Lord Taishu has been the Commander of the Capital Guards for decades. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and all the princes grew up under his watch, and his relationship with Your Majesty as a subject has lasted a long time. Making one or two minor mistakes like this, Your Majesty might as well count it as his hard work."

"You're quite kind." The Emperor smiled and pointed at him. "You have no private connection with him, yet you speak up for him. I think he has guarded the capital for decades; it's time he rested. An old man is most suited to enjoy his remaining years." Bai Jiu smiled and didn't respond. The Emperor thought for a while, then softly said, "Moreover, he has always been close to the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince returns, I'm afraid it will be another round of sorrow of separation. The Crown Prince has worked hard accompanying the Empress Dowager in Buddhist rites, he shouldn't suffer the pain of this separation."

"I was just talking to Your Majesty." Bai Jiu suddenly let out a light laugh: "This subject has lost again."

The Emperor laughed heartily, "You old chess-addict, you've never won before."

"Indeed." Bai Jiu picked up his tea, lightly blew on it, a smile lingering on his lips, and said gently, "Never won."

Taishu Bo's removal came swiftly, almost catching everyone off guard. He had served as Commander of the Capital Guards for decades, and now, suddenly being dismissed, people couldn't react in time. It wasn't the Emperor's forceful removal; rather, Xie Jingsheng had submitted a memorial saying that Lord Taishu was old and ineffective in investigating cases. The Emperor then remarked that Taishu Bai was indeed old, to the point of being ineffective even in investigations, so how could he continue to guard the capital? Taishu Bai couldn't explain, but the Emperor didn't press the matter, merely chastising him a few times. Unexpectedly, after one night back home, Taishu Bai actually requested to retire due to old age.

A useless pawn is better discarded proactively, leaving space for a successor.

Bai Jiu held Xin Yi's hand steadily and said, "Relax."

Xin Yi, being guided by him in calligraphy, blushed as usual, and whispered, "My lord is holding too tightly." Bai Jiu acknowledged him but didn't loosen his grip. Xin Yi's characters remained tense, so he had to say, "Jingyuan, you're holding too tightly."

Bai Jiu had just heard and turned his face slightly, "Calligraphy requires strength." He then tightened his fingers slightly, "Serious calligraphy."

Xin Yi pursed his lips, "I am very serious."

"I was talking about myself." Bai Jiu chuckled softly, guiding his hand to write the character 'Yi' on the paper. Before he finished, Old Qu announced from outside that someone was visiting. Bai Jiu merely hummed in response, not leaving.

Xin Yi said, "Since someone is looking for my lord..."

Bai Jiu slowly continued writing, "Don't want to see them." The character 'Jing' appeared on the paper. He said, "This character should be pasted on the main gate." After speaking, he tilted his head and thought, "Indeed... it's not bad. You write this character well, let's paste it on the gate."

Seeing that he truly seemed intent on doing so, Xin Yi quickly took the paper away, saying, "Let's still give others some opportunities." The position of Commander of the Capital Guards had just become vacant, and many people were actively thinking about it. These past few days, there had always been visitors, but Bai Jiu hadn't seen any of them. With people coming and going, pasting a character written by two people hand-in-hand made Xin Yi's face flush; he always felt a little guilty. "The Crown Prince still wants this position, will my lord appoint someone else?"

"No need." Bai Jiu seemed to greatly enjoy resting his weight on Xin Yi's shoulder. With his hand, he vividly sketched a rabbit, saying, "Xin Yi."

"Hm?" Xin Yi was still pondering, but after being called by him, he received no response. He couldn't help but turn his head to look at Bai Jiu. The two were so close that even Xin Yi's lightest breath would brush against his cheek. He was instantly flustered, and by some strange impulse, didn't avoid it, secretly wishing to stay there longer.

Bai Jiu held his hand and tapped the brush, saying, "Xin Yi." Xin Yi's gaze fell back to the painting, only to see a rabbit carrying a radish, seemingly about to crash into a tree stump. He then realized that this person was calling this rabbit 'Xin Yi'. Immediately, the brush stroke changed, sketching a skeletal, vicious dog snarling closely behind the rabbit. The rabbit, in a desperate rush, was about to hit the tree stump, when with a slick of the ink, a dozing leopard was drawn in front of the stump. Thus, the rabbit found itself in a dilemma, caught between a rock and a hard place.

Xin Yi's dimples faintly appeared, saying, "Doesn't look like Xin Yi."

Bai Jiu continued to draw. Just as the rabbit was about to hit the leopard, and the vicious dog was about to catch the rabbit, a snake suddenly darted out from the side, coiling the rabbit within its territory. The vicious dog, caught off guard, crashed into the leopard, and the two began to tear at each other. The snake, having secured the rabbit, coldly watched as the dog and leopard both suffered heavy losses.

Bai Jiu then casually dropped the brush.

Xin Yi asked, "Aren't you drawing anymore?"

Bai Jiu countered, "Are you afraid of snakes?" Xin Yi shook his head, not understanding what he meant. Bai Jiu smiled, released him, and took a slight step back, saying, "Turn around, let me see."

Xin Yi turned around, unexpectedly Bai Jiu suddenly took a step forward, almost pressing body-to-body with him. Xin Yi's face flushed, he took a step back, his hands supporting him on the edge of the desk, already leaning precariously against the study table. But this time Bai Jiu didn't let him go; instead, he scooped the person onto the table, his long legs locking between Xin Yi's, forcing them to be inches apart, and asked again, "Are you afraid of snakes?"

Xin Yi's heart was pounding. He quickly made a fist and pressed it to the tip of his nose, trying to hide his completely flushed face. Bai Jiu's finger brushed the side of his cheek, saying, "Answer me."

Xin Yi's eyes lowered slightly, and he shook his head. Bai Jiu pulled his fisted hand onto his own shoulder, pressed close, and with his other hand, held the back of Xin Yi's head, firmly and securely trapping him within his own space, then kissed him thoroughly. Xin Yi was pressed onto the table, startled by the sensation of the tongue. His fingers gradually tightened on Bai Jiu's shoulder, his face growing redder, feeling a sense of breathlessness and constraint.

When Bai Jiu's lips left him, Xin Yi was already panting softly. Bai Jiu leaned his forehead against Xin Yi's, quietly saying nothing. Xin Yi's breathing gradually calmed. His lips seemed to have been chafed by Bai Jiu's kiss, and Bai Jiu actually licked them again.

Xin Yi suddenly tilted his head back and exclaimed loudly, "Stop!" His face was flushed and his expression flustered, his eyes almost brimming with tears, and even his voice trembled.

Bai Jiu, being so close, naturally felt a distinct change in a certain part of Xin Yi, yet he simply didn't let go, saying, "A child."

Xin Yi then felt that this person was truly malicious, deliberately wanting him to be flustered. He couldn't help but pull his hand to cover his eyes, murmuring, "I'll just pretend it was a dream, don't expect me to be overwhelmed by shame and indignation."

Xin Yi was greatly embarrassed. Bai Jiu stared at him like one would stare at a trembling rabbit. Xin Yi couldn't stand Bai Jiu staring at him like that the most; shame flushed his neck, and his ear tips were so red they seemed about to drip blood.

Bai Jiu's fingertips brushed against his ear tip, saying, "Cowardly."

Xin Yi was speechless. Seeing Bai Jiu's gaze shift back to his lips, he immediately covered his mouth, saying, "It's... it's scraped..."

Bai Jiu said, "My apologies."

It didn't look like an apology; rather, it was a calm claiming. Bai Jiu's fingers rubbed his ear tips until they were burning hot. Only after the snake had claimed its scent did it contentedly release the rabbit, which had curled up its entire body. The panic-stricken rabbit, carrying its carrot, had weak legs. It took a wobbly step before realizing that it was already permeated with the snake's scent.

Taishu Bai retired due to old age, leaving the position of Commander of the Capital Guards vacant, and naturally, someone would succeed him. But this person would not merely be an individual; they would also represent a faction's influence. Xie Jingsheng's undisguised removal of Taishu Bai from his position would inevitably be added to his tally of grievances.

The next day, it rained heavily. He Anchang's carriage suddenly lost control of its wheel on the way to the Court of Judicial Review, crashing straight into a stone lion at the intersection. The entire carriage overturned and fell into the rain, its side shattered. When Xie Jingsheng arrived at the medical hall, He Anchang was being bandaged, half of his body from the right shoulder down was covered in blood. His shoulder and arm were the most severely injured, his fair skin pierced jarringly by wood splinters, and his face was exceedingly pale.

"The carriage wheel was in disrepair, and the heavy rain made it slippery, prone to accidents." He Anchang pointed to a bench with his left hand, telling Xie Jingsheng, "It's nothing serious."

Xie Jingsheng didn't sit; he crouched in front of He Anchang, staring at him.

He Anchang felt that today Xie Jingsheng wasn't like Xie Jingsheng, and he wasn't like himself either. In these brief moments, he surprisingly read something in Xie Jingsheng's gaze, and felt no anger. Seeing Xie Jingsheng's shoulder soaked, he said, "Go wipe yourself; you're carrying water, and I'm cold."

Xie Jingsheng smiled, stood up, asked the young doctor for a cloth, and casually wiped himself in the hall. The young doctor invited him to the inner room to change clothes, but he refused, teased the doctor, and then reverted to his usual self.

He Anchang slightly exhaled, but after sighing, he was stunned again, not understanding why he felt relieved.

The doctor applied the medicine. Xie Jingsheng, from somewhere, found a large cloak and draped it over He Anchang. He Anchang looked at the heavy rain still falling outside and did not refuse. He also had injuries on his legs and originally didn't want to trouble Xie Jingsheng, but unexpectedly, after getting the prescription and medicine from the doctor, Xie Jingsheng turned around and picked him up, carrying him outside.

He Anchang frowned, "In broad daylight."

Xie Jingsheng tightened his arms, "I'm taking you home."

Outside, an unfamiliar carriage was parked. Seeing Xie Jingsheng carrying him out, the coachman silently lifted the curtain, and Xie Jingsheng entered. All the way, He Anchang seemed to be on the verge of sleep, his complexion never recovering, so the two didn't speak much. Only when they arrived at the entrance of He Manor and reported their arrival, within moments, He Anchang's entire family came out to receive him. Xie Jingsheng carried him off the carriage and handed him over, exchanged a few polite words and smiles with Old Lord He, then took his leave.

He turned, got back into the carriage, lowered the curtain, and abruptly, his expression changed.