As the night fell, the lights of the Capital City poured down like a galaxy. Bookstores and taverns lined both sides of the street, lanterns swaying.

Everything was being sold at the night market.

The din was chaotic, with all sorts of sounds.

"Masks for sale! Fifteen coins each."

"Fifteen coins? The shop ahead sells for only ten, and they have more designs than yours. No wonder you have no business here."

"Get lost, get lost, if you’re not buying, just get lost. Do I have to beg you to buy?"

"Someone just said something happened in the palace, the Grand Tutor got the message and went there."

"What could happen? Did the Holy Emperor die?"

"Shush! Lower your voice! How dare you say such things."

"Why should I keep it down! He imprisoned Daoist Bao Pu. My Nannan has been bewitched for days, crying nonstop, waiting for the Daoist to save her!"

The speaker put his hands on his hips.

"Didn’t the Daoist say the Fifth Prince has Dragon Energy, which means the Holy Emperor is about to be done for!"

Wei Zhao, wearing a subdued mask carved from dark ebony, tall and slender, pulled Yu Tingwan past these people.

"You all are far from the Imperial Palace and don’t know, but I just came from there and saw it with my own eyes, the sky over there is completely red, something’s burning! The Holy Emperor’s Yangxin Hall is on fire!"

These words caused an uproar.

The discussion grew even louder.

Yu Tingwan seemed to have not heard it and whispered to Wei Zhao about the previous incident with Zhou Yurou.

"Yang Jingshu is cunning, using her as a tool. She is also foolish, hating me to the core, taking advantage of the verbal promises Yang Jingshu gave her. Now her life is difficult, so she’s determined to harm others."

"She didn’t make a move today, just tried to ease the past issue, pretending to be friendly with me."

"Yang Jingshu handed her an item, asking her to bury it in our courtyard when she got the chance. I still don’t know what’s inside."

But thinking about it, it’s definitely nothing good.

The Duke Mansion is like a fortress, heavily guarded, even the Third Prince of Liang Yue has to wait patiently for a report, what ability does Zhou Yurou have to get in?

So, Zhou Yurou could only cozy up to Yu Tingwan.

That Yang Jingshu really is something.

Not daring to act herself, knowing she couldn’t afford it. The price was too high.

Yet she didn’t want to see Yu Tingwan live well.

"If she succeeds, it’s effortless for her. If she doesn’t and things are exposed, she’ll deny it to the death, placing all the blame on Zhou Yurou, severing all ties."

Discussing this matter, in a shop under the Yang Family, the maid beside Zhou Yurou was stopped outside, how could there be a witness?

As for that physical evidence, harmful things don’t speak.

If Yang Jingshu dared to give it to Zhou Yurou, then the source of this item, the handlers, should have been dealt with, greased where needed.

Wei Zhao was in a good mood initially but his face darkened upon hearing this.

In a short while, he had already thought of a hundred ways to eliminate the Zhou and Yang families.

His sleeve was tugged by Yu Tingwan.

The lady tilted her head up, her eyes brighter than the stars in the sky: "I didn’t expose Zhou Yurou earlier."

"It’s not because she’s brainless, naively thinking a few sweet words could bewilder me into taking her as a close friend. It’s not that she’s a fool, so I have to accommodate her."

"Nor is it because I was plotted against, kind-heartedly unwilling to argue."

She’s not some good person.

But...

As she said this, Wei Zhao’s eyes slightly flickered, he had a guess.

Sure enough, the couple’s thoughts coincided.

Wei Zhao moved his lips: "The Dog Emperor already suspects his confidant Yang Changsheng."

But it wasn’t enough.

Yu Tingwan nodded: "If that box truly is a harmful item, I’m quite interested to see its effect. Let’s try it on someone."

Like Emperor Ying who recently escaped the fire.

Now that Dragon Energy is involved, why not let Emperor Ying suffer a bit more, which might make him fully believe in this matter.

Killing two birds with one stone.

This silly offering from Yang Jingshu, why not use it.

Clear themselves?

She couldn’t clear herself.

Even if all that evidence was really destroyed, Wei Zhao could forge it.

Then it wouldn’t be Yang Jingshu’s doing, but her father Yang Changzheng as the true mastermind.

Plotting against the emperor is no small matter.

If the emperor suffers, what good outcome can the Yang Family have?

Since they already had malicious intentions, they should bear the consequences.

The two, with dark hearts, glanced at each other and felt this matter wasn’t impertinent.

Wei Zhao raised an eyebrow, turned to instruct Rong Di with a few words.

Soon, Rong Di left with the order.

Half a stick of incense later, Rong Di returned.

In his hand was the box that Tan Jiang had seen before.

The box had a lock on it.

The lock was covered with incantations.

The box was small and couldn’t hold much, yet it felt inexplicably heavy in hand.

Who cares about things lost, how would Zhou Yurou explain it?

Yu Tingwan leaned forward to see, but was stopped by Wei Zhao.

She looked puzzled, but saw Wei Zhao’s gaze fall on her waist.

The peace charm hanging there was swaying slightly, Yu Tingwan found it strange and reached out to touch it, then was astonished.

The charm was inexplicably hot.

Wei Zhao made a prompt decision: "Send it to Bao Pu."

Rong Di: "Yes."

With this matter in Wei Zhao’s hands, Yu Tingwan didn’t worry anymore and immersed herself in enjoying the outing.

"Yu Tingwan."

"Hmm?"

Wei Zhao: "Walk on my left side."

The right-sided Yu Tingwan?

Though confused, she complied.

The girl quickly walked to his left, on the side where his arm was uninjured.

She looked here and there.

Wherever there were more people, she squeezed.

But with many people, it’s easy to get separated.

Wei Zhao didn’t block her, occasionally lifting his left hand to pull her back.

The first time he pulled her.

Yu Tingwan asked: "It’s strange, Ning Yunling didn’t leave the house today. Is he really diligently working hard at Marquis Ning Mansion?"

"I ran into my aunt today, she was all smiles, very gratified telling me Ning Yunling has been staying in the study these few days."

Even she found it hard to believe.

Wei Zhao: "Don’t know."

"Your cousin, you don’t know?"

Wei Zhao’s tone was indifferent: "You said he’s a cousin, not my son."

Yu Tingwan: ...

That makes a lot of sense.

Wait.

"But it’s a good thing, why don’t you even want to mention him as his older brother?"

"When he was being tutored, I followed the elder’s intention of brotherly respect teaching him the Three Character Classic. Taught him for half an hour, he slept for half an hour."

Yu Tingwan: ...

"Well... he was still little."

Sleeping is normal.

Wei Zhao: "Later, when he went to the Imperial College, every time he ranked among the last few."

"Every time he got into trouble, scored poorly, or cheated, the college tutors would ask my uncle to go talk, he felt ashamed and dumped it on me."

Yu Tingwan: ...

"I had to clean up his mess every other day. Beat him, scold him. Yet, he never changes."

Eventually, Wei Zhao gave up.

Wei Zhao let out a snicker: "The effort spent on him these years wasn’t small, now because he likes a girl, hardly even a hint of affection, and he’s seen her a few times? He’s willing to studiously apply himself?"

Besides.

Who knows if it’s just a fleeting interest.

"Look at me."

Yu Tingwan: "Ha."

Yu Tingwan remarked: "I see it now, you’re quite a joke." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"..."