Xin Yi had just stepped out from under the side hall's corridor when he saw an attendant hurrying over. Upon seeing him, the attendant immediately relaxed his expression, stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Greetings, Young Master. This servant has been ordered by His Highness, the Prince of Pingding, to lead Young Master to change into clean clothes." Hearing Bai Jiu's name, Xin Yi's steps paused slightly, but he didn't follow him. The attendant became even more respectful and said, "His Highness said Young Master should just go change clothes and not bother with the cats and dogs in the back."

That does sound like something Bai Jiu would say.

Xin Yi smiled, turned, and followed him. In any case, the palace's tricks wouldn't be brought out into the open; everyone had to compete in secret. They only dared to cause trouble hidden away while the Emperor turned a blind eye. What did he have to fear?

The attendant didn't take him far. There were only a few places outer officials could go; they couldn't cross that line to the back. Xin Yi entered the room, where a clean robe was already placed on a screen. He went to the back to change without further mention, but when he came out and looked in the mirror, his dimples appeared.

It turned out this robe wasn't his size; it seemed to be Bai Jiu's. Bai Jiu was a shoulder taller than him, and when Xin Yi let his sleeves hang, it had a theatrical flair that made him chuckle. Xin Yi twirled in front of the mirror with the sleeves, making him look even younger. He couldn't stop laughing in front of the mirror, dispelling the recent unpleasantness. After a moment's thought, he touched the robe with his fingers, then lifted the sleeves and gently sniffed them.

He wondered if it was an illusion, but he actually thought he could still smell Bai Jiu's cool scent. He sniffed in a daze, when the room door was suddenly gently pushed open. Bai Jiu had just entered and saw him staring blankly in front of the mirror, hugging the long sleeves, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

"Does it smell good?"

Xin Yi was like a cat that had been poked; the tips of his ears turned red, and his hands were already behind his back. He felt like he'd been caught red-handed doing something bad... Combined with last night's dream, he dared not look directly at Bai Jiu even more.

A smile spread on Bai Jiu's lips. He came over and his fingertips lightly measured Xin Yi's chest and waist, saying, "When you go back, have Old Bai measure you properly again. You look a bit rounder than when you first entered the manor."

"I eat well... so naturally I've gained a few pounds." Xin Yi lowered his eyes, trying hard to find his shoelaces under the long robe, refusing to look up.

Bai Jiu raised a hand to loosen his collar, and hearing this, he smiled and said, "Easy to raise."

Xin Yi's heart instantly felt like it had been brushed by a feather, tingly and itchy.

Bai Jiu removed his outer robe, not looking anywhere else, and merely said, "Does this outfit fit to your liking?"

Xin Yi quickly nodded, but from the corner of his eye, he saw that Bai Jiu didn't change his clothes after removing his outer robe. He suddenly felt a bad premonition, and indeed, when he looked up, he saw Bai Jiu watching him. He was stunned for a few moments before saying, "This robe is—" This robe was actually prepared for Bai Jiu. He looked again and truly saw another set of robes neatly placed on a soft cushion beside the screen.

"If you like it, wear it." Bai Jiu's narrow eyes slightly narrowed, and he said, "There are plenty at home, pick whatever you like."

Xin Yi was speechless, only covering his face with his sleeves. Bai Jiu watched, then suddenly raised a hand to stop his movement, his hand passing between Xin Yi's sleeves, his fingertips lightly tracing his cheek and chin. Xin Yi wanted to step back and explain, but saw Bai Jiu's lips move into a smile that was somewhat cold. Bai Jiu's voice was gentle as he asked, "Did Xin Wen touch you?"

Xin Yi shook his head quickly and said, "It wasn't him."

Bai Jiu probably knew who it was, and didn't ask further. His fingers, which were about to leave, suddenly turned and traced Xin Yi's cheek with a chilling touch. Xin Yi's eyes widened as he watched him, his breathing growing tense. Bai Jiu's finger went to his collar, unfastened the first button, and said, "Take it off, let me see."

At this, Xin Yi's face wasn't just red; his entire body was probably crimson.

When Xin Yi returned to his seat, his heart was still pounding, the tips of his ears crimson and hot. He didn't even hear Xie Jingsheng's apology clearly until Xie Jingsheng called him again, at which point he startled, only shaking his head at Xie Jingsheng to indicate that he was fine.

Xin Wen and Guan Si had already returned to their seats. Seeing Xin Yi sit down, Xin Wen seemed to sneer a few times. Xin Yi, pouring wine, returned a smile.

The imperial banquet was nearing its end, and the Emperor looked weary of conversation. Xin Yi took this opportunity to get a clear look at the Emperor: an old man of sixty-eight or sixty-nine, showing his age fully when tired. Xin Yi lowered his head, took a sip of wine, and looked no more.

The guests' enthusiasm for conversation was no longer what it had been, and it seemed time to disperse. The Emperor cleared his throat, and Kang Fu, standing by, quickly bent down to offer his hand, helping the Emperor to stand. Everyone below fell silent. The Emperor smiled and said, "Tonight was quite enjoyable." Of course, there was more to say, but a Capital Guard hurried into the hall from outside. The Emperor frowned and asked, "What is it?"

The Capital Guard knelt on one knee, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Capital Guards Bureau, during its routine patrol tonight, discovered that Registrar He of the Imperial Clan Court drowned in Bailu Lake by the side hall."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Even He Anchang, who seemed to be dozing, showed a slight surprise. Xie Jingsheng's brows furrowed deeply. The two instinctively exchanged glances, seeing astonishment in each other's eyes. The Imperial Clan Court did not fall under the Imperial Secretariat and was not part of the Left Faction or Bai Jiu's people. It had always been directly subordinate to Prince of Qin Xin Zhenhong, a neutral, fringe force in the capital. Now that a not-so-insignificant fifth-rank registrar had died, they couldn't help but first suspect if the other side was throwing mud.

The Prince of Qin suddenly stood up and said in a deep voice, "Drowned in the lake? A perfectly fine person drowned in the lake!"

The Emperor's expression was grim. He said to the Capital Guard, "Report the details."

"According to regulations, my subordinates were first to patrol the Hall of Supreme Harmony tonight, and after the hour of Hai, we were to patrol the side halls. But at the hour of Hai, there was movement in the side hall, and this subordinate dared not be careless, so I led my men to investigate. The light shone on the lake, and we discovered Registrar He, already drowned." The Capital Guard bowed his head and kowtowed, saying, "This subordinate personally examined Registrar He's body, noticed something suspicious, and dared not conceal it from Your Majesty, so I risked punishment to report the truth."

"Something suspicious about the body?" The Emperor slammed his seat's armrest and said, "Speak quickly! What is suspicious?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty." The Commander of the Capital Guards, also bracing himself, dared to continue, "This subordinate discovered that Registrar He was strangled until near death, then thrown into the lake to drown."

Xin Yi's previously lowered eyes suddenly shot up. Over there, Xin Wen had already flopped onto his knees in the middle of the banquet, panicking as he said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty! How can this be!"

"What's wrong with you!" The Emperor pointed at Xin Wen and angrily exclaimed, "You, the dignified heir of the Prince of Qin, a proper imperial descendant, what are you panicking about!"

"This grandson, this grandson..." Xin Wen's gaze drifted towards Xin Yi, then quickly darted back. He said, "This grandson just now accompanied Young Master Yi to help Lord Guan change clothes. We saw Registrar He, who had arrived earlier to rest in the side hall, and he was perfectly fine. Later, Lord Guan invited this grandson and Young Master Yi to return together. Young Master Yi shook his head and declined. This grandson only assumed Young Master Yi had also had a bit too much to drink, and thinking that Registrar He was in the hall, nothing could go wrong. Unexpectedly, Registrar He met with misfortune." He then kowtowed a few more times, saying, "This grandson is guilty. I should have brought Registrar He back with me."

"What guilt do you have?" The Emperor scolded, then turned to Xin Yi. The look in his eyes in that instant, whether disgust or apprehension, flashed too quickly for Xin Yi to discern clearly. He only heard the Emperor say in a deep voice, "What were you doing staying in the side hall?"

That was a good question, saving even the effort of debating truth and falsehood, directly concluding that he met Registrar He and stayed until the end. Everyone present knew where the Emperor's thoughts lay.

A registrar from the Imperial Clan Court held an insignificant official position. In the past, if a grandson truly favored by the Emperor were involved, the Emperor would merely scold them a few times, order them to reflect at home, and then apologize, and it would be over. Judging by Xin Wen's misdeeds over the years, he'd had at least seven or eight, if not ten, such homicide cases on his hands. Today, it was Xin Yi. Even if an ant died in the side hall, the palace would probably be determined to make him suffer the consequences. Not to mention such a homicide case just perfectly struck. Xin Yi indeed went to the side hall, and indeed returned late. What happened in the side hall, the three of them knew best. But looking at Xin Wen, this case was probably not intentional.

Xin Yi was mute, so he naturally couldn't respond. He knelt in the hall, pointing to his clothes, meaning that he had only gone to change his attire.

"If it was to change robes, then you should have changed with Lord Guan. Why stay behind?" The Prince of Qin narrowed his eyes and stepped closer, saying, "The Young Master has been in the capital for several days now, has he still not learned the rules? Such a far-fetched reason is truly unconvincing. Although a registrar from the Imperial Clan Court is not a powerful figure, he is an official of the same court, loyal to the same sovereign. What grudge could be so deep as to not tolerate one person!"

"You've only been in the capital for a few days, and you've already made an enemy? And used such vicious methods!" The Emperor pushed away Kang Fu's supportive arm, stepped in front of Xin Yi, and said grimly, "Beiyang's three hundred thousand troops are stationed at the border. If they were entrusted to someone like you, who knows no rules, no etiquette, and has such a malicious heart, would my Great Lan still have peaceful days? Xin Yi, I considered your father-king's loyalty and righteousness, yet you have such a heart!"

Xin Yi lowered his head and remained silent.

He Anchang suddenly stood up, knelt to one side, and said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This subject believes it is too early to draw conclusions on this matter!"

Xin Wen immediately spoke up, "This grandson agrees! Moreover, Registrar He died from strangulation. Young Master Yi is slender and gentle by nature; he absolutely could not have done this!" He then turned to Guan Si, earnestly saying, "Lord Guan must think so too, right?"

Guan Si secretly thought, "This is bad," knowing that Xin Wen wanted him to speak up and push Xin Yi towards death. But putting aside Xin Yi himself, Bai Jiu, who had been silently smiling above, had already made people break out in cold sweat! Moreover, He Anchang of the Left Faction had already spoken, making it clear that the Left Faction would not accept this wrongful case. Both factions in the court maintained an image of integrity. If he spoke, splashing dirty water on Xin Yi would be minor, but if even a speck splashed onto the Left Faction and Bai Jiu's lineage, it would be his doom!

Guan Si's expression changed several times. Finally, he knelt down and said hesitantly, "This subject believes... this case still needs thorough investigation. Registrar He was not a contentious person; there must be, there must be an explanation."

Xin Wen said, "Although this grandson believes Young Master Yi is not such a malicious and arrogant person, since we seek justice, why not thoroughly investigate this case to restore Young Master Yi's innocence? What does Young Master Yi think?" As he spoke, he shifted a bit, earnestly wanting to help Xin Yi up, but in reality, he wanted to lift the long sleeves to reveal any scratches or marks.

Xie Jingsheng suddenly stepped in and knelt between the two. He smiled at Xin Wen; 'it seemed he was sober enough, and his smile had a hint of mischief.' He pressed Xin Wen's hand back to his side and said, "I completely, completely, completely agree with Heir Wen's words. However, matters of the court are best handled by court officials. As subjects, it is our duty to share Your Majesty's burdens, so there's no need for Heir Wen to trouble himself." After saying this, he turned to the Emperor and said, "How about this: since this subject has returned to the capital, it's not proper for me to rest for several days. Since this case came about so coincidentally, this subject requests Your Majesty's decree to let me take charge of the investigation. What do you think?"

"You investigate?" The Emperor sneered, "Since he was escorted back to the capital by you, you would inevitably show some favoritism."

"This subject also requests a decree." He Anchang said coolly and unhurriedly, "Registrar He and this subject have met several times and could be considered acquaintances. If this case is not investigated, this subject will find no peace. If only Lord Xie investigates, it will inevitably lead to gossip. This subject volunteers to oversee the investigation, striving for fairness."

He Anchang was famously fair, upright, and cautious in court. Since he had spoken, the Emperor found it inconvenient to refuse. However, to just let Xin Yi off like this also truly didn't sit well with him. As they were at a stalemate, they heard a faint clinking of wine cups from above.

Bai Jiu smiled and said, "A homicide case involving a court official should rightfully be Lord Zuo of the Court of Judicial Review's difficult task. Why is everyone else making it difficult for themselves?"

The Court of Judicial Review was in charge of prison cases and trials. Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zuo Kai was famously known to thoroughly investigate and settle every case, and he was also a ruthless character who didn't fear death. Over the years, he had submitted a pile of memorials against Xin Wen alone, and he didn't mince words even when facing Bai Jiu. Everyone would be at ease if he presided over this case.

Zhang Taiyan stroked his beard and said with a smile, "Prince of Pingding's words are not wrong. Your Majesty, how about this: let Lord Zuo preside over this case, and order Lord Xie and Ru Xu to jointly investigate and supervise. In this way, the conclusion will be utterly clear and clean, providing an explanation for Registrar He and demonstrating Your Majesty's grace."

With the two of them speaking up, it was considered reasonable and fair. To continue to evade would inevitably discourage people.

The Emperor considered for a moment and granted the request. This incident made him even more weary, so the Emperor could no longer sit and left the banquet to return to his hall. Just as the Emperor reached the hall door, Xin Wen, unable to catch up, was about to stand up. Unexpectedly, his knees had just left the ground when a sharp pain shot through his back, and he was kicked, tumbling to the floor. The Prince of Qin's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "Prince of Pingding! What is the meaning of this!"

Bai Jiu ignored the Prince of Qin, only smiling as he said to Xin Wen, "Did you hurt yourself falling?"

The surrounding officials, who had been about to leave, instantly fell silent and motionless, only thinking that the King of Hell's moods were unpredictable, and Heir Wen had somehow provoked the Capital's Bully. The more gently Bai Jiu smiled, the more cold sweat broke out on everyone's backs.

Xin Wen's knee had hit hard this time, but with his father present, who didn't dare show Bai Jiu any disrespect, how could he dare to cry out in pain? He could only clutch his leg, his face ashen, and force out, "It doesn't hurt." No one dared to come forward to help him, not even the attendants, who stood far away for fear of being implicated. Xin Wen cursed inwardly, and tried to get up, bracing himself on the ground. But this time, Bai Jiu raised his foot and kicked him squarely on the shoulder, sending him tumbling onto the floor again.

"You did hurt yourself falling, didn't you?" Bai Jiu smiled as he held his wine cup, leaned down in front of Xin Wen, and said gently, "I know the Young Master has a good ruler. However, such an item should be kept by a teacher. The Young Master is not yet crowned, and bringing this item into the palace, I find it somewhat improper. How about this, give it to me?"

Upon hearing this, Xin Wen knew that Bai Jiu was looking for trouble with him because of Xin Yi. His anger swelled in his chest, and his face turned gloomy and ashen. He pulled a ruler from his sleeve, but before he could offer it, a kick landed squarely on his chest, sending him and the ruler flying. Immediately after, the wine cup shattered with a bang beside his head, fragments splashing and scratching a line of blood across his cheek. Xin Wen hadn't expected him to actually dare to do this in the palace, much less treat him like this. 'He couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat from the shock of the shattered cup, and his rage burned fiercely.'

Bai Jiu's narrow eyes looked down at him, his lips forming a gentle line. He said, "Why are you so ill-behaved? Prince of Qin, this wine shattering in front of me is no big deal, but if it had shattered in front of His Majesty just now, your esteemed Young Master would probably have to crawl out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony tonight." As he spoke, he reached out, grabbed Xin Wen by the collar, and pulled him up. Looking at the line of blood on his cheek, he said, "See? When I'm unhappy, doesn't blood appear? The person in the lake just now hasn't even dried yet. Why are you so anxious, Young Master? What's a lake? Perhaps one day I'll send you there too, alright?"

Xin Wen saw ruthlessness and gentleness intertwined in Bai Jiu's striking features. His narrow eyes were like ice compressed for ten thousand years, freezing Xin Wen's limbs until they trembled slightly. His mouth opened and closed, but a single word was stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered.