In the 43rd year of Yong'an, on the 27th day of the third month, at the hour of Zi, Chengxin Temple.
Qian Xingzhi and Lu Yu stood before the temple once more.
Since that night when he accepted her as a younger brother, Lu Yu had been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding Qian Xingzhi, and she was happy to keep her distance.
"The General of Pacifying the North must have surrounded this mountain completely," Qian Xingzhi initiated the conversation. "I wonder if we can catch the rebels later."
Lu Yu didn't look at her; he only stared at the Bodhisattva statue and grunted in response.
Seeing him indifferent, Qian Xingzhi felt playful and said with feigned grievance, "If I had known we would grow so distant, I wouldn't have become your damned brother."
Lu Yu's body jolted, and he sighed slightly. "No... I'm just worried about why the rebels demanded that we come here."
Qian Xingzhi wrapped her cloak tighter. "I'm not really worried."
"Oh? Why?"
Qian Xingzhi's tone was eerie. "I have a feeling that since this secret passage was dug by your family, Lord Lu, perhaps you know best how to get in and out, or..."
She moved in front of Lu Yu, forcing him to meet her eyes. "Since everyone who knew about this passage back then has been killed, perhaps you arranged these rebels, so I'm not afraid."
Lu Yu saw that she was testing him again, tilted his head, and gave a wry smile. "In the matter of the secret passage, you have the same suspicion, my good younger brother."
"I don't have that much ability," Qian Xingzhi retorted. "Before meeting you, big brother, I only had this mouth to rely on. Your family has tremendous influence; arranging a few guards to do this is easy. Besides, the only secret passage I know of is the one that was blocked. From any angle, your suspicion is greater, big brother."
Lu Yu chuckled lightly and didn't reply. Soon, a voice was heard from afar: "Since the lords kept their promise to open the granaries and distribute grain, we naturally won't trouble the three esteemed ones."
As he finished speaking, three people emerged from the temple. Leading them was the Third Prince, who looked deranged and disheveled, while Wei Yang and Yuan Bai leisurely followed behind, seemingly unharmed.
"Qian Xingzhi!" The Third Prince rushed forward upon seeing her, still looking like a savage. Having not bathed properly for days, his smell was quite novel. "Wei Yang told me that Father took away my command of the Cavalry Camp and the Firearms Camp. Is this true?"
Qian Xingzhi tried to hold her breath but had to answer, frowning. "Your Highness, it is true. However, it's not just you; the Crown Prince's duties have also been removed."
"What does Father mean?" The Third Prince was panicked for the first time. He had been the most favored among all princes since childhood, and this sudden punishment was hard to accept. "Isn't this humiliation enough for me? Why is Father punishing me so severely?"
Having been imprisoned for a few days, the Third Prince's mental state had deteriorated significantly. Qian Xingzhi felt both disgusted and satisfied. "Your Highness is stimulated. Once we've tidied up and returned to Shengjing, I will discuss matters with Your Highness later."
"Alright... alright..." The Third Prince nodded repeatedly, seeming to have found a backbone. "I'll listen to you, Lord Qian."
Qian Xingzhi was quite puzzled as to why he was so obedient.
Lu Yu was the first to ask, "Governor Wei, what exactly happened that night?"
"I was checking on the Third Prince's condition when Yuan Bai came down and said the two lords had returned to the city first. Before we could react, we were all knocked out by incense. When we woke up, we were locked in a cell. Meals were provided, but we never saw the faces of the bandits."
Qian Xingzhi looked at Lu Yu meaningfully. "It seems they knew our movements in advance. I'm afraid even if the General of Pacifying the North turns this place upside down, he won't catch them."
Wei Yang agreed, "I think so too. I wonder how the disaster situation in Nanchuan is now?"
They chatted briefly about the news they had received in recent days, then took the mentally unstable Third Prince back together. Regardless, they had somehow completed their mission.
On the way, Qian Xingzhi learned why the Third Prince clung to her like a lifeline. It turned out that Wei Yang had mysteriously told him how Qian Xingzhi had miraculously discovered the secret passage. The Third Prince's already muddled mind immediately believed that Qian Xingzhi was indeed supernaturally powerful, and probably also believed even more in the tales she had spun before.
With the money from the Lu family, Wei Yang had the resources to handle the aftermath in Nanchuan, and the "rebellion" was temporarily over.
At dawn the next day, they set off on the return journey. Traveling swiftly, they finally arrived in Shengjing in mid-April.
Despite being travel-worn, they had no time to rest. As soon as they returned to the capital, Qian Xingzhi and Lu Yu were summoned to the Imperial Study for an audience.
After many days, Jun Anche seemed even more prosperous than before. Seeing him so well-nourished, Qian Xingzhi understood that he felt joyful at having regained power.
"This time, Fulin returned safely, and Qian Xingzhi's contribution is indispensable. You have rendered great service to the state, so I will reward you with five years' salary, grant you the title of Third-Class Loyal and Helpful Baron, and bestow upon you ten bolts of imperial silk and one imperial inkstone."
He actually gave her a noble title! Qian Xingzhi was terrified and immediately kowtowed. "Your Majesty is too generous. Your servant is unworthy of such a reward. All I did was my duty. In terms of merit, the other lords are above me."
Jun Anche was even more satisfied, as if determined to elevate Qian Xingzhi to the skies today. "I recall that the granddaughter of the Left Censor-in-Chief had her coming-of-age ceremony earlier this year. She is about your age, which makes for a good match."
Marry a wife?! The Left Censor-in-Chief is on the Crown Prince's side, isn't he? What does it mean to marry his granddaughter to me? If I actually marry her, it would ruin her life.
"Your Majesty," Qian Xingzhi bowed even lower. "Miss Liang is a woman of noble birth, while your servant comes from a humble background. Moreover... your servant already has someone in my heart. I vowed to marry no one else. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider."
Jun Anche was not annoyed. "Oh? Who is it that Lord Qian is fond of? I can grant you a marriage."
She couldn't say it was Lu Yu, could she? Qian Xingzhi was horrified. She should have prepared for this. Now she had to make amends as best she could. "Your Majesty, she was my childhood sweetheart. She didn't survive the flood last year. I do not wish to marry again in this life. I beg Your Majesty to grant my wish."
Jun Anche was silent for a long time, then gave a light laugh. "I thought it was something serious. Qian Xingzhi, you must look to the future. Getting married and having children is what matters. I will choose a good day for you."
No, marrying a girl from the Liang family was too dangerous. Qian Xingzhi had never even met her; she didn't even know the girl's name. Over time, she would be exposed. Could she really keep her at arm's length forever?
Qian Xingzhi was about to try to salvage the situation when she heard Lu Yu interject, "I must congratulate Lord Qian in advance."
She thanked the emperor and rose. A tight string in her mind was about to snap, but she still had to put on a mask and thank Lu Yu.
They locked eyes. Seeing Qian Xingzhi unusually compliant with no emotion in her eyes, Lu Yu felt inexplicably flustered.
Only after leaving the palace did Lu Yu dare to speak. "Are you angry?"
At these words, the string in Qian Xingzhi's mind snapped completely. She smiled coldly at Lu Yu. "Lord Lu must be delighted. Once I'm married, you'll be free of the burden of my feelings."
Lu Yu averted his gaze. "I didn't think that. If I hadn't interrupted, would you have defied the imperial decree?"
"Is that so? Between us, it was always clear that we were just using each other. Now, unwilling to accept my feelings, you want me to compromise on marriage. You know I have feelings for you, so why trap both me and that girl with a marriage certificate?"
Seeing she was so angry that she was speaking recklessly, Lu Yu tried to comfort her. "The Left Censor-in-Chief is the Crown Prince's man. Doesn't His Majesty know that? There must be His Majesty's intention behind this marriage. Even if you refuse today, there will be another family waiting for you tomorrow. I don't want to force you, but neither of us has control over this."
Qian Xingzhi knew this logic well. But since her transmigration, she had seen many disasters. If she were alone, she could die and be done with it. But now she might drag an innocent girl into this, or perhaps Miss Liang would discover her true gender and send her to the execution block. Too many uncertainties lurked around; thinking about it drove her crazy.
For no reason, Qian Xingzhi wanted to vent her emotions for the first time. Perhaps because she was facing Lu Yu, whom she had teased so often that she subconsciously felt he was easy to manipulate. "Big brother, you are also still unmarried. Why doesn't His Majesty have some hidden agenda to force you into marriage and fatherhood?"
This round of argument left both of them suppressing their anger. After a long standoff, Lu Yu was the first to yield. "Don't worry. I'll think of something."
Qian Xingzhi felt she really needed some emergency heart medicine. With the imperial decree issued, canceling the marriage would be difficult. Now she only hoped the date would be far off, or at least she could meet Miss Liang early.
Her emotions had flared up, but now Qian Xingzhi softened. "I was momentarily agitated. Don't take it to heart, big brother."
Shortly after Qian Xingzhi returned home, the marriage decree arrived. The date was set for the Mid-Autumn Festival of the following year. Qian Xingzhi breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She didn't know what the Left Censor-in-Chief's attitude would be, nor what Miss Liang thought. As for the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, they would probably be disgusted by Jun Anche's move.
Too much thinking was useless. Qian Xingzhi took a break for an hour. Soon, the Third Prince sent someone to summon her.
When she arrived at the Third Prince's residence, the atmosphere was different.
The Third Prince paced restlessly. "Qian Xingzhi, in your opinion, what is Father planning? I heard he betrothed you to a Liang family girl. Is he handing the Left Censor-in-Chief over to me?"
Now, when dealing with the Third Prince, Qian Xingzhi couldn't help but think of that nightmare scene. The arrow piercing her mother's body, her mother falling, life fading in an instant.
Her left hand trembled uncontrollably. She pressed it down with her right. "While Your Highness was trapped in Nanchuan, His Majesty removed the duties of all princes. Your Highness should tell His Majesty more about the suffering you endured. Only then might His Majesty understand your pain."
No, that was a bad move. Jun Anche wanted to hear that the Third Prince understood his difficulties. Playing up his misery now would imply discontent with Jun Anche's decision, which would backfire.
The Third Prince muttered to himself, "But Father removed two camps from me at once. Has he given up and no longer wishes to pass the throne to me?"
Qian Xingzhi fanned the flames. "While Your Highness was away, His Majesty might have been greatly shocked by the assassination attempt. Since everyone was punished, it's not a big deal; just a warning to all."
After saying this, Qian Xingzhi suddenly realized. How exactly had the Full Moon Tower case and the assassination case been concluded?