The Prime Minister's Mansion gates.
A squad of Brocade Guards stood in a line.
They drew quite a crowd of onlookers, who pointed and whispered among themselves.
"Why has the Heir to the Marquis of Southern Suppression brought the Brocade Guards here again?"
"Isn't it obvious? He's here to identify the culprit!"
"The Prime Minister's Mansion has gone too far. Qin the Third died back then, and the Qin Family nearly got exiled as a clan. Now they've set their sights on the heir, too."
"But..."
"There's no 'but.' The Brocade Guards are His Majesty's eyes and ears. How many corrupt officials have they brought down since their founding? You don't have to believe rumors, and you don't have to believe the heir, but surely you can trust the Brocade Guards, can't you?"
"True! But if they're here to identify the culprit, why did they leave empty-handed this morning?"
"Do you even have to ask? You think the Prime Minister is just some ordinary official? He's not going to cave that easily."
"Let's hope this ends soon. The whole city was under lockdown yesterday, and I didn't earn a single copper coin."
"Exactly. These civil officials and military men fight back and forth, and it's us common folk who suffer. What a good child, all alone in the capital, and the Prime Minister's Mansion still wants to harm him. If they really drive Marshal Qin into a rage, we commoners will be the ones to pay for it."
Their voices were low, but with Chen Sui's cultivation, he could hear every word clearly.
As he listened, sweat began to trickle down his forehead. At last, he understood Qin Muye's little scheme. Lowering his voice, he said, "Muye! Why don't you go home and think it over again? Come back to the Prime Minister's Mansion once you remember?"
"I can't remember at home. I have to look at Shen Jin's face to jog my memory!"
"But this doesn't look good. Should I dismiss the Brocade Guards?"
"That won't do. Shen Jin hasn't been cleared of suspicion yet. If no one keeps watch, what if he flees to escape punishment?"
"Can you remember this time?"
"I'll do my best!"
"..."
Chen Sui was at a loss. "I'll do my best" meant he wouldn't remember.
But the Brocade Guards had surrounded the Prime Minister's Mansion twice in one day. The people didn't know the truth, so the rumors were sure to grow wilder and wilder.
Keep this up for a few more days, and Shen Kui would have a whole cesspit dumped on his head. Even if they found the real culprit, they might not be able to wash it off.
He had to stop this kid.
He drew a deep breath. "Muye, there's something your uncle has to remind you about."
Qin Muye grinned. "Did I deliberately frame him?"
"No!"
"Did I beat a confession out of him?"
"No!"
"Uncle, have you got too much on your hands to help me?"
"..."
"Uncle, what were you going to remind me about?"
"Forget it! Let's just go into the Prime Minister's Mansion."
Chen Sui rubbed his forehead and led Qin Muye inside.
When Shen Jin saw Qin Muye return, his eyes turned bloodshot with rage. "Qin Muye! You can't remember what happened, and now you can't even find your way? You just rolled out of here this morning, and you're already lost by afternoon?"
Qin Muye frowned and looked at Chen Sui. "Commander Chen, you can see for yourself—the Prime Minister's Mansion's hostility toward me is practically spilling out in plain sight. I think it's worth spending more time here. What do you think?"
Chen Sui: "..."
Shen Jin was furious. "You..."
"Jin'er, mind your manners!"
Shen Kui's voice came from behind them. He then walked over with a beaming smile. "Nephew, don't be angry. Treat the Prime Minister's Mansion like your own home. Take your time; there's no rush."
"Now that's a pleasant thing to hear, Prime Minister!"
Qin Muye cupped his hands, then strode into the main hall. Looking around, he asked, "Prime Minister! That Hami melon from this morning was delicious. Do you have any more?"
Shen Jin's neck stiffened with rage. "Qin Muye! That's enough! Don't push your luck!"
"What if I do?"
Qin Muye stood up. "Listen carefully, Shen Jin. You're a stinking suspect! I let you stay at home yesterday for His Majesty's sake. If I took this seriously, which prison cell would you be in now?"
Shen Jin: "Huff... huff..."
Qin Muye turned to Shen Kui with a beaming smile. "Prime Minister, where's that Hami melon?"
Shen Kui: "..."
Chen Sui: "..."
Yesterday, he'd wondered why his nephew had become so calm despite suffering such a sudden upheaval. At first, he'd thought it was the power of love.
But after seeing him today, it seemed his nephew's personality had grown even more twisted.
Tsk... How was this situation going to end?
He didn't know what to say, so he could only wait until it was over and seek the emperor's instructions.
Sitting in the main hall, he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, with thorns in his back and a bone stuck in his throat.
Qin Muye wasn't in a hurry. He leisurely continued eating melon, not even sparing Shen Jin a glance.
Another hour passed.
Satisfied, he popped the last Lingnan lychee into his mouth, took the towel a maid handed him, and elegantly wiped the corner of his lips.
Then he stood up again. "Commander Chen, I still haven't remembered. Let's go!"
Chen Sui: "..."
You've been doing nothing but eating. When would you have had time to think?
Shen Jin was so furious he was ready to explode, but with his father holding him back, he couldn't say a word.
Shen Kui, on the other hand, wore a broad smile and showed no sign of impatience. "Nephew, something just occurred to me. Would you care to hear it? It might jog your memory."
Qin Muye sat back down. "Prime Minister, I'd be delighted to hear it!"
Shen Kui stroked his beard. "Some days ago, I heard that Jin'er had invited his friends aboard a boat for some entertainment. Your name was on the guest list. Moved by the fact that relations between the Shen and Qin families had finally thawed, I had Jin'er prepare a gift for you, my dear nephew.
"But then a thief suddenly appeared and abducted you, leaving the gift behind on the boat.
"Since you're visiting today, you can take the gift with you. Perhaps seeing it will help you remember something!"
Shen Jin froze. "Father! You never told me to prepare a gi—"
He caught his father's glare and hurriedly shut his mouth.
Qin Muye seemed to recall something. "I think there was something like that. What was the gift again..."
Shen Kui clapped his hands with a smile.
The next moment,
a maid came over carrying a red sandalwood box.
She opened the lid. Inside lay a Red Jade Pixiu.
When Chen Sui saw it, the corner of his eye twitched violently. The red jade was polished to a lustrous sheen, and the Pixiu was so lifelike that it was clearly the work of a master.
As a renowned master at confiscating wealth, he estimated the value of the Red Jade Pixiu at a glance.
At least five thousand taels!
That rotten kid was greedy indeed. But if he was only after money, then this would be easy to resolve. Chen Sui had truly feared that Qin Muye would use this chance to vent all the grievances he'd suffered before.
Qin Muye took the Red Jade Pixiu, and at last a smile appeared on his face. "Looks familiar! Very familiar! This is mine. I think I'm starting to remember."
Shen Jin: "???"
What an audacious guy. Just how shameless could you be?
Shen Kui stroked his beard and smiled. "Nephew, what have you remembered? Can you prove the Prime Minister's Mansion is innocent?"
Qin Muye pondered for a while, then shook his head. "I haven't remembered enough yet. I recall that Brother Shen gave me other gifts too. If I could see them all, I should be able to remember."
Shen Jin: "???"
Shen Kui: "..."
Chen Sui: "..."
That was one hell of an appetite!
Shen Jin wanted to curse him out.
But Shen Kui merely waved a hand with a smile. "Nephew, I don't remember everything Jin'er gave you, but if he got it all back, it should be in the West Pavilion Study. Why don't you go look?"
"Father!"
Shen Jin panicked. The West Pavilion Study held all his treasured collectibles.
Shen Kui frowned and ordered, "Jin'er! Take your nephew there!"
Shen Jin: "..."
An incense stick later,
Qin Muye came out of the West Pavilion Study with bags and bundles, while Shen Jin trailed behind him, his face twisted with heartache.
Shen Kui sipped his tea at a leisurely pace and asked with a smile, "Nephew, do you remember now?"
"I remember, I remember."
Qin Muye draped an arm around Shen Jin's neck with a smile. "That night, Brother Shen and I had already buried the hatchet. We were as close as brothers. How could the Prime Minister's Mansion have been the one to kidnap me?
"By the way, my birthday is coming up in a few days. I'll be holding a banquet at the Southern Pacification Mansion.
"Brother Shen, you must come. Let the world witness our brotherly affection, so no one can smear the Prime Minister's Mansion."
At last, a trace of satisfaction showed on Shen Kui's face. At least the young man knew when to hold back.
That way, the damage to his reputation should be reduced to a minimum.
Without Qin Muye's cooperation, this really wouldn't have worked.
He looked at Shen Jin. "Jin'er! Bring a gift when you go to your nephew's birthday celebration!"
Shen Jin: "???"
He had to bring another gift?
Qin Muye smiled and agreed. "Oh, right, Brother Shen! Those friends of ours from the Flower Boat are all close friends of ours, too. They'll also need to help me recover my memories, so I'll trouble you to notify them and invite them to my birthday banquet!"
Shen Jin: "???"
What friends of yours were there on the Flower Boat?
Not only were you extorting me,
you were making me help you extort everyone else too?
Before you continue