The Talented Scholar with a Skirt-Knife

Upon hearing Cui Xijun's words, Cui Zhenru stood up abruptly, his gaze darkening as he demanded, "What happened?"

Cui Xijun spoke calmly, "Someone within the estate colluded with outsiders to leak my itinerary, leading us into an ambush. The servants and guards who accompanied us, including Yin, were all killed in action. The carriage provided by the Liu Family was also suspicious; had it not been for someone's intervention, Father would be collecting my corpse right now."

Cui Zhenru's face turned cold as frost, and a thick, murderous aura slowly emanated from him.

Hong Ling, standing to the side, had never seen the master of the house in such a state. Her back chilled, and she dared not utter a word.

Cui Zhenru swept his gaze over the two of them, his expression darkening by the second. After a moment, he asked calmly, "Judging by your tone... you already have a lead on this?"

"When I left the estate this morning, all the other carriages had been reassigned. I was already suspicious then, so we can start from that thread. As for the corpses on the mountain road, we still need to send men to investigate further."

Cui Zhenru stared at Cui Xijun, who remained composed despite having just faced death, showing none of the typical timidity of a young lady. He couldn't help but ask, "What would you have me do?"

Cui Xijun met his gaze and spoke bluntly, "Father need not act personally. I only need a word from you: to what extent can I mobilize the Cui Family for this?"

Cui Zhenru looked at her earnestly, and after a moment of silence, he replied, "Everything!"

Soon, Zhao Suming, the Chief Steward of the Cui Family, and Steward Cheng from Cui Xijun's courtyard were summoned. Upon learning the details, both men grew solemn and bowed, saying, "Please give your orders, Miss. This old servant will certainly cooperate with all my might."

Cui Xijun's eyes were cold as she said, "First, conduct a secret, thorough investigation into all servants, guards, young masters, and young ladies who participated in the incense offering at Xiangguo Temple today to see if any colluded with outsiders."

"Second, find out who requisitioned the other carriages of the Cui Family and bring that person directly to the side hall."

"Third, immediately send men to the mountain road to retrieve the corpses and hand them over to the Grand Court of Revision in the Capital City, and demand an explanation from them."

One by one, item by item.

Cui Xijun was clear and methodical, arranging each task.

Watching from the side, Cui Zhenru couldn't help but sigh inwardly: if only she were a man.

After all matters were delegated, Cui Xijun looked at her father again and said, "Father, I suspect that powerful clans may be involved behind this. If the evidence is conclusive, you can memorialize the Emperor, using this to reorganize the security of the Capital City and force the other clans to yield their seats in the Inspection Bureau."

Cui Zhenru nodded, "Good, I have a plan."

With the secret support of Cui Zhenru, the investigation into the ambush at Xiangguo Temple moved forward at a rapid pace.

By evening.

Chief Steward Zhao Suming escorted a man to the side hall.

The man was the deputy steward of the Cui Family stables, surnamed Deng. He had served the Cui Family for seven years and was responsible for the scheduling of all carriages in the estate.

Deng Shi knelt before Cui Xijun, still trying to defend himself, "Third Miss, please be discerning. This small one only followed the rules to dispatch the carriages; I know nothing else."

"The night before last, someone sought you out alone while you were on night duty. After that person left, you reassigned all the other carriages in the estate the next day, leaving only the one provided by the Liu Family."

Cui Xijun stated calmly, "That person was from the Liu Family and gave you fifty taels of silver. Do you remember?"

Deng Shi trembled all over, his forehead thumping against the floor as he dared not look up again.

"Third Miss, I really didn't know! ...That person only wanted the Miss to ride in their carriage. I thought it was just a tactic to woo the Miss; how was I to know there was such a plot? I... next time... I will never dare again!"

Cui Xijun did not fly into a rage. She watched him finish kowtowing before saying faintly, "If you can set a trap for the Liu Family today for fifty taels, you could sell my whereabouts and take my life for a hundred tomorrow."

She waved her hand.

Zhao Suming understood immediately and, ignoring Deng Shi's cries and pleas for mercy, dragged him out.

A short while later, Steward Cheng, who had been ordered to collect the corpses during the day, also hurried back to the estate to report.

"The corpses of those thugs... are gone?"

Cui Xijun was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, it seems someone cleared the scene before we arrived."

Steward Cheng lowered his head and continued, "We conducted a secret investigation in the Capital City and discovered that, besides the Liu Family, that group also had ties to the Heavy Martial Pavilion. It is very likely they were martial artists from there."

"And Liu Zhao?"

Steward Cheng continued, "The Eldest Young Master of the Liu Family originally planned to follow the Miss today to offer incense, but he did not reach Xiangguo Temple, turning back to Yunzhong Prefecture halfway. The entire Liu Estate claims he was frightened and returned to the ancestral lands to recuperate."

"Hmph, he fled quite quickly."

The next morning.

Cui Xijun changed into a plain dress, her hair neatly combed, and walked into Cui Zhenru's study with the gathered evidence.

The Cui Family's martial arts emphasized self-cultivation, and the clansmen were accustomed to rising early.

At this moment, Cui Zhenru was sitting behind his desk, already attending to the day's affairs.

He looked up and said, "Are there results?"

Cui Xijun nodded slightly, "I found some things."

"Tell me."

Cui Xijun then compiled the intelligence she had gathered and recounted it one by one.

Cui Zhenru listened quietly, then looked up and asked, "What do you intend to do?"

"The stable steward bribed by the Liu Family has already confessed. Although the corpses of those desperate thugs have disappeared, the traces behind them all point to the Liu Family. This matter is nine times out of ten inseparable from them."

Cui Xijun's expression was calm as she continued, "I believe that since the investigation has reached this point, it is sufficient. We should use this matter to plot further. With such a major incident occurring in the Capital City, the major clans in the imperial court should make some concessions to the Cui Family."

Cui Zhenru smiled after listening and said, "You don't want to take revenge on the Liu Family?"

Cui Xijun replied, "Even if your daughter wanted to, the Liu Family's power has not yet waned to the point of collapse. Even a broken ship has three pounds of nails; they are not so easily toppled. Besides, under the feet of the Son of Heaven, the imperial court will not sit idly by and watch noble families slaughter each other in the Capital City, making such an unsightly mess."

Cui Zhenru stared at his third daughter for a long time, then let out a long sigh and said, "You have more strategy than your mother, and you are more like me when I was young."

"Leave this matter to you. If you need to mobilize anyone, go directly to Suming and issue invitations in the name of the Cui Family. Since we are not going to cross blades with them, we will make them shed a layer of skin. The Cui Family is not something just anyone can come up and grope."

"Yes."

Cui Xijun turned and walked out of the study.

Outside the door, Steward Cheng was waiting. Seeing her walk out, he stopped and bowed his head.

Cui Xijun looked at him with a trace of an imperceptible smile on her face: "Steward Cheng, prepare a visiting card. Today, I am going to the Liu Family to see the old Minister Liu."

Steward Cheng agreed repeatedly: "The eldest miss and the others heard you were in danger and wanted to come visit yesterday. Does the third miss wish to see them?"

"We shall speak after I return from the Liu Family. This matter is the most urgent right now."

Having said that, Cui Xijun strode away like the wind, completely unlike the refined lady skilled in poetry and prose as rumored.

The news of the Cui Family's third miss being attacked quickly spread throughout the Capital City.

In the end, the rumors vaguely pointed toward the Liu Family, putting them in an extremely passive position.

It even drew the attention of the State Preceptor of Xiangguo Temple and the current Emperor.

In order to settle the matter, the Liu Family had no choice but to cede large tracts of property in the Capital City and even give up two berths in the water transport sector.

Only then was the momentum of the Cui Family's continued pursuit barely suppressed, preserving some of the Liu Family's face in the Capital City.

However, the enmity between the Cui Family and the Liu Family was already set in stone.

Let alone marriage, it would be rare if they did not draw swords against each other when they met in the future.

After this incident, the reputation of the Liu Family plummeted.

As the person in charge, the public image of the Cui Family's third miss also underwent a great change after this experience.

When the current Emperor asked about the attack on the Cui Family in the imperial court, Cui Zhenru reported the facts.

After listening, the Emperor personally praised her, calling Cui Xijun a "talented woman with a blade hidden in her skirt."

For a time, Cui Xijun's fame soared.

As for the other participant in this matter, Chen Ye, he was completely unaware of the details.

After obtaining seven hundred taels of silver, his first priority was to redeem his entire lifespan.