Yang Qing stood at the window for a long time. Jiang Zhizhou and Bu Er were anxious, but neither approached him.
They knew that Yang Qing was caught in the grip of anguish.
Fortunately, after standing there for a while, Yang Qing said to Bu Er, "Keep watching the First-Rank Residence. Bei Chen must have left some clues; he simply has no way to let us know."
Bu Er nodded in acknowledgment.
Yang Qing then turned to Jiang Zhizhou. "The Spring Examination affair has dragged on until now, and I fear it has handed Duan Hongzhuo an unexpected advantage. What do you intend to do next?"
Jiang Zhizhou had pledged before the emperor to use the Spring Examination affair against the Regent King. Now that things had come to this, who knew what thunderous imperial wrath awaited him?
"It is all right," Jiang Zhizhou said. "Leave this to me."
Yang Qing knew Jiang Zhizhou had only said that to comfort him.
Yet even knowing this, he had no way to help him.
It was as though all of them had fallen into a pit they could neither see nor touch, with no means of escape.
"Xiao Zhou, at a time like this, we must keep our composure all the more."
Otherwise, once their hearts fell into turmoil, everything they did would become even more chaotic.
"I understand. Rest assured." Jiang Zhizhou continued to reassure Yang Qing calmly.
Even though he already knew this ordeal would be difficult to weather.
Yang Qing stepped away from the window, but Jiang Zhizhou's gaze remained fixed on it.
Seeing his expression shift slightly, Yang Qing looked back toward the open window, yet noticed nothing unusual.
Jiang Zhizhou, however, hurried out of Yang Qing's room, making sure to speak to him before leaving.
"I need