Meeting the Crown Prince

The young eunuch bowed his head and said, "Young Master Xu first went to Princess Lin'an's Shaoyin Garden. The two talked for a long time behind the artificial hill. When they came out, Princess Lin'an's eyes were red, as if she had just been crying."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanjing frowned and interrupted, "What are they doing behind the artificial hill?"

The old eunuch glanced at Emperor Yuanjing's expression and knew that His Majesty was displeased. The princess and Xu Tongluo went to the secluded back of the artificial hill, and then the princess came out with red eyes.

This certainly sparks the imagination.

"To tell you the truth," the old eunuch said, his eyes wide.

"It's because Princess Lin'an came out carrying a knife. As soon as Xu Tongluo saw it, he hid behind the artificial hill. It was this servant who told Her Highness that Xu Tongluo was hiding behind the artificial hill." The young eunuch hurriedly explained, trembling with fear, not daring to conceal anything.

The old eunuch immediately looked at Emperor Yuanjing, and seeing that the fierce light in the emperor's eyes had subsided, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Continue."

"Then Lord Xu and the princess went into the hall, and this servant was driven out. His Highness and Lord Xu talked in the hall for a quarter of an hour. This servant does not know the content of their conversation." The young eunuch finally expressed his grievance at this point:

"This servant is not neglecting his duty, it's just that Lord Xu's attitude is too forceful."

After he finished speaking, he glanced cautiously at Emperor Yuanjing out of the corner of his eye.

To his disappointment, Emperor Yuanjing showed no expression, so the young eunuch had no choice but to continue, "Afterwards, Lord Xu, along with this servant and Princess Lin'an, went to see the remains of Consort Fu."

"During the process, Lord Xu attempted to touch Consort Fu's body. I tried my best to stop him, but failed and was even kicked by him."

That's why they say little devils are hard to deal with. That kick was something the little eunuch remembered well, and he was just waiting for this moment to cause trouble for Xu Qi'an.

As expected, Emperor Yuanjing frowned.

The old eunuch who had served him for decades asked on behalf of his master, "How was it tested?"

"I touched it repeatedly for a long time," the young eunuch replied.

He dared not exaggerate, because if Emperor Yuanjing were enraged, he only needed to have someone verify the information and question Xu Qi'an, and the lie would be exposed immediately. The crime of deceiving the emperor was something a lowly eunuch would not dare to commit.

The old eunuch asked, "And then?"

"Then he left." The young eunuch said, "However, Lord Xu told Princess Lin'an that there were other suspicious circumstances surrounding Consort Fu's death."

"Is there something else going on?" Emperor Yuanjing finally spoke again, straightening his posture and leaning slightly forward as he stared at the young eunuch.

"Lord Xu said that a normal fall from a building should result in the body landing face down, not back down, but Consort Fu did indeed die back down. It is highly likely that she was pushed."

The young eunuch recounted Xu Baipiao's analysis to Emperor Yuanjing in its entirety.

Emperor Yuanjing, who had been pushed to his death, squinted, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. After a long silence, he said:

"Step down."

The young eunuch took his leave and departed.

The old eunuch smiled obsequiously, "This Xu Qi'an truly lives up to his reputation. The three judicial departments have been investigating for many days without success, but as soon as he arrived, he immediately discovered the clues. The day the case is solved is just around the corner."

Emperor Yuanjing snorted coldly, "The Three Judicial Offices aren't incapable of handling cases, they just don't want to. However, Xu Qi'an does indeed have some ability."

He was still satisfied.

After a pause, Emperor Yuanjing said, "Issue my imperial edict, instructing the Grand Secretariat to draft an edict to restart the process of bestowing a title upon Xu Qi'an."

The old eunuch received the order and left the palace. Instead of going to the cabinet immediately, he summoned the young eunuch who was supervising Xu Qi'an's case and slapped him across the face.

"Godfather?"

The young eunuch covered his face in grievance.

"What time is it? You still want to play tricks on me? Do you think His Majesty can't tell? Does he know he just had a brush with death?" the old eunuch said sharply.

"His Majesty is already troubled by Consort Fu's matter. At this time, you tried to play tricks on him. It's pure luck that you survived today."

"I've assigned you to supervise Xu Qi'an, so you must supervise him properly and not smuggle in any personal biases. The people he interacts with and the things he does in the harem all involve the concubines, princesses, and princes. You cannot have even the slightest prejudice or opinion, otherwise you will be interfering with the imperial family."

His Majesty will judge for himself what Xu Qi'an has done. The little eunuch is instilling his own opinions, which is to criticize the emperor's family.

The young eunuch lowered his head and said tremblingly, "Your son understands."

The old eunuch snorted, "Lord Xu kicked you out for your own good. If you really listened to things you shouldn't have, the day the case is closed will be the day your head rolls."

The young eunuch was stunned for a moment, then a few seconds later he understood, his face turned deathly pale, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

The resentment towards Xu Qi'an for that kick vanished like smoke.

dusk.

Xu Qi'an sat on horseback, his beloved little mare trotting along. He squinted, basking in the orange sunlight, and hummed a light, cheerful tune:

"You walk the path of humanity; you carry the flag against the wind; you are a good official who neither indulges in prostitution nor seeks corruption, and the people hold you in their hearts."

The little mare trotted into the alleyway of the Imperial Academy of Music).

Upon entering the alley, Xu Qi'an dismounted, tossed the reins to the servant in blue standing guard at the alley entrance, and casually tossed over a small piece of silver.

The gates of Yingmei Pavilion were tightly shut; had it closed for the day?

Xu Qi'an glanced at the afterglow in the west and thought to himself that at this hour, the Imperial Academy of Music should be open for business.

"Clap clap clap"

He looked up and pounded on the courtyard gate of Yingmei Pavilion. After a short while, the door opened, and just as a crack appeared, the servant in blue inside said:

"Yingmei Pavilion is no longer accepting guests. Please visit the other courtyard."

The courtyard gate opened, and the young servant in blue, upon seeing Xu Qi'an, was taken aback, stammering, "You, you are..."

"I am your wife's husband, Master Xu." Xu Qi'an raised an eyebrow.

"A ghost!"

The servant in blue screamed and took off running, his legs moving incredibly fast, only to find himself standing still, his collar grabbed by Xu Qi'an.

"What are you yelling about? I'm still alive." Xu Qi'an raised his other hand and slapped him twice—the slaps weren't painful, but they were loud—and asked:

"Is my palm still warm?"

The hot, burning sensation made the servant in blue believe that Xu Qi'an was alive, but he was puzzled by Xu Qi'an's drastically changed appearance and the fur hat he was wearing.

"You're finally back! Lady Fuxiang has been crying every day, so depressed and melancholy that she's lost a lot of weight." The servant in blue quickly tried to win over his master.

Although very curious about the reason for Xu Qi'an's resurrection, he dared not ask.

"I'll go tell her right away that you're back."

"Just tell her we have guests and ask if she'd like to come out and drink with them," Xu Qi'an said.

The servant in blue hurried into the depths of the courtyard and stood in the courtyard outside Fuxiang's bedroom, calling out, "Madam, a guest has arrived and is asking if you will go out to entertain them."

Fuxiang didn't answer. From inside the room came a maid's scolding voice. "The mistress isn't feeling well, she won't be drinking. Who told you to open the door? Do you want your dog's paws back?"

Xu Qi'an coughed, "Since Lady Fuxiang isn't entertaining guests, I'll be leaving then."

The room fell silent for a moment, then Fuxiang's trembling voice called out, "Xu Lang?"

His voice changed drastically, Fuxiang couldn't be sure for a moment.

Xu Qi'an smiled and said, "It's me."

A loud "bang" came from inside the room, as if something had been knocked over, followed by a maid's startled cry, "Madam, slow down!"

The next moment, the door opened, and Fuxiang, dressed in a white dress, barefoot, with her black hair casually draped over her shoulders, rudely pushed the door open and rushed out.

One person stands under the eaves, and another stands in the courtyard; the scene seems frozen in time.

Xu Qi'an said helplessly, "It's cold outside, let's go back inside."

Fuxiang let out a mournful cry, threw herself into his arms, and began to wail bitterly.

"That's how it happened. Not only did I not die, but I actually benefited greatly from the misfortune."

Xu Qi'an sat at the table, drinking the fine wine from the Imperial Academy of Music, and explained to Fuxiang the ins and outs of his resurrection.

Fuxiang sat on the edge of the bed, her skirt parted, revealing a long, white, python-like leg. There was a bruise on her fair skin on her calf, and a maid helped apply ointment.

I was running too fast and got hit.

Fuxiang's feelings are complicated. She feels joy at regaining what she lost, but also sadness and heart palpitations that are hard to hide. She feels empty inside.

"Whenever I think of Xu Lang's death in the line of duty, my heart still feels empty."

"It's okay, it's okay, you'll feel really bloated soon."

As the sun completely set, a line of maids brought in a table laden with delicious food—things that fly in the sky, swim in the water, and crawl on the ground.

The two sat at the table drinking, their conversation casual and without a specific topic.

"In fact, many scholars in the capital greatly admired Xu Lang. Yesterday, my maidservant learned of your death from a customer of the Imperial Academy of Music. Those scholars lamented that with the passing of Xu Ningyan, the future of the Great Feng poetry scene was also lost."

"Speaking of which, I did write a poem when I was facing thousands of rebels, fighting alone and exhausted." Xu Qi'an, holding his wine cup.

Fuxiang's beautiful eyes sparkled, and a bright smile bloomed on her face as she eagerly awaited, "This humble servant longs to hear Master Xu's new work."

"I always feel a little ashamed of being a plagiarist," Xu Qi'an thought to himself, "I really am an upright man." But when it came to showing off, he never hesitated.

He paused for a few seconds, calming himself, and slowly said:

"Young and chivalrous, he befriended heroes from five capitals. Their hearts were open and their hair stood on end; in a single conversation, they would share life and death, and their promises were worth a thousand pieces of gold."

Fuxiang gazed at him intently, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a captivating and alluring light.

As I savored this poem, even though it was incomplete, the image of him facing thousands of rebel soldiers, fearless in the face of death, flashed through my mind.

She became increasingly infatuated with this man, unable to extricate herself.

"Don't just stand there daydreaming, I'm telling you, it has a purpose." Xu Qi'an tapped his fingers on the table.

"Purpose?"

Fuxiang snapped out of her daze and returned a blank look.

"Help me spread the word; the Imperial Academy of Music is the most suitable place to publicize these glorious deeds."

It's utterly foolish of Governor Zhang not to include his poem in his memorial to the throne. As a result, the officials and scholars in the capital have yet to read his masterpiece.

How anxious they must be!

". oh."

After dinner, the maid prepared hot water to help Master Xu take a bath.

"You may leave." Xu Qi'an dismissed the maid, leaving Fuxiang alone in the room.

After Fuxiang, draped in a thin veil, stepped into the bathtub, Xu Qi'an pulled off his mink hat.

A large, bare, hard-boiled egg.

"Puff"

Fuxiang couldn't help but burst out laughing, leaning over the edge of the bathtub, her laughter shaking uncontrollably.

"What's so funny? Even though I've gone bald, I've also become stronger, "Xu Qi'an glared at her.

It will probably take him at least six months for his hair to grow back.

Fuxiang's chest wasn't really a chest; when Xu Qi'an rested his head on it, it became a head cushion.

If Xu Qi'an rolls over again, it will be called facial cleanser.

After taking a shower, the two lay on the bed talking. Fuxiang felt a little stuffy and had difficulty breathing, so she playfully pushed away the big bald head on her chest.

"Puff!"

Xu Qi'an released a burst of energy, extinguishing the candle.

The next day, dressed with the help of the courtesan, Xu Qi'an bid farewell to Fuxiang, who was reluctant to leave but had dark circles under her eyes.

The maids of Yingmei Pavilion watched Xu Qi'an's retreating figure as he stepped out of the courtyard gate and began to whisper among themselves:

"Young Master Xu is too amazing! I think the bed in my wife's room needs to be replaced."

"Yes, it makes a creaking sound every time you sit on it, it's practically falling apart. My wife must be suffering."

"Quickly boil some water; my wife wants to bathe. Also, prepare some loquat syrup; her voice is hoarse."

Leaving Yingmei Pavilion, the spring chill was still in the air. The cold front that hit him invigorated Xu Qi'an, and he headed towards the stables.

Suddenly, I stepped on a hard lump. Looking down, I saw it was a purse.

Having entered the Spirit Refining Realm, has he directly upgraded to picking up purses? Xu Qi'an was somewhat delighted and naturally bent down to pick it up, intending to put it in his pocket.

He suddenly froze.

This purse is exactly the same as the one hanging on his waist, with fine stitches and an embroidered pine tree. It was sewn by his younger sister, Lingyue, stitch by stitch.

Second Uncle?

As the thought crossed his mind, Xu Qi'an saw a young man in a scholar's robe running hurriedly from the direction of the stable. This young man had red lips and white teeth, eyes like stars, and handsome features, perfectly inheriting his mother's excellent genes.

"I really didn't expect that," Xu Qi'an said with a sigh.

The handsome young man's gaze kept wandering around the ground, finally settling on Xu Qi'an, whereupon he froze.

Xu Qi'an's lips twitched, and he raised his hand in greeting, "Good morning."

Xu Erlang looked at him, his lips moving slightly. "Good morning."

The two brothers stared at each other in silence. After a moment, Xu Qi'an broke the awkward silence, walked over, and returned the purse to Erlang.

"Be careful, thankfully I found the purse."

Xu Erlang calmly accepted it and nodded, saying, "Thank you, elder brother."

Unable to find a topic to talk about, the two brothers walked side by side to the stables, led their horses, and trotted out of the Imperial Academy of Music.

It was just dawn, and apart from vendors and peddlers, there were very few pedestrians.

"Yesterday I was with my classmates."

"I was with my colleagues yesterday."

The two brothers spoke in unison.

Xu Qi'an glanced back at Imperial Academy of Music, then looked sideways at his younger brother and asked, "Where's my classmate?"

Xu Xinnian looked straight ahead and said calmly, "Where are my colleagues?"

The two brothers ran out of things to say again.

Xu Qi'an recalled the time he was released from prison and returned home, when Xu Xinnian suffered social death because of "Great Feng Gu Ru Chang Ye" and pretended to be unconscious out of shame.

Now, he was caught red-handed at the Imperial Academy of Music, yet he remained unfazed.

It's not just me who's growing up; Erlang's skin has gotten much thicker too. Hmm, maybe it's because he's died in front of me so many times that he's gotten used to it. Xu Qi'an saw some green tangerines for sale by the roadside and quickly reined in his horse. "Wait a minute."

Xu Xinnian then reined in his horse, looking on with a puzzled expression.

Xu Qi'an bought a pound of green tangerines, and beckoned Xu Erlang to dismount. While peeling and wiping his clothes, he said:

"The girls from the Imperial Academy of Music smelled too strongly of cosmetics. If you just use the juice of green tangerine peel to cover it up, even the most discerning woman won't be able to smell it."

While quickly doing as instructed, Xu Erlang seized the opportunity to unleash his sharp tongue and mocked:

"My elder brother is quick-witted; it's a real shame he doesn't go to school."

Xu Qi'an glanced at him, "It's a method my second uncle taught me."

Xu Xinnian seemed to say nothing, keeping his head down and diligently applying the juice from the green orange peel to his clothes.

After finishing, Xu Qi'an handed the green oranges to Xu Xinnian and said, "I need to go to the palace to handle a case. You take the oranges home."

Erlang frowned and said, "Investigating a case? What kind of case are you investigating this time?"

"Have you heard about Consort Fu's case? The Emperor dumped it on me," Xu Qi'an explained.

"Why are you getting involved in this bullshit case?"

Cloud Deer Academy has its own special intelligence network, and nothing that happens in the capital can escape the academy's notice.

I can't refuse.

Xu Xinnian sneered, "You can have your father knock you over with a stick, then use recuperation as an excuse to drop the case. Besides, this case will definitely be difficult to investigate."

Erlang is indeed suited for officialdom; his cunning is top-notch. Xu Qi'an laughed, "Actually, cases in the palace are the easiest to investigate."

Because the palace is full of experts and is Emperor Yuanjing's stronghold, those fancy systems cannot infiltrate it. The case of Consort Fu is probably the most "normal" case he has handled since he came into this world.

Xu Xinnian nodded, looking at the green tangerine with disdain. "Green tangerines are sour and astringent, no one in the family will eat them."

"We can't waste this, let's give it to Lingyin."

"Good idea."

Dali Temple.

Standing at the imposing entrance of the government office, Xu Qi'an, seated on horseback, glanced at the three gilded characters "Dali Temple".

The Court of Judicial Review (Dali Temple) was in charge of adjudicating criminal cases, equivalent to the Supreme People's Court in Xu Qi'an's previous life. It was one of the Three Judicial Offices, along with the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice.

In cases of great importance, the emperor would usually have the three judicial departments jointly try the case with the Nightwatchers. This demonstrates the immense power and influence Wei Yuan, who simultaneously controlled Nightwatchers's office and the Censorate.

Emperor Yuanjing used only him to control and balance the civil and military officials.

Similarly, it's clear how lucky Xu Qi'an was; he just happened to join the Nightwatchers and just happened to gain Wei Yuan's favor. From a quick-witted man in Changle County, he became a figure who could walk sideways in the capital.

"Quickly find the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and have him come out to see me." Xu Qi'an brandished his gold token and said to the yamen runners on duty at the yamen gate:

"If he doesn't come out, I will go to the palace and complain to His Majesty that he is deliberately making things difficult and obstructing the investigation."

The yamen runner hurried inside.

A quarter of an hour later, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, accompanied by two Vice Ministers and a group of officials from the Court of Judicial Review, came out to greet them.

"Lord Xu, I am so sorry for not greeting you sooner," the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review said with a smile.

Xu Qi'an dismounted and greeted him warmly, "Oh dear, how could I have troubled Lord Pei to come out in person? I am truly ashamed."

Xu Qi'an had the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review come out to receive him, intending to embarrass him and make him lose face. As one of the Nine Ministers, to personally come out of the yamen to receive a mere lowly official was a huge loss of face, especially since they had a grudge against each other. How could he not take advantage of this opportunity to make things difficult for him?

"Of course, of course."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review led Xu Qi'an inside, saying, "Minister Xu, you've returned just in time. The case of Consort Fu is undoubtedly yours. However, I must remind you, Minister Xu, that this case is dangerous; be careful not to get too deeply involved."

This is gloating.

The case of Consort Fu: if handled well, it would offend the Crown Prince's faction; if handled poorly, it would offend Emperor Yuanjing.

"At least I got a viscount title in return. What does offending the old emperor matter?" Xu Qi'an said with a smile.

"No problem, no problem. Before we get caught up in it, we'll definitely take those annoying old guys with us. We have the gold medal in hand anyway, so why not use the power to act first and ask for permission later?"

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review squinted. "Lord Xu is joking."

"Lord Xu, have you come to the Dali Temple for the sake of the Crown Prince?"

"Exactly."

Xu Qi'an met the Crown Prince in the "prison cell." The so-called prison cell was actually a clean and tidy room. The furnishings were not luxurious, but it was small yet complete.

The crown prince was confined to his room and could not leave until the case was solved.

"No wonder he's the Crown Prince; even his imprisonment is different from that of ordinary people, "Xu Qi'an thought to himself.

After the gatekeeper left, he clasped his hands and said, "This humble official, Xu Qi'an, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"You're here to interrogate me, aren't you? Did Father Emperor appoint you to preside over this case?" The Crown Prince sat at the table, sizing up Xu Qi'an.

"The three judicial departments are making excuses and shirking their responsibilities, unwilling to get involved in this matter. They can only turn to me, this stubborn bastard. Anyway, I've already offended enough people." Xu Qi'an shrugged, sat down at the table, and poured himself a glass of water.

The Crown Prince observed all of his actions.

"Please describe the events of that day in detail, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, paused for a moment, and slowly said, "When I finished lunch at my mother's residence that day, the snow had not yet melted. I returned to the East Palace with my guards and met a palace maid from Consort Fu's side on the way. The palace maid said that Consort Fu invited me to come and have a chat."

"I then followed her to Qingfeng Palace, which was Consort Fu's bedroom. After entering Qingfeng Palace, a palace maid led me to the upper floor and told me to wait in the outer hall, saying that Consort Fu was changing her clothes."

"I had drunk too much alcohol and was very thirsty, so I drank the tea on the table to quench my thirst, and somehow I drifted off to sleep."

"Then I was awakened by screams. I never expected that Consort Fu had fallen to her death, and I had become the prime suspect."

Xu Qi'an asked expressionlessly, "Were there no palace maids in the attic at that time?"

"It's not in the outer hall, and I don't know about the inner hall."

Where is that palace maid?

"Disappeared."

"She's missing!" Xu Qi'an's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He braced his arms on the table and stared intently at the Crown Prince: "How did Your Highness know that the palace maid was missing?"

For a moment, the crown prince was actually intimidated by the sharp aura of the little copper gong.

"Although I am in prison, I still have ways to find out what's going on outside," the Crown Prince said calmly, his face cold.

He was annoyed by the momentary intimidation he had just caused.

Based on the Crown Prince's calm demeanor when he met him, Xu Qi'an believed his words.

"Does Consort Fu usually interact with the Crown Prince?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"Of course not."

The Crown Prince vehemently denied it, stating that as the Crown Prince, it was neither possible nor appropriate for him to have any private interactions with the Emperor's concubines.

"Then why did the Crown Prince accept the invitation from Consort Fu without even a second thought?" Xu Qi'an asked pointedly.

"I was drunk at the time and didn't think things through." The Crown Prince's expression was somewhat unnatural.

Bah, he's just lusting after her body.

In truth, Xu Qi'an, as a man, understood the Crown Prince's thoughts very well. Consort Fu was a beautiful woman with both looks and temperament, and the Crown Prince had probably harbored fantasies about her in the past.

I happened to have drunk too much that day, and it happened to be a wine meant to aphrodisiac and kidney tonic. Anyone who has ever been slightly tipsy knows that in that state, you feel very lightheaded. Things you wouldn't normally dare to think about, you dare to do directly now.

Things I wouldn't normally dare to say, I just blurt out the moment my lips touch the paper.

It just so happened that Consort Fu invited me, or rather, she hadn't even invited me. On a whim, I went.

"It sounds like someone is setting a trap for His Highness the Crown Prince," Xu Qi'an analyzed.

"Of course someone framed me, and I bet Lord Xu thinks so too." The Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief.

"No, no, no, investigations can't be so subjective. I only described one possibility; there's another." Xu Qi'an leaned closer to the Crown Prince, propping himself up on the table again, and said, word by word:

"That day, His Highness the Crown Prince drank too much and became distracted. He couldn't help but think of Consort Fu, whom he had long coveted. Since His Majesty was obsessed with cultivating Daoism and did not get close to women, His Highness the Crown Prince's lustful thoughts arose and he turned to Qingfeng Palace, intending to defile Consort Fu."

"Unexpectedly, Consort Fu remained steadfast and unyielding, refusing to submit even to the death. During the struggle, you accidentally pushed her off the pavilion, where she fell to her death. Afterwards, you secretly sent someone to eliminate a palace maid, fabricating a story that you were framed."

"Nonsense!"

His Highness the Crown Prince slammed his fist on the table and rose to his feet, furious. "Xu Qi'an, how dare you slander me! How dare you frame me!"

"Your Highness, please don't be impatient. This is just my guess. The truth remains to be verified," Xu Qi'an said with a beaming smile.

Tsk, the Crown Prince's shrewdness is still lacking. Is he too concerned about his position? How can he possibly become emperor with this level of composure?

Neither the Crown Prince nor his sister Lin'an were exceptionally intelligent. Xu Qi'an became increasingly suspicious that Emperor Yuanjing had ulterior motives in appointing his eldest son, born out of wedlock, as Crown Prince.

After the Crown Prince calmed down, Xu Qi'an asked again, "Have Warlock from the Bureau of Astronomy come to see Your Highness?"

"This matter involves me, Consort Fu, and the very foundation of the Great Feng Kingdom. Do you think Father Emperor would trust the Warlock of the Bureau of Astronomy?" the Crown Prince retorted with a cold laugh.

Xu Qi'an nodded. Having spent so much time in the capital, he could see some of the tricks of the trade.

Although the Bureau of Astronomy had to rely on the royal family and the dynasty's fortune, this can be seen from the fact that Chu Caiwei needed the "approval" of the people of the capital to be promoted to the sixth rank.

However, the First-Rank Supervisor was too powerful, so the Bureau of Astronomy was not a mere appendage, but rather had a cooperative relationship with the Great Feng Dynasty.

In cases involving the crown prince, Emperor Yuanjing might not trust the Bureau of Astronomy. And the Bureau of Astronomy might not be willing to get involved in such trivial matters.

"This humble servant also needs to examine His Highness's health; I hope His Highness will cooperate."

Xu Qi'an grabbed the prince's hand and examined his wrists, arms, and then his neck, finding no claw marks or scratches.

"This humble servant will investigate the truth as soon as possible. If the Crown Prince is innocent, I will naturally clear your name." Xu Qi'an stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Etc!"

His Highness the Crown Prince stopped him and said in a deep voice, "Lord Xu, aren't you getting too close to Lin'an?"

P. S.: This chapter is 7,000 words, so the update is a little late. Sorry! There will be another update tonight.

Also, I'm asking for monthly votes, guys.