“Sister-in-law, do you think Chancellor Fu earned His Majesty’s trust and favor all these years because of what?”

“Isn’t it precisely because he has grown increasingly selfish that the Emperor has now revived the Golden Hairpin Pavilion? Before its establishment, who else but our esteemed Prime Minister handled the Emperor’s covert operations—removing rivals and executing secret orders? His methods weren’t built in a day. He excels at appearances, maintaining an impeccable reputation for decades.”

“What a pity that after committing so many deeds unfit for the light of day, Gu Zhiyan also served as an imperial tutor.”

So, emulating past tactics, Fu Qingnian dredged up the secrets of Zhenru Palace and destroyed Gu Zhiyan.

“Why would Fu Qingnian plot against General Xiao? Gu Zhiyan was his long-time rival, but General Xiao grew up alongside the Emperor. Didn’t Fu realize General Xiao was a pillar of the nation, that Xi Shao dared not invade because of his reputation?”

Upon hearing this, Ai Disheng chuckled: “His actions back then mirrored those of today’s Golden Hairpin Guard. What reason did he need? It was all... a matter of guessing the Emperor’s intentions.”

“The secret memorial Fu Qingnian submitted to the Emperor contained just one accusation: General Xiao, in order to swiftly repel Xi Shao, once feigned acceptance of their peace offering and accepted their national seal—a sign of rebellion.”

“Rebellion? The Emperor wasn’t afraid of rebellion; he feared General Xiao’s immense popularity and influence. Should Xiao choose to rebel, he could at any moment.” Qu You sneered bitterly. “And so, General Xiao died on the frontier, betrayed by reinforcements that never arrived. His death was kept secret, and Mother-in-law likely never knew her husband had perished. She believed she had been abandoned. Ha... disgusting. These ancient grievances are truly vile...”

“Indeed... Later, Mother followed General Xiao’s former lieutenant to his hometown, Lin’an, where she gave birth to Xiao’s posthumous child and lived peacefully for many years. One day, while going through his belongings, she uncovered the truth. She learned of the general’s death, of Fu Qingnian’s secret report, and discovered... that the box supposedly containing the stolen national seal actually held this iron decree. His loyalty to the nation was undeniable, clear as the heavens themselves.”

“General Xiao left a letter for Lieutenant Zhou before his death. Though reinforcements failed to arrive, he understood the Emperor’s intentions in his final moments. He only asked Zhou to care for Mother, without seeking revenge. But Mother wasn’t one to endure such injustice...” Ai Disheng trailed off. “I don’t know the specifics, but both surely perished because of this. They left behind young Xiao Bai and Ah Yang.”

Ai Disheng spoke briefly, yet the sorrow behind his words ran deep.

Zhou Tan likely didn’t know the truth at first. He hadn’t returned to the Bai family in Jinling partly because his mother had severed ties with them publicly, and partly because he sought the capital to investigate his parents’ deaths through the imperial examinations.

“Since my husband has planned this far, Master Gu must have told him everything,” Qu You murmured, gazing at the sandalwood box with a sharp pang in her heart. “He uncovered the truth about his parents, the secret report from years ago... yet he could do nothing.”

Fu Qingnian acted on the Emperor’s implicit will. Though his actions amounted to framing, how could he dare act without the Emperor’s tacit approval? General Xiao forbade Bai Qiu from seeking revenge to protect her. Ultimately, who could they appeal to for justice in this tangled case?

There was no raising an army, no rebellion.

Ai Disheng shook his head solemnly: “Sister-in-law doesn’t know... At the time, I was the only other person besides him who knew the truth. That night, I drank myself into oblivion with Xiao Bai. He told me that Master Gu had once argued fiercely with the Emperor over this matter in court.”

“This is why Xiao Bai chose to swallow this bitter pill... Over the years, the Emperor has regretted his decision. After all, he didn’t fully believe the accusations at the time. Otherwise, General Xiao’s good name wouldn’t have endured until today. It was merely a fleeting hesitation—just a moment—but on the battlefield, a single moment decides life and death. Xiao Bai thoroughly investigated Fu Qingnian’s secret report. Originally, someone in the army mistook General Xiao’s sandalwood box for the national seal offered privately by Xi Shao. Fu Qingnian reported it faithfully. How could he predict the consequences?”

If Emperor Song Chang had resolved to eliminate overly powerful generals...

If Fu Qingnian had deliberately framed a trusted Duke of the realm...

Then Zhou Tan might have had someone to blame. But upon arriving in Bianjing and uncovering the truth under Gu Zhiyan’s tutelage, he found himself lost. Who should he hate? Revenge felt too insubstantial, too ethereal—in the end, there was nowhere to direct his anger.

Only endurance remained.

As Zhou Tan often said, all these matters stemmed from the Emperor’s machinations. Under Gu Zhiyan’s guidance, he forced himself to abandon thoughts of “revenge,” instead focusing on self-discipline and fulfilling the vow he made upon becoming Gu’s disciple—to serve the people.

But then, Gu Zhiyan died.

Qu You stared bitterly at the items before her. After Gu’s death, Zhou Tan likely persisted, wanting to see if the court still deserved his teacher’s teachings.

The Emperor cared not for the people; the Chancellor cared not for the state. All were mired in endless struggles for power. Only then did Zhou Tan lose hope entirely, deciding to burn his bridges.

Her gaze fell on the iron decree. She picked up the jade pendant, still silent. Beside her, Bai Shating remarked, “This is the Bai family’s seal of authority. You wouldn’t believe how much bloodshed erupted among us fighting over it. Sickened by the sight of sibling rivalry, I fled to Bianjing. Turns out, Old Master had already entrusted this seal to Aunt Bai Qiu and General Xiao’s son. If we’d known earlier, why would my siblings have fought so hard?”

Calling Zhou Tan’s mother “Aunt,” Bai Shating revealed himself as Zhou Tan’s cousin. Surprised, Qu You asked, “Sir Shisan, did you always know of my husband’s identity?”

“Not at first. Later... Father wrote me a letter, telling me to seek refuge with my brother if I couldn’t make it in Bianjing. Talk about underestimating me!” Bai Shating shook his head. “But I didn’t know for long. One day, I bumped into Ah Yang, teased him to call me ‘Big Brother,’ and got into a fight when he lost his temper... Haha, come to think of it, that day at Zhaosin Department was actually my first meeting with Lord Zhou.”

He absentmindedly toyed with the jade pendant: “Speaking of which, my cousin truly embodies noble integrity. Last time, to repay a debt to Ren Shiming, he sent this seal back to the family via intermediaries. My father didn’t dare accept it... His parents were great benefactors to the entire Bai clan. Had he chosen to return and inherit the family fortune, our clan wouldn’t have descended into such chaos.”

“Past grievances are hard for Xiao Bai to voice himself. He entrusted me to convey everything to you. He didn’t want to hide anything, but circumstances were urgent, and opportunities scarce,” Ai Disheng stood and bowed to Qu You. “Today, I’ve come to explain on his behalf. Henceforth, I implore you, Sister-in-law, to take care.”

Qu You returned the bow. Rising, she paced twice across the hall before turning back abruptly. “Before parting, Zhou Tan assured me everything was within his plan... But from your words, it seems you don’t have the foolproof solution he claimed?”

She pointed to the iron decree inside the box: “Let me guess. He intends to use his identity to force the Emperor to eliminate Fu Qingnian. Master Gu told him that Fu Qingnian reported the truth back then, but as the aggrieved party’s son, if he exposes this matter, declaring to the world that the Emperor killed a loyal minister, even the Emperor would be powerless against him. You support him externally—Mr. Ai, as a witness to the events, and Sir Shisan, as the Bai heir. Both are credible figures. You leave no room for doubt.”

Ai Disheng’s expression stiffened, remaining silent. Bai Shating scratched his head and kicked Ai Disheng lightly: “See? I told you Sister-in-law would figure it out. She practically reads my cousin’s mind. Their strategies are identical—things I could never imagine!”

“How could Zhou Tan dare deceive me, claiming it was foolproof?” Qu You slammed the lid of the sandalwood box shut. “What if the Emperor feels no affection for General Xiao? What if, upon learning his identity, he immediately orders his execution? No matter how you spread rumors afterward to force Fu Qingnian’s downfall, if he’s dead, what’s the point of contingency plans?”

She slumped into a chair, muttering: “He says he’s leaving these things to me... He assumes he’ll likely meet disaster. If he does, he wants me to take the seal and iron decree, follow Sir Shisan back to Jinling—the former ensures the Bai clan’s survival, the latter secures my future...”

Bai Shating interjected: “If you’re unwilling, Sister-in-law, it’s fine. Zhou Tan mentioned he prepared a divorce agreement...”

Ai Disheng glared at him sharply, silencing Bai Shating instantly.

“This madman...” Qu You gritted her teeth. “He calculated everything—even ensuring Ren Shiming’s release before enduring torture himself. As long as he withstands some punishment and denies everything, the Golden Hairpin Guard won’t dare pass judgment. Eventually, he’ll be brought before the Emperor, revealing his true identity. Then he’ll force the Emperor to choose between him and Fu Qingnian.”

“We had no choice,” Ai Disheng laughed bitterly, his voice strained. “Chancellor Fu has served the Emperor’s darkest schemes for so long. Without taking drastic measures, ordinary methods couldn’t remove this threat entirely. Xiao Bai must have informed you of Zi Qian’s identity. For him, I, Xiao Bai, and Chao Ci—we’re willing to risk our lives. If sacrificing myself today means Fu Qingnian’s death, I’d gladly do it. Besides, he’s the one who killed Master Gu...”

Bai Shating hurriedly poured tea: “Brother, it’s not that bad...”

When Zhou Tan learned that Gu Zhiyan was killed by Fu Qingnian, he likely resolved to destroy him, even at the cost of his own life.

Conveniently, there was the Liu case. He walked into Fu Qingnian’s trap, lulling him into complacency, orchestrated a murder, and cornered himself. Now, facing Emperor De, he would reveal the iron decree—first, to declare his identity, and second, to make the Emperor understand that he had repeatedly yielded, yet Fu Qingnian wouldn’t let go. With old grudges and present threats, he risked exposing his identity to force the Emperor to kill Fu Qingnian.

Every step was meticulously calculated. The only uncertainty was the Emperor’s heart.

He had always known his identity, leaving the iron decree in the estate, yet never mentioned it, even when implicated in the Candlelit Pavilion case. In the end, even Gu Zhiyan couldn’t predict how the Emperor would react upon learning Xiao Yue had a descendant.

“At this point, there’s no stopping him,” Qu You opened her eyes, feeling eerily calm. “What else did he instruct you to do?”

“I came here actually to persuade you to flee with me to Jinling, but judging from Sister-in-law’s demeanor, it seems you’re unwilling.” Bai Shating winked mischievously, then patted Ai Disheng on the shoulder. “I told you! Coming to her so early—of course she’d figure everything out. Didn’t Zhou Tan tell you to wait until he was moved from the Golden Hairpin Pavilion to the palace? Ah, I see now—you did it on purpose! You wanted Sister-in-law to take on more tasks alongside you!”

“Get out of here, stop rambling,” Ai Disheng snapped at him, his tone tinged with resignation at being exposed. “Xiao Bai only asked me to... spread rumors among the common folk. Everyone in Bianjing knows how tyrannical Du Gaojun was. Though people might not trust Xiao Bai’s character, they’ll naturally assume there are plenty of others who’d want Du Gaojun dead... My job is to release information proving he isn’t the real killer. My men are already investigating who Fu Qingnian sent to carry out the deed. Once we find them, this evidence will spread across all of Bianjing, sparing me the need to send another message into the palace.”

Qu You suddenly chuckled softly: “Actually... it doesn’t have to be this complicated.”

Bai Shating stared blankly: “Huh?”

Zhou Tan was playing a game of public opinion against Emperor De.

After cornering himself by exposing his identity, the best-case scenario would be if the Emperor truly felt remorse for General Xiao and executed Fu Qingnian as Zhou Tan hoped. But even if Fu Qingnian dies, can Zhou Tan escape unscathed?

If Emperor De grants Zhou Tan’s wish and kills Fu Qingnian, he wouldn’t dare expose General Xiao’s past to the common folk. Moreover, Zhou Tan likely wouldn’t want these secrets revealed either—he’d prefer they remain buried within the palace walls.

Thus, Ai Disheng aimed to create public opinion that Zhou Tan wasn’t the murderer of Du Gaojun. Even if it couldn’t intimidate the Emperor, it would at least make him hesitate.

“He wants to intimidate the Emperor, but claiming he’s innocent among the common folk is too weak—it won’t yield much. Even if the Emperor kills him, given his already poor reputation, the public will just gossip briefly and move on.” Qu You pondered deeply, a faint smile forming on her face. “Someone needs to plead his innocence passionately, risking life and limb. If their cries go unanswered, they must be willing to die in protest—only such a person can create true deterrence.”

Bai Shating slapped his thigh in sudden realization, while Ai Disheng cast a complex glance at her. She met his gaze and realized this fox-like figure couldn’t possibly have overlooked this strategy—or perhaps, this was precisely why he had come today.

So Qu You laughed: “It’s just a matter of beating the drum of justice again. I’ve done something like this before. Besides, on the day Du Gaojun died, Zhou Tan was with me. Apart from me, there were no other witnesses. No one is more suited than me.”

“You need to think carefully,” Ai Disheng said quietly. “This time is different from the last. It involves much more. After you beat the drum, you’ll be taken from the capital prefecture directly into the palace, where you’ll wait for the Golden Hairpin Guard to bring Xiao Bai in for a joint audience with the Emperor. During this time, no one can protect you. Consort Zhao may not dare kill you, but she can still torment you. Even if you manage to survive until you meet Xiao Bai, the situation will still be extremely perilous—one wrong move and blood will spill on the spot...”

Historically, Zhou Tan didn’t die at this point.

Historically, Fu Qingnian died before Zhou Tan’s exile.

If everything follows history, she shouldn’t worry. But human life is so fragile. Now that she’s in the thick of it, she can no longer be sure whether history has been altered or if this plan will succeed.

At the bottom of the sandalwood box lay a lock of hair bound tightly with red thread—likely left over from Bai Qiu and General Xiao’s wedding vows. The red thread was wound so tightly, symbolizing their eternal promises and deep love. Qu You suddenly remembered that on their wedding day, Zhou Tan was still unconscious—they hadn’t exchanged locks of hair.

“He said that after this is over, he’ll request to leave Bianjing,” Qu You smiled, recalling Zhou Tan’s expression when he spoke those words in the Golden Hairpin Pavilion. Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming surge of confidence. “I want to travel with him to see the vast rivers and mountains you’ve all protected together, to witness Zi Qian’s smooth ascension to the throne and the court left in your hands to shape... He promised me. His life belongs to me.”

She stood up and glanced back—the sky was gradually brightening.

“Thank you, gentlemen, for informing me.”

________________________________________

When Ren Shiming heard the drum of justice sound for the second time in three months, he hadn’t even finished drinking his tea before he rode swiftly to Yujie Street.

The street was already packed to the brim, with even peddlers whispering on the sidelines.

“This is the second time Lady Zhou has beaten the drum of justice, right?”

“How strange. Didn’t they say that the Vice Minister of Justice and his wife were estranged, and that he forced her to plead for courtesans? Why is she now defending him after he’s implicated in a murder case?”

“It’s the affairs of great men—beyond our comprehension.”

Ren Shiming froze, pushing through the crowd. Behind the railing, he saw Qu You standing before the drum of justice. Her expression wasn’t as calm as the last time she struck it—she looked sorrowful, her voice trembling.

“Your Majesty, hear me! My husband is accused of killing the son of the Left Censor, and he’s been thrown into prison, his life hanging by a thread. That night, there were no witnesses, no evidence. Yet the three judicial departments suspect him guilty. But that night, he was clearly with me on a boat in Bian River—how could he have killed anyone?”

She didn’t even bring a petition or prepare evidence as she had last time, nor did she passionately argue the injustice. Ren Shiming inexplicably felt that rather than filing a formal complaint, she was speaking directly to the surrounding crowd.

Listening to her words, Ren Shiming suddenly realized something—when the Crown Prince saved him, he had unexpectedly learned that Ren had also seen Zhou Tan and Qu You that day. The Crown Prince specifically asked if he’d be willing to testify... The case against Zhou Tan and Du Gaojun was still unresolved, and Ren had no further news. If he knew the day Zhou Tan was sentenced guilty, he might also beat the drum of justice to plead for him.

Could it be that Qu You’s beating of the drum was part of Zhou Tan and the Crown Prince’s plan? Or perhaps the Crown Prince had always considered candidates for this role—previously only Qu You, but now, upon realizing Ren could also do it, he was surprised?

As if hearing the murmurs, Qu You held the drumstick and turned to address the crowd: “I know I’m the wife of the accused, and thus cannot serve as a witness. But when a couple travels together, who else is there to testify? Even if it costs me my life, I’ll prove his innocence. If I can’t clear my husband’s name, I’ll smash my head against the drumstone on Yujie Street today!”

Still unsatisfied, she continued: “There have been many misunderstandings about past events. Rumors say my husband frequented brothels and forced me to sue for divorce to plead for courtesans—that’s all nonsense! My husband simply wanted to seek justice for those women of low status, but due to his position, he couldn’t investigate directly. If those women filed complaints themselves, they’d face corporal punishment in the capital prefecture. Not wanting to trouble anyone, I came forward voluntarily, without any coercion. This act goes against my parents’ teachings—I willingly renounce my ties with my family. I admit to being unfilial, unworthy, and lacking in womanly virtue. All this I accept, but I cannot allow my husband’s good name to be tarnished!”

Ren Shiming was deeply shocked, and amidst the crowd, he heard urgent voices—likely Qu You’s relatives: “A Lian has gone mad! Mad! After today, if Zhou Tan doesn’t overturn this case, how will she live in Bianjing? Call her back, call her back!”

Qu You swept the crowd with a cold gaze, thinking to herself—after today, either she and Zhou Tan will die, or Fu Qingnian will. If the latter dies, she’ll leave Bianjing with Zhou Tan, free from worldly ties. By severing ties with the Qu family now, even if both of them perish, it won’t affect the Qu family’s reputation.

With this in mind, she was willing to risk everything to defend Zhou Tan against the rumors swirling in the streets... Perhaps she had wanted to do this all along. In this era, fleeting fame meant less to her than a single glance or a faint smile.

Seemingly worried she might reveal more forbidden truths, guards soon arrived to hastily escort her away.

The crowd dispersed like startled birds, leaving Ren Shiming standing dumbfounded, staring at the abandoned drumstick for a long time.