Just as the emperor was about to issue an edict to interrogate Pingling Jun, a major event occurred in Pingling.

  Princess Danyang issued a statement of accusation against Li Shan, the former Prince of Pingling, on the last day of his mourning period, accusing him of being disloyal and inhumane.

  In the second year of Daxing, Li Shan made an enemy of Sun Wei, who was nearly fifty years old and had been loyal to the imperial court for many years, and strangled him in the Cold Palace. In the third year of Daxing, he wanted to seize Empress Feng's power, forcing her to take her own life. Not reflecting on his own mistakes, he instead massacred everyone in the empress' palace.

  In the same year, Li Shan was wrongly killed by Xu Xian's elder brother, and his body was left to rot in a remote border area. Thirty million taels of silver from the national treasury were embezzled to build a palace, ostensibly for the emperor but actually for himself, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of laborers. Someone reported this to the throne, but the report did not reach the emperor, and the person who made the report was also killed, leading to many years of corruption in the imperial court.

  The Empress Dowager interrogated him, "What qualifications does this person have to enter the ancestral temple and receive sacrifices for three days every year? The blood of the Li family flowing through his body is a shame to the Li family!"

  As soon as this indictment was released, it caused a sensation throughout the land. Not many people knew whether it was true or false, and all they could do was discuss it back and forth.

  However, afterwards, when Li Fangwu, son of Li Shan, personally confirmed that these were indeed facts.

  He memorialized the Emperor, with a posture of upholding great righteousness to annihilate his kin, making it clear that from then on he would never again go to the capital to pay respects to his father, and only at home would offer sacrifices one or two times, merely as a token of filial piety.

  This decision seemed very reasonable, with filial piety and sufficient reason not to go to Kyoto. The emperor could neither condemn him for being unfilial nor force him to leave Pingling.

  As a result, people all over the world knew that Li Shan was a man of great evil, far from being as good as he was praised in the books and recorded in history.

  People with a conscience began to verify the facts in the indictment, and found that Princess Chang's words were not false. Even according to what she said, they soon found Sun Weiwei's remains in the Cold Palace.

  The imperial court was shaken, and countless memorials flew up to the emperor's desk, requesting the cancellation of Li Shan's annual three-day ancestral worship.

  Li Huailian sat alone on the soft couch in Longyange Palace, with the windows closed and the shadows in the corners falling on his eyes.

  "Your Majesty." Liu Yunlie came in and said in a low voice, "It's been taken care of."

  The ancestral temple sacrifice was decided by Li Huailian, and Liu Yunlie knew the reason. It's impossible to change because of a few memorials from the courtiers. However... The Long Princess's move really caught them off guard. The posthumous title originally intended for Li Shan by His Majesty is probably also not going to happen now.

  Li Huailian's voice was low and husky: "Is what Imperial Sister said true?"

  Liu Yunlie paused, shaking his head: "Don't you know what kind of person the Princess is? After all these years, she suddenly comes out and says these things, there must be some benefit involved. Whether what she said is true or false is no longer important, what's important is to guard against her, see what she wants to do."

  Huai Lin shook his head: "I always feel that Imperial Sister's move is like telling me that she didn't kill Li Shan wrongly."

  Liu Yunlie remained silent.

  He thought that Princess Chang would not mention these old things again, after all she was not a person who liked to clear her own name. When the King of Pingling passed away, she had absolute power and could have easily cleared her name, but instead she chose to focus on Lu Jingxuan and never once tried to clear her own name.

  It is also unknown who said it, but in the eyes of Princess Chang, reputation is the cheapest thing.

  So what exactly happened that changed her mind?

  "How's business?" Hua Yuemei held up the map of Qu Linhe River waterway construction in front of Lu Jinghang, "One letter for one map, is it profitable or not?"

  Lu Jinghang looked at her deeply: "Earned a full pot."

  She has been staying in a first-line city and hasn't gone out, nor has anyone whispered in her ear, so Huaiyu still doesn't know that earth-shaking changes have taken place outside.

  It's more than just earning a picture...

  Lu Jingxing turned his head to glance out the window, where Jiang Xuanye was standing in the courtyard. His fox-fur cloak fluttered slightly in the wind, and a jade crown held back his dark hair, making him look like some young master from a noble family, alone in his appreciation of the world's beauty.

  "Is this indictment something he asked you to write?" Lu Jinghang asked in a low voice.

  "Huh?" Hua Yu raised an eyebrow, "How did you know it was his idea? But the words are not good-looking, he directly let Jiang Shen take over. Although Jiang Er Gongzi is not good at other things, he is really skilled in writing and using words, and he has written down the old case from years ago into a historical record."

  His eyes flickered slightly, and Lu Jinghang pinched the cool fan bone for a while before saying, "He has a mind to do it."

  "He didn't lose out either." Huai Yu hugged her belly and said, "The thank-you gift from Pingling Jun arrived today, a big box after another, they almost filled up my entire courtyard. He's really generous with his gifts. I suppose in the future, there will be many interactions between Pingling and Ziyang too."

  Lu Jinghang raised an eyebrow: "I remember in the third year of Daxing, you refuted someone's memorial, saying that there were too many interactions between vassals, which was not beneficial to the country."

  "Yes, but Li Shan didn't listen, and Hua Lin didn't support him either." Hua Yu shrugged. "Because Li Shan is just a feudal lord, he's very clear that the exchange between fiefs can help solidify the power of the feudal lords. If they can unite with the various local feudal lords, it would be enough to rival the imperial court."

  Huai Lin thinks Li Shan is wholeheartedly good to him, so now he should understand that back then Li Shan was also selfish, while supporting him, he also left a way out for himself.

  It's also fate playing tricks on people, now she's following in Li Shanliu's footsteps and will have a hard time with Huai Lin.

  Taking a deep breath, Huai Yu felt a bit stifled and said to Lu Jing, "I want to go out for a walk."

  Lu Jinghang shook his head firmly.

  "Oh my, staying at home all day is going to be suffocating! The doctor said I need to move around more to have the energy to give birth! Hua Yu pouted and looked outside. "Today is still the Northern Wei's Winter Flower Festival, in previous years we would always go out drinking on this festival, wouldn't we?"

  Lu Jinghang pointed at her with a smile: "The day before yesterday, you went out and carelessly threw away your hairpin, causing her to look for you for half a day, and she stood guard outside your door for three days without daring to move. She's still standing there now. Yesterday, you went out again, proudly carrying a big belly to help someone snatch a purse, scaring the owner half to death, and startling the entire yamen. The thief who snatched the purse thought he had stolen a large stack of silver notes, but when he came back, there were only three copper coins inside. And yesterday... you finally didn't go out, Chi Jin personally cooked hot pot in celebration."

  She was still blushing from the previous few sentences, but when she heard the last one, Li Huaiyu got angry: "Eating hot pot without inviting me?!"

  Lu Jinghang spread his hands: "Spare them, would you? Summoning you, Chi Jin still dares to cook things at will? It must be prepared three days in advance."

  Hua Yu couldn't help but laugh and cry: "It's my own belly, don't I know it best? It's been locked up tight for so long without any issues, and even with all the bumps along the way, nothing happened. How could something happen just from eating some street food?"

  Take two steps forward and open the door, Lu Jinghang turned back and said: "You want some fresh air, standing here for a while is fine."

  Reluctantly standing over there, taking a breath of the cold wind outside, Huaiyu pouted: "The air on the street is not as fresh."

  Lu Jinghang's forehead was sweating as he jumped up straight and said with a fake smile: "You'll just have to make do."

  Her eyes sparkled as she suddenly said, "How about this? Let's have a game of ring toss. If I win, you'll let me out, okay? Ring toss is your specialty, and I've never won once!"

  Lu Jinghang narrowed his eyes: "I won, so you'll honestly stay in the mansion?"

  "Hmm!" Yu nodded.

  Jiang Xuanjin stood not far away with his back to them, but he could hear the two people's quarrel and laughter very clearly.

  She said: "You've been winning me for five years, what's wrong with standing three steps closer than you?"

  He said: "Are you walking with your legs split apart? Standing by the pot and still calling it a shot? That's called putting it inside!"

  She was unhappy: "That... two steps?"

  "He sneered: 'It's better for you to stay in the mansion.'"

  Jiang Xuanjin didn't turn his head, a pair of dark eyes silently gazing at the distant clouds.

  Cheng Xiao slightly furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "Master, shall we return to the house? Zi Yang has just sent over many documents from that side, you haven't read them yet."

  There was no response, and the person in front of him sat alone, his thin lips pursed and pale.

  The posture over there is already in place.

  Li Huaiyu held three arrows, with a desperate look on her face, standing in line with Lu Jinghang. The line was eight feet away from the pot, she aimed for half a day, looking at the wind direction and calculating the luck, but still two arrows fell empty, only one arrow lonely inserted into the mouth of the pot.

  Her head drooped down, she wrapped her tiger skin cloak around her body, pouted and said to Lu Jing: "Can you not throw so accurately?"

  Lu Jingxing pinched the long arrow and spun it around his fingers a few times, humming with a smile: "I can hit the target even with my eyes closed, it's really too hard to miss."

  "Then just close your eyes." Huai Yu Shun Gan immediately followed, "Qing Si, get a piece of white brocade to cover Lu Zhu's eyes!"

  Lu Jingxing: "......"

  Qing silk really did it, he helplessly took over the white brocade and covered his eyes: "Your Highness is indeed persistent."

  It's not that he's confident, but this young master's way of having fun with archery is something he's been good at since he was a kid. No matter who he competes with, he always wins because he never misses a single arrow.

  White silk covered his eyes, and he could vaguely see some light and shadow. Lu Jingxing stood up straight, pinched the arrow and threw it out.

  Hua Yu was shocked and looked at this accurate shot. It really hit the target! If she got hit by an arrow, then she wouldn't be able to get out of there anymore!

  She felt a little desperate and had already begun to consider whether she should force her way out of the house.

  However, just as the arrow was about to fall into the pot, a small stone suddenly appeared in mid-air, carrying a fierce momentum, and accurately hit the arrowhead.

  The arrow veered off course and fell to the ground with a "thud".

  No sound of the expected pot came, Lu Jinghang was very surprised, lifted the white brocade and took a look, frowned: "You moved your hands and feet?"

  Hua Yu stood beside him and innocently shook her head: "No."

  As they spoke, she glanced at the person standing in the courtyard out of the corner of her eye.

  Jiang Xuanjin didn't look at her, intently staring at the withered flower branches in the flower bed, his slender hands slowly clenched and tucked back into his fox-fur cloak.

  Withdraw your gaze, Hua Yu smiled and pulled the white silk on Lu Jing Xing's eyes: "You still have two chances."

  Lu Jingxing was puzzled and looked at the position of the copper kettle again, memorized it, then covered his eyes and threw it.

  Two arrows with excellent aim fell to the ground not far from the copper pot.

  He tore off the white silk, Lu Jinghang was stunned, Li Huaiyu was so happy that he almost jumped up and clapped his hands, saying: "Let's go to the street!"

  "This can't be." He couldn't figure it out, "Why didn't I get in?"

  "Your hands are numb!" Hua Yu comforted him with a pretentious expression of ignorance, "You'll be fine if you practice more in the future."

  After finishing speaking, they cheered and walked out.

  Lu Jinghang furrowed his brow and stared at the copper kettle for a long time, but ultimately had no choice, took his own cloak, and followed in the footsteps of the person ahead.

  People from all over Northern Wei loved camellias, so they set up a Winter Flower Festival on the day when camellias were in full bloom. The festival was for people to admire and have fun. In this desolate place of Liancheng, it had been many years since there was any celebration of the Winter Flower Festival. But this year was different, with many new Luji wine houses and bookstores opening in the city, and even a grand music hall opening its doors to celebrate the festival.

  The common people have food to eat, and the river is about to flow again. All kinds of joyful events are piling up, making the streets extremely lively.

  Hua Yu's eyes shone brightly as she looked around at the people, sighing: "When we first came here, there was only yellow earth on these streets."

  "Yes." Lu Jing walked beside her, shielding her from the surging crowd. "Thanks to your good fortune, Yicheng is alive."

  Can't help but want to laugh, Huai Yu rubbed the corner of her mouth, trying to be dignified, but was actually very happy: "The eldest princess of Danyang has done a good deed."

  She finally won't be the one in people's mouths who only brings disaster to Luoyang Mountain, and even if she is still scolded by someone pointing at her coffin when she is buried, there should be someone who can speak half a word of good for her.

  Danyang is actually a good person.

  She thought of a long time ago on Chang'an Street, where there was a funeral lantern with the name "Danyang" written on it. She subconsciously waved her hand again.

  This time won't be unfair to you!

  Lu Jinghang glanced at her and supported her as they walked towards the Luji Wine House on the side: "There are too many people, go upstairs and listen to a story."

  "Good!" Huaiyu picked up her skirt and walked away, hugging her round belly, her footsteps still light.

  The restaurant was doing a great business today, with few empty seats on the second floor. Fortunately, Lu Jinghang had reserved a seat, so she sat at the table closest to the storyteller.

  With a loud bang on the wooden board, the noisy upstairs fell silent. The old storyteller cleared his throat and began to speak. Huaiyu held Xiao Dianxin and listened with relish. Lu Jinghang inadvertently turned his head and saw another customer coming up the stairs.

  Jiang Xuanjin's face was cold as he found an empty seat and sat down, Cheng Xiao and Yu Feng standing behind him. The three of them were quite eye-catching, and as soon as they sat down, they attracted a lot of whispers from the surrounding people.

  Her eyebrows slightly raised, Lu Jingxing glanced at the person beside her, who was completely absorbed in listening to the audiobook, seemingly unaware of anything else.

  The hand propping up his chin lightly touched his lips, and Lu Jinghang suddenly stretched out his hand, holding the tea to Hua Yu's lips.

  Li Huaiyu held a pastry in both hands and didn't have time to take it, so she simply drank from his hand and swallowed the pastry, saying: "Why are you being so nice today?"

  Lu Jinghang smiled: "When did I treat you badly?"

  "Many times, yesterday you were still quarreling with me and said you wouldn't go to the main city of Danyang. The day before yesterday I wore a new set of clothes, and you directly said they looked bad." Li Huaiyu narrowed her eyes, "Do you really think I have a poor memory?"

  With a slight pause, Lu Jingxian opened his mouth: "What I said is all true. Whoever wants to go to the main city of Danyang can go. Why did you choose such an ugly color for your new clothes? Choose a cyan color, it's hideous."

  "What does the first brew have to do with me?" Yu Mei hummed.

  Lu Jinghang wanted to say, "Since they chose you, why not wear it?" But Yu Guang glanced at a certain person who was looking over here, and he paused, leaning forward, whispering in Hua Yu's ear: "It's my fault, after we finish these two cups of tea, would Your Highness like to go to the fabric store? I'll have two new ones made for you."

  "It's fine." Huai Yu said indistinctly while eating, "If you bring me another Emerald Jade Bean Pouch, I'll forgive you."

  With a smile of indulgence, Lu Jinghang beckoned his assistant over and gave him some low-voiced instructions.

  Jiang Xuanjin didn't know why he followed them, he didn't like the commotion, and even more so, he disliked seeing Lu Jinghang and Li Huaiyu being intimate. Yet, he ended up sitting here, staring at them for a long time.

  She said that people like him, who are insincere, are not very likable. Lu Jinghang is very good at talking, softly speaking a few sentences, with gentle eyes and eyebrows, able to make her laugh and take care of her well.

  He wasn't by her side, and the smile on her face seemed even more genuine.

  "Master." Cheng Yu was really heartbroken, "Shall we go back?"

  "Yes, this place is really noisy." Yu Feng chimed in, "Why don't we go back and take a look at the Buddhist scriptures that Second Young Master found for you?"

  "Hmm." Jiang Xuanjin lowered his eyelids and responded softly, but when the people at the table got up to go downstairs, his feet still followed them as if they were not listening to him.

  If it were in the past, when others told him that someone's son was deceived and betrayed by others, but still couldn't let go of that person, insisting on finding a way to survive. He would definitely say that person is an idiot, what kind of heart is that, doesn't he know pain?

  Now he treads on a land with extremely thin sand and soil, clearly aware of how foolish he is, and can also feel the pain clearly, yet still moves forward.

  Why? He himself couldn't understand it either. In just half a year, the warmth had tamed the fox, but was he supposed to spend his whole life locked in a cage?

  Just one more street, Jiang Xuanjin thought, just one more street and he would be gone.

  It was almost dusk when they came out, and after walking for a while, the sky turned dark. The streets were lit up with lanterns everywhere, but there were still many people around. Huaiyu walked briskly, and when she reached the street corner, she inadvertently raised her head and saw the lantern hanging from the eaves of the second floor.

  That lantern is round and bright, shining with a clear light, just like the moon in the sky.

  ……

  "When you get angry, you look so good, I really want to go up to heaven and pick the moon for you!"

  "If you want to pick it, then go and pick it! If you can't even pick it, then don't let me see you again!"

  "The moon I picked for you."

  “……”

  "You said you wouldn't see me again if I couldn't take it off. Didn't I say we'd meet every year, and you've forgotten?"

  ……

  It seemed like it happened yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, it was already far away and out of reach. Huaiyu looked at it calmly for a while, her eyes a little blurry.

  It's unlikely that anyone will be able to make her want to climb the stairs and pick the moon again. The paper lanterns that were often placed in the main building of the Ink Dwelling are now mostly broken into pieces, and it's unknown where they were thrown.

  Forget it, fake is still fake, except for her, no one would be foolish enough to mistake a lantern for the moon.

  "What you wanted, sugar calabaza." Lu Jinghang followed up from behind and handed her a big red string of something.

  Shaking her head and flicking away the mist from her eyes, Huai Yu smiled and said: "See if I'm obedient or not? Neither of us ran off directly, we're still standing here waiting for you."

  Lu Jinghang raised an eyebrow and took a closer look at her face, feeling that something was off: "What's wrong? You were fine just now?"

  She paused for a moment, then hastily covered her mouth with her hand and said tearfully: "I'm sleepy, I want to go back to sleep."

  "Good." Lu Jinghang let out a sigh of relief, "It's rare that you also know how to be humble."

  She smiled slightly, pulling up the corners of her mouth, and followed him back with her head bowed.

  Jiang Xuanjin told her to be prepared, that tone... was indeed very elegant even when remembering past grievances, not like her, looking really petty and vicious.

  What is he going to do with her? So many days have passed and it seems like nothing has happened.

  It's said that this person has been living in the first-line city for a long time, but he never returned to Ziyang. Looking at how quickly the documents were sent from Ziyang, it doesn't seem like they're idle and doing nothing, yet he's not in a hurry either. It's been so long, but there's still no sign of him planning to return.

  Isn't it that he didn't want Yī Xiàn Chéng to merge with Dān Yáng, so he came here ahead of time to wait for her. Once she makes a move, he will stop her?

  Thinking about it, this reason is still the most convincing. Huai Yu calmed down and decided to probe him once, to see what his next move was.

  The courtyard was pitch black, only her room had the lights on. Li Huaiyu pushed open the door and was about to say who was so considerate as to leave the light on for her, but when she looked up, there wasn't a single person in the house.

  A round lantern was placed on the windowsill, shining brightly and casting a clear light that illuminated the dark night sky outside, leaving her stunned.

  Qing Si looked puzzled and asked the servant guarding the door: "Who came?"

  The servant looked around in confusion: "I've been standing here all along, but I didn't see anyone!"