For a moment, the figure hiding behind the stone lion seemed to be frozen, unable to move.

Xue Zhongfu's shout echoed in the empty streets, carrying with it an authority that could not be ignored and was almost like an order.

After a while, a thin figure slowly moved out from behind the stone lion, with his head lowered almost touching the ground, as if he was too scared to see anyone.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Xue Zhongfu's voice was still cold, but there was also a hint of doubt in it.

The figure did not look like a malicious villain. He slowly raised his head, revealing a bruised face that was still clearly visible under the moonlight.

He was dressed as a page boy, was still young, his lips trembling, but he could not utter a word.

Xue Zhongfu frowned, feeling sympathy. Of course, he saw that the other party was no match for him, so he dismounted and spoke in a softer tone, "Are you hiding here? Or are you looking for someone in this mansion?"

As if touched by his gentle attitude, the servant finally spoke in a small, trembling voice: "I am a servant of Master Zhang Xianzhi, the head of the Hanlin Academy... I'm here to look for someone."

As if afraid that Xue Zhongfu would not believe him, he took out a fifth-grade silver fish bag from his arms, which symbolized his official rank, to show his identity.

"My name is Zhang Rui, and this is the certificate my master gave me before he left the house."

Seeing the bag, Xue Zhongfu's face flashed with surprise. He immediately swept his eyes across the empty street on both sides. After confirming that there was no one there, he walked forward and gently knocked on the door.

No one answered for a moment, so he knocked a few more times. While waiting, he turned around and asked, "Is there something wrong with your master?"

The servant nodded and said in a trembling voice, "I'm afraid my master is in danger tonight."

At this moment, the servant opened the heavy door from the inside. Seeing that it was Xue Zhongfu, he bowed respectfully: "Master Xue, I am very happy. Are you here to see my master?"

Xue Zhongfu carefully covered half of Zhang Rui's body with his cloak to prevent anyone from seeing the bruises on his face. Then he said casually, "Help me lead the horse to the manger and feed it some feed. Is your master in the study?"

The servant took the horse's reins and responded enthusiastically, "Yes, Master Xue. My master is in the study now. Shall I have someone take you there?"

"No need. We made an appointment to drink with him." Xue Zhongfu replied with a smile, while making sure that the cloak was still tightly covering Zhang Rui.

The servant had no suspicion and nodded in agreement: "In that case, Master Xue, please do as you please."

Given the marriage between the two families and Xue Zhongfu's official position, the servants naturally did not have too much guard against him.

"Follow me." Xue Zhongfu whispered to Zhang Rui behind him. The other party responded, lowered his head and followed Xue Zhongfu closely, carefully avoiding the attention of others.

The courtyard of the second branch of the Jiang family has become the exclusive place of his son Jiang Lun since the second master of the Jiang family, Jiang Wenbai, went to Sichuan to establish the Jiaochang Academy.

In the past, when his father was at home, he never allowed him to write cursive script, for fear that it would change his temperament.

However, now that his father is far away from home, without that strict constraint, Jiang Lun can hold a wine glass in one hand and paint with the other, fully releasing his inner passion and unbridled desire.

Hearing footsteps approaching from afar, Jiang Lun looked up and saw that it was his good friend Xue Zhongfu, and his brows immediately lit up with joy.

He raised his glass and invited warmly: "Zhongfu, you've come at the perfect time. Here's some newly brewed mulberry wine. Come and drink with me."

However, Xue Zhongfu's face did not show the previous expectation. He hurried into the study, then closed the door with a serious expression.

He glanced towards the inner room, and Zhang Rui immediately understood and stepped forward quickly.

"Mr. Jiang, please save my master." Zhang Rui's tone was urgent and full of deep pleading.

Jiang Lun immediately recognized Zhang Rui as the servant who had come to meet Zhang Xianzhi on his way back home after the outing. He put down his pen, frowning, and asked anxiously, "I remember you. Has Princess Xianning been up to no good again?"

A few days after sending Zhang Xianzhi back to the Princess's Mansion and learning about his miserable situation, Jiang Lun angrily went to the residence of the Imperial Censor Fan Jie and begged him to write a letter to the emperor to expose the evil deeds of Princess Xianning, such as her rudeness, hurtful behavior, arrogance and extravagance.

However, Fan Jie helplessly told Jiang Lun that he had submitted many petitions, but all of them fell on deaf ears without any response. Even when he reported the matter to the court yesterday, His Majesty Li Longze just brushed it off lightly.

Jiang Lun was at a loss for the time being and planned to ask Zhang Xianzhi out again to discuss countermeasures, but he didn't expect that trouble would arise again so soon.

"For some time now, the princess hasn't been too hard on my young master," the servant Zhang Rui said, his voice choking. "But today, for some unknown reason, she actually ordered the palace guards to kidnap my young master and take him to Qingshan Hill outside the city."

"Qingshangang?" Xue Zhongfu panicked upon hearing this, and even the usually calm Jiang Lun changed his expression.

They all knew that although Qingshangang didn't sound special at first glance, in fact, everyone in the capital knew that it was a mass grave outside the city.

Buried there were souls of those who had been beheaded for crimes, those who were suffering from serious illnesses, or those who had no relatives. Thinking that Princess Xianning had brought Zhang Xianzhi to such a dangerous place, the two men couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts.

"Is there no law under the feet of the emperor?"

Jiang Lun threw his pen in anger, not caring about the ink splattering everywhere. "I'll take people to rescue Xianzhi right now!" he said as he rushed out.

Xue Zhongfu was quick to act and grabbed him.

"Wait, Jiang Lun! This Princess Xianning is no pushover. Your father is away from the capital, and your uncle is in the Imperial College. If this matter were to involve the Jiang family, the consequences would be disastrous."

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