Two hours later, the funeral procession was about to arrive at the foot of Longyin Mountain, where the imperial mausoleum was located. At that time, Chu Huaixu was feeding koi in the backyard.

After scattering the last bit of fish food, Chu Huaixu tossed the plate in his hand into the pond, watching it quickly sink to the bottom.

His eyes darkened, and he turned and went back to his room, changing into the white robes he had worn at the blessing ceremony that day.

The coffin procession is on its way to the cemetery and will arrive in about half an hour. Then it will all be over.

Pushing open the door, he bumped right into A Bao, who was rushing over. The latter had seen Chu Huaixu just half an incense stick's time ago, when the man was dressed in red.

Abao asked curiously, "Young master, have you gotten your clothes wet?"

"No. I just wanted to go out for a walk," Chu Huaixu said casually.

"Where would you like to go, young master? I'll arrange a carriage right away."

"No need," Chu Huaixu said. "Just find me a fast horse."

Ah Bao thought he had misheard and couldn't help but ask, "Young master, do you want to ride a horse?"

Chu Huaixu nodded and said, "Yes, thank you for your trouble."

“No need for that,” Abao quickly shook her head. “But young master, you should still take the carriage. The horses in the manor are quite spirited, and we don’t want them to hurt you.”

"No need, I don't want to ride in a carriage today, I want to ride a horse." Chu Huaixu ignored him and walked towards the stables.

Ah Bao hurriedly followed, saying, "Young Master, please slow down. Where are you going? The master instructed me a couple of days ago that things are not peaceful outside today, and he asked you to stay in the manor and not go out..."

"He told me not to go out, so I won't?" Chu Huaixu said coldly. "Does he really think I'm his dog? Just because his master hasn't shown up for a few days, does that mean I have to wait at home for him?"

With his two masters arguing, how could A Bao dare to say anything? At this moment, he truly felt like crying:

"Young master, please don't joke around. Of course, the lord didn't mean that. Something happened in the palace, and the lord is definitely worried about your safety."

"If you really want to go out, I will arrange guards and a carriage for you..."

Chu Huaixu refused without hesitation: "No need, no one needs to come along."

"That won't do! If the master finds out, he'll definitely take my head. Please, have mercy and don't make things difficult for me..." Abao anxiously blocked his way.

It was at this moment that Chu Huaixu noticed that he was holding something in his arms.

"What's this?"

"Ouch!" Abao slammed his head hard. "I almost forgot, Lord Qi brought this and asked me to give it to the young master."

After returning to his residence, he ordered Song Ting to dismiss the two guards, and he hadn't seen them for a long time since. Now, to send something through a middleman—was he holding a grudge?

Chu Huaixu found it amusing, thinking to himself that the wooden-like bodyguard was just like his master, incredibly boring.

He took the item and immediately recognized it as an imperial edict.

[Imperial Edict of Self-Reproach: I ascended the throne in my youth, ignorant and foolish... Heaven has punished me above, yet I have not comprehended it; the people resent me below, yet I am unaware of it; I have failed my ancestors above, and I have let down the common people below... Prince Duan, Chu Mingyao, was renowned for his civil and military achievements, yet he was harmed by treacherous officials...]

In this edict of self-reproach, the young emperor listed his various crimes, but more importantly, he exonerated Prince Duan, Chu Mingyao. The young emperor personally admitted that Prince Duan had been framed by treacherous officials.

As for who this sycophant is, I'm sure no one who sees this edict can't guess.

Chu Huaixu clutched the imperial edict, his vision blurred with blood. He felt as if he had returned to that fiery night five years ago, witnessing the person he trusted most plunge a sharp blade into the chest of a child who had only been in the palace for a month.

Screams, cries, the clanging of swords… His mother, carrying a long sword, walked towards him from the firelight, urging him sternly: “My youngest son, live on, avenge your father and brothers, avenge the Prince Duan’s mansion…”

Because of his mother's words, Chu Huaixu endured humiliation and clung to life. Countless times he felt he couldn't hold on any longer, but countless times he gritted his teeth and persevered.

He dared not die; his great revenge had not yet been avenged, how could he dare to die?

But now, the emperor's edict of self-reproach is in his hands.

The emperor wouldn't admit to such a stain on his record without a reason, and he also didn't have the ability to collect evidence against Zhang Bingzhi unless there was someone else behind this.

But who is so resentful about what happened back then, taking such a huge risk, and has such ability?

A face instantly appeared in Chu Huaixu's mind.

It could only be him.

Only that person would do such a thing!

But why? Since they had already betrayed him from the start, why go to such lengths to exonerate the Prince Duan's family? Or is there some hidden story he's unaware of?

A guess suddenly popped into Chu Huaixu's mind, but the idea was so absurd that he felt he was just daydreaming.

"Young master, what's wrong?"

"Where is Qi Zhou? Tell him to come see me!" The ice in Chu Huaixu's eyes had rapidly condensed, and his whole body seemed to be covered with a layer of ice, emanating an aura even colder than an ice cellar.

Ever since he entered the manor, A Bao has been taking care of him. A Bao had never seen him show such an expression before, and she was somewhat frightened.

After a long pause, he said nervously, "They were just in the manor a moment ago, I don't know if they've left yet."

"Go find him." Chu Huaixu gripped the imperial edict tightly in his hand. "Summon him to see me now."

His face was terribly gloomy, and a mixture of emotions surged in his eyes, as if he was uncontrollably angry, or as if he was shrouded in an impenetrable sadness.

Seeing this, Abao dared not delay: "This servant, this servant will go right away!"

When Qi came to deliver the things, he looked very anxious. Abao was worried that he wouldn't be able to find him and wouldn't be able to explain to Young Master Huaiyue. But when he ran to the door, he found that Qi was still there and seemed to be waiting for him.

Before A Bao could speak, Qi Zhou said to himself, "Let's go."

"Oh, oh." Abao followed behind the person, looking silly.

Halfway there, he realized—wait a minute, what is Lord Qi up to? If he had known that the young master would look for him when he saw the item, why didn't he just deliver it himself?

But he was slow-witted, and of course he couldn't figure out such a complicated problem. Moreover, Qi Zhou didn't give him a chance to think about it; after finding out where Huai Yue was, he sent him away.

"You can go down first, I can go by myself."

Chu Huaixu sat outside the stable, leaning against a pillar, with the crumpled edict of self-reproach on his lap. Hearing the noise, he slowly raised his head and said to Qi Zhou, "You've come."

Qi Zhou bowed to him. Chu Huaixu patted the empty seat next to him and said, "Sit."

Given their vastly different social statuses, they shouldn't be treated as equals, so Qi Zhou hesitated and didn't move.