Named

The golden-armored army surrounded the courtyard. Zhao Lang dared not make any rash moves. The outcome was already decided. He pinched Pianpian's cheek and wiped the blood off her face with his sleeve, saying as if it were a farewell or a premonition: "Wu Qi is a trustworthy person. If you follow her, you can live a peaceful life."

"It's none of your business."

Pianpian broke free from his hand, stood up, picked up the black cat, and pushed through the crowd without looking back. She came to Wu Qi's side, looked him up and down, left and right, before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

She stared at the blood on Wu Qi's face, and before she could speak, tears streamed down her face.

Wu Qi had just been in a fight, and his hands and sleeves were dirty. Seeing Pianpian crying, he didn't know what to use to wipe her tears, so he could only stand there, somewhat at a loss, and say, "Don't cry, don't cry."

Seeing Song Yinxing arrive with the orchid lantern, Wu Qi grabbed her sleeve and pleaded, "Sister Zhiyun, save me!"

Song Yinxing took out her handkerchief and handed it to Pianpian.

Pianpian took the handkerchief, and the orchids on it were faintly visible. Only then did she realize that the person in front of her was Song Yinxing, one of the two beauties of the Song family, a member of a prominent family.

As for why Pianpian knew that the person in front of her was Song Yinxing, it was because she had overheard a group of men who had returned from the capital chatting and gossiping: "The two daughters of the Song family are both stunningly beautiful. People in the capital call them the 'Twin Beauties.' It's a pity that the eldest daughter of the Song family has already married the second young master of the Yi family, Yi Wo. However, the younger daughter, Song Yinxing, is still unmarried. You all still have a chance to win the orchid. Congratulations!"

I had assumed that aristocratic families were full of people scheming against each other behind the scenes, but just now Wu Qi addressed Song Yinxing as Sister Zhiyun, and the two of them were so familiar and intimate with each other, so Song Yinxing must be a trustworthy person.

Pianpian hurriedly said, "Zhao Lang received a letter from someone and ordered that Lord Li Xi be thrown into prison."

Upon hearing this, Song Yinxing sent men to subdue Zhao Lang and also sent men to rescue Lord Li Xi.

The situation in the courtyard kept changing with the arrival of Song Yinxing. None of the guards in the courtyard dared to fight in front of the Golden Armor Army. In this moment of sudden change, Song Yinxing's arrival was the key to thoroughly investigating the case of the corpse in Peach Blossom Forest.

This outcome was unexpected for Zhao Lang. He couldn't even understand why the Emperor would entrust the Golden Armor Army to Song Yinxing. But things had come to this point, and he was certain to die. It was just a matter of sooner or later. As for why Song Yinxing had come and how he would die, he didn't want to delve into it anymore.

After waiting in the courtyard for a while, Li Xi arrived. Seeing the golden-armored soldiers in the courtyard, he looked at Zhao Lang with an unchanged expression and said, "Lord Zhao, how dare you harm an official of the imperial court."

Zhao Lang smiled faintly, offering no explanation.

Wu Qi told Li Xi about the secret chamber incident, and then patted Yi Shen. Yi Shen then handed the secret letter in his arms to Li Xi. The more Li Xi read it, the more shocked he became. Each and every one of the crimes was a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Song Yinxing also handed the token to Li Xi, explaining, "His Majesty's order is that if Lord Li is still alive, this token should be in Lord Li's hands."

Li Xi took it and said, "You've worked hard, Miss."

Next, Lord Li Xi will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. Wu Qi knew that this matter involved important officials in the court and was not something that their aristocratic family could get involved in. She immediately said that she was tired and hungry, and pointed to the blood on her face, saying that she was injured. She insisted on pulling Yi Shen and Song Yinxing away.

Pianpian is a key witness in this matter, so naturally she cannot go with them, but Lord Li is a good official, and she is willing to believe him.

Wu Qi bid farewell to Pianpian and Li Xi, then, holding Yi Shen's hand with his left and Song Yinxing's hand with his right, left the Zhao residence without looking back, far away from this place of trouble.

The streets were deserted late at night. Wu Qi looked left and right by the light of the glass lamp.

Song Yinxing asked, "Yaoling, what are you looking at?"

"Let's see if Brother Lian Shi is hiding in the tree," Wu Qi said.

"He didn't come; we had a fight." Song Yinxing didn't want to talk about her and Lin Kuo, but was more interested in Wu Qi and Yi Shen's situation. Looking at Wu Qi and Yi Shen's clasped hands, she turned to them and asked, "So, what's going on between you two?"

Wu Qi said, "We've pledged our lives to each other privately."

Song Yinxing replied without any surprise, "That's fine. If you have anything important that you're afraid of losing in the future, you can give it to Brother Weichong."

When Wu Qi was young, she would entrust all her important possessions to Yi Shen if she was afraid of losing them. This ranged from small items like newly bought hairpins to even the most unforgiving comments from her teacher. As long as she felt that something should not be lost, she would hand it all over to Yi Shen.

Just now, she handed those secret letters to Yi Shen in Zhao Lang's secret room, which was all out of habit.

Before he could even react, he had already handed the secret letter to Yi Shen.

What's even more amazing is that Yi Shenzhen was able to keep all those things safe.

So much so that whatever she wanted, he could truly give her.

The group arrived at the inn, and Wu Qi ordered some dishes as a late-night snack and had the servant deliver them to her room.

The servant sighed and reminded her, "Ladies, you've eaten here several times already. How can you still be unsure about the portion sizes? There's no way you two ladies and one young master can eat this much for a late-night snack."

“I know,” Wu Qi said, “but what if someone is tired from the journey, worried about others day and night, and has not eaten for several days? Wouldn’t they eat like a glutton when they see these dishes?”

Song Yinxing said, "Lin Kuo really didn't come."

“Just because you’re not here now doesn’t mean you won’t come.” Wu Qi took Song Yinxing’s arm. “Sister Zhiyun, why don’t you sleep with me tonight?”

"Didn't you and Yi Shen get engaged?"

“Yes, but it’s not like we’ll miss out on one more night,” Wu Qi said.

Yi Shen followed the two women, and only when there was no one in the corridor did he follow them into the room. He then closed the doors and windows and sat down at the same table with them.

The joyful atmosphere faded, and Wu Qi asked seriously, "Why are you here, sister?"

Song Yinxing placed the two silver buttons on the table and said, "This is a long story. It was Uncle Su who found me."

In Qingcui City, there was an inn nestled against a mountain. In the mountain lived an old man who, after seeing Wu Qi and Yi Shen off, was tidying the courtyard when he found a silver clasp. This clasp was identical to the one he had stolen from a guard years ago when he was beaten. Knowing that the group of men in black were General Wei's men, he went to the capital to find his younger brother, Su Xiting, hoping he could find a way to save the two children, Wu Qi and Yi Shen.

“Uncle Su found me with two silver buckles, but Lin Kuo and I were arguing at the time, so Lin Kuo also found out about it,” Song Yinxing said. “We told our parents about it, and my father and uncles concealed the matter from General Wei. They only told the Emperor that you were killed in Qingcui City and hoped that the Emperor could help you.”

General Wei fought alongside the late emperor in countless battles, never suffering a defeat. After the emperor ascended the throne, he single-handedly led elite troops to expand the territory. Even before the "Northern Kun," General Wei's name struck fear into the hearts of enemy troops. There was a time when, whenever General Wei returned to the capital, men, women, and children alike would throw flower garlands at him, regardless of victory or defeat.

As long as General Wei can return to the capital, this battle will be won.

Since this matter is related to General Wei, it would be best for the aristocratic families to pretend they know nothing about it.

It turns out that the important official in the court who colluded with Zhao Lang was General Wei. I wonder if Lord Li Xi can find out who this person is. But even if he does find out, what can he do?

General Wei's only son, Wei Luanhua, had been running rampant in the capital for many years. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he killed people without blinking an eye, but the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review turned a blind eye to it, and the emperor even appointed him as the Minister of War.

Two silver buckles and an old man alone are not enough to convict General Wei. If the three of them interfere in this matter and insist on convicting General Wei, it means that the aristocratic families are going to be enemies of General Wei and the entire court.

To fight a losing battle with an egg.

These things need no further explanation; the three people present all understood. Song Yinxing sighed, "The Golden Armor Army only obeys the Emperor's orders, but after looking around, the Emperor specifically named and placed the Golden Armor Army under my command."

Wu Qi frowned and asked, "Did His Majesty name someone specifically?"

Song Yinxing nodded slightly and continued, "At that time, Lin Kuo and Ning Su went with the elders. I did not go and waited at home. Not long after, the Emperor sent someone to invite me and handed me the token."

Because the aristocratic families created the Northern Kun, the late emperor feared the talents of the aristocratic families. However, the emperor allowed five unmarried children of aristocratic families to enter the Ci Zi Pavilion, sent Wu Qi and Yi Shen to assist in the investigation, and now even handed over the token to command the Golden Armor Army to Song Yinxing.

After a moment's thought, Wu Qi brought up another matter, "At that time, the fact that the top and bottom students in Ci Zi Pavilion were assisting Lord Li Xi in investigating the case was just a pretext. His Majesty only wanted Yi Shen and me to come and assist in the investigation."

The Ci Zi Pavilion was established by the Emperor, and the lessons and teachers there were all appointed by him. Furthermore, the Emperor checks the lessons monthly and frequently visits the Ci Zi Pavilion. Therefore, how could the Emperor not know what lesson was taught that day? And how could he not know that Wu Qi was not good at painting and consistently ranked last?

Recalling the Emperor's various actions, Song Yinxing could only think of one explanation. She whispered, "Is the Emperor testing us?"

Wu Qi said, "I don't know, but His Majesty's actions this time are either an attempt to win over the aristocratic families or an attempt to eliminate them."

Winning someone over and eliminating them may seem contradictory, but it's really just a matter of the emperor's whim. As the supreme ruler, he learned the art of imperial rule from a young age and is skilled at manipulating people's hearts. He can win someone over openly and eliminate them secretly, or he can win someone over, use them, and then eliminate them. All of these are possible.

At this moment, Wu Qi was more inclined to believe that the Emperor wanted to win over the powerful families.

Since the appearance of the Northern Kun, countries no longer prioritize military training, but instead devote all their efforts to developing another "Northern Kun". The Emperor's establishment of the Liujin Bureau is also a result of this. Wu Qi guessed that there must be a place in the Liujin Bureau that specializes in developing weapons.

For example, the Moonfall Camp.

A knock suddenly sounded on the door.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The midnight snack is here!"

Wu Qi stopped thinking about these things, put on a smiling face, leaned on Song Yinxing's shoulder, and continued to coax, "Sister Zhiyun, will you sleep with me tonight? Okay?"

“Okay,” Song Yinxing replied.

As they were talking, Yi Shen got up and opened the door. The servant greeted Yi Shen with a smile, and then brought in all the dishes that Wu Qi had ordered earlier, saying, "Eat while it's hot! But seriously, I'm not bragging or looking down on you, but the three of you really can't finish all of this."

Sure enough, the three of them didn't finish all the food.

Wu Qi waved his hand, and the food was moved to Yi Shen's room. Song Yinxing helplessly reiterated, "Lin Kuo really didn't come."

She led the Golden Armor Army alone from the capital to Pingwu. Fearing something might happen to Wu Qi and Yi Shen, she traveled day and night without rest, and fortunately, she made it in time.

"Mmm, Brother Lian Shi isn't here, but what if Yi Shen gets hungry tonight? Give it to Yi Shen, give it to Yi Shen." Wu Qi felt that her ability to talk nonsense was constantly improving. She waved to Yi Shen standing outside the door and said with a suppressed laugh, "See you tomorrow, Yi Shen, have a good night's sleep."

See you tomorrow.

As soon as Yi Shen finished speaking, the door in front of him closed. He wasn't displeased at all; he just found it cute when Wu Qi winked at him guiltily while lying.

After opening the door to the next room and seeing what was inside, Yi Shen turned around and closed the door.

Inside the room, a man stood by the table, chewing on meat. He didn't even sit down, holding tea in his left hand and chopsticks in his right. Just as Wu Qi had said, he ate like a glutton, showing no trace of the demeanor of a noble young master.

Lin Kuo traveled day and night, nearly starving to death on the road. He looked up at Yi Shenyi, as if to say a thousand words, and then continued eating.

Yi Shen sat down next to him and said, "Wu Qi left this for you."

"Thank you, Xiao Qi, it has to be Xiao Qi!!" Lin Kuo said.

Yi Shen added, "She and I have already made a private engagement."

"Cough cough cough!!"

The only response he received was a loud cough from Lin Kuo. He patted his chest, finally managing to catch his breath, and stared at Yi Shen suspiciously, saying, "Zhiyun and I had a fight, you know that, right?"

Yi Shen said, "I know."

"So, you're telling me now that you and Xiaoqi have secretly pledged your lives to each other? Do you think that's a good idea?"

“It’s not good.” Yi Shen’s lips curled into a slight smile. “But she told Zhiyun about it, and I think I should tell you as well.”