Xiao Xun's "Quiet Rest Order," imbued with the power of thunder, acted like an invisible iron gate, completely locking Xin Jiuwei within the Jingyuan Garden.

The rumors and intrigues of the outside world, as well as the treacherous power struggles in the imperial court, were kept outside the high walls. You Ye's daily routine became the only bridge connecting him to the outside world, but the information he brought was limited to a retelling of Xin Jiuwei's physical condition and Xiao Xun's cold instruction to "rest and recuperate."

Under Lin Wanyi's superb medical skills and Jingyuan's meticulous care, Xin Jiuwei's body slowly but steadily recovered. The hideous scar on her chest gradually scabbed over, and the dull pain inside transformed from continuous torment into occasional ache. However, the depletion of her vital essence caused by the heart-cutting and blood-drawing procedure could not be healed overnight. She remained pale and easily fatigued, spending most of her time leaning against the warm couch, gazing absently at the desolate courtyard outside the window, or flipping through the few books that Xin Kui could find.

The physical confinement, ironically, sharpened her thoughts. Every word of Xin Yunzhou's secret letter was etched into her mind: Qi Huaiyu was not dead; he had allied himself with Helian Bo, the third prince of the Western Di, intending to collude with Xiao Zhuo to fabricate border conflicts and disrupt the court! This was a Damocles' sword hanging over her head, ready to fall at any moment. Xiao Xun's command, "No need to interfere anymore," carried his usual air of absolute control, but Xin Jiuwei knew all too well that she was already deeply embroiled in the eye of the storm, with no possibility of escaping unscathed.

She began to piece together fragments of her memories since her rebirth, trying to deduce Qi Huaiyu's possible hiding places, contact methods, or clues about his collusion with Xiao Zhuo. In her previous life, before achieving fame and success, Qi Huaiyu was accustomed to hiding in the shadowy corners of bustling cities, using inconspicuous shops or places frequented by all sorts of people to pass on messages. He especially favored places filled with the scents of herbs, spices, or old books, which made it easier to conceal his whereabouts.

“Xin Kui,” one afternoon, Xin Jiuwei put down the book in her hand, her voice slightly tense, “I remember… when Qi Huaiyu was in Yingzhou in his previous life, he often went to an inconspicuous secondhand bookstore. The backyard of that shop seemed to be a hidden paradise. Are there similar places in the capital? Especially… near the West Market or the South City, in places where all sorts of people mingle?”

Xin Kui immediately became alert and lowered her voice: "Miss suspects... that Qi Huaiyu might also have a similar stronghold in the capital?" She frowned and pondered for a moment, "The 'Moxiangzhai' in the West Market is an old-established secondhand bookstore. The storefront is not large, but it is said that the back hall is very deep. There is also 'Jiyaxuan' next to 'Baicaotang' in the South City, which also deals in secondhand books and antiques. It is located in a remote place, but strange people often come and go. I have heard the servants who purchase goods in the manor mention it."

A glint flashed in Xin Jiuwei's eyes: "Keep an eye on these two places. If anything seems amiss, don't make a fuss, just note it down. Also, keep an eye out for any special spices or herbs from the Western Di on the market lately... Qi Huaiyu works for Helian Bo, and he might need these to deliver messages or make contacts." Unable to go out and investigate herself, she could only carefully cast her bait through Xin Kui's thin line.

Xin Kui nodded solemnly: "This servant understands! I will certainly act carefully."

Days slipped by in apparent tranquility, and Jingyuan was like a stagnant pool. However, the capital city, like a lake tossed with a boulder, was suddenly thrown into turmoil!

The first news to arrive was that the Second Prince, Xiao Zhuo, had been imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court! The charges weren't earth-shattering treason (clearly, Xiao Xun had chosen a safer approach before obtaining irrefutable evidence), but rather several charges sufficient to completely destroy him, including "forming cliques for personal gain, embezzling military supplies, and framing his own brothers." The court and the public were shaken! Officials from Xiao Zhuo's faction were either dismissed, demoted, or transferred from key positions. A silent yet extremely thorough purge was swiftly completed under Xiao Xun's will. The ruthless precision of his political maneuvering chilled everyone to the bone.

Immediately afterward, an urgent report came from the northern border: Helian Bo, the third prince of the Western Di, had indeed brazenly deployed troops to the border under the pretext that "the Liang border army had crossed the border without cause and attacked and killed Western Di herdsmen"! War clouds were gathering! Xin Yunzhou also attached some evidence he had secretly discovered in the urgent report—several forged "provocative letters" bearing the seals of low-ranking officers of the Northern Border Army, as well as two captured Western Di spies who were trying to create trouble on the border. Although their confessions did not directly point to Helian Bo's core group, they vaguely outlined the outline of "nobles of the Southern Dynasty" secretly supporting them.

These messages, like scraps of paper, were "casually" leaked to Xin Kui by You Ye during his report, and then relayed to Xin Jiuwei by Xin Kui. As Xin Jiuwei listened, her heart sank to the bottom. Xiao Xun's actions were swift and ruthless, temporarily suppressing Xiao Zhuo and exposing Helian Bo's wolfish ambitions. But what about Qi Huaiyu? That venomous snake lurking in the shadows seemed to have once again slipped away, vanishing without a trace! He was the thread that connected all the conspiracies, the crucial link between Xidi and Xiao Zhuo! Without eliminating him, the threat would forever remain.

The information Xin Kui brought back from her investigation of the marketplace was also disheartening. Neither Moxianzhai nor Jiyaxuan showed any unusual activity, and while spices and medicinal herbs from the Western Di were still circulating, there was no specific indication of their origin. Qi Huaiyu seemed to have vanished into thin air.

An invisible anxiety spread through Xin Jiuwei's heart. She was trapped here, possessing clues yet powerless to act. Xiao Xun was out there strategizing and controlling the entire situation, while she... seemed to have truly become the appendage he described, someone who only needed to "protect her own life." This realization caused a stinging, resentful pain to resurface in the wounds of her still-healing heart.

Just when Xin Jiuwei thought that this prisoner-like period of quiet recuperation would continue, an unexpected, blood-stained message exploded into Jingyuan like a thunderbolt!

It was a gloomy afternoon. You Ye rushed over, his face unusually grave and a hint of... barely concealed shock and anger. He even disregarded his usual decorum, his voice urgent and low:

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!