"Shall we go see some excitement tonight?"

The stars are bright and the moon is shining; the night is just right.

Huo Xiaolong tugged at the hem of his night clothes and said to Da Nier and Xiaohai'er.

Upon hearing this, Hou Xiangxiang's eyes lit up, and she immediately got up and went back to change her clothes.

Da Nier nodded; she had to go.

Where are we going?

The little girl came out after changing her clothes and asked.

"Go to Shen Mansion."

What excitement is there to see at the Shen Mansion?

Although she asked the question, Hou Xiangxiang had already wrapped her arms around Huo Xiaolong's waist, wanting her friend to take her riding.

You'll see when you get there.

The Shen family mansion is not luxurious, but rather simple and classical.

The main reason is that Lord Shen really doesn't have much money. He's a truly honest official and relies on the support of his clan and his wife.

The garden inside the courtyard doesn't have any rare or precious flowers, just some ordinary fruit trees, which can serve as decoration when spring arrives and the flowers bloom.

Shen Qinghe is wearing the same clothes he wore when he first met Li Jian.

She wore a blue robe, her hair was tied up with a headscarf, and the ribbon below her hair moved in the wind.

A spring breeze blew by, and a few peach blossoms fell onto him.

The man looked noticeably more scholarly, and coupled with his clean-cut demeanor, he was definitely Huo Panli's type.

"Sir, the Imperial Guards said you were looking for me?" Huo Panli, holding the imperial edict, approached Shen Qinghe.

Today, Long'er has decided how to deal with the Shen family, and this time, Li Jian has come to deliver the decree.

However, upon hearing that Shen Qinghe was looking for her, she came over first.

"A sharp sword."

The man took a deep breath and mustered his courage to say:

"Could you... help the master and plead with the Emperor? As long as the entire family isn't executed, we'll do anything. The Shen family will accept the blame."

“But the people of our clan are innocent. They have supported my father for many years. They must not die because of us…”

"As long as you are willing to help me, Shen Qinghe is willing to be a close confidant of Scholar Huo."

Hearing this from the rooftop, Hou Xiangxiang's mouth dropped open in protest.

"Ouch!"

"This is just too much!"

Huo Xiaolong grinned like an aunt, showing off his big teeth, and whispered to the little girl:

"Of course it is! Do you remember those storybooks you read when you were little?"

Which one?

"What was that book called again? Anyway, it was about a rich young lady whose family was in trouble. She went to beg a prince and said that if the prince was willing to help her, she would stay with him for life."

"The prince has granted me permission to live in a golden house?"

"Yes, yes, that's it. Doesn't it look like something out of a storybook?"

Hou Xiangxiang was so excited that she kept patting Da Ni'er beside her and nodding her head like a pestle being pounded.

"Yes! It's so similar! Our Lijian is really impressive!"

At this moment, Da Ni'er thought of something and asked:

"What does your imperial edict say? What are your plans for dealing with the Shen family?"

Long'er turned her head and answered:

"Lord Shen is stubborn, and he hasn't been in contact with the common people for too long. I plan to send him to Dongyu as the prefect for a few years, and then I'll have to bring him back to work for me. The law isn't so easy to enforce."

"What's the point of having a sword then? It's hopeless. You've already issued the imperial decree; isn't this just asking for nothing?"

The woman in official robes squeezed the imperial edict in her hand and then looked at Shen Qinghe.

She used to think that having experienced love in this life was enough.

Whether she marries or marries Shen Qinghe, it will be a waste of her time and feelings.

As long as the Minister of Personnel is in the capital, and as long as the Minister of Personnel dislikes Long'er, she will never be able to be of one mind with Shen Qinghe.

What's the point of a relationship where people can't be of one mind?

But now,

She could use the imperial edict in her hand to protect the Shen family, and Shen Qinghe would stay in the capital with her for a long time, while Lord Shen could go to take up his post.

Li Jian was deeply moved, and his long-suppressed emotions burst forth at this moment.

My heart was pounding, and I felt the blood rushing to my head.

The fingertips gripping the imperial edict turned slightly white.

It's done.

The gentleman said, "Opportunity knocks but once; one must seize it at all times."

That's it now.

The woman looked up at Shen Qinghe, put her hands behind her back, and took a step forward.

The man could clearly smell the scent emanating from Li Jian, like plum blossoms in a cold wind; she had never been this close to him before.

"Sir, do you keep your word?"

"I keep my word."

The woman curled her lips into a smile, looked at Shen Qinghe, and said to him:

"I will not allow you to become my lover. I will give you the title and dowry, but from now on, people in the capital will say that you have married into the family. Can you bear these rumors?"

The man saw her agree and his face lit up with pleasure. She said:

"I am not afraid of those swords. I am with you not just because of family..."

"I know."

Shen Qinghe's words were interrupted by Huo Pan's sharp sword.

It's because it's fine at home too.

She would not let anyone go if they had selfish motives or were detrimental to the emperor.

The aloof woman took two more steps forward, their bodies almost touching. She reached out and touched Shen Qinghe's cheek.

The ladies at the brothel are all like that; they prefer whoever takes the initiative.

Even if you don't take the initiative, you should still make him think about you day and night, and be obsessed with you.

Her thin lips brushed against Shen Qinghe's cheek, and the man could clearly feel the warmth of her breath on his face.

He dared not move.

He heard the sharp sword whisper in his ear:

"I need to go to the Emperor to plead for you first. Wait at home for me to come and marry you."

"good."

Shen Qinghe's voice trembled slightly as he spoke, and he remained in a daze until the sword left the courtyard.

Hou Xiangxiang whispered on the roof:

"A sharp sword is deceiving."

"This isn't just lying, it's...this is...taking advantage of someone's vulnerability!"

Huo Xiaolong racked his brains for a long time but couldn't come up with any good words, mainly because this was something no good person would do.

Da Ni'er nodded. "That's right, she's even more cunning than Lan Tingche."

"Your description is even worse than my 'taking advantage of someone in distress'."

"Let Da Ni'er think of one."

"Taking advantage of someone's misfortune."