Not long after Shang Changge left, Shang Changze arrived.

A servant announced the arrival of Xiao Ji.

Xiao Ji: "Greetings, Your Highness."

Shang Changze: "General, there's no need for such formalities. I've come to discuss something with you. My sudden visit is quite presumptuous."

In the reception hall, servants served tea and then withdrew.

Apart from the guards standing outside, only two people remained in the large reception hall.

After taking a sip of tea, Shang Changze got straight to the point: "My sister and I want to stop the Ge family from coming to the capital. We'll try diplomacy first, then force."

"It would be best if the Ge family of Zhuang knew what was good for them; otherwise, they would be wiped out along the way."

While it's true that they would try to be courteous first and then resort to force, neither Shang Changze nor Shang Changge...

No one expected that the Ge family would heed their advice and give up coming to the capital to participate in the court, so there was only one way: kill.

The path to the throne is always bloody.

It's a matter of the victor taking all, it's either you die or I die; mercy should be reserved for your own people.

Xiao Ji understood this principle well and would not make any sympathetic remarks criticizing such a decision, but that was not his focus.

After a moment's thought, he understood why the Crown Prince had personally come to his door to discuss this matter with him.

Xiao Ji's forehead veins throbbed, a surge of frustration and anger filling his chest. He rose from his seat and bowed to Shang Changze.

"Your Highness's meaning is clear to me. Please inform me of the plan first."

Xiao Ji emphasized the word "first".

Shang Changze stroked the teacup, looked at Xiao Ji for a long time, and finally, still worried, instructed, "General, if you go to look for my sister, don't be harsh with her."

Xiao Ji laughed in exasperation: "Your Highness is overthinking it. Between the princess and me, there has never been only the princess being the wicked minister."

Shang Changze placed the teacup, still warm from the tea, on the table and smoothed out the non-existent wrinkles on his wide, silver-patterned robe.

He stood up to say goodbye and leave, but before taking a step, he opened his mouth and uttered a seemingly casual yet infuriating remark.

Shang Changze: "Then I can rest assured."

After the sunset, the sky darkened.

After Shang Changge returned to the manor and took a bath, Qingyao and Michan had not yet returned.

The two returned looking exhausted just as Shang Changge was preparing for dinner.

Shang Changge: "Any progress?"

Of course, Shang Changge was just asking casually, not expecting any progress in the case in just one afternoon.

Qingyao: "Your Highness, there has been progress."

Shang Changge looked surprised, glancing at Qingyao, whose expression was blank and whose face showed only respect for her, and then at Michan, whose eyes were lifeless.

Finally, her gaze fell on Qingyao, who was in a stable mood, and her red lips parted: "Tell me more."

Progress is a good thing, so why does Mi Chan look so lost and dejected?

The dining hall was quiet, with only Qingyao's voice and the aroma of food.

"The teacher at the Imperial Academy who was poisoned was the same person who went to Sister Mi Chan's sect to ask Sister Mi Chan's parents for the poison formula back then."

Shang Changge: ?

Shang Changge understood why Mi Chan looked so lost and dejected, and frowned in thought.

"Then the poison he was afflicted with...?"

Qingyao: "It's the same poison that everyone in Sister Michan's sect was poisoned with back then."

Shang Changge nodded thoughtfully and concluded, "That's internal strife."

"Have you found any clues about the teacher's true identity and family background?"

Qingyao answered Shang Changge's questions, shaking her head: "Not yet. The Dali Temple only has the identity and family background that the teacher forged. Miss Feng has already begun the investigation."

The fact that he entered the Imperial Academy as a teacher, but his family background was fabricated, made the case more complicated and difficult.

And his uncle, who was the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy...

Shang Changge: "Does Aze know about that teacher's fake identity?"

Qingyao nodded: "His Highness the Crown Prince knows."

Shang Changge hummed in response, as if to say that as long as her handsome younger brother knew, it was none of her business.

Taking in the weariness on Qingyao and Michan's faces, he sat down and said:

"Go back and rest after a tiring afternoon. Just tell the kitchen what you want to eat. The case still needs to be investigated; you can't afford to break down."

These words were mainly addressed to Mi Chan; no other words of comfort were said, nor did I know how to say them, and even if I did, it would be useless.

Mi Chan's current condition cannot be improved by a few words of comfort and advice from outsiders.

Shang Changge's words brought a sliver of sanity back to Mi Chan's mind. Yes,

The person is already dead, how could she bring them back to life and kill them again?

The only option now is to continue the investigation. That person almost wiped out their entire sect, and she still wants to avenge that.

She also has a younger brother. As long as she lives in this world, she will not give up searching for him. She cannot give up and become depressed.

After thinking it through,

Mi Chan raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, no longer needing Qing Yao's support to barely steady herself.

After firmly standing, she bowed gracefully to Shang Changge, feeling gratitude mixed with guilt.

"Mi Chan, thank you, Princess."

She, as the subordinate, should have been working for the princess, but she hadn't been of any help at all since arriving at the princess's residence.

In return, the princess repeatedly looked after her. The previous favor of saving her life was one reason, and this time, allowing her to join the Dali Temple to assist in the investigation was another.

The night was as still as water.

Because General Xiao was so clingy, he visited the princess's residence almost every night.

Shang Changge has canceled Qingyao's nightly watch duty, after all, it's quite pitiful for the little girl to be put to sleep every day.

Shang Changge thought Xiao Ji wouldn't come tonight, since they had already been very affectionate during the day.

Moreover, the fighting was too fierce during the day. She didn't know if General Xiao was tired, but she was exhausted, though she also felt great.

But Xiao Ji still came today.

Not only did they arrive, they arrived even earlier than before, and the first thing they did was give her a light slap on the butt.

Shang Changge: "??????"

Although it wasn't too hard, it still made a 'smack' sound.

Shang Changge found it utterly unbelievable, and then it became utterly absurd.

He retaliated without hesitation, and hit back much harder than Xiao Ji had.

After hitting and pulling the man's ear, she completely seizes the initiative, glaring angrily and accusing him:

"You hit me? Xiao Ji, you've changed. You're no longer the man who wouldn't let me use my hands to help you..."

Xiao Ji covered her mouth with his large hand, and Shang Changge wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction.

Xiao Ji felt helpless; all his pent-up frustration and anger vanished in that instant.

He reached out and wrapped his arms around Shang Changge's slender waist, pulling her into his embrace before turning over so that she lay on top of him.

In the pitch-black night,

The two men stared at each other from above, neither saying a word.

Shang Changge: ...

Shang Changge didn't understand what was wrong with Xiao Ji tonight, so she asked:

"What's wrong? Who made General Xiao angry? Me?"

It would be best if it were her; if it were someone else, Xiao Ji would be finished. Why should he take his anger out on someone else?

Xiao Ji: "Yes, it was the princess who caused it."

Shang Changge gave a soft "oh" at the end of her sentence, and continued to lie on top of Xiao Ji, using him as a bed.

He simply relaxed his body and changed to a comfortable and relaxed position, cuddling and snuggling intimately until he was completely satisfied before speaking.

"I caused this? When? How come I didn't know?"

Xiao Ji didn't intend to speak now. He used his broad hand to lift Shang Changge up a little, bringing him closer.

After a long while of cheek-to-cheek contact and whispered sweet nothings, his mature, steady, and magnetic voice finally uttered a few short words:

"I am very sad, and it will take a long time to comfort me this time."

Despite feeling wronged, they didn't forget to make their demands.