The guard did not answer and showed a troubled expression.

As a lowly guard, he did not dare to speak about palace matters.

Xu Qi'an did not press further and looked around before asking, "Zhong Li?"

"I understand, I will return to the Bureau of Heavenly Masters first." Zhong Li popped her head out from the wall and obediently replied.

"On your way back... will there be any accidents?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"Listen, let fate decide." Zhong Li said nervously.

The guard scrutinized the woman in linen robes with disheveled hair. She exuded a pitiful aura that made people feel sorry for her.

"Clatter, clatter..."

Soon, the bronze gong led the way back with a small mare. Xu Qi'an patted the mare's mane and it nuzzled its owner.

"I'll light the way for you." Xu Qi'an patted Zhong Li's head.

She had returned to the Bureau of Heavenly Masters alone a few times before and nothing happened. Xu Qi'an estimated that there might be minor mishaps, but nothing major. The distance from here to the Bureau of Heavenly Masters was not far.

At most, it would take half an hour to reach.

Riding on his beloved mare, Xu Qi'an and the guard from Shao Yin Yuan rushed towards the imperial city.

The guard waved his whip and shouted at the pedestrians, occasionally observing Xu Yinluo. This favored servant of the princess had an expressionless face and a focused gaze, even though he was silent, his brows revealed seriousness.

The harem of Emperor Yuan Jing must be in chaos. The empress would never let Chen Guifei go unpunished for avenging her brother's death. No, it was Chen Fei... and the latter had resented the empress for many years, treating her as an imaginary enemy all these years...

"Damn it, why do I, Xu Yinluo, have to worry about Emperor Yuan Jing's family affairs? It's all because your daughter is so beautiful." Xu Qi'an cursed inwardly.

The fast horse galloped into the imperial city and was stopped at the palace gate by the Feather Forest Guards. The guard from Lin'an was allowed to return normally, but he did not have the authority to bring people into the palace.

Xu Qi'an showed the waist jade pendant that Biao Biao had given him, and a Feather Forest Guard immediately came forward to lead him into the palace.

According to the rules of the palace, when someone in the palace summons an outsider, the Feather Forest Guards need to accompany them to ensure that they do not wander around.

Silently, they quickly passed through the palace gate, crossed the square, and passed through the palace walls, finally arriving at Lin'an's Shao Yin Yuan.

The Feather Forest Guard waited outside the main gate of Shao Yin Yuan, while Biao Biao's guard led Xu Qi'an inside. They passed through the front courtyard and arrived at the main hall where Lin'an was waiting.

The Second Prince was still wearing a complex and exquisite red dress, with a hairpin adorned with gold tassels, agate hairpins, and other exquisite jewelry. There was even a small phoenix crown that did not conform to the etiquette.

With a round goose egg face and charming peach blossom eyes, Lin'an sat expressionlessly, like an Eastern version of a Lolita doll crafted by a master.

Seeing that she was fine, Xu Qi'an silently breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Highness, what happened?"

Lin'an waved her hand, dismissing the guards and personal palace maids, leaving only Xu Qi'an.

Biao Biao stared at him for a moment and burst into tears, crying with a pitiful tone, "Huai Qing wants to kill me."

...I think I understand now! Xu Qi'an sighed.

I knew it, as Emperor Yuan Jing's most beloved daughter, what danger could she possibly face?

So this is what it means to be a matter of life and death. It seems that she can really make it happen.

"You went to provoke trouble with Princess Huai Qing again?" Xu Qi'an asked.

While crying, Biao Biao glared at him and said, "What do you mean by provoking trouble? Explain yourself clearly."

Xu Qi'an reorganized his words and said, "Did the Second Princess go to confront Huai Qing for justice?"

Biao Biao nodded vigorously and said with a stuffy nose, "That venomous woman, the empress, wants to kill my mother. I went to reason with Huai Qing, but she turned out to be just as heartless. She actually hit me."

"She hit you?" Xu Qi'an frowned and looked closely at Lin'an. "Where?"

"She whipped me with a rattan cane."

Biao Biao rolled up her sleeves, revealing a tender and white arm with two shallow whip marks on the fair skin.

"This is simply outrageous!"

Xu Qi'an was filled with righteous indignation. Standing on the railing, he looked up at the sky and let out a long howl. Lin'an's shame had not been washed away, and the hatred of the courtiers had not been extinguished.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely bring justice for you and will not let Huai Qing off lightly."

"You don't need to take action..."

Seeing Xu Qi'an's righteous indignation and his attitude of preferring death over humiliation, Biao Biao was deeply moved and said, "Huai Qing is still a princess after all. If you take action without authorization, you will be shot by the palace guards."

Thank goodness, Your Highness, your intelligence is still intact... Xu Qi'an shook his head and said in a deep voice, "If I let go of even a single strand of hair, it would be a great humiliation for me. Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will find trouble for Huai Qing."

Biao Biao nodded slowly, sniffing, and said, "I summoned you to the palace today for this matter. I have been thinking about it. At that time, I could have resisted and rushed forward to grab Huai Qing's face, but I lost control."

"After thinking it through, it must be because I didn't have capable guards by my side. Accompany me to Huai Qing's Spring Vine Garden again."

...Xu Qi'an's expression froze, feeling like he had lifted a stone and smashed his own foot.

"Cough, cough!"

He cleared his throat and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. Tell me what happened, and I will consider it carefully."

Consider how to slip away quietly... he silently thought.

Biao Biao then told Xu Qi'an in detail about the conflicts and struggles that occurred in the harem after the case of the Imperial Concubine Fu was resolved.

As expected, the empress hated Chen Guifei to the core and made things difficult for her at every turn. It was only now that everyone realized that the empress was more proficient in the eighteen martial arts of the harem than anyone else.

It was just that she had never had the opportunity to use them before.

Every morning, she would have Chen Fei come over to pay respects, and then she would find faults and order the palace maids under her command to "criticize" Chen Fei, making her the laughingstock of the harem.There are also a series of physical punishments such as kneeling and shackling.

"You say the Empress is a heartless person." When it comes to hatred, Biao Biao angrily slams the table with her small hands.

Your mother caused the death of my younger brother, so the Empress naturally wants to confront your mother, even though it was unjust for the Guojiu to die... Xu Qi'an frowned and asked, "Is there more?"

"Of course, just yesterday, the Empress suddenly fell ill and was on the verge of death. The servants of Jingxiu Palace rushed to call the imperial physician, but who knew that the imperial physician was taken away by the servants of Fengqi Palace."

"Ah? What happened afterwards?" Xu Qi'an was surprised.

Biao Biao shuddered and said, "Fortunately, there were antidotes stored in the Empress's palace, which saved her life."

Xu Qi'an responded with a meaningful "Oh".

The poisoning was probably Chen Fei's scheme to frame the Empress. The Empress, who lost her younger brother, chose to fight back, so she took away the imperial physician. Chen Fei had no choice but to take out the antidote to save herself.

"What was the Emperor's reaction?" he asked.

"Father didn't say anything." Biao Biao frowned, expressing her dissatisfaction.

Hmm, Emperor Yuan Jing should be indifferent. It's fine, let them make a fuss... It can't be said that Wei Gong didn't do anything, at least I haven't seen any traces of his involvement... If it was Wei Gong, Chen Fei might have already been done for.

Xu Qi'an speculated that Emperor Yuan Jing had secretly warned Wei Yuan.

The affairs of my women fighting and killing each other are my business. As a foreign minister, you are not allowed to interfere!

Xu Qi'an felt that Emperor Yuan Jing was a scumbag. He was much better than him because he was actively dealing with the fire in the harem.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Qi'an tentatively asked, "Do you know why the Empress is targeting Chen Fei, Your Highness?"

Biao Biao pretended not to hear and a trace of sadness flashed in her eyes.

Xu Qi'an understood and sighed in his heart.

"Let's go, I'm going to punish Huai Qing."

Saying that, Biao Biao took out a rattan cane from under the desk.

You're already prepared! Xu Qi'an was shocked.

"Your Highness, calm down..."

He was about to persuade her, but Biao Biao pursed her lips and stared at him. "I know, your heart is actually leaning towards Huai Qing."

"Nonsense!"

Xu Qi'an reacted strongly and patted his chest, saying, "Let's go then."

The two of them, accompanied by palace maids and guards, headed straight to Huai Qing's Spring Vine Garden.

In the warm morning sunshine, tree branches sprouted new leaves. Huai Qing, dressed in a simple palace dress, sat in a pavilion, holding a scroll in her hands.

With a graceful figure and an upright posture, her black hair set off her white palace dress, highlighting a refined and intellectual artistic temperament.

Xu Qi'an and Biao Biao rushed over aggressively, but the cold Princess Chang did not notice, she lowered her head and continued reading, only giving a faint order to the guards on both sides:

"If any idle people disturb my reading pleasure, kill them without mercy."

Several guards drew their swords with one hand and also approached aggressively. They didn't dare to act against Princess Lin'an, so they redirected their hostility towards Xu Qi'an.

Princess Lin'an was certainly not an idle person, but this little silver gong was an object that could be killed without mercy.

Xu Qi'an immediately stopped in his tracks.

As soon as Lin'an saw Xu Qi'an being forced to retreat, she immediately became timid. Without her lackey to support her, she definitely wouldn't dare to confront Huai Qing alone.

So she pointed at Huai Qing with the rattan cane and scolded, "Stinky Huai Qing, come out."

"Huai Qing, get out here."

"Shameless Huai Qing, if you have the guts, come and fight me."

Princess Huai Qing completely ignored her and continued reading with relish.

Fifteen minutes later, Biao Biao left with Xu Qi'an, feeling dejected.

Xu Qi'an turned his head and looked at Biao Biao, who had a stern face and was grinding her teeth in frustration. He sighed, "Forget it, Your Highness, the gap is too big."

There is a huge gap in intelligence.

Huai Qing's simple command broke the deadlock.

It's better this way, so I won't have trouble in the future... Huai Qing is really my considerate little cotton jacket, easily solving the problem for me... But it's too much to hit Lin'an... Xu Qi'an thought with satisfaction.

Biao Biao was unwilling and stomped her feet, her red skirt swaying.

After sending Princess Lin'an back to Shao Yin Garden, accompanying her to play Five Stones and telling her stories, it was almost noon when Xu Qi'an took his leave.

He was a foreign minister, and Lin'an was an unmarried princess. They couldn't spend too much time together, let alone eat together.

"I will invite you to the palace another day." Biao Biao said.

For the same reason, she couldn't summon a foreign minister to the palace frequently, as it would easily cause rumors.

After leaving the palace gate and taking back his little mare from the Imperial Guards, Xu Qi'an rode her towards the outskirts of the imperial city.

"The conflict between the Empress and Chen Fei is definitely irreconcilable. Chen Fei, as a woman, cannot defeat the Empress, so she will definitely instigate Lin'an to use her as a weapon against the Empress."

"According to Huai Qing, the young Lin'an was even more foolish than she is now. Wherever Chen Fei pointed, she would strike. If Huai Qing didn't fight back, she would only be bullied. Once she fought back, Lin'an would be beaten, and all of this is exactly what Chen Fei wants to see."

"Because Lin'an is favored, if she is bullied, Emperor Yuan Jing will not sit idly by... If Lin'an is bullied again, a situation like today will definitely happen again."

"As the King of the Sea, I shouldn't be led around by the nose. I need to come up with a solution... I need to come up with a solution..."

Returning to the Nightwatcher's yamen, Xu Qi'an still couldn't come up with a solution. He vented his anger by patting the mare's buttocks. It was all its fault, trotting around and making him feel restless, unable to calm down.

After having lunch, he took two copper gongs and patrolled the streets outside the outer city. Because the distance was too far, he had to ride a horse instead of walking.Xu Qi'an was most familiar with the southern city, where his family's old house was located. There was also a health hall here, which was the territory of Heng Yuan, the sixth member of the Heaven and Earth Society.

"Ah, I don't know when I can restore my passive skill of being a lucky guy. I still have to regularly give silver to Master Heng Yuan for charity..."

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

Thinking of this, Xu Qi'an felt extremely melancholic.

......

The marble fighting stage in the southern city was built on a square by the river. In just two or three days, the surface of the stage was riddled with holes: footprints from fights, marks from knife and axe strikes.

On the stage, two wanderers were fighting fiercely. One was a burly man wielding a black iron stick, and the other was a young swordsman with decent looks.

The two were engaged in a lively battle, much to the delight of the crowd.

Many ordinary people and experienced wanderers had gathered around the stage.

Speaking of weapons, ordinary wanderers would have their weapons confiscated before entering the city. The yamen would then issue a receipt, which could be used to retrieve the weapons when leaving the city.

Ever since the fighting stage appeared, the yamen had relaxed its control. Wanderers who wanted to fight could apply to retrieve their weapons, but they had to return them the next day, otherwise they would be wanted throughout the city.

Young heroes and heroines from prestigious sects could keep their weapons based on the reputation of their sects. However, if they committed a crime, their sects would have to take responsibility.

Xu Qi'an scanned the crowd but didn't find any high-quality female heroes.

"Master Xu, those watching the show outside are ordinary people. Those with status and position are in the surrounding teahouses and restaurants." The gong explained.

You're quite knowledgeable, little brother... Xu Qi'an glanced at the surrounding teahouses and restaurants. Indeed, there were many spectators on the second-floor viewing platforms.

"Let's go, let's find a restaurant... that one." Xu Qi'an spotted a particularly beautiful female hero.

Just as he was about to step forward, he felt something hard under his foot. Looking down, he found a purse.

The purse was light green, embroidered with the same color pattern, and a picture of an orchid. It had a faint fragrance, seemingly a personal item of a woman.

"?"

Xu Qi'an was stunned. He thought his luck of finding money had been blocked by the supervisor.

"Huh, it's quite heavy."

Xu Qi'an happily put it into his pocket, only to find a child next to him looking at him, seemingly annoyed that he didn't see the purse and was beaten to it by someone else.

"What are you looking at, whose child are you?" Xu Qi'an raised his hand as if to hit him, and the child immediately turned and ran away.

Xu Qi'an laughed heartily, thinking that the kid was really timid. He had wanted to buy him a sugar-coated hawthorn.

After entering the restaurant and finding a table on the second floor, he ordered some dishes and wine. Xu Qi'an had no interest in the fight on the stage and was scrutinizing the female hero at the next table with half-closed eyes.

She was wearing a pink gauze dress, revealing her fair neck and delicate collarbone. Her thin clothes accentuated her ample chest.

Her dressing style was bold, and her makeup was equally exquisite. Her fiery red lips and large almond eyes were radiant. Her features were naturally very beautiful, but her seductive charm was what attracted men the most.

If Bi Bi was a nightclub queen, then this woman was a proper nightclub queen.

The seductive woman noticed Xu Qi'an's blatant gaze but didn't get angry. Instead, she threw a flirtatious glance at him. The young heroes at her table all turned to look.

After seeing Xu Qi'an's Nightwatcher uniform, they pretended to look away.

The waiter brought beef, peanuts, mutton, and other dishes, along with a jar of fine wine.

"Sir, here are your dishes and wine. Please enjoy."

"Waiter, send a jar of 1982 Lafite to the next table. I'm treating." Xu Qi'an winked at the seductive woman.

The waiter was confused for a moment.

"A jar of Spring Romance."

This was the most expensive wine in the restaurant.

"Alright."

Noticing the interaction between Xu Qi'an and the "goddess", the young heroes felt sour in their hearts. They didn't dare to vent their anger at the Nightwatcher, so they vented it on the waiter, angrily saying:

"Waiter, bring another five pounds of beef."

"Sir, we don't have that much beef left."

"Why can they order two pounds, and we, with so many people, can only order one pound?"

Beef was a luxury in this era. It was usually from old or sick cows, and slaughtering them required approval from the yamen. Plus, business had been booming recently, so the restaurant didn't have much stock. Xu Qi'an's table had ordered two pounds.

The waiter rolled his eyes, showing the arrogance typical of people from the capital: "They work for the yamen. You must not have looked in the mirror when you left home this morning."

"........"

The two gongs laughed heartily: "These fools."

At this moment, Xu Qi'an saw a woman coming up the stairs. She scanned the room and then walked straight towards him, looking down at him with a fierce gaze.

"Give me back my purse."

......

PS: Update first, revise later. I wrote 9600 words today, haha, I'm begging for monthly tickets while holding my waist.