The news soon reached the Emperor's ears.
The eunuch stood cautiously to the side. Your Majesty, that is what happened. The imperial physician said the Second Prince is severely injured.
The Emperor frowned. In his eyes, it was fine for a prince to be a bit ruthless, but he could not lose his royal dignity.
Hearing that the Second Prince was making a fuss in Ruhui Palace, a flash of disgust crossed the Emperor's eyes.
How did Old Seventh deal with that study companion?
The eunuch hesitated for a moment and whispered, To reply to Your Majesty, it seems the Seventh Prince did not deal with the study companion. She is still in Ruhui Palace to this day.
The Emperor's eyes were full of disapproval.
The eunuch probed, Your Majesty, should we remind the Seventh Prince?
The Emperor lowered his eyes and said calmly, Not right now.
This matter caused an uproar in the palace. When Eunuch Liu heard about it, he almost fainted from fright.
Eunuch Liu, is Xiao Xizi really not a little eunuch? a nearby eunuch asked curiously.
Eunuch Liu gritted his teeth. Xiao Xizi is definitely a eunuch. His severed part is still kept in the courtyard.
The eunuch frowned. But if Xiao Xizi is a little eunuch, why didn't the Seventh Prince let the Second Prince inspect Xiao Xizi's body? It couldn't be that...
The eunuch's face suddenly went blank. It couldn't be... He looked at Eunuch Liu's ugly expression next to him and suddenly realized something.
He silently looked at a bird on the tree. Well, maybe that was possible too.
Eunuch Liu looked at him silently. Although he didn't know what the man was imagining, it seemed he had convinced himself through his own thoughts.
Eunuch Liu sighed. This was fine too.
The night was thick and impenetrable. The sound of insects in the grass of Ruhui Palace rose and fell in the air. The hall was cool, but it couldn't dispel the heat of the two people pressed tightly against each other.
Xiao Yanchen took up more than half of the wooden chair, firmly trapping Ji Zhaoxi and locking her entire body between the desk and his embrace.
A stack of secret reports was piled on the desk. Ji Zhaoxi read them seriously. Xiao Yanchen rested his chin on her shoulder, his hand gently caressing her waist through her thin summer clothes.
I told you the Second Prince must have swapped the materials, otherwise the dam wouldn't have collapsed. Ji Zhaoxi held a secret report, her eyes filled with excitement. I don't think I should stay in the Department of Punishments; I might be better suited for the Supreme Court.
Xixi is so amazing!
Ji Zhaoxi was overjoyed and continued to flip through the other secret reports.
Xiao Yanchen began to test the waters again. First, he pressed his cheek against hers. Seeing that Ji Zhaoxi had no reaction, his lips gently pressed against her cheek.
Xiao Yanchen!
Ji Zhaoxi pushed him away somewhat angrily. He was interrupting her from becoming a master detective again!
Xiao Yanchen looked at her aggrievedly. Xixi, I won't bother you anymore. Keep reading.
When his lips touched Ji Zhaoxi's face again, her reaction was indeed not as strong as the first time.
Xiao Yanchen's eyes were full of satisfaction.
He succeeded again this time.
Just like this, step by step, he would let Xixi get used to his intimacy...
The smuggled salt operated by the Lin family in the south encountered an unexpected shipwreck, and the Emperor suddenly decreed that the Lin family must donate funds to Wanshou Palace. Grand Secretary Lin had no choice but to ask the Second Prince for help.
Sunlight slanted in through the vermilion doors. All the ministers in the Golden Throne Room knelt on the ground in panic. The ministers who supported the Second Prince were especially filled with regret.
So Second Brother bypassed the government office, secretly changed the dam construction materials to sweet wood powder, and gave the saved silver to Grand Secretary Lin to cover his deficit. He even stamped his private seal on those contracts.
Xiao Yanchen stood quietly in the center of the Golden Throne Room and handed the evidence to the eunuch.
The Emperor flipped through the account books, the veins on his forehead bulging.
The Second Prince knelt on the ground, his face deathly pale, his lips trembling incessantly.
Bastard! Bastard!
The Emperor suddenly grabbed a memorial and threw it fiercely at the Second Prince. The memorial flew past the Second Prince's forehead, leaving a bloody scratch.
I always thought you were merely mediocre. I never expected you to use the state treasury to satisfy the selfish desires of your Lin family!
The Emperor looked at the Second Prince, who was shaking like a leaf below, his tone filled with absolute resolution.
Pass down my decree: Strip the Second Prince of his royal status and confiscate all his properties.
The Second Prince slumped to the ground, the light in his eyes instantly extinguishing.
The light in the eyes of the ministers in the court who supported the Second Prince also extinguished at this moment...
After the Second Prince was dragged away, deathly silence fell over the hall.
Right then, Xiao Yanchen slowly knelt down, his back straight.
Imperial Father, the dam concerns the safety of the people. For every day it remains unrepaired, your son feels uneasy. I beseech Imperial Father to grant permission for your son to supervise the reconstruction of the dam.
The Emperor looked at Xiao Yanchen with profound meaning in his eyes. He remained silent for a long while before finally agreeing.
Ji Zhaoxi was learning how to handle cases at the Supreme Court. Everyone in the Supreme Court knew her; after all, her reputation had indeed grown quite a bit recently.
Matron Song took Ji Zhaoxi to the muddy training ground behind the Supreme Court.
Look at the footprints, Matron Song said, pointing to the indentations of varying depths on the ground. You need to learn how to determine a person's build from their footprints, as well as whether they are left-handed.
Ji Zhaoxi listened carefully and measured the footprints with a thin string. The stride is wide and heavy. This person is strong and sturdy. The left footprint is deeper, indicating that their center of gravity leans to the left, or they were carrying a heavy object on their left side.
The dirt at the tip of the foot is loose, which looks more like they were fleeing for their life.
Matron Song raised her eyebrows, looking at Ji Zhaoxi with a hint of surprise.
To be honest, she originally hadn't wanted to teach her. It wasn't because of her status, but because Ji Zhaoxi looked like someone who had never endured any hardships.
But Ji Zhaoxi would stare at her eagerly from the corner every day. Whenever she took a break, Ji Zhaoxi would run up to her and claim to be talented. Annoyed to no end, she finally agreed to teach her.
The sky quickly darkened. The officials of the Supreme Court were walking cheerfully toward the gate, but their smiles immediately froze when they saw the person standing there.
This official greets His Highness the Seventh Prince. The officials bowed to Xiao Yanchen.
After walking far away, they discussed in low voices.
The Seventh Prince is here to pick up Xiao Xizi again. Is Xiao Xizi really a woman?
Who knows? I didn't dare to look. Matron Song should know.
Whoever is on good terms with Eunuch Liu should go ask.
Eunuch Liu plays dumb whenever Xiao Xizi is mentioned nowadays...
The setting sun dyed half the sky a tangerine red, its afterglow spreading across the black bricks of the Supreme Court.
Ji Zhaoxi walked out the main gate of the Supreme Court, her eyes a bit sore. She was still holding the case files that Matron Song had just corrected.
Xixi.
A familiar voice rang out beside her.
So tired, I'm so tired.
Ji Zhaoxi listlessly rested her head against Xiao Yanchen's chest.
She was tired but she loved it.
Xiao Yanchen chuckled softly. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, he took the opportunity to crouch down and lift her onto his back.
Xiao Yanchen's steps were steady as he treaded upon the sunset-lit ground, walking step by step toward Ruhui Palace.
Ji Zhaoxi lazily pressed against his back, but her voice couldn't hide her pride. Matron Song didn't praise me out loud, but I saw her eyes praising me!
Xiao Yanchen laughed softly. Xiao Xizi is amazing at everything she does, whether it's learning to read, horseback riding, archery, investigating cases, or working at the Supreme Court now.
Ji Zhaoxi felt a little shy from his praise. Burying her face in his shoulder, she whispered, Actually, there are things I'm not amazing at.
Xiao Yanchen chuckled softly. Ji Zhaoxi felt her ears grow hot at the sound of his laughter, and in a playful fit of pique, she bit him on the neck.
Xiao Yanchen tilted his head slightly, making it easier for her.
"Xixi, how about we leave the palace together in a few days to oversee the dam repairs? I don't want to be apart from you."
"Then you have to beg me!"
"I'm begging you, Xixi. You know that if I have to leave you, I won't even be able to sleep at... mmph."
"Shut up!"
"Okay..."
Their voices rang out with exceptional clarity in the narrow passage. The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground, gradually merging them into one.
