Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie arrived in Jincheng the following day.
As their carriage entered the city, Lan Heng, who had been waiting at the city gate, stopped it.
Lu Wuxie excused himself to go to the palace and left.
Left alone, Zhong Li decided to get out of the carriage and walk with Lan Heng along Wenchang Street.
"Do you know? You two had a narrow escape this time," Lan Heng said.
"How so?" Zhong Li asked.
Lan Heng looked around with a serious expression. "The Empress's secret guards have been hunting you. Fortunately, Lu Wuxie was prepared, and Magistrate Liu of Anding County is his man. You have been secretly protected by people from Feiyuan Pavilion from the moment you left Anding County until you reached Jincheng.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult for me to see you today."
Hearing this, Zhong Li couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. She was even more impressed by Lu Wuxie's foresight.
"By the way, I haven't been in Jincheng recently. Has anything happened here?" As they entered a hot pot restaurant, Zhong Li asked. The cold winter weather and hot pot were a perfect match.
Lan Heng found a quiet spot with a good view of the snow outside and sat down.
"His Majesty... hasn't held morning court for several days," he sighed, ordering some dishes.
"No morning court? How is that possible?" Zhong Li couldn't hide her surprise. The Emperor was still healthy when he gave her the imperial decree. How could something have happened in just over a month?
"Yes, but that doesn't mean His Majesty isn't handling state affairs. Ministers with important matters can find him in the Imperial Study," Lan Heng said.
"So, you've also seen His Majesty, Lord Lan?" Zhong Li asked, knowing what he meant.
Lan Heng nodded, "Yes. Please rest assured, His Majesty's health is not a serious issue."
"Then why no morning court?"
Lan Heng didn't answer, his gaze sweeping around them.
Zhong Li understood that walls have ears and changed the subject. "Speaking of which, I wanted to ask you when we were at the city gate earlier. Where is Hua Yao?"
"Hua Yao..." Lan Heng's smile stiffened slightly at the mention of the name.
"What is it?" Zhong Li asked, taking a bite of meat, looking at him puzzled.
Lan Heng picked up his teacup and took a sip of water. After a pause, he said, "The Hua family has some domestic issues. Hua Yao is no longer working at the Dali Temple. She is at home helping out."
"Oh, I see. But the Hua family does have a lot of things to deal with, and Hua Yao is grown up, so she needs to help share the burden," Zhong Li nodded, not noticing Lan Heng's odd behavior.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study.
Lu Wuxie stood in the hall, watching the man opposite him carefully peruse the account books he had just presented.
On the surface, Emperor Jing looked the same as when he had left, but upon closer inspection, in addition to the floor heating, there was an extra charcoal brazier in the hall, and the clothes Emperor Jing wore were also thicker than last year.
"How has Your Majesty's health been recently?" Lu Wuxie asked.
Lu Jing'an looked up and met Lu Wuxie's gaze. He glanced at the door of the Imperial Study and said, "It's alright."
"I heard from other ministers that Your Majesty has not held morning court for several days, and I thought Your Majesty was unwell. Seeing you look healthy now, I am relieved," Lu Wuxie said, cupping his hands and speaking slightly louder than usual.
Lu Jing'an coughed a few times. "As winter arrives, I tend to cough when my body temperature fluctuates. The Empress has been brewing some cough-relief medicine for me recently, which she said was from Shurong. I need to rest more after taking it.
Especially after taking it at night, I can't get up in the morning, so I've canceled morning court. However, I will still handle state affairs if there are any."
"That is for the best. Your Majesty is the pillar of Nanyue Kingdom, and your health cannot be neglected," Lu Wuxie replied.
"Indeed. However, there have been many memorials recently. Fortunately, we have the Crown Prince, who has greatly lightened my burden," Lu Jing'an replied.
Lu Wuxie cupped his hands and remained silent, waiting for the person above to finish reviewing the items he had brought back from Linzhou.
After a long while, Lu Jing'an finished reading and his expression turned extremely grim.
Lu Wuxie knew he was extremely angry.
"Scoundrel!" Lu Jing'an closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and uttered these two words before glancing at Eunuch Hua.
Eunuch Hua reacted quickly, walked to the door of the Imperial Study, glanced left and right, and then quickly closed the door.
Lu Jing'an rose and walked to a long-burning lamp, turning its candlestick.
With a click, a secret room appeared before them.
"Mo Cang!" Lu Jing'an's voice was tinged with suppressed emotion. "Follow me."
Lu Wuxie glanced at Eunuch Hua standing guard outside, then got up and followed.
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The winter of the twenty-ninth year of Anhe was marked by exceptionally heavy snow.
Zhong Li felt that the charcoal fire in her room was quite good, yet she was still woken from her sleep by the cold.
She had been taking medicine to regulate her body during this period. Her menstruation was regular, but it was not like before. Each time it came, it was extremely painful, and she was very sensitive to the cold.
Wrapped in her quilt, she got out of bed, picked up the iron tongs from the floor, and added more charcoal to the brazier. She then stoked the fire in the basin, making it even hotter. Since there was no morning court, Zhong Li was planning to go back to bed for a little more sleep when a clear knocking sound came from outside the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Who is it?" Zhong Li asked, putting on the outer cloak Lu Wuxie had given her and standing by the door.
"My Lady!"
Zhong Li recognized the voice as belonging to someone from the Dali Temple.
"What is it?" she asked. Normally, the first day she returned was a day of rest, and the people from the Dali Temple knew this, so they usually wouldn't disturb her.
"Early this morning, His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation into all the accounts and assets of the Fu family. The Dali Temple does not have enough manpower, and Lord Lan would like to ask for your assistance."
Hearing the person outside, Zhong Li narrowed her eyes. She had wondered what the outcome would be when Lu Wuxie presented the account books concerning Fu Chong to the Emperor, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon.
"Alright, please wait a moment. I'll wash up and be right out."
The carriage was driven by the same old horse, speeding along Wenchang Street.
The Fu family's residence was the largest in Jincheng, second only to the residences of the imperial relatives.
When Zhong Li arrived, there were already several people from the Dali Temple inside, as well as some unfamiliar faces. However, by looking at the patterns on their robes and making a slight guess, it was not difficult to tell that they were from the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate.
The Emperor's actions were so swift that almost all the court officials who could be mobilized to investigate cases in Nanyue Kingdom had come to the Fu family.
"Li'er." Lu Wuxie's voice sounded beside her.
Zhong Li turned to find him standing just outside the carriage, reaching out to help her down.
Zhong Li placed her hand in his and alighted from the carriage. She watched as officials and constables in the attire of different departments carried boxes of items to the waiting carriages at the entrance. She could already guess that this was not an investigation, but an obvious confiscation of property.
"What did you say to the Emperor last night that made him act so quickly, even at the risk of offending the Empress?" she asked.
Lu Wuxie placed a pre-warmed foot-warmer into Zhong Li's embrace and recalled his conversation with Lu Jing'an after entering the secret room.
"His Majesty said he couldn't wait any longer."
"What do you mean?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie did not answer but changed the subject to the Fu family's affairs. "His Majesty has reviewed the account books. While it appears he has ordered the Dali Temple, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate to thoroughly investigate the Fu family, everyone knows what the ultimate outcome for the Fu family will be."
"Exile?" Zhong Li asked.
Just as Lu Wuxie was about to reply, a sharp voice suddenly rang out from within the Fu family's courtyard.
"Are you done yet? You've searched the courtyard, and now you want to search this county princess's room? You are too presumptuous!"
Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie exchanged a look and hurried towards the residence.
In the vast courtyard, a woman stood on the stone steps at the entrance to the main hall. She had a dignified demeanor and wore luxurious clothing, exuding an air of nobility. However, with her hands on her hips and a fierce expression, much of her elegance was diminished, causing the officials surrounding her to lower their eyes, afraid to speak.
Zhong Li knew her. She was the mistress of the Fu residence, Fu Chong's wife, Princess Min of Nanyue Kingdom, Lady Chen.