Love of Nirvana – Ren Jialun, Landy Li

The State of Dazhang and the State of Wei are holding peace talks today. The ceremony is being held at Fanglin Courtyard in Qingkang, the capital of Dazhang. The courtyard is heavily guarded, with patrols everywhere, making it impossible for even a fly to sneak in. However, the kitchen is bustling, with attendants busy preparing a variety of delicacies to entertain the envoy from Wei.

Jiang Ci, taking advantage of a moment of inattention, secretly grabs a jug of fine wine, intending to slip away and enjoy it alone. Suddenly, she sees Yu Lian rushing by, dressed beautifully. Although Yu Lian is stunningly beautiful, her face is cold and expressionless. Without thinking much, Jiang Ci cleverly avoids the patrolling guards and hides behind a large tree to savor her wine.

Jiang Ci, eager to catch a glimpse of the heroic Pei Yan, the Marquis of the Sword and Cauldron, sets off to collect Ling Coffin Flowers at Moonfall. All of Jiang Ci's movements are observed by a Silver Masked Man from Dazhang. Just as she is enjoying her wine in a daze, the Silver Masked Man suddenly captures her with a sword.

Terrified, Jiang Ci is about to scream, but the Silver Masked Man covers her mouth to prevent her from alarming the envoy from Wei. The Silver Masked Man accidentally notices the Moonfall Waist Token in Jiang Ci’s possession and, showing mercy, decides not to use poison to kill her. The Wei delegation arrives as scheduled, led by Teng Rui, the Minister of Ceremonies.

Upon seeing Teng Rui, the Silver Masked Man becomes alert and loosens his grip on Jiang Ci, giving her a chance to escape. Teng Rui and the delegation have just taken their seats when Pei Yan gallops in on horseback, swiftly dismounting and catching a cup of tea thrown by General Lei, one of Teng Rui's military officers. Pei Yan calmly takes a seat next to Teng Rui, effortlessly diffusing the attempt by Teng Rui to intimidate him.

Jiang Ci, deeply impressed by Pei Yan, admires him greatly. She desperately pleads with the Silver Masked Man to release her, but he refuses. The peace talks officially begin, and Yu Lian takes the stage, performing a battle dance that earns Teng Rui’s admiration. After the dance, Yu Lian approaches Teng Rui with a cup of wine. Concerned it might be poisoned, General Lei orders an immediate test.

Teng Rui takes the cup and, with a smooth motion, pulls Yu Lian into his arms. Jiang Ci, seeing Yu Lian's reluctance, begins to doubt her intentions. Before Jiang Ci can speak further, the Silver Masked Man stabs her with a dagger, confirming her suspicions that he and Yu Lian are in cahoots. The Silver Masked Man draws a crossbow, intending to assassinate Teng Rui.

At that moment, Pei Yan calls Yu Lian aside, questioning the motives behind her earlier battle dance. Yu Lian admits that she admires Teng Rui, and Teng Rui, now smitten with her, keeps defending her, allowing Pei Yan to drop the matter. Jiang Ci, fearing that the Silver Masked Man might kill her after a failed assassination attempt, pulls the dagger out of her body, intending to attack him.

However, she is overpowered again, and the wine jug crashes to the ground. The sound alerts the guards, who rush in to capture them. Sensing danger, the Silver Masked Man quickly fires his crossbow at Teng Rui. Yu Lian turns to assassinate Teng Rui, but General Lei fiercely protects him. The Silver Masked Man pushes Jiang Ci to the ground to cover Yu Lian's escape over the wall.

Pei Yan, disregarding his safety, rushes to hold Jiang Ci and orders his men to escort Teng Rui and the delegation away. He takes Jiang Ci back to his residence for treatment. Jiang Ci, gravely injured and losing a lot of blood, falls into a coma. Pei Yan sends for Cui Liang, a skilled physician, to save her.

The Silver Masked Man returns to the ship to meet with Yu Lian, who repeatedly apologizes for their failed assassination attempt on Teng Rui. It turns out the Silver Masked Man is Wei Zhao, the commander of Dazhang's Guangming Bureau, notorious for oppressing the people and government officials. Wei Zhao is ruthless and merciless, earning the hatred of the people.

Wei Zhao personally arrests an official who had escaped from the palace and brutally tortures him to extract information about the whereabouts of Wang Shiquan, a guard under Prince Qi. Years ago, Prince Qi, who presided over the talks, annexed Moonfall as a dependency. Half a month later, Prince Qi was killed in Moonfall, and all his guards were slaughtered, except for Wang Shiquan, whose body was never found.

The official confesses that Wang Shiquan had faked his death and fled to the State of Wei, living under a different name. He also recalls that Wang Shiquan had once been whipped for coveting the “Heaven and Earth Map”. Wei Zhao gives the “Shadow Pavilion” a death order: they are to investigate Wei secretly, searching for Wang Shiquan based on the scars from his whipping.

They soon collect handwriting samples from Wei officials, and Wei Zhao discovers that Teng Rui's handwriting matches Wang Shiquan’s exactly. The State of Wei, seeking to claim Moonfall as its own, launches a large-scale invasion. Emperor Xie Che of Dazhang receives reports from the border and considers attacking Wei. However, Wei Zhao suggests peace talks to spare the people from the devastation of war.

Xie Che agrees and proposes diverting a branch of the “Tongfeng River” from Moonfall to Wei to alleviate their irrigation crisis. Wei Zhao advises building a dam to monitor Wei’s movements. Back home, Wei Zhao reminisces about his late wife, Wei Yu, and the bittersweet memories they shared. He is filled with a mix of emotions as he recalls their hardships together.

Wei Zhao spreads false rumors about the Heaven and Earth Map being in Dazhang, hoping to lure Teng Rui to the peace talks and assassinate him. As expected, Teng Rui arrives in Dazhang with the delegation. Wei Zhao meticulously plans the assassination, but Pei Yan foils the attempt. Unsatisfied and worried that Jiang Ci might recognize him, Wei Zhao orders his men to keep a close watch on Pei Yan's residence.

Jiang Ci remains unconscious, and Cui Liang, concerned for her life, suggests using a “Thousand-Year Snow Toad Pill” to save her. Pei Yan begs Emperor Xie Che for forgiveness. Xie Che explains the importance of uncovering the assassin's identity and completing the peace talks successfully, promising to make Pei Yan a minister afterward. Years ago, Xie Che intended to appoint Pei Yan's father as prime minister, but he died in the State of Wei.

Pei Yan vows to serve Dazhang loyally. An Cheng, the head of the guards, and Tong Min, the deputy general, both express their sympathy for Pei Yan. Pei Yan orders them to fully investigate the assassin, as he has been biding his time for years to become a minister and revive the Changfeng Guard.

Thanks to Cui Liang's tireless efforts over several sleepless nights, combined with the miraculous effects of the Millennium Snow Toad Pill, Jiang Ci finally recovered from her critical condition. Pei Yan allowed Cui Liang to return home and rest. Jiang Ci was from Jiangjia Village in the Daling Kingdom. She lived with her master, who had once traveled to Moonfall and drank a memorable bowl of porridge that wasn’t bitter.

Jiang Ci searched the mountains for flowers, herbs, and various ingredients, but she could never replicate the flavor. Ten days ago, when her master returned from his travels, Jiang Ci served a carefully prepared bowl of porridge, but her master said it didn't taste right. Jiang Ci swore that by her master’s next birthday, she would recreate that unforgettable porridge. Her master, hearing a commotion outside, sent Jiang Ci away on an errand.

When she returned, her master had already gone to bed. Jiang Ci dreamed of seeing the world’s most beautiful sights and tasting all its delicacies, but her master worried for her safety, so her wishes had gone unfulfilled. Seeing her master sound asleep, Jiang Ci couldn’t wait any longer and snuck down the mountain to witness the grand peace talks between Daling and Wei, intending to gather some spirit coffin flowers along the way.

When Jiang Ci arrived at Fanglin Garden, she saw the place heavily guarded. A river flowed past the garden, sparking an idea. She hid her belongings under a large tree and, by chance, found a letter her master had left for her. The letter revealed that her master had long anticipated she would sneak down the mountain and contained many words of warning and advice.

Jiang Ci carefully tucked the letter away, then leapt into the river, stealthily making her way into Fanglin Garden. Jiang Ci woke up groggily, remembering the harrowing moment when the Silver-Masked Man tried to assassinate her. The memory left her terrified. Pei Yan had been by her side the whole time, personally feeding her medicine. Jiang Ci recalled her master’s warnings from the letter and was hesitant to drink.

It wasn’t until Pei Yan took a sip himself that Jiang Ci felt safe enough to drink the medicine. From the maidservant Shuxia, she learned that the medicine Pei Yan gave her was the life-saving Millennium Snow Toad Pill, deepening her gratitude towards him. Pei Yan asked Jiang Ci about the assassin's appearance, but Jiang Ci, fearful of being silenced by the Silver-Masked Man, claimed to know nothing.

Pei Yan, noticing her fear, refrained from asking more and had Cui Liang examine her again. He also instructed Shuxia to take good care of Jiang Ci. Cui Liang prescribed additional tonics to help her recover. As days passed, Jiang Ci’s health gradually improved. She lived in luxury, with fine clothes and food, and enjoyed a carefree, comfortable life. Meanwhile, Wei Zhao, having heard that Pei Yan had saved Jiang Ci, grew anxious that she might expose him.

To prevent any leaks, the sixth elder of the Shadow Pavilion secretly transported the bodies of their fallen comrades from the slave camp, intending to return them to Moonfall for burial. Wei Zhao, concerned about implicating his long-hidden team members, ordered the bodies to be burned to avoid further complications. Wei Zhao climbed a tree outside Pei Yan’s mansion, keeping a close watch on Jiang Ci’s every move.

Jiang Ci, wanting to escape and fearing the Silver-Masked Man’s revenge, asked Shuxia to accompany her to fly kites. Deliberately breaking the string, she climbed onto the roof to retrieve the kite, despite Shuxia’s protests. From the rooftop, she realized the mansion was heavily guarded, making escape impossible. She resolved to find another way. Suddenly, Jiang Ci spotted Wei Zhao hiding in a tree. Terrified, she lost her balance and fell off the ladder, but Pei Yan caught her in time.

Pei Yan wanted to punish Shuxia for her carelessness, but Jiang Ci pleaded for her, and Pei Yan relented. In her panic, Jiang Ci accidentally mentioned that the Silver-Masked Man had been hiding in the tree. Pei Yan pressed her for more details about the man’s appearance, but Jiang Ci gave vague and evasive answers.

When she asked to leave, Pei Yan made excuses to keep her, and Jiang Ci realized that until the assassin was found, Pei Yan wouldn’t let her go. Pei Yan offered to accompany Jiang Ci on an outing to lift her spirits, but she politely declined and asked if Cui Liang could accompany her instead. Pei Yan agreed readily and arranged for a private room at Lan Yue Pavilion, planning to lure the assassin into action.

Pei Yan then went to the posthouse to visit Teng Rui, who was eager to obtain the “Map of All Lands” from the Yugu Shrine. Wei Zhao’s agent Lao He had been watching the posthouse, and when he reported Teng Rui’s movements, Wei Zhao realized Pei Yan’s intentions. Pei Yan invited Jiang Ci and Cui Liang to Lan Yue Pavilion for a meal. Hearing that the pavilion had a pond, Jiang Ci secretly planned to escape through the water.

Upon arriving at the pavilion, they encountered two guests who were making indecent remarks about Su Yan, a singer. Jiang Ci gave them a stern lesson, and in gratitude, Su Yan offered Jiang Ci a jade pendant, which Jiang Ci firmly declined. When the Crown Prince Xie Zhi arrived, he praised Su Yan’s newly composed song.

As Jiang Ci drank heartily, she began to enthusiastically share her technique for eating crabs, describing it in vivid detail, which made Xie Chi burst into laughter. That night, Prince Zhuang accompanied Teng Rui to Yugu Shrine, where Teng Rui pretended to solemnly worship the Yugu deity. Jiang Ci feigned drunkenness, and Su Yan sent someone to escort her to a room to rest.

Jiang Ci then attempted to escape through the window and into the river, leaving behind the word “Goodbye” on the wall. However, Pei Yan, sensing something was amiss, sent people to search for her. In reality, Jiang Ci hadn’t jumped into the river. She had thrown a large vase into the water to mislead everyone, while she hid under the bed. After the searchers left, she quietly slipped away.

Noticing the kite that had fallen into the bushes earlier, Jiang Ci suspected the Silver-Masked Man was nearby. Sure enough, Wei Zhao suddenly appeared, ready to confront her, sending Jiang Ci into a panic.

Jiang Ci pretended to be drunk, threw a vase into the river to make people think she had escaped by jumping into the water, and then hid under the bed to slip out of the Lan Yue Tower under the cover of night. As soon as she left, she was caught by Wei Zhao. Wei Zhao drew his dagger and threatened her.

Jiang Ci begged him to spare her, swearing that she hadn’t revealed to Pei Yan that Wei Zhao was the one who attempted to assassinate Teng Rui. Wei Zhao was half-convinced and tied her to a tree, torturing her for answers. Pei Yan had already discovered that Jiang Ci was hiding under the bed. Instead of exposing her right away, he intended to use her as bait to lure the assassin out.

From a distance, Pei Yan saw Jiang Ci being captured by the masked assassin, but he was too far to hear their conversation. He quietly sent someone to the inn where the Wei Nation delegation was staying to request reinforcements. Jiang Ci realized that Wei Zhao wasn’t going to let her go and cursed him angrily. In his fury, Wei Zhao cut the rope, causing her to fall. He then ordered her to write a farewell letter before killing her.

Pei Yan arrived just in time to protect Jiang Ci. When General An arrived with reinforcements, Pei Yan and Wei Zhao fought fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand. Wei Zhao didn’t want to prolong the battle, so he gradually retreated, eventually escaping. Pei Yan personally bandaged Jiang Ci’s wounds. Fearing Wei Zhao might come after her again, Jiang Ci requested to return to the marquis' residence for protection, and Pei Yan readily agreed. Jiang Ci grew suspicious.

The masked assassin could have killed her right away to silence her, but instead, he went through the trouble of hanging her up and forcing her to write a farewell letter. It didn’t make sense. Pei Yan suddenly realized something was wrong.

When Crown Prince Xie Chi casually mentioned that Prince Zhuang and Xie Yu had accompanied Teng Rui to the Yu Gong Shrine, Pei Yan suspected that the assassin's true target was Teng Rui, and the attack on Jiang Ci was just a distraction. Fearing for Teng Rui’s life, Pei Yan rushed with Jiang Ci to the shrine as quickly as possible. As expected, Wei Zhao had kidnapped Jiang Ci to divert attention.

After escaping, he hurried to intercept Teng Rui en route to the Yu Gong Shrine. Pei Yan and his men arrived just in time to save Teng Rui, forcing Wei Zhao and his clan to retreat. During the chaos, Jiang Ci fell from her horse, and Pei Yan brought her back to the marquis’ residence, still puzzled as to why the masked assassin was trying to kill Teng Rui.

In Da Liang Nation, King Qi had been sent to negotiate peace at Yue Luo City, but half a month later, he mysteriously died. Da Liang sent General Lu Yu to lead an army to attack Yue Luo City. City Lord Xiao Haitian insisted he hadn’t colluded with the Wei Nation to assassinate King Qi, but Lu Yu wouldn’t listen. Left with no choice, Xiao Haitian led his troops to fight.

Outnumbered, Xiao Haitian was killed by Lu Yu, and his soldiers were slaughtered. Only Xiao Haitian’s wife had hidden their two children in advance, sparing them from the massacre. Xiao Wu Xia, Xiao Haitian’s son, and his sister witnessed their mother’s death, sowing deep hatred in their hearts. Wei Zhao, under a false identity, rose to a high position in Da Liang, creating the Shadow Pavilion to exact revenge for his parents and clan.

After years of hardship, Xiao Wu Xia changed his name to Wei Zhao. When the Zhenyuan Army captured disaster victims to be sold as slaves, Xiao Wu Xia and his sister were caught. Years later, his sister died in childbirth, and the grief haunted Wei Zhao. Pei Yan carefully tended to Jiang Ci, but she still refused to describe the assassin’s appearance. Not wanting to press further, Pei Yan couldn’t understand why the assassin wanted to kill Teng Rui.

To avoid suspicion from court officials, Pei Yan lied that he and Jiang Ci were traveling when they encountered the assassin. As Jiang Ci’s wounds worsened due to poison from Wei Zhao’s dagger, she had no choice but to seek Pei Yan’s help. Wei Zhao sent Lao Liu to search the woods outside Fanglin Garden, where he found the package Jiang Ci had hidden, along with the letter her master had left her.

Twenty years ago, sisters Yan Shuangqiao and Yan Shuangqiao escaped from prison. Court Eunuch Tao Zizhu reported the escape to Xie Che, and the internal bureau searched until they reached Jiangjia Village. The sisters hid, but the older sister was killed. Yan Shuangqiao fled to Jiangjia Village, where she met Jiang Ci and settled there. When the internal bureau found her again, Yan Shuangqiao sent Jiang Ci away, killed the men sent after her, and set fire to her home.

Yan Shuangqiao went to Lan Yue Tower to find Su Yan, who was deeply grateful to her for saving her life. Yan Shuangqiao planned to stir up trouble in Qingkang by having Su Yan spread false information in the palace. Meanwhile, Pei Yan invited Cui Liang to treat Jiang Ci, but due to the severity of her poisoning, she fell into a coma.

Cui Liang discovered that Jiang Ci had been poisoned by a Miao region toxin known as "Lost Soul Powder," which could only be cured with a herb called Xianhecao. Emperor Xie Che of Da Liang once used Xianhecao to create a Heart-Protection Pill, but after someone used the herb for witchcraft, he ordered the destruction of all Xianhecao and forbade its tribute from the Miao tribe.

In a panic, Pei Yan sent Tong Min to the imperial hospital to ask for the last remaining Heart-Protection Pill, but the physician refused and told Pei Yan to request it directly from Xie Che. The Shadow Pavilion had spies in the imperial hospital, so Wei Zhao quickly learned of Pei Yan’s efforts to save Jiang Ci with the Heart-Protection Pill. Wei Zhao suspected this was a trap set by Pei Yan and decided to play along.

He poisoned Consort Zhou, Prince Zhuang’s favorite concubine, knowing Prince Zhuang would ask Xie Che for the pill to save her, leaving Pei Yan with no way to save Jiang Ci. Xie Chi summoned Prince Zhuang to the Eastern Palace, reprimanding him for taking Teng Rui to the Yu Gong Shrine without permission. Just then, someone from Prince Zhuang’s residence reported that Consort Zhou had been poisoned. In a panic, Prince Zhuang rushed back.

Pei Yan personally went to ask Xie Che for the Heart-Protection Pill. Wei Zhao, playing a game of chess with Xie Che, delayed their meeting. When they finally finished, Pei Yan explained the situation. Just as they were about to hand over the pill, Prince Zhuang arrived, demanding it to save Consort Zhou. With only one pill left, Pei Yan and Prince Zhuang argued. Xie Chi proposed that they settle the dispute with a game of chess, with Wei Zhao playing on behalf of Prince Zhuang.

Wei Zhao wounded Jiang Ci with a poisoned dagger and then sent someone to poison Madam Zhou. Both Pei Yan and King Zhuang sought the only remaining Heart Protection Pill from the Great Ling Emperor, Xie Che, in order to save their respective victims. Crown Prince Xie Chi suggested that they resolve the matter by playing a chess match, with King Zhuang sending Wei Zhao to represent him in the game against Pei Yan.

Wei Zhao and Pei Yan began the chess match, each carefully planning their moves without yielding. Jiang Ci's condition worsened, and despite all of Cui Liang's efforts, he was powerless to help. In desperation, he sent Su Xia to report the situation to Pei Yan. Pei Yan, eager to save Jiang Ci, tried a risky move to win the match.

King Zhuang was unwilling to accept defeat, and Ah Li came up with the idea to switch the Heart Protection Pill during the tea service. Pei Yan eventually won the chess match and eagerly took the pill to save Jiang Ci. However, Wei Zhao had already noticed Ah Li's plan to swap the pill and deliberately lost the game.

Fearing that Ah Li's identity would be exposed, Wei Zhao sent Lao Liu to notify Ah Li and Lao He to flee immediately. Ah Li, not wanting to implicate Wei Zhao further, committed suicide in apology. Pei Yan’s mother had always been weak, and Xie Che had gifted her a Heart Protection Pill, which she had never used. Pei Yan's true intention in fighting for the pill was to lure out the assassins.

He discovered that Ah Li had been a slave presented from Moonfall City three years ago, and it shocked him to realize that even King Zhuang's inner circle had spies. Meanwhile, Wei Zhao carved the names of his deceased clan members onto wooden plaques as a way to honor their spirits. Pei Yan, worried that the assassins would make another attempt on Teng Rui’s life, moved Teng Rui to his private villa and assigned the Changfeng Guard to protect him closely.

He also requested his mother to give up her Heart Protection Pill to help Jiang Ci. After taking the medicine, Jiang Ci's condition improved, and Pei Yan stayed by her side without leaving. Cui Liang expressed his frustration that Pei Yan had used Jiang Ci as bait, but Pei Yan was determined to uncover the assassins' identities, feeling helpless in the matter. When Jiang Ci gradually regained consciousness, she found Pei Yan by her side and felt grateful.

Pei Yan personally changed her bandages, and Jiang Ci was touched by his care. Suddenly, a fire broke out in the Pei Mansion. Pei Yan rushed to extinguish the fire, while Wei Zhao came to Jiang Ci, accusing her of betrayal. He threatened her by holding Yan Shuangqiao’s life over her head, demanding that she keep his identity secret.

Furious, Jiang Ci bit her lip in frustration, but Wei Zhao forced her to report Teng Rui’s every move accurately, promising to spare her and Yan Shuangqiao in return. Pei Yan, after putting out the fire, found the situation suspicious and rushed back, fearing for Jiang Ci’s safety. Jiang Ci, still shaken, tried her best to hide her involvement when Pei Yan questioned her about the assassins.

Pei Yan suspected that the assassin must be a high-ranking official in the court, as they had inside knowledge. He secretly began investigating several suspicious officials and decided to keep Jiang Ci at the mansion to lure the assassin out again. Pei Yan took great care of Jiang Ci, asking her to cooperate in a staged act; otherwise, it would be considered a crime against the emperor.

After careful consideration, Jiang Ci reluctantly agreed and took on the role of a servant girl in the mansion. Su Xia took the opportunity to teach Jiang Ci the rules of the mansion, using it as a way to get revenge on her. Wei Zhao, observing everything from a tree, stepped in to help Jiang Ci when Su Xia bullied her, and continued to show up to remind Jiang Ci to keep an eye on Teng Rui’s movements.

Jiang Ci, careful not to slip up, obtained a waist token from a maid that allowed her access to Teng Rui’s villa. Teng Rui, living a life of indulgence, spent his days lost in wine and pleasure. Jiang Ci reported everything she observed. Teng Rui, remembering that Jiang Ci had once saved his life, held a banquet in her and Pei Yan's honor and gifted her a jade gourd as a token of appreciation, which Jiang Ci reluctantly accepted.

Pei Yan, feeling unsettled, vented his frustration by practicing swordsmanship late into the night. Jiang Ci, keeping him company, accidentally injured her foot when a bronze basin was knocked over. That same night, Pei Yan brought ointment to Jiang Ci, but she noticed he seemed preoccupied. She pointed it out, and Pei Yan, unable to deny it, put the ointment back in his pocket and left. After he left, Wei Zhao suddenly appeared to confront Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci didn't want to act as Wei Zhao's spy, nor did she want to be used as bait by Pei Yan. She was caught between the two, feeling both angry and helpless. Although she had no choice but to obey both of them, Jiang Ci secretly recorded all of Teng Rui’s actions and prepared a fake report, which she left at the agreed-upon location. Wei Zhao, after reviewing the report, quickly realized that Jiang Ci had hidden the truth.

He kidnapped her under the cover of darkness and interrogated her intensely. Jiang Ci, left with no other option, handed over the real surveillance records, begging Wei Zhao to return her little clay cat, a gift from her master Yan Shuangqiao. However, Wei Zhao ignored her plea.

Wei Zhao sent a secret letter to Imperial Censor Yin Shilin, revealing that Xie Chi had gone to Lanyue Tower to listen to music and that King Zhuang had taken Teng Rui to Yu Gong Shrine without permission, where they were almost assassinated. Yin Shilin, aware of the potential impact this could have on peace talks between the two nations, immediately reported it to Great Ling Emperor Xie Che. Xie Che harshly scolded both King Zhuang and Xie Chi.

Pei Yan took responsibility for the incident, admitting that his favoring of a maid had nearly caused a disaster. Xie Che ordered King Zhuang to reflect on his actions in seclusion and transcribe the Diamond Sutra, while docking Pei Yan’s salary. He also strengthened the security around the villa by sending imperial guards. Far away in Nanling, Rong Yudie, Pei Yan's mother, heard that her son had been punished for favoring a maid.

Realizing that Great Ling Emperor Xie Che still didn’t fully trust Pei Yan, she worried deeply for him. She immediately decided to return to Qingkang, bringing along her old maid, Old Du. Wei Zhao, upon learning that Xie Che had sent imperial guards to protect Teng Rui, decided to exploit the deputy commander of the guards, Fan Yi, to find a way in.

Rong Yudie returned to the Sword Ding Marquis Residence and, upon entering, saw Pei Yan and Jiang Ci entangled in a conversation. Pei Yan was exchanging his jade pendant with Jiang Ci's jade gourd, under the pretense that he needed it to treat his nephew's illness. Jiang Ci handed over the jade gourd Teng Rui had given her but firmly refused to accept the jade pendant in return.

When Pei Yan turned around, he was startled to see his mother, Rong Yudie, had returned unexpectedly. Rong Yudie, knowing her son's character, believed he wouldn’t offend King Zhuang over a mere servant girl like Jiang Ci. She guessed that Pei Yan was putting on a performance for Great Ling Emperor Xie Che and cautioned him to be careful. Ten days later, Pei Yan would need to organize a grand birthday banquet for Rong Yudie.

He invited officials to the mansion, planning to use the occasion to find the assassin. Jiang Ci, tired of being threatened by the silver-masked assassin, also wanted to expose the assassin during the banquet. When Xie Che heard that Rong Yudie had returned to Qingkang and that Pei Yan was preparing a grand birthday banquet for her, he ordered Tao Zizhu to keep a close watch on the Sword Ding Marquis Residence.

On the day of Rong Yudie’s birthday, the Sword Ding Marquis Residence was bustling with decorations and festivities. Jiang Ci came out early to enjoy the lively atmosphere. Upon hearing that Wei Zhao was attending the banquet, she inquired about him from Cui Liang. Cui Liang briefly explained the power of the Guangming Division in court and warned her to stay away from Wei Zhao. One by one, the court officials arrived at the residence.

Teng Rui, feeling unwell, did not attend the banquet, so Pei Yan assigned Tong Min and Fan Yi to protect him. As the banquet began, Pei Yan kept Jiang Ci by his side, using her to scan the officials for any trace of the assassin. King Zhuang couldn’t help but tease Pei Yan about Jiang Ci. Wei Zhao arrived late, and Pei Yan warmly welcomed him, while the officials all flattered Wei Zhao.

Jiang Ci immediately recognized Wei Zhao as the silver-masked assassin. In her moment of shock, she accidentally knocked her wine cup to the ground. Jiang Ci tried her best to conceal her fear, deeply worried that Wei Zhao had killed her master, Yan Shuangqiao. The eldest and second daughters of Prime Minister Dong, Dong Luan and Dong Juan, were invited to the banquet. Dong Juan congratulated Rong Yudie, who, upon learning that Dong Juan was still unmarried, praised her highly.

Jiang Ci added sugar to Wei Zhao’s porridge, reminding him of how his deceased sister used to take care of him, making his heart skip a beat. Crown Prince Xie Chi suggested a drinking game using flowers and herbs. King Zhuang, confident, lost the first round to Pei Yan. Having grown up in the mountains, Jiang Ci was familiar with various plants, making her quite interested in the game.

King Zhuang then proposed a contest between Jiang Ci and Wei Zhao, promising to gift Wei Zhao a foal if he won and threatening to execute Jiang Ci’s entire clan if she lost. Since Jiang Ci’s family was already gone, she had nothing to lose. Jiang Ci wanted to use this opportunity to ask for her little clay cat back, but Wei Zhao refused and even threatened her again with Yan Shuangqiao’s life, forcing her to back down.

Blindfolded, Wei Zhao correctly identified the flowers and plants, and Jiang Ci didn’t back down either, naming each herb she tasted. Everyone present was impressed by her knowledge. Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci were evenly matched, and Jiang Ci boldly demanded a prize from him in front of everyone. Pei Yan suggested that Wei Zhao reward her with a chrysanthemum crab feast. After enjoying the feast at Lanyue Tower, Jiang Ci made her escape.

Wei Zhao, sensing Pei Yan’s hidden message, pretended not to understand. Jiang Ci then met with Wei Zhao privately, demanding the return of her little clay cat. Wei Zhao, suspecting she intended to go to Moonfall City, refused. Jiang Ci swore she would never reveal that Wei Zhao was the assassin, but Wei Zhao didn't believe her and threatened her again, leaving Jiang Ci speechless with anger.

Wei Zhao spread false information, claiming that when Prince Qi was killed in Yue Luo, an imperial guard named Zhao Wu witnessed the event. Zhao Wu was later killed as well. Before entering the palace, Zhao Wu had married and had a son. His wife died early, and their son has been living in Nanling. Hearing about this, the Chief Steward Tao Zizhu immediately reported it to the Emperor of Da Liang, Xie Che.

Emperor Xie Che, being naturally suspicious, was already unsettled by Rong Yudie’s sudden return to Qingkang. He began to suspect a connection between the Pei family and Zhao Wu’s son, which fueled his anger. Back in the day, Rong Yudie, who was skilled in both literature and martial arts, was admired by both Pei Yan’s father, Pei Zijing, and Xie Che. Xie Che had once competed with Pei Zijing in archery to win Rong Yudie's favor.

Pei Zijing, knowing Xie Che was a prince, deliberately lost to him. However, as a prince, Xie Che had no right to directly choose a wife and was sent to the frontlines, leaving Rong Yudie in Pei Zijing’s care. Ultimately, Rong Yudie married Pei Zijing. The more Xie Che thought about it, the angrier he became. That very night, he rushed to Jian Ding Marquis’ residence to question Rong Yudie.

When the butler of Jian Ding Marquis’ residence, Pei Yang, saw the Emperor arriving with a large entourage, he hurriedly reported it to Pei Yan and Rong Yudie. Knowing that Xie Che wasn’t here with good intentions, Rong Yudie quickly found an excuse to leave. Dong Luan, concerned that her younger sister Dong Juan might be bored from sitting too long, suggested that she take a walk in the garden.

Pei Yan, learning that Emperor Xie Che had come personally, excused himself from the Crown Prince Xie Chi to greet him. Pei Yan escorted Xie Che to the most tranquil spot in the residence—the meditation room—waiting for Rong Yudie to meet him. Jiang Ci, wandering around, unintentionally arrived outside the meditation room and saw Pei Yan lost in thought in the courtyard from a distance. She found it puzzling.

Inside, Xie Che noticed a portrait of Rong Yudie that he had personally drawn for her. Memories of the past came flooding back, leaving him with mixed emotions. Soon after, Rong Yudie came to see him, and Xie Che apologized deeply for what had happened back then. Rong Yudie then revealed an astonishing secret: Pei Yan is actually the son of her and Xie Che.

When Xie Che left the meditation room, he briefly comforted Pei Yan before departing in a hurry. Pei Yan, feigning inebriation, asked Pei Yang to take care of the guests. Xie Che had long harbored suspicions that Pei Yan was his biological son, and after hearing it confirmed by Rong Yudie, he became even more convinced.

He ordered Tao Zizhu to thoroughly investigate the rumors linking Zhao Wu’s son to the Pei family and also withdrew surveillance on Jian Ding Marquis’ residence. Rong Yudie, for the sake of the Pei family's future, had endured humiliation for years and concocted the lie that Pei Yan was Xie Che’s son to secure the Pei family’s survival. Seeing that Pei Yan seemed troubled, Jiang Ci showed concern and comforted him.

Jiang Ci, having lost her parents at a young age, was indifferent to this matter and urged Pei Yan to let go of his past unhappiness. From a young age, Pei Yan was ridiculed as a bastard, but his mother, Rong Yudie, always encouraged him to endure. Pei Yan had long sworn to make great achievements for the Pei family. Opening up to Jiang Ci, he shared his frustrations and grievances, and she comforted him with kind words.

Meanwhile, Dong Juan took a walk in the garden and coincidentally ran into Pei Yan and Jiang Ci. Pei Yan graciously accompanied her for a tour. After the birthday banquet concluded, Pei Yan personally saw off the guests. Suddenly, a fire broke out at the other residence. Worried that Teng Rui was in danger, Pei Yan immediately led Jiang Ci and others to rescue him, and Wei Zhao followed as well.

Jiang Ci found the fire suspicious but lacked concrete evidence. After much effort from the servants and guards, the fire was eventually extinguished. Teng Rui, having drunk too much, slept through the fire and was burned to death. Later, Prime Minister Dong Fang sent people to investigate the cause of the fire and found that Teng Rui had not fully extinguished the charcoal used for roasting lamb.

Xie Che placed all the blame on Tong Min and Fan Yi, imprisoning them in the heavenly prison. Pei Yan took the blame upon himself, and Xie Che ordered him to reflect behind closed doors. Rumors circulated among the people about a potential marriage between Pei Yan and Dong Juan. Some officials advised Dong Fang against forming political alliances with the Pei family. However, Teng Rui was not actually killed in the fire.

Wei Zhao had imprisoned him in the Dark Pavilion dungeon and tortured him to confess the truth behind Prince Qi's assassination. Teng Rui refused to admit that he was Wang Shiquan. Jiang Ci grew suspicious of the fire at Jian Ding Marquis’ residence, worried that Pei Yan might be implicated. She inquired about the situation from Cui Liang and only relaxed after learning that the Emperor had not punished Pei Yan.

She also borrowed a few books on the Wei Kingdom from Cui Liang. General Lei, along with a delegation from the Wei Kingdom, surrounded Jian Ding Marquis’ residence, demanding that Pei Yan pay for Teng Rui’s life. The residence gates remained tightly shut. Upon hearing of this, Wei Zhao hurried to the residence, threatening General Lei, and swiftly drove him away. He also inquired about Pei Yan’s condition from Yi Fei.

Pei Yan had locked himself in his room for several days. When he finally came out and saw Jiang Ci, she did everything she could to cheer him up and even massaged him. Wei Zhao, seeing Jiang Ci and Pei Yan laughing and chatting, felt a strange emotion. Unwilling to interrupt, he quietly left. From various clues, Pei Yan deduced that Wei Zhao was the Silver Masked Assassin, but Jiang Ci vehemently denied it and even defended Wei Zhao. Pei Yan didn’t press the matter any further.

Wei Zhao originally planned to set a fire at the secondary residence on the day of Rong Yudie’s birthday banquet. His intent was to secretly transfer Teng Rui and create the false impression that Teng Rui had died in the fire, thus blaming Pei Yan for negligence and completely removing him from the picture.

However, Pei Yan proactively requested permission from Emperor Xie Che to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire, even suggesting that Jiang Ci accompany him in the investigation. This thwarted Wei Zhao’s plan yet again. When he learned that Xie Che had secretly summoned Rong Yudie, with Jiang Ci present as well, he became even more frustrated. Wei Zhao intensified the training of the Guangming Guards, having them engage in real combat exercises.

Xie Che happened to witness this and praised Wei Zhao for his efforts. Over a decade ago, Wei Zhao was a slave who had drifted into the Da Liang kingdom. With his exceptional martial skills and ruthless tactics, he rose to prominence, and Xie Che entrusted him with important tasks. Lady Wei, virtuous and kind, had long been favored by Xie Che, but the one thing that weighed on her was her long-lost brother.

Xie Che had promised to do everything in his power to help her find him. Wei Zhao had imprisoned Teng Rui in the dungeon of the Dark Pavilion. Teng Rui harbored hopes that General Lei would come to his rescue, but as days passed without any sign of Lei Zhen, Teng Rui finally gave up hope.

Pei Yan, along with Jiang Ci and Cui Liang, arrived at the secondary residence where Teng Rui had been staying to conduct a thorough investigation. The place had been reduced to ruins by the fire. Wei Zhao soon arrived and inquired about the progress of the case, while also making sarcastic remarks toward Jiang Ci, leaving her both angry and speechless. After careful analysis, Pei Yan and Cui Liang quickly calculated the time of the arson.

Pei Yan grew curious about Wei Zhao’s whereabouts during that period, and Wei Zhao lied, claiming he was in the kitchen looking for porridge, even pulling Jiang Ci in as a witness. Despite racking her brain, Jiang Ci couldn’t figure out how the culprit had managed to enter the secondary residence. Suddenly, Wei Zhao appeared beside her, and in a moment of desperation, Jiang Ci grabbed onto Wei Zhao and screamed for help.

Wei Zhao took the opportunity to jump into the water with her in his arms. Hearing the commotion, Pei Yan and Cui Liang rushed over and called for guards to rescue Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci from the water. Wei Zhao was unconscious due to drowning, but after everyone’s efforts, he finally regained consciousness.

Pei Yan, puzzled, asked why both Jiang Ci and Wei Zhao had fallen into the water, but Jiang Ci quickly made up an excuse to cover it up. Wei Zhao suspected that Lei Zhen was the one who burned Teng Rui, aiming to incite a conflict between Da Liang and Wei Kingdom, but Pei Yan didn’t believe it.

Through his own deductions, Pei Yan concluded that the arsonist was Xiao Wuxia, the son of the city lord of Yue Luo, Xiao Haitian. Wei Zhao hesitated for a moment upon hearing this name, which Jiang Ci noticed, but she chose not to confront him. Jiang Ci made a pot of famous congee from Yue Luo for Pei Yan, Wei Zhao, and the others to enjoy, hoping to stir up some homesickness in Wei Zhao.

She also subtly tested Wei Zhao in various ways, but he responded without giving anything away. After the meal, Pei Yan and Wei Zhao discussed the case. Pei Yan suggested that Wei Zhao take Jiang Ci to visit Tong Min in prison to gather more details about the night of the incident. Wei Zhao didn’t want them to meet, but couldn’t refuse. Pei Yan grew suspicious of Jiang Ci’s safety, but she remained unconcerned.

Wei Zhao eventually took Jiang Ci to the prison, arranging for her to meet Tong Min. Tong Min recounted the events of that night in detail. At the second quarter of the hour of Xu, Tong Min and Fan Yi went to patrol around Teng Rui’s residence. From the window, they saw Teng Rui greedily eating roast meat and drinking wine. After patrolling the area, Tong Min found nothing unusual.

He recalled that the wind had been strong that night, and Fan Yi used that as an excuse to pull Tong Min away. Wei Zhao then went to the prison to question Fan Yi about the situation, and Jiang Ci insisted on going with him, so Wei Zhao had no choice but to take her and An Cheng along.

Fan Yi, burdened with a gambling debt of three thousand taels of silver, was being pressured by his creditors to pay thirty thousand taels. Too afraid to reveal this, he desperately shifted the blame, insisting that his negligence wasn’t serious enough to be considered a crime. Wei Zhao accused him of conspiring with the culprit and threatened him, but Fan Yi denied it and begged Wei Zhao to plead on his behalf.

Jiang Ci casually asked about the details of that night, and Fan Yi answered truthfully. After leaving the prison, Wei Zhao and Jiang Ci found An Cheng waiting for them outside. Wei Zhao then took Jiang Ci for a stroll through the streets, and she purposely picked out specialties from Yue Luo, trying to observe Wei Zhao’s reaction. Wei Zhao arranged for someone to distract An Cheng and pulled Jiang Ci aside.

Jiang Ci suspected Wei Zhao was the arsonist and murderer, demanding that he hand over the little clay cat and promising not to reveal his identity. Wei Zhao denied the accusations and reached an agreement with Jiang Ci.

Wei Zhao was worried that An Cheng would report back to Pei Yan, so he had someone delay An Cheng and called Jiang Ci into an alley for a private conversation. Jiang Ci promised not to reveal that Wei Zhao was the Silver Masked Assassin, as long as he returned the little clay cat to her. Wei Zhao agreed, and the two of them returned to the marketplace, only to see An Cheng following them from a distance.

To avoid raising Pei Yan’s suspicions about his relationship with Jiang Ci, Wei Zhao deliberately tripped her. Jiang Ci's basket spilled seeds and vegetables all over the ground, and An Cheng quickly rushed to help her up while Wei Zhao made an excuse and hurried away. When Jiang Ci and An Cheng returned to the Jian Ding Marquis Manor, Pei Yan heard that Jiang Ci had accidentally fallen during her encounter with Wei Zhao.

He expressed his concern, checking on her well-being. Jiang Ci was eager to report the clues she had gathered from her visit to the prison, where she questioned Tong Min and Fan Yi. She noticed that Fan Yi seemed particularly cautious about the words "behind the house" and had used phrases indicating an assassin had infiltrated the villa. Jiang Ci felt that Fan Yi was deliberately hiding something. The next morning, Pei Yan summoned Wei Zhao to the riverside.

He suspected that the culprit had used an underwater tunnel to enter the villa and conducted a thorough investigation of the area. They found some threads on a tree branch, which Cui Liang analyzed as coming from a type of silk known as Bie Yun Brocade, recently exported in large quantities to the State of Wei.

Cui Liang discovered that a man in Wei who had a grudge against Teng Rui was not only skilled in swimming but also capable of decapitating people underwater. An Cheng believed that the fire in the villa was caused by an internal conflict within the Wei, urging Pei Yan to report this to Xie Che and rescue Tong Min as soon as possible. Pei Yan, however, hesitated to make a decision.

To divert attention, Wei Zhao deliberately claimed that the Wei had set the fire and killed Teng Rui, even creating false leads to support this theory. Wei Zhao advised An Cheng and Cui Liang to leave temporarily so that Pei Yan could think carefully. Jiang Ci, realizing that this was all part of Wei Zhao’s scheme, sent Cui Liang away and confronted Wei Zhao.

She accused him of deliberately leaving clues to mislead Pei Yan into believing that the Wei's internal conflict caused Teng Rui's death. Jiang Ci suspected that Wei Zhao was actually Xiao Wuxia but lacked solid evidence. Wei Zhao denied it with crafty arguments, while Jiang Ci pieced together the events.

On the day of the birthday banquet, Wei Zhao had deliberately sought her out and pulled her into the water, intending to make everyone believe that he couldn’t swim and to use Jiang Ci as his alibi. Jiang Ci decided to tell Pei Yan the truth, but Wei Zhao warned her not to act rashly, reminding her that she had already helped cover for him. Pei Yan would no longer trust her.

Wei Zhao emphasized that he had framed the people of Wei to prevent his fellow townsmen from Moonfall City from being blamed. Jiang Ci was momentarily at a loss for words after hearing his passionate defense. Caught in a dilemma, Jiang Ci sought out Cui Liang to learn more about Moonfall City. She discovered that it was once a peaceful paradise. Both Da Liang and the Wei had tried to claim it, leaving the city ravaged by war.

Twenty years ago, Moonfall City had tried to ally with Da Liang, but for unknown reasons, a great battle broke out between them. Afterward, the city became a territory of Da Liang, and every year, they had to send many young men and women to Da Liang as slaves. Jiang Ci was deeply moved by Cui Liang’s story and began to feel sympathy for Wei Zhao. Late at night, Jiang Ci couldn’t sleep.

She sat in the courtyard, lost in thought. Pei Yan brought her a coat. Eager to know how Pei Yan planned to report the arson case, Jiang Ci asked him about it. Pei Yan wanted to truthfully report that the Wei people had killed their own, fearing that if the Wei didn’t accept this, it could lead to a war between the two nations. Yet, he couldn’t keep the truth hidden either.

As Jiang Ci inadvertently caught a glimpse of Xu Xia busy inside the window, she suddenly realized that what Tong Min saw of Teng Rui's shadow might have been an illusion. She suspected that Teng Rui wasn’t dead at all but was hesitant to report it to Pei Yan, fearing it might be a trap set by Wei Zhao that could cost Pei Yan his position and title. Jiang Ci decided to find solid evidence before informing Pei Yan.

Unable to sleep, Jiang Ci spent the night reviewing the case files until dawn. She noticed that the coroner’s report described Teng Rui’s body as disfigured, but his limbs were intact. She recalled that Teng Rui had once broken his leg while riding a horse, which led her to believe that the body at the scene wasn’t his. Early in the morning, Pei Yan entered the palace to report to Xie Che.

Jiang Ci hurried to catch up with him on horseback, presenting the evidence she had uncovered. Pei Yan immediately returned to the Marquis Manor with her, and when Wei Zhao saw this, his heart sank. Cui Liang wanted to conduct his own autopsy, so Pei Yan went to Xie Che to request permission. Wei Zhao, worried that more time would lead to complications, quickly sought out Old He to confront Teng Rui.

Seventeen years ago, Teng Rui had led a massacre in a village, during which Old He’s daughter, A Lan, was tragically killed. Old He and his wife sought justice, and Teng Rui, terrified, begged for mercy. Teng Rui confessed that the Wei had hired the assassin sisters Yan Shuangqiao and Yan Frost to kill Prince Qi. Pei Yan reported the investigation results to Xie Che and volunteered to search for Teng Rui’s whereabouts. Xie Che readily agreed.

Pei Yan then secretly ordered his men to search for Teng Rui without alarming the city’s residents. Wei Zhao, fearing that Teng Rui would be found, was too cautious to send him out of the city. Wei Zhao decided to create trouble for Pei Yan, shifting suspicion toward General Lu's family. Jiang Ci accompanied Pei Yan as they searched the city. As evening approached, Pei Yan took her to a roadside stall for lamb noodles.

The stall owner was about to close up to go home to his wife and children, so Pei Yan reluctantly agreed to leave. Jiang Ci casually called Pei Yan by name, and the stall owner, filled with gratitude, thanked Pei Yan profusely. Years ago, Pei Yan had defended his hometown for three days and nights, driving away the Wei invaders, allowing his family to live a happy life.

Jiang Ci was deeply moved by the stall owner's words and gained even more respect for Pei Yan. An Cheng was conducting a street search when he suddenly spotted someone resembling Teng Rui boarding a carriage. He followed it to the estate of General Lu, the Commander of Zhenyuan, and immediately reported it to Pei Yan. Pei Yan suspected this was a deliberate attempt to mislead him toward the General’s estate. He decided not to act rashly and planned to report it to Xie Che.

Emperor Xie Che of Daliang gave Pei Yan ten days to investigate the cause of Teng Rui's death. Today is the final day. Lei Zhen, leading the envoy from Weiguo, has been waiting for the results, as have Xie Che and the entire court. Jiang Ci and Pei Yan followed clues and discovered that Teng Rui is still alive, only to find out that he has been secretly taken to the residence of General Lu Yu of Zhenyuan.

Since Lu Yu holds great prestige and has numerous battle achievements, Pei Yan dared not search his residence without authorization and had to return to the palace to report to Emperor Xie Che. Pei Yan, fearing danger at the Marquis’ residence, sent An Cheng back to reinforce its defenses. Pei Yan rushed to the palace and informed Tao Zizhu of the situation regarding Teng Rui being hidden in Lu Yu’s mansion.

Knowing the seriousness of the matter, Tao Zizhu immediately reported it to Xie Che. At that moment, Lei Zhen and the envoy barged into the court, accusing Pei Yan of plotting Teng Rui's murder and demanding that Pei Yan pay with his life. At the same time, a group of soldiers stormed the Jian Ding Marquis’ residence. Rong Yudie, calm and dignified, instructed everyone to return to their rooms.

In the court, Lei Zhen accused Pei Yan of having a masked figure in black rummage through Teng Rui’s coffin during the night, trying to steal the jade gourd buried with him. The figure fled when Lei Zhen arrived, but left behind a meteor dart, a weapon exclusive to the Changfeng Guard, leading Lei Zhen to believe that Pei Yan was behind the plot.

Prince Xie Chi and Prince Xie Yu stepped forward to defend Pei Yan, but Lei Zhen was relentless. He pointed out that on the night of the birthday feast, Pei Yan left with Jiang Ci for half an hour, asserting that Pei Yan used that time to set the fire and commit the crime. Pei Yan remained silent. That night, Emperor Xie Che secretly visited the Jian Ding Marquis’ residence, meeting with Rong Yudie in a secluded room.

Pei Yan could not reveal this truth, despite Xie Che pressing him to speak. Knowing that Pei Yan was innocent but unable to say so, Xie Che ordered Pei Yan’s arrest and sent Wei Zhao to take Jiang Ci to the dungeons for interrogation. Wei Zhao, along with the men of Guangming Si, arrived at the Jian Ding Marquis’ residence and took Jiang Ci into custody in front of Rong Yudie.

That night, Xie Che went to the dungeons to see Pei Yan and urged him to implicate Jiang Ci to take the blame, but Pei Yan refused, pleading desperately for Jiang Ci's sake. This only earned him a severe reprimand from Xie Che. Wei Zhao delivered Jiang Ci to the dungeons, forcing Xie Che to leave. Having witnessed Pei Yan plead for Jiang Ci, Wei Zhao was furious and vented his anger on Jiang Ci, torturing her.

Yet, Jiang Ci remained fearless. Prince Xie Chi came to visit Pei Yan late into the night, and Pei Yan entrusted him with a letter for Rong Yudie, urging him to spare no effort to save Jiang Ci. Xie Chi, aware that Jiang Ci was the sole witness to Teng Rui’s murder, agreed readily.

Wei Zhao settled Lei Zhen and the envoy at the posthouse and then hurriedly reported to Xie Che, eager to know how Jiang Ci would be dealt with. Xie Che decided to silence Jiang Ci, fearing that she not only bewitched Pei Yan but also because the jade gourd found in Teng Rui’s mouth had been a gift from Teng Rui to Jiang Ci, implicating her in the case.

Wei Zhao, aware that Xie Che wouldn't keep Pei Yan imprisoned for long, was anxious that delays would only worsen things and resolved to smuggle Teng Rui out of Qingkang as soon as possible. As Prince Xie Chi could not personally go to the Jian Ding Marquis’ residence, he sent a palace maid to deliver a letter to Rong Yudie. However, she was stopped by the Imperial Guard Commander Yue Jinglong.

Hearing of this, Rong Yudie rushed over and furiously scolded Yue Jinglong, who, fearing her wrath, allowed the palace maid to pass. Jiang Ci, reflecting on the situation, became convinced that it was Wei Zhao who had stolen the jade gourd and placed it in Teng Rui’s mouth to frame Pei Yan. Determined to confront Wei Zhao, she called him out and exposed his actions. Enraged, Wei Zhao bound her and resumed torturing her, threatening to kill her.

Anticipating this day, Jiang Ci had secretly placed the seeds of the ghost orchid on the soles of Wei Zhao’s shoes when she fell in the marketplace. These seeds leave an indelible mark, and once such traces were found at the crime scene, it would confirm Wei Zhao's guilt. Moreover, Jiang Ci had already written a letter exposing Wei Zhao as the Silver Masked Assassin and hidden it in the Jian Ding Marquis’ residence.

Wei Zhao, infuriated, tightly gripped Jiang Ci’s throat. Fortunately, Xie Chi arrived just in time, forcing Wei Zhao to release her. Wei Zhao was shocked to discover that Pei Yan had enlisted the help of Prince Xie Chi to protect Jiang Ci. Suspecting Pei Yan had disclosed more secrets to Xie Chi, Wei Zhao sent people to investigate what Prince Xie Chi had done after meeting Pei Yan the previous night.

In reality, Wei Zhao had never sent Teng Rui to Lu Yu’s residence. It was merely a diversion. He had hidden Teng Rui at Old He’s house and ordered Ah Jun and Ah Zheng to smuggle Teng Rui out of the city in a crate. Upon learning that Xie Chi had sent a palace maid to visit Rong Yudie, Wei Zhao realized something was amiss.

He immediately canceled the plan to escort Teng Rui out of the city and sent word to Old He. But it was too late—Ah Jun and Ah Zheng had already set out with the large crate, and Old He rushed to intercept them with his slop cart. Ah Jun and Ah Zheng reached the city gate, where the guards demanded to inspect the cart.

Old He, arriving in time with his slop cart, managed to help the cart pass through unnoticed. However, Old He was then captured by waiting soldiers. Mrs. He burned documents related to Moonfall City, but the soldiers arrived and arrested her on the spot. Jiang Ci and Pei Yan were eventually cleared of their charges, and Xie Che ordered their release, giving Pei Yan three days to capture Teng Rui.

Pei Yan requested the guards from Guangming Si to chase after Teng Rui’s cart. Ah Zheng and Ah Jun headed for the docks with Teng Rui but were ambushed by Xu Jun, the commander of Changfeng Guard, and his men. Though they fought fiercely and attempted to kill Teng Rui to silence him, they were outmatched and died in the struggle. Xu Jun reported back to Pei Yan, who realized that Pei Yan had secretly stationed Xu Jun outside the city.

Pei Yan offered excuses, but Wei Zhao did not believe him. Xu Jun then brought Old He and his wife in for interrogation. Despite torture, they refused to reveal their master. Xu Jun ordered their whipping, but Wei Zhao couldn’t stand it and requested to interrogate them himself. He subtly hinted for Old He to take him hostage. Mrs. He did so, only to be killed on the spot by the guards.

Old He then charged at Wei Zhao in a frenzy but was also executed. Witnessing the deaths of his kinsmen again, Wei Zhao was filled with grief but dared not show it, enduring the pain in silence, all while Jiang Ci watched with sharp eyes.

Pei Yan successfully rescued Teng Rui, and Xie Che was overjoyed. He held a banquet in the main hall to celebrate Pei Yan’s success. Wei Zhao, devastated by the deaths of A Jun, A Zheng, and the Lao He couple, remained silent at the banquet, drinking to drown his sorrow. Teng Rui, grateful for Pei Yan's life-saving efforts, expressed his desire to quickly conclude peace talks with the Daling Kingdom.

Xie Che entrusted Pei Yan with full responsibility for the negotiations. Wei Zhao drank heavily and volunteered to perform a sword dance for everyone’s entertainment. Jiang Ci noticed that Wei Zhao was using this as a way to cope with his inner pain, which filled her with emotion. After the celebration, Wei Zhao left the palace in low spirits, and Jiang Ci signaled that she wanted to talk to him, but he ignored her gesture.

Returning to his residence, Wei Zhao was overwhelmed with grief. He placed the nameplates of the deceased Lao He couple, A Jun, and A Zheng among the memorials for the fallen. Yi Fei wanted to kill Jiang Ci, but Wei Zhao suddenly remembered the gesture Jiang Ci made to him at the palace gate. Meanwhile, Pei Yan returned to the Jian Ding Marquis Mansion with Jiang Ci and Tong Min, where Rong Yudie greeted them warmly.

Jiang Ci personally made a bowl of porridge for Pei Yan, but he couldn’t eat. He could tell Jiang Ci was saddened by the deaths of the Lao He couple, but there was nothing he could do as he needed to continue investigating the true culprit. Pei Yan had people monitoring Wei Zhao’s every move but found nothing unusual, except discovering that A Jun and A Zheng were both guards from Lu Yu’s mansion.

This shocked Pei Yan, as he hadn’t expected the Yue Luo faction to have spies within Lu Yu’s estate. Cui Liang was indignant on Jiang Ci’s behalf, noting that if Xie Chi hadn’t arrived in time, Jiang Ci would have been killed by Wei Zhao. Jiang Ci had been embroiled in the case of Teng Rui’s murder multiple times without reason, and Pei Yan swore to protect her, but Cui Liang remained resentful.

Back at her residence, Jiang Ci thought about the pained expression on Wei Zhao’s face, feeling uneasy. She retrieved the letter she had written, which exposed Wei Zhao’s true identity, and burned it on the spot. She then made another bowl of porridge and brought it to Wei Zhao late at night to express her apology. Wei Zhao, still consumed by grief, blamed Jiang Ci for everything.

Jiang Ci encouraged him to persevere, reminding him to continue for the sake of those who had died, even though she wasn’t sure if Wei Zhao’s actions were right or wrong. Touched by her words, Wei Zhao was moved to tears and left without looking back. When Pei Yan heard that Jiang Ci was feeling unwell, he brought her medicine. Rong Yudie stopped him, telling him to focus on preparing for the peace talks, and Pei Yan reluctantly complied.

Lu Yu, stationed in Liangzhou with the Zhenyuan Army, heard about the events at his mansion and took out his anger on his servants and maids, threatening to kill them. The strategist of the Zhenyuan Army, Chun Yu Li, stepped in to plead for mercy, suspecting that someone had planted spies within the mansion, but Lu Yu didn’t care and ordered the execution of everyone.

Chun Yu Li had all the servants and staff thoroughly investigated, discovering that A Jun and A Zheng were affiliated with Lu Yu’s eldest son. Lu Yu’s son was frail and sickly, and Lu Yu didn’t want to pursue the matter further. The Nanfeng Forging Bureau, which had been secretly manufacturing weapons with Lu Yu, sent representatives to request their goods.

The commander of the Zhenyuan Army, Zhang Zicheng, reported to Lu Yu, who ordered the weapons to be shipped out quickly to avoid arousing Xie Che’s suspicion. Lu Yu’s servant, A Yuan, immediately passed this information to Wei Zhao, who came up with a plan to drive a wedge between Pei Yan and Xie Che. On the day Daling and Wei Kingdom signed the treaty, Xie Che was in high spirits.

Wei Zhao suggested that Xie Che take a stroll, and they went to the riverside, where they saw citizens flocking to catch a glimpse of Jian Ding Marquis Pei Yan, attributing all the credit for the peace talks to him and showering him with praise. Xie Che felt uneasy, realizing that Wei Zhao had carefully orchestrated this situation to make him distrust Pei Yan. Pei Yan and Xie Chi arrived by boat, greeted by cheers from the people.

Xie Che was furious and suddenly recalled how suspicious it had been when Xu Jun rescued Teng Rui. He suspected Pei Yan of lying and ordered Wei Zhao to investigate the matter thoroughly. Tao Zizhu sent Jiang Yuan from the Internal Affairs Department to secretly investigate the whereabouts of Zhao Wu’s son, but Jiang Yuan had found no leads and reported back to Tao Zizhu.

On his way to the palace, Wei Zhao encountered Jiang Yuan and Tao Zizhu and disdainfully ordered people to monitor Jiang Yuan’s movements. Rong Yudie, hearing that Tao Zizhu had sent Jiang Yuan to investigate Zhao Wu’s son, grew uneasy and urged Pei Yan to quickly track down the assassins of Prince Qi—Yan Shuangqiao and her sister—to eliminate Xie Che’s suspicions of the Pei family.

Rong Yudie also instructed Pei Yan to erase all traces of Xu Jun and his men’s whereabouts to ensure Xie Che wouldn’t discover anything. She pressured Pei Yan to send Jiang Ci away, warning that keeping her around would jeopardize their grand plan. Meanwhile, Xie Che grew more suspicious and ordered Tao Zizhu to send people to investigate the Pei family in secret in Nanling. Su Yan gave Yan Shuangqiao a large sum of money to help her hide.