As the sky began to lighten, Elder Li entered the palace duty office. Two officials immediately rose to offer their respects, eagerly topping up his tea and water, while Li Tong handed him a hand warmer.

Elder Li showed him no excessive warmth, treating him as he did any other official, and sat down, leaning back against the chair to close his eyes and rest.

The room fell into absolute silence.

After what felt like a long time, footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Sir, His Majesty wishes to review the memorials."

A soft, almost effeminate voice delivered the message.

Li Tong, who was pouring tea nearby, paused slightly.

The other two officials were already smilingly opening the door, engaging the red-robed eunuch in warm conversation. Both parties understood the unspoken cue, and instead of entering, they closed the door.

Only the grandfather and grandson remained in the room.

"Send them in," Elder Li commanded.

Li Tong's expression showed a flicker of worry, his gaze drawn to the pile of memorials stacked nearby.

"Sir, they have already been dispatched by fast horse. Perhaps we should wait two more days? Lord Zhou will surely send a reply by then," he murmured quietly, unable to restrain himself.

Elder Li opened his eyes and shook his head.

"Don't you know His Majesty's temper?" he asked with a hint of severity.

Li Tong certainly knew. He gritted his teeth.

"But these impeachment memorials are slanderous. Mistress Qi would never do such a thing…" he began, unable to stop himself.

Before he could finish, a sharp thud interrupted him.

The cheerful chatter of the officials and the eunuch outside also ceased momentarily, but quickly resumed as if nothing had happened.

Li Tong lowered his head.

"Whether it is slander or not is not for you to say. Don't forget, you are just a minor duty officer. Even the Grand Secretariat wouldn't dare speak up about such impeachment memorials. I think you've been so favored and smooth sailing that you've forgotten who you are," Elder Li stated in a deep voice.

"It is precisely because of this smooth sailing that your grandson remembers who he is," Li Tong replied, keeping his head bowed.

Elder Li looked at him, a hint of helplessness in his gaze.

He naturally understood Li Tong's meaning. To the court officials, a petty squabble within the Imperial Medical Academy was utterly insignificant, especially when it was tainted with the label of making a mockery of the military. Who would deliberately invite trouble now?

"This time, the target is primarily Zhou Maochun. Mistress Qi and the others hold no official rank; at most, they will receive a reprimand. Nothing major will come of it," Elder Li reminded him, shaking his head.

Li Tong remained silent, lips firmly closed.

This boy is too straightforward for an officialdom that values nuance and flexibility. He might not be suited for this life. Perhaps the downfall of the Li family will very likely originate from him. Elder Li narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Go now. Fortune favors the worthy. Isn't that Mistress Qi a divine physician? Since she is divine, she will naturally turn misfortune into fortune," he said lightly.

With that, he slowly picked up the hand warmer again. "Don't try to be too clever; you'll only complicate matters. Do you think His Majesty doesn't know?" Li Tong felt an involuntary shudder.

When Li Tong entered with two eunuchs carrying the memorials, the Emperor was reclining on the Dragon Bed, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing them enter, he raised his gaze.

"So many at once. Do you think I am too idle?" he remarked nonchalantly.

If it were before, Li Tong wouldn't have found any fault with the words, but after Elder Li’s warning, his heart began to pound. Does His Majesty mean the memorials have piled up too much? His Majesty knows they were accumulated... He dared not speak, bowing his head as he arranged the memorials on the imperial desk.

The Emperor did not rise. He reached out a hand, snatched one, and began to read it slowly.

Silence filled the room; the attending staff stood cautiously. The Emperor's mood had been poor lately, his temper growing increasingly volatile. Several people had already suffered for it.

The only sound echoing was the thwack as the Emperor finished a memorial and tossed it aside onto the floor. Though silent, everyone's nerves were strung tight, as the sound of the Emperor discarding memorials grew louder, pulling their tension ever higher. Finally, with a resounding smack, one memorial was flung out viciously, landing at Li Tong's feet.

The eunuchs immediately dropped to their knees with a plop; Li Tong also bent low from the waist.

"I see no need to wait for that old man to write any rebuttal memorials. Send word for him to roll over here himself," the Emperor's voice descended coldly from above.

The Emperor knew after all! Li Tong’s legs weakened, and he knelt down.

"He is old; his legs might be inconvenient. Send someone to escort him back," the Emperor continued.

Escort did not mean true service! Sweat poured down Li Tong's face, and he was about to speak.

"And you—weren't you anxious?" the Emperor said coldly. "I permit you to go to the city gate to meet them, lest you grow impatient waiting."

Dong Lin had been closely monitoring the palace gates. Five days had passed since the memorials were submitted, yet there had been no movement. He suspected foul play.

"Sir, Mistress Qi is a life-saver to the Li family. Sending the memorials through the Grand Secretariat will surely be inconvenient and will definitely tip off the other side..." Dong Lin couldn't hold back.

Physician Cai looked on calmly.

"That is precisely why these memorials were sent to the Grand Secretariat," he stated.

Dong Lin was confused.

"In this world, people who value loyalty and righteousness are rare. The more, the better," Physician Cai remarked with a slight smile, a hint of emotion in his tone.

Dong Lin became even more bewildered. But now he understood. Watching a squad of factory guards charge out like hungry wolves, their path set toward the northwest, and then seeing the Li family's miraculously favored illegitimate son dressed as a city gate clerk as they passed the main gate, Dong Lin felt an overwhelming urge to laugh aloud. If a person is determined to seek death, even the King of Hell cannot stop them.

In front of a solitary grave on the outskirts of the city, Dong Lin arranged wine and food, then sat down himself, first pouring a cup of wine before the tomb.

"Master, oh Master," he sighed heavily, looking at the tombstone before him.

The simple white jade stele bore only the three characters Meng Xianglin carved onto it, with the names Liu Pucheng and Dong Lin inscribed side-by-side at the bottom corner.

"You insisted on driving me away back then, claiming I was more of a hindrance than a help. You disregarded the years I served you diligently as a filial son and grandson, being utterly ruthless and heartless to push me out of the capital, yet you recommended Liu Pucheng to stay in the Imperial Medical Academy. Tell me, how has he done better than I? I truly feel heartbroken." Dong Lin spoke to the tombstone, pouring another cup of wine. "You wanted me to temper my medical skills, lest I disgrace the sect's name in the future. Look now. Who is more of a hindrance than a help, and who is actually preserving the sect's reputation?"

He finished the wine in one gulp, his face alight with satisfaction, and poured another cup.

"You said the capital is full of strife, that the honest Liu Pucheng would find peace, and that my slick nature would invite disaster," he continued, lifting the cup toward the tombstone and shaking his head with mocking disdain. "Master, you were utterly mistaken. Liu Pucheng has fled outside the capital, yet disaster has still found him. And here I am in the capital, on the verge of becoming a medical administrator. Do you feel like gouging out your own eyes?" He burst into laughter, then paused as he tilted the cup, stopping halfway and looking at the liquid remaining.

"Master, the wine I brought, I imagine you wouldn't care for it. How about this: when my senior brother joins you below, I will have him bring plenty of wine so you two masters and disciples can drink to your hearts' content." He laughed loudly and drained the rest of the wine.

Meanwhile, in Zhangye Guard City, Zhou Maochun was savoring a cup of wine contentedly.

The door burst open with a thump. Qi Yue rushed in, wrapped in a biting chill.

"Ah, daughter! You've returned just in time! Quickly go to the kitchen and whip up a couple of side dishes to go with this wine!" he said happily.

Qi Yue had ridden back with Chang Yuncheng due to the urgency. Although protected by a cloak and hood, it couldn't fully ward off the fierce cold of the Northwest. The wind had chafed her face so badly she could barely speak for a moment.

"Where is Chang Yuncheng? Don't let that boy in to eat if he came! Dare he secretly entice you to cook for him..." Zhou Maochun was still talking, glancing behind Qi Yue.

"He went to the General's Residence to see if he can stop those people and if the memorials can still be intercepted in time," Qi Yue said, rubbing her face. "Father, how could you not say anything about such a major event? Why aren't you leaving quickly? Even if you can't go back, you should at least write a status report. Why are you still drinking here..."

Zhou Maochun just chuckled at her.

"You already know? Good news travels slowly, bad news travels a thousand miles."

Qi Yue couldn't find it funny. Although the fighting had stopped, the treatment for the wounded was still uncertain. She had poured her heart and soul into caring for them, determined to show the miracle to Qiao Minghua and the others. When Zhou Maochun left for the Guard City, she hadn't paid much attention, assuming he had just lost interest after a few days of novelty. Only now, hearing it from Chang Yuncheng, did she realize he had stirred up major trouble.

How could tending the wounded be considered trouble? Even though the scope of care was limited and the medical efforts were practically ignored in the war reports, they still deserved credit for their hard work! How did it turn into disaster and impeachment?

"It's my fault for implicating you," Chang Yuncheng said apologetically. "The Eastern Nomads attacked fiercely this time. Although the main army was held off, the losses were devastating—the worst in many years. It's understandable that the court is furious."

When there are no issues, there are no issues. When there are issues, everything becomes an issue. This was clearly someone deliberately exploiting the situation. Qi Yue understood and sighed.

"I don't know whether it was you or me who offended someone," she muttered, sitting down and taking the wine jug herself.

"It was definitely me," Zhou Maochun laughed. "A talent as exceptionally clever as mine is rare in the world; it would be strange if I didn't attract envy."

Qi Yue, raising the jug to drink, choked after just one sip. She couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Jokes like that aren't funny at all right now," she managed with a strained smile.

Funny or not, the contingent from the capital arrived, bringing a storm in their wake. Instantly, all the various forces in the Northern Desert became jumpy and fearful. No one dared speak up for Zhou Maochun, and no one dared even visit. This was in stark contrast to the fawning attention he received when he first arrived.

The most egregious act was the arrival of a prisoner cart. Qi Yue was furious, alarmed, and enraged.

"He hasn't even been convicted yet! He is so old, and you force him to ride in a prison cart!"

The factory guards showed no kindness to this woman; even the Gansu General wouldn't dare speak loudly in their presence.

"This is His Majesty's decree," they stated coldly.

Qi Yue wanted to protest further, but Zhou Maochun was already cheerfully climbing inside.

"I've ridden in all sorts of vehicles; I've never experienced this one," he quipped.

This filled Qi Yue with both heartache and agitation. She immediately tried to climb in after him, but Chang Yuncheng stopped her. The factory guards grinned.

"Madam, don't worry. For now, you must make do with following alongside the cart. Once you reach the capital and your charges are decided, you will have time to sit," they said with amusement. Everything was about seniority; this was no exception. They would deal with the principal offender first before attending to the lesser ones like them.

As they spoke, Chang Yuncheng's personal guards rushed in.

"Sir, everything is prepared; we can depart immediately," they reported.

Everyone looked at Chang Yuncheng in surprise. The garrison commander, who had been hiding away, also stepped out and tugged at Chang Yuncheng's sleeve.

"Don't be reckless! Without His Majesty's order, how can you go to the capital? We dare not seek merit now, only to avoid mistakes. You mustn't provoke His Majesty," he advised in a low voice.

Chang Yuncheng merely smiled.

"Isn't it said that relatives shield each other? My father-in-law and my wife are entering the capital under suspicion; naturally, I must accompany them," he stated.

This declaration surprised everyone present, except for Qi Yue. Even without prior discussion, she knew Chang Yuncheng would do this.

The garrison commander stamped his foot. At a time like this, beauty was a weapon capable of killing! She wasn't even a proper wife; they should be running away from her, not actively seeking her company. Chang Yuncheng simply smiled faintly and remained silent.

"Dream on! Who said you could call him father-in-law!" Zhou Maochun spat out dismissively.

The factory guards dropped their expressions of surprise and resumed their indifferent demeanor.

"In that case, General, do as you please," they said, wasting no more words, and turned to direct their men to set off.

Just as they reached the door, another group rushed over—it was Liu Pucheng and the disciples of the Hall of a Thousand Gold. Seeing them arrive, Qi Yue shook her head and sighed, knowing there was no point in saying more.

"The carriages and horses are ready, and everything is packed," Hu San said, gesturing toward the four carriages behind him.

"We left enough medicine for the army doctors; Master can rest assured," Zhang Tong added.

Liu Pucheng merely nodded, saying nothing. Qi Yue sighed and said, "Good."

The factory guards smiled and also said, "Good. It saves us from making a second trip. Let's all leave together."

Because of the large number of people, the procession looked lively as it moved through the streets. However, this time there were no onlookers, nor were there officials to see them off. Wherever they passed, figures were scarce, and doors remained shut. If Qi Yue and the others weren't familiar with the area, they might have thought they were passing through a deserted city.

Watching this column shrink into a black dot on the distant road, Qiao Minghua, who had been standing on the earthen mound for an unknown time, finally retracted his gaze and moved his stiff limbs.

"Master, why put yourself through this? You never interacted much with them before," one disciple said, sounding anxious and constantly glancing around with vigilance. "Everyone is hiding now for fear of implication. Why did you still come to see them off? Mistress Qi and the others are certainly headed for disaster. Even though we didn't step forward, if someone maliciously reports us, we'll be in trouble."

Qiao Minghua revealed his signature cold sneer.

"Disaster?" he scoffed. "How can people like that suffer disaster? Ridiculous."

With that, he turned and walked away. What kind of people? Why couldn't they suffer? The disciple was utterly confused and quickly followed him.

Interlude, a bit stuck, I wrote slowly, everyone can put it aside for now.