Outside the palace gates, Qi Yue’s carriage and Chang Yuncheng’s horse waited quietly nearby. Madam Chen had been persuaded to return last night, replaced by A'ru and A'hao.

Seeing them emerge now, the two girls hurried over from beside the carriage. “Were you frightened?” Qi Yue asked, looking at the two who flanked her sides.

“No, Madam Chen said you’d surely be fine,” A'hao replied, then quickly added, “But we were still worried.” Qi Yue smiled and gently touched the face of the girl, damp from the chill. “Shall we ride?” Chang Yuncheng inquired.

Qi Yue looked ahead. Because it was the Imperial Street, there were almost no pedestrians, and the morning mist was slowly dissipating, making the air quiet and fresh.

“Let’s walk,” she said. Chang Yuncheng nodded and stepped forward first.

Qi Yue walked beside him, while A’ru, A’hao, and Chang Yuncheng’s page trailed a few paces behind. “Since when were you preparing to do this?” Qi Yue asked.

“From the start, I suppose,” Chang Yuncheng replied. He turned, saw Qi Yue glaring, and couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to touch her face.

He was mimicking her earlier gesture. Qi Yue snorted and turned her head away.

“It was something uncertain, so I didn’t want to tell you, lest you worry too much,” Chang Yuncheng explained. “I told you, do whatever you want to do; I’ll handle everything else.” Qi Yue snorted again.

Chang Yuncheng laughed and reached out to pinch her cheek again. Qi Yue raised her hand to swat his, but Chang Yuncheng smoothly caught it.

She struggled a few times but couldn’t break free. “I also didn’t expect them to execute it so well, and so promptly,” Chang Yuncheng continued.

Qi Yue struggled twice more before letting him hold her hand. “Neither did I,” she murmured.

“I didn’t expect so many people to be this kind to me. It seems that as long as one is willing to act, there will always be results.” Chang Yuncheng said nothing, only gripping her hand tighter.

The two strolled slowly along the street. The fragrant steam rising from the hot bamboo shoot and pork noodles billowed white, the aroma rich and pervasive.

“It’s hot, slow down,” Chang Yuncheng cautioned, watching Qi Yue eagerly dipping her chopsticks opposite him. Qi Yue grunted twice, still scooping up large mouthfuls, giving a thumbs-up between bites.

“Delicious, delicious,” she mumbled around her food. Chang Yuncheng chuckled, amused by her, and passed her a sesame flatbread from the side.

“Try this,” he suggested. Busy with her noodles, Qi Yue leaned slightly to bite a piece from his hand.

“Mm-hmm,” she nodded vaguely again. “Are you that hungry?” Chang Yuncheng laughed, breaking off a smaller piece of the flatbread.

“I haven’t eaten a proper meal since arriving in the capital,” Qi Yue explained, opening her mouth again to take the small piece he offered, chewing vigorously. “So now you can eat properly?” Chang Yuncheng asked with a smile.

Qi Yue snorted. “Isn’t this piece you broke off a bit too large?” she frowned, remarking.

Chang Yuncheng looked down at the piece in his hand. “Oh?

A bit big?” He feigned confusion, then gave a sheepish smile. “When I used to feed Little Blackie, it was always this size…” Qi Yue froze for a moment.

“Pah!” Realizing, she threw down her chopsticks and lunged, grabbing Chang Yuncheng’s arm. “Would your Little Blackie ever treat you like that!” She bared her teeth, looking ready to bite his arm.

Laughter broke out under the covered awning on the street. This laughter made A’ru and A’hao, seated nearby, exchange a glance and suppress smiles, both lowering their heads to slurp their noodles, mouths full of broth.

But at this moment, many others were the opposite—unable to eat. “My Lord, My Lord, this is terrible!

We don’t know what was sent, but it actually made Zhou Maochun arrogant again!” Dong Lin said, his eyes bloodshot. Zhou Maochun’s affair yesterday had drawn attention from many quarters, and coupled with his dramatic journey to the prison, most people knew about this major event by now.

All focus was fixed on that box of memorials. What exactly was in it?

Originally, they assumed the military inspector had sent it, but upon inquiry, the inspector knew nothing; it turned out Chang Yuncheng had submitted it privately. “According to messages from the palace, His Majesty read it all night,” Dong Lin whispered.

He had spent a considerable sum of silver just to get this piece of news; as for the contents of the memorials, perhaps no amount of money could uncover that. Physician Cai’s expression was also grim; this turn of events was clearly unexpected for him.

“Could it be that they obtained leverage over everyone? Does that heir to the Marquis of Dingxi possess some unsavory methods?” he murmured.

That seemed highly probable. Dong Lin’s face was equally gloomy.

“So what do we do now?” he asked. “It looks like Zhou Maochun will escape this time.” Truly unwilling to accept it!

Such a perfect opportunity! With the right timing, the right place, and the right people, they failed to crush them in one go.

“It’s not certain yet,” Physician Cai snapped a brush pen in half. “Isn’t Zhou Maochun still courting trouble?

Let him make a fuss, spread the word. The bigger the ruckus, the wider it spreads, the more he disgraces His Majesty.” Dong Lin’s eyes lit up, and he nodded.

In this realm, anyone who dared to embarrass the Emperor never ended well. This thought wasn't unique to them.

After a simple bowl of noodles, Qi Yue and Chang Yuncheng hurried towards the Ministry of Justice prison. Upon arrival, the officials, high and low, were tearing their hair out in frustration.

“Is this a prison cell? Do prisoners live this well?” Zhou Maochun was still raging inside.

“Don’t worry, old man, I can endure hardship; I’m someone who returned from Mobei in a prisoner’s cart…” You returned in a prisoner’s cart, true, but your prisoner’s cart was more comfortable than a carriage… The officials shook their heads helplessly. “…Stop with the niceties; get real!

Tear all this stuff down, and bring me a set of your torture implements to try!” The officials sweated, on the verge of tears. You gods fight, we humble ghosts suffer—why take it out on us!

Qi Yue found the situation both funny and frustrating. “Godfather, stop causing trouble.

That’s enough. We are people who reason things out; we don’t engage in verbal warfare,” she tried to persuade him.

Zhou Maochun sat on the pile of straw he had just secured, enthusiastically plucking a strand to chew. “Enough?

Far from it!” he spat, pointing at himself. “Zhou Maochun has lived this long, and this is the first time I’ve suffered like this.

This matter won't end so easily.” Suffer? Comfortably riding in a prisoner’s cart, eating and drinking well all the way back, then being welcomed home like a deity without even entering the prison gates, escaping any punishment from the Emperor, and immediately turning the situation around.

This was suffering? The surrounding officials once again wanted to cry but had no tears left.

“Our documents have been submitted now; His Majesty will surely make a decision,” Qi Yue said, crouching outside the cell door. “Doing this...

it doesn't look good.” Zhou Maochun understood her meaning, smiled, and leaned back onto the dry straw. “Good or not, what does it matter?” he shook his head and kicked his legs.

“ Yue Niang, don't worry about it. Your father has his own way of handling things.” Qi Yue couldn't argue.

At this moment, Old Physician An, having heard the news, also arrived. Qi Yue quickly asked Old Physician An to persuade Zhou Maochun, but upon seeing Zhou Maochun emerging, the physician instead urged them to leave.

“Don’t worry, everything is fine,” he assured them. “How can I not worry!” Qi Yue managed a bitter smile.

“What else are you planning? Are you hiding things from me?” Old Physician An burst into laughter.

“We aren’t hiding anything this time; it’s just that your godfather truly cannot swallow this insult,” he chuckled. “Elder Sir, it is precisely because he cannot swallow this insult that he shouldn't be acting this way,” Qi Yue urged anxiously.

Old Physician An merely smiled and shook his head. “Let’s wait and see.

Once His Majesty has reviewed those documents, a decision will be made,” he said. Hoping it wouldn't be too late by then, Qi Yue had no choice but to leave the prison with them.

Old Physician An was in high spirits and insisted on inviting them to lunch. “It’s been many years since I visited the capital,” he remarked.

“Everything has changed; I barely recognize it.” Chang Yuncheng stopped the carriage. “Then the Elder Sir must recognize Xichun Tower,” he said with a smile.

Old Physician An was helped from the carriage by the page and stared at the restaurant before him, letting out a long breath. “The appearance hasn't changed; I wonder if the taste of the food has?” he asked.

“Whether it’s changed or not, we’ll know once we try,” Chang Yuncheng replied with a smile, personally pushing the wheelchair. Qi Yue followed.

Just as they entered, they ran into a group of people coming out. The two parties met head-on, and suddenly, that group stopped.

“Oh my, look who’s here,” a sharp, thin voice called out. The three of them turned to look at the group.

Old Physician An’s face suddenly paled. It was a group of young men, richly dressed, but their expressions toward Old Physician An were decidedly hostile.

“Tsk, tsk, you old white-hair, you actually dare to come to the capital?” one of them shouted. Enemies?

Qi Yue frowned. Old Physician An lowered his head and said nothing.

Chang Yuncheng pushed the wheelchair forward. “You old scoundrel, you dare show your face in the capital!” “Don’t leave!

Since you’re here, hurry up and kneel and kowtow to your grandfathers!” The young men surrounded them, clamoring loudly. “Excuse us,” Chang Yuncheng spoke, his tone flat, without any extra words.

“What are you…” one young man started to challenge, raising his eyebrow, but another pulled him back. He glanced at Chang Yuncheng and whispered a few words in his ear.

“From the old Chang family, are you,” the young man said with a touch of realization, then looked at Old Physician An again. “Consider yourself lucky this time, old fellow!” With that, he turned and left.

The others dispersed as well, though each one spat on the ground. “Old thing, don't let us see you again,” they called out before leaving in a rush.

Throughout the encounter, Old Physician An remained calm. After the group left, he smiled and nodded to Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue.

“I apologize for startling you,” he said kindly. Qi Yue cheerfully steered the conversation elsewhere.

Only after finishing lunch and bidding farewell did she take Chang Yuncheng’s arm and ask. “Those were people from the Wang family, the Sima of Julu,” Chang Yuncheng explained.

Qi Yue suddenly understood. So this was the Sima Wang family, the family that caused Old Physician An to lose both his legs.

They certainly lived up to their arrogance! “What kind of King is this Sima Wang?” she couldn't help but ask.

“The Sima King’s surname is Sima. They are old ministers who followed the founding Emperor, married the eldest princess, and were granted a title as a non-blood relative King—the King of Julu.

But people often refer to them as the Sima Wang,” Chang Yuncheng explained. To be enfeoffed as a King outside the imperial line showed their status was extraordinary.

Qi Yue let out a breath and glanced in the direction Old Physician An had departed. If it hadn't been for her, the old man probably wouldn't have stepped foot in the capital again in his lifetime, nor suffered such humiliation.

The Sima Wang family—the family for whom Old Physician An had to pay with both legs as atonement because he failed to cure a child they brought to him when no one else would treat them. Qi Yue repeated the details silently in her mind.

Wow, finally adjusted to the morning update schedule! RS