My father ordered me to kill the emperor, but His Majesty bestowed a princess upon me instead.

Golden-lined crane.

As soon as those three words were uttered, everyone in the room fell silent.

It's not because everyone knows who it's referring to.

It's because everyone knows that these three words shouldn't be used to refer to anyone casually.

The Ministry of Works is already in enough trouble.

Qian Rong was a third-rank official, and his authority was like a millstone.

But the Chinese Bookstore is different.

The Ministry of Works was in charge of engineering projects, stone materials, waterways, and warehouses.

The Secretariat was in charge of the court's brains.

You can suspect that someone in the Ministry of Works is embezzling silver, which at most makes the case a bit big; but if you suspect that someone in the Secretariat is auditing accounts, then it's not a matter of how big the case is.

That shows the imperial court has lost its mind.

Zhao Guanlan's face was very grim.

He looked at the old physician and asked, "Can Liu Laoqi ask any more questions?"

The old physician shook his head.

"No. The last breath he took when he woke up was from the medication. If you ask him any more questions, he'll die."

Zhao Guanlan remained silent.

I looked at Liu Laoqi on the couch.

He fainted again, his face ashen, with only a slight rise and fall in his chest.

The medicine sent from the princess's residence kept him alive.

But it's just hanging.

Like a thin thread tying a stone that's about to fall into a well.

When it ends is not up to us.

Ah Liu stood to the side and whispered, "Young Master, is Jin Xianhe Lord Pei?"

I glanced at him.

Ah Liu immediately covered his mouth.

late.

Everyone inside the room heard it.

Zhao Guanlan frowned.

"Don't say things like that."

Ah Liu turned pale with fright.

"You have a sharp tongue."

I said, "You're not the only one who thinks that way."

I can too.

Pei Shen.

Vice Minister of the Secretariat.

Gentle, polite, dangerous.

When he first met me in the palace, it was as if he knew the Yongning case involved more than just the Ministry of Works. After that, every time he spoke to me, it was a mix of reminders and threats.

Most importantly, I remember that he did have fine lines on his cuffs.

I only glanced at it then; it looked like a crane, and also like a cloud.

But precisely because we remember, we must not rush to make a conclusion.

As the case has progressed, too many people have been giving me "just right" leads.

The small stone happened to point towards the ironworks.

The ironworks happened to have a note.

The note pointed directly to Ci'en Temple.

Ci'en Temple happened to give me the key to the old warehouse in the south of the city.

The old warehouse happened to burn out "money stamps".

The sign on the cart read "Qian Mansion".

Now Liu Laoqi is talking about the golden crane again.

You can check every step.

Every step I took felt like someone was leading me by the nose.

If I were to bite Pei Shen upon seeing a golden crane, it would be no different from breaking into Qian Rong's mansion at night upon seeing the blood-written words at the Qian residence.

They all think they're too old to live.

Zhao Guanlan clearly thought so too.

He said in a deep voice, "The golden crane is not an official design."

I was taken aback.

"Does the master know?"

Zhao Guanlan said, "Court robes, official robes, and rank badges all have regulations. Crane patterns exist, but they are not used in this way. The gold thread embroidered cranes on the cuffs look more like a privately made item."

"Privately made?"

"Some officials are particular and will have the embroidery workshop embroider marks in hidden places on the lining, cuffs, and boots. Outsiders can't see them, but they know them."

I understand.

Just like the paper hidden in the sole of my shoe.

They're just hiding it in a dignified way.

"Can you find out which embroidery workshop it is?"

Zhao Guanlan looked at me.

There are no fewer than a hundred embroidery workshops in the capital.

"What about those that specialize in making fingerprints for officials?"

"Not a small number either."

"What about the six fingers on your left hand?"

Zhao Guanlan paused for a moment.

"That's easy to check."

indeed.

Golden-thread cranes are difficult to find.

Having six fingers isn't difficult.

A person who wears official boots, can allocate funds from the Ministry of Works' treasury, can command men in gray, has gold-threaded cranes on his cuffs, and has six fingers on his left hand, could not possibly remain completely undetected, no matter how well he hides himself.

The problem is, who dares to investigate?

As I was thinking this, another bailiff came in from outside the door, his face even worse than before.

"Lord Zhao, someone from the palace has arrived."

My heart skipped a beat.

Has Qian Rong's impeachment petition arrived?

Zhao Guanlan asked, "Who?"

"The eunuch beside Eunuch Wei said that His Majesty had issued an edict asking if Lord Shen was still able to move around today."

Several people in the room were looking at me at the same time.

I suddenly realized that the emperor's words were quite insightful.

They didn't ask me if I was guilty.

They didn't ask me if I was investigating a case.

First, they asked me if I could still walk.

The meaning is quite clear.

If you can walk, go to the palace.

If they can't walk, we'll have to carry them there.

Ah Liu looked worried.

"Young master, are you still able to walk?"

I thought about it.

"cannot."

Ah Liu's eyes lit up.

I added, "But even if it's not possible, it has to be."

Ah Liu's eyes darkened again.

Zhao Guanlan looked at me and said in a low voice, "Qian Rong's memorial should have already entered the palace."

I nodded.

"Surpassed my expectations."

"You made such a scene last night, it would be strange if he wasn't upset."

"Has His Majesty summoned me to protect me, or to interrogate me?"

Zhao Guanlan said, "Anything is possible."

That's as good as saying nothing at all.

But I like this kind of unspoken statement.

It's more reliable than nonsense like "His Majesty will definitely protect you."

I asked, "What should we do about Liu Laoqi?"

Zhao Guanlan said in a deep voice, "Leave it in the Censorate. No one may take it away without my permission."

"What if the palace also needs people?"

Zhao Guanlan looked at me.

He did not answer the question immediately.

Because if it really comes to that, he won't be able to stop it.

When the emperor wants someone, no one can stop him.

I suddenly felt it was absurd.

I am here on my father's orders to kill the emperor.

Now he wants to go to the palace and beg the emperor not to let a coachman die.

Fate can really take unexpected turns.

I let Ah Liu stay.

This time he didn't bother me anymore.

It was probably because Liu Laoqi was lying there that he finally realized that staying still in some places was more important than running with me.

"Remember," I whispered, "the old physician will examine everything that's brought in first. No one is allowed to touch Liu Laoqi without Lord Zhao's personal approval."

Ah Liu nodded.

"Rest assured, young master."

What if someone tries to force their way in?

A-Liu looked at Zhao Guanlan.

Zhao Guanlan said, "The Censorate hasn't been abolished to that extent."

I was slightly relieved.

When I left the Censorate, Qiu Tang was no longer there.

But the doorman handed me a small paper package, saying that it had just been delivered by a flower girl.

I opened it and took a look.

There are no flowers inside.

It was a section of blue silk thread.

Half a crane is embroidered on the silk thread.

Gold thread.

There's another piece of paper.

The words remained calm.

Golden Thread Crane, Crane Pattern Studio.

Eleven years ago, I made sleeve linings for the ladies-in-waiting in the late Empress's palace.

In recent years, it has been changed to a private system by some officials of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Rites.

They investigated the person, but not Pei.

Speak less when you enter the palace.

I stared at the last five words and fell silent.

They investigated the person, but not Pei.

Xiao Lingyi also thought of Pei Shen.

But she was more clear-headed than Ah Liu.

Pei Shen cannot be investigated at this time.

At the very least, it cannot be openly investigated.

If Pei Shenruo is truly in the net, he won't be Manager Tao, Manager Zhou, or even a superficial big fish like Qian Rong.

He's more like a gatekeeper.

If you rush towards him, you might not be able to break through the door; you might just kill yourself first.

Yan Xiaoyi leaned over and took a look.

"Written by the princess?"

I put the paper away.

"Written by the flower girl."

He gave a lazy "oh".

"The flower seller's name is quite nice."

I look at him.

Aren't you going to ask?

"I won't ask."

Why?

"Knowing too much makes it difficult to protect."

That makes sense.

Before entering the palace, I did not rush to get into the carriage.

Instead, he went to a tea stall outside the Censorate.

The tea stall owner was dozing off when I woke him up, and he looked completely bewildered.

I asked, "Which embroidery workshop in the capital is best at embroidering cranes?"

He was stunned.

"Is Your Excellency buying embroidery for Your Majesty?"

Yan Xiaoyi coughed beside him.

I said, "You could say that."

The tea stall owner immediately perked up.

"That depends on whether you want overt or covert embroidery. For overt embroidery, go to Jinxiufang; young ladies and ladies all like it. For covert embroidery, go to Hewenzhai. That shop has a long history of craftsmanship and specializes in covert patterns for officials."

"What are the dark patterns?"

The boss looked around and lowered his voice.

"It refers to places like the lining of clothing, the cuffs, and the inner lining of boots, which outsiders cannot see, but the important person knows about them. It's for the sake of elegance, and also for the sake of a mark."

Where is Hewenzhai?

"North of Anren Bridge, not far from the Central Secretariat."

A thought struck me.

North of Anren Bridge.

Last night, the Dingche (a type of cart) went to the inner city, passing in the direction of Anren Bridge.

I then asked, "What's the shopkeeper's surname?"

"His surname is Bai, and he is Bai Laoxiu. I heard that he worked as an embroiderer in the palace when he was young, and later he left the palace and opened Hewenzhai."

An embroiderer from the palace.

A female official in the late empress's palace.

Officials of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Rites privately created this document.

The thread got tangled again.

I dropped a copper coin.

The tea stall owner hurriedly said, "Sir, you haven't had your tea yet."

"I'll reward you for waking you up."

He looked deeply moved.

I actually want someone to wake me up.

Yan Xiaoyi looked at me.

"Shall we go to Hewenzhai now?"

I glanced in the direction where the young eunuch from the palace was.

The young eunuch was practically bulging his eyes out from waiting.

"I'm not going."

"Then you ask?"

"Knowing the way makes me feel at ease."

"Aren't you afraid Hewenzhai will run away?"

"They can't escape."

Why?

"An old embroidery workshop that can make subtle patterns for officials of the Secretariat and the Ministry of Rites won't just disappear. If it suddenly closes down, it will only draw more attention to itself."

Yan Xiaoyi thought for a moment.

That makes sense.

I said, "But others have to take a look first."

"Who?"

I looked at him.

Yan Xiaoyi immediately took half a step back.

"I'm not going."

"Aren't you sleepy?"

"Being tired and running errands are two different things."

"You are ordered to protect me."

"I'll protect you, not the embroidery workshop."

Just as I was about to speak, a familiar face suddenly ran towards me from a distance.

Luo Wanqian.

He's a local informant I got in touch with a few days ago through Manager Chen, but I haven't really used him much yet.

He's short, has small eyes, and runs like he's carrying someone else's money.

He came up to me, panting, and bowed.

"Lord Shen, finding this person is really difficult for you."

I frowned.

"You were looking for me?"

"Someone asked me to pass on a message to you."

"Who?"

Luo Wanqian grinned.

"This will cost extra."

Yan Xiaoyi looked up at him.

Luo Wanqian immediately changed his tune.

"I don't need the money. My life is more important."

I said, "Speak."

Luo Wanqian lowered his voice.

"Hewenzhai was not open this morning."

My heart sank.

They just said they wouldn't suddenly close the door.

It shut down.

I looked at Luo Wanqian.

How did you know I was at Cha Hewenzhai?

Luo Wanqian immediately raised his hand.

"It's not that I know, it's that others know. I only sell information, not my life."

"Who gave you permission to send this?"

"A person in a gray robe."

Gray robe.

The person holding the tent at the bell tower of Ci'en Temple?

Is he still alive?

I asked, "Where is he?"

"I don't know," Luo Wanqian said. "He gave me two taels of silver and told me to say one sentence to Lord Shen when I saw him."

"What did you say?"

Luo Wanqian's expression suddenly became more serious.

He said, "Don't go to Hewenzhai."

I frowned.

"Not going?"

Luo Wanqian nodded.

He said that the people waiting at Hewenzhai were not embroiderers, but people from the Ministry of Justice.

Ministry of Justice?

Even Yan Xiaoyi opened his eyes at this moment.

After the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Treasury, and the Secretariat, has the Ministry of Justice also set its sights on this?

Before I could ask any more questions, the palace eunuch finally couldn't help but step forward.

"Lord Shen, His Majesty is still waiting."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the urging of someone from the palace.

I looked at him.

I looked in the direction of Anren Bridge again.

One was an audience with the emperor.

One is Hewenzhai, which suddenly closed its doors.

Two pitfalls were laid out before me at the same time.

If Ah Liu were here, he would probably suggest I go back to the mansion to sleep.

Unfortunately, he wasn't there.

I can only figure it out myself.

A moment later, I said to Yan Xiaoyi, "Go to Hewenzhai."

Yan Xiaoyi frowned: "You're going to the palace?"

"Um."

"What if you die in the palace?"

"Then you don't need to protect her anymore."

He paused for a moment.

"That sounds like a pretty good deal."

I handed him the piece of gold-threaded crane silk.

"Don't go in yet. Check the door first. See who's there, who's coming in and out, and especially see if there's anyone with six fingers on their left hand."

Yan Xiaoyi took the silk thread.

"And what about you?"

I looked towards the direction of the imperial city.

"Go see the person who used me as bait."

The young eunuch breathed a sigh of relief.

I boarded the palace carriage.

As the carriage curtain fell, I suddenly felt my eyelids become incredibly heavy.

Having not slept all night and having drunk Qian Rong's bitter tea, he now has to go see the emperor.

If I told my dad about this, he would probably be very pleased.

Because I am indeed getting closer and closer to becoming the emperor.

But it seems that killing him is getting further and further away.

The wheels are rolling.

The imperial city is getting closer.

I had half a seal of the Imperial Treasury hidden in my sleeve, Qian Rong's name card in my pocket, and my mind was filled with thoughts of Six Fingers, Golden Crane, Crane Pattern Studio, and the Ministry of Justice.

Inside the palace gates, Xiao Jingheng was waiting for me.

I suddenly remembered what he said when we first met.

Of all the officials in the court, I only trust you.

Now I really want to ask him.

Your Majesty, please believe me.

Who can I trust then?