Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

This time when he returned home, he did not smash anything.

He locked himself in his study, sat amidst the calligraphy and paintings covering the walls, and took out the jade wine bottle he always carried with him from his pocket.

I uncorked the kettle and drank from the spout, sip by sip.

The wine dripped down his chin, wetting his collar, but he didn't wipe it away.

He drank from day to night, and from night to day.

Outside the window, the lights of Kyoto twinkled, and among those lights, how many people were discussing whether his destiny was a lie?

How many people laughed at his face, only to be trampled into the mud.

He listened to the faint sounds of the bustling city in the wind, downed the wine in the jug in one gulp, and then slowly grinned.

That was a laugh that was completely different from before.

No longer gentle, no longer composed, no longer flawless.

It was a cornered beast, stripped of its disguise, its dignity trampled away, its fangs bared in the darkness.

He laughed for a while, then suddenly stood up.

He took down the sword he hadn't touched in a long time from the wall, drew the blade, and slammed it hard onto the table.

The table snapped in two, scattering ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones all over the floor.

He stood amidst the mess, staring at the sword that gleamed with a cold light.

A frantic, final, and desperate resolve surged in his eyes.

He knew the emperor would not give him another chance.

Xiao Fang will not let him go.

The entire court will no longer support him.

But he has one last move.

Armaments! As long as that batch of armaments is still there, as long as the Qin family can still be dragged into this, as long as the plan can continue.

He hasn't lost yet!

The Wing King raised his head, looked at the sky outside the window that was gradually turning white, and sheathed his sword.

His fingers slowly traced the patterns on the scabbard, and a somber calm returned to his face.

Xiao Fang, do you think you've won?

When news of the former residence of the Duke of Zhenguo secretly storing military equipment reached the Censorate, Xiao Fang was reviewing daily reports submitted from various parts of the capital.

Mingrui compiled Yun Shuwen's confession into a booklet and placed it on Xiao Fang's desk along with the crookedly signed document.

After reading it, Xiao Fang put the booklet on the table and sent someone to fetch two people.

Lu Zhao, the heir apparent of the Prince of Qing'an, and Lin Hui, the heir apparent of the Duke of Fuguo.

The two arrived very quickly.

As soon as Lu Zhao entered the room, he leaned back in his chair, grabbed the teapot on the table, poured himself a cup, and took a big gulp before speaking.

"Why did you call me here so urgently? Has something terrible happened?"

Lin Hui followed behind, slowly waving her fan.

He sat down opposite Lu Zhao, his gaze fixed on Xiao Fang's face, waiting for him to speak.

Xiao Fang pushed Yun Shuwen's confession in front of the two men and briefly explained the matter of the dozen or so boxes in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

The military swords, crossbows, and Ministry of Works standard items were numerous.

Lu Zhao paused, his teacup still in his hand.

Lin Huiyin stopped waving her fan.

"The Wing King?"

Lu Zhao put down his teacup, his brows furrowing.

"He hid weapons in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion? This is such a crude way to frame him."

"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has collapsed, what's the use of hiding it there?"

"It's precisely because it's fallen that it's not easily noticed."

Lin Hui closed her fan and tapped it in her palm.

"Moreover, Yun Shuwen is his person, and it was Yun Shuwen who signed the deposit document."

Yun Shuwen is Qin Shi's biological son, and Qin Shi is the mother-in-law of the Prince of Zhenbei.

Once this thread is pulled, even Xiao Fang can't escape involvement.

He paused, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

"Killing three birds with one stone!"

Lu Zhao realized what was happening, and his face darkened.

"He wants to wipe out the Qin family, the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion, and the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion all at once."

Their schemes were truly insidious!

Xiao Fang leaned back in his chair, his tone indifferent.

But he revealed a flaw—

This batch of weapons didn't just fall from the sky.

The dozen or so boxes of Ministry of Works-issued military swords and crossbows indicate that he had his own workshop, and on a considerable scale.

To forge weapons, you need iron ore—private mines.

Xiao Fang's gaze swept across the two faces, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

"He was so focused on framing someone that he forgot that this very batch of goods was his biggest weakness."

Lu Zhao's eyes lit up.

Lin Huiyin opened her fan again and nodded thoughtfully.

"We'll proceed in two steps."

Xiao Fang stood up, walked to the map of the capital region hanging on the wall, and drew a circle in the mountainous area on the western outskirts of the city.

"First, find his weapons workshop."

Once you've found it, don't move. Follow the clues and dig out the iron ore as well.

Mines are not like workshops; they can't be moved or hidden. Once confirmed, the evidence is irrefutable.

He turned around and looked at the two of them.

"Lu Zhao, lead your men to investigate the mountain streams in the west and north of the city."

Don't miss any suspicious valley entrances, abandoned kilns, or hidden river bends.

Lin Hui, check the transportation lines.

These weapons must have passed through checkpoints when they were transported from the workshops to the capital.

Send out all your brothers who are familiar with the various trade routes to inquire along the way about any suspicious caravans that have been spotted in recent months.

Especially note down those who always travel at night, those who are completely concealed, and those who take side roads instead of main roads.

Lu Zhao had already stood up, and stopped drinking his tea.

Lin Hui put away her fan and nodded to Xiao Fang.

"This is going to expose the Wing King's true colors."

Lu Zhao grinned, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.

Xiao Fang didn't laugh.

He stared at the sparsely marked mountainous area on the map, his gaze deep and sharp, like a wolf locking onto its prey.

Lu Zhao moved faster than anyone else.

He brought with him dozens of his brothers from the Censorate, who were known for their agility.

He changed into civilian clothes, disguised himself as a merchant who collected mountain goods, and plunged into the mountainous area on the outskirts of the capital.

They walked along the stream, specifically seeking out deep valleys with rapid currents and steep banks.

Forging weapons requires a large amount of water power to drive the forging hammer and the blower.

Therefore, the workshop must have been built next to a mountain stream with abundant water.

Two days later, Lu Zhao returned.

He stormed into the Inspectorate, covered in mud, grabbed the teapot on the table, and emptied it.

Then he plopped down opposite Xiao Fang, his eyes bloodshot yet surprisingly bright.

"Found it."

He slapped a hand-drawn sketch on the table, on which a winding mountain stream and the locations of several buildings were marked with charcoal.

"Sixty li west of the city lies Eagle's Beak Ravine."

The entrance is hidden behind the waterfall. From the outside, it looks like a desolate wilderness, but once you go around inside, you'll discover a hidden paradise.

The facility is fully equipped with a forging furnace, quenching pool, and polishing table, and employs over a hundred craftsmen.

I squatted there all night, the lights were on all night, and the sound of the forging hammer never stopped.

As dawn approached, a convoy of vehicles emerged, completely concealed.

They traveled entirely along mountain paths, never taking the official roads.

Xiao Fang looked at the sketch, his expression unreadable, and only asked a question.

"What about iron ore?"

"Not found yet."

Lu Zhao shook his head.

"But my men were keeping an eye on the workshop. As long as we traced back along the ore transport convoy, the iron ore wouldn't be hidden for long."

Xiao Fang nodded.

"Keep an eye on the workshop, but don't alert them."

Progress on Lin Huiyin's side was a little slower, but equally solid.

He sent out all the wealthy young men familiar with the trade routes.

Each person is responsible for a main road leading in and out of the capital, and is specifically tasked with checking the records of passing carriages and horses over the past three months.

The veterans from several checkpoints were all invited to have a drink.

At the dinner table, the playboys subtly inquired, and useful information was revealed.

The guards at two or three checkpoints remember that in recent months a caravan had frequently passed through the checkpoints late at night.

They never took the main roads, always choosing instead to take detours through remote side roads.

The ruts were very deep, indicating that the vehicle was carrying a heavy load, but they were completely covered.

The guards wanted to question them, but the waist token the other party handed over made them swallow their words.

Two days later, the iron ore was also found.

It is located in a mountain valley less than 20 miles west of Yingzuijian.

The mine is hidden among the folds of the mountain and is being mined on a considerable scale.

The scouts reported that the person in charge of managing this iron mine was a member of a collateral branch of Consort Zhao's family.