After being reborn, the aloof prime minister was once again forced by a tyrant.

After the morning court session, Xiao Jingyuan sat alone in the imperial study, and after reviewing two memorials, he could no longer continue.

He placed the vermilion brush on the brush holder, and his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the window—towards the Listening Snow Pavilion.

Last night, I slammed the door, and this morning I dealt with those ignorant fools. But Xie Qinglan may not know about these things, and even if she does, she may not care.

He has to do something. Do something that will truly make that person happy.

What does Xie Qinglan like?

He had already moved the crabapple tree he loved to Tingxuexuan, and he had also given away the sword he loved.

He thought for a long time and suddenly remembered something he had done in his previous life. At that time, Xie Qinglan was locked up in Lanyue Pavilion and fell ill. He had a cold face all day long and he really didn't know how to please her, so he sent Ye Qi to lead people to sneak into Nanyue and move everything that could be moved from Xie Qinglan's Prime Minister's Mansion back to him.

The books in the study, the writing brushes and ink on the desk, the celadon tea set used daily, and even the best-growing crabapple tree in the backyard were all dug up and transported all the way back to Beishuo.

When Xie Qinglan saw that tree, he stared blankly for a long time, then turned his head away without saying a word. He thought the man was unhappy again and was uneasy for several days. Until one morning long later, he squatted on the wall and saw Xie Qinglan standing by the window staring at the crabapple tree in the yard for a long time, a very faint smile curving his lips.

That was the first time he had ever seen Xie Qinglan smile in his past life. It was that faint, almost negligible smile that gave him the courage to continue his relentless pursuit.

Xiao Jingyuan snapped out of his reverie and suddenly had an idea. He called out, "Ye Qi."

A dark figure landed silently in the center of the hall and knelt on one knee: "Your subordinate is here."

"Take some men to Nanyue and bring back all the valuable items from the Prime Minister's residence for me."

Night Seven replied expressionlessly, "...Yes."

He paused, then added, "Your Majesty, I have learned from my investigation in Nanyue that Pei Nanchi has almost completely stripped Prime Minister Xie of his power in the court—Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Personnel has been transferred to Lingnan, General Han of the Ministry of War has been dismissed and is under investigation, and even Minister Li Yun has been imprisoned on some pretext."

Xiao Jingyuan's brow twitched slightly. These things had happened in his previous life; he already knew. That ungrateful wretch, Pei Nanchi—Xie Qinglan had carried him from the cold palace to the throne, and he turned around and wanted to kill him. In his previous life, he couldn't protect those people for Xie Qinglan; in this life—

"I know." Xiao Jingyuan's voice deepened slightly, then returned to its unquestionable tone. "Don't worry about that. Do what I just told you to do immediately."

"By the way—there's no need to steal the crabapple tree; there's no room for it in Tingxuexuan."

Ye Qi was silent for a moment: "...Your subordinate obeys." As he disappeared into the hall, the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch slightly.

Xiao Jingyuan leaned back in his chair, pondering for a while. It would take at least ten days for these things to arrive, and appeasing Xie Qinglan was of utmost urgency.

Then he called out again, "Gao An."

Gao An trotted in from outside the hall: "This servant is here."

"Go and convey a message to Qinglan for me."

Gao An pricked up his ears and waited for a long time, but received no further message. Mustering his courage, he asked, "Your Majesty... what message did you send?"

Xiao Jingyuan tapped his fingers lightly twice on the imperial desk, seemingly considering his words. After a moment, he spoke, his voice low.

After hearing this, Gao An's expression was indescribable: "...Yes, this servant will go right away."

Listening to Snow Pavilion. Xie Qinglan sat under the crabapple tree, flipping through the unfinished book, "The Customs and Traditions of Northern Shuo".

The turmoil of last night seemed to have left no trace on him. His moon-white brocade robe was spotless, and his hair was neatly combed. Only the fallen crabapple petals at his feet had not yet been cleaned up—more of them had been swept away by his sword energy this morning when he practiced.

When Gao An came in, Xie Qinglan was turning a page of her book without even lifting her eyelids.

"Lord Xie, His Majesty sent me to inquire whether you slept well last night."

"It's acceptable." His tone was as flat as plain water.

Gao An took another half step forward and lowered his voice, saying, "His Majesty sent me to deliver a message that General Shen will be released soon, so you can rest assured."

Xie Qinglan paused slightly as she turned the pages of the book, then looked up and said, "Say his exact words."

Gao An choked for a moment, hesitated for a moment, and finally forced himself to say, "His Majesty's exact words were... 'Tell him that after I have Shen Hanzhou endure two months of hardship in the western border, I will release him and he need not worry.'"

Xie Qinglan glanced at Gao An, her lips curving slightly, the curve so subtle it was almost imperceptible, yet it sent a chill down Gao An's spine.

"Heh." He let out a very soft breath.

"Promising."

Gao An didn't know what the word "promising" meant, so he didn't dare to reply and just stood there awkwardly.

But he keenly sensed that Xie Qinglan's mood didn't seem too bad today, so he mustered his courage and took another half step forward, lowering his voice to say, "Lord Xie, you don't know, it was quite a scene at court this morning—a few ignorant officials were spouting nonsense in court, saying that it was improper for you to live in Tingxue Pavilion, that it was extremely disrespectful for you to barge into the Imperial Study with a sword, and they even used General Shen's matter to make fun of you. His Majesty didn't waste a single word on them, and on the spot, he dismissed them from their posts, confiscated their property, and exiled them three thousand miles away. All the civil and military officials were so frightened that they didn't dare to breathe, and even I, this servant, felt a sense of satisfaction listening to it."

Xie Qinglan paused again as he turned the pages of his book. He didn't care much about what those people said in court—it was nothing more than some pedantic views, or clowns being used as pawns by those with ulterior motives.

But that person was so decisive and ruthless in court today, he resembled a tyrant who was ruthless and decisive in his previous life.

It's unclear whether this fierceness is directed at those people or at the pent-up anger that was stirred up by his words "Your Majesty, please return" last night.

He was silent for a moment, then turned to the next page of the book: "I understand."

Gao An waited for a long time without receiving any further news, and he grew anxious. Having served the Emperor for so many years, he was adept at reading people's expressions, but this Lord Xie's thoughts were even harder to fathom than the Emperor's imperial edicts.

He hesitated for a long time before cautiously saying, "Lord Xie, His Majesty stood outside the palace wall of Tingxue Pavilion for most of the night after returning home last night, and his eyes were bloodshot during the morning court session this morning. What do you think of this…?"

"Eunuch Gao," Xie Qinglan interrupted him, finally raising her eyes. Her cold eyes revealed no emotion, and her tone remained indifferent. "You've said so much, are you trying to get me to go and express my gratitude?"

Gao An, his thoughts exposed, gave an awkward smile and wiped the sweat from his brow: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency. This servant just felt... that His Majesty... has had a tough time too."

Xie Qinglan put down the book in her hand, picked up the Guilan Sword placed on the stone table, and gently ran her fingertips along the black iron ring on the scabbard.

His movements were nonchalant, and his tone unhurried: "He stood under the palace walls for most of the night, and dealt with several minor officials in the court—I know all about these things. But why should I speak first? He slammed the door himself; wouldn't he come knocking himself?"

Gao An stood there, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly. He suddenly felt as if he understood something, yet also as if he understood nothing at all.

Is Lord Xie blaming His Majesty for not taking the initiative to apologize? But the implication behind his words doesn't sound like he's truly angry; it's more like he's waiting for His Majesty to come to him on his own.

Gao An spent the afternoon serving calligraphy and painting at Tingxuexuan, and by the time he returned to the Imperial Study to report, it was already evening. He ran back to the Imperial Study in a flash, still panting as he stepped across the threshold.

Xiao Jingyuan was pacing anxiously behind his desk when he heard footsteps. He turned around abruptly and saw Gao An enter. His eyes lit up, but he quickly suppressed them into an indifferent expression.

"How did it go? Did he say anything?"

Gao An lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Xie only said he understood."

Xiao Jingyuan suddenly stopped and slowly walked to the imperial desk to sit down.

"Didn't they say anything else?"

Gao An looked up at his face, mustered his courage, and took another half step forward, lowering his voice: "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion... Lord Xie isn't really angry. He said something that I've been pondering all the way here—"

"What did you say?" Xiao Jingyuan asked quickly, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized he had asked too hastily, so he coughed and picked up his teacup, pretending to take a sip.

Gao An mimicked Xie Qinglan's tone and repeated the sentence word for word: "He said—'He slammed the door himself, wouldn't he come and knock himself?'"

The Imperial Study was silent for a moment.

Xiao Jingyuan's hand holding the teacup froze. He stared blankly at Gao An, his pale eyes first filled with confusion, then disbelief, and finally, as if he suddenly understood something, the tips of his ears slowly turning red.

"Did he really say that?"

"Absolutely true, Your Majesty. Lord Xie also said—'Why did I speak first?'"

Xiao Jingyuan put down his teacup, stood up, paced around the hall a couple of times, then stopped and paced back a couple more times.

His expression was incredibly interesting to Gao An—a mixture of joy and panic, a desire to laugh yet an inability to do so. He was like a big dog that had been thrown out of the house by its owner but suddenly heard a "Come in" coming from inside, its tail wanting to wag but not daring to, its paws scratching at the door crack, unsure whether to push it open or not.

"So... does he mean he wants me to apologize?" Xiao Jingyuan's voice was a little tense, with a hint of barely perceptible caution.

"That's what this servant thinks," Gao An nodded repeatedly.

Xiao Jingyuan paced around the hall twice more, his hands unconsciously clenching and unclenching his sleeves. He walked to the window and stood there for a while, gazing in the direction of Tingxue Pavilion, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Then he turned around, his expression as if he had made some important decision.

"Go and fetch two jars of wine."

Gao An was taken aback: "Your Majesty?"

"Get the strongest, two jars." Xiao Jingyuan's ears turned slightly red, and he turned his face away, not daring to look Gao An in the eye. "To... to give myself courage."