If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Grand Commandant Wang Dun, who had been observing from the sidelines, finally spoke up.

"Your Majesty, your subject and Eunuch Xi are loyal to the country and have never harbored any disloyal intentions. We hope Your Majesty will see this clearly and not disappoint our loyal ministers."

The King of Huainan was so angry that his face turned ashen, but he dared not say another word.

If the Wang and Xi families were to unite, with one holding central power and the other controlling a regional region, they could truly rebel at will.

The royal family's power is granted by aristocratic families. When aristocratic families respect you, it is to give you face. But you cannot take advantage of them and really think you are something special.

The King of Huainan gritted his teeth and said, "Just now, I lost my composure and was careless, offending Duke Xi and Miss Xi. I take back what I just said."

The emperor, exhausted, said, "This matter will be entrusted to the Prince of Chenliu. He must find out the truth as soon as possible, restore justice to the heir apparent, and clear the names of the Wang and Xi families."

……

Walking along the passageway in the palace gate, the sunlight was dazzling, and Xi Lingxian took a long breath.

For the first time, I felt that this magnificent and dazzling palace was somewhat ostentatious and impractical.

Xi Rui: "Fanfan, were you scared?"

"No, he's just a mere Prince of Huainan, with no troops or power. I don't know what kind of show of power he's putting on."

Xi Jian was both amused and exasperated. "My silly daughter, if this were the previous dynasty, even if he had no troops or power, just because he was a prince of the imperial clan, you really wouldn't have been able to refuse if he asked you to go and serve his son."

"Fortunately, it wasn't him, otherwise such a prince would only commit evil deeds and harm the people."

Upon reaching the palace gate, Xi Lingxian boarded the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lowered, shutting out the noise outside. She leaned against the carriage wall, closed her eyes, and pondered what to do next.

The carriage curtain was suddenly lifted from the outside, and before she could react, Wang Jue bent down and crawled inside.

He didn't even glance at him, sat down on the other side of the carriage, and ordered outside, "Let's go."

The carriage slowly began to move.

Xi Lingxian frowned. "This is my carriage."

"Excuse me, could you lend me your carriage? It's broken."

"Who gave you permission to borrow it? Besides, you always ride a horse when you go out. When have I ever seen you ride in a carriage?"

Wang Jue glanced at her, then closed his eyes.

Xi Lingxian took a deep breath and resisted the urge to kick him out of the car.

The carriage continued forward, and the interior was so quiet that you could hear two people breathing.

The silence continued.

So long that Xi Lingxian thought he had fallen asleep and began to consider whether she should actually kick him off the building.

Then Wang Jue spoke.

What's your opinion on what happened today?

Xi Lingxian glanced at him, thought for a moment, and said, "The Prince of Huainan came with great force and is plotting something sinister. The dagger incident was a frame-up, and the truth of the assassination attempt is hard to say, but these two incidents have been linked together and used as a weapon against the Wang and Xi families."

"Your father and my father made their point today, and the Prince of Huainan has temporarily backed down. But the real culprit behind this has not succeeded and will certainly not give up easily. Moreover, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light, so we are at a disadvantage in many matters."

Xi Lingxian waited for a while, and when she saw that he didn't say anything more, she frowned.

"I'm talking to you."

"I'm listening."

"Say something if you're listening."

Wang Jue opened his eyes.

"Squeak," he said.

Xi Lingxian: "..."

Wang Jue's lips twitched slightly.

"You're right. The Prince of Huainan won't let this go easily. Someone is playing a grand game, and the Prince of Huainan is a pawn, while the Wang and Xi families are the targets. And we still don't know who's playing the game."

Xi Lingxian waited for him to continue.

"This matter is now being handled by the Prince of Chenliu. Since you believe the Prince of Chenliu is a virtuous gentleman, how could a virtuous gentleman not handle things perfectly and cleanly? What do you have to worry about?"

Xi Lingxian rubbed her temples. "You, you're here to start another argument, aren't you?"

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came.

Outside the carriage, the sounds of Chang'an could be heard.

"Young master, something has happened. Xi Lang, from the second branch of the Xi family, is dead."

Xi Lingxian's pupils contracted.

My second uncle is dead?

"When did this happen?"

"Half an hour ago, the second branch of the Xi family found him dead in the study. Lord Xi and the eldest son of the Xi family have already rushed there."

……

A number of people were standing in the courtyard of the second branch of the Xi family mansion.

Xi Jian and Xi Rui were talking in hushed tones when they saw Wang Jue enter and nodded slightly.

Wang Jue strode forward, skipping pleasantries, and asked directly, "What did the servants say? Has the coroner been here?"

Xi Rui: "Second Uncle was in his study all afternoon. Around lunchtime, the servant knocked on the door but no one answered. When they pushed the door open, they found that he had already..."

"cause of death?"

"At first glance, it appears to be poisoning. There was poison in the teapot on the table, and also in the teacups. It looks like suicide by poisoning, but he has no reason to do so."

Wang Jue's expression was solemn.

If it wasn't suicide, then it was homicide.

Xi Lang's value has been exhausted, and the person behind him has silenced him?

Xi Lingxian walked a little slower than Wang Jue. She reached the courtyard gate and was about to go inside when Xi Rui blocked her way.

Xi Lingxian raised her head and looked at her brother.

"Don't go in. Second Uncle looks...unpleasant. Don't look."

At this moment, several yamen runners carried out Xi Lang's body on a stretcher.

Xi Rui reached out and covered his sister's eyes without any room for argument.

Lingxian smelled a faint, unsettling sweet and fishy odor in the air.

Was it blood or poison?

My second uncle is dead?

Although she knew in her heart that her second uncle was the mastermind behind everything and an inside agent in the Xi family, he was still her second uncle, someone she had called out to since childhood.

A perfectly healthy person suddenly turned into a cold corpse.

She found it hard to accept.

Xi Rui looked at Wang Jue, "Brother You'an, what do you think about Second Uncle's matter?"

"It wasn't suicide. It was to silence him."

"To silence them?"

"Your second uncle knows too much; someone doesn't want him to speak while he's alive."

"You mean, the person who killed him and the person who ordered him to do it are the same person?"

"It's also possible that he committed suicide out of guilt, but what do you think the probability is?"

Without hesitation, Xi Lingxian said, "My second uncle has always believed that it's better to live a miserable life than to die a good death. It's impossible that he would commit suicide out of fear of punishment."

Wang Jue looked at Xi Rui and said, "It seems the person behind this is no ordinary person. I really underestimated him."

"Is this targeting both of our families?"

"Yes, sowing discord and framing is just the beginning; there will definitely be more tricks up their sleeves."

Xi Rui suddenly grabbed Xi Lingxian's arm. "From today onwards, you're not allowed to leave the house!"

"……oh."

……

There were many conflicting opinions and no consensus among the people of Jiankang regarding Xi Lang's death.

Xi Lang's funeral was scheduled for two days after his death.

Xi Jian, out of consideration for his brotherhood, also wanted to use the funeral to gauge the attitudes of all parties.

"Who will handle the funeral arrangements..." Xi Rui suddenly realized the crucial question.

The purchase of white candles and incense paper could be entrusted to the steward of the mansion, but the social interactions with the noble families and officials who came to pay their respects could not be taken lightly.

Madam Yu was bedridden and unable to agree. Madam Qu was also too old to handle such a matter.

"Father, elder brother, leave the funeral arrangements to me."

Xi Jian and Xi Rui stared blankly at the virtuous and graceful girl in front of them.

Xi Rui recalled his younger sister when she was little, with two little pigtails, chasing after him calling "Brother, brother." She would cry when she fell down, and then laugh again after crying, like a little sparrow that never gets tired.

He suddenly realized that he hadn't really looked at his sister in a long time. When did she grow up?

Apart from their daughter, there were no other women in the household.

Xi Jian was willing to believe his daughter.

"Don't worry, Father, I won't let you down," the girl said confidently.

"Taozhi, go and invite Uncle Liu from the accounting office, Granny Zhao from the storeroom, and Uncle Chen from the gatehouse. Summon all the managers to the main hall. I have something to tell you."

Taozhi responded and ran off.

Funeral Day

White banners were hung high at the Xi residence, and the mourning hall was set up in the main hall, with Xi Lang's coffin placed in the center.

People from all the powerful and influential families in Jiankang came in an endless stream to pay their respects.

Madam Xie and others who were not on good terms with each other looked around with a critical eye when they heard that the funeral was being organized by Xi Lingxian.

The mourning hall was solemnly decorated, the offerings were neatly arranged, and the condolences were delivered smoothly and without any panic.

The seating arrangement for the guests was perfectly arranged, with each person having their designated seat and who should be accompanied by whom.

It's hard to believe that the person in charge of all this was Xi Lingxian, who was known for being spoiled, willful, and never lifting a finger.

"Did you really organize this funeral for the Xi family all by yourself?"

"Impossible, right? Isn't she supposed to be clueless about everything?"

"I saw it with my own eyes! She was in charge of everything in the mourning hall, and none of the people in charge dared to utter a sound. Her presence was even more imposing than her father's."

"Tsk tsk tsk, you really can't judge a book by its cover."

Without having anyone announce his arrival, Wang Jue, dressed in plain black clothes, entered the mourning hall, offered incense, and bowed.

He saw that she was dressed in plain white mourning clothes, with only a white cloth strip binding her hair.

She was talking to a manager, and after he left, she turned to another person and gave him instructions.

Wang Jue stared at it for a very long time.

"His Highness the Prince of Chenliu has arrived—"

Upon hearing the announcement, Xi Lingxian told the steward to leave first, and then busied herself greeting the guests.

Xiao Yun burned incense and offered condolences at the mourning hall.

Calm and composed, with no faults to be found.

"Miss Xi." He approached and nodded slightly. "Please accept my condolences."

As Xi Lingxian looked at him, countless thoughts surged through her mind.

Was he involved in his second uncle's death?

Could he really be the mastermind behind all of this?

She gave a slight curtsy. "Your Highness has come from afar, which is an honor for the Xi family. Please come in and have a cup of tea."

Xiao Yun shook his head, his tone sincere: "No need. I'll offer incense to Second Master Xi, say a few words to Miss Xi, and then leave."

Xi Lingxian nodded.

"Miss Xi has been handling the funeral arrangements all by herself, working tirelessly and diligently. I just came in and saw that the funeral hall was arranged in a solemn and proper manner, and the people in charge were all doing their jobs in an orderly manner; Miss Xi is truly a woman of great talent who doesn't show off her abilities."

Looking at his gentle, flawless face, Xi Lingxian suddenly had a thought.

She slowly raised her head, looked into Xiao Yun's eyes, her lips slightly upturned, her gaze soft.

"Your Highness is too kind."

Xiao Yun froze for a moment.

"Miss Xi, there's no need to be modest. It's just that the funeral arrangements are important, but you should also take good care of your health."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

As Xi Lingxian watched Xiao Yun's retreating figure, the smile on her face slowly faded.

If this person really has a problem, then they've hidden it far too well.

As she turned around, preparing to return to the mourning hall, a hand reached out from the side and suddenly grabbed her wrist.

She was pulled so hard that she stumbled and was pinned against a pillar.

She looked up and met a pair of cool, deep eyes.

This person arrived at some unknown time, standing in the shadow of the pillars, his brows furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line.

His hand gripped her wrist so tightly it felt like he was going to crush her bones.

Xi Lingxian took a deep breath. "Let go, you're hurting me."

Wang Jue pressed her against a pillar, his hands bracing his sides, his voice so low it sounded like it was being squeezed from his throat, "You actually have the guts to argue with him? You really think he's a gentleman?"

Xi Lingxian was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening.

He saw it.

"When did you get here? Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

The word "we" entered Wang Jue's mind like a raging fire, plunging him into darkness.

"If I hadn't been eavesdropping, I wouldn't have known what you were capable of."

"He came to offer his condolences, and I treated him with courtesy. What's the problem? Am I supposed to smash a glass and chase him away?"

Wang Jue narrowed his eyes, his gaze turning bloodshot, his breathing heavy and slow.

Xi Lingxian inexplicably shrank back.

What did she do? Why does he look like he's about to be driven mad?