Denghuangtai

Shangshutai (Imperial Secretariat).

Yun Zheng was reviewing official documents at his desk when the registrar knocked on the door and entered.

"My lord, there's been a new development in the case of the imperial envoy's murder."

"Speak," Yun Zheng said without looking up.

"Just now, a man covered in blood came from outside the city. He rushed and crashed into the carriages of many noble families along the way..."

The registrar spoke with great enthusiasm and vividness, displaying the demeanor of a storyteller in a teahouse.

"Get to the point," Yun Zheng interrupted impatiently.

"Yes." The registrar awkwardly put away his posture. "That man knocked on the Pei family's door, shouting, 'Your subordinate has successfully returned to the capital with the evidence, having fulfilled his mission.' Now everyone in the capital is speculating whether the evidence this man has can help General Pei escape danger, successfully catch the murderer, and clear his name."

Yun Zheng, who had been keeping his head down, finally looked up with a mocking expression. "A petty trick to intimidate others."

"To intimidate the enemy?"

Pei Mansion Study.

Looking at Pei Qingyan, who was engrossed in writing at his desk, Wei's mother asked, somewhat puzzled, "Are you saying that the commotion the guard caused this morning was something you deliberately arranged?"

"That was the beggar I found in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of Beijing, not a guard."

"Huh?" Mother Wei was completely shocked, not understanding what Pei Qingyan was up to.

"That man is not one of my trusted men. Find a few reliable servants to take care of him closely. You can satisfy his needs for food and drink, but there is one thing: he must not be allowed to wander around the mansion, and he must not go out."

"Yes."

Mother Wei agreed, but couldn't help asking, "I heard His Majesty only gave you five days. Aren't you going out to investigate the case as soon as possible?"

"We don't have a single clue. Going out to investigate is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"We can't just sit here and wait to die!"

"Who said we're just going to sit here and wait to die?" Pei Qingyan put down his pen, his smile meaningful. "The bait has already been cast; are we afraid no fish will bite?"

She folded the letter she had written and handed it to Wei Mama, saying, "Please go to the East Market and find a storyteller. Give this to him and ask him to write a good play for me."

As dusk fell, the palace gates opened wide, and officials from various departments went home after their shifts, making Huayang Street completely congested with their carriages.

Yun Zheng sat in the carriage, the constant swaying of the carriage making his head ache. He was about to lean against the carriage wall and close his eyes to rest when a sound from outside caught his attention.

"Have you heard? There's new evidence in the case of the imperial envoy's murder." The man said in a rough voice, his tone mysterious.

"Wasn't it just the General of Chariots and Cavalry's guards returning to the capital with evidence?"

"Then do you know what the evidence is?" the gruff voice asked again, lowering its tone slightly.

Yun Zheng leaned slightly, moving closer to the direction of the sound.

"Let me tell you, that was evidence that the imperial envoy had uncovered before his death, showing high-ranking officials embezzling military funds. He knew he was doomed, so he hid the evidence and asked General Pei to help him seek justice. The guard was hiding in the shadows when the imperial envoy was murdered and saw the killer's face."

"Brother, your information is incomplete," a new voice countered. "That's not evidence of some high-ranking official embezzling military funds; it's evidence of a group of officials colluding to deceive their superiors and embezzle military funds. General Pei already has their embezzlement ledgers and witnesses..."

Yun Zheng was listening intently when a rough voice rang out, interrupting the speaker.

"You lot, how can you speak so inappropriately? This is Huayang Street, frequented by officials from various departments. If they hear what you're saying, you'll be in trouble!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the people who had been discussing the matter seemed to wake up from a dream, followed by a series of hurried footsteps, indicating that they had all slipped away.

"Yunyin," Yun Zheng said in a clear voice.

The words had barely left his lips when the carriage curtain was lifted, and the chief clerk poked his head in. "My lord, what are your orders?"

"Have you heard what those people said just now?"

"This matter has already spread throughout Chang'an. Someone personally witnessed General Pei going to the Court of Justice to inquire about the possibility of redeeming herself through meritorious service." The registrar raised an eyebrow slightly and lowered his voice, "Do you know who she was inquiring about?"

Stop keeping me in suspense.

"General Pei is asking on behalf of officials who embezzled military funds. This embezzlement case involves a wide range of people. Some of the participants only embezzled a small portion. In particular, some of them have already voluntarily surrendered to General Pei, confessed their crimes, and are willing to come forward to point out others. General Pei's point is that although these people have violated the law, there is room for leniency. Please ask the Court of Justice to write a petition for them to be treated leniently."

"She meant well."

Yun Zheng sneered, his tone sarcastic.

The registrar was momentarily speechless, and after a long pause, he said awkwardly, "This is probably because of these people who came forward to testify. After all, General Pei was implicated in the death of the imperial envoy, and without these witnesses and the evidence left by the imperial envoy, she would probably be dead."

Yun Zheng tugged at the corner of his lips, closed his eyes, and said nothing more.

Seeing this, the registrar silently lowered the curtain.

That night, the Pei residence was completely silent. Everyone was deep in their dreams, and no one noticed that a man in black was flying swiftly across the rooftop.

The man seemed very familiar with the layout of the Pei residence and headed straight for the place where Pei Qingyan had placed his "guards".

Inside the house, the beggar who was disguised as a guard was sleeping soundly on the soft bed, completely unaware that someone had broken in.

The man in black, holding a short knife, cautiously approached the bed and raised his hand.

A cold light flashed.