The letter didn’t specify what he was doing in Xi Yan, but the fact remained that Mr. Xie wasn’t dead. She wondered if her father knew.

Ye Qianning put the letter away, planning to show it to her father the next day.

After leaving the Prime Minister’s manor, Qian Fanji got straight into a carriage parked a short distance from the courtyard.

Inside the carriage, Qian Fu sat on the left, unhurriedly rolling a string of Buddha Beads in his hand. Between them was a soft divan and a table, on which sat paper, a brush, and an inkstone.

The ink-laden brush had been left on the paper, soaking it. Clearly, whoever had just used it had left in such a hurry that they didn’t have time to clean it, leaving a large black stain.

"The letter has been delivered." Qian Fu opened his eyes.

Qian Fanji entered the carriage without a word and sat down.

"Why are you so concerned with the Xiang family’s affairs? You’ve mobilized all your people to investigate. As I recall, you’re not one to meddle in other people’s business."

"It was nothing."

"Don’t try to humor me. What do you mean, ’it was nothing’? Back when I was Prime Minister, I had dealings with that man, Xie. I once inadvertently saw the old madam of the Xiang family in an altercation with him at a temple. If I didn’t know you were investigating this, I wouldn’t have even remembered it." Qian Fu thought for a moment before adding, "You’ve been looking into this day and night for days with no results. That just proves how deeply this matter is hidden. It takes real skill to keep a secret from everyone."

’Qian Fanji couldn’t deny it. He had sent out all his men and still hadn’t found a single clue. If his father hadn’t mentioned it, no one—besides the parties involved—would have ever traced this to the Xie family in the eastern part of the city.’

’Without his father, the only lead would have been the story about Mr. Xie dying at sea.’ At this thought, Qian Fanji couldn’t help but look at Qian Fu.

’Was it fate, or just a coincidence? Two years ago, his father had accompanied the abbot to Xi Yan for a conference on Zen and had happened to see Mr. Xie in their capital city.’

"Tell me the truth. What’s the story with that child from Xiang Minghou’s family?" Qian Fu knew his son quite well.

"It’s nothing."

"The Zhan family, the Gu family, Dean Chen, Xiang Minghou... they’re all revolving around one little girl. I thought she was just cute and charming, but for you to get this involved, it can’t be that simple."

"I was just helping out. There’s nothing more to say. Once your business in the Capital City is finished, you should hurry back to your temple," Qian Fanji said coolly.

"You... the more you refuse to talk, the more I know there’s something to it. Fine. If you won’t tell me, I’ll just find that little girl and ask her myself someday."

"Be my guest." Qian Fanji closed his eyes to rest.

Qian Fu rolled his beads. ’The Capital City seems far more interesting than it used to be,’ he thought. ’Looks like I won’t be returning to the temple just yet.’

Several more days passed. The scandal surrounding the Xiang family in the Capital City had mostly died down, though rumors were still rampant. The Prime Minister’s manor felt particularly wronged; the news of the assault on him had just broken when it was completely overshadowed by the Xiang family’s drama.

Prime Minister Gao awoke from his severe injuries, but before he could even formally petition the court, the Emperor issued a decree. It came with a few consolatory gifts but made no mention whatsoever of punishing the Xiang family.

Dissatisfied, he began having a petition sent to the Emperor every single day, accusing Xiang Minghou of allowing his daughter to commit a violent assault.

The Beili Emperor received these petitions for several days straight, and it was becoming a real headache. With so many of them piling up, he knew he couldn’t just ignore the matter. Yet, since the incident involved the General’s family, it was difficult for him to take a public stance. He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Gao must hate General Xiang to the bone," Mr. Li said, gesturing to the stack of petitions. "Even when you send them back, he just keeps submitting new ones."

’The man has some nerve!’

"If my court officials are at odds, how can the kingdom be stable? But look at them—one a civil minister, the other a military general, and both as stubborn as mules." At this point, the Beili Emperor wasn’t inclined to side with either family.

"As the saying goes, ’Let he who tied the bell untie it.’ This servant believes the solution to this problem lies with Miss Xiang," said Mr. Li.