Chapter 33: He Really Isn't the Culprit

"Commander Kui, the brothers of the City Defense Battalion are working too hard."

"At this late hour, it keeps many households from sleeping well."

"Blame that assassin, he's too much of a bastard."

"But, Commander Kui, I, the Heir Apparent, have seen the hard work of you and all the city guard brothers."

"Like this, these scattered silver coins will be managed by Commander Kui, as a token of appreciation for your hard work."

Yang Jun chuckled and immediately poured the items into Commander Kui's sleeve.

Kui Fang was stunned; as a military officer, he usually handled city defense and crime‑catching, so opportunities to gain such benefits were also extremely rare.

Perhaps this is the taste of being an official, the unspoken rules of office.

Thinking this, a light shone in Kui Fang's eyes.

"Heir Apparent, you're too polite; then I'll thank you on behalf of the brothers."

"Besides, Heir Apparent, rest assured; the Elder Princess values you greatly, and I will report to her according to your words."

"We are soldiers, straightforward; Heir Apparent, listen well: from now on, whatever you order, from Kui Fang downward, we will obey without question!"

Kui Fang bowed to Yang Jun with a clasped‑fist salute, then turned and left.

Yang Jun stood up and gave a slight smile.

It seems that the way of being an official is nothing more than this.

To preserve one's life, one must still resort to some means.

……

Imperial City, Imperial Palace inner court.

In the Imperial Study.

Yun Xiyue held a bowl of soup and placed it on Yun Fengyun's imperial desk.

At this moment, Yun Fengyun had already received all the memorial reports about tonight's situation.

At this time, he rubbed his temples while staring blankly at the course of tonight's events.

"Father Emperor, have some soup to refresh yourself."

Before, Yun Xiyue had refused to make soup for Yun Feng, but now she took the initiative to show concern.

"Still, Xi Yue is well‑behaved."

Yun Fengyun raised his head, took the soup Yun Xiyue offered, and drank a large mouthful.

Yun Xiyue looked at the memorials on the imperial desk and, in an instant, smiled.

"Indeed, he lives up to being the man I took a liking to; look, these matters clearly have nothing to do with him—with these memorials, isn't his suspicion already completely cleared?"

Furthermore, in Yun Xiyue's view, no matter who did these things or who accomplished them,

"Simply, these things should have been done by Yang Jun."

"Otherwise, who could manage to turn the situation around in such a short day?"

Yun Fengyun took a big sip of soup; indeed the soup refreshed his mind and dispelled his fatigue.

"Father Emperor, look— in just this short day, Yang Jun's suspicion has already been eliminated."

"So, he must be innocent, and with such talent, shouldn't you praise him?"

Yun Xiyue acted coquettishly toward Yun Fengyun, her face full of charm.

Such an attitude is extremely hard for her to show lightly in front of Yun Fengyun.

Yun Xiyue couldn't wait; she was about to go request merit for Yang Jun.

"Although at present such matters cannot yet be fully proven to be all Yang Jun's doing,"

"In short, here, as long as something is related to Yang Jun, she will spare no effort to prove it for him."

Hearing Yun Xiyue's words, Yun Fengyun's dragon brows knitted tightly.

"To be frank, Yang Jun indeed does have talent."

"Clearly it was a deadly situation, yet he easily broke it open."

"Based on this, how could such a thing, such conduct, be something anyone could accomplish?"

"However, Yun Fengyun is by nature suspicious."

"Perhaps Yun Xiyue only saw Yang Jun's success and his ability."

"But in Yun Fengyun's eyes, he saw something that made him feel panic and unease."

"The City Defense Battalion is the capital's guard, the emperor's sword in hand."

"How could the deployment of these troops be so simple?"

"Yet now, it just so happens that they will assist Yang Jun in handling these matters?"

"Yang Jun, Yang Jun, such matters—when your father Prince Pingxi was alive, he perhaps never dared to do them so lightly."

"But now, how dare one accomplish it? And furthermore, carry it out in this way?"

"In Yun Fengyun's heart, he greatly fears such matters."

"For if anything is slightly amiss, the resulting outcome would be a deadly threat to his own future!"

"Now that Yang Jun has no suspicion, that is already his greatest reward."

Yun Fengyun remained calm, speaking in a low voice to Yun Xiyue.

"Father Emperor, how can you do this?"

"Yun Xiyue spoke in a coquettish tone, wanting to strive further for Yang Jun."

"I have long planned for this matter; now that Yang Jun is free of suspicion and has preserved his life, isn't that the best reward for him?"

"Yun Fengyun wore a calm face; some things must not be indulged."

"He finds Yang Jun increasingly inscrutable, unable to fathom him."

So at times like this, he absolutely refuses to let it slide, especially since he won't give Yang Jun any real authority.

Hmph!

Hearing Yun Fengyun's words, Yun Xiyue let out a cold snort.

And while speaking, she reached out and snatched the bowl of hangover soup away.

"Father Emperor, if you say that, then shouldn't the City Guard Phoenix Battalion and the Jingzhao Yin be punished?"

"Under their very noses, a major case has occurred in the capital, and it's a bloody case of officials being killed. Tell me, shouldn't such a thing be punished?"

Yun Xiyue gave a cold snort, her face full of resentment.

Fuming, she set the soup bowl aside, clutching it tightly, refusing to give it back to Yun Fengyun.

Now that this reward is out of reach, it stands to reason that we should punish some of those who are at odds with Yang Jun.

Otherwise, Yun Xiyue couldn't swallow this anger in her heart.

Yun Fengyun furrowed his brows and let out a long sigh.

At the same time, he reached out and rubbed his forehead.

Regarding this matter, although he is utterly unwilling and reluctant.

But the situation is clear: if Zhao Wei and Zhou Tian aren't punished, his precious daughter will absolutely not let him drink the soup again.

But what should be done about this?

……

At Zhou Tian's residence, all was silent at this moment.

Mo Qingyan entered through the window and hid on the bed in the side room.

She wrapped herself completely in whatever blankets she could.

Yet the chill that came from within still clung tightly to her, making her extremely uneasy and unable to bear it.

The current situation left her baffled.

Her invincible Sky Pavilion, which had never been defeated, how could it have been broken?

The Sky Pavilion is a powerful force manifested by condensing one's own mental strength.

But now, how could it be so easily broken by someone?