Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

They acted on orders without fear of death.

A seemingly weak scholar, in Yushan, managed to enter the forest alone, bypass the assassins, find His Majesty, and risk his life to save him.

Once Bian Feibai is placed in the identity of a secret guard, those things that always seemed out of place before suddenly make sense.

Why would a notorious playboy suddenly gain the Emperor's favor and be selected to be a companion in the palace?

Despite being labeled as ignorant and incompetent, they clearly possess a thirst for knowledge and a heart brimming with wisdom.

Despite being a mere companion, he dared to stand behind a screen and impersonate His Majesty.

Despite not being an impulsive or foolish person, he still went and got into a street fight with Shang Jingming.

And then there's that maturity and sharpness that occasionally peek out at him beyond his years.

If Bian Feibai had caught His Majesty's eye at some unknown time, been trained, and placed under the control of the secret guards, while outwardly disguising himself as a dissolute playboy with no ambition, then all of this would make sense.

The emperor's secret guards obeyed only the emperor's orders.

Autumn hunting in Yushan, disguise during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and street brawls.

Bian Feibai was never the emperor's advisor, but rather a sharp blade in the emperor's hand.

But is that really the case?

Jiang Jibai remained noncommittal about this explanation. He withdrew his gaze from the token and asked calmly, "Feibai is ill and needs to rest. I wonder if Commander Shang could take me to see the wounded bandit?"

His Majesty had already agreed to this matter, and to change his mind so abruptly would seem fickle. Shang Jingming nodded and gestured for him to come this way, "Mr. Jiang, this way please."

As soon as Jiang Jibai stepped into Liu Qinghong's room, he smelled a strong medicinal fragrance mixed with a faint smell of blood.

A half-dry cloth was draped over the basin of water by the bedside, the surface of which shimmered with a faint tinge of blood.

The person lying on the bed had their eyes closed, their face was pale, and they were unconscious.

He dared not cover himself with the blankets properly, but instead set up a small wooden table over his wound and covered it with a brocade quilt.

It was clear that this person had been flogged, but he was unconscious and unable to be questioned.

Jiang Jibai was about to leave.

Liu Qinghong suddenly let out a soft moan, flicked her fingers, clutched her head, and slowly woke up.

He rubbed his aching neck, unable to understand what had happened to him.

After those people left, his tense emotions relaxed, and he lay on the couch, trying to clear his mind and rest for a while. However, the constant pain in his body stimulated his nerves, making it impossible for him to fall asleep.

Then my thoughts started wandering, I thought of the little sister in the old alley, what happened on the city wall that day, the reminder from the Sichuan Provincial Governor, and the medicine that was shoved down my throat in the woods that day.

If everything was just a test to lure him in, then that pill probably wasn't poison, but just something to scare him, right?

Surely His Majesty's secret guards wouldn't be so careless as to forget to give the antidote to such a small fry even though they didn't intend to kill him?

So what he ate was probably just a glutinous rice ball or something...

right?

Right?

Is it correct?

Liu Qinghong cherished her life quite a bit, and the more she thought about it, the more uneasy and frightened she became.

They gave him three days, and coincidentally, today is the third day.

If that really is poison, it means that today is the expiration date, and he could die at any moment!

I won't be able to sleep if I don't find out the truth now.

Just as he reached out to call for a servant, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

How did he faint?

Attacked?

But he didn't see anyone there at the time.

Could it be that the medication is taking effect?

Liu Qinghong, looking pale and sickly, looked around the room and found two people standing inside.

One was a complete stranger, and the other had been supervising his punishment just moments before.

Liu Qinghong decisively reached out and grabbed Shang Jingming's hem, pleading in terror, "Where...where is that sir? That pill you shoved down my throat, it wasn't poison, was it?"

"If so, give me the antidote now! Quickly!"

Shang Jingming: "..."

Jiang Jibai remained silent for a moment, then looked at Shang Jingming, "...You guys certainly don't hold back when it comes to your methods."

Under someone else's roof, Liu Qinghong hurriedly said, "It's...doing something, I understand, I understand. The important thing is that today is the last day, I won't suddenly die, will I?"

His vague words made Jiang Jibai's eyes darken. "It seems you know a great deal about that person's background."

First came the token, then the Sichuan Provincial Governor's instructions. If he hadn't known, how could Liu Qinghong have let himself be disposed of without any resistance?

"It wasn't that deep." Liu Qinghong pointed upwards with lingering fear, "...the eagle's...arm..."

"I know I have violated the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty and my crime is unforgivable, but I have already endured this punishment and am willing to accept any arrangement to atone for my crime. What do you think..."

Liu Qinghong nearly blurted out "lackey" and was terrified. She quickly shut her mouth and looked at Shang Jingming pleadingly, her eyes filled with longing for the antidote.

Although Shang Jingming was not present when the medicine was being fed, he had heard Bian Yushu recount the entire incident in a manner reminiscent of a stand-up comedy routine when His Majesty visited the villa last night.

As Bian Yushu spoke, he cast starry glances at His Majesty, marveling at His Majesty's wisdom and prowess.

Shang Jingming pulled his clothes out of Liu Qinghong's hands. "What I fed you wasn't poison, just a super tonic. Don't scare yourself."

Upon receiving Shang Jingming's words, Liu Qinghong finally breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "That's good, that's good..."

After seeing Liu Qinghong, Shang Jingming and Jiang Jibai walked back along the corridor to the courtyard where Qin Ji was.

With Liu Qinghong's corroboration, Shang Jingming felt a little relieved, while Jiang Jibai remained silent the whole way, his thoughts unreadable.

Jiang Jibai casually brought it up, "Given your position as commander of the Five Cities Garrison, your previous excuse about catching thieves would have been enough to apprehend the constables at the gate. If that's the case, why did Feibai go to the trouble of giving you this token right under my nose?"

Shang Jingming's heart skipped a beat, his throat tightened, but his gaze remained unwavering, his expression composed. "Of course, it's not just to get rid of those people at the door; there are other uses as well."

"Mr. Jiang," Shang Jingming paused, his expression solemn, "I respect you as a renowned scholar, and seeing your doubts, I spoke a few more words because I could not hide the truth. But that does not mean you can pursue these questions indefinitely without any restraint."

"The secret guards act under the Emperor's orders, keeping their activities secret. Bian Yushu revealed a flaw, allowing you to discover their tracks. The Emperor is wise and would not silence them, but if you delve deeper and learn more, you will only make things worse for him."

Are you sure you want to continue?

After these words were spoken, the corridor fell silent.

Jiang Jibai's gaze lingered on Shang Jingming's face for a long time before he stopped asking questions.

He bowed deeply and said, "I will not utter a word about what happened today. Whatever I know, it was just my excessive curiosity. I am at your disposal. It is not that Fei Bai did not do his best. Please convey these words to Commander Shang."

...

Failed to spot the location, boohoo~