My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Unfortunately, I've been waiting for you for half an hour."

Looking at Jiang Xiaobai, Tang Ningshuang spoke coldly.

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai's lips twitched.

Half an hour?

No wonder Zhang Xinnian was gone for so long.

It turns out that this woman was already waiting in the carriage.

and many more……

He hasn't gone out these past two days. Could it be that this woman goes to sit in the carriage all the time?

This feeling is rather eerie!

"Ahem, um..."

Jiang Xiaobai coughed lightly and said with a wry smile, "Sister Tang, this really isn't my fault!"

"When Eunuch Gao announced the decree, I refused on the spot. I had no idea that His Majesty would send you to protect me."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai shrugged, looking completely innocent: "So, if you have someone to blame, blame His Majesty!"

"It really has nothing to do with me!"

Jiang Xiaobai knew that Tang Ningshuang's ambition was to join the army, fight on the battlefield, and protect her country!

However, in order to protect him, Tang Ningshuang temporarily joined the Zhenying Division, which completely contradicted her previous aspirations.

"I know it's not your fault!"

Tang Ningshuang responded with a sound of agreement, leaning against the carriage as she said, "But... it's also because I'm protecting you!"

"That……"

Don't worry!

Tang Ningshuang's expression turned cold as she said, "I will protect you!"

After saying that, Tang Ningshuang turned her head away and stopped looking at Jiang Xiaobai.

Jiang Xiaobai breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Tang Ningshuang's cold expression, he didn't dare to say anything more.

This woman was clearly angry.

After all, he was a top military officer who originally wanted to join the army and fight the enemy, but instead, His Majesty threw him to his side and made him a personal bodyguard.

Anyone in that situation would probably be unhappy.

So Jiang Xiaobai wisely kept quiet.

It was just too quiet inside the carriage.

It was so quiet it was a little creepy.

Jiang Xiaobai sat for a while, but couldn't stand it any longer, so he simply lifted the carriage curtain and started chatting with Zhang Xinnian, who was driving the carriage outside.

The carriage continued its journey.

Not long after, Zhang Xinnian's voice rang out from outside: "Your Highness, we've arrived at the Dali Temple!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai was just about to dismount from the carriage.

Before he could get up, a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Ok?

Jiang Xiaobai looked down.

Tang Ningshuang was looking at him coldly: "You are now a target."

"If anyone's going to get off, it'll be me first. If there's any danger, I can shield you from it."

"Miss Tang is so dedicated and responsible, I admire her greatly!!"

Jiang Xiaobai looked surprised and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

To be honest, although this woman is a bit cold, she's quite serious when it comes to getting things done.

Stop being so cheeky.

After speaking coldly, Tang Ningshuang lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out first.

After getting out of the car, she glanced around to make sure there was nothing amiss before turning to the side and saying, "Get out."

After hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai got off the carriage.

Once outside, Jiang Xiaobai looked around, his gaze finally settling on the Dali Temple in front of him.

The Dali Temple is different from the Prime Minister's residence and the Marquis's residence.

The Prime Minister's residence emphasizes composure, while the Marquis's residence carries the solemnity of a military family.

The Dali Temple gives off a very cold feeling.

The vermilion gate was half-closed, with stone beasts crouching on both sides and soldiers standing in front of it with knives.

A black plaque with gold lettering hangs above the door.

Dali Temple!

Just those three words are enough to make one's heart sink.

Occasionally, servants would come and go in front of the gate, always keeping their footsteps very low.

Faintly, one could hear the sound of chains dragging on the floor coming from inside.

No matter how you look at it, this place doesn't feel very comfortable.

Jiang Xiaobai frowned, but still took the lead and stepped forward.

But as soon as they reached the door, a constable from the Court of Judicial Review stepped forward to stop them: "Who goes there?"

"The Marquis of Zhenbei's Residence, Jiang Xiaobai."

Jiang Xiaobai spoke up.

Upon hearing this, the constable's expression changed visibly, becoming respectful: "Oh, so it's Young Master Jiang. Lord Pei has already instructed that if the Young Master arrives, he should be led inside directly."

Ok?

Jiang Xiaobai's eyebrows immediately rose.

"Lord Pei, did you know I was coming?"

The constable nodded slightly: "Yes, Lord Pei said that if the young master is truly prepared to investigate the examination scandal, he will definitely come today."

"Then why today?"

Jiang Xiaobai was surprised; he had rested at the Marquis's residence for two days.

"Well... Lord Pei said that if Prince Jiang doesn't come today, he will come tomorrow, and tomorrow he will say it was today!"

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai's lips twitched, and he smiled helplessly, saying, "Lead the way."

"Please, Your Highness!"

Upon hearing this, the constable immediately led the way.

Jiang Xiaobai, along with Tang Ningshuang and Zhang Xinnian, entered the Dali Temple.

After entering the gate, the inside felt even more somber and cold than the outside.

A bluestone path leads directly to the inner courtyard, and occasionally one can see guards escorting prisoners on both sides.

Some prisoners had their heads down, their feet dragging on shackles, while others, carrying case files, hurried across the corridor.

Jiang Xiaobai walked along, glancing around.

Indeed, the Dali Temple was busier than he had imagined.

Soon, the constable led them through the front hall, but instead of heading towards the main hall, he led them towards the back courtyard.

"Why isn't Lord Pei in your quarters?"

Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Lord Pei is in the backyard," the constable replied respectfully.

"backyard?"

Jiang Xiaobai's expression shifted slightly.

The backyard of Dali Temple is not necessarily a place for drinking tea and admiring flowers.

Sure enough, after walking for a while, a faint smell of blood gradually filled the air.

Zhang Xinnian's nose twitched slightly, and his brows immediately furrowed.

Tang Ningshuang paused for a moment, her gaze turning slightly colder.

Jiang Xiaobai didn't actually like this environment, but he remained calm at the moment.

A moment later, the group arrived at the outside of a secluded courtyard.

The constable stopped and whispered, "Young Master Jiang, Lord Pei is inside."

Jiang Xiaobai nodded and stepped inside.

As soon as he entered the side courtyard, he saw a long table set up in the middle of the courtyard.

A man stood beside the long table.

The man was dressed in a long white robe, with a tall and handsome figure.

There was only a faint smile in his eyes, and he was slowly wiping his fingers with a white cloth in his hand.

Standing beside him were two coroners from the Court of Judicial Review.

On the long table lay a corpse covered with a white sheet.

Ok?

Jiang Xiaobai stopped abruptly, looking at the young man in white.

Is this Pei Shen?

She's actually younger than he imagined.

Pei Shen heard footsteps and slowly raised his head.

His gaze fell on Jiang Xiaobai, and a slight smile appeared on his face: "Young Master Jiang."

"You're a little later than I expected."

"Lord Pei."

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "It's a bit impolite of you to ask me to look at a corpse on our first meeting, isn't it?"

"If you had come sooner, you might have still seen living people."

Pei Shen glanced at Jiang Xiaobai, then put down the white cloth in his hand: "Now, we can only look at the corpse."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, his gaze involuntarily falling on the corpse: "Who is this?"

Pei Shen smiled faintly, and as he raised his hand, he slowly lifted a corner of the white cloth.

When Jiang Xiaobai saw the corpse, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a look of shock flashed across his face...