The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

"Shameless."

Lin Zuoqing turned his face away, feeling a burning sensation in his throat, but he did not push her away.

That's quite funny.

"Isn't this Lord Lin giving us an opportunity?" Xu Qianhui smiled and sat back down on the soft stool, picking up a handkerchief and slowly twisting the ends of her hair. "When did Lord Lin leave last night? Why didn't he say goodbye to Zuo An?"

Lin Zuoqing's fingertips twitched, his palm still warm from the touch she had just given him.

He rubbed his fingertips together, as if trying to dissipate the heat.

"I'll definitely do it next time."

"Lord Lin is quite the habitual offender," Xu Qianhui laughed. "Which lady did he offend this time, causing him to jump into the river? Aren't you afraid of being beaten to death?"

Lin Zuoqing sneered: "Don't worry, I'll definitely drag you down with me before I die, I won't let you live a day longer than me."

"That's not bad either."

Xu Qianhui raised her face, her eyebrows and eyes curving upwards.

"It's better to die alongside Lord Lin than to jump into the river alone."

There was silence in the room.

The sound of water lapping against the side of the flower boat could be heard.

Lin Zuoqing's expression darkened.

Xu Qianhui pretended not to see and asked again, "Why were those people on the shore chasing you just now?"

Lin Zuoqing did not answer.

Xu Qianhui folded the handkerchief.

"It can't really be that you owe a debt of love for a woman."

Lin Zuoqing looked at her for a moment and said, "The princess's residence has lost its seal, and the case has fallen to the Jingzhao Prefecture."

"So, those people were the ones who stole the seal?"

Lin Zuoqing remained noncommittal.

"The thief stole the princess's seal and instead of fleeing, he chased after you, the prefect of the capital?" She frowned. "That's absurd."

Lin Zuoqing glanced at her: "Do you think the Prince of An's heir is afraid of the Jingzhao Prefecture?"

No wonder.

That day in the alley of the southern city, she bumped into Lin Zuoqing investigating a case. It turned out that it was not a coincidence, but rather that the case had already been simmering in the undercurrents of the capital.

But she still didn't understand.

Prince An is far away in the northwest, and the princess has no military power or involvement in government affairs. Why would Prince An's mansion go to such lengths to steal a private seal?

Lin Zuoqing didn't give her time to think and turned to leave.

Xu Qianhui suddenly spoke up: "The princess's seal has been stolen for several days now, hasn't it?"

"This is none of your business." Lin Zuoqing stopped in his tracks. "Xu Qianhui, mind your own business."

"The Prince An's heir dared to chase you in broad daylight; the seal must no longer be in the capital!" Xu Qianhui stood up and took half a step in pursuit.

"Lord Lin, this is not something you can investigate. Go to the palace and apologize."

Lin Zuoqing turned around, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

Four years ago, he was willing to tell her everything.

The political situation, government affairs, and social interactions in the capital.

She only needs to hear half of it to grasp the key point.

Sometimes when he was dissatisfied, she would shove the pen into his hand and let him push it himself.

In the end, everything turned out exactly as she had predicted.

Now, listening to her analysis again, his gaze deepened.

It was like a snowstorm that had been blowing for several years, suddenly falling on her again.

But the next moment, he quickly suppressed that emotion.

"Xu Qianhui, who do you think you are?"

"A mere down-on-her-luck merchant's daughter, having heard a few words about current affairs, thinks she has the talent to govern the world?"

"This is my case, I have no need for your interference."

The door was pushed open, and the wind blew in, causing the candlelight to dim.

Lin Zuoqing walked very fast.

Xu Qianhui stood there, listening to the footsteps fade into the distance.

After a while, she looked down at the crumpled handkerchief.

"With such a stubborn mouth, you deserve to die in the case."

Despite saying that, Xu Qianhui still quickly returned to the small courtyard in the west of the city.

Qingyi hasn't returned yet.

After feeding the roast chicken she bought on the way to Bai Ze, she went back to her room and began drawing a network diagram.

princess.

The heir apparent of Prince An.

Prince An.

She used a thin thread to connect the three elements to the two characters for "seal" in the middle.

Clearly, the Prince An's residence intends to harm the princess.

There are only four things that a seal can bring up.

First, the letters were forged.

The princess held neither military nor political power. Even if her seal were sent to a local area, it wouldn't cause any significant trouble.

Second, it can be used as evidence.

The second prince travels extensively and is not well-informed. If Prince An sends someone to lure him with the seal, the chances of success are over 90%.

Third, it insulted the royal family.

Since the case has been assigned to the Jingzhao Prefecture, all the nobles in the capital must already know about the theft of the seal. For the imperial princess to lose her personal seal is tantamount to a slap in the face to the royal family.

Fourth, the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture.

Since it was Prince An's son who took action, the Jingzhao Prefecture could only conduct a covert investigation since they couldn't find any evidence. Since it involved the royal family, if the Jingzhao Prefecture handled the matter wrongly, even Minister Lin might not be able to escape unscathed.

Xu Qianhui looked at the four sheets of paper and crossed out one and three.

These two items are too minor; even if they were to be done, Prince An would not need to take the risk himself.

And what remains is probably his purpose.

Xu Qianhui divided the paper into four pieces, wrote one item on each piece, and put them into different brocade pouches.

As she tied the rope, she said coldly, "I don't want to concern myself with Minister Lin."

Bai Ze lay on the threshold gnawing on a bone, letting out a low whimper.

"But if he falls, the Rongguo Duke's mansion will be in chaos."

"If the Duke's mansion falls into chaos, Lin Zuo'an may not be able to smoothly hand over the property to me."

She tied the last brocade pouch tightly, looked up at the twilight outside the window, and sighed.

"Lord Lin, you're really lucky to have benefited from your brother's good fortune this time."

At the same time.

The lights were already on in the study of the Duke of Rongguo's mansion.

Lin Zuoqing sat behind his desk, his pen pressing down heavily.

After writing a few lines on the paper, he personally sealed the envelope with sealing wax and then summoned his personal guard.

"Qingshu, send this secret to the Crown Prince's residence."

Qing Shu took it with both hands, and just as he turned to leave, he stopped again.

"Sir, a letter has arrived from Liang Zhuo, the Vice Prefect of Yangzhou."

Lin Zuoqing raised his eyes.

Qing Shu continued, "He asked if the Second Master was settled in the capital."

Lin Zuoqing suddenly realized, how could he have forgotten this person?

He rubbed his temples: "Reply to him and tell him to send the person to the Imperial Academy after the autumn examinations."

Qing Shu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Although Bailu Academy is not as prestigious as the Imperial Academy, it is still the top of the three academies. Sir, why don't you have him send the person to Bailu Academy? If he really goes to the Imperial Academy, you'll have to do him a huge favor."

Lin Zuoqing waved his hand: "He has done his best to serve me. If I hadn't heard from him, Xu Qianhui would already be married in Jiangnan."

Qing Shu lowered his head.

The study was eerily quiet.

Lin Zuoqing then said, "It's just a spot for a student at the Imperial Academy, so let's just give it to him."

Qing Shu replied, "I will take care of it immediately."

The door closed, and Lin Zuoqing sat alone under the lamp.

There was still a trace of red wax left on the table.

He stared at it for a long time, but his mind wasn't on the Crown Prince's residence, the Prince of An's heir, or the princess's seal.

On the pleasure boat, Xu Qianhui's face looking up at him was crystal clear at this moment.

Wet hair, white clothes, soft voice.

She said, "Now, I'm interested."

Ha, she's becoming more and more like a fairy.

Lin Zuoqing closed his eyes, his hand reaching uncontrollably under the table.

Fifteen minutes later, panting, he washed his knuckles with tea until they turned white.

Just then, there was a knock on the study door.

Lin Zuoqing quickly wiped his hands with a handkerchief: "Come in."

Qingyan pushed open the door and respectfully handed over a gold and red invitation card.

"My lord, the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion will be holding a polo match at the Lin family's horse farm in the suburbs in five days. This is a visiting card specially sent to you by Miss Lin."

Lin Zuoqing glanced at it and asked indifferently, "Did Mother receive it?"

Qingyan scratched his head: "The invitation to the manor was taken by the old lady. She said..."

"What did Grandma say?"

"The old lady said that she hasn't been involved in any fun activities in a long time, and she will decide who goes to the polo match this time."