After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Outside the Imperial Study, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the vermilion palace walls, reflecting a dazzling light, a stark contrast to the oppressive and solemn atmosphere inside the hall.

The Empress did not leave immediately, clearly having something to discuss privately with the Emperor.

Princess Yongning, Xu Yuan, and Meng Qingxi waited under the corridor.

Jiang Dusheng walked up to them and bowed solemnly: "Thank you all for today's events."

If they hadn't happened to request an audience at this time, exerting pressure in a subtle way, Emperor Cangqi might not have conceded so quickly.

Minister of Personnel Xu Yuan, with his usual gentle smile, raised his hand in a gesture of support:

"Miss Jiang, you're too kind. It was nothing, nothing at all. Our Xu family will always remember your kindness to Yishuo. Now that I see you are safe and sound, I am relieved."

"If you have some free time in the future, please be sure to come to my residence for a simple meal." He spoke sincerely, then bowed and took his leave.

Princess Yongning and Meng Qingxi simply nodded slightly to Jiang Dusheng without saying anything more.

Princess Yongning's gaze lingered on Jiang Dusheng's face for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she simply turned around and left with Meng Qingxi.

In the blink of an eye, only Jiang Dusheng and the Duke of Wei, who still looked worried, remained in the corridor.

Seeing that there was no one else around, the Duke of Wei relaxed slightly and once again solemnly bowed to Jiang Dusheng:

"Miss Jiang, my mistress has told me the whole story. I am deeply grateful; the Wei family will never refuse your request in the future!"

As he spoke, he took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Dusheng with both hands:

"Before entering the palace, the lady specifically instructed me to personally hand this item to the young lady."

"The above contains the poor woman's birth date, name, and burial place. We have inquired about everything as the young lady instructed."

Jiang Dusheng took it, unfolded it, and quickly glanced at it.

His birth chart indicated an early death, and his name was "Lin Wantang." He was buried outside Changling City.

At the end, there was a small note: This woman's parents died early, leaving her destitute and frail. She lived with the Cui family and recently passed away.

Who would have thought... that even in death he would not find peace, suffering such a cruel fate.

Jiang Dusheng quickly calculated and made up his mind. He then spoke:

"At the third quarter of midnight tonight, the yin energy will begin to decline, and the yin and yang will meet. This is the easiest time to communicate with the underworld and the most suitable time to guide the souls of the dead."

She looked at the Duke of Wei with a solemn gaze, "Please, Your Excellency, bring Miss Wei's body and Cui Wenjing to Lin Wantang's grave."

Duke Wei listened carefully and nodded repeatedly. "Good, I've got it. I'll have someone prepare it as soon as I get back to my residence."

As they talked, the two walked towards the palace gate.

Outside the palace gates, the carriage of the Duke of Wei's mansion was already waiting.

The two had just stepped out of the palace gate when a rapid sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, breaking the solemnity beneath the palace walls.

The man on horseback was dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit, his black hair tied up with a jade crown. His cold and stern face relaxed for a moment when he saw Jiang Dusheng.

Xie Jinchen had obviously received the news and rushed over, covered in dust, with an unusual anxiety and ferocity in his eyes.

Before the horse had even come to a complete stop, he leaped down, rushed to Jiang Dusheng in a few strides, stretched out his long arm, and pulled the man tightly into his embrace without saying a word.

The force was so great that Jiang Dusheng crashed into his chest, his nose filled with the cold, dusty scent emanating from him.

"Are you alright?" His voice was low, with rapid breathing and a hint of barely perceptible lingering fear.

When he received the message from Wang Dazhuang, he was discussing details with Huiming at Nanchansi Temple. Upon hearing that she had been urgently summoned to the palace by the emperor, countless worst guesses flashed through his mind. He couldn't care less about anything else and immediately seized his horse and galloped away.

Even though Jiang Dusheng prided himself on his thick skin, his cheeks flushed instantly when Xie Jinchen hugged him so recklessly in broad daylight.

She placed her hand on his chest, then secretly reached out and gave his waist a light pinch, lowering her voice:

"Xie Jinchen, release."

Xie Jinchen seemed to realize that there was someone else beside him, and he loosened the grip on his arm, but did not completely let go.

He simply circled Jiang Dusheng halfway to his side, then looked up at the Duke of Wei beside him, his expression having regained some of his usual composure.

"Uncle Wei, thank you very much for earlier."

He was referring to the Duke of Wei pleading for Jiang Dusheng in the Imperial Study, and the news had obviously reached his ears.

Duke Wei quickly waved his hand, his gaze subtly sweeping between the two men:

"Your Highness is too kind. It was Miss Jiang who saved my daughter; I should be thanking you. There are urgent matters at home that require Miss Jiang's assistance, so I will not disturb you any longer."

He was very perceptive and could see the affection between the two. He realized that it would be inconvenient for him to stay any longer, so he quickly bowed and got into his own carriage and left.

Once the Duke of Wei's carriage had gone far away, and the palace guards had also turned their attention away, Xie Jinchen then stepped back a little.

He looked down and carefully examined Jiang Dusheng's expression. "What did he say?"

Jiang Dusheng looked up at him and saw that there was a fine sweat on his forehead and a few strands of hair were blown by the wind and stuck to his cheeks. This rare somewhat disheveled appearance completely dispelled the slight resentment in her heart caused by the confrontation in front of the emperor.

At that moment, she suddenly felt that nothing else mattered.

At least, it didn't matter in front of this person who rushed over, his temples damp with sweat.

Jiang Dusheng spoke in a relaxed tone, even with a hint of teasing, "It's just that I should be sensible and stay away from you, so as not to bewitch the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo and cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jinchen fixed his gaze on her, his voice low and deep: "Then how will you answer?"

He asked directly, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tension.

Looking at his furrowed brows and the lingering tension in his eyes, Jiang Dusheng suddenly felt a mischievous urge to tease him.

She deliberately dragged out her words, feigning deep thought, "I knew it... okay..."

As soon as she deliberately paused on the word "okay," Xie Jinchen's heart sank, and the light in his eyes seemed to dim for a moment.

He instinctively gripped Jiang Dusheng's hand, as if afraid that if he let go, she would truly live up to her words and leave him.

Jiang Dusheng took in his subtle reaction, her heart softening. With a hint of a smile in her voice, she slowly added the second half of the sentence, "...I'm so hungry."

Xie Jinchen: "..."

He stared at her without saying a word.

Jiang Dusheng blinked, looking completely innocent. "Really, it's been going on ever since we left the Duke of Wei's mansion..."

Seeing her like this, Xie Jinchen suddenly let go of her hand, turned around without saying a word, and walked towards the Jiang residence.

Seeing this, Jiang Dusheng raised his voice and called out, "Xie Jinchen?"

Seeing that he didn't stop walking, she added, her voice clearly tinged with amusement, "Are you angry?"

Xie Jinchen still didn't turn around; his back remained stiff.

Seeing this, Jiang Dusheng caught up with him in a few steps, stood beside him, turned his head to look at his tense profile, and continued, "Xie Jinchen, but I'm really hungry."

She reached out and grabbed the corner of his dark sleeve, the force gentle yet pulling him towards the Jiang residence.

"Let's go back to the manor for dinner." Her voice was light and cheerful, with a hint of matter-of-factness. "Dazhuang has definitely prepared something delicious."

Xie Jinchen lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the hand that was tugging at his sleeve. The pent-up frustration in his heart was finally dispelled by her words.

He let Jiang Dusheng pull on his sleeve, slowed his pace, and walked one in front of the other.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long, intertwining them.

Jiang Dusheng noticed that Xie Jinchen's aura had completely subsided, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

She suddenly felt…

Xie Jinchen is much more fun than the fool Dazhuang.