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

Jiang Dusheng: "..."

She stared at him for two seconds, then feigned disdain and said, "I don't have the money to support you. Prince Xie is used to a life of luxury. Our poor little temple probably can't even afford the tea you drink every day, let alone support a Buddha like you."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jinchen chuckled softly and tightened his grip on her hand.

"It's alright. I'll bring my own dowry. It'll be enough to support us, and enough to renovate the temple from top to bottom. Adding a few more spacious side rooms wouldn't be a problem either."

"Master Jiang, do you think I'm qualified to marry into that family?"

Jiang Dusheng concealed the involuntary upward curve of his lips and pulled him outside, saying, "It's barely enough."

Meanwhile, in Changling City, in the Imperial Study of the Imperial Palace.

The atmosphere was the complete opposite of the morning warmth in the inn; it was cold and oppressive.

The scent of ambergris could not dispel the gloom and anger permeating the air.

Emperor Cangqi was dressed in casual clothes, with dark dragon patterns embroidered on bright yellow silk, but it could not hide the awe-inspiring majesty of someone who had long held the throne.

At this moment, however, his face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water, and his fingers unconsciously tapped on the imperial desk.

His gaze fell on Shi Qinglian, who stood below with her head bowed.

"You mean..." Emperor Cangqi's voice was slow, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an oppressive feeling of impending storm:

"Not only did Chen'er escape from the encirclement, but even Jiang Dusheng, whom you personally tried to intercept... failed? And he's completely vanished?!"

Shi Qinglian remained calm, as if she could not sense the imperial might that was enough to terrify ordinary officials.

He bowed slightly and replied in a steady voice, "Your Majesty, it was not an accident. I deliberately let the person go."

"Intentionally?" Emperor Cangqi raised an eyebrow, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Give me a reason. Don't tell me you're thinking of some kind of camaraderie."

Shi Qinglian raised her head, her gaze meeting Emperor Cangqi's scrutinizing eyes with composure:

"Your Majesty, neither Prince Xie nor Jiang Dusheng are easy opponents. If we forcibly intercept and kill them near Changling City, even if we succeed, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. Moreover, the commotion will be too great, which may alarm the court and the public, creating unnecessary variables and speculations. It is also difficult to guarantee that the news will not leak out, leaving behind future troubles."

He paused slightly, observing that Emperor Cangqi's expression had not completely calmed down, and continued:

"Therefore, I let them go, making them think they had escaped by sheer luck, but in reality, it was a ploy to lure them in."

"The best time to strike will be when they are far away from Changling City, feel safe, and lower their guard. At that time, we can not only capture them both and eliminate any future troubles, but also avoid the eyes and ears of the imperial city and keep the situation under control."

Emperor Cangqi listened in silence, slowing the rhythm of his tapping on the table, his eyes shifting as he weighed the weight of Shi Qinglian's words.

His gaze was fixed on Shi Qinglian's face, then he suddenly changed the subject, asking seemingly casually but actually probingly:

"Qinglian, no matter what, Jiang Dusheng is your senior brother Huiming's personal disciple, your junior nephew. How could you... really bring yourself to harm her? I've heard that Huiming wasn't entirely without affection for you; in fact, he was quite protective of you."

Shi Qinglian's expression remained unchanged, and even her gaze did not waver in the slightest.

He lowered his head slightly, his voice steady without a ripple, "Your Majesty, before the Great Dao, all sentiments are illusory. My senior brother... chose his path. And in my heart, from the day I decided to serve Your Majesty, there is no more Nanchan Temple, nor any sect."

Shi Qinglian paused briefly, then looked up to meet Emperor Cangqi's deep gaze, which held only a cold, clear intensity:

"My senior brother is my senior brother, and my junior brother is my junior brother. If they choose to oppose His Majesty, they will become my enemies. In my heart, there is only His Majesty, and only His Majesty's country and its people. Anyone who obstructs His Majesty or endangers the country, regardless of kinship, shall be executed."

He spoke these words without any emotion, and his resolute demeanor even sent a chill down one's spine.

Emperor Cangqi stared intently at him, as if trying to find even the slightest trace of pretense on Shi Qinglian's face.

However, all he saw was a bottomless pool, undisturbed.

After a long pause, Emperor Cangqi slowly leaned back on his dragon throne, his tone becoming inscrutable:

"Oh? Affection is illusory, the true path is real... You see things very clearly. Then I will only ask about the result."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp: "Where are they now? And how can you guarantee that, as you say, you can wipe them all out and eliminate any future trouble?"