Chang Ji scratched his cheek, deep in thought for a moment, before cautiously stating, "I only know it has something to do with the Eastern Depot, but as for the specifics, Master didn't tell me. Most likely, Heng Ping was assigned to keep an eye on Eunuch Yang, since Lady JIN doesn't have many days left."

Nanny An glanced at him and nodded faintly. "Did Young Master mention where he'll be spending the night?"

Chang Ji replied, "Master said the Ministry of Punishments is busy with year-end matters, so he'll be sleeping in the study from now on."

Upon hearing this, Nanny An's worried heart finally found some relief. Upon returning to Liumiao Hall, she happened to encounter Lin Qingyue, who was leaving. With a cold look, she asked, "Where are you going?"

Lin Qingyue twisted her handkerchief nervously and softly called out, "Auntie!" But she refused to disclose her destination.

Nanny An knew exactly where she intended to go and didn't press the matter further. Instead, she coldly instructed, "Madam will be waking up soon. Go to the kitchen and heat some water. If I catch you wandering around the estate like this again, I'll break your legs!"

Without another glance at Lin Qingyue, Nanny An composed herself and entered the main residence.

Xu Fu was already awake. Nanny An helped her sit up and asked, "Qingyue is fetching water. What would Miss San like for breakfast today?"

Xu Fu didn't respond immediately, only smiling at Nanny An and saying, "You've talked to Chang Ji and Heng Ping, haven't you? Are you reassured now?"

Realizing she couldn't hide anything from Xu Fu, Nanny An chuckled. "As expected, Miss San knows Young Master best. Chang Ji just told me that Young Master will be resting in the study tonight."

Xu Fu raised an eyebrow. "So soon? I thought Yan'er could hold out for three or four days."

In Xu Fu's eyes, Rong Shu's departure for ten days had indeed made her feel somewhat concerned about her husband's coldness.

Not consummating their marriage, not sleeping in the same bed, and always wearing a cold expression – any young maiden would feel upset under such circumstances. Especially if that maiden deeply loved Gu Changjin.

Gu Changjin had spent the previous night in Songsi Courtyard, likely to comfort Rong Shu. Xu Fu had assumed he would remain patient longer, but to her surprise, he couldn't endure it for even a day.

Nanny An poured Xu Fu a cup of hot tea and said with a smile, "If Young Master can remain calm, this old servant will be at ease."

Although Third Miss had repeatedly assured her that Young Master wouldn't take a liking to Rong, every time Nanny An thought of Rong Shu's captivating face, more enchanting than her mother's, she couldn't help but worry. Upon learning that Gu Changjin had spent the night in Songsi Courtyard, her heart had been in turmoil, making it impossible for her to sleep.

Didn't that man fall because of his lust for beauty?

Young Master was that man's son, and Nanny An genuinely feared that he might inherit his father's weakness.

But judging from the current situation, Young Master had grown up under Third Miss's care and seemed to have a clear head.

Xu Fu said, "Nanny, there's no need to keep a constant eye on the Songsi Courtyard anymore. After the New Year, I'll have to persuade Yan'er to return there for rest. Given his injuries and the workload at the Ministry of Justice, it's understandable that he stays in the study for now. But if this continues after the New Year, Shen Yizhen will have something to say about it."

Nanny An sneered disdainfully. "What could she possibly say? She's just a fool who can't even hold onto a man's heart."

Xu Fu's smile faded slightly as she lowered her eyes.

"In any case, you don't need to worry about the affairs in the Songsi Courtyard. Even if the day comes when Yan'er consummates his marriage with Rong Shu, there's no need to panic. Men have basic desires; once he has experienced the company of a woman, he won't be easily bewitched by beauty in the future."

"Moreover, I don't want a puppet who nods along obediently. Yan'er is growing up and should start exploring the world on his own. By allowing him to handle the Xu Li'er case, he proved himself capable. Nanny, remember not to treat him like a child anymore. Yan'er has now grown his own wings; he's no longer the boy he once was."

Chapter 22

On the thirteenth of September, Emperor Jiayou personally wrote his approval in red ink on the new verdict for the Xu Li'er case.

Xu Li'er and Jin were finally exonerated, leaving the Ministry of Justice's prison. Yang Rong, Yang Xu's nephew, was imprisoned in the Taiyi Temple jail, awaiting execution.

Initially, the Ministry of Justice had sentenced Yang Rong to a term in prison, but Emperor Jiayou, to set an example, changed his sentence to death with a temporary reprieve.

As for Yang Xu, Yang Rong's uncle, ever since Gu Changjin presented the injustice on behalf of the people in the imperial hall on August nineteenth, he had been removed from Emperor Jiayou's side.

He was once one of the six chief scribes, the most favored foster son of the powerful Grand Enforcer Pei Shunnian. Otherwise, Pei Shunnian wouldn't have entrusted the Eastern Depot to him.

However, after Xu Li'er's case reached Emperor Jiayou, Pei Shunnian's attitude toward Yang Xu became intriguing.

For half a month, Yang Xu couldn't sleep through a single night.

He despised Gu Changjin and the officials at the Ministry of Justice to the core. Eventually, his hatred even extended to his own nephew, Yang Rong.

Upon hearing that Emperor Jiayou had personally reduced Yang Rong's sentence from imprisonment to death with reprieve, he couldn't care less about anything else. Early in the morning, he knelt before the main hall of the Supervisor of Ceremonies' office.

After the morning court session of the previous dynasty, Pei Shunnian accompanied Emperor Jiayou in the Palace of Heavenly Purity for a while before returning to the Supervisor of Ceremonies. It was almost the hour of Sheep by the time he arrived.

The moment Yang Xu caught sight of him, he scrambled over on all fours, repeatedly calling out "Foster Father."

Pei Shunnian, however, ignored him and entered the office without any expression on his face.

Yang Xu crawled forward on his knees, the sound of them thudding against the floor echoing in the room.

"Foster Father! Foster Father! Please pay attention to me! I know my mistake! I truly know my mistake!"

Pei Shunnian sat down on an intricately carved rosewood armchair, casting a sideways glance at Yang Xu.

"Get up right now! Aren't you ashamed enough?!"

The fact that he was willing to scold him meant that Pei Shunnian had not given up on him yet.

With tears and snot marring his face, Yang Xu promptly responded with two "ehs," shakily standing up.

Pei Shunnian continued, "Back in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, I made it clear to His Majesty that you had no knowledge of your nephew's actions in Changping Prefecture. For now, His Majesty has agreed to keep you in your position as the head of the Eastern Depot, but you won't be serving in His presence for a while. Go to the Imperial Household Agency and cool off for two years. When His Majesty forgets about your nephew's incident, you can return."

Yang Xu understood that this was Pei Shunnian's way of asking him to distance himself from Yang Rong. He fell back to his knees and wailed, "My elder brother only has Rong'er as a child. I feel rootless without him. Now, all I hope for is that Rong'er will carry on our family line for the old Yang clan!"