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Despite being a eunuch, Liu Yuan's voice was uniquely recognizable, resonating with a melancholic yet alluring tone, akin to that of a rare female lead in an opera.

Gu Changjin remarked, "Venerable Eunuch Liu's visit must be in connection with Lord Supervisor Yang."

Liu Yuan's smile remained unwavering as he replied, "Indeed, I've come tonight to discuss a business proposition with Your Excellency."

With that said, he personally opened the carriage door for Gu Changjin, "Please, Your Excellency Gu."

Gu Changjin climbed into the carriage efficiently. Liu Yuan offered him a cup of tea at just the right temperature. Observing Gu Changjin take a sip without hesitation, he chuckled, "Your Excellency Gu possesses great audacity."

Who would dare to drink tea offered by someone they had just met for the first time?

By drinking the tea, Gu Changjin displayed his sincerity and trust in Liu Yuan.

Or rather, when it came to dealing with Yang Xu, this Lord Gu trusted Liu Yuan.

Gu Changjin inquired, "May I ask what kind of trade Venerable Eunuch Liu has in mind?"

Liu Yuan replied, "On the day of Your Excellency Gu's wedding, I sent a secret letter to you. I assume that you have likely presented it to the Grand Censor."

Speaking up to this point, he lifted his eyelids slightly, subtly sizing up Gu Changjin without leaving any traces.

After that official Gu and the demoted official Guan from Datong Prefecture had presented their case in the Throne Room before Emperor Jiayou, both had thoroughly caught the emperor's attention.

These two young men both possessed a fearless spirit, like calves unafraid of tigers. Liu Yuan originally thought that upon receiving the letter, Gu Changjin would eagerly use the Xue Li'er incident to bring Yang Xu before the Throne Room.

But he didn't.

Instead, he even traced the clues back to Liu Yuan himself.

When Liu Yuan realized he was being monitored, he was startled at first, but then followed by a genuine admiration.

No wonder that person asked him to deliver the evidence to this particular official, rather than to any of the more powerful officials in the Criminal Ministry.

Ever since Yang Xu became Pei Da's adopted son and gained power, he hadn't hesitated to do wicked deeds. Over the years, Liu Yuan had gathered enough incriminating evidence to fill a basket.

Yet, that person only instructed him to send a seemingly insignificant letter that could never truly bring about Yang Xu's downfall.

Initially, Liu Yuan was unsure of the sender's intentions, but now he had come to understand.

That letter was a test.

If Gu Changjin failed this test, there would be no need for Liu Yuan to wait for him in this Wutong Alley today.

Gu Changjin didn't mention who currently held the letter, but calmly asked, "Eunuch Liu, do you have another 'secret letter' for me today?"

Liu Yuan pushed a wooden box forward and said, "Everything that Lord Gu desires is inside. I'm delivering all this evidence to you with one request—"

"That you haven't seen me tonight, Your Excellency."

Gu Changjin didn't open the box. Instead, he gazed at Liu Yuan and spoke slowly, "Eunuch Liu is Yang Xu's most capable adopted son. Why do you want to use the Ministry of Justice to bring down Yang Xu?"

Liu Yuan replied, "Fine birds choose their perches wisely. Though I am Yang Xu's foster son, he is not my true master. As for who my true master is—"

He smiled, his words carrying hidden meaning, "With Lord Gu's capabilities, you should find out soon enough."

Liu Yuan refrained from revealing who was behind him, a move that Gu Changjin had anticipated. He didn't push the matter and instead asked a rather abrupt question.

"Did you send someone to kill Zhong Xueyan?"

The carriage fell silent for a moment.

The smile on Liu Yuan's face flickered with an indiscernible expression for an instant.

"Yes," he admitted.

Upon hearing this confirmation, another bout of silence ensued.

Under the autumn moonlight as white as frost, shadows danced across the ground through the gaps in the phoenix trees.

Gu Changjin lifted his gaze and spoke softly, "You've spared no effort to ensure Yang Xu's downfall. You lured Xu Li'er and Zhong Xueyan out of their cages, only to ensnare them in your schemes once more. From the very beginning, you treated them as disposable pawns."

"Are they pawns, but not you and I?" Liu Yuan's delicate features were veiled by a veil of detachment. "Lord Gu, pitying other pawns while being in the game is a cardinal sin. Had it not been for my people knowing they couldn't harm you at the post station that day, you might still be lying in bed, unable to rise."

Gu Changjin's expression turned cold. "He injured my wife." His tone carried an air of accusation.

Liu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

This was somewhat unexpected.

The Imperial Guards' spies were scattered throughout every corner of Great Yin. According to the information he had gathered, Lord Gu and his wife didn't have much affection for each other.

Maintaining a calm expression, Liu Yuan bowed slightly and spoke sincerely, "Please allow me to apologize on behalf of my foolish subordinate to Lady Gu."

Gu Changjin didn't respond to that, only nodding faintly before taking the wooden box and stepping down from the carriage.

Shadows from the trees enveloped him, casting a layer of darkness over his profound face.

Without turning back, he paused for a few breaths before asking with a deep gaze, "In your game, has Xue Li'er now become a useless piece?"

Liu Yuan was taken aback. After a moment, he gazed deeply at Gu Changjin's disappearing figure swallowed by the darkness and said, "Lord Gu, rest assured. Xue Li'er is indeed a useless piece. Our people won't touch her anymore."

Only then did Gu Changjin stride away.

Upon returning to the Gu residence, he handed the wooden box to Heng Ping and instructed, "Take this wooden box to the study and keep a close eye on it. I'll be bringing it to the Ministry of Justice tomorrow."

With those words, he strode towards the Six Vast Hall.

Should Liu Yuan appear in Phoenix Alley, news would certainly reach the Six Vast Hall.

He had to personally inform Xu Fu about his conversation with Liu Yuan and the incident at the Donghua Gate that day.

Liu Yuan was right – Xu Li'er and Zhong Xueyan were mere pawns.

Wasn't he one as well?

...

After the Cold Food Festival, the capital was enveloped in a dozen days of persistent autumn rain. The water washed away all traces of blood from the steps of the Eastern Depot, leaving only the aftermath of the masses' petition. During this period, officials from the Obeying Heaven Mansion and the Ministry of Justice repeatedly entered and exited the Eastern Depot, even accompanied by a few censors from the Board of Censors.

Ying Que, with her intolerance for injustice, visited the outer courtyard daily to gather information. Upon her return, she would spend the afternoon chatting with Rong Shu.