Pei Tan stared into the man's eyes, having heard that a person's eyes would never lie.

  "Let him go." Pei Tan said, staring at him.

  The officials were stunned, but the bound dead soldier suddenly became furious, "You might as well kill me!"

  The mission of a dead soldier has failed, and he cannot return to his master. From the moment he was captured, there is only one outcome left for him.

  Pei Tan said calmly: "My Dali Temple will not trample on human life."

  The Dalai Lama was sentenced to death and had to be tried jointly by the three departments, reported to the Ministry of Punishment, filed for future reference, and not a single step could be omitted.

  Bai Tan left prison, but he didn't really intend to release him. Releasing a killer would be a disaster for the people.

  But soon after that, this dead man didn't need him to worry anymore. There are more ways for a person to die than just swallowing poison.

  "He's gone on a hunger strike." He won't eat or drink anything, at most he can only hold out for a few days.

  "Let him go."

  The Da Li Temple will not trample on human life, but if a wicked person is destined to die, there's no reason for it to stop him.

  The middle hall of Wenxi Inn, two black-and-white-faced actors are performing a play called "Big Face".

  These two days, the number of guests in the hostel suddenly decreased a lot, even the boss felt strange and couldn't understand it, especially since it's near the exam period, this kind of thing has never happened before.

  An old man with a solemn face sat at an inconspicuous table in the corner, staring at the actors on stage. His hands were tapping out the rhythm under the table.

  Next to him, a well-dressed man shifted his gaze and slowly approached: "Lord Shangshu, the matter you instructed us to handle, those people have already taken their money and left Chang'an. There is only one... who is not easy to deal with."

  Zong Chuke was speechless.

  That fellow lowered his head, pretending to pour tea, and said: "The person is the one that the young master of the Ministry of Revenue's Xue family has taken a liking to. He was asked to write several pieces, saying that he would definitely be able to enter the top three grades without any problem. Unfortunately, that person doesn't listen very well."

  "What do you mean by disobedient?"

  That fellow said: "The Xue family has offered a price, but that person insists on going to the examination himself. He is quite unappreciative of favors."

  Zong Chuke stared at the actor on stage, "Then let him go on stage himself. Chang'an City has many examinees, and there must be those who listen to orders." Ten years of hard study, whether or not one can pass the exam is like a gamble. It's better to take some money back home, which also counts as returning home in glory. Most poor examinees would make such a choice, but it's hard to guarantee that there won't be any die-hards.

  That fellow lowered his head: "However... it's said that the article was seen by Lord Wei, and he was quite pleased. He intends to recommend it to Your Majesty..."

  The meaning was entirely different now, and Zhong Chuke's hand, which had been tapping out a rhythm on the table, suddenly stopped.

  "Then get rid of it." He said in a cold tone.

  The fellow's face turned gloomy, "Now there's trouble. Yesterday at the Temple of Great Wisdom, Pei Tan killed three of our dead warriors, and that corpse with the surname Fan is still in the temple."

  "What's it to you?"

  The fellow lowered his head: "The Xue family is worried that taking action at this time will cause... a lot of trouble."

  Zong Chuke looked at the shopkeeper, "Now that people from the five surnames and seven clans have started to fear a third-rank Temple Master? Is it not that with time, all of you will have to kneel before that youngster and listen to his orders?"

  The fellow's face changed color, he lowered his head and didn't speak, as soon as the name of Pei Tan was mentioned, Zong Shangshu would become different from before.

  Zong Chuke said, "After the imperial examination, there is still the palace examination. Tell the Xue family that if they can't make a move, there are many families waiting in line behind them." He picked up the wine glass beside him and drank it all in one gulp.

  The buddy quietly left the table.

  After the dog hour, the guests gradually decreased, and the big show on stage ended with people dispersing.

  Jing Wan'er walked into the study and found it empty. She couldn't help but ask the guard standing at the door, "Where is Sir?"

  "His Excellency has entered the palace."

  Jing Wan'er was slightly surprised.

  These past few days, so many things have happened at the Temple of Great Rites. First, all the eunuchs died. Among the officials, there are people with unclear identities. Perhaps, Pei Tan should have taken time to enter the palace earlier.

  After some thought, Jing Wanyi fell silent.

  She looked at the oil lamp on the table and involuntarily walked forward to turn it around. The door of the secret room opened, "I'll go take a look at Lin Niang."

  Along the dim corridor to Lin Jingjing's bedside, Jing Wanyan lifted up Lin Jingjing's wound, the festering knife wound, no longer seeping blood, yet still terrifying.

  "Lin Niang, when will you wake up?" Jing Wanyu couldn't help but sigh.

  Seeing Lin Jingjing, she couldn't help but cover her own arm, and the wound on her arm was also aching slightly.

  Lin Jingjing on the bed suddenly hummed a tune.

  Jing Wan'er's hand stopped in mid-air, and she looked at that pale face, "Lin Niang?"

  Lin Jingjing's eyes occasionally flashed for a moment, as if she was about to wake up but hadn't yet, and her whole body convulsed. Jing Waner was shocked.

  Just then, Pei Shuaiwei flashed out of the secret passage, and Jing Yuanyu couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong with Lin Niang?"

  Pai's guard reached out and took Lin Jingjing's pulse, his face sinking as he said, "Her meridians are blocked, her blood is being obstructed."

  Blocked? Jing Wanyu's face turned slightly pale: "Do we need to call a doctor?"

  Pei Shuaiwei helped Lin Jingjing up and glanced at Jing Wanyu: "You wait outside for now."

  Jing Wan'er bit her lower lip and could only retreat for now.

  It's really unexpected that the house leaks and it's windy with continuous rain. If something happens to Lin Jingjing again at this time, the Dali Temple will indeed be unlucky everywhere.

  She retreated back into Pei Tan's study, her eyes scanning and landing on the article spread out on the desk.

  That's what was retrieved from Fan Wenjun's room at Wuxi Inn. Unexpectedly, Pei Tan had been reading this article all along.

  Jing Wan'er couldn't help but look at this article, the first time she saw the owner of this article was a completely disfigured corpse. She had spent several hours with him in a coffin, and to say that it was as if they shared a chilling fate that made one's back run cold.

  Jing Yuanner was originally the daughter of the Jing family, naturally she had learned to write characters. Fan Wenjun's handwriting is all elegant small regular script, a perfect masterpiece.

  A woman like Lin Jingjing can make someone fall in love with her regardless of her background, Fan Wenjun is definitely not an ordinary poor scholar.

  "What are you looking at?" A sudden soft voice made Jing Wanyan jump in surprise.

  She looked at the man who appeared in the doorway, wearing a three-piece court dress, which made Pei Tan look like an intimidating "master".

  "Really......" Jing Wanyu stared at Pei Tan and said in surprise, "You've returned from the palace?"

  Pei Tan put the black hat in his hand on the shelf and walked in. He saw that the oil lamp on the table had changed its position, and his eyes moved: "Did you enter the secret passage? How is Lin Jingjing?"

  Jing Wan'er subconsciously said: "Pei Shuaiwei is inside. Lin Niangzi was a bit off just now..."

  Pei Tan looked at her, and the girl's face was somewhat unnatural. She lowered her head slightly and asked: "Have you told His Majesty about what happened in Dali Temple?"

  Pei Tan said faintly: "I did not see Your Majesty."

  Jing Wan'er was surprised, "Didn't see Your Majesty?"

  Pei went into the palace, apparently to find Zhong Zong, but how could he not have seen him?

  Pei Tan shook his head: "Let's talk about this later, follow me to take a look at Lin Jingjing."

  The door of the secret room was opened again, and Jing Yuanyu said uncomfortably: "Pei Shuaiwei asked me to wait outside."

  Pei Tan glanced at her: "Don't worry."

  Two people walked in and saw Pei Shuaiwei sitting cross-legged on the bed with his eyes closed, transmitting true energy to Lin Jingjing.

  Pei Tan remained silent beside him.

  After a while, Pei Shuaiwei opened his eyes and saw Pei Tan and Jing Yuanner by the bed.

  "Prince." Pei's attendant came down from beside the bed.

  "Is he all right?" Pei Tan asked.

  Pai's expression was unreadable, "For now, she should be fine, if she can make it through tonight."

  This was obviously not good news either, and Jing Wanyu's face showed concern.

  Pei Shuaiwei slightly furrowed his brow: "The young master's matter of entering the palace?" Pei Tan had entered the palace an hour ago, and now he was back, which was a bit too quick.

  "Someone in the palace has stopped me," said Pei Tanliang after a long conversation.

  Jing Wan'er's expression changed, and she couldn't help but look at Pei Tan. If she wasn't mistaken, Pei Tan had a golden token bestowed by the Emperor himself, which allowed him to bypass the usual reporting procedures and directly enter the Imperial Palace's Zichen Hall for an audience with the Emperor.

  How can anyone stop it?

  "This is a secret chamber, don't worry about it being leaked. Pei Tan said slowly: 'The Empress Dowager is guarding the Zichen Hall.'"

  The two people opposite each other both had a flicker of unusual color on their faces.

  Wei Empress?

  "The Empress Dowager said that Your Majesty had caught a chill two days ago and was feeling unwell, and had not seen any of the ministers for several days."

  If it were Empress Wu herself in the Zichen Hall, then Pei Yan would not be able to see Emperor Zhongzong even with all his gold plaques.

  "Sir, don't you think all of this is too coincidental?"

  I still remember that in the case of Zong Huo, Pei Tan and the Dali Temple were able to directly overpower the Shangshu Fu, and behind it was precisely because of this emperor. This is what is meant by imperial power, which naturally surpasses everything else.

  But how coincidental, in the autumn of many events at Dali Temple, Zhongzong also happened to be "ill". Was he really ill or was it a rumor intentionally spread by someone with ulterior motives.

  Pei Tantan took off his official uniform and changed into casual clothes from the wardrobe.

  "The emperor and empress are deeply in love, no matter how outsiders gossip, it won't affect their relationship." Pei Tan turned around, just about to tie his belt, when he saw the young girl walk over, her slender hand holding up the belt, effortlessly tying a knot.

  In fact, the relationship between the emperor and empress has long been more than just a simple romance. Your Majesty has been in decline for over ten years, and it was Empress Wei who stood by your side all along. The smooth succession of Emperor Zhongzong was actually the result of the careful planning of the Wei family.

  The most complicated thing in this world is this kind of relationship that mixes emotions, calculations and interests.

  Pei Shuaiwei said quietly at this time: "Isn't the young master saying that those three unidentified yamen runners are actually delegated by the Ministry of Punishment, and the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment is a legitimate nephew of Empress Wei?"

  Jing Wan'er's hand paused, and she raised an eyebrow.

  Last time they just faced a Shangshu Fu, this time even the Empress and the Chancellor are involved?

  "It's not the Empress Dowager who is blocking you, but Your Majesty. You are avoiding meeting with Lord Lin." The girl's eyes sparkled with clarity, "Just like when dealing with Zong and Huo, Your Majesty only gave Lord Lin two words: 'temporary measure'." Meaning to privately deal with Zong and Huo, no need to make a fuss in the imperial court.

  If this time even the empress is involved, as Your Majesty, shouldn't you prioritize protecting your bedfellow first?

  "From now on," Jing Wanyu's eyes had a hint of softness, "perhaps the adults are fighting alone?"

  These words seemed to make the room a few degrees colder. Pei Tan looked at Jing Wanyan's eyes, and for the first time, he was taken aback by her sharp silence.