After the noble lady was reborn, the whole mansion begged her for forgiveness

The night, like a gentle beauty, descends silently on this vast land. She slowly covers the sky with deep blue silk and gently embraces all things in her arms.

All around, everything is silent, only the soft singing of the wind and the chirping of insects interweave into the music of the night, melodious and mysterious.

Until one quarter past three in the middle of the night, the dull sound of the night watchman's drum, like an ancient call, suddenly broke the tranquility of the night, carrying with it a sense of ominousness and solemnity.

A night watchman, with a hunched back and a tired face, was waving the gong in his hand with great effort. The copper gong surface glowed dimly in the night, and every strike seemed to tell the vicissitudes of time.

He staggered along the towering walls of the Dali Temple; each step seemed particularly heavy, as if he was carrying an invisible burden.

Suddenly, an inexplicable chill surged up from the bottom of his heart, like ice piercing his bones, making the hairs on his body stand up instantly.

Although his beloved wife at home was worried that he would catch a cold tonight and had bought him two thick cotton-padded jackets, the warmth seemed to still remain between his clothes, but the coldness at this moment was so real that he could not help but tighten his clothes and quicken his pace, trying to dispel the inexplicable fear and uneasiness.

He secretly admired his wife in his heart for her thoughtfulness. The wind tonight was indeed colder than usual, and it carried a bit of an ominous omen.

However, just as his thoughts were racing, a grayish-white figure rushed out from the Dali Temple like a ghost, as fast as lightning, and instantly merged into the boundless night, leaving behind only a faint, elusive breath.

The next morning, the air after the rain was exceptionally fresh, with the fragrance of green grass, as if it could wash away all the dust in the world.

In the second half of last night, there was a continuous drizzle, which moistened the earth but also left slippery marks all over the ground.

Qi Qiyuan, dressed in court robes, had just walked out of the courtyard, preparing to attend the solemn morning court.

Although he was always on the edge of the ranks of court officials, his desire and pursuit for power made him never give up the idea of ​​getting closer to the core circle.

However, just as he was about to set out on the road to the palace, an unexpected figure appeared in his sight - it was his sister Qi Feicui, gentle and lovely, wearing a light green outer garment embroidered with white plum blossoms, which made her look even more refined as she swayed in the wind.

She was accompanied only by a strange maid, who stood quietly not far away, as if waiting for him.

"Third sister? Why are you here so early in the morning?"

Qi Qiyuan was filled with doubt and confusion, and quickly took a few steps forward and asked with concern.

He knew very well that his sister had a gentle personality and would never show up at this moment unless there was something important to discuss.

Qi Feicui smiled slightly, and that smile was like the warm sunshine in spring, instantly dispelling the haze in his heart.

"Brother, are you going to the morning court?" she asked softly, her voice gentle and crisp.

"Exactly. Are you waiting for me here? What's the important matter?"

Qi Qiyuan thought to himself that if it wasn't an urgent matter, he would definitely help his sister with all his strength.

After all, he had always felt pity and guilt towards his sister over the years.

"I do have something important to discuss with you, but it's not for myself." Qi Feicui's eyes flashed with a trace of determination and expectation, "I want to take advantage of the east wind to help you rise to the top, what do you think?"

After saying this, she stood facing the wind with a faint smile on her lips. Her graceful figure looked even more otherworldly in the morning light.

She is like the bamboos outside the yard, tenacious, quiet and elegant, making people involuntarily respect and yearn for her.

Until the majestic and solemn hall slowly came into view. The morning light shone through the gaps in the glazed tiles, sprinkling on the bluestone floor in patches. The golden light and jade shadows complemented each other, illuminating every courtier who stepped in.

Qi Qiyuan walked slowly with the crowd. His colleagues beside him either greeted him with a smile or talked in a low voice, but he seemed to be still immersed in the aftermath of the soul-stirring conversation in the morning, with the turmoil in his heart unsettled.

His eyes were deep as he looked into the distance. In his heart, he was amazed at the hidden wisdom of his sister Qi Feicui, but also felt a bit of indescribable complex emotions - the sharp edge beneath the gentle appearance made him feel both gratified and unfamiliar.

Inside the hall, the atmosphere was heavy and solemn. The echo of every footstep seemed to speak of the weight of power.

Qi Qiyuan suddenly turned his gaze towards the head of all officials. There, Wei Jianghai was standing upright in official uniform, his back as straight as a pine tree. Even though his back was facing away from everyone, his calmness and bearing were still hard to ignore.

He is the Minister of Dali Temple, the right-hand man of His Majesty, and his reputation for loyalty resounds throughout the court and the country. But after today, will this loyalty remain the same, or will he become a victim in the power struggle? Qi Qiyuan pondered in his heart, with a trace of worry in his eyes.

Outside the Wende Hall, a clear and shrill voice broke the silence. It was the unique voice of Eunuch Wu, announcing the arrival of Emperor Dongyue.

For a moment, all eyes in the hall were focused on the door, waiting for the supreme figure to enter.

Qi Qiyuan secretly calculated in his heart that if what Qi Feicui said was true, this might be a major turning point in his career, just like taking advantage of the east wind and soaring to the sky.

"If you have a plan, report early. If you don't, leave the court."

Emperor Dongyue's voice was low and powerful, and with every step he took into the hall, it seemed to step on everyone's heart.

He was dressed in court robes embroidered with soaring golden dragons, shining with golden light and looking extremely majestic. The jade ruyi carved from red sandalwood in his hand further demonstrated his supreme dignity and power.

His eyelids were slightly lowered, and his eyes contained both laziness and unquestionable majesty, making people dare not look directly at him.

Chen Zhizhou bowed and saluted, his voice firm and powerful: "I have a report to make! Yesterday, when I was trying a case in Hangzhou, I encountered a sudden change. Sun Ning, the deputy commander of the Palace Front Department, favored his concubine and killed his wife, and condoned his concubine to kill his own son. The evidence is conclusive. I wanted to transfer the case file to the Dali Temple, but unexpectedly, Sun Ning died suddenly in the Dali Temple last night. There are many doubts in this matter. I beg Your Majesty to investigate carefully and give justice to the deceased!"

Before the morning court session, Chen Zhizhou had struggled countless times in his heart.

He knew very well that behind Sun Ning's death might be a deeper palace struggle, and it might even be closely related to the second prince.

However, when he saw with his own eyes the Second Prince walk into the hall as usual, his doubts instantly dissipated.

He suddenly realized that His Majesty's move was actually to protect the Second Prince and prevent him from being dragged into a deeper vortex because of Sun Ning's affairs.

Sun Ning’s sudden death is just a wake-up call, reminding everyone that the majesty of imperial power cannot be violated and any provocation will pay a heavy price.