Fujiwara Shifei felt relieved after thinking it through.
She exchanged a few more pleasantries with Zheng Wei and Sima Han, then prepared to leave.
After a few steps, she turned back to look at them and said, "Send a message to Lu Taobao, tell him to send Yingying back."
Zheng Wei looked at Fujiwara Shifei with some dismay. Didn't she agree to Bai Ying returning with Lu Taobao for the New Year?
It was only the third day of the new year, and she wanted her back already?
Fujiwara Shifei clearly remembered this as well and felt a slight pang of annoyance.
She had been preoccupied with other thoughts and had momentarily forgotten about it.
With a hint of embarrassment on her face, she cleared her throat and added, "Then let's have her return in two days. That is, still send a message to them. Even if Lu Taobao doesn't return, have Yingying come back. Her cultivation cannot be interrupted, otherwise, all her hard work will be in vain."
Zheng Wei nodded seriously upon hearing this.
This was true.
Although he didn't know what Fujiwara Shifei was teaching Bai Ying, both of them were always exceptionally diligent. They shouldn't be influenced by Lu Taobao.
If Lu Taobao knew Zheng Wei's thoughts, he would surely beat his chest and stomp his feet. What kind of luck was this? Didn't he know he was pursuing a wife?
Not only was he not helping, but he was also pulling him down with outsiders.
After everyone left, Zheng Wei and Sima Han went to the west side room to see Ruan Ruan.
Today, Ruan Ruan was back to her usual state.
Due to this illness, Ruan Ruan had lost all her facial fullness. Her small, palm-sized face and pointed chin made her appear even thinner and more delicate.
Zheng Wei, heartbroken, held Ruan Ruan in his arms and whispered, "Ruan Ruan is finally well. Father will have someone make delicious food for you, and you must eat well to recover."
Ruan Ruan didn't understand what Zheng Wei was saying. She stared blankly at Zheng Wei with her big, round eyes.
Her gaze made Zheng Wei's heart ache.
While this place was filled with warmth, the Imperial Capital was in an uproar once again.
After daylight, the guards from the Prince Duan's manor began searching the streets and even inns, claiming that Prince Duan had been attacked last night and they were apprehending the assassin.
Panic immediately spread through the Imperial Capital, with everyone fearing that the perpetrator might be among them.
Even the Prince Duan's manor of Da Chu was not safe. If even a prince could be assassinated, what else could not be dared?
Consequently, despite it being the festive season, the streets were suddenly deserted.
Zheng Wei and the others heard about this from Huo Fen during breakfast.
Huo Fen, in turn, had heard it from a servant who had gone out to buy ingredients.
As Huo Fen spoke, she looked at Zheng Wei cautiously. After all, Zheng Wei had stayed at Prince Duan's manor last night and only returned this morning.
Huo Fen pondered for a moment and shook her head.
It couldn't be Master Zheng.
Although she had learned over time that Master Zheng had no fondness for Prince Duan's family, and even harbored deep disgust, she still believed he wouldn't go so far as to assassinate Prince Duan.
Moreover, if Zheng Wei were the assassin from last night, would he still have returned today?
Even if he could return, why would the people from Prince Duan's manor go to such lengths to search randomly on the streets? Wouldn't it be easier to just arrest him directly?
Therefore, all this indicated that the assassin had nothing to do with Master Zheng.
With this thought, Huo Fen let out a long sigh of relief.
It wasn't that she was a coward and feared being implicated by Zheng Wei. It was just that she still had several young ones at home, and Madam Shen was currently lying unconscious in bed. If Master Zheng were to meet with any misfortune, what would happen to the young lady and the young masters?
Placing the food on the table, Huo Fen respectfully withdrew.
Before leaving, she stole a glance at those sitting down to eat, feeling a great sense of ease.
The number of people in the household was increasing. Although most of them were mysterious and rarely seen, she could sense that they were all extraordinary and had good relationships with their masters.
This was for the best. After all, with more people, there was more strength, and they wouldn't have to fear any accidents.
The people eating were unaware of Huo Fen's thoughts. If they had known, they would have been greatly surprised, never imagining that the usually reticent Huo Fen possessed such a delicate mind.
After breakfast, Sima Han said he was going out, but he didn't specify where.
However, everyone knew that he was likely going to inquire about the situation at Prince Duan's manor. Also, there had been such a major incident in the Forbidden City during the New Year's banquet, and several days had passed, so it was unclear how it had been handled.
However, before Sima Han could leave, his plans were disrupted.
Someone had arrived from the Forbidden City.
This time, it was Jiang Yubao, who was by Sima Hao's side.
Jiang Yubao walked into the room with a smile, respectfully greeted everyone, and then, bowing, his gaze fell upon Sima Han and Yizhixie. "Fifth Prince, Grand Tutor, the Grand Emperor requests that you both come to the palace, as there are matters to discuss."
Sima Han and Yizhixie exchanged a look upon hearing this, both feeling a bit puzzled. What matters required their consultation?
Although they were confused, their expressions remained calm.
Sima Han stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes, and smoothed out the creases on his sleeves before saying, "Since it is an important matter, we naturally must go."
Yizhixie said nothing, but rose and followed him out.
As he reached the doorway, he suddenly turned to Namuc Zhong and said, "Muc Zhong, prepare the things. I will accompany you back to your maternal home later."
After speaking, he didn't wait for Namuc Zhong's reaction and turned around, striding to follow the two in front.
Those left in the room wore peculiar expressions, one after another.
Namuc Zhong, in particular, was completely bewildered.
Return to her maternal home?
What maternal home was he referring to?
She herself didn't even know where her maternal home was.
Zheng Wei savored this sentence, and after a long while, a different light flickered in his eyes, and a smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
This Yizhixie...
Namuc Zhong was still racking her brains, not understanding the meaning. Casually, she turned her head and saw Yizhixie smiling meaningfully. She asked curiously, "What are you smiling about? Do you know what he means?"
Zheng Wei nodded. "The meaning is very clear. This summons is not for a good banquet."
Namuc Zhong was startled, then asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Zheng Wei then explained, "Returning to one's maternal home is also known as returning to one's ancestral home. And returning to one's ancestral home..."
Zheng Wei didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.
Indeed, upon further thought, being suddenly summoned to the palace today must be related to the incident on the night of the 30th.
But what could they do? They truly couldn't refuse now.
Fortunately, the Grand Emperor only requested to see Yizhixie and Sima Han.
While everyone here was secretly worried, over there, Yizhixie and Sima Han had already entered the Grand Emperor's main chamber with calm expressions.
Several people were already in the room. Seated opposite each other on the couch were Emperor Sima Zhu and Grand Emperor Sima Hao.
To the right of Sima Zhu, sitting on a wooden chair against the wall, were two women dressed in palace attire, adorned with magnificent robes.
One of these two had a worried expression, while the other had a grim one.
The former was Lin Xiaowei, and the latter was Baili Ziyun.
Although their expressions differed, their movements were remarkably unified: both kept their heads bowed and remained silent.
The strands of hair hanging down their ears perfectly concealed their facial expressions. This was why both dared to remain unmasked.
However, this escaped the notice of Yizhixie and Sima Han.
As soon as they entered, they saw the two women. Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, both women instantly raised their heads, and their expressions became somewhat subtle after seeing who had arrived.
Looking at their expressions, Sima Han and Yizhixie found it rather peculiar.
Sima Han's internal alarm bells began to ring.
Why did he feel like this was a Hongmen Banquet?
Alright, it was still a long time until lunch after breakfast.
However, it was certain that nothing good would come of it.
After paying their respects to Sima Hao and Sima Zhu, the two sat down opposite Baili Ziyun and her companion.
Once seated, they did not speak, and their expressions remained calm.
It was as if they were not curious as to why they had been summoned, nor why no one was speaking after their arrival.
Sima Hao looked at the two, his eyes twinkling.
It was fitting for the Grand Tutor to have such composure. If he had asked directly, it would have been beyond his expectations.
However, he hadn't expected his younger son to bring him more surprises recently. Even in such a situation, he remained unfazed.
Even if he were in Sima Han's position today, facing such a scene, he might have felt a little intimidated.
But looking at Sima Han, he was like an unaffected person, lowering his eyelids as if intently examining his own fingers.
After a moment of silent admiration, he immediately felt that his decision was correct. There was no one more suitable than the Fifth Prince.
A peculiar silence lingered in the room for a while. Sima Hao and Sima Zhu exchanged a glance before finally speaking.
"Grand Tutor, the matter is as follows: on the night of the 30th banquet..."
Sima Hao stopped midway through his sentence and looked at Yizhixie, as if waiting for him to take over.
Yizhixie, however, looked at Sima Hao with a puzzled expression. What did this mean?
Sima Hao waited for a while, and seeing that Yizhixie still showed no reaction, he continued, "The Grand Tutor left for a while during the banquet that night. May I ask where the Grand Tutor went and whom he met?"
Yizhixie understood instantly and chuckled, "I went to the washroom."
Sima Hao was taken aback. He glanced at Lin Xiaowei, who was sitting beside him, and said with some hesitation, "But someone said that you used that time to arrange a meeting with her in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden..."
Sima Hao did not say who this person was, but Yizhixie and Sima Han now understood that this person was one of Lin Xiaowei or Baili Ziyun.
However, Baili Ziyun had been extremely well-behaved since being severely taught a lesson by Shen Xiaoyan.
Furthermore, she was carrying a ticking time bomb. Although Shen Xiaoyan was currently unconscious, it did not mean that she was completely fine.
In such a situation, she would not have taken the initiative to provoke them.
Eliminating Baili Ziyun, the result was obvious: it must have been Lin Xiaowei.