After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

In the late summer afternoon, the chirping of cicadas is not as noisy as in the hot summer, but it still sounds intermittently among the treetops, and the summer breeze carries heat waves through the corridors of the Secretariat.

Pei Jiaoran sat alone at her desk, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table. The cicadas chirped noisily outside the window, but they couldn't drown out the echoes of her recent confrontation with Jia Gonglu. The flickering candlelight on the table illuminated her features, beautiful yet chilling.

"Jia Gonglu, this old fox..." she whispered to herself.

"Prime Minister Pei." There was a soft knock on the door, the voice was very low.

Pei Jiaoran frowned slightly upon hearing this. No one should be visiting at this hour. She put down the red brush in her hand, and her left hand quietly pressed on the short blade hidden under the cushion beside her. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Sun Shaofeng."

The door was gently pushed open a crack, and a young woman in red official uniform flashed in, beads of sweat on her forehead. She closed the door with her backhand and pulled a white handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her forehead.

Looking at Sun Shaofeng in front of him, Pei Jiaoran suddenly remembered the time when he met her in Lizheng Hall. A trace of thought flashed in his eyes and he asked, "Why is Sun Nushi here?"

Pei Jiaoran's voice was calm, but he had already stood up and poured a cup of hot tea for the visitor.

Glancing at the steaming tea on the table, Sun Shaofeng shook her head and licked her lips, beads of sweat oozing from her forehead. "I have something important to tell you, so I had to take the risk and come here." She lowered her voice, "Your Majesty just ordered me to go to the Jixian Academy to deliver an imperial edict. The words 'Duke Zhou assists King Cheng' are written on the paper."

Pei Jiaoran's pupils shrank slightly as the words fell into her ears, and her fingertips paused tapping on the table. The late summer sun streamed through the window, casting mottled shadows on her face.

"When did it happen?" Pei Jiaoran asked.

Sun Shaofeng said: "Half an hour ago."

Pei Jiaoran abruptly stood up and walked to the window. The late summer heat mingled with the fragrance of lotus wafting from the Taiye Pond. Huo Guang, a powerful minister bolstered by the prominence of the Wei and Huo clans, had served Emperor Wu of Han for decades without a single misstep. Before his death, he was gifted the painting "Duke Zhou Assisting King Cheng." Though Huo Guang knew the story behind it, he still tearfully asked the emperor to whom he intended to entrust his son. Even after learning from the Emperor of Wei that he was a trusted minister, he remained humble and yielded to Jin Midi and others before securing his position.

His forbearance wasn't in vain; it actually helped him gain Emperor Wu's trust, and both the pro-war and pro-peace factions reconciled because of him. Ultimately, he outlasted Liu Fuling and helped Liu Bingyi, a member of his own faction, ascend to the throne. Even after his death, the Huo family was liquidated by Emperor Xuan of Han, but his treatment remained unchanged.

At this thought, a complex emotion flashed across Pei Jiaoran's eyes. The Emperor of Wei's actions were no accident, especially since the Crown Prince had left the capital and the King of Wu was eyeing him covetously. Was this a hint that he should entrust the orphan to someone? Jia Gonglu? Cen Xi? Or... herself?

"What else did Your Majesty say?" Pei Jiaoran suddenly asked.

"His Majesty has asked me to go to Lizheng Hall to serve as a clerk." Sun Shaofeng lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "I haven't agreed to this yet."

Pei Jiaoran chuckled and smiled, "Then are you willing to go?"

She knew that the Emperor of Wei was not longing for Sun Shaofeng out of lust, but because he was suffering from illness and envied such a vibrant and youthful body. He hoped to see her all the time and forget about aging and illness.

Sun Shaofeng raised his head, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, and finally he said firmly: "If I can help Prime Minister Pei relieve his worries, Shaofeng is willing to go."

Staring at her, Pei Jiaoran raised the corners of his lips slightly, but the smile did not reach his eyes: "Okay. But you must remember that every word and action in Lizheng Palace must be cautious. Although His Majesty is sick and weak, he is a thoughtful person and must not be taken lightly."

Upon hearing this, Sun Shaofeng nodded heavily: "Shaofeng understands."

"You've been out for too long. Go back so as not to attract attention." Pei Jiaoran said lightly.

Sun Shaofeng bowed and quietly retreated.

When the door closed, Pei Jiaoran returned to her desk, her fingertips gently caressing the rim of her teacup. The tea had cooled, reflecting her calm expression.

"Duke Zhou assisted King Cheng..." she repeated in a low voice, with undercurrents in her eyes.

As dusk approached, Pei Jiaoran was no longer sleepy. She tilted her head to the side of the bookcase and pulled out a volume of the Han Shu. She flipped through a few pages, her gaze lingering on the chapter "The Biography of Huo Guang and Jin Midi." In the candlelight, she squinted her eyes and smiled bitterly. "The Duke of Zhou is a rare sight, and even Bolu is a rare sight."

Waiting for dusk to fall, candles in the Secretariat lit up one by one. Pei Jiaoran sat alone at his desk, his fingertips gently stroking the words "Biography of Huo Guang and Jin Midi" in the "Book of Han," a dark glint flickering in his eyes.

The chirping of cicadas outside the window gradually died down, replaced by the measured footsteps of patrolling imperial guards in the distance. A sudden flicker of light from the candlelight on the desk illuminated her features, which were both picturesque and unusually stern. Pei Jiaoran closed his book, stood up, and walked to the window.

The fragrance of lotus flowers from Taiye Pond drifted in on the breeze, and what should have been a refreshing summer night instead made her feel a chill. She recalled the pale face of the Wei Emperor during the morning court session, and the way he coughed from time to time with his hands covering his lips, and a thought came to her mind.

"Someone come here." Pei Jiaoran called out.

Soon, an official came running in and bowed, "What are your instructions, Mr. Pei?"

"Send this memorial to the Lizheng Hall and present it to His Majesty." Pei Jiaoran smiled gently, "I must present it to His Majesty personally."

"Here."

When the bell rang in the tower, Pei Jiaoran pushed the door open and walked out to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. At this moment, the public room of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was still brightly lit, as if waiting for someone.

When I opened the door, I saw Cen Xi sitting at the desk, looking calm.

"Lord Cen." Pei Jiaoran extinguished the lantern and set it aside. He gathered his clothes, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea. "Lord Cen, what do you think Jia Gonglu will do?"

Cen Xi looked at Pei Jiaoran and said, "The King of Wu will definitely come to the capital. Can Prime Minister Pei take control of the Imperial Guards faster than them?"

"It's a bit difficult. Yuan Zhengze is now at the peak of his power, and he has recently won the support of the Shen Ce Army." Pei Jiaoran looked at Cen Xi calmly and said in a gentle voice, "Can Lord Cen control the Jinwu Guards? Use the Jinwu Guards to fight against the Shen Ce Army and seize the armory first?"

"You want to take action first?" Cen Xi frowned.

"No. They will definitely be the first to act. They are more anxious than us." Pei Jiaoran smiled. "Menxia Province is very close to the armory. Lord Cen has the advantage of location and people. After taking control of the armory, I think Lord Cen should understand what to do next."

Cen Xi smiled after hearing this, and said something rather sharp, "What if the King of Wu and Jia Gonglu are more skilled?"

"How about Mr. Cen ask for a divination now? If it's unlucky, we can just drop the matter." Pei Jiaoran sneered, "It has come to this. Mr. Cen, why are you hesitating? Goodbye."

Cen Xi watched Pei Jiaoran's departing figure, closed his eyes, and sighed. Perhaps, with this momentum, he could elevate his family to become one of the great clans in his lifetime.

When the stars shift their course, the ant's watch will crumble. Fish in the deep sea flee to the abyss, yet rivers and streams follow the will of heaven. And the hand that carves the wheel, the carver, is not the wood itself, but the key to nature's creation.