Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

Thirteen was slightly startled. She looked up and met Shen Mu's unfathomable eyes, which made her involuntarily shiver.

"When do we set off for the Western Regions to capture Chongming?"

Shen Mu paused, not expecting Thirteen to be so eager.

He did not answer Thirteen's question. Instead, he stood up and slightly opened the door next to him, allowing the cool night breeze to slip in through the crack.

Thirteen then realized that he was sweating profusely all over.

She quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, thinking to herself that Shen Mu's eyesight was too good. Could it be that he saw her shy expression just now?

"I'm sweating like this, I'm afraid Haojing is retaliating against me by putting something in my medicine."

Thirteen stiffly moved the corners of his mouth, as if putting on a strange smile.

Seeing Thirteen's funny face, Shen Mu couldn't help but chuckle.

"What? Are you deliberately changing the subject? I think His Majesty will issue an edict soon."

"Imperial decree? The Emperor wants to attack the Western Regions?" Thirteen was shocked. He had learned from Zhou Jinghuai that Shen Mu had already investigated the matter of the Western Regions being framed by the Southern Barbarians on the Emperor's birthday.

Why are they now pointing their swords at the Western Regions?

Shen Mu shook his head slightly and said

"They are the southern barbarians, but the Emperor of Nanyang will not allow the Western Regions to remain unscathed. Otherwise, why would the people of the Western Regions have been restless ever since that Khan of the Western Regions was sent as an envoy to Nanyang?"

"Didn't you say that Chongming was causing trouble in the Western Regions?"

Thirteen naturally thought so. It was because of Chongming's underhanded machinations that there was an undercurrent of unrest throughout the Western Regions.

Just like Nanyang before.

Looking at Shen Mu's indifferent expression, she suddenly hesitated and said...

"You mean the Emperor of Nanyang did it?" She was somewhat surprised, after all, since she came to Nanyang, Duan Yuan's behavior and conduct were really not like those of a wise ruler.

Moreover, Haojing had also told him some secrets about the court earlier today.

Shen Mu and Hao Jing had analyzed the truth of Chongming's escape to the Western Regions.

And it was precisely because Chongming suddenly disappeared that Shen Mu sent Zhou Jinghuai to burn down Mingyue Palace, all to lure the Demon Lord out. But now, these events seem far too bizarre!

Why was Chongming able to escape so quickly?

Or, to put it another way, why did the people of the Western Regions, who had endured for so many years and submitted to Helian Nash for fifteen years, suddenly develop rebellious intentions?

It's likely that someone else is behind this, stirring things up.

"It might not be him, but the person behind him must protect Sun Youzhi."

"Sun Youzhi?"

"Yes, that's the name of Chongming's avatar in the human world. This was reported by my informant hidden in the Western Regions. This Taoist is quite cunning; if you were to face him, you'd probably suffer some trouble."

Thirteen suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon, leaning against the soft bed, and slowly said...

"If I could, I wouldn't have had my leg broken by this fourth princess."

Thirteen pointed to his leg, but secretly cursed Shen Mu in his heart.

What kind of time is this to be testing yourself like this?

How utterly boring!

Shen Mu didn't care about Thirteen's words, and instead said softly

"Your leg is broken, but Haojing is there for you. If he can't heal you, I'll just break his leg for you as compensation." His tone was indifferent, as if he were just talking about an ordinary little thing.

Thirteen, on the contrary, was taken aback, and she quickly sat up straight.

"Don't go. Do you think you need to compensate me for this? But speaking of which, are we going to the Western Regions to capture Sun Youzhi or not? From what you've said, it seems like you're implying that Sun Youzhi will return to Nanyang."

“If we’re going to return, it will be soon. After all, we can wait, but the Emperor of Nanyang can’t.” Shen Mu glanced thoughtfully at the still-burning candle.

I glanced slightly out the window; the sky was already beginning to lighten.

Before Thirteen could speak, he stood up and said again.

"I'm going to court now. You should rest. I'll have Haojing come and check on you again later."

Thirteen hurriedly shook his head, refusing.

"I'm not in the dungeon right now, so don't bother him. I'm penniless and can't afford to pay." She thought of the hundred taels she had promised to give Haojing that morning, but if it weren't for the Third Prince being shrewd and giving her a box of official silver instead.

It's not like she's in such a dire situation that she can't even afford a single tael of silver.

Shen Mu frowned slightly, walked to the door and slowly opened it. The faint morning light shone on his profile, and his gentle, jade-like face made Thirteen feel a sudden jolt in his heart.

“I gave him money. If he asks you for it again, just tell him to come to me.”

"Huh?" Thirteen was slightly taken aback, only to see Shen Mu gently close the door.

She instinctively touched her face, and sure enough, it was red again!

What is it about Shen Mu that makes her blush so easily?

Thinking of this, Thirteen crawled back into bed. Since he couldn't figure it out, he decided to just take a nap and see what happened.

Pei Mansion

Pei Nanyue looked up at the window and saw that the sun, shrouded in mist, had already risen.

She lowered her eyes and stared at her hands, her pale, slender fingers pressing against an old, yellowed letter.

“Father, it’s dawn. It’s time to settle this.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Zhiheng, who had been resting with his eyes closed at his desk, slowly opened them. He was still wearing the robes he had worn after court the day before.

Clearly, he had been in his study the whole time and hadn't rested for a moment.

He lifted his eyelids and looked at Pei Nanyue, who had been sitting in the room, and said...

"As your father, I believe that the Pei family does not need you to make this trip, which is also what your deceased mother wished for."

Pei Zhiheng had no choice but to bring up the biological mother of Pei Nanyue and her sister.

Pei Nanyue's expression seemed to be tinged with sadness as she spoke.

"Father, you know, Mother said before she passed away that I should take good care of my younger sister." She raised her eyes to meet Pei Zhiheng's cloudy gaze, and continued...

“I will do anything for my sister as long as she is happy. Now that the Pei family is in trouble, it is my responsibility to shoulder the burden.” Her tone became even more resolute, which made it difficult for Pei Zhiheng to refuse.

After all, the emperor had agreed to Prime Minister Pei's resignation.

That's putting the Pei family on the fire.

If the Pei family really leaves the capital, they will probably be murdered by their former rivals before they even reach the outskirts of the city, and die without a complete corpse!

The emperor's move was quite ingenious!

The emperor agreed to Prime Minister Pei's resignation, ostensibly to allow him to return to his hometown in glory, thus achieving a fulfilling life. This, in turn, demonstrated the emperor's compassion and consideration for his veteran minister.

In reality, however, the dirty and tiring work that the Pei family had done for the emperor over the years was never mentioned.

They agreed to resign, and were even asked to leave the capital. This clearly shows they were abandoning the Pei family.

Pei Nanyue slowly stood up and walked to the chessboard where she usually played chess with her father.

The black and white pieces on the chessboard appear to be evenly matched, but in reality, the black pieces have already been forced into a corner by the white pieces.

She looked up, blocking Kuroko's last move, and slowly said...

"Father has lost this move."