Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Upon returning to Youlan Courtyard, Su Qianrou immediately dismissed everyone around her and had someone guard the entrance to prevent anyone from approaching.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"My original name was Li Hongye. My father was Li Feng, who was the deputy general of the late General Liu."

Su Qianrou looked at him in disbelief, "So, your father is that traitorous subordinate."

"My father did not betray me."

"You said you were there at the time, which means you witnessed the whole thing."

“Hmm,” Li Peiyi said slowly, lost in his memories. “Back then, Miss Liu was only six years old, a time when she was just starting to have fun. So, General Liu sent several of his generals to his mansion to play with her. On the day General Liu was murdered, we children were playing hide-and-seek, and I happened to be hiding in General Liu’s study. Not long after, General Liu came in with my father and Liu Mingye. I overheard them talking about selling weapons, and that’s when I learned that Liu Mingye had been secretly selling Yunyue’s weapons to foreign countries. My father discovered this by accident and told General Liu. As a result, General Liu confronted Liu Mingye. At first, Liu Mingye denied it, but he had no choice but to admit it when my father presented the evidence.”

"Then what happened? He was worried that General Liu and your father would report him, so he killed them all."

"Well, General Liu originally wanted him to turn himself in, but he refused. So General Liu asked my father to tie him up. Unexpectedly, he took General Liu hostage, and in the ensuing struggle, he accidentally killed General Liu. In the end, he went all the way and killed my father as well. But he claimed to the outside world that my father had a conflict with General Liu and killed him, and that he was acting on behalf of Heaven."

"The dead cannot testify, and the truth is being distorted."

"At the time, almost no one believed his story, but even fewer people would believe that a younger brother would kill his own brother for his own selfish reasons. Therefore, the late emperor issued an edict to exile our entire clan."

"So how did you manage to escape this predicament?"

“I hid in the closet in the study, too afraid to go out, and then I fell asleep in a daze. When I woke up, it was the next day. Everyone was busy with the funeral arrangements for General Liu, so no one noticed me. I secretly slipped back home. My grandfather knew that we probably couldn’t escape this calamity, so he had the servants send me away overnight.”

"You say Liu Mingye is selling weapons, do you have any evidence?"

"No, the evidence my father found back then has long been destroyed."

After pondering for a moment, Su Qianrou asked, "So what are your plans?"

Li Peiyi remained silent.

Su Qianrou couldn't help but think of the question he had just asked Liu Mingye if he was in the mansion, so she asked, "What do you want to do?"

"There should be letters in Liu Mingye's study from his correspondence with foreign countries."

"You want to steal it."

"Ok".

Are you confident?

"Originally there wasn't, but now there is. The defenses of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion aren't very tight, so I can handle it."

"The Duke of Zhenguo's family is, after all, a family of military generals. We must not be careless and should exercise caution."

"I know".

When do you plan to take action?

"tonight".

Be careful.

"Okay, I'll be going now."

"Ok".

Then, Li Peiyi went outside.

Su Qianrou fell into deep thought, seemingly lost in thought.

After a while, Juxia came in and said, "Miss, the eldest young master has arrived."

Su Qianrou then came to her senses and looked at Su Mingxuan, "Brother, what brings you here? Please have a seat."

Su Mingxuan sat down and casually asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, brother, is there something you need at this hour?"

"Mingxuan is going back tomorrow, but I have to be on duty and it's inconvenient for me to see him off. Could you see him off for me?"

"it is good".

Su Mingxuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said, "How have you thought about the matter I asked you to consider before?"

"What's up".

"Don't play dumb with me."

Knowing she couldn't get away with it, Su Qianrou said, "Young Master Gu and I are just friends at most."

“Friend, then you should accept his jade pendant.”

"What jade pendant?" Su Qianrou asked, looking completely bewildered.

"Did he give you a jade pendant before we returned to the capital?"

"Hmm, is there something wrong with that jade pendant?"

"you do not know".

"Know what?"

"That was his personal jade pendant, which he had worn since birth. It was said to have been blessed by a high monk and could bring peace and safety."

Su Qianrou never expected it to be his personal jade pendant. "I thought it was just an ordinary jade pendant."

"You're too caught up in the situation to see things clearly."

"What do you mean by that, elder brother?"

"What do you think? He even gave you his personal jade pendant. Isn't that obvious enough?"

"You mean...Young Master Gu likes me."

"Otherwise what?"

"How is that possible?"

"What's impossible about it? Anyone with eyes can see that. Only you don't know anything."

Su Qianrou couldn't help but think of everything that had happened before, and that's when she realized something was wrong.

Then, Su Mingxuan asked, "You don't like Mingxuan, is it because of you...?", but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Su Qianrou looked at him, wondering what he wanted to say.

After hesitating for a moment, Su Mingxuan couldn't help but ask, "Do you like... the Regent?"

"Brother, what are you saying? How could I possibly like the Regent?"

"If you don't like him, why do you associate with him so many times?"

"You already know."

"I heard about this yesterday. You met him six months ago, and you've met him quite a few times in the past six months."

Su Qianrou breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that their private meeting had been discovered. She then said, "We have met many times, but that doesn't mean I like him."

"real".

"Of course it's true. How could I possibly covet the Regent?"

“That’s not what I meant. The Regent is excellent in character, appearance and talent, but his status... If you are with him, you will definitely have a lot of trouble.”

“I know that, so I never thought about being with him.”

"As long as you know your limits."

"Don't worry, brother, I won't do anything reckless."

"Okay, I'll head back now."

"it is good".

Then, Su Mingxuan stood up, preparing to leave, but suddenly remembered something and said, "Tomorrow..."

“I will go. I also have something to say to Young Master Gu.”

"Okay, then I'm leaving."

"Ok".

Then, Su Mingxuan went outside.

As midnight approached, Su Qianrou couldn't help but ask again, "Has Xiao Yi not come back yet?"

"Miss, not yet."

Su Qianrou couldn't help but feel a little worried, so she couldn't concentrate on reading a single word of the storybook and put it down.

Just then, Li Peiyi walked in.

Upon seeing him, Chunzhu immediately said, "Miss, Young Master Li has returned."

Upon hearing this, Su Qianrou quickly looked at Li Peiyi and then walked towards him, asking, "Are you injured?"

"no".

"Did you get it?"

"No, I searched the entire study but couldn't find it."

Su Qianrou fell into deep thought. No one could guarantee that the matter wouldn't come to light. If it were brought up again one day, he, as the only witness, would inevitably be suspected. Therefore, his study was not safe, and the military camp was simple and had many inconveniences due to the constant comings and goings. So, it was impossible to hide the letter in the military camp. Then, where else could he hide it? Then, thinking of something, he said, "Xiao Yi, go and check Liu Mingye's villa and see if there are any places he frequents."

"You suspect he hid the letter in the other courtyard."

"It's not impossible, you should check it out first."

"Okay," Li Peiyi said, and then he walked out.