Only after being reborn did I realize that I was the white moonlight of a powerful minister.

Xie Bohuai was still changing his dressing when he let Sun Hao in.

Most of the injuries, big and small, on his body were inflicted by Sun Hao. "Why did Lord Sun come here? Do you want to see if I'm still up to the task? My injuries weren't this serious when I went to receive the envoy from Wusu."

As soon as Xie Bohuai spoke, Sun Hao's legs trembled uncontrollably. "I...I was just following orders. Please don't take it to heart, sir."

"If you want me to let it go, then tell me, who gave you the order? As long as you tell me, I, Xie Bohuai, am a man of my word and will absolutely not cause you any trouble." Xie Bohuai finished dressing and walked step by step toward Sun Hao.

Feeling guilty, Sun Hao collapsed to the ground.

Xie Bohuai looked down at him and said, "You think the Emperor can't see through the Huo family's scheme? They've offended me, they've offended the Crown Prince, and they even killed Prince Hui's daughter. Let me guess, is it Prince Duan or Prince Jing?"

"You jest, sir. There's no such thing as anyone giving orders. I am the Prefect of the Capital, appointed by the Emperor himself, so naturally I obey the Emperor's orders." Sun Hao turned his head away, not daring to meet Xie Bohuai's gaze.

His heart was pounding because he knew Xie Bohuai held a grudge, which was why he had mustered up the courage to go to his door.

"If you could truly fathom the Emperor's intentions, you wouldn't just be a mere Prefect of the Capital. Sun Hao, go back now. I'll settle your score later." Xie Bohuai didn't care about taking a beating himself, but he couldn't allow anyone to touch his people.

Sun Hao grew anxious, "Lord Xie, is there no one or nothing you care about?"

"What are you referring to, the Xie family?" Xie Bohuai's eyes flashed with ruthlessness as he grabbed Sun Hao by the neck and lifted him high. "If you can bring the Xie family to their doom, I'll thank you. As for anything else, I, Xie Bohuai, have a worthless life and am ready for you to come and take my head anytime!"

He left Sun Hao behind, leaving a wet patch on the ground.

Sun Hao was so scared he peed his pants.

"Lord Sun, you're so timid, how can you help others?" Xie Bohuai said with disdain as he went to wash his hands.

Sun Hao was already in a sorry state. He forced himself to stand up and shakily leaned on the door frame. "You're surnamed Xie, after all. Whatever happens to the Xie family, you can't escape it. Lord Xie, I advise you not to hold on too tightly. If we both back down, it'll be better for you and for us both."

"Break the bamboo and see the guest off." Xie Bohuai didn't look at Sun Hao.

Zhe Zhu unceremoniously dragged Sun Hao out, leaving him outside the Xie family compound.

Sun Hao got into the carriage, his lips pale. "Go...go to Prince Hui's residence."

The case of Princess Zhaoyun is temporarily closed. Although the Huo family is not involved in the case, they are not exactly a respectable family either. Xie Bohuai only stayed at home for one day before going to the town government office.

When people in the capital heard about it, they all said he was tough and wouldn't die no matter what he did.

Ye Wanning, on the other hand, unexpectedly received an invitation from Princess Longyu, which stated that she was the only guest invited to visit.

Despite having many questions in her mind, Ye Wanning still nervously went to the princess's house the next day with Yunzhi.

She remembered that after Princess Longyu returned in her previous life, she had been indulging in pleasure. Later, for some unknown reason, she was suddenly imprisoned in the princess's residence by the emperor, who forbade Princess Longyu from coming out again.

When she arrived at the princess's residence, she was somewhat surprised that it wasn't as strictly governed as she had imagined. A nanny led the way, saying, "Miss Ye, don't be nervous. Our princess invited you here with apologies. She's an easy-going person, so please act as usual."

Ye Wanning was led to the main hall, where the nanny took her inside. There was incense burning in the hall, and when she saw a male concubine getting up from beside Princess Longyu, Ye Wanning blushed.

"Come sit next to me. Last time at the polo match, it was Zhaoyun who made you suffer. I organized the polo match, so I should apologize to you again." Princess Longyu smiled and looked Ye Wanning up and down. "When I saw you last time, I was amazed by your beauty. I love playing with beautiful people. You can come to the princess's residence often in the future."

"Your Highness flatters me." Ye Wanning lowered her head, carefully considering every word Princess Longyu said.

Princess Longyu shifted to a languid posture, propping her head up with one hand and yawning lazily. "I'm not exaggerating, you really are quite good. Or are you like everyone else, looking down on my princess residence?"

"No, no, Your Highness is truly a celestial being, how could I possibly despise you?"

"Don't be so reserved, sit down. I just like you. Life is so boring, I need someone to talk to and relieve my boredom." Princess Longyu said with a smile, "I know you broke off your engagement with your fiancé. This world is so unfair to women. We can't control our own lives, we have to depend on men for everything, it's so dull, don't you think?"

Ye Wanning answered cautiously, "It is indeed not easy for women. If they encounter a harmonious family, it is alright, and they have more choices."

"You're talking about a minority. Like me, although I'm a princess, I had to marry into a foreign tribe. You probably don't know that after the old King Wusu passed away, I married his son, who is also my stepson." Princess Longyu didn't feel shy at all when she said this, but instead gave a light snort.

Ye Wanning was terrified when she heard this; hearing such a thing from her made her feel like her head was about to fall off.

A palace maid brought tea, which Ye Wanning sipped slowly.

"Fortunately, Father Emperor remembers me. If it were my brothers, who would care about me?" Princess Longyu said. Just then, a eunuch came to announce that Commander Xie of the Zhenfu Division had arrived. She snorted and said, "Let him in."

Upon hearing that it was Xie Bohuai, Ye Wanning tensed up and dared not move, only able to glance at him out of the corner of her eye.

After a few days apart, Xie Bohuai had lost a lot of weight, his jawline was more defined, and his eyebrows and eyes were more sharp.

"Greetings, Your Highness. May I ask why Your Highness summoned me here?" Xie Bohuai asked.

"I heard that the envoy from Wusu was assassinated. I have lived in Wusu for many years, so I would like to ask if the perpetrator has been caught?" When Princess Longyu mentioned this matter, she saw Ye Wanning get up and prepare to step back, so she waved her hand and gestured for Ye Wanning to sit down again. "It's nothing shameful. You can listen."

Ye Wanning: ...The problem is, I don't want to hear it!

"Your Highness and Lord Xie are discussing official business. I'd better wait at the door first. When I came in just now, I saw that the lotus flowers by the door were in full bloom," Ye Wanning said.

"Alright, Granny Lin, you can take Miss Ye there. The Princess's residence is very large, so Miss Ye won't get lost." Princess Longyu spoke, and Ye Wanning breathed a sigh of relief.

After leaving the main hall, Granny Lin led Ye Wanning for a stroll in the garden. When they figured it was about time, they headed back and ran into Xie Bohuai, who was coming out of the main hall.

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Ye Wanning bowed respectfully. With so many eyes watching, she wanted to ask Xie Bohuai a few more questions, but dared not speak rashly.

Xie Bohuai grunted in acknowledgment, glanced at Ye Wanning, and walked out with his hands behind his back.

When Ye Wanning returned to the main hall, laughter could be heard from inside. The palace maid said that the princess was playing with her male favorite and told Ye Wanning to go back first and that she would talk to Ye Wanning another day.

Being able to go back made Ye Wanning's steps much lighter, but as soon as she got into the carriage and saw Xie Bohuai sitting upright inside, she instantly tensed up.