She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

“This is…” Gu Changyi’s gaze fell on the earring, and her pupils suddenly contracted.

Those were the earrings Chu Xiangling was wearing when he, Jiang Jin'an, and Shen Jingshu met her at the restaurant. He had taken a few extra glances at them then, finding the earrings exquisitely designed and very beautiful on her.

Seeing him staring intently at the earring, Gu Changfeng assumed he was up to something again. His anger flared, and he snatched the earring away, shouting, "What kind of scheme are you plotting now? Let me tell you, Father sent you to the army for roll call so you could get some experience and settle down! Don't cause any trouble there! Military law is merciless, and I won't be able to protect you then!"

Gu Changyi suddenly came to her senses, but her mind was not on this at all. She only replied perfunctorily, "I know," and left in a hurry, not even caring about Gu Changfeng's angry curses behind her.

Back in his courtyard, he said to Wen Yin, "I'm sorry, I really don't have time to keep you company today. You should go back first, and I'll come to find you another day, okay?"

As he spoke, he practically half-embraced and half-carried Wen Yin toward the door.

Wen Yin's pretty face turned bright red. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and her mind was buzzing. She could no longer hear what Gu Changyi was saying.

She nodded absently and agreed without really understanding what was going on. With the help of the maids, she was put into the carriage in a daze, her heart still pounding.

After Wen Yin left, he suppressed his smile and immediately ordered Chang Feng to inquire about Chu Xiangling's whereabouts.

Changfeng accepted the order and left. He returned shortly with news, his expression even more unpleasant than Gu Changyi's. "Young Master, Miss Chu has been missing for many days, and Miss Shen has also instructed Sanchunxiao's people to search for her."

"Oh no!" Gu Changyi snapped her folding fan shut and snatched Changfeng away. "Quick! To the Commandery!"

The two men rode at breakneck speed to the Commandery, and without even bothering to report, they barged into the inner hall. Jiang Jin'an had just finished interrogating a prisoner, and his clothes were still stained with blood that hadn't dried. The dark red bloodstains on his python robe looked particularly shocking, adding to the grim atmosphere.

When he saw Gu Changyi burst in, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"It's rare to see you here."

Gu Changyi had always disliked the Duweisi (Commander's Office) for its gloomy and eerie atmosphere, and would avoid it whenever possible.

"Jin'an, I..." Gu Changyi didn't bother with pleasantries and hurriedly told Jiang Jin'an everything about finding Chu Xiangling's earring in Gu Changfeng's room. "She wouldn't really be at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, would she? My brother and her..."

After listening, Jiang Jin'an frowned and did not immediately answer Gu Changyi's question. Instead, he looked at Lin Yu beside him.

Lin Yu understood and spoke first, telling Gu Changyi that Chu Xiangling was no ordinary courtesan. She was the daughter of Chu Anshan, the perpetrator of a poisoning case five years ago, a case that Gu Changyi's father had personally handled.

"What?!" Gu Changyi was shocked after hearing this. "Did she inherit her father's poison skills? Is she going to poison me to death?!"

Jiang Jin'an was silent for a moment, then gently patted Gu Changyi's shoulder, "That possibility cannot be ruled out."

Upon hearing this, Gu Changyi was taken aback at first, then surprisingly nodded, "Okay, okay, poison me then, it's good if you poison me to death!"

"Would you rather be poisoned?" Jiang Jin'an repeated, his tone tinged with amusement. "The way you're acting is as if you'd rather something happened to you, so that certain people could have their way."

He first sent Lin Yu to deliver a message to Shen Jingshu, telling her to be careful. Then he pressed Gu Changyi down on a stool and said seriously, "The most urgent thing is to confirm whether she is really in your residence. What is the relationship between your brother and her?"

“Leave this to me,” Gu Changyi said. “It’s perfectly legitimate for me to move around the mansion, and it will be easier for me to investigate.”

Jiang Jin'an pondered for a moment and said, "If you discover anything, remember not to act rashly. First, send out the news."

"How do we send it?" Gu Changyi asked.

“I will send someone to follow you secretly. You just need to…” Jiang Jin’an leaned close to Gu Changyi’s ear and whispered a few words of advice.

After listening, Gu Changyi nodded repeatedly, "Okay, let's do it that way!"

After the two had reached an agreement, Gu Changyi took his leave.

When Lin Yu returned, he brought Shen Jingshu's reply. Jiang Jin'an unfolded the note, which contained some instructions written in delicate handwriting. At the end, he specifically mentioned: Chu Xiangling is extremely skilled in makeup and may be able to disguise herself.

After reading it, he folded the note and put it in his lapel.

At the end of late spring, sunlight streamed into the room through the window. He glanced at the sky outside, calculated the time in his mind, and then got up and went into the palace.

In the imperial study, Emperor Hui sat on the dragon throne, holding a memorial in his hand, his brows furrowed.

"Your Majesty, you haven't had a proper rest in a long time. Why don't you rest for a while?" Li Delu advised.

"I am not tired."

"Your Majesty, your health is of utmost importance," Li Delu said with a worried expression.

"I'm fine."

As Emperor Hui spoke, he picked up another memorial and began to read it.

"Your Majesty, you..." Li Delu wanted to persuade him further, but was interrupted by a young eunuch.

"Your Majesty, Commandant Jiang Jin'an requests an audience," the young eunuch said, bowing.

Emperor Hui paused, then finally put down the memorial in his hand. "Summon it."

The young eunuch acknowledged and withdrew. A moment later, Jiang Jin'an entered, knelt on the ground, and bowed: "Your subject Jiang Jin'an greets Your Majesty."

Emperor Hui smiled and asked him to rise, then offered him a seat. "You've come to see me, is there something important you need me for?"

"Your Majesty, regarding the case of the official silver, I discovered a batch of account books and letters in Vice Minister Li's study."

"Any specific discoveries have been made?" Emperor Hui pressed.

"I am still verifying the information. The people and forces involved in these letters are far more than just the Salt and Iron Bureau."

Emperor Hui understood his meaning.

"Yes, I understand. I'll leave this matter to you to investigate. I trust you can get to the bottom of this."

"The minister obeys the order."

After Jiang Jin'an finished speaking, he sat upright below and showed no intention of leaving, so Emperor Hui asked again, "Is there anything else?"

Jiang Jin'an lowered his eyes, his hands on his knees tightened slightly, and his palms were slightly sweaty. "Your Majesty, I would like to request that you grant me permission to move forward the wedding date with Shen Jingshu, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang."

Emperor Hui was taken aback upon hearing this, then burst into laughter, "I remember, your wedding date was set for August, wasn't it?"

Could it be that I'm getting senile and wrote it as August of next year?

"Yes," Jiang Jin'an replied.

"You can't even wait three autumns?" Emperor Hui asked with a smile.

"I and Jing Shu are deeply in love, and I do not wish to wait a moment longer," Jiang Jin'an said, bowing his head with sincerity.

Emperor Hui pondered for a moment. Jiang Jin'an was a talented young man whom he had raised himself, and Shen Jingshu was also of excellent character, appearance and talent. The two were indeed a good match.

As for the Pingyang Marquis's residence... now that the goal has been achieved, it doesn't really matter when the two of them get married.

"In that case, I grant your request," Emperor Hui said. "But I wonder what the Marquis of Pingyang and his wife think?"

"I will inform the Marquis and his wife."

"That's good." Emperor Hui nodded. "Issue my decree to move the wedding date of Commandant Jiang Jin'an and Shen Jingshu, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang, forward to the sixth day of the sixth month."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!" Jiang Jin'an rose, bowed his head, and finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.