After the lantern festival, it was time to enter the palace to report on the cases. Song Yan entered the palace on that day and gave the emperor a summary of the recent cases investigated by the Bureau in the main hall.
When Song Yan arrived, the emperor was bowing his head and carefully painting the scenery in the garden. When he heard the eunuch's announcement, he just nodded as a response.
Song Yan sorted out the cases of this period and handed them to the maid standing aside. Then he orally reported them again. The emperor listened but didn't stop his hand.
After Song Yan finished speaking, the emperor put down his brush and looked at the man standing not too far or too close from him. He smiled, his eyes narrowing like a smiling tiger.
"I've heard that you seem to be on good terms with a private school teacher in the suburbs?" The emperor's voice was not loud, but Song Yan heard him clearly.
The emperor wouldn't mention someone for no reason. But Ye Zhiqiu was just a private school teacher in the suburbs. How could the emperor mention him?
Song Yan didn't know what the emperor meant by mentioning Ye Zhiqiu at this moment, but he still replied, "I got to know him because a case was involved."
"Oh, I see. I don't mean anything else. It's just that the imperial concubine mentioned it to me yesterday and wanted this teacher to enter the palace as the tutor of the Seventh Princess. I'm just curious how a private school teacher in the suburbs got in touch with the imperial concubine." Although the emperor's tone sounded careless when he said this, Song Yan understood the implication.
Song Yan was silent for a while and then told what had happened at the lantern festival. But this explanation seemed rather weak no matter how you looked at it.
The person saved at the lantern festival was the Seventh Princess, Yu Ling, who had hardly ever shown up. And then he suddenly became her tutor. It seemed rather far - fetched no matter how you thought about it.
Song Yan didn't know what the imperial concubine was thinking. But Jing Hong had also mentioned to him before that someone in the palace was keeping an eye on Ye Zhiqiu. It was probably because of this that he was specially invited to enter the palace this time.
"Alright, I'm just talking casually. Since this person is someone you know, Song Qing, I'm relieved. If there's nothing else, you may leave." After the emperor finished speaking, he picked up his paintbrush and continued painting on the rice paper. He didn't even give Song Yan a look.
Although he said he was relieved, he didn't really think so in his heart. Among so many people in the palace, there had never been anyone whom the emperor trusted without any reservation.
But now these didn't matter anymore. Song Yan bowed and then left.
On his way out of the palace, he kept thinking about why the imperial concubine would make such a hasty move, completely ignoring the palace rules, just to let Ye Zhiqiu be the tutor of the Seventh Princess.
Maybe... even the encounter with the Seventh Princess at the lantern festival was arranged, just to set up a trap for him to enter the palace as a tutor later.
The palace must be full of dangers. He didn't know if Ye Zhiqiu would have a chance to come out after entering this time. He couldn't just watch the other person walk into the trap without doing anything.
Thinking of this, Song Yan quickened his pace towards the private school.
When he arrived, he found something strange around. Usually at this time, he could hear the children reciting poems outside the private school. But today it was unusually quiet.
Knowing something was wrong, Song Yan rushed into the private school in a hurry and saw Ye Zhiqiu sitting in the courtyard.
He was looking at the leaves in the flowerbed. He seemed the same as usual, but also different.
Song Yan took a few steps forward and stopped when he was three steps away from Ye Zhiqiu. At this moment, he didn't know how to start or what to ask.
"Why are you here?" Ye Zhiqiu was looking at the shadow on the ground. When he turned around and saw Song Yan standing beside him, he asked in a low voice.
Since the other person had already spoken, Song Yan got straight to the point. In fact, he had just been thinking that this situation might mean the imperial concubine had come. Otherwise, Ye Zhiqiu wouldn't be like this.
Although he seemed okay, the light in his eyes had dimmed.
"Did someone come today?"
Ye Zhiqiu wasn't too surprised when he heard Song Yan's words. As an official in the court, Song Yan would surely get the news about this. He straightened his cuffs and then slowly said, "The imperial concubine from the palace came today. She asked me to be Luoning's tutor and I may have to stay in the palace."
"You can't go! Someone in the palace may already know the secret of your constitution. If you enter the palace this time, you may be in great danger..." Song Yan got anxious when he heard this. He hurriedly said a lot of things in an attempt to persuade Ye Zhiqiu to refuse to enter the palace.
But before he could finish, Ye Zhiqiu interrupted him.
"I guessed it when the imperial concubine came. But I can't bet on the private school. Song Yan, I know you care about me, but I've already made my choice. And entering the palace this time may not be a bad thing." Ye Zhiqiu said this calmly. He paused for a moment, looked into Song Yan's eyes and then continued.
"The murderer of the previous serial murders hasn't been caught yet. Since we both suspect that it was someone in the palace, we can take this opportunity to investigate carefully."
"But do you know what will happen if you do this?!" Song Yan felt a sudden surge of anger when he heard Ye Zhiqiu's words. At this time, Ye Zhiqiu knew it was a trap but still wanted to use himself to catch the murderer.
It was a stupid thing to do.
Ye Zhiqiu looked at Song Yan's frowning eyebrows. He of course knew what Song Yan meant. But there was no other choice. He looked directly into Song Yan's eyes and said word by word, "I won't die."
Just these few words made Song Yan understand that Ye Zhiqiu wouldn't back down and would definitely do it. There was no need for him to persuade anymore.
Song Yan reached out and rubbed his eyebrows. Knowing that the other person had made up his mind, there was no need to persuade anymore. Since Ye Zhiqiu was determined, all he could do was cooperate with him.
Maybe things would come to an end as long as they could catch the murderer.
"Although you won't die, I still hope you can take good care of yourself. I'll also cooperate with you to find out the murderer." Song Yan looked into Ye Zhiqiu's eyes. After being silent for a while, he finally made up his mind and said this word by word.
Ye Zhiqiu didn't want Song Yan to get involved in this incident at first. Those people's target was himself. If it was just him, he would be relieved.
He had no reason and didn't want to involve an innocent person.
But looking into Song Yan's eyes, he knew this was the biggest concession Song Yan could make. Song Yan was so stubborn that even a few oxen couldn't pull him back. If he said anything more, today's conversation might end unhappily.
...
Ye Zhiqiu had no choice but to nod as an agreement.
Not long after this, several guards came from the palace. They blocked the door of the private school, bowed to Ye Zhiqiu's direction and said, "We're here by the order of the imperial concubine to invite the teacher to enter the palace."
Although their words sounded polite, the swords in their hands were not as kind as their tone. Ye Zhiqiu looked at them and knew that the imperial concubine was afraid he would go back on his word and had come to threaten him.
He lowered his eyes, picked up his packed belongings and nodded to the two of them, "Let's go."
The guards then invited Ye Zhiqiu onto the sedan chair outside the private school. Ye Zhiqiu stood in front of the sedan chair, looked back at the direction of the private school and a trace of melancholy flashed in his eyes.
He didn't know how long it would be before he could come back after entering the palace this time...
"Teacher Ye, please." The guard's words interrupted Ye Zhiqiu's thoughts. He withdrew his gaze, lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and got in.
On the other side in the palace, Luoning stood on the city wall and kept looking in the direction of the palace gate. Liu Shiyao saw her actions and reached out to support her gently, "Be careful not to fall."
Hearing this, Luoning turned around and grabbed Liu Shiyao's sleeve. She said with a big smile, "When will Teacher Ye come? I can't wait to see him."
"Soon." Liu Shiyao looked at Luoning's hand grabbing her sleeve. She was holding it so tightly that there was a wrinkle on the clothes. She said this in a low voice.
Luoning squinted her eyes with a smile. She didn't say anything else after hearing this. She turned to look at the palace gate and saw the sedan chair swaying into the palace gate.
Seeing this, Luoning turned around and ran down the city wall. She stood at the palace gate with her hands behind her back and showed a smile when she saw the sedan chair. Ye Zhiqiu got off the sedan chair and saw Luoning standing in front of it.
He didn't say anything but stared closely at the late - coming imperial concubine.
Liu Shiyao was stared at by Ye Zhiqiu's gaze but still showed a gentle smile in his direction, "Teacher Ye, both Luoning and I are very happy that you can come. Look, Luoning has been waiting for you here early in the morning."
Her voice was low and full of smiles. She deliberately ignored Ye Zhiqiu's unfriendly gaze, reached out and stroked Luoning's hair and said this with a smile.
Ye Zhiqiu averted his gaze. Now that he had entered the palace, it wouldn't be good for his situation if there was any more trouble. So he bowed and politely said, "Thank you for the kindness of the imperial concubine and the Seventh Princess."
Luoning could also feel that the atmosphere between them was a bit awkward. So she took a step forward and stood in front of Ye Zhiqiu. She showed a bright smile and said, "Teacher Ye, I'll take you to the side hall where you'll live in the palace."
"Then I'll trouble the princess." Ye Zhiqiu could see that Luoning's action was to ease the awkward atmosphere, so he responded according to her words.
Hearing the answer, Luoning smiled and led the way in front. Ye Zhiqiu followed behind them and finally arrived at the side hall. It was not far from Yong'an Palace, just separated by a small lake. The place looked rather quiet.
Luoning, who was leading the way, seemed very happy. She explained as she walked, "This place is not far from Yong'an Palace. I can't go to the Imperial College to study with my elder brothers. It will be convenient for you to teach me in the future if you live nearby."
When Luoning mentioned that she couldn't enter the Imperial College, her expression instantly became gloomy and her tone became dejected. But soon she returned to her smiling appearance.
She kept explaining every place in the side hall as she walked. She really seemed very happy.