It was a good question.

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, intending to hear how Qiu Che would answer.

In the full view of everyone, Qiu Che calmly responded, "Your Majesty, when I left home, my father was wearing this very outfit. I have always respected my father at home... never asking unnecessary questions, fearing to annoy him. I thought it was simply that he dressed more simply today, and did not think much of it."

Her tone was calm.

She was neither flustered by Qiu Chudong's rebuttal nor anxious from Emperor Li's questioning.

At the same time, Wu Yiqi stepped forward again, raising his hand, "Your Majesty, I can also testify! I saw these two earlier at the banquet. Brother Qiu clearly did not know that Qiu Zhe was coming. I even asked him about it."

Qiu Chudong anxiously spoke up, "Your Majesty, she's lying... They're all lying, Your Majesty, you must not believe them!"

He kneeled, trying to reach for the Emperor's robes, but Qiu Che swiftly grabbed his shoulder with a firm hand.

"Father," she applied a bit of force, using some clever maneuver, and said seriously, "Stop this nonsense, and don’t keep favoring my brother. In front of His Majesty, we should speak the truth."

Qiu Chudong wanted to rebut, to push away her hand, and even to point at her and curse, but he could barely move.

Remembering the Emperor’s sudden outburst earlier, he pursed his lips and eventually bowed his head, defeated.

Emperor Li stared at Qiu Che for a moment and suddenly smiled. "Very good. Minister Qiu, rise."

Actually, the answer to this question was not important.

Whether Qiu Chudong’s words were true or false, for the Emperor, it was still the same crime of sneaking into the palace. Whoever it was, they were guilty.

What mattered was Qiu Che's reaction.

The Emperor's question was actually his way of showing interest in Qiu Che. Whether she lied or not didn’t matter, he just wanted to see how she would react and hear what she would say.

It was clear now that the Emperor was satisfied with her answer.

Qiu Zhe, who could barely understand, shivered as he knelt, unable to comprehend why Qiu Che could stand up so easily after they were all kneeling together.

His confusion quickly turned into resentment as he glared at her back, thinking: It’s all Qiu Che’s fault!

If only she had spoken up and taken the blame for me, I would be fine now!

She doesn't care about her brother at all!

Emperor Li waved his sleeve and stood up. "Minister Qiu, you remained calm in the face of danger, displaying admirable talent—this matter, which involves your father and brother, why don’t you take full responsibility for handling it?"

"Before that, these two—" Emperor Li looked at the Qiu family father and son, frowning as he thought for a moment, "Minister Qiu father and brother, and these palace maids and eunuchs... Let them be temporarily detained at the Ministry of Justice while we await further investigation. Until the truth is revealed, they are not to leave."

"Minister Qiu, do you have any objections?"

Qiu Che slightly curled her lips, showing a helpless expression as if to say "I don’t want to, but I must agree," and replied, "Your Majesty, I have no objections."

Qiu Chudong and Qiu Zhe did have objections, but the Emperor completely ignored them.

He nodded with satisfaction.

"Whoever put the rosemary in the palace, and who planned all of this..." Emperor Li paused and spoke in a deep voice, "I hope you will soon give me an answer."

Oh?

Qiu Che was a bit surprised. She hadn't expected that, at the last moment, she would be given such a task.

But this was also the matter that had puzzled her in her past life—who had conspired with Qiu Chudong to drug Li Qingwu?

She didn’t believe that Qiu Chudong, that fool, or Qiu Zhe, the biggest fool among them, could have forced the illustrious princess to such an extent.

There had to be someone helping them from behind the scenes.

Who was it? What was their goal? Back then, she was limited by her connections and power and couldn’t find out.

The Emperor’s request was exactly what she needed.

So, Qiu Che did not refuse, accepting the golden medallion from the Emperor and replying with a bow, "Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you."

This medallion represented the highest authority in handling the case, and it would certainly make things easier.

Only a fool would turn it down.

"Farewell, Your Majesty. Farewell, Empress Dowager, and Empress."

The Empress Dowager had remained silent, listening to the farce, but as they were leaving, she gave Qiu Che a meaningful smile.

Qiu Che pretended not to notice, keeping her gaze straight ahead.

Once they left, Qiu Chudong, whose tension had finally eased, collapsed onto the floor beside Qiu Zhe, panting heavily.

Qiu Che stood tall, holding the golden medallion the Emperor had just given her. She discarded her earlier respectful demeanor and walked past the two men without a word, her face expressionless as she prepared to leave.

Qiu Chudong scrambled to his feet and shouted, "Stop! Qiu Che! Where are you going?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Qiu Che paused, then turned slightly. "Are you calling me?"

Qiu Chudong’s anger flared up. "What did you say just now in front of the Emperor? Do you realize you’re going to get your brother killed?"

"Oh?" Qiu Che tilted her head. "But my brother hasn’t died yet, has he?"

Qiu Chudong: "..."

"Besides, I even kneeled and begged the Emperor to spare my father and brother. And yet, this is how you think of me... I’m so disappointed."

Qiu Chudong, furious, pointed at her, shouting, "You’re talking nonsense!"

Qiu Che then suppressed her expression, lowered her gaze, and with a cold tone said, "—Didn’t you think, father, that if the Emperor believed your words, it would actually get me killed?"

Qiu Chudong was stunned, and then, feeling guilty, shifted his gaze away.

Qiu Che observed him for a moment, then turned her attention elsewhere, brushing the dust off her long robe and thinking, forget it.

She never expected him to feel any remorse or guilt.

She stepped out of the room, and Wu Yiqi followed her.

Meanwhile, Qiu Chudong and Qiu Zhe were stopped by the Jinwu Guard at the door of the room.

He shouted in anger, "Come back! Qiu Che! Where do you think you're going?"

Qiu Che turned back, smiling, "I’m going to investigate the case."

Her tone, however, was as though she were saying, "I’m going to find the evidence that will send you to hell."

Qiu Chudong shivered.

By the time he came to his senses, Qiu Che had already disappeared.

...

"Does your father have something wrong with him?" Wu Yiqi caught up with Qiu Che, tapping his temple and clicking his tongue. "The Emperor already said they would be taken to the Ministry of Justice, and the Jinwu Guard is blocking the door. Does he really think you’re going to save them? Does he think you’re some kind of bodhisattva who rescues the suffering?"

Qiu Che thought for a moment and nodded. "Maybe he has some issues."

Wu Yiqi laughed. "Who says such things about their own father? You didn’t even argue back. I thought you’d defend him unconditionally... Hey, hey, hey, where are you going?"

"To the Laundry Bureau, to find someone."

Wu Yiqi narrowed his eyes. "Who are you looking for? Wait... you just got the case, and now you already have a plan?"

Qiu Che paused, turning to look at him.

"About today’s events, Young Master Wu... thank you."

"It’s nothing," Wu Yiqi immediately raised the corner of his mouth, speaking in a low voice with a smug tone. "Falsifying evidence? I’m an expert at that. When I was younger, my grandfather would always catch me skipping school, and I’d lie right through my teeth to him. I’ve got plenty of experience..."

"What I meant was... if there’s nothing else, please don’t follow me."

Wu Yiqi froze for a moment, wide-eyed. "Huh?"

Qiu Che calmly stepped aside to avoid his touch, her voice indifferent. "You’re involved in an official case, Young Master Wu. You don’t have the proper identity, so it’s better if you don’t follow me."

Wu Yiqi rubbed his nose. "You little... use me and toss me aside, huh? Fine, fine, I get it. I know you care about your reputation. Last time, when I made a joke, you got all worked up... I won’t follow you."

He glanced around and chuckled, lowering his voice. "But when you find out who had the nerve to use poison in the Royal Garden, make sure to let me know. I’ve got to laugh at them. Really, they must have eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard..."

Qiu Che casually nodded. "Sure."

Though, she feared that when the truth came out, Wu Yiqi might not be laughing after all.

But that wasn’t her concern.

After Wu Yiqi, who had enjoyed the show, walked off with a satisfied smile, Qiu Che looked down at the case pardon medallion in her hand.

With this medallion, she could move freely throughout the capital, except in places where only the Emperor had authority.

It seemed that Emperor Li was really eager to know who had caused him this embarrassment.

The supposed protagonist, Li Qingwu, had still not shown up.

Among the people present, aside from Qiu Che, most had already guessed that the Eldest Princess must also be in some trouble.

Now, Qiu Che needed to act before the Emperor grew suspicious and resolve the issue of the drug affecting Li Qingwu. Then, she could find an excuse for why the Princess had been missing for so long.

Qiu Che looked toward the palace gates, then turned and walked toward the Laundry Bureau.

In a hidden courtyard somewhere in the capital.

Yao Tai had just arrived at the entrance and saw a line of maids standing in the courtyard. Yu Ming was just coming out of a room.

She stepped forward and asked, "How’s it going?"

Yu Ming wiped the sweat from her forehead, shaking her head. "The effects of the drug haven’t worn off. She’s in really bad shape—her emotions are... We can’t even get close to her, and the other maids are the same."

These maids had been carefully chosen from those they trusted and trained for the task, but today, they couldn’t even help.

"This is strange," Yao Tai frowned. "How can a drug have this effect? It's been half an hour, and there’s no improvement... Did your mistress say what we should do?"

Yu Ming shook her head again. "She didn’t give us many instructions before. She just told us to stay here and wait. She said she’d come out soon to handle it. I’ve already sent Yu Yan to fetch a doctor..."

Just then, a voice shouted, "The doctor’s here!"

Before the words had even finished, Yu Yan appeared, holding a purple sack, and from it pulled out an old man with a gray beard, looking on the verge of foaming at the mouth.

Yao Tai stared. "…What kind of doctor is this?"

Yu Yan, tying up the sack, blinked. "We tied him up, can’t you see?"

She didn’t want to waste the ten coins she spent on the purple sack, so she’d even made use of it to tie up the doctor.

She really was a clever little genius.

Yao Tai was stunned. "I know he’s tied up, but…"

Didn’t they fear that this doctor might take revenge later?

Yu Ming, however, was used to this by now. She hurried over to help the old man, saying urgently, "Hurry, hurry inside! Let the young lady see him!"

Yu Yan replied, "Okay, okay," and helped as well.

The old doctor was dragged—or rather, helped—inside, stumbling every few steps.

Once they entered, a hard pillow flew toward them, followed by a weak, hoarse voice coming from within the room. "I told you not to come near me—everyone, leave! Get out!!"

Yu Yan spoke up. "Miss! Please calm down! We’ve brought the doctor to see you. He can’t prescribe medicine until he examines you first!"

The old doctor, still dazed, thought to himself: These female bandits! What do you mean ‘invite’? You clearly tied me up!

After a while, amidst the chaos in the room, the labored breathing from behind the screen began to slow down.

Li Qingwu finally, weakly, replied, "...Fine."

A moment later, the old doctor, after taking her pulse while blindfolded, stood up with a serious expression and motioned for the two of them to step outside.

Yu Yan was the last to leave, glancing back at Li Qingwu, who had her brows tightly furrowed and was sweating profusely, still wrapped up tightly in the blankets.

She looked truly pitiable.

She quickly took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead and tucked the blanket in a little tighter. However, just as she was about to leave, Li Qingwu suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm.

Yu Yan froze for a moment but then looked back.

Li Qingwu, pale and weak, whispered, "Qiu... Young Master Qiu ..."

Yu Yan blinked, thinking that the girl might have confused her. "I’m not the Young Master."

"I know," Li Qingwu whispered hoarsely, "I was asking... when will Qiu Che return?”