Huanan He swaggered out of the Violent Room of Imperial Ceremony Office and blinked cunningly. He turned to Yue Xilou's stunned handsome face, smiling slightly, "Lord Yue, you asked me to come to identify the criminal. I have already pointed him out for you. Next, it's up to you."

Yue Xilou frowned slightly and bowed nervously, “Your Highness, there must be a misunderstanding here! This person... He..."

"Well, that's all."

Huanan He smiled and patted Yue Xilou on the chest with a hint of sharpness in his eyes, "I understand. Lord Yue, you run the Eastern Depot. You have always been upright and highly valued by His Majesty. Some people must be jealous of you in the court. If His Majesty asks one day, I will definitely put in a good word for you. But someone is trying to use the Concubine Yun incident to drag you and me down. This is very important. You must look it up."

"Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for your suggestion." Yue Xilou had rarely lowered his head, but at this moment, he had to bow his head to Huanan He, which made Huanan He sneer secretly.

How arrogant this eunuch had been when he killed innocent people indiscriminately on the border of the western tribes! Now it was his turn to be frightened.

However, this was just the beginning, and the main event was yet to come!

Huanan He was respectfully sent out of the Imperial Ceremony Office by Yue Xilou, and he met Liang Zhen, who served the Emperor.

Under the stone steps, the Eunuch Superintendent held a horsetail whisk in his hand and smirked at and bowed to the two figures, one in blue and the other in red, "Your Highness, Lord Yue, pay my respect to both of you. Your Highness, His Majesty knows that you’re now in the Palace and specially ordered someone to prepare good wine and food in Qinming Hall. His Majesty specially sent me to invite you over there!"

Huanan He was well aware of the Emperor's intention to hold a banquet to entertain him, but he was still playing dumb. He put on a surprised look and clapped his hands, "Have a drink? Okay, let's go!"

He ran down the steps quickly, grabbed Liang Zhen's wrist, and happily left. Watching the two go away, Yue Xilou let out a long sigh of relief, and then his face turned blue. He wiped his sweaty palms with a handkerchief and went back to the Imperial Ceremony Office angrily.

As soon as he entered the main hall, he saw Leshuang and others kneeling upright and holding their breath in fright.

"What the hell is going on here? Is the b*st*rd Shi Ling plotting against me?" Yue Xilou overturned the table and yelled loudly. He returned to his irritable and extreme character.

Leshuang lowered his face, and his eyes flashed silently, "Godfather, please forgive my boldness. Now that the man has not confessed himself, it is not appropriate for us to assume that he is a spy from Shi’s Mansion. I think that we can put a spy in the Counselor-in-chief Shi’s Mansion, so naturally, some talented people can put spies in the Counselor-in-chief Shi’s Mansion and the Imperial Ceremony Office."

Yue Xilou closed his eyes and clenched his fists slightly to crush the teacup in his hand, "Immediately torture him to get the identity of his master and make him confess his crimes. We didn't do a good job in the previous several things, and His Majesty must have complained about me. This time, someone is trying to frame us. We can't take the fall for someone else again."

Leshuang smiled faintly, "Don't worry, godfather. Leave it to me. It seems both the Imperial Ceremony Office and your Eastern Depot have to be more careful now."

Yue Xilou stood up, shook off the porcelain powder, and looked worried and angry, "Leshuang, you're right. It's time to check carefully. No, I should go to Qinming Hall. The Ninth Prince is a foolish and cunning character. He promised to put in a good word for me, but he might speak ill of me in front of His Majesty!"

After Yue Xilou strode out of the main hall, Leshuang stood up slowly and curled his lips coldly.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold of the Violent Room, he heard howls inside, "It's not me. It's not me. I’m so wronged…"

Leshuang took a leisurely step towards the source of the sound, and his eyes were glowing coldly.

Soon, he saw the man tied with layers of hemp rope on the wooden stake at the end of the Violent Room.

The man had already received a round of punishment, and his body was now covered in blood.

There was a charcoal basin at his feet, and the glowing fire in the basin was the only light source in this small space.

On these hot summer days, the Violent Room was already airtight. When it was roasted by a charcoal fire, the burning feeling was intense, causing indescribable pain.

The bound man was dripping with blood and sweat continuously, and sparks flew up when they fell into the charcoal basin.

He weakly raised his eyelids. When he saw Leshuang approaching with his hands behind his back, he suddenly braced himself up and said miserably, "Bingbi, please save me. I have always been conscientious in my work in the Imperial Ceremony Office. I did not falsely pass on His Majesty's order, and I did not dare to falsely pass His Majesty's order... Oh, I’m wronged..."

Leshuang wandered around the stake twice and stopped to face the poor man inches away, "Lord Jia, I know it can't be you who falsely passed on His Majesty’s order..." Leshuang talked eloquently with a sinister smile.

The man's terrified expression softened. He moved his chapped lips and wept with joy, "That's right. I didn’t do it. I’m so wronged. Oh, I was almost killed!"

"Because that incident is completely non-existent. It was made up by the Ninth Prince..." The next moment, Leshuang raised his chin slightly, locked his sharp eyes on him, and said casually.

The eunuch surnamed Jia was stunned, and he was instantly surprised and confused, "Bingbi... What… What did you say?"

Leshuang didn't answer. He stared at his terrified expression and continued, "That story is fake, but your identity as a spy is real. Do you think I don't know who your master is?"

Suddenly, the eunuch surnamed Jia was speechless as if he had been choked.

Then his facial features twitched in pain. His neck twisted and his eyes widened. A trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The eunuch taking charge of punishment leaned closer to the stake, put his hand under his nostril, and then turned to look at Leshuang, "He killed himself by biting his tongue. Bingbi, how should I get back to Lord?"

Leshuang shook his sleeves and smiled coldly, "When he asks, you can say that Lord Jia didn’t survive the punishment and died. This is the best way. Since he is dead now, there is no proof."

...

When the night fell and the lights were on, in Jingyang Palace, Leshuang strode into the main hall with a basket full of nigrum fruits and bowed to Gu Yunxi, "Your Grace."

"Bingbi, we’re on the same side. Don’t be so polite." Gu Yunxi sat on the armchair, dressed up, and looked at him with a smile. Her eyes were clear.

When Zhiqi saw it, she closed the gate of the hall knowingly and stood guard in front of it.

She slowly shook her fan, "Lord Lei, let Bingbi have a seat."

Hearing that, Leshuang's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his eyes and nodded as if he had been flattered, "Your Grace, you don’t have to be like this. You can leave it to me to do anything you want, and I will certainly do my best."

Gu Yunxi stared at him. Her clear eyes wandered around him for a moment and then she pursed her lips and smiled, "Le Xiaobei is you."

Leshuang bowed respectfully, "Your Grace, Prince Xian has already told you my identity? At that time, I was ordered to hide in the Eastern Depot by Princess Anhe. Later, for convenience, I pretended to go and seek refuge with Yue Xilou, and he changed my name to 'Shuang'."

Gu Yunxi raised her slender and delicate eyebrows and nodded amicably, "The word 'Shuang' suggests coldness and unrestraint. It fits your temperament. This time I’ve personally contacted you because I would like to thank you for helping the Ninth Prince and showing up to warn us many times in critical moments."

"You’re welcome. It is my duty to serve His Highness and Your Grace."

Seeing that he was somewhat restrained, Gu Yunxi changed the topic while shaking her fan, "I heard from Brother Xian that you are secretly tracking down the dissidents lurking in the Eastern Depot. How is it going?"

"Your Grace, I have made some progress on it. When the opportunity is right, I will sort out a list and submit it to you."

Gu Yunxi's eyes lit up at Leshuang's answer, "Are there any spies from Counselor-in-chief Shi’s Mansion?"

Leshuang lowered his eyes slightly and smiled confidently, "Yes. Shi Ling sits at the head of the cabinet. In the past two years, he has secretly formed a clique by relying on the power of Noble Concubine Hui and has enriched his power. The two major institutions, the cabinet and the Eastern Depot, are supposed to be responsible for internal affairs and external affairs respectively. But the cabinet was dissatisfied with the Eastern Depot's dominance. Shi Ling and Yue Xilou have had a long history of secret rivalry. The two have been at each other's throats. To keep track of each other's news, both sides placed spies on the other's side."

Gu Yunxi listened attentively and lightly touched Yingluo hanging on her fan, thinking quickly in her mind, "After you go back, sort out the list as soon as possible, and keep it for the time being. When Huanan Xin intervenes in this matter, you will submit it to him. I will also support Yue Xilou."

Leshuang fluttered his eyelashes and fully knew Gu Yunxi's meaning. He bowed and pursed his lips.

"Yes, Your Grace."

Gu Yunxi put down the fan, stood up with her hands in front of her eyes, and put on a cold smile, "My 'smallpox' has healed. It's time for me to go out for a walk and meet my 'good friend'."