The 15th of October, the 32nd year of Jia Ning.

Appropriate for: marriage, seeking offspring, proposing marriage, adding members to the family, gaining wealth.

Avoid: installing beams, cooking, cutting wood, traveling, burial.

In front of the Imperial Supervision Office gate, Xiao Man politely knocked on the door, waiting with the little monk, each carrying a bundle.

She stood on tiptoe to look inside, but was blocked by the shadow wall in front of the Imperial Supervision Office gate, seeing nothing: "How long do you think our young master will have to stay in this birdcage? Since the Three Judicial Departments have not convicted him, they should release him quickly."

The little monk clasped his hands together and kept silent, head bowed.

The Imperial Supervision Office jail is much better than other prisons.

It only detains officials of the fifth rank and above and nobles, so it's jokingly called a birdcage by the citizens of the Imperial Capital, because the officials held here had birds on their chest patches—golden pheasants, peacocks, cloud geese, white pheasants...

Each prisoner has their own yard, and family visits are allowed. They receive three meals a day, including two dishes and a soup, prepared by a special chef.

At this moment, Xiao Man suddenly remembered something and whispered, "Our young master really angered Sister Axia the other day. I went to invite Sister Axia to visit him this morning, but she made an excuse not to come... What nonsense was the young master spouting that day?"

The little monk couldn't help saying, "Master Chen Ji didn't want to implicate others. I suppose Master Zhang Xia can understand that."

Xiao Man rolled her eyes, "Understand? Sure, but after arranging our escape route and then angering Sister Axia, does he think he's the only hero? Who does he look down on? In the end, he just doesn't believe anyone will share life and death with him! This time not only Sister Axia is angry, but I'm also angry... aren't you?"

The little monk replied softly, "Ah... this monk indeed has no desire to die."

Xiao Man pinched his waist hard, "You coward."

The little monk winced, "Master Chen Ji doesn't mistrust us; it's just that..."

Xiao Man asked sternly, "Just what? Speak without pause."

The little monk straightened up, "It's just that he isn't as formidable as you all think."

Xiao Man was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

The little monk sighed, "Master Chen Ji isn't as formidable as you think. People only see him escaping from death over and over, never entrusting others with his fate. But I see him face love and friendship, choosing to be captured without a fight each time. He isn't afraid of lacking silver or official positions, but he fears disappointment. So he devised what he thought was a clever plan—if he doesn't test life and death, he won't be disappointed."

Xiao Man stood there in shock, "Are you spouting nonsense?"

The little monk clasped his hands together, "Amitabha Buddha."

Still, no one came out of the Imperial Supervision Office gate for a long time, and Xiao Man grew impatient. She stepped forward, picked up the Beast Head Ring from the black-lacquered door, and struck it forcefully, shaking loose a shower of dust.

A clerk from the Imperial Supervision Office hurried out to check, looking Xiao Man up and down, "Who are you looking for?"

Xiao Man responded, "To visit our young master, the Marquis Wu Xiang."

The clerk's expression changed at the mention of the Marquis Wu Xiang. He turned away immediately, "You should go back. The Marquis Wu Xiang is not allowed visitors."

Xiao Man quickly grabbed his collar, "Why are you running? The Imperial Supervision Office allows visits. Why can't we visit? What have you done to our young master?"

The clerk was lifted so that his toes touched the ground, but his collar constricted his neck, making it hard to breathe, and his face turned red, "The rule of the Imperial Supervision Office is visits by relatives. Are you his relatives?"

Xiao Man froze, "Being his maid isn't enough?"

"Of course not!"

Just then, someone said from the side, "Let them in."

Xiao Man turned her head to look.

A sedan chair landed in front of the Imperial Supervision Office gate. A servant lifted the curtain with a bamboo stick, revealing Chen Lizun in a scarlet official robe.

She quickly released the clerk and politely said, "So it's you, Master Chen. It's getting cold, and snow will fall in a few days. We've come to deliver bedding to our young master."

Chen Lizun nodded to her and then instructed the clerk, "Let them in."

Yet, the clerk, even after hearing the left Imperial Censor's order, stubbornly resisted, "Sir, our Imperial Supervision Office has procedures, and all visitors must be relatives."

Chen Lizun saw the clerk obstinately resisting with regulations, but did not get angry. He just sighed and asked, "I am his uncle. Can I visit him?"

The clerk hesitated for a long time, "Of course, you can."

Chen Lizun took the bundle from Xiao Man and the little monk's hands, "You should go back. I'll take this to Chen Ji."

Xiao Man, feeling a bit reluctant, refused to leave.

Chen Lizun smiled, "Don't trust me?"

"I do."

"Go back then."

Xiao Man murmured a response, reluctantly walking away, constantly looking back.

After walking a dozen steps or so, she turned back to shout, "Master Chen, please tell our young master that the family is doing well."

Chen Lizun didn't turn around but just raised his hand to show he heard.

Carrying two bundles, he walked around the shadow wall to a narrow passageway, lined with whitewashed walls on both sides. Moss grew at the foot of the walls, damp and wet. At the end of the passageway was a moon gate, through which a few bamboo poles could be faintly seen.

If it weren't said to be the Imperial Supervision Office, one could believe it was the Qingyin Small Class.

Chen Lizun turned and asked the clerk, "Where does Chen Ji live?"

"This way," the clerk led the way ahead, while Chen Lizun, holding the bundles, followed unhurriedly.

Passing through the moon gate was another narrow passageway, lined with rows of black lacquered doors on both sides, totaling sixty-four rooms. Copper locks, polished bright, hung on the doors.

The clerk walked to the innermost room, took out a key, unlocked the door, and stepped aside, "Sir, here it is."

Chen Lizun stepped over the threshold.

This is a small courtyard, but the main house and the side rooms are much smaller than usual. Chen Ji sat in the yard, the iron shackles on his wrist had been removed, and he was sitting on a stone bench, lost in thought.

When he saw Chen Lizun, he was taken aback: "…Uncle."

Chen Lizun placed a bundle on the table: "Xiao Man sent this, saying it's getting cold, so she brought you an extra quilt."

Chen Ji nodded: "Where is she?"

Chen Lizun paused: "She went back. The Imperial Supervision Office does not allow maids to visit. The Imperial Censors there are waiting to catch me in wrongdoing, so it's not appropriate to give Xiao Man special treatment. I could only bring the items in myself."

Chen Ji sighed: "Uncle, being the Left Imperial Censor must be quite stifling."

Chen Lizun poured himself a glass of water as he entered the room, and said self-deprecatingly as he held the teapot: "Who says it's not. They are just following procedures, there's no fault to find. Later, they'll use some pretext to demote that clerk, and he can then go to the Qi family to receive a reward. After a year or so, the Qi family will arrange for him a more lucrative position. This is how noble families maintain their retainers, and our Chen family is no different."

Chen Ji smiled: "Uncle forgets, I'm no longer part of the Chen family."

Chen Lizun did not reply, just held the cup and surveyed the room, small but clean.

The thin bedding on the bed was neatly folded, and there was a wooden basin in the corner filled with clean water.

Chen Lizun asked: "Is there anything you lack?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment: "Nothing lacking."

Chen Lizun sat down opposite him: "The case by the Three Judicial Departments has been sent to the palace, waiting for Your Majesty's decision. I've heard that His Majesty was furious, didn't even have dinner, and drove all the eunuchs out of Renshou Palace."

Suddenly, Chen Ji asked: "How are She Dengke and West Wind?"

Chen Lizun was taken aback: "Why are you worried about others instead of yourself?"

Chen Ji repeated: "How are She Dengke and West Wind?"

Chen Lizun pondered: "Hard to say about She Dengke, but for West Wind, officially it is said they want to silence you forever; he will likely face the same fate as Wu Xiu, executed immediately. The Qi family originally promised him a lucrative position, saying he was a spy for the Ministry of Justice, but now won't care for him anymore."

Chen Ji earnestly said: "Please, uncle, help ensure they both have a way out."

Chen Lizun sighed: "…Alright, She Dengke should be fine, but for West Wind, all I can do is try to have him exiled to Lingnan, can't promise more."

Chen Ji seriously: "Thank you, uncle."

Chen Lizun noticed that this was probably the first time Chen Ji had sincerely thanked him: "Rest assured, I won't let anything happen to them."

The two of them fell silent, seemingly at a loss for words.

After a moment, Chen Ji curiously asked: "When might I be able to leave?"

Chen Lizun shook his head: "I'm afraid it will still be some time. We have to wait until Prince Jing and Qing Wentao's treason case is reversed."

Chen Ji was puzzled: "Hasn't it already been reversed?"

Chen Lizun drank a sip of water: "That was just Wu Xiu forcing the Three Judicial Departments to say that on behalf of the court in front of the public; the news has spread among the people, reversing the verdict on Prince Jing is only a matter of time, but the procedures still have to be followed."

Chen Ji made a sound of acknowledgment.

Chen Lizun continued: "Now the Minister of the Ministry of Justice has resigned to retire, and His Majesty has appointed Pang Qingchi, the Governor of Shan Province, to take over, a man from the Hu family. The Minister of the Dali Temple was removed and investigated for corruption, was sent to Guannai Prison, and it's heard that the magistrate of Jinan Prefecture, Chen Jin, is to be summoned to the capital to take over, but it's not yet decided. The Right Imperial Censor was demoted to an Imperial Censor in Taiyuan Prefecture, and the candidates are not yet determined. Once these three new officials take office, the political situation can stabilize, and then the Three Judicial Departments have to send people back to Luocheng City and Guyuan to conduct investigations. Once they return to the capital and finalize the case, it will probably be winter. Only then can decisions about your merits and demerits be made."

Chen Ji nodded: "Got it."

The two fell into silence again, and Chen Ji became lost in his thoughts once more, the atmosphere delicate.

Chen Lizun put down his teacup and said: "I've heard Mr. Qi is seriously ill again. A few days ago, he could still enter Wenhua Palace, but today he's taken leave due to illness. I sent someone to inquire, and it's said that Mr. Qi previously used an elixir sent by the Dao Court, not as effective as the Life Feather Pill, but at least it kept him alive. Now, with his current condition being aggravated, he probably won't last a year. The Qi family now leaderless, with no backbone, might do something reckless… but rest assured, I've already instructed Chen Xu to arrange people to be on standby in Shaojiu Alley. Once anything happens at home, they will offer support immediately." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Chen Ji's expression finally showed some emotion: "Thank you, uncle."

The two fell into silence once again.

Chen Lizun slowly stood up: "I will leave now, will come to see you again in a few days… Do you need me to bring anything next time?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment: "Bring a copy of 'Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Warm Pathogenic Diseases', uncle, ask the Imperial Hospital Director which one I want."

Chen Lizun agreed, turned, and walked out.

When he reached the door, he stopped, hesitant to speak, but in the end said nothing, just sighed, and hurried away.

When Chen Lizun walked out of the Imperial Supervision Office, he instructed the clerk standing at the door: "Do not neglect him, otherwise it will not be as simple as a demotion, and the Qi family won't be able to save you."

The clerk nodded repeatedly: "Rest assured, sir, I understand."

Chen Lizun sighed, adjusted his official hat, and walked down the stone steps.

At this moment, he saw a figure in white approaching, wearing a Dragon Pattern Mask, followed by Treasure Monkey, Jiao Tu, and Yun Yang.

Bai Long walked up the steps as if no one else was there, brushing past Chen Lizun.

The clerk was about to stop them: "Hey, this is the Imperial Supervision Office, what are you doing… someone!"

More than ten prison guards holding sticks rushed out of the Imperial Supervision Office. When they saw who it was, they all froze in place.

Bai Long ignored them, wordlessly walked straight into the Imperial Supervision Office.

Yun Yang grabbed the clerk by the neck, pinned him against the dark door. He slowly glanced around, smiling falsely: "The Spy Department needs your consent to interrogate Chen Ji? No one left in your family?"

The clerk and the prison guards were scared speechless.

Jiao Tu stepped forward, straightened the clerk's collar, and said with a beaming smile: "Next time we come, remember to think about who you are, and who we are, before recklessly losing your life."

The clerk hurriedly nodded: "Understood, understood."

Jiao Tu sashayed ahead: "Let him go, scare him any more and he'll wet his pants."

When Bai Long arrived at the small courtyard where Chen Ji was staying, Chen Ji was still sitting on the stone bench, lost in thought, showing no change when Bai Long entered the courtyard.

At this moment, Bai Long took out a copy of 'Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Warm Pathogenic Diseases' from his sleeve and tossed it onto the table: "You won't be able to leave for a while. I went to ask the Hospital Director and the Dean, and they said you might want to read this book."