After he finished speaking, there was a deathly silence.

A moment later, Chi Yao asked, "Do you know what you're saying?"

Lu Lu smiled, a self-deprecating laugh: "I know."

Chi Yao lowered his eyes, his long eyebrows furrowing, "Are you sure?"

This time, Lu Lu was silent.

Slowly closing his eyes, the young lieutenant general finally said, "I'm sure."

Taking a deep breath, Chi Yao exhaled a breath of stale air.

He looked up at the sky.

Heavy snow fell from the sky, and the world became crystal clear.

He thought of those eyes again, the eyes of Shi Xing before his death, a memory inexplicably vivid in Chi Yao’s mind.

Perhaps it was the same sickly appearance he saw on that face.

However, since Blue Star people are generally considered weak, Chi Yao simply assumed it was from the cold, without considering other possibilities, such as the same as his current condition...

It’s nothing more than that; to think of it that way is a bit too harsh.

His gaze fell again, looking at Lu Lu, and Chi Yao raised his hand.

"Take him back for investigation."

This farce caused by the wedding has briefly come to an end.

In the evening, after dinner, the follow-up to the Blue Star person's tree nest and Lu Lu's confession were both placed on Chi Yao's desk.

When Tang Mi delivered the documents, His Highness Bi Zhou was speaking with His Majesty in the study.

He overheard something while going in and out, and it was about the matter in the documents, concerning a Blue Star person.

"That's all the information we have about the main Bi family. Bi Shu's parents have already been summoned to the main family, along with Bi Shu."

"We're still asking about more details. My uncle should be able to come to the palace again the day after tomorrow to tell them what he knows..."

Bi Zhou was interrupted by Chi Yao before he could finish speaking.

"Tomorrow," Chi Yao said solemnly, "I need to know all the information the Bi family can uncover before dinner tomorrow."

Bi Zhou was taken aback for a moment, then lowered his head and said respectfully, "Yes."

Chi Yao suddenly said, "I plan to pass the throne to you next year."

This came too quickly, and even Bi Zhou was stunned..

Chi Yao: "It’s about time. You've been an adult for two years now, and you've been tempered in both domestic and military affairs. You know my physical condition... In my final days, I don't want to be tied to this position. I’d rather go out and see the world, instead of working myself to death in the palace. What do you think?"

Bi Zhou couldn't say anything, but his eyes were already red.

"Uncle, you've already..."

Chi Yao didn't speak, he just nodded.

Something surged through Bi Zhou, his inner emotions churning, but he controlled his facial expression.

Chi Yao observed him and was quite satisfied with his reaction.

He nodded approvingly, reaching out to ruffle Bi Zhou's hair, causing Bi Zhou's nose to redden.

Once Bi Zhou calmed down, Chi Yao slowly turned his words back to what he wanted to say.

"Once you ascend the throne, the Bi family will replace the Chi family and become extremely powerful in the empire. The Bellman family has few branches, and external influences have always been strictly controlled. The Bi family is involved in both domestic and military affairs, so..."

Bi Zhou understood. This incident involved the Bi family, and at such a critical time, Chi Yao would not let it go easily.

But ultimately, due to his blood relation, his words were merely a way of testing Bi Zhou’s stance, to get him to...

Bi Zhou readily agreed, "I'll handle the Bi family's situation. A small leak can sink a great ship; the Bi family surely understands this principle."

Large families often have many branches, making it impossible for every member to be outstanding.

Born into a large family, one can be moderate, but one cannot be muddleheaded.

Those branches that are rotten inside should be pruned and cleaned as soon as possible to avoid affecting the main trunk.

Chi Yao was satisfied with Bi Zhou's attitude and let him leave.

The next day, the head of the Bi family, along with an elder, entered the palace, and a consensus was quickly reached on the decision regarding the Bi family in just a few words.

The next day, the dispatch documents were distributed to Bi Shu's parents' communication devices, and the overall situation was settled.

Tan Shao and Lu Li learned the news in the evening.

Lu Lu has also been missing for the past two days. There was footage of their aircraft entering Ancheng, but no footage of it leaving Ancheng.

Lu Li already had a general idea of ​​what was going to happen, but he didn't know what the final outcome would be.

Tan Shao finally felt fear.

However, the fear did not last long. The day after they could not contact Bi Shu's family, the royal guards came to the Prince's Mansion and "invited" Lu Guangyu and Tan Shao to the palace to inquire about the situation.

Fei Chu led the way, and Lu Li volunteered to follow them.

Fei Chu scrutinized Lu Li with his gaze.

Lu Li remained calm and asked, "Is Xiao Lu currently staying in the palace?"

Fei Chu didn't reply, but instead asked, "When Shi Xing was at the Prince's Mansion, you were stationed at the farthest point of the border. Logically, the young master shouldn't know anything, so why did you go with him?"

Lu Li: "We're family after all. Even if we don't know everything, we still know more about some things than outsiders."

“Me coming forward isn’t any quicker than you investigating others.”

That makes sense, so Fei Chu brought Lu Li along.

Once aboard the spaceship, Fei Chu told Lu Li about Lu Lu’s report, considering that Lu Li was easy to talk to and also to give the Prince's Mansion some information.

Upon hearing this, Tan Shao nearly fainted.

Fei Chu looked at Lu Guangyu, who had been silent the whole way, and smiled: "Does Prince Lu have nothing to say?"

Lu Guangyu's face was sullen. After a long while, he said softly, "I apologize for the family matter, General. It was my fault for not disciplining my family properly."

Fei Chu had no intention of making things difficult for anyone. "Who is right and who is wrong, His Majesty will make his own judgment once we enter the palace."

Lu Lu's confession, the information uncovered by the Bi family, and further investigation revealed a great deal more.

Upon entering the palace, Chi Yao did not meet the Lu family members, but instead showed them the relevant information first.

In his impatience, Tan Shao insisted on seeing Lu Lu and, after consulting with Chi Yao, Chi Yao agreed.

But to everyone's surprise, Lu Lu disagreed and refused to see Tan Shao.

Tan Shao was baffled. “Why? Why? Isn’t it enough that he brought us all into the palace? Why does he have to…"

Fei Chu: "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. I invited you to the palace not because of what Lu Lu said, but because of what you did... Of course, these matters are still being verified, but you can rest assured that the Imperial Law is sound. If it is not your fault, you will definitely not be blamed. However, if any problems are found, you will be punished accordingly."

Tan Shao was lost for words.

Tan Shao requested to see Lu Lu again.

The answer was negative again.

Lu Lu was being held in a palace. Tan Shao, unable to contain her anger, followed the attendants and tried to force her way in. Given Tan Shao's status, she ran fast, and for a moment, no one could stop her. The guards saw her and recognized her as the Princess Consort. They were unsure whether they could stop her, and in this way, Tan Shao actually reached the outside of Lu Lu's current residence.

But she still didn't see Lu Lu.

Lu Lu opened the barrier, but refused to see her no matter what.

This news eventually reached Chi Yao's ears, and Fei Chu said worriedly, "I don't think Tan Shao is a sane person. Should we question her?"

Fei Chu: "Cousin, the doctor said you need to keep a positive mood, preferably..."

Chi Yao didn't seem to care. "Then let's find someone with a clear head. The Tan family isn't completely wiped out, are they?"

Fei Chu paused for a moment, then said, "Madam Tan is still in good spirits."

"I remember you used to work at the Supreme People's Court?"

Fei Chu: "Yes, Chief Justice, from the previous generation."

"Then please invite the two elders to the palace."

"Go through the Lu family's side first. Of the three people, whoever you think is suitable, just bring them over."

In the end, only Lu Li was led to Chi Yao.

Three people entered the palace, but by the time they left that day, only two emerged: Lu Li and Lu Guangyu. Tan Shao was detained within the palace

Letting them go didn't mean letting them off the hooks. The final investigation revealed that, apart from Lu Man, who was guarding a remote checkpoint, and Lu Li, who was at the furthest point on the border at the time, Lu Guangyu and Tan Shao, who had signed the guardianship agreement, were implicated.

The Empire's regulations regarding the protection of Blue Star people are quite comprehensive, based on contracts. In the event of an incident, anyone who has signed such a contract cannot escape scrutiny.

People come and go from Lu Lu's residence every day.

On the contrary, Tan Shao was completely unresponsive. Apart from asking her questions on the first day, only her attendants came and went from her residence.

Fearing that Tan Shao might cause some trouble in the palace and attract criticism, Xu Jin would also have people keep an eye on her room to ensure that she remained completely safe and sound while in the palace.

Chi Yao and Madam Tan's conversation began early in the morning and did not end until sunset.

During the conversation, all evidence had been collected, and all the testimonies had been signed and fingerprinted.

Aside from Lu Lu bearing undeniable responsibility, everything in Shi Xing's case points to Tan Shao.

As Madam Tan's straight back slumped as she left the study, Tang Mi felt as if it had collapsed.

Yan Changyue led Madam Tan to see Tan Shao. Before leaving, he saw Madam Tan slap Tan Shao.

Seeing this, Yan Changyue lowered his eyes and left without looking back.

"Mom, you hit me?" Tan Shao asked in disbelief.

Mrs. Tan was exasperated: "How foolish of you!"

"Do you know what you're doing?"

Tan Shao was unconvinced. Seeing that there were no outsiders present, she finally spoke the truth, lowering his voice to a level that only the two of them could hear, and said through gritted teeth, "Blue Star has disappeared. There's only a contract with the Empire, but it's just a piece of paper. I don't believe it can really do anything to me!"

After hearing this, Madam Tan felt dizzy.

She did indeed fall backward, and the attendant outside, seeing this, slipped into the room and caught Madam Tan before Tan Shao could reach her.

After being offered chairs and water, Madam Tan finally caught her breath. Looking at Tan Shao's resolute expression, her head started throbbing again. She thanked the attendant and asked him to give her and Tan Shao some space to talk. Only after the footsteps had faded away did Madam Tan speak again.

"Your father and I have been in the court for so many years, and you are our youngest daughter. We have neglected to discipline you."

"Have you ever thought that you've ruined Guangyu's military achievements and Xiaolu's future?!"

Madam Tan shook her head, heavily. "I shouldn't have listened to your father. If I had known, I should have sent you to military school to temper your temper. It would have been better than this mess."

Tan Shao didn't understand, but before she could speak, Madam Tan gave her the answer.

"There's no such thing as a free lunch. Since Blue Star was willing to transplant the mother tree here, do you think they didn't have a backup plan?"

Tan Shao took her mother's surname. In fact, the Tan family had a higher position and greater influence back then.

Looking at her youngest daughter's face, Madam Tan softly revealed a royal secret: "The contract and the royal family's spiritual sea are intricately connected. Do you think, if something happens, will the royal family first consider the offending imperial citizen, or their spiritual sea?"

Tan Shao's expression suddenly changed.

But it was too late.

Madam Tan: "His Majesty and I have already discussed it. We will handle it as it should be. If you are to be sentenced, then for the sake of the Tan family, we will choose a remote place for you to serve your sentence. When you come out, you will be back in the capital, just like before."

Tan Shao was shocked, "Why did I go to prison? How can coming back be the same..."

Madam Tan wiped her face, but didn't want to pay attention to Tan Shao. She got up and called for her attendant to leave.

Mrs. Tan: "Why you went to jail depends on what you did."

The case, which had been investigated repeatedly for several months back then, is progressing exceptionally quickly this time.

Conclusions are reached quickly.

There were no problems with the border issue back then. Even though there were some points that needed to be carefully considered, the outcome was not due to any individual or team being unwilling to contribute or having ulterior motives.

However, before and after the incident, Lu Guangyu, Tan Shao, and Lu Lu all bear inescapable responsibility for Lu Lu taking Shi Xing to the border too early, and even forcing him to divorce.

Lu Lu was demoted, disciplined, and transferred from the Empire to the Alliance, his promising future coming to an abrupt end.

Lu Guangyu received a disciplinary action and was demoted in rank, but whether or not to announce it was a matter of debate between the Elders' Council and the Senate, and it would probably take some time to reach a conclusion. However, even if it was not announced, many people who were paying attention to the matter knew about it immediately after it happened.

Tan Shao was among them, with the most serious circumstances and the most heinous nature, and was sentenced.

However, Chi Yao would give Madam Tan some face and not let her serve her sentence in the capital.

As for the eldest son and second daughter of the Lu family, Lu Li and Lu Man, they had not signed any relevant agreements, and both were adults when the incident occurred. They were separate entities from the Prince's Mansion and were not within the scope of accountability. In principle, they did not bear any responsibility to Shi Xing.

Therefore, under a clearly defined legal framework, neither of them is involved.

After Tan Shao's case was resolved, Lu Man, who had not returned home, sent a request, saying that her post was in a remote location and that Tan Shao could be released there to serve her sentence, so that she could keep an eye on her. Madam Tan and Lu Guangyu both thought it was a good idea, but Tan Shao was devastated.

But what devastated Tan Shao even more was that Lu Lu never agreed to see her until she left the capital.

Tan Shao felt uneasy, as if she had lost the child forever.

Her feeling was right. In fact, after she was released from prison, Lu Lu never returned to the Empire, but that's another story.

Everything settled down when Chi Yao stamped his seal.

After finishing this case that he had kept in his mind for so long, Chi Yao closed the folder, took one last look at the case number that had been in his sight for so long, and handed it to the clerk.

That number will never appear in his sight again.

"The twin stars have emerged," Chi Yao said, looking at the magnificent sunlight outside the window.

At Xu Jin's request, Chi Yao agreed to go out for a walk.

When Chi Yao got to the courtyard, he found that the snow had stopped.

Winter is coming to an end.

  *

Shi Xing rolled over, rubbed his eyes, and sat up. He had been sleeping so soundly that he hadn't woken up even when the sun was shining on his back.

But the key point is...

"Your Highness, aren't you going to have someone wake me up?"

When Shi Xing called him back to his room, Chi Yao heard this muttered phrase as soon as he entered.

"There's nothing wrong, just sleep if you want, what's wrong?"

Shi Xing: "I was just saying this afternoon that I had to deal with some matters concerning the Elders' Council. If you do this, Chairman Ren will nag you."

Chi Yao was unfazed: “Let him say what he wants. He’s retiring soon anyway; Xu Mirou will just take over.”

Shi Xing: "..."

Shi Xing: "Please don't let Chairman Ren hear this, it would be too disheartening."

Chi Yao argued logically, "That's why I said it to your face, not his."

"Get up and wash up?"

"I overslept, I have no energy." Shi Xing's voice was also weak.

Finally, Chi Yao picked him up and carried him to the bathroom. On the way, Shi Xing yawned, his head drooping and leaning on Chi Yao's shoulder.

"You don't look like you slept well," Chi Yao asked curiously.

"I had a dream, but it wasn't a pleasant one."

"What did you dream about?"

Chi Yao put Shi Xing on the washstand, turned on the water, and wrung out a towel for Shi Xing.

"I dreamt that...you said you wanted to pass the throne to Bi Zhou..."

Chi Yao chuckled lightly, "He's barely able to handle domestic affairs. If you really dump the burden on him, wouldn't Bi Zhou be crying his eyes out and breaking down his bedroom?"

Shi Xing was amused.

Chi Yao: "Look up."

Seeing that Shi Xing still looked sleepy, she went to wipe Shi Xing's face.

Feeling the comfort of the hot towel rolling over her face, Shi Xing closed his eyes and said, "Yes, I cried."

Chi Yao: "I knew it."

Shi Xing's smile widened; he wasn't going to talk about the rest of the unpleasant parts.

The sun was shining brightly, and his life was good. Today was calm and peaceful, a day spent enjoying His Highness's service.

---