C18 The Situation in the Capital!

"Why have you been standing outside for so long? Why not come in?" Lo Qiuli had washed the blood from her face and changed her clothes. It was late at night, and though her wounds were treated, they still ached, keeping her wide awake. She sat at the low table, trying to read, but the gaze from outside made her restless.

She set the book aside and moved to the desk, where she took the kettle from the warmer to make tea for Xiao Yuhan. The tea leaves were from the last time Xiao Yuhan had been there, knowing he couldn't stand low-quality tea. Lo Qiuli, in a rare moment of kindness, decided to use them.

As the steaming tea poured into the cup, its aroma filled the room. It was hard to believe that someone like Lo Qiuli could afford such fine tea, but she was benefiting from Xiao Yuhan's generosity.

Just as she was about to set the kettle down, a gust of wind swept through the window, and moments later, Xiao Yuhan's nonchalant face appeared in her view. He sat across from Lo Qiuli, his eyes briefly narrowing at the bandage on her forehead stained with blood. He relaxed and pulled a bottle of ointment from his pocket, placing it in front of her. "By tomorrow, the wound will bruise. Remember to use this."

"Did you come to laugh at me?" Lo Qiuli glanced at the porcelain bottle on the table, feeling a surge of anger she couldn't direct at Xiao Yuhan. Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, which she quickly wiped away, avoiding his gaze.

In truth, Lo Qiuli was surprised by her own reaction. She had been through much worse, so why did this small incident make her want to cry? She closed her eyes, and Xiao Yuhan's face unexpectedly came to mind.

"The Director of the Imperial Capital Mansion is dead, his throat slit. If you hadn't reminded me to check, we might not have discovered it until tomorrow." Xiao Yuhan felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at Lo Qiuli's sorrowful face, unsure how to comfort her, so he shifted the conversation elsewhere.

"If I remember correctly, the Director was aligned with the Crown Prince. Do you think this was the work of the Fifth Prince, the Third Prince, or perhaps you, the Ninth Prince?" Lo Qiuli took a deep breath, calming her turbulent emotions. She looked at Xiao Yuhan, once again the composed and unflappable Lo Qiuli.

"Why mention the Third Prince?" Xiao Yuhan had considered many possibilities, but he had no reason to target the Director. With control over the patrol camp, he had no need to vie for the Director's position. Naturally, suspicion turned to Xiao Hongfei, but framing him seemed too obvious. The Third Prince, however, hadn't crossed his mind, especially since he was no longer in the capital.

"Five years ago, the Third Prince was the most favored, but he lost the Emperor's favor due to the hostage incident and ended up leaving for Canghui. At that time, the Third Prince was already of age. Do you think he wouldn't have a faction of his own in the capital?" Lo Qiuli smiled slightly, savoring the tea's sweet flavor, which lifted her spirits. No wonder Xiao Yuhan loved tea so much!

"Are you suggesting the Third Prince wants to stir up chaos in the palace?" Xiao Yuhan was taken aback by Lo Qiuli's theory. It was an idea no one else would have considered, yet it seemed irrefutable to him.

"Ninth Prince, don't put it that way. The palace has never been free of turmoil. The Third Prince merely wants to muddy the waters as he prepares to return to the capital." Lo Qiuli chuckled softly. The case of the Director was something she only vaguely knew about in her past life, not even the cause. The case was left unresolved, but six months later, the Third Prince returned to the capital, prompting inevitable speculation.

"Who do you think the Crown Prince suspects first after the Director of the Imperial Capital Mansion's death?" Xiao Yuhan couldn't calm his mind. He initially thought it was just a setup, but he didn't expect the Third Prince to be involved. It seemed he had paid too little attention to that side.

"I bet the Crown Prince suspects you!" Lo Qiuli casually spun her cup, watching the tea swirl into different shapes. Her confident expression matched Xiao Yuhan's expectations, yet it was still surprising, given that he already controlled a patrol camp.

"Exactly. Even though I control the patrol camp, I'm likely the prime suspect. The Crown Prince is naturally suspicious and often targets the least likely person," Xiao Yuhan said, smiling at Lo Qiuli. This shared understanding between them was a promising start.

"Has the Crown Prince made a move on the mines?" Lo Qiuli suddenly recalled the mines at Sunset Mountain. When the Crown Prince learned about them, he used every trick to seize control, forcing her to go through a lot of trouble to get them back. By then, the mines were practically worthless, but their cover allowed her to accomplish many things she otherwise couldn't.

"You wish. Once something's in the Dustless Bureau, getting it out is impossible." Xiao Yuhan's eyes turned cold at the mention. The Crown Prince was naive to think that leveraging the Secretary of the Treasury's influence could make him relinquish the mines. What a joke!

"Who would've thought the renowned Dustless Bureau was yours, Xiao Yuhan? Just how wealthy are you?" Lo Qiuli's eyes flashed with surprise at the mention of the bureau, but she quickly regained her composure. Resting her head on one hand, she looked at the handsome man before her with keen interest.

Xiao Yuhan was far more mysterious than she had ever realized. No wonder Xiao Hongfei had been so wary of him in the past, going to great lengths to try and eliminate him. Unfortunately, he never succeeded while he was alive, and they ended up dying together.

"With the Director of the Imperial Capital Mansion gone, that position is now vacant. Have you thought about putting your own person in there?" This was what Lo Qiuli was most concerned about. The role of the Director was significant, drawing attention from many, especially the Crown Prince. Losing this position would greatly diminish his influence.

"If it's just about placing someone in power without regard for their character, I'd rather not have it," Xiao Yuhan paused his tea-drinking to make his principles clear to Lo Qiuli. Her eyes often held a fierce determination, and he couldn't be sure she wouldn't harm the innocent to achieve her goals.

"Is the Ninth Prince trying to set some ground rules with me?" Lo Qiuli's eyes flickered before she spoke.