When Prince Duan had gone, Gao Ziping came running into the rear courtyard.

Seeing Ning Chen unhurt, the three of them let out their breath.

Feng Qizheng was puzzled. "How is it Prince Duan's men pulled out?"

Ning Chen smiled. "Prince Duan pulled out himself. What would his men stay for?"

"No—what I mean is, Prince Duan didn't give us any trouble at all?"

Ning Chen shrugged. "Prince Duan knew nothing about the immortals' flower being grown. The thing has been cleared up. Why would he give us trouble?"

The three of them stared straight at Ning Chen.

Gao Ziping frowned. "Prince Duan knew nothing about it?"

Ning Chen nodded.

"All of it was cooked up by the late Governor and Prefect of Xiuzhou together with Qiu Mingde and the rest... It has nothing to do with Prince Duan."

Gao Ziping said heavily, "Do you believe that yourself? That book of evidence you brought back—"

"The book of evidence is false." Ning Chen cut him off. "This has nothing to do with Prince Duan."

Feng Qizheng looked at him. "Ning Chen, have you been threatened? If you have, blink."

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth twitched. "What is it, have I gone mute all of a sudden?"

"No—how is it your position turned a hundred and eighty degrees just like that?"

Ning Chen said, "I suspected Prince Duan before too. But the evidence now is conclusive, and this has nothing to do with Prince Duan."

Feng Qizheng asked, curious, "What evidence?"

"You'll see it tomorrow."

Ning Chen said it, and then looked at the three of them and said seriously, "I don't know what you three think. But I have always taken you for my best friends... I'll ask one thing only. Do you trust me?"

The three of them looked at one another.

Ning Chen had turned so warm and earnest all at once that none of them was used to it.

Feng Qizheng said, "Isn't that a stupid question? We've whored together and we've been on a battlefield together. We're brothers who've had each other's lives in our…