Ning Chen did not raise the clearing of Yan Wenbo and Liu Zhichen.

Because of his relationship with Yudie, raising it himself would have had the opposite effect.

Because the moment Yudie was a free woman again, he would bring her back to the Ning household.

And His Majesty would never allow another woman through the Ning family's door ahead of the Ninth Princess.

Better to wait for Prince Duan's memorial to arrive and let somebody else raise it — Li Zhixing, the Minister of Justice, for instance.

Taking the case as a whole, Li Zhixing was the officer in charge of it, and there could be nobody more suitable to raise it.

"Ning Chen, you have had a hard road. Stay and eat with this emperor... and when you have eaten, go and see Huai'an, and then go home and rest properly."

Ning Chen's face pulled tight, and inwardly he smiled bitterly.

He would rather have done anything on earth than eat with the Xuan Emperor. Was that eating? It was pure torture, with far too many damn rules.

When the Xuan Emperor ate there were plenty of dishes, but by the time the whole procedure had been through, the food was cold—and a man still did not get enough.

"Quan Sheng, serve the meal!"

"Yes!"

Ning Chen got through that meal with the Xuan Emperor in a storm of silent complaint... and then took his leave with an empty stomach.

Because he had not had anywhere near enough.

Ning Chen came to the Fallen Phoenix Court.

He was announced, and went in behind a palace maid.

Come to think of it, he had not seen the Ninth Princess in two or three months... Last time, coming back from the frontier, he had been so busy that never mind visiting the Ninth Princess, he had not even been home.

He had barely come into the courtyard when he heard a light, sharp cry.

A figure in red with a sword in her hand was working through a sword form in the courtyard, moving like a dragon in water, light…