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  As Changning Marquis's carriage returned to the city, passing through Zhuque Street, it was unexpectedly halted by heavy congestion. Worried that Song Chuyi might become uncomfortable in the confined carriage, Ye Jingchuan anxiously urged Chang'an to investigate.

  Chang'an slipped through the crowd like an eel, emerging breathless beside Ye Jingchuan after considerable effort. Raising his voice above the commotion, he reported, "Young Master, it's a student protest ahead, blocking the entire road. It doesn’t look like it'll clear up anytime soon."

  Ye Jingchuan furrowed his brows in response. Not long ago, students from the Imperial Academy had blocked streets, condemning Yuan Hui for meddling in state affairs. This time... He gnced thoughtfully at the silent carriage behind him, suddenly gaining crity. He raised a hand to halt Chang'an’s rambling and calmly suggested to Lin Hai and Qin Chuan, "Why not take Zhengyang Street instead?"

  Given the current intensity, these students likely wouldn’t relent until authorities from the City Guard and Shuntian Prefecture intervened. Lin Hai and Qin Chuan agreed immediately, quickly rerouting the carriage via Zhengyang Street. By the time they finally arrived at Changning Marquis's residence, it was already past noon.

  Song Jue rushed out to greet them, uncharacteristically offering Ye Jingchuan a welcoming smile and enthusiastically inviting him inside, "It's terribly cold today—why not stay a while and warm up with a cup of tea?"

  Lately, the Princess of Zhennan had visited Changning Marquis's mansion frequently. Being insightful, Song Jue immediately grasped her intentions. Previously, Ye Jingchuan’s one-sided fervor had seemed merely youthful exuberance and thus easy to dismiss. But now, with the clear signals from elders, and Old Lady Song and First Lady Song revealing subtle approval, he naturally assumed his responsibilities as an elder brother to get along well with Ye Jingchuan and assess his character.

  Ye Jingchuan felt fttered and accepted eagerly. As he dismounted and walked in with Song Jue, he couldn’t help asking, "There’s a gathering of Imperial Academy students protesting on Zhuque Street..."

  Song Jue turned to him, eyes half-smiling, half-serious. "Guess why?"

  Without hesitation, Ye Jingchuan responded candidly, "Is Yuan Hui’s matter still unresolved?"

  Indeed, it remained unresolved. Unless Yuan Hui died, this issue would continue indefinitely.

  A little ter, further news arrived: students had surrounded the Shuntian Prefecture yamen, violently confronting officials and clerks who tried to disperse them, leaving many injured.

  Ye Jingchuan, uncertain about the depth of the students’ anger, anxiously looked to Song Jue. "Is all this commotion merely due to Old Master Song resigning and Sixth Miss Song’s fate reading? Won't His Majesty possibly..." He trailed off, afraid the Emperor might believe the Song family had orchestrated the unrest, thus causing trouble for them.

  Song Jue smiled lightly. "How could it be about the Song family? Clearly, these students are angry for all schors. Officials diligently serve the people; county magistrates in Linjiang and Jiujiang died from exposure while handling the snowstorm disaster. Yet Yuan Hui and the Imperial Astronomy Bureau bmed it all on supernatural phenomena—such cims are a direct insult to every diligent official."

  Though the reasoning seemed slightly exaggerated, it didn’t matter. Students were always the most passionate and easily ignited group. All they needed to know was that Yuan Hui—a monk morally compromised yet arrogant and unchecked, who'd been released effortlessly after his transgressions—was attempting to interfere in governance through mysticism.

  The scandal involving Yuan Hui and that woman in the tavern had been widely witnessed. Yet afterward, Yuan Hui was quietly released as if nothing had occurred.

  Indeed, this was precisely why Song Chuyi had schemed to get Yuan Hui arrested in the first pce. She had never truly expected the yamen to hold Yuan Hui, nor did she depend on them to charge him formally. Her real purpose was simply to expose the double standards and special treatment Yuan Hui received from a government that was usually severe toward monks.

  This was her real strategy—to escate the controversy. Her decisive strike had always been here.

  Meanwhile, Old Lady Song questioned Song Chuyi about the day's events. "I heard that bald donkey Yuan Hui actually visited the vil?"

  "Yes," Song Chuyi replied calmly. "He came specifically to threaten me, saying we'd meet again. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't realize there won't be a next time."

  The only slip-up had been the rescue of Yuan Hui's mother and sister. Song Chuyi had intended to use them as leverage precisely to prevent Yuan Hui from acting impulsively out of rage, just as he'd done yesterday.

  Nevertheless, it didn’t matter—the rest of her pns had proceeded smoothly.

  Old Lady Song sneered, undisguised disgust on her face. "Ignore him, speaking ambiguously about gods and ghosts. A monk harboring such deep hostility and vengeance—he deserves everything he's suffering now."

  She continued, "Part of the reason for the students' protest now is Yuan Hui's immoral character and reckless interference in state affairs. Another reason is his abuse of Huangjue Temple’s power, allowing his brother-in-w to bully vilgers and seize nd. Did you arrange this as well?"

  Almost all the tenants around Huangjue Temple’s foothills worked for the temple, paying rent each year to survive. Lady Huang’s husband, however, had attempted to double-charge them by acting as a middleman. Usually, people tolerated it silently. But now, Yuan Hui was already embroiled in scandal. Thus, Song Chuyi intentionally refrained from arresting this troublesome brother-in-w—indeed, he was notorious and prone to causing trouble. In her previous life, he'd forced someone to death over nd disputes, resulting in an official compint and arrest.

  Sadly, in her st life, with Prince Duan's backing, Yuan Hui’s brother-in-w had not only escaped punishment but even secured an official position. But this time around, Yuan Hui had no such protection.

  The students’ protest was no trivial matter. They had even attacked Shuntian Prefecture officials, highlighting their intense anger. Emperor Jianzhang would certainly not overlook this. At this juncture, regardless of Yuan Hui’s actual guilt, he would have to be held accountable to pacify public outrage. Otherwise, wouldn't it dishearten all the officials and schors who had struggled so hard to manage the disasters in Jiujiang and Pingxiang? Yuan Hui alone had provoked the ire of far too many.

  By evening, when First Master Song returned home, he brought delightful news—Yuan Hui had finally been apprehended by the Jinyiwei.