After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Compared with the other cells of the Second Division, Yushitai was even worse. Because it is sitting there due to the chill, it is even colder and damper. The smell of staleness and blood filled his breath. There were constant screams outside the cell all night, and it was obvious that many people had nightmares. But Pei Jiaoran was very calm. He woke up on time at 2:00 a.m., his face was not tired, and his eyes were clear.

As I walked around the cell, the sound of clattering footsteps reached my ears. Pei Jiaoran immediately sat back on the stone bed and meditated cross-legged, eyes closed.

The jailer poked his head in and asked suspiciously: "You're not awake yet? You're up for the morning meal."

As soon as he finished speaking, he opened the food box in his hand.

Pei Jiaoran bit his lip as he looked at the porridge and side dishes on the table. He raised his hand to arrange his hair again, tied his bun, and ate his meal upright.

Although I guessed that Yushitai treated them equally, today's meal was really shabby. Shaking his head and sighing, Pei Jiaoran finished his morning meal with a glum expression.

Also complaining like her were the Minister of Civil Affairs and Ren Yaxiang in the next cell. The two of them were used to eating delicacies, but now they saw that Yushitai only gave them porridge and side dishes, so they were naturally quite dissatisfied. However, due to the authority of the censor, he was not allowed to bow his head. What's more, people are like iron rice and steel. If they don't eat, if they starve to death in Yushi Prison, who can they ask to reason?

Not long after finishing the meal, there were footsteps approaching from far away.

"Pei Jiaoran, the prince wants to see you." The visitor said loudly.

When the familiar voice reached his ears, Pei Jiaoran turned his head. Seeing that it was Changsun Yigui, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Here."

Although Changsun Yigui came according to the prince's order, Yushitai still reviewed the order before letting the East Palace take the person away.

Seeing that the main entrance of the East Palace was close at hand, Chang Sun Yigui stopped Pei Jiaoran. He motioned to the accompanying East Palace guards to go ahead and said in a deep voice, "Are you okay? Xuanyin is very worried about you. He heard that I was going to take you to the Crown Prince, so he specifically asked me to ask you if there is anything you need help with?"

Pei Jiaoran shook his head when he heard the questioning voice, and moved on.

Seeing this, the eldest son Sun Yigui also chased after him. After being identified by the guards of the East Palace, he was able to enter the Li Zheng Hall of the East Palace.

The prince is not in the palace, only two servants are waiting for him. When they saw two people entering, one of the chamberlains stayed here while the other went to report to the prince.

"Pei Jiaoran."

Hearing the prince's voice coming from behind the screen, Pei Jiaoran folded his sleeves and bowed his waist, "I'm going to bow to the prince."

The sound of footsteps paused behind a screen made of red gauze with a pattern of grapes and phoenixes.

Even across the screen, Pei Jiaoran felt the future king's scrutinizing eyes falling on her.

"Do you know why I called you here?" The prince moved a chair and sat cross-legged on it. The tone is dull.

"Go back to the crown prince, I don't know." Pei Jiaoran raised his eyebrows and asked tentatively in a deep voice, "I think it's because the test questions were leaked?"

A chuckle reached his ears through the screen, and Pei Jiaoran's hands hanging by his sides clenched into fists.

"You are very smart.

The corners of Pei Jiaoran's mouth twitched as the words fell upon his ears. Although these words sounded like praise, the prince's tone was straightforward and did not sound like the slightest bit of approval. On the contrary, it was like an expressionless mockery.

Pei Jiaoran looked at the prince behind the screen with an expression on his face and sighed, "Prince, if you want to say anything, just say it. I am willing to listen to your teachings."

There were crowds of people moving behind the screen, and Pei Jiaoran followed him with his eyes. The prince, who was wearing a light fur coat, gathered his clothes and sat down, his eyes also fixed on her.

The prince looked at her with a half-smile, and a sharp light flashed through his eyes, "Father issued an order for Gu to cooperate with the three divisions to try the case. I asked you to come today because I want to ask you who you think is the most suspect."

Upon hearing this, Pei Jiaoran was slightly stunned, with sarcasm flashing in his eyes. Sure enough, the calculation is engraved in the Tian family's bones.

"Your Highness's question is very strange. As a person involved in the case, how can Wei Chen answer casually?"

Putting down the tea cup in his hand, the prince sneered, "But have you really leaked the test questions? You are the examiner appointed by your father. If you fall into this, how will the people view the court? You just need to give me a reasonable My answer is that I have heard what you said that day at Ci'en Temple."

Pei Jiaoran frowned subtly, as if he didn't understand the meaning of the words.

"No need to pretend to be confused with Gu. Gu knows that you understand."

Having reached this point, Pei Jiaoran narrowed his eyes. This seems to be a good opportunity to negotiate terms with the prince, "So, prince, you deliberately involve the minister. You just want to use the minister to point out a person who disrupts the order of the court. Do you want to kick him out of the court?"

"Exactly."

"Then how many people does the prince want to implicate?"

"It doesn't have to be too many, just a few people."

"Your Highness Shicai, you also said that Wei Chen cannot leak the exam questions. This means that Wei Chen does not need to follow your king's order to drag others into trouble."

"Pei Jiaoran." The prince's eyes were cold and his voice could make Tian Wu tremble. "Don't forget your identity. You don't know what the current situation of the court is. The central government is constantly competing for profits. If you don't want to be like a turbid thing, They will be cleared out all the same. You have to understand the principle of assessing the situation and protecting yourself wisely."

The prince's tone was already a bit anxious. That day, his staff heard Pei Jiaoran's sarcastic remarks about Zen Master Jinghui among the people listening to the sutra. When he entered the palace the next day, he reported the matter to him. While he was overjoyed, he recalled Pei Jiaoran's blunt remonstrance to the emperor in Fengzhou. At that time, his views on her changed and he regarded her as a like-minded person.

Sensing out the prince's intention, Pei Jiaoran lowered his eyes to hide the smile in his eyes, and asked, "So is His Highness planning to balance the situation of the court or the weight of one party?"

"I am the prince."

"I'll ask you another question. Who would Your Highness prefer to be in charge of the officials?" Pei Jiaoran smiled sternly.

"Pei Jiaoran, you have exceeded the rules." The prince's voice suddenly sounded like a black cloud over the city, making people breathless.

Sensing the murderous intent in the prince's voice, Pei Jiaoran, who was as sharp and intelligent as a falling leaf knowing autumn, instantly leaned forward and confessed with some resignation, "It is the sin of a humble minister to presume on His Highness's heart."

Seeing that she admitted her mistake obediently, the prince snorted coldly.

"The prince wants to investigate. I thought we could start with the officials on duty that day and the Jinwu guards." Pei Jiaoran looked at the prince indifferently. She knew that the prince had no interest in those who failed in their duties. All he wanted was to take the opportunity to clear out the dirty people who collected stolen goods and demanded bribes, and replaced them all with his people.

With his thoughts at this point, Pei Jiaoran narrowed his eyes. She was suddenly curious about how many of the scholars who participated in the imperial examination this time were princes? Do they really have the same ideals as the prince? It seems that this time the science bureau is not just a temporary initiative of Emperor Wei, but more like a bureau jointly done by the father and son.

They intend to reshuffle the card table.

From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a beautiful figure walking slowly towards the inner room. Pei Jiaoran curled his lips and said, "I still have something unclear, Your Highness."

"You ask." The prince frowned.

"Wei Chen would like to know, has the prince considered reducing the number of Buddhist temples?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the prince slapped his palm on the desk and stood up.