Jing Wan'er and Pei Tan returned to the Dali Temple when the night was extremely deep, and the entire Dali Temple had a solemn atmosphere.

  Under the moonlight, Jing Wanyu's face was as white as frost and snow, reminding Pei Tan of the first time he saw a girl, on that chaotic and confused painting boat, Jing Wanyu's expression was also like this, facing life and death with calmness and composure.

  "I had planned to take you on a tour of Chang'an today, but unexpectedly, I still ended up frightening you."

  Jing Wan'er seemed to be unaware of it, with a gentle smile on her slightly lowered face: "With the protection of the adults, I can rest assured."

  "Why don't you go back and rest earlier?" Pei Tan's voice was warm. "You're also tired."

  Jing Wan'er looked up at him, and in fact, during the hundreds of days and nights she had been away, she had never thought that she would be able to look at him so closely again, face to face, and feel his voice.

  This feeling is too stable.

  This sense of stability is different from the one she felt when she returned to Jing Zhe's arms and regained her childhood affection.

  This is the only strong reassurance that Pei Tan can bring to her.

  ——

  Li Jia, Li Xiao Zheng kicked over the leading dead soldier: "What's the use of raising you bunch of useless things?!"

  The dead soldier was kicked to the ground, but didn't dare make a sound.

  The remaining dead soldiers who were prostrate on the ground trembled with fear: "Pei, Pei Tan said that Jing Yuanner was his person from the Dali Temple. If... if you want to move Jing Yuanner, it's equivalent to opposing his Dali Temple!"

  Li Xiao seemed to be laughing at the absurdity of it all, pointing at the dead assassin's head on the ground: "Does the old man still fear a mere Dalit temple? Does he dare threaten the old man?"

  The dead men didn't dare to speak up, but he, Li Xiao, wasn't afraid, however they were.

  Li Xiao was just about to have these good-for-nothings dragged out when he thought, the Li estate doesn't raise useless people. If they can't even handle a Pei Tan and a Jing Yu'er, then don't eat the food provided by his estate anymore.

  Just as Li Xiao was about to give an order, a person hastily came in from the doorway and announced: "Your Excellency, the Crown Prince of Chang Le has arrived."

  Li Xiao's face was frozen in anger: "Who came?"

  "His Highness, Prince Changle, has arrived at the gate."

  Li Xiao's expression on his face began to waver, Prince Chang Le? He had never been close with Prince Chang Le before, so why would he suddenly come at such a late hour?

  But Li Xiao was still above the top, and he also understood that the other party's identity was a prince, a real king who had been sealed by the golden book.

  King Xian of Cheng had eighteen sons, but only Li Xiuyi, the Prince of Changle, was enfeoffed as a king.

  Such people, Li Xiao didn't dare offend either.

  Li Xiao threw down this group of incompetent dead soldiers and rushed towards the front hall.

  Changle King tapped the table lightly with his hand, and a small servant beside him carefully presented tea. Just as Li Xiuzhi was blowing away the foam on the surface of the tea, Li Xiao walked in.

  "The old minister welcomes Your Highness." Li Xiao raised his hand in a salute.

  Li Xiuzhi drank a mouthful of tea at a moderate pace, then handed the teacup to a nearby servant boy, and looked towards Li Xiao.

  Li Xiao said: "I don't know what official business brought you here last night, Your Highness?"

  This sentence has a bit of an inside meaning, Li Xiuzhi is indeed a prince, but he's so idle that it's like looking for a nobleman on the streets, even if there's official business, no one would look for him.

  Li Xiuzhi looked at Li Xiao, both of whom shared the surname Li. It was unnecessary for them to pretend not to understand each other. Li Xiuzhi spoke up: "Today, I strolled through the flower market on Chang'an Street and bumped into a servant from your household, who was following a respectable young woman."

  Li Xiao's face turned green, and he didn't even bother with the courtesy of a subject, directly raising his head to stare at Li Xiuzhi: "What did Your Highness say?... Forgive me, I don't understand."

  A fierce look flashed across Li Xiao's face, matching Li Xiuzhi's indifferent and cold gaze like a mirror.

  "Must I repeat what I have just said?"

  In the midst of a bustling city, teasing and flirting with a respectable young girl, these two sentences are too straightforward to be laughable.

  Li Xiao suddenly lowered his head, but his two hands were tightly clenched in his sleeves. If it were someone else doing this, if it weren't Li Xiao, they would probably be scared out of their wits by now.

  Li Xiao slowly said after a while: "My family's servant is ignorant and offended Your Highness, please forgive him."

  Li Xiuzhi still had that indifferent and expressionless face, the Li family servants beside him didn't even dare to breathe loudly. Li Xiuzhi said: "It's not that I've offended Your Majesty, but rather that I may have offended the Grand Justice of the Temple."

  Li Xiao's entire face stiffened like frozen tofu again.

  Li Xiuzhi picked up his tea and took another sip.

  Li Xiao's hand in his sleeve tightened, and the joints seemed to crackle with tension. He forced out a faint, gloomy smile: "Offended the Duke of Dalish? I didn't know that Your Highness had become acquainted with Temple Master Pei?"

  ...can still see his servants offending the worthless daughter of that criminal minister...

  Li Xiuxi's gaze almost fell on Li Xiao's face, and Li Xiao actually met Li Xiuxi's gloomy gaze without avoiding it.

  Li Xiao's eyebrows had a hint of arrogance in addition to his usual pride.

  An idle and powerless prince can really compare with a powerful minister in his heyday?

  Li Xiuxi suddenly smiled, he had always been wearing a mask of indifference and detachment, but now that he was smiling, it made people see through his face the shadow of the past when Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was in power. "Lord Li, did you see Prime Minister Wei during today's court assembly?"

  This remark was unrelated to the topic, and Li's eyes slightly sank. "As the leader of all officials, how could I not see that?" Was he trying to mock him for being blind?

  Li Xiuzhi's fingers lightly tapped on the table, and he began to speak in a seemingly casual tone: "Wei Xiang has been in office for over a decade, and there have been some rumors among the people. Wei Xiang himself also feels that he is getting old and intends to step down. The king visited the palace a few days ago and happened to see Wei Xiang discussing with His Majesty about the candidate for his successor..."

  Li Xiao's face was cold, he didn't know what this idle king was singing about. Wei Xiang wants to step down? What does that have to do with him?

  "I am dull-witted and don't understand the profound meaning Your Highness is trying to convey."

  "Lord Li, do you still remember Pei Xiang from back then?" Lord Li's tone had a hint of chill.

  Li Xiao was about to respond when he suddenly thought of something and his expression changed.

  Bai Xiang, Bai Yan.

  Li Xiuzhi said quietly, "Do you still remember many years ago when Your Majesty first ascended to the throne and wanted to appoint Wei Xiang as Prime Minister, but was opposed by someone and couldn't make it happen?"

  Li Xiao's body had already gone limp on one side at this time.

  Many people have lived a comfortable life for several years and forgotten the hardships they suffered in the past. Unfortunately, although Li Xiao and his men have poor memories, the current emperor has an exceptionally good memory.

  Li Xiuzhi waved his hand and let the servant take away the cooled tea soup. The young servant quickly replaced it with a new cup of hot tea.

  At that time, due to Pei Xiang's opposition, Wei's family not only suffered a great disaster but also brought about Zhongzong's first demotion and wandering for over a decade...

  Li Xiao had long lost his earlier arrogance and was now covered in cold sweat, while Li Xiuzhi still wore the same calm smile as before: "One day as the chief assistant, one day as a minister, it seems like another change is coming to the imperial court."

  The Grand Chancellor is the chief assistant of all officials, leading all officials, under one person and above ten thousand people.

  Li Xiao's mind was full of absurdity. Are you kidding me? That upright guy?

  Li Xiuyi continued to speak slowly: "Pei Shangnian was also young when he succeeded as prime minister, and Your Majesty has always not emphasized seniority. To suppress the powerful ministers above and to comfort the people's hearts below, who do you think is the best candidate for this position?"

  Li Xiao's face was as pale as death, he had a million disbelieves, until he looked into Li Xiuzhi's eyes, and found that this king seemed to be unfathomable in an instant.

  The fifteen famous prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty all had the surname Pei.

  Li Xiao, although he often relies on the arrogance of the Li family to look down on others, is not too stupid after all. The people he offends are at least those he thinks can be offended. It can be said that he bullies the weak and fears the strong, but this is what it means to be a clever person who knows how to adapt to circumstances.

  Li Xiao's heart was cursing, but his mouth couldn't say anything. He admitted... he didn't dare.

  Li Xiuxi's hand, which was about to strike the table, stopped in mid-air. He then stood up, his face slightly pale as if he had been sitting for too long. He stared at Li Xiao, his voice surprisingly gentle: "I'm only reminding you, Lord Li, because we share the same surname. After all, Zhong Chuke is a member of the Zhong family, and whatever commotion he causes won't bring shame to anyone else. But you, Lord Li... are different. If you were to tarnish the reputation of the Li family, the consequences would be far more severe than what Zhong Chuke could ever face."

  Emperor Zhongzong's trust and favor towards Pei Yan were clear to everyone in the court. If he really wanted to support Pei Yan to become a minister, Emperor Zhongzong would definitely establish his prestige for Pei Yan, and anyone who had any connection with Pei Yan would be used as a sacrifice by Emperor Zhongzong.

  Zong Chuke relies on Wei's family, so no matter how powerful he is, he is just "relying on his power".

  So Li Xiao looked down on Zong Chuke, thinking that if even Zong Chuke could offend the Dalisi Temple, he himself was not to be underestimated.

  Afraid of him? Don't be ridiculous.

  However, Li Xiao actually took Zong Chuke's downfall as a reference, and he himself was blinded by his own ignorance.

  Li Xiuzhi patted Li Xiao's shoulder and walked out of the hall: "This king has said all he needs to say, take care of yourself."

  The Prince of Changle waved his sleeves and left with a long stride, using both kindness and authority to let the entire Li family see what it means to be a true prince.

  Pei Siqing, the kindness of De Fei back then, I, the king, consider it repaid to you now.

  ……

  After the early court session, Pei Tong was kept behind by Emperor Zhongzong, "I have something I'd like to ask your opinion on."

  Zhong Zong handed a memorial on the table to Pei Tan.

  Pei Tan took over with both hands, his eyes scanning past, and Zhong Zong's voice sounded in his ears at the same time: "In the southwest, many officials' terms are about to expire. Because of the long distance from Chang'an, every transfer is a painful process, and I'm also worried. I want to hear your suggestions."

  Pei Tan slowly put down the memorial: "This involves the promotion and demotion of officials, I... don't dare to say more?"

  "Since I asked you, just speak directly. There is no third person here except for us, why be cautious?"

  Zhong Zong apparently also understood Pei Tan's temperament, so he kept him alone.

  Pei Tan paused for a moment before speaking: "The southwest route is far, but it has the advantage of being connected to the waterways of Jiangnan and having close ties with neighboring counties. Although it's remote, it's self-sufficient, so the people live in peace and the economy develops well. However, most officials are unwilling to be sent out, even those who were appointed by Your Majesty a few years ago have been lazy in their governance, which will inevitably lead to resentment among both the people and officials."

  Zhong Zong nodded, these were actually things he had considered for a long time in his heart, it's just that everyone wanted to stay in the capital and was only willing to be sent to wealthy places, but if everyone thought this way, wouldn't the people in other parts of the vast Tang Dynasty territory not live?

  Pei Tan raised his eyes: "In another half a year, it will be the imperial examination again. Many scholars from outside the capital will rush to Chang'an, including some students from the southwestern border areas. I have an idea, but I don't know if Your Majesty is willing."

  Zhong Zong said: "Tell me."

  Pei Tan said: "In fact, the imperial examinations of all dynasties have always been dominated by talented people, but the teaching methods in different regions are completely different. Everyone wants to stay in Chang'an because Chang'an is rich in resources, and there are no less than a hundred schools. Many schoolmasters are even jinshi from the current dynasty. However, except for Chang'an, the surrounding areas are second-rate, and those that are further away do not have such resources at all. Many examinees have been self-studying since childhood without guidance from a master, and finally travel long distances to take the exam in the capital. Whether they can pass or not is actually entirely dependent on luck."

  Pei's words left Zhong Zong speechless for a long time. To be honest, as the emperor sitting in the high hall, he really found it hard to realize that such a gap existed.

  What Pei Tan said is completely realistic.

  "So, Your Majesty, if you really want to select suitable officials from outside, you can pay attention to the scholars from those remote areas, not just the southwest region, but also other regions. For them, there is no need to use the same standard as the candidates from Chang'an. In fact, being able to pass the exam from such a difficult place, their knowledge is already trustworthy.

  Pei Tan's expression was slightly serious, "If they can stand out in the imperial examination, Your Majesty can also grant them a favor, allowing them to be appointed as officials outside the capital. Moreover, for officials who are not far from the southwest region and have good governance records, you can also promote them to become governors of the southwest region, breaking the usual rules. This way, there is no need to forcibly transfer officials from the capital, causing dissatisfaction among them, and you can also bestow favors on other officials who have not received imperial grace before, making them grateful for Your Majesty's kindness."

  The emperor felt very relieved after hearing this, and he looked at Pei Yan with a mixture of emotions. With such talent and no bias, this was the kind of minister that Emperor Zhongzong had always wanted.

  Zhong Zong's expression was complex: "I know that the matter of Princess Jincheng and your marriage is something I owe you. This is also a debt the imperial family owes you."

  After going through this matter, even if Pei Tan gets a heavy reward on the road of being an official, in terms of marriage, it is true that no noble lady from Chang'an would be willing to marry him. Even the princesses of the Li Tang imperial family were taken away by Ke for diplomatic marriages, how could they dare to send their daughters to him?

  Pei Tan lowered his eyes: "Your Majesty's words are too serious, I dare not accept them."

  Zhong Zong sighed and said: "Whatever you want, I am willing to satisfy you, but you are so indifferent and have no desires."

  "Your Majesty's imperial grace has already deeply favored me; I dare not make many more requests."

  Zhong Zong apparently anticipated this and said with a hint of depth: "I know what you want, I heard that... the daughter of the Jing family who used to follow you has returned to Chang'an?"

  Pai Tan's expression, which had been calm and unchanged for a long time, finally showed some ripples, as if he wanted to say something, but then fell silent again.

  Zhongzong said with a smile: "I have already pardoned her whole family, and she has no relatives in Chang'an. Who is she running to Chang'an for?"

  It goes without saying that Pei Tan is a clever and cunning person, and Zhong Zong is not stupid either.

  "Your Majesty, I..."

  Bai Tan had not finished speaking when Zhong Zong waved his hand, "It's late, you can go back now. I will consider your words of advice today."

  ……

  Pei Tan sat in the carriage and returned to the Dali Temple. As soon as he arrived at the gate, the doorman hastily presented him with a letter and a sandalwood gift box: "Sir, a messenger from Lord Li's mansion brought a small gift for you to take a look?"

  Pei Tan's eyes swept over the seal on the note, Li Daren, Li Xiao?

  "Mr. Li has asked me to pass on a message, saying that the other day he was at fault in teaching his son and offended you and your concubine...and also Miss Jing. He hopes this small gift will not be rejected by you, and also hopes that you won't hold it against him because of his useless son. In the future, our two families can have more interactions..."

  These words were quite straightforward, and Pei Tan stared at the gift box without saying a word.

  The gatekeeper didn't dare urge him either, naturally because he knew his master's temper.

  It wasn't until much later that Pei Tan finally spoke up and said, "Take it."

  Three words "light as a feather", seem to be the final say in this whole matter.

  The Li family servant who had been lurking around the Temple of Great Rites, seeing Pei Tan really take the notice, hastily rushed back to the Li residence to report the news.

  "Really received it?"

  Li Xiao sat back heavily in his chair, his face changing from cloudy to sunny, a flash of hatred and unwillingness in his eyes, as if he had let out a sigh of relief...

  Li Xiuxiu burst into Li Xiao's room, his momentum surging forward as he questioned sternly: "Father, how could you send things to the Daluo Temple? Have you forgotten what they did to your son?"

  "A useless thing!"

  Li Xiu was beaten to the point of losing three souls and seven orifices, covering his face and fainting on the ground, not daring to believe it. "Don't go provoke Dalit Temple again, don't go provoke people with the surname Pei again!"

  ……

  Shen Xingwen came to the study with the file he had just finished reading and reported to Pei Tan, "The case of Fan's wine house, I have already arranged for someone to hand it over to Geng Wenzhong's side, he is now very cooperative. Once I go through the procedure, the case can be basically closed."

  This case is not complicated at all, everything is clear and transparent, and it's a waste for the Supreme Court to take it.

  "Deal with it yourself, no need to report back to me."

  He believes in Shen Xingwen's ability for this small case.

  Shen Xingwen paused for a moment, he had also heard about what happened during the day, and couldn't help but reveal a meaningful smile: "The adults are really different now, they know how to be flexible."

  Compared with before, Pei Tan would never have accepted this gift and would not have taken the Li family and Li Xiao seriously.

  He didn't care whether the Li family came to apologize or not, it was better if they didn't, and he would directly impeach them in front of the emperor. Yes, Pei Tan wasn't someone who didn't understand flexibility, but rather he fundamentally didn't need to be flexible.

  "Pei Tan didn't even lift his head, his voice was cool and calm: 'What do you want to say?'"

  Shen Xingwen was going back and forth on the edge of death: "Your subordinate guesses that you are doing this for Miss Wan'er, sir?"

  Pei Tan didn't mind making enemies or how others would treat him, but... once Jing Wanyu was involved, it was a different story.

  It was as if that airtight iron bucket had suddenly developed a tiny crack.

  Pei Tan closed the case file and finally looked at Shen Xingwen, saying after a while: "Your concern for Miss Yuanyuan seems to have increased recently?"

  Shen Xingwen smiled slyly: "Your humble servant is one who loves the cottage and the crow together, whatever Your Excellency likes, your humble servant naturally also likes."

  Pei Tan threw the case file on the desk, his expression unchanged: "Your investigation report is not detailed enough, go back and rewrite it."

  Shen Xingwen: "..."

  ——

  In the days of Dali Temple, every day passed quickly for Jing Yuanyu. In the past, it was a struggle to count down each day, but now she had no regrets about returning to Chang'an, although this city had confined her for five years, she saw another beautiful side of Chang'an.

  Pei Tan now comes every afternoon to take Jing Yuanyuan for a walk on Chang'an Street, each time Pei's guards bring two Da Li Temple attendants to secretly follow from a distance to avoid the unexpected event that happened last time, and cannot get too close so as not to be detected, trying not to disturb the nobleman and Miss Jing's elegant pleasure.

  "Sir, Chang'an is indeed a good place."

  Only Jing Wan'er can say this without any scruples.

  "Pei Tan looked at her: 'As long as you like it.'"

  "Nowadays, adults don't even need to investigate cases anymore?" Jing Wanyu still felt a bit disappointed, she had thought that at least she could help Pei Tan with his work. But from the time they returned to Chang'an until now, it was almost all Pei Tan accompanying her on strolls through the market.

  Pei Tan put his hands in his sleeves, "In the past, the Grand Temple didn't have a junior minister, so many things had to be done personally. Now, it's also time for him to gain some experience."

  Shen Shaoqing buried his head on the table, with papers piled up like a mountain. Suddenly, he felt an itch in his nose and let out several loud sneezes. Who was it that was calling out to him?

  Jing Wan'er nodded in agreement: "Shen Shaoqiang is indeed very capable."

  Bai Tan was glad to have such an arm, and she was also happy for him.

  Shen Xingwen's case-handling ability is not to be underestimated, and in the entire Da Li Temple, there is indeed no one who can surpass him; he can be considered a qualified successor.

  And in the past two years, with the cooperation of Pei Tan and Shen Xingwen, almost all the backlogged cases in the Dali Temple have been redressed, and the reputation of the Dali Temple has also risen greatly, and it is unmatched among the people and the imperial court.

  The security in Chang'an City is now said to be so good that you can pick up things on the road and sleep with your doors open at night, without exaggeration. After all, everyone recognizes the face of Dalisi Temple Master now, and no one has nothing better to do than to go looking for trouble.

  ……

  On a windy and sunny afternoon, the messenger officer rushed into the Dali Temple. This time, it was not to deliver an edict to Pei Tan or Shen Xingwen, but to find Jing Yuanner alone. "Miss Jing, congratulations! His Majesty has decided to reinstate Mr. Jing and appoint him as the governor of a state in the southwest. Mr. Jing has now been restored to his official rank of 5th grade..."

  Jing Wan'er was trimming flowers and grass in the courtyard of the Temple of Great Wisdom when she heard this, and she stood still on the spot.

  "After all, Master Jing was once a top scholar and had been diligent in his official duties. Now that the southwest region is lacking a talented leader, no one is more suitable for the position than Master Jing... Congratulations to Miss Jing, your hardships are finally over, from now on you'll be a fifth-rank lady of a thousand gold."

  Jing Wan'er seemed to have become deaf to everything around her. Her ears were buzzing, as if there were countless voices, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

  Then she suddenly felt a chill run through her body, threw down the scissors and rushed to Pei Tan's study.

  The official who conveyed the imperial edict must have already informed Pei Tan, and at this moment he was in his study digesting it.

  Jing Wan'er rushed in with a loud crash, staring at Pei Tan, and suddenly her eyes became blurry.

  "Adult......" She only said these two words.

  Pei Tan slowly shook his head, as if he knew what she was going to ask: "It has nothing to do with me, it's the emperor's great kindness."

  Pei was still reeling from the news, as last night Zhongzong had summoned him to the palace and appointed him as the chief examiner for this year's imperial examination.

  Who would have thought that today, an imperial edict came down ordering the reinstatement of Qu Yuan.

  Perhaps Zhong Zong wanted to release a signal first and pave the way for this imperial examination.

  Pei Tan slowly got up and walked towards Jing Wanyan, who was still standing at the door, at a loss for what to do, with tears falling down unknowingly.

  Pei Tan stretched out his hand to wipe away her tears, and then gently held her in his arms.

  Leaning into Pei Tan's arms, Jing Wanyu silently cried for a while. From the first time she saw Tai Ye at the pool several years ago, every step of the way was something she had never thought would happen, and all of this was like a dream to her.

  Even scenes that dare not appear in dreams.

  "From the very beginning you were a treasured daughter of an official family, now it's just what you deserve."

  It is indeed true that good and evil have their own paths, and heavenly justice is clear and evident.

  He is in Dali Temple, it's just such a place.

  Jing Wan'er didn't say a word, she just buried her head deeper. Whether it was the gate of an official's mansion or the palace of a slave girl, Jing Wan'er had not considered this life as her own since she got on that painted boat in Taiye Pool. In this life, whether alive or dead, she would be with Pei Tan (her master).

  Someone in the courtyard lightly said: "You might as well close the door for the master..."

  Author's note: After the epilogue, I promised to give everyone a perfect ending. It should be left at its best time, and let Wan'er get back everything that originally belonged to her, which is the best ending. As for other things, I believe everyone can imagine them on their own. Lord Pei will eventually become the Prime Minister, and he and Wan'er will have a matching social status.

  Regarding Chancellor Pei Yan, those who are interested can search online. The Pei clan was indeed very prosperous during the Tang Dynasty. According to the "Tang Hui Yao", there were 17 prime ministers from the Hedong Pei clan in the Tang Dynasty, and one of them was a marshal. Even looking at the entire history, there were approximately 59 prime ministers from the Pei clan. So, the settings mentioned by Pei Tan are not purely fictional.

  Thank you for your support all along the way of "The Secret Records of Chang'an". Thank you to all readers who have been waiting. Finally, let's celebrate the completion with a flourish!