On the right side of the outer halls, in the most central grand hall, was where the Grand Tutor normally resided.

The current Grand Tutor had been appointed by the Emperor. When the Emperor’s health was poor, he established the Crown Prince and selected a Grand Tutor to assist him, then paid no further attention.

However, ever since the Crown Prince began his regency, he favored the Riding and Archery Official he appointed himself. Combined with National Uncle Yang taking control of everything, the Grand Tutor was Grand Tutor in name only—in reality he bowed to National Uncle Yang and obeyed in all matters.

The Grand Tutor’s duty room was somewhat cluttered because National Uncle Yang often worked here as well, claiming it wasn’t wasteful—one hall, multiple uses.

The lamps were lit, and eunuchs and several officials all rushed to tidy up.

Deng Yi didn’t mind. He sat casually in the spacious chair, leafing through documents.

“My lord, no one has come from the outer city walls,” an official said quietly.

This place was already quite close to the outer city. With lamps lit and people moving about, that side could surely see.

At this moment, Imperial Guards were scattered all around, gripping crossbows, waiting in battle formation.

But no one came, not even to scout.

Deng Yi raised his head from the documents and smiled: “It seems there are clever people over there.”

Coming to report news and declare loyalty, or to seek rescue and probe for information, would be natural and reasonable. He hadn’t expected someone could truly resist temptation and remain completely still.

However, clever people were numerous, and being clever didn’t necessarily mean good fortune. Take that Third Young Master Xie, Xie Yanfang—

With the Crown Prince dead, everything had come to nothing.

Deng Yi paid no further attention and continued reading documents. He had many new things to learn. Although crude warriors could also become officials, and although this moment wasn’t about judging ability, to hold this office well couldn’t rely solely on luck and brute force.

The officials dared not disturb Deng Yi. They quietly withdrew to guard the door as a show of loyalty. Inside the hall, only some eunuchs bustled about.

One eunuch brought over more lamps, while another brewed tea and brought it over.

Deng Yi casually picked it up and took a sip.

“Does the Grand Tutor find it acceptable?” the eunuch asked.

This eunuch actually hadn’t withdrawn yet? And was asking questions? Deng Yi looked over while holding his teacup, seeing this was a eunuch in his fifties, ordinary and unremarkable.

This was a eunuch who had followed from the Emperor’s bedchamber. An old hand who had survived so many years in the Emperor’s bedchamber was definitely not ordinary.

His gaze became somewhat sharp.

Facing the sharp gaze, that eunuch showed not the slightest retreat, seeming not to notice at all. He said: “There’s no good tea here. This old servant specially brought some from His Majesty’s quarters, though the water was truly prepared too hastily.”

Deng Yi made a sound of acknowledgment: “Not bad.”

Having said this, he lowered his gaze to continue reading.

That eunuch still didn’t leave. Using his sleeve to gently wipe dust from the desk, he said in a low voice: “The Prince of Zhongshan’s heir wishes to enter the Imperial City to protect His Majesty—”

Deng Yi’s hand holding the documents paused slightly.

“—Please honor your promise, Lord Deng,” that eunuch said quietly with lowered head. “Open the gate.”

Having finished speaking, the eunuch withdrew with head bowed.

Deng Yi held the documents in silence, then suddenly laughed.

Prince of Zhongshan—could he be that person who was both clever and fortunate?

……

……

Hoofbeats rang urgently. Xiao Xun had already passed through streets mixed with thick darkness and flames, returning to the postal station.

This place had clearly also experienced slaughter. The surrounding buildings were still burning, corpses scattered across the street—officials, soldiers, and civilians alike.

Xiao Xun dismounted and walked into the postal station as if seeing nothing.

The officials and servants who had once welcomed the Prince’s heir with smiling faces were all gone—or rather, not gone. They had all become corpses lying on the ground. There wasn’t a single living thing in the entire postal station. This of course—was not the Third Prince’s doing.

Of course, ultimately it would be attributed to the Third Prince.

Xiao Xun stepped over a corpse and climbed the steps to enter the interior.

“Actually, why bother leaving? We could have done it ourselves at the Chu residence,” Tie Ying followed behind, frowning in puzzlement.

He didn’t think much of Chu Lan.

“More likely to fail than succeed—that’s what he looks like.”

Ning Kun smiled: “Don’t underestimate scholars. When a scholar develops a mad heart and greedy heart, there’s nothing too terrible he won’t do. No matter how high their status or how strong their martial skills, they can die at scholars’ hands.”

When mentioning strong martial skills, he emphasized the words while looking at Tie Ying.

Tie Ying snorted.

Xiao Xun reassured him: “Don’t worry, our people are all there too. If he can’t do it, we’ll act. Also,” he explained, “having him do it personally is making him submit his pledge of allegiance, so he can be controlled by us in the future.”

Tie Ying said: “Even without a pledge of allegiance, someone like Chu Lan would obey Your Highness’s every word.”

“Just obeying isn’t enough—he must also actively grip the blade for me to kill and charge into battle,” Xiao Xun said. “As you said yourself, Chu Lan is an unworthy person. Without putting shackles on him, he won’t fight desperately for me.”

Ning Kun nodded: “The Prince’s heir understands and employs people thoroughly.” He added: “Returning to the postal station is good too. It’s closer to the Imperial City here, more convenient to enter the palace when the time comes.”

Xiao Xun looked toward where the Imperial City was located. On his normally unruffled face, his expression was complex.

Heaven and earth overturned in a single night.

This was truly as Father had said—the capital was very dangerous, but also exactly as Father wished, the most dangerous place also offered the greatest opportunity.

When the Crown Prince suddenly wanted to go hunting and even recruited strongmen like the Third Prince did, he immediately had people infiltrate—after all, who didn’t have powerful warriors at their disposal?

If the Third Prince intended to commit fratricide, he would lend him a helping hand.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xun smiled, his cheek dimples deepening.

With the Crown Prince dead, whether the Third Prince was torn apart by the Xie family’s mad dogs or held accountable by the Emperor, he was as good as dead either way.

Then eliminate the Crown Prince’s son, and the Emperor’s only bloodline would be severed. The throne of Da Xia could only belong to their Prince of Zhongshan’s line.

Father could finally reclaim everything that belonged to him.

Father’s years of cultivating connections, Father’s careful instruction of him since childhood, Father sending him to the capital at the right time.

All this seemed like luck, but actually it was Father’s keen wisdom and painstaking effort.

Thinking of all this, Xiao Xun’s eyes filled with admiration.

“All this should rightfully belong to Father.”

Besides Father, who else!

“The only regret is not being able to establish a connection with Chu Ling,” Ning Kun said, sighing meaningfully. “Your Highness, now you see how formidable Chu Ling’s hidden position is.”

In the sudden upheaval, among all the capital’s nobility, the Crown Prince’s orphan actually sought refuge with Chu Ling, trusting only Chu Ling.

Oh, and Father had also told him about a secret passage in the capital. Tonight he personally watched a eunuch carrying a child emerge from it.

This was a secret known only to the Emperor. Back then, the Late Emperor cherished Father and told Father about it—

Clearly, in the Late Emperor’s eyes, this throne was originally intended for Father.

“His Majesty’s trust in Chu Ling, Chu Ling’s loyalty to His Majesty—it’s definitely extraordinary,” Ning Kun sighed. “If Your Highness could marry Miss Chu, His Majesty would be even more convinced of Your Highness.”

Xiao Xun smiled: “No matter. When I see His Majesty, I’ll tell him about the connection between Miss Chu and myself, then request His Majesty to grant the marriage.”

Ning Kun clapped his hands: “Excellent, excellent, most excellent indeed.”

Not only would His Majesty feel at ease, Chu Lan would feel at ease, and Chu Ling would have no choice but to become the Prince’s heir’s man. Chu Ling’s connections would belong to him, while the infamy would belong to Chu Ling.

Looking at the faint smile on Xiao Xun’s face, Ning Kun felt somewhat sympathetic.

“It’s just that Your Highness will suffer,” he said. “With such a wife, life won’t be easy.”

At least for a period of time it wouldn’t be easy.

After all, it was an imperial marriage decree. This wife wouldn’t be so easy to cast aside.

Xiao Xun smiled, looking toward the night outside the door. The night was deep and cold, like that girl’s eyes when she looked at him.

With such a wife, life would certainly be very interesting.

……

……

Tonight’s night was extraordinarily long. The thick inky darkness stubbornly refused to dissipate.

It felt like so much time had passed already—why wasn’t it light yet?

But he was also terrified of daybreak.

If day broke, this would no longer be a nightmare.

The small child crouched in the middle of the woodpile, burying his head against his knees, desperately keeping his eyes closed.

With a creak, the door was pushed open. A lamp shone in, its dim yellow light penetrating the woodpile, penetrating his knees.

So bright! So hateful!

The child wanted to shout and scream. If it were before, he would have done so. Everyone around him feared him and would never defy him. But now he could only tightly close his eyes and mouth, trying hard to curl up smaller, even stopping his breathing, lest he be discovered.

“Are you here?” A female voice sounded softly, as if she too wasn’t certain who she was looking for. Then she paused and said, “I am Chu Ling’s daughter, Chu Zhao.”

Chu Ling’s daughter, Chu Zhao.

The child slowly opened his eyes, looking through the gaps between his fingers. Through those gaps, through the woodpile, he saw a figure standing in the dim yellow lamplight.

She seemed very tall, yet seemed not much older than him. She had jet-black hair, luminous white skin, and eyes bright as stars.