Three generations of the Yun family fell silent.

They had always worried about their achievements overshadowing the emperor. They had begun restraining their prominence years ago, but even so, more than ten years later, they would still face the fate of having their entire household executed.

Looking back through thousands of years of history, how many great generals, after achieving success and fame, died under the blade of the very monarch they had loyally served?

When reading about those wrongfully killed generals in the history books, they couldn’t help but sigh with regret. But to learn that one day in the future, such a thing would happen to the Yun family…

Dying on the battlefield—that would be a worthy death.

But to be falsely accused of conspiring with enemies and treason, to have over a hundred family members beheaded—who could accept such a thing?

“Since we’ve confirmed that the events in Chu’er’s dream will happen one day, our Yun family cannot sit and wait for death.” Yun Ze spoke slowly. “Father, how about returning military authority and retiring to the countryside?”

As long as they held military power, there would always come a day when their achievements would overshadow the emperor and make His Majesty wary. If that was the case, wouldn’t surrendering military authority prevent everything in the future from happening?

“His Majesty likely won’t agree.” Yun Silin shook his head. “Before there’s someone who can replace me in this position, His Majesty will never allow the Yun family to retire. Moreover, the small border nations keep testing us. If I just wash my hands of it, who knows how many common people would suffer…”

Yun Chu gave a bitter smile.

Yes, while the Yun family still had value to be used, how could His Majesty let them go?

But when the Yun family no longer had value, many things would not be for the Yun family to decide.

Moving forward was difficult; taking a step back was also difficult.

The Yun family had been placed in such a position—on the surface it looked like a bed of flowers, but in reality, beneath it was a furnace, roasting every member of the Yun family.

“My Yun family has served in the military for generations. So many men have died on the battlefield, and in the end, even the women and children were all beheaded. This truly breaks my heart!” Old General Yun said coldly. “Since relinquishing power won’t work, then we must choose a wise ruler to serve… My Yun family originally only served His Majesty in loyalty, but now we can only be forced into the struggle for the throne. The Eighth Prince has Yun family blood, so we should…”

“The Eighth Prince is too pure and kind.” Yun Ze shook his head. “Aunt also has no intention whatsoever of competing for the throne. Why drag them into this?”

Yun Silin looked at Yun Chu: “Did you dream of who eventually became emperor?”

Yun Chu thought for a moment before speaking: “In my dream, the Fourth Prince died, the Fifth Prince was crippled, the Sixth Prince was exiled, the Seventh Prince supported the Second Prince, the Eighth Prince died… The Crown Prince’s position in the Eastern Palace was in grave danger, and the Third Prince was also suspected of treason… Who ultimately took the throne is really hard to say, after all, there are other princes who are gradually growing up as well.”

The expressions of several people grew rather heavy.

If they chose to support a prince, they must choose carefully. One misstep, and like in Chu’er’s dream, they would lose everything.

“There are still more than ten years before trouble comes to the Yun family. Why are you all wearing such mournful faces?” Old General Yun snorted. “Keep this matter buried in your stomachs, don’t show it on your faces and make the women and children at home anxious along with you. In any case, there’s still time. We’ll think carefully about what exactly to do. With this old ginger here, rest assured, our Yun family won’t just end like this.”

“Make two-pronged preparations.” Yun Silin spoke. “I’ll train someone who can replace me in this position as quickly as possible. Yun Ze, you should privately interact more with several princes. No matter which one, test them out. We’ll choose the most suitable person.”

Yun Ze nodded: “Father, rest assured. Leave this matter to me.”

Yun Chu paused before saying: “So Father, you still have to make a trip to the Southern Border, right?”

She picked up paper and brush from the desk, writing as she spoke: “This journey to the Southern Border will be extremely dangerous. After Father leaves with his men in September, you’ll lose contact within two months. When you return to the capital, it will already be two years later. Many things happened during those two years…”

The Yun family men never told women about court matters or battlefield affairs. For instance, at such an important moment, her mother and eldest sister-in-law were not here. She could be here entirely because she had that dream, which was why she could participate in the Yun family’s decision-making…

The reason she knew about Father’s experiences in the Southern Border was because one day Father drank too much and recounted those two years’ experiences in fragments.

“Father, you must remember a woman called Qiuxiang.” Yun Chu pressed her lips together and wrote the name Qiuxiang on the paper. “This woman—Father casually saved her on the road. From then on, she clung to Father, and later took advantage when Father was vulnerable, becoming Father’s concubine. It was also because of this woman that Father was lured into Southern Yue and placed under house arrest by the King of Southern Yue…”

Before Yun Chu could finish, Old General Yun raised his hand and slapped the back of Yun Silin’s head: “You still have the mind to take concubines? What kind of nonsense is this?”

General Yun Silin, who was imposing and mighty before three hundred thousand troops, now looked aggrieved as he covered the back of his head.

This was something that hadn’t happened yet, and might not happen in the future either. Why did he have to take a slap for it…

Yun Chu didn’t sympathize with her father at all.

As a younger generation member, she wouldn’t say anything about elders taking concubines, but after returning to the capital, Father never told Mother about this matter. From beginning to end, Mother never knew that Father had been deceived quite miserably by a woman…

“Chu’er, only we few should know about this matter. Don’t tell your mother.” Yun Silin said with an embarrassed expression. “Father promises you, that woman called Qiu-whatever-xiang in your dream—as long as she appears, Father will finish her off!”

Yun Ze said quietly: “Chu’er only mentioned it once, but Father already remembered that woman is called Qiuxiang.”

Yun Silin: “…”

Could they still have a proper conversation?

The family chatted for about an hour before finally saying everything that needed to be said.

After finishing the serious business, Yun Chu took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Yun Silin: “Father, please help me place this letter in Prince Consort Liu’s study.”

Yun Silin frowned: “How do you have dealings with Prince Consort Liu?”

Prince Consort Liu was the husband of the Eldest Princess. After becoming prince consort, relying on his status as the emperor’s son-in-law, he looked down on many people and had an extremely poor reputation.

“This is a letter I wrote imitating Marquis Xuanwu’s handwriting.” Yun Chu spoke calmly. “I won’t hide it from Father and Elder Brother—Marquis Xuanwu once humiliated me. This move of mine is to make the Xuanwu Marquis household disappear from the capital.”

The three Yun family men looked completely shocked.

Chu’er was a magnanimous and tolerant person. Even if short-sighted servants offended her, she never took it to heart.

Some young ladies in the capital gossiped behind her back that Chu’er didn’t deserve the title of the Capital’s Number One Beauty, yet Chu’er only laughed it off.

But now, Chu’er wanted to make the Xuanwu Marquis household disappear.

What exactly had Marquis Xuanwu done to make Chu’er take such ruthless action?

Humiliation—what kind of humiliation…

The three grown men didn’t know how to ask, and didn’t dare to ask.

“Chu’er, why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Yun Ze took a deep breath and spoke. “Although I’m only a seventh-rank official, you must remember—I am the legitimate eldest son of the Yun family. Even if Father hadn’t returned to the capital, I have the ability to deal with the Xuanwu Marquis household.”

“This old man will cut him down!” Old General Yun got up from the couch and grabbed his long blade. “That fellow called Qin Mingheng—he’s simply tired of living!”

“Grandfather, please lie down properly.” Yun Chu took the long blade from the old man’s hands. “Something that can be resolved with one letter—why resort to blades and weapons? Don’t get stained with inauspicious energy.”

In her previous life, Prince Consort Liu’s scandal of defiling the imperial court would soon be discovered. The Xuanwu Marquis household could conveniently disappear along with it.