Su Jin said, “I’ve already thought this matter through carefully. For His Highness to leave the Eastern Palace is itself a risky endeavor. No matter how we plan, there’s no such thing as being thoroughly prepared. You and I can only trust him. My only concern is unexpected changes. These days, the Imperial Noble Consort has been suffering from madness. Last month she ran out of Chonghua Palace once. The entire rear palace has already been searched once, and everyone everywhere is in a state of alarm. I originally wanted to discuss countermeasures with the Left General, but after the Qingming Festival, the General and his trusted subordinates were transferred to the Northern Great Camp. They can only return after the hour of shen tomorrow, and by the time they reach the palace, night will have fallen. Fortunately, Your Highness has returned. I wonder if tomorrow Your Highness could go to the Eastern Palace once under the pretext of paying respects to the Late Crown Prince and Crown Princess? As long as you can meet His Highness once, even if it’s in front of others, Shiyu has a way to teach you to use coded language to find out His Highness’s plans.”

“That’s easily arranged,” Shen Jun said. “At that time, I’ll also place these brothers of mine at your disposal.”

As she spoke, she said to the soldiers behind her, “Qin Sang, tomorrow once night falls, take the brothers and wait in a hidden place outside the palace gates. Follow all of Lord Su’s arrangements. Remember, Thirteen and I have a friendship forged through life and death. Once you receive him, I needn’t say much about what to do.”

“General, rest assured. We subordinates will certainly do our utmost to protect His Highness’s safety.”

Shortly after, the soldier who had been assigned to search for Su Wan returned and reported that on the way to being led to see the Twelfth Prince, Su Wan had sensed something suspicious. Claiming she needed to relieve herself urgently, she had avoided going into the wilderness, but she had only focused on running and became lost. Fortunately, she was spotted by Miss Shu Rongxin of the Shu household, who led her back.

The soldier said, “The Twelfth Prince learned that Lord Su was being pursued by villains and ordered a thorough investigation of the Cloud Lake Mountain temple altar area. Miss Su was frightened and has been brought by us subordinates to the Court of Imperial Stud. She is currently resting in the side hall.”

Su Jin nodded and said to Shen Xi and Shen Jun, “I’ll go see my younger sister first, and along the way have Director Liu arrange for Your Highness to rest at the Court of Imperial Stud. When dawn breaks tomorrow, Your Highness and I will descend the mountain together.”

Su Wan knew in her heart she had caused trouble again. She was waiting in the side hall, completely at a loss, when suddenly she saw the hall door pushed open and a minor official carrying a lantern led Su Jin inside.

Su Wan immediately stood up, clutching at her robe, not knowing where to begin. In her urgency, her knees went soft and she knelt before Su Jin.

Su Jin made no sound. Only after the minor official had bowed and closed the door behind him and walked far away did she directly ask, “How did you know I once lived in Shu?”

Su Wan said, “After Third Brother left the Su residence that year, Father probably felt he had wronged Third Brother. Once when arguing with Mother, in his agitation he mentioned that you had grown up in a scholarly household in Shu and shouldn’t have suffered such hardship and separation.”

Su Jin asked again, “Besides mentioning this to the Seventh Princess, have you told anyone else? Apart from me having lived in Shu, what else do you know?”

Su Wan said, “Apart from Third Brother’s name and household registration, I know nothing else. I also heard about Third Brother having lived in Shu by accident. I thought everyone knew, never paid it any mind, and therefore never mentioned it to others.” As she spoke, she asked again, “Th-Third Brother, have I caused great trouble this time?”

Su Jin sighed inwardly. Although Su Wan didn’t know her surname was originally Xie, with Zhu Zhaowei’s capabilities, even if he couldn’t directly move against her, if he sent people to Shu to inquire, in at most two or three months he should learn of her true identity.

Su Jin didn’t answer, but said to Su Wan, “Stand up first. I have something to say to you.”

Su Wan seemed to guess what Su Jin was going to say. Frightened, she shook her head: “Awan has no face to stand and speak with Third Brother. Third Brother, just let Awan kneel.”

Seeing her insistence, Su Jin didn’t try to persuade her further. She sat down by the table and said, “After these two days pass, I’ll have someone send you away. The capital right now is truly too chaotic. After the situation stabilizes, I’ll have you brought back.”

When Su Wan first came to the capital, she only saw prosperity. At the time, when people said the court was in great turmoil, she was still confused. Now she thoroughly believed it.

Last year when Old Master Su died, the Su household had also been in terrible chaos dividing the family property. But no matter how chaotic the Su residence was, it wasn’t like the capital where every step held deadly traps, where every single word and sentence spoken could become a knife that harmed lives.

Su Wan cried, “Third Brother, from now on Awan will just pretend to be mute. I beg Third Brother not to send me back to Jizhou. Awan’s birth mother has already passed away. After First Brother and Second Brother divided the family property, they ignored Awan. With the family fortunes declining, the lady of the house wants to marry Awan off as a concubine to a county magistrate in exchange for money. But that county magistrate is a notorious corrupt official and tyrant. Awan doesn’t want to marry him.”

Su Jin actually knew about this matter. At the time, Su Wan had been forced to marry into that county magistrate’s residence, but unexpectedly received a letter from Su Jin in the capital. She secretly hid this letter, then overnight packed her belongings and left the Su residence.

Su Jin said, “Even if you can pretend to be mute, can you distinguish which questions are traps and which words contain hidden meanings? You’re too simple. Sometimes a single reaction or glance can expose your thoughts.” As she spoke, she stood up, about to leave: “I know about the Jizhou Su residence situation. I won’t send you back there. Rest easy these next two days. I’ll have Zhaolin arrange a proper place for you.”

Though Su Wan and Su Jin hadn’t spent much time together, she knew her third brother was someone whose word was final. Seeing her mind was made up and knowing there was no room for negotiation, she bit her lip and asked, “Third Brother, what must Awan do to become smarter and more alert?”

Su Jin lowered her eyes and thought briefly, then said, “Nothing else—think more, learn more.”

That night, Su Jin discussed matters with Shen Jun and Shen Xi until the hour of hai. The next day at the hour of yin, she rose and first went to the temple altar to see Zhu Qiyue. She explained to him that she wanted to go pay respects at the former residence of the Late Crown Prince and Crown Princess in the Eastern Palace. Having obtained his permission, she descended the mountain first.

By the time she returned to the palace, it was already the hour of shen. Su Jin went first to the Ministry of Justice. Using the evidence previously collected, she summoned the Commander of the Yulin Guard, Wu Yusheng, on suspicion of plotting to harm the Crown Prince. Shen Jun, meanwhile, accompanied by two Vice Commanders of the Eagle Guard, went to the Eastern Palace.

Though the sky hadn’t yet darkened, the palace eunuchs and palace maids on the palace road already walked hurriedly with bowed heads and lowered eyes, panic seemingly in their expressions.

Seeing this scene, Shen Jun couldn’t help but say, “This palace just returned and heard people say the Imperial Noble Consort has gone mad. It’s not as if the rear palace hasn’t had mad people before—why has it caused such a commotion this time?”

One of the Eagle Guard Vice Commanders answered, “Your Highness doesn’t know—the rear palace has been unsettled since winter began last year. After Beauty Li died tragically, the Imperial Noble Consort soon went mad. After that, rumors spread that there were unclean things in the palace. Before the New Year festival, the palace’s old cat also died, so rumors of hauntings became even worse. Actually, this was all groundless talk, but who knew that on the second day of the second month, the day of the Dragon Raising Its Head, the Imperial Noble Consort ran out from Chonghua Palace and burst into Consort Qi’s palace, pointing at her belly and saying the palace ghost had crawled into Consort Qi’s belly and become the little prince in her womb. That very night, Consort Qi indeed suffered abdominal pain. Even after imperial physicians came to see her, she didn’t improve. Finally, they invited a Taoist priest to perform rituals, and only then did it ease somewhat. Fortunately, the dragon fetus wasn’t harmed.”

Hearing these words, Shen Jun laughed once: “This palace doesn’t believe in ghosts. The unclean things in this world are mostly because someone is causing trouble, because someone harbors ulterior motives.”

The Vice Commander quickly agreed: “What Your Highness says is absolutely correct.”

Shortly, they arrived at the Eastern Palace. After Shen Jun went to the main hall to pay respects at the former residence of Zhu Minda and Shen Jing, she was led by two Eagle Guard Vice Commanders to the inner hall.

The hour was approaching dusk. Shen Jun knew that after nightfall, Zhu Nanxian would depart. The time left to her was limited. Though every second counted, she didn’t dare quicken her pace, fearing people would see something suspicious.

Reaching the inner hall, she stepped through the courtyard gate and saw that Zhu Nanxian actually looked as if he were about to travel. He was already waiting in the courtyard with his back turned. Hearing footsteps, he turned around. Seeing a sweep of red garments enter his view, he froze for half a moment before calling out in disbelief, “Third Sister?”

They had grown up together, both had practiced martial arts—they couldn’t be closer.

Three years ago, Shen Jun had seen Zhu Nanxian once in the northwest. At that time, he was still full of vigor and carefree. How could he be like now, confined to one small world, his person becoming haggard?

Fury suddenly rose from within. Shen Jun practically wished she could immediately go to the Seventh Prince’s residence and strike Zhu Zhaowei dead with one palm. But remembering Shen Xi’s reminder to “keep everything suppressed in your heart,” she clenched her right fist tight then released it. Only then did she step forward and say with forced composure, “I just returned to the capital. I heard you… are recovering from injuries in the Eastern Palace. I came to see you.”

Zhu Nanxian smiled slightly and said, “I’m already much better.” Then he suddenly remembered that Shen Jun had only given birth in mid-first month, yet today at Guyu she appeared in the capital—she must have rushed back before even finishing her month of postpartum confinement. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Shen Jun say, “You must recuperate carefully. Last winter in the Northern Liang borderlands, I picked up a young soldier named A’Fu. He was covered in injuries and didn’t recover properly, leaving behind lasting ailments. Now he suffers from dizziness daily and can’t even distinguish the east gate from the west gate of the prince’s residence.”

Hearing these words, Zhu Nanxian was initially surprised, but in a moment he understood—A’Fu from last winter was precisely the young bird he had given Su Jin outside the Third Prince’s residence!

Shen Jun certainly wouldn’t mention this for no reason. She must have already seen Su Jin. It was Su Jin who knew he was leaving today and specially had Shen Jun come to support him.

Zhu Nanxian therefore said, “Third Sister needn’t worry about this. The Eastern Palace has only one main gate. I couldn’t possibly fail to find it.”

The two then spoke of other matters, mostly old stories from their days in the military.

Shen Jun was originally a princess and honored as the Fourth Princess. The Eagle Guard didn’t dare search her, but also didn’t dare let her get close to Zhu Nanxian. The two spoke separated by a zhang’s distance. Before long, the sun set.

On the stone table in the courtyard, wine and dishes were already laid out. Shen Jun was wondering for whom they were prepared when someone outside announced that the Twelfth Prince had arrived.

Zhu Qiyue strode into the courtyard. Seeing Shen Jun still there, he said to her, “Fourth Sister-in-law hasn’t finished conversing with Thirteen yet.” But he showed no intention of keeping her to dine together.

Shen Jun recalled Su Jin’s reminder and adopted a cold demeanor: “This general is returning to the Shen residence.” Having spoken, without even glancing at Zhu Qiyue, she turned and left directly.

Zhu Qiyue assumed Shen Jun had seen Zhu Nanxian’s condition and resented him for treating Thirteen poorly. Not suspecting anything else, he walked directly to the stone table and said to Zhu Nanxian, “Some matters occurred at Cloud Lake Mountain. I returned to the palace late, but fortunately it didn’t delay the important matter you mentioned the other day.” He added, “There’s no time to lose. Let’s go early and return early.”

But Zhu Nanxian said, “No rush. Let’s wait until after the meal, when the sky is completely dark. Then it won’t be too late to leave.”

Who knew that when Zhu Qiyue looked at the wine and dishes prepared on the stone table, he became suspicious. After a moment of silence, he only said, “Commander Fu, bring a silver needle.”

The commander surnamed Fu froze for a moment and replied, “Your Highness the Twelfth Prince, when this wine and these dishes were prepared, this subordinate already tested each one.”

Zhu Qiyue kept his eyes lowered, not looking at Zhu Nanxian. He said, “This prince knows.” Then he added, “Test them again.”