The matter wasn’t hard to foresee.

On the Grand Prince’s wedding day, once Prince Han made his move, it would definitely be turmoil worthy of being recorded in the history books.

The Emperor would certainly fly into a thunderous rage.

When the Son of Heaven is enraged, corpses lie for thousands of miles.

As Prince Han’s most trusted advisor, Dong Chengfeng, whether Prince Han succeeded or failed, was someone the Imperial Guards must capture.

After capture, the result would be one word: death.

There’s a saying in this world: don’t fear ten thousand, only fear the one-in-ten-thousand chance.

“Miss Yan, what if the Imperial Guards come searching? What if Dong Chengfeng’s true identity is discovered—what will you do then?”

The more Zhu Yuanmo analyzed, the more alarmed he became.

“Not just you—the courtyard’s owner Young Master Pei, and Third Master Xie who associates closely with you.

Behind Young Master Pei is the Pei family, behind Third Master is the Xie family.

There are also Li Buyan, Zhu Qing, Ding Yi, Huang Qi—each would be implicated.”

These people before him, from the moment Zhu Xuanjiu’s coffin exploded, had spared no effort helping the Zhu family, through wind and rain, never complaining of hardship or exhaustion. If there truly were that one-in-ten-thousand chance…

Even if he, Zhu Yuanmo, reached the netherworld, his conscience would never be at peace.

After he finished speaking, the entire study fell silent as a grave.

Everyone’s expression was extremely grave.

Zhu Yuanmo’s reminder was correct.

Dong Chengfeng wasn’t just anyone—he had played the zither for the former Crown Prince and was, to this day, the only living person from the former Crown Prince’s residence.

And the former Crown Prince was the reverse scale of the one on the dragon throne. No one dared mention him, much less hide someone related to the former Crown Prince like Dong Chengfeng.

This was a capital crime!

Yan Sanhe’s eyes held a unique calmness.

“Then there’s only one solution—don’t bring Dong Chengfeng to the courtyard. Take him directly out of the capital. I’ll question him on the road, walking and asking as we go, not bringing trouble to Third Master and Young Master Pei.”

Xie Zhifei said, “You’re my sworn sister. If it really comes to that, can we be cleared of involvement?”

Pei Xiao sneered coldly. “I come to this courtyard every day—as if we could be cleared!”

“See!”

Yan Sanhe spread her hands. “Whatever we do has risks. Zhu Yuanmo, what do you say we should do?”

Zhu Yuanmo was rendered speechless.

Never mind Third Master and Young Master Pei being unable to clear themselves—even his Zhu family might not be able to clear themselves.

“Things have reached this point. We can only steel ourselves and continue.”

Xie Zhifei’s voice was low. “What we need to do now is minimize the risk.”

Pei Xiao stroked his chin. “Taking him directly out of the capital is a good idea. Once the matter is settled, we can also let him flee far away.”

Li Buyan pondered, “Then we’ll need to prepare a larger carriage.”

Huang Qi said, “We’ll also need to put some dry rations and such in the carriage.”

Ding Yi added, “We’ll also need an important figure sitting in this carriage with a legitimate reason to leave the city so as not to arouse suspicion.”

Yan Sanhe said, “All these need to be discussed carefully. We can’t make a single mistake.”

Seeing Zhu Yuanmo still looking deeply worried, Xie Zhifei patted his shoulder. “Elder Brother Zhu, remember Yan Sanhe’s words: do our human best, accept heaven’s will.”

Young Master Pei suddenly chuckled lightly. “Ever since I started resolving heart demons with Yan Sanhe, my head’s been hanging by my belt.”

“What’s there to fear!”

Li Buyan gathered around and snorted coldly. “At worst, in eighteen years, this young mistress will be a female hero again.”

Ding Yi stepped forward. “In any case, whatever Miss Yan and Third Master tell me to do, I’ll do it. I won’t overthink anything else.”

Huang Qi followed. “Overthinking is useless anyway. We don’t have a choice.”

Zhu Qing stood firmly behind Third Master. “Director Zhu, don’t worry. Miss Yan always turns danger into safety.”

Zhu Yuanmo’s eyes grew hot beyond description. He suddenly remembered the very beginning of the heart demon, when he came to the courtyard to ask Yan Sanhe for help.

It was also this room.

Yan Sanhe looked at him coldly and said, “I want your future loyalty to me.”

He thought—has this girl gone mad? What nonsense is she talking?

I’m the Zhu family head. In this life I’m loyal only to the Emperor. You’re just a spirit medium—who are you?

Looking back now…

Zhu Yuanmo retreated five or six steps, raised his hands, bent at the waist, and bowed deeply to Yan Sanhe and those beside her.

After completing the bow, he wiped away tears with his sleeve. “I’ll divine your fortune…”

“Zhu Yuanmo.”

Yan Sanhe looked at him coldly. “Do you know what the highest realm of divination is?”

Zhu Yuanmo was startled. “What is it?”

“Being unable to divine accurately!”

…

The Grand Prince’s wedding day was set for the twenty-sixth of the second month.

The Ministry of Rites, Internal Affairs Bureau, Crown Prince’s palace…everyone was frantically busy, wishing they could run instead of walk.

The Ministry of War was also tense, preparing provisions and warhorses for the great campaign.

After the Grand Prince’s wedding, the army would soon march out. With the Emperor personally leading the campaign, not the slightest carelessness was permitted.

Even busier were the people in the courtyard.

Every night, the study was brightly lit as everyone gathered in that small room, discussing every detail of bringing Dong Chengfeng out of the capital.

They couldn’t make mistakes.

They didn’t dare make mistakes.

One mistake meant eternal damnation.

Amid all this busyness, Prince Han’s residence was eerily quiet.

Prince Han no longer sent cards requesting palace audiences. Each day he stayed in his residence, practicing martial arts, drinking tea, quietly awaiting his nephew’s wedding day.

He seemed to have become much more indifferent about being favored or disfavored.

Such abnormal behavior left Prince Han’s followers somewhat baffled: What’s going on? Has he really lost interest in that dragon throne and won’t fight for it anymore?

Time passed neither quickly nor slowly.

By the twentieth of the second month, the weather suddenly turned hot. Wearing a full winter robe while walking on the road, one would be drenched in sweat within moments.

Such high temperatures in the second month—rare!

By the twenty-fourth of the second month, even single-layer clothing felt too hot. The scorching sun hung overhead. Farmers in the fields complained—this damned weather was too abnormal.

The weather on the twenty-fifth of the second month was even more incomprehensible.

Early morning brought clear skies for ten thousand miles, with summer’s dry heat faintly present in the air.

The afternoon temperature rose even higher. People standing under the blazing sun felt as if they might melt.

Come evening, the weather turned gloomy.

Soon after, strong winds arose. The wind brought dark clouds, and the horizon instantly darkened.

Before long, rumbling thunder came from the distance. Lightning bolts occasionally split the pitch-black sky. The capital trembled as if heaven and earth were collapsing.

Thunder in the second month—this was unprecedented strangeness.

The ancients said: When spring thunder doesn’t sound and winter thunder doesn’t hide, armies arise and the nation suffers.

The ancients also said: Thunder in the first spring month means people won’t cook—mourning and pestilence will come.

Heaven was collecting lives!

Commoners all ran toward home. So much so that before nightfall, the entire capital’s streets and alleys were devoid of human figures.

At this moment—

All personnel from the Military Command were patrolling outside.

The Imperial Guards, the Emperor’s personal guards, had also begun deploying throughout the city.

The Crown Prince’s personal guards once again inspected the route the Grand Prince would take for tomorrow’s wedding.

Xie Zhifei sat on horseback, looking at the oppressively dark clouds overhead, his heart pounding.

After all that careful selection by the Bureau of Astronomy, how did they choose such a day?

Too inauspicious!

“Chief, the eastern and northern districts have been searched. No suspicious persons found.”

“Chief, southern and western districts—all normal.”

“No one can be careless.”

Xie Zhifei’s voice boomed.

“Tomorrow is the Grand Prince’s wedding. There absolutely cannot be the slightest mishap. Tell the brothers to keep strict watch on every alley and intersection!”

“Yes!”

Just as his words fell, he saw someone on horseback racing toward them from the distance.