**Wu Prince’s Residence.**

The Princess Consort sat in her chair, watching a small boy on the floor — not yet old enough to walk — crawl around chasing the Princess Consort’s cat, cooing and babbling. He was adorable.

But the Princess Consort’s brow was creased, and beneath it, clear impatience.

Zhaoluan, ever sharp-eyed, noticed the Princess Consort’s expression immediately and called out quietly, “Take him away. Bring him to another room to play.”

The wet nurse didn’t dare delay. She picked up the child, bowed toward the Princess Consort, and retreated quickly without breathing a word louder than necessary.

The servants couldn’t make sense of it — it had been the Princess Consort herself who’d asked them to bring the child over to play. So why, after so short a time, had she grown irritated?

“My lady.”

Zhaoluan picked up a bowl of freshly prepared iced silver-ear fungus soup. “It just finished cooking — it’s been cooled already. Would my lady like some?”

The Princess Consort shook her head and gestured for it to be set aside.

Across the room, Cainan said, “My lady — if you truly dislike the child, perhaps we could pass him to someone else to bring out of the city.”

The Princess Consort said, “Easy enough to say. His Majesty came twice to entrust him to me. If I’d refused both times it would have been one thing — but I didn’t hold firm the second time. He pleaded with me and I kept the child. And having kept him, however small he is, I can’t simply dispose of him carelessly.”

Cainan said, “But if we truly bring the child along when we leave, people will notice us.”

The Princess Consort said, “Let’s get out of the city first and deal with it from there. Find some reliable people, settle the child somewhere safe to be raised. We absolutely cannot bring him to Zhenting.”

Zhaoluan said, “Shall I start looking for a suitable household now?”

The Princess Consort shook her head. “While we’re still inside Daxing City, do nothing. We cannot let anyone outside know there’s a child in this residence. The moment they do, people will guess it’s His Majesty’s blood.”

Zhaoluan and Cainan both bowed together. “Understood.”

The Princess Consort said, “Pass word to everyone in the residence. In the days before we leave, no one is to go out. For any reason.”

“Yes!”

Cainan said, “I’ll gather everyone now and give them the instruction.”

The Princess Consort nodded. Cainan turned and left.

The Princess Consort said to Zhaoluan, “The arrangements for our departure — how are they coming?”

Zhaoluan said, “The convoy is assembled, and the packing is nearly done. For additional safety, I’ve sent people out of Daxing City to summon our escort forces from outside. They should meet us on the road.”

The Princess Consort gave a sound of assent. “Go visit Yu Wenli’s residence shortly. Tell him: I am personally requesting that His Majesty assign a military escort.”

Zhaoluan was slightly surprised. “But if there’s a military escort, word is more likely to spread.”

The Princess Consort said, “We are taking His Majesty’s blood with us. If we don’t let His Majesty make his own arrangements, he won’t be at ease. And don’t underestimate His Majesty — if at this moment he doesn’t have a force loyal to him, that would be the surprising thing. Besides, me leaving the capital with a military escort from His Majesty draws no suspicion at all.”

Zhaoluan said, “Then I’ll go call on Chief Officer Yu right away.”

She understood why the Princess Consort had sent her to the Chief Officer rather than going directly to the palace.

The Chief Officer was the Empress’s father — the grandfather of this child. If there was anyone besides the Emperor himself who would stake their life for this child, it could only be Yu Wenli.

The commander of the palace guard was the Empress’s cousin. If the Emperor was making arrangements, he would very likely deploy him.

Of all those in Daxing City right now, the people the Emperor was certain would protect the young prince were those belonging to the Empress’s household.

—

In the large courtyard, Cainan gathered everyone together. The yard was packed — perhaps several hundred people.

The Wu Prince’s residence had no shortage of servants, but most were the Princess Consort’s own people. The old soldiers the Wu Prince had left behind at home were comparatively few — the Wu Prince had never had time to give much attention to household affairs.

Cainan stood before the assembled group, swept her gaze across them, and said very seriously, “The Princess Consort has said: we will be leaving Daxing City in a few days. Until then, no one is to leave the residence. No exceptions, for any reason.”

Those assembled glanced at one another, expressions varied.

Some were glad to leave. Daxing City was a place of trouble — a great battle would come sooner or later. Heaven only knew how brutal it would be, how many would die.

Others didn’t want to go. When it came down to it, it was the same four words for all of them: *too hard to leave home.* Those who didn’t want to leave probably thought that war was something for important people, and ordinary folk who stayed quietly at home would be mostly safe. That catastrophe always found someone else.

But no one dared argue. No one dared speak up. The Princess Consort had always been forceful, and her methods were thorough. Whoever caused trouble for the Princess Consort at a moment like this would certainly not survive.

Cainan’s gaze swept the crowd again, and she frowned slightly. “Is everyone here today?”

The residence steward, Xu Ke, quickly came forward and answered, “Miss Cainan — a few of the guards said they were feeling unwell yesterday afternoon and asked to leave to see a physician. They haven’t come back.”

Cainan frowned. “They left yesterday afternoon and aren’t back today?”

She paused and asked, “Who were they?”

Xu Ke said, “Gao Jianjia, Song Xiedi, Cui Cang, Guo Luming.”

Cainan asked, “All four of them were unwell? Or did you simply not bother asking properly, Steward Xu, and let them walk out without a second thought?”

Xu Ke’s face darkened. He was the residence steward — having Cainan interrogate him like this, in front of everyone, was deeply humiliating.

Before Zhaoluan and Cainan returned, his word was law in this residence. No one dared question him. But since these two women had come back, they treated him no differently from any other servant.

Especially the more rigid and domineering Cainan. Xu Ke had already been unhappy with her, and now being cornered so publicly, he felt a flash of anger.

“Miss Cainan, what exactly are you implying?”

Cainan’s fury rose at once.

“The Princess Consort has said more than once that no one is to go out unnecessarily. If they were unwell, there are perfectly good physicians right here in the residence. Why go outside? Because they didn’t feel like it?”

Cainan stared at Xu Ke coldly. “If something has truly gone wrong, the Princess Consort could have those four killed — do you think she couldn’t have you killed as well?”

Hearing this, Xu Ke wilted somewhat. He sighed. “I’ll send people to find them and bring them back.”

“No need!”

Cainan said, “If those four return, have them come directly to me.”

She looked at Xu Ke. “I just said it not a moment ago — no one is to leave the residence. Steward Xu, I truly cannot understand how someone as useless as you ever became steward of this household.”

Xu Ke flared up at that. He was done backing down — he was about to spit back several sharp words when he saw Zhaoluan helping the Princess Consort out of the building. Everyone quickly bowed.

The Princess Consort looked over the scene, and said to Cainan, “I’ve told you several times: rein in that temper. You never listen. Now you’re causing a scene again — go take your punishment. Ten strikes to the face.”

Cainan immediately bowed. “Yes, my lady.”

Xu Ke gloated inwardly: *you sharp-tongued girl, what does it matter how many years you’ve been here? You’ve only been back a short while. The Princess Consort always ends up on my side. Let’s see how bold you are next time.*

“Steward Xu.”

The Princess Consort turned to him. “Go and pack your belongings. Collect two hundred taels from the accounts. You no longer need to manage this residence’s affairs. Since you clearly don’t think my instructions matter, you no longer matter here either. You have half an hour to pack.”

“My lady!”

Xu Ke threw himself to his knees. “My lady, please have mercy — give me one more chance. I know I was wrong…”

The Princess Consort paid him no further attention and told Zhaoluan, “Send a few people to help Steward Xu get his things in order.”

Zhaoluan bowed. “At once.”

In that moment, Xu Ke’s face was ashen. He didn’t dare lash out at the Princess Consort — so he looked up and fixed his gaze on Cainan, who didn’t even glance at him. She had already turned and followed the Princess Consort inside.

Back in the room, the Princess Consort said quietly to Zhaoluan, “Once Xu Ke is gone, find someone to dispose of him. He’s been careful and never made mistakes before — his behavior today is clearly off.”

Zhaoluan said, “He knew the Princess Consort had given the instruction not to let people leave without cause, yet he let four people go out. If Cainan hadn’t noticed the missing men, he wouldn’t have reported it on his own. There’s definitely something wrong.”

The Princess Consort gave a sound of assent. “He’s been in the residence for many years. He knows too much. He knows about the young prince’s presence…”

Zhaoluan bowed. “I’ll make the arrangements now.”

—

On the streets at the same time.

The four guards who had left the residence were walking back, all looking somewhat haggard. They’d been gambling all night — what else could they look like?

But there was a lightness in their eyes, because not only had they won a fair amount the night before, they’d also just come into a bit of easy money.

Gao Jianjia said, “That Maiqie is a generous sort. Knowing we were leaving soon, he still gave each of us traveling silver.”

Song Xiedi said, “Over the years, we’ve lost more in his gambling den than he gave back. He’s just buying goodwill.”

Gao Jianjia laughed. “Fair enough — but the silver still showed up, didn’t it? If he hadn’t given it, we wouldn’t have lost out.”

Song Xiedi smiled. “That’s true enough.”

Cui Cang said, “When we get back, the steward will probably scold us. We asked for an hour’s leave and were out all night. He’s likely to give us a proper dressing-down.”

“We’ll slip him some silver. That money-grubbing man — the moment he sees coins, he reacts like he’s found his own father.”

All four laughed.

They weren’t particularly high-ranking in the residence, but thanks to their good relationship with the steward, they didn’t think a night out was a big deal. As long as the steward didn’t report it, how would the Princess Consort ever know? With several hundred people in the residence, four absent wouldn’t draw attention from anyone.

“You think that Maiqie giving us silver had some other motive behind it?”

“What motive could he have? We’re leaving Daxing City in a few days. Is he going to follow us out of the city?”

Just as they said that, they heard someone behind them calling their names. They turned — and there was Maiqie, jogging to catch up.

“Brothers — haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you? Come have a bite first. You’re not in a rush.”

Maiqie came up smiling.

Gao Jianjia felt a twinge of wariness and instinctively asked, “Brother Maiqie, why did you come running after us? Is something the matter?”

Maiqie pointed at a bun shop nearby. “We can talk while we eat.”

The four had just received a favor from him and didn’t feel right refusing. Figuring breakfast wouldn’t take long, they followed him in.

Once they sat down, Maiqie took out a packet of silver and set it on the table. “For you four to share.”

Gao Jianjia said, “Brother Maiqie — you just gave us some not a moment ago. What is this?”

Maiqie sighed. “To be honest, there are things I couldn’t say back at the gambling den — you know how it is, hundreds of my boys watching.”

Gao Jianjia said, “What do you mean?”

Maiqie lowered his voice. “I’ll come straight out with it, then. Brothers, I want to leave the city. But with my background, I can’t. The gates are sealed tight — there’s no way out for someone like me.”

He dropped his voice further. “There’s going to be trouble in Daxing City. A great battle is coming…”

“I can’t take my hundreds of boys with me — if I said I was leaving and abandoning them, they’d turn on me. But if I stay, I die.”

Gao Jianjia sighed. “That’s a hard spot.”

Maiqie said, “I’m not asking you to do anything difficult. I just want to know when the Princess Consort is leaving the city. I’ll blend into the tail end of the convoy. You four will be at the back too — just a word from you, and I’m out. Once we’re outside, I’ll give each of you a proper reward.”

The four glanced at one another and smiled. This really wasn’t a difficult thing at all.

—