Zhao Kuo racing out of the city on a fast horse to chase them to the dock, the bait thrown out by Han Daoxun and Zhong Yuli was undeniably tempting.

Wang Jun’s pretty face was full of shock. To require Chuzhou’s grand army to cross the river to settle the overall situation—could it be His Majesty has already…

Wang Wenqian’s expression was even more uncertain.

After all, once they withdrew to the northern riverbank, they would immediately publicize through the courier stations the truth of Shen He’s death by poisoning, forcing Anning Palace to act against His Majesty prematurely. Yet not many people would necessarily believe them—they might even be counterattacked by Anning Palace, who would say this was Chuzhou’s pretext for “plotting rebellion.”

At that time, the name of legitimacy would very likely still be a war of words. The Third Prince’s side would necessarily also muddy the waters to fish in troubled seas. Chuzhou truly might not necessarily gain the upper hand.

Wang Wenqian hesitated for a long time, staring at Zhao Kuo and asking: “Is there a secret edict?”

“Once Director Zhong returns to the palace, he can certainly obtain a secret edict!” Zhao Kuo said.

When Zhao Kuo chased out of the city, Zhong Yuli had only just departed from the Capital Magistrate’s office to return to the palace.

In fact, to avoid Chen Xingmo’s eyes and ears, even if Zhong Yuli returned to the palace, he had no way to immediately secretly memorialize Emperor Tianyou about this matter. But regardless, supporting Prince Xin’s enthronement was already their most pragmatic choice at present.

Even if Anning Palace had already become alert at this time and was determined to completely blockade Chongwen Hall, arranging for Emperor Tianyou to “suddenly die of illness,” then forging succession edicts and arranging the Crown Prince’s enthronement and succession—all required a process.

And this was their final opportunity.

What’s more, currently the defenses of Jinling City’s four gates and the Imperial City hadn’t yet completely fallen into the hands of Anning Palace and the Crown Prince’s faction.

Planning for the worst scenario, Zhong Yuli might very likely be unable to come out after returning to the palace this time, and there might not be any secret edict or secret decree. Precisely because of this, Han Daoxun hoped even more to retain Wang Wenqian.

Wang Wenqian represented Prince Xin. Besides the four or five hundred elite guards at Chuzhou Hostel and Prince Xin’s mansion, Chuzhou’s secretly deployed forces in Jinling would not be few.

What’s more, within the Imperial Guard and Palace Guard systems, there were also some generals supporting Prince Xin. Only Wang Wenqian could gain their support at the first opportunity.

Han Daoxun represented the Third Prince, Wang Wenqian represented Prince Xin—this would better convince court ministers and Imperial Guard and Palace Guard commanders to believe Emperor Tianyou was currently controlled or even murdered by Anning Palace and the Crown Prince’s conspiracy, thereby taking decisive action rather than being confused by Anning Palace and the Crown Prince.

“There’s no time,” Wang Wenqian said decisively. “Forgive me, but I cannot return to the city with Master Zhao!”

If Han Daoxun had already obtained a secret edict during his morning palace entry, Wang Wenqian would consider taking a gamble. However, Zhong Yuli only confirmed the truth of Shen He’s death by poisoning with Han Daoxun at this time. For him to now return to the palace to see His Majesty and obtain a secret edict—how dull would Anning Palace’s side have to be to let Zhong Yuli leave the palace again?

Without His Majesty’s secret edict, not to mention whether they could successfully persuade Yang Jian, Wen Muqiao, Wen Bo and others to raise troops to suppress the rebellion—even if they controlled Jinling’s situation at the first opportunity, whether the throne would ultimately belong to the Second Prince or Third Prince still hadn’t been clarified!

“As long as Master Wang doesn’t leave and my family’s master doesn’t leave, even if Anning Palace makes up its mind to commit treason, they would hastily still need several days to plot. Not thinking of the billions of common people, even just to secure righteous justification for Prince Xin and make Prince of Tan give up—isn’t it worth Master Wang taking a gamble?” Zhao Kuo thought Wang Wenqian was wavering and pressed relentlessly.

“Five years ago I tried to retain Master Han to serve Prince Xin together. Master Han refused. Today, forgive me, but I cannot stay to jointly plot great matters with Master Han.” Wang Wenqian steeled his heart and pushed his daughter to board the ship, leaving Yin Peng to block Zhao Kuo with drawn sword, not letting him entangle them further.

Zhao Kuo stood there stunned. He hadn’t expected Wang Wenqian fundamentally didn’t believe Master would sincerely support Prince Xin’s enthronement, convinced that without a secret edict, Master could change his mind at any time.

Or perhaps Wang Wenqian also worried His Majesty already had a secret edict establishing the Third Prince as heir?

Seeing Chuzhou personnel quickly all board ships and withdraw the gangplanks, Zhao Kuo knew the situation could no longer be reversed.

Just from Wang Wenqian, Yin Peng and others desperately escaping from Jinling City, Anning Palace and the Crown Prince would necessarily have to make decisions.

Zhao Kuo looked wistfully toward the northwest direction. He didn’t know if, when Jinling fell into chaos, whether Great Liang’s forces stationed in Xu and Cai could seize the opportunity to capture all of Huainan in one stroke…

……

……

“Why not directly leave the city but first rendezvous at Lanting Lane? If the city gates are controlled by rebel forces and we can’t get out, can you take responsibility?”

Forced to draw a clear line with the Crown Prince’s faction, although Han Jun’s duties at the Privy Council hadn’t been stripped away, working all day under the noses of Crown Prince faction officials like Niu Gengru and Zhao Mingting made him thoroughly uncomfortable. During this time he had simply claimed illness to recuperate at home.

Only after calling Father back from the Personnel Ministry office did Feng Liao reveal the truth that Shen He had been poisoned to death by Anning Palace and Emperor Tianyou very likely was also deeply poisoned. Han Jun was so frightened he almost leaped to the roof beams.

Han Jun also didn’t understand why Feng Liao insisted they go to Lanting Lane rather than directly leaving the city to take refuge.

At such a critical moment, not leaving the city at the first opportunity—if anything went wrong, wouldn’t the entire Han clan’s dozens of people become fish and meat waiting to be slaughtered in Anning Palace’s hands?

No.

Feng Liao at this time was merely a servant their Han family had taken in. How could such a servant have his turn to dictate in such major matters?

“First, Feng Liao no longer has the ability to persuade Magistrate Master to leave the city. I can only ask Grand Master to try once more. Second, so many Han family members leaving the city now would cause too much commotion and easily provide grounds for accusations,” Feng Liao said methodically. “Third, if all families gather at Lanting Lane, they could more or less assemble over a thousand elite combat forces. As long as Magistrate Master can persuade some Imperial Guard and Palace Guard commanders to restore order, at that time there may not necessarily be no chance for a fight.”

“If we miss the opportunity to leave the city and our Han family’s hundred-plus elderly and young fall into rebel hands, can you bear this responsibility?” Han Jun challenged.

“In his letter, Young Master also suggested urgently gathering at Lanting Lane at the first opportunity. He didn’t suggest leaving the city immediately. There must be Young Master’s reasons for this,” Feng Liao said.

Seeing Feng Liao constantly invoking “Young Master” left and right, Han Jun was so angry the veins on his forehead bulged. He thought that scoundrel was far away in Shu’s capital—whatever happened in Jinling, sending letters would take over a month to arrive. How could they stubbornly submit to Han Qian’s manipulation?

Thinking this, Han Jun demanded sharply: “Has Han Qian considered that under these circumstances, even if Anning Palace’s rebellion can be suppressed, it’s Prince Xin who benefits? It has nothing to do with us or the Third Prince. Han Qian hasn’t ordered you to help Prince Xin ascend the throne, has he?”

“Different times call for different measures. If circumstances don’t permit, helping Prince Xin ascend the throne is also an unavoidable choice,” Feng Liao took out a letter from his breast and said. “This letter was written by Young Master, hoping that when the situation becomes critical, Grand Master, Chamberlain Han, and Second Master can more or less heed Feng Liao’s suggestions…”

“With one letter from Han Qian, we’re supposed to follow orders from a servant like you?” Han Duan angrily snatched the letter, wanting to tear it to shreds directly.

“Magistrate Master is magnanimous and generous, and has unavoidable filial obligations to Grand Master. Young Master, however, is narrow-minded,” Feng Liao said calmly.

Han Duan seemed to have pressure points struck, his hands freezing while about to tear up the letter.

He truly wasn’t afraid of Third Uncle—at worst they simply wouldn’t interact anymore. But that scoundrel Han Qian was narrow-minded with ruthless methods, and his heart completely lacked clan sentiment.

For Han Duan to say he wasn’t afraid of Han Qian would absolutely be self-deception.

“Give me Qian’er’s letter to see…” Han Wenhuan said hoarsely, reaching out for Han Duan to give him the letter.

“Qian’er just won’t learn to write properly…” Taking the letter, Han Wenhuan couldn’t help commenting. This was a secret message Zhao Wuji had brought from Shu’s capital. In this secret message, Han Qian granted Feng Liao greater authority and instructed Feng Liao to maximize use of the main Han residence’s forces within Jinling City at critical moments.

The Han family had regathered family soldier retainers numbering just under two hundred. This seemed insignificant in Jinling with its hundred thousand garrison troops. But when Jinling fell into great chaos, the various armies couldn’t trust each other and might even attack one another. If they could assemble over a thousand elite combat forces in Jinling, they wouldn’t be completely without effect.

Moreover, Lanting Lane appeared ordinary, but had been managed by Han Qian’s household for three years. Even if it couldn’t be called an impregnable fortress, external enemies wanting to storm in would still need to expend some effort.

“Narrow-minded” were Han Qian’s exact words written in the letter.

After reading the letter, Han Wenhuan passed it to eldest son Han Daoming and second son Han Daochang to read, saying: “You go to Lanting Lane first. I’ll go with Feng Liao to the Capital Magistrate’s office to try persuading Third!”

“If Third could be persuaded, we wouldn’t have today’s situation,” Han Daoming said.

“You don’t need to go. I must make this trip!” Han Wenhuan said.

“If Anning Palace has already become alert, they may have already set eyes on the Capital Magistrate’s office,” Han Daoming said.

“The Capital Magistrate’s office still has some runners. Even if Anning Palace’s agents have set eyes on it, what would they dare do now? Besides, these old bones of mine don’t have much use left in this world,” Han Wenhuan said dismissively. “Don’t alarm the maids and servants. Don’t worry about the household’s wealth and goods—now isn’t the time for such calculations! If others ask, just say we’re attending a banquet at Lanting Lane. Third’s birthday is in these few days. He’s almost fifty years old, yet no one remembered. Sigh.”

Han Daoming and Han Daochang were stunned. They truly hadn’t remembered Third was about to celebrate his fiftieth birthday in these few days. Thinking carefully, if they truly fell into Anning Palace and the Crown Prince’s hands, to obtain the righteous justification to continue ruling Great Chu, they couldn’t possibly kill them all directly. Instead, if they fled the city with their entire households, it would more easily provide grounds for accusations…

After secret deliberations for a moment, they finally decided Han Daoming and Han Daochang would first take wives, concubines, and children to Lanting Lane under the pretext of attending a banquet, while Han Wenhuan would accompany Feng Liao to the Capital Magistrate’s office to see third son Han Daoxun.