Silence fell in the study.

Xiao Xun looked at Chu Lan and placed his teacup on the table.

“I know this matter is extraordinary, something Mr. Chu has never even dreamed of in your lifetime,” he said. “Mr. Chu must have many questions.”

Chu Lan stared at the flickering, dim lamp. Indeed, how could he have imagined such a thing would happen? He even felt as if he might be dreaming.

“I could handle this matter myself, without sitting here with you, Mr. Chu, saying so much,” Xiao Xun said. “This is one of your questions, isn’t it?”

Chu Lan nodded instinctively, then stiffened. Wasn’t this an admission—

But Xiao Xun had already come here, which meant he already knew everything.

That’s right, he knew everything. He could have simply taken action without appearing in person. Why come and say all these words?

“Because I value Mr. Chu greatly.”

Hearing these words, Chu Lan could no longer remain seated and stood up: “Stop talking nonsense, you—” he stared at the young heir, “You just want to use me, to make me do evil deeds, so you can claim innocence!”

He might be timid, but he wasn’t stupid. Why say such things that even a three-year-old child wouldn’t believe?

Xiao Xun smiled, his dimples deepening: “I’m just teasing Mr. Chu, to ease your tension. See? After venting your anger, don’t you feel better?”

Today, he, Chu Lan, was like a mouse being toyed with. What could he do? Chu Lan felt utterly powerless.

“Mr. Chu, I am asking you to do evil deeds for me, but it’s not because I’m unwilling to bloody my own hands,” Xiao Xun put away his smile. “Because in the future, I need you, Mr. Chu. Well, to be precise, I need Chu Li, but Chu Li’s life is coming to an end, so you, Mr. Chu, are my indispensable aide.”

He was an indispensable aide? Chu Lan finally raised his head to look at him.

“Mr. Chu, I’m sure you understand your brother’s true position today,” Xiao Xun said.

Chu Lan averted his gaze, answering with silence.

“That person came to find you today because of this. I also came to find you today because of this,” Xiao Xun’s voice came again. “But after that person uses you, they will only remember Chu Li’s merit. When Chu Li dies, you will be nothing more than Chu Li’s brother in their eyes, insignificant. But when I use you, I am truly using you. It is you who helps me. After the matter is accomplished, in my eyes, you will no longer be Chu Li’s brother, but a pillar minister.”

A pillar minister!

Minister!

This word “minister” nakedly placed himself in the position of sovereign.

This word “minister” was also a promise—

Chu Lan looked at Xiao Xun. He wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.

Xiao Xun didn’t need him to speak and continued: “And after Chu Li dies, you will still be alive. As Chu Li’s only brother, you will need to take over everything of his.”

At this point, he picked up the teacup again and held it out to Chu Lan.

“Mr. Chu, when I say I value you, it’s not a joke. I came because of Chu Li, but what I truly need is you.”

“In the future, I will be your ladder to heaven, but at this moment, you are my ladder to heaven.”

“Please, Mr. Chu, step onto the ladder to heaven with me, together, to the gates of heaven.”

He repeated these words.

Hearing these words again, Chu Lan’s heart still pounded, but this time, he didn’t say he didn’t understand. Instead, he reached out and took the tea.

Xiao Xun smiled and stood up: “There have been too many unexpected events today. Mr. Chu’s mind must be in turmoil. I won’t disturb you further.”

With that, he walked toward the door.

Chu Lan hesitated, holding the teacup as he stood, uncertain whether to see the guest out or not.

Xiao Xun stopped and turned his head: “Mr. Chu, don’t worry about safety. My men have secured your residence and will ensure your protection.”

With that, he pulled up his cloak to cover his face and head, walking out and disappearing into the night.

Whether Chu Lan understood the meaning of these words or not, Chu Zhao, hidden in the wall cabinet, understood.

She now comprehended not only the meaning of these words but also finally understood how unjust yet not entirely unjust her death had been in her previous life.

……

……

When she sneaked into the study, she wanted to see if Chu Lan had hidden someone there.

Recently, Chu Lan’s study was given to her by Chu Tang. She was very satisfied with this study. The Chu residence was truly a fine estate, with gardens like Chu Garden and exquisite studies like this one. No wonder Chu Lan spent all his time here.

This study had a hidden wall cabinet that could accommodate one person. It had a high window for ventilation, was adjacent to the bookshelf for easy access to books, and allowed one to see into the study through the gaps in the bookshelf.

The servants around were all disoriented, hiding in dark corners. Chu Zhao easily climbed into the cabinet from the outer window.

Chu Lan was pacing back and forth in the study, distracted and oblivious to his surroundings.

But there was no one else in the study. Chu Zhao was about to leave when Xiao Xun arrived. Then she sat in the cabinet and finally came to understand her entire life.

The curses from Consort Liang, the words Chu Tang had hurled at her, the insults from Yan Lang—she understood them all now.

She finally understood everything clearly.

Her becoming empress had indeed been a transaction.

The young prince had indeed been entrusted to the Chu family, and then, truly died at the hands of the Chu family.

But what did this have to do with her? What did it have to do with her father? She and her father had done nothing, known nothing—

Chu Zhao peered through the gap in the bookshelf, her gaze both focused and vacant, seemingly staring at Chu Lan yet looking past him, into the depths of the night.

So this was how she and her father had been manipulated in the palm of someone’s hand.

……

……

The Imperial City was shrouded in deep night, with layers of high walls and rows of palaces seemingly isolating everything.

In the innermost chamber of the deep palace, it was so quiet that even the candlelight had stopped flickering. The person lying on the wide dragon bed was like a stone statue.

Until he let out a long breath, the air in the chamber instantly began to flow again. The candles danced, the curtains swayed gently, and the eunuchs moved about softly.

“Your Majesty,” a eunuch cautiously said, “would you like a light refreshment?”

The Emperor made a sound of agreement: “I’ll have some suhuang du pastry.”

The eunuch was about to speak when the Emperor laughed to himself.

“I forgot that was something the Noble Consort used to make,” he said. “Now the Noble Consort is dead.”

Just half an hour ago, the gentle and lovely Noble Consort who had accompanied the Emperor for many years had attempted to harm His Majesty. She was strangled by the Emperor and now hangs from a beam in the room.

None of the people in the Noble Consort’s palace had been spared.

The eunuch, recalling the scene, couldn’t help but shudder. Serving as a eunuch in the Imperial City, he thought he had seen all manner of horrors, but the bloody slaughter he had witnessed firsthand was different from anything he had merely heard about.

“Your Majesty,” he hurriedly said, “our imperial chef can also make this.”

Only then did the Emperor make a sound of assent: “Then make some. The night is still long.”

The eunuch instructed someone to go while helping the Emperor sit up. He didn’t know if it was because he was weak from fright, but he felt the Emperor was unusually heavy.

Alas, the woman who had accompanied him day and night had tried to harm him, and his own two sons were killing each other. With such events, even if the Emperor didn’t say anything, the shock and blow must be significant.

After all, he was now just a frail, sickly old man.

“How are things?” the Emperor asked. “The Crown Prince is already dead. Hasn’t it ended yet?”

The eunuch bowed his head: “Not yet. The capital is still in chaos, with killing and burning everywhere.”

“The Imperial City hasn’t been spared either, has it?” the Emperor asked again.

The eunuch dared not conceal anything and admitted it was so, quickly adding: “Your Majesty, though the outer city is in disarray, the inner palace guards have all been carefully selected and are unwaveringly loyal to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor let out a laugh, a strange one.

“I don’t believe them,” he said, then glanced at the eunuch. “Any of you.”

The eunuch felt his scalp tingle at these words and fell to his knees with a thud. “Your Majesty, this old servant—”

But his declaration of loyalty was cut short as the Emperor impatiently interrupted.

“Go and call Deng Yi,” he said.

Deng Yi? The eunuch was momentarily stunned. Who was Deng Yi?

The eunuch dared not say he didn’t know; he would find out on his own. He certainly couldn’t ask His Majesty. He turned to leave but was called back by the Emperor.

The Emperor pulled off his waistband and tossed it over.

“Take this, lest he won’t listen.”