The pungent scent surrounded Deng Yi’s mouth and nose, making it impossible for him to smell the fragrance of the smoke.

But it seemed like just a blink of an eye when there was a thud, and someone fell to the ground.

Deng Yi turned his head to look and saw that the person standing in the shadows by the bookshelf had fallen to the ground.

This was someone Xiao Xun had brought, silent and unnoticeable, as if nonexistent.

“Did you see clearly?” Xiao Xun whispered close to his ear. “Such a powerful poison. Imperial Tutor, you are certainly doomed.”

After saying this, he stuffed pills into his mouth and Deng Yi’s, then pulled Deng Yi toward the back of the bookshelf. A moment later, denser smoke rose outside the room—

…

…

At the Imperial Tutor’s residence, Ding Dachui personally came to oversee the situation.

After the Imperial Guard was established, breaking into homes or extracting people from the Ministry of Justice prison rarely required Ding Dachui’s presence. With the dragon-patterned robes and the Imperial Guard’s waist token, no one could stand in their way.

The Imperial Tutor was merely under house arrest, forbidden to leave his residence, and no one was allowed to visit him. Compared to the tasks the Imperial Guard usually carried out, this was much easier, only requiring them to cordon off the area outside the residence.

But Ding Dachui still came personally to oversee, after all, the Imperial Tutor’s status was different. The Imperial Tutor had military authority and could mobilize the capital garrison. If he wanted to leave, other Dragon Guards might not be able to stop him.

He was different. With his Commander status, if the Imperial Tutor dared to force his way out using military power, he would personally fight the capital soldiers.

Even if he died here, he would let the world know that the Empress’s authority was unquestionable.

However, after the Imperial Tutor was sent back, he didn’t cause any trouble, only reading in his study, seemingly enjoying the rare quiet. The servants in the household were also well-behaved. With no guests, they were quite leisurely, staying in their quarters most of the time.

Ding Dachui sat in the gatehouse of the Imperial Tutor’s residence, not relaxing his vigilance. He called the Dragon Guards to instruct them about the second half of the night’s watch. He had only said half of what he wanted to say when he sensed something was wrong.

“There’s a fire,” he said.

The Dragon Guards looked around, somewhat bewildered. There was nothing, neither inside nor outside, no fire, no smoke—

But Ding Dachui had already rushed inside. He sniffed hard; he couldn’t be wrong. In the mountains, forest fires were common, so common that he could smell them before the flames even started.

Seeing Ding Dachui rush into the residence, the other Dragon Guards, though puzzled, unhesitatingly followed, some alongside him, others immediately spreading out to strengthen their defense.

“Be careful of anyone causing trouble during the chaos.”

And seeing the Dragon Guards suddenly rush in, the servants who were patrolling the lights in the residence were startled. Were these Dragon Guards no longer pretending, instead bursting in ferociously to start arresting people?

“Put out the fire—” Ding Dachui shouted.

The servants were again confused. What fire? Where was there a fire?

They followed Ding Dachui’s direction in a daze. The Imperial Tutor’s residence was brightly lit amidst the night. The next moment, the night seemed to rise all at once, dimming the lights, and the moment after that, flames rose and engulfed the darkness.

There was a fire—

The servants let out screams, and the Imperial Tutor’s residence became chaotic.

Ding Dachui had already rushed to the study. Flames had risen around the study but had not yet become raging. Without any hesitation, he crashed through the door and rushed in.

The Dragon Guards who had followed him called out.

“Sir—”

…

…

Chu Zhao did not plan to rest tonight. The officials were discussing border army matters in the front palace, and she was also participating at all times. In between, she returned to the inner palace to accompany Xiao Yu, which was also a habit between her and Xiao Yu, talking together before he fell asleep.

After telling him about the border army’s great victory, accompanied by Chu Zhao leaning against the headboard, gently patting him, Xiao Yu gradually closed his eyes.

The news came at this time.

Ding Dachui’s face was blackened, his clothes burned, with exposed areas showing burns, flesh, and blood in disarray, supported by two Dragon Guards.

Xiaoman and A Le were giving him simple treatment for his wounds, cutting away the tattered robes.

Ding Dachui wouldn’t let Chu Zhao call the Imperial Physician, urgent to report first: “The fire spread very quickly. The entire room had been doused with flammable oil. If I had been a step later, I wouldn’t have made it out either.”

Chu Zhao’s gaze fell to the ground.

A person lay on the ground, like Ding Dachui, with a blackened face and burned, disheveled clothes.

“But when I entered, he was already dead,” Ding Dachui said in a low voice. “And—”

He was not Deng Yi.

Chu Zhao examined the man on the ground. He looked very much like Deng Yi, even the face and features covered in ash were similar.

“But if it had been burned beyond recognition,” she said, “we really wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference.”

Was this person Deng Yi’s double?

How could Deng Yi have a double?

Did he prepare it himself? Or was it arranged by someone else?

Then was this fire arranged by Deng Yi or by someone who wanted to kill Deng Yi?

“The Imperial Tutor’s residence has been searched,” Ding Dachui said. “There’s no trace of the Imperial Tutor.”

Even his blackened face couldn’t hide his shame.

“We were guarding outside and didn’t notice anyone coming in or going out.”

But there must have been a loophole they hadn’t discovered; people couldn’t fly with wings or disappear into the ground.

Chu Zhao said: “Don’t blame yourself. The other party knew you were stationed outside the residence. Since they dared to do it, they must have had the ability to accomplish it.”

Now these things weren’t important. What was important was who exactly was it?

Was it Deng Yi slipping away, or someone who wanted Deng Yi to disappear?

“Your Majesty, the Imperial Tutor’s incident at this time is disadvantageous to you,” Advisor Yin said in a low voice. “Someone might frame you, saying Your Majesty wanted to eliminate the Imperial Tutor.”

The Imperial Guard escorted Imperial Tutor Deng Yi out of the imperial city and confined him to his residence, then the Imperial Tutor’s residence caught fire, and the Imperial Tutor’s fate was unknown. The conflict between the Empress and the Imperial Tutor was known to all. Now that the border army had captured the Western Liang King alive, the Empress’s prestige had greatly increased. If the Imperial Tutor were eliminated at this time, it wouldn’t cause unrest in the court, and might even pin crimes on the Imperial Tutor, such as colluding with Western Liang, leading to the fall of Shipo City—

Chu Zhao looked at the corpse on the ground with an indifferent expression.

“The court officials are all here. Gather everyone and announce this matter,” she said.

Although the fire at the Imperial Tutor’s residence had caused a commotion, because it was discovered promptly and guarded by the Imperial Guard, the news hadn’t leaked yet.

Indeed, it was more appropriate to frankly announce it at this time. Advisor Yin responded and was about to leave when Chu Zhao stopped him.

“Is Deng Yi’s mother still there?” she asked.

Advisor Yin nodded: “Yes, except for the Imperial Tutor and his study, there were no other abnormalities with other people or places. They have all been detained.”

Chu Zhao turned to call Xiaoman.

Xiaoman didn’t turn her head away as usual but made a sound of acknowledgment.

“Advisor Yin, secretly send Madam Deng out,” Chu Zhao said. “Xiaoman, settle her well, don’t let anyone discover her, as if Madam Deng’s fate is also unknown.”

Advisor Yin responded affirmatively, and Xiaoman immediately turned and left.

“Call the Imperial Physician,” Chu Zhao instructed, looking at Ding Dachui. “You need to hold on a bit longer to answer the court officials’ inquiries.”

Ding Dachui responded affirmatively.

Qi Gonggong turned to instruct someone to call the Imperial Physician and summon the court officials. The entire inner palace became busy.

Chu Zhao looked at the corpse lying on the ground.

“Sister, do you think the Imperial Tutor didn’t flee out of fear of punishment?” Xiao Yu asked in a low voice beside her. “Do you think someone harmed him?”

So Deng Yi was either captured or escaped, and Sister Chu wanted to protect Madam Deng, preventing her, as Deng Yi’s only relative, from falling into danger.

Chu Zhao nodded.

“Though I can’t be certain, I feel that Deng Yi isn’t someone who would think I would kill him just because I confined him, that he would need to escape,” she said in a low voice.

So either someone wanted to kill him, and he had no choice but to flee, or he was abducted by someone.

Although Deng Yi had once said that in times of danger, he wouldn’t risk himself for his mother, but—

Chu Zhao said softly: “Madam Deng is an innocent blind woman, don’t let her get involved in this.”

…

…

The officials, who had just calmed down from the shock of the great victory news, were summoned to the inner palace. Seeing the corpse lying on the ground and hearing Ding Dachui’s account, they were once again plunged into even greater shock.

“The Imperial Tutor is dead!”

“Not dead, missing!”

“Missing? Who knows if he’s alive or dead?”

“In broad daylight, the Imperial Tutor met with calamity in his own home!”

“If it were a calamity, why would there be a double?”

The officials argued in a mess. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice stepped forward, looking at Chu Zhao: “This minister requests to investigate the case of the Imperial Tutor’s misfortune.”

Chu Zhao said: “Very well, not just you, the Three Ministries should investigate together.”

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice didn’t delay, turning and leaving immediately, with seven or eight officials hurrying after him. The discussions and questioning in the hall didn’t diminish in the slightest.

Chu Zhao didn’t pay attention, allowing them to speculate as they wished.

“Was this double prepared by the Imperial Tutor, or by someone else?” Xie Yanfang didn’t participate in these discussions, standing by the corpse, bending down to examine it curiously. “It looks very similar. If the Empress’s people hadn’t acted quickly, rushing into the fire to drag him out, we would have truly believed the Imperial Tutor was dead—”

He looked toward Chu Zhao and sighed softly.

“Thanks to the Empress, this is a blessing amidst misfortune.”