When Deng Yi was pulled into the secret chamber behind the bookshelf wall, from the corner of his eye he caught sight of rising flames, then both the fire and the ensuing commotion were shut outside.
“I didn’t even know my house had a secret chamber and tunnel,” Deng Yi said. The secret chamber was actually a hollow wall, and the next moment they entered the tunnel.
He looked at Xiao Xun walking ahead, the young man’s steps light and easy.
The tunnel was pitch black, making it impossible to see the young man’s expression, but he could hear his voice tinged with laughter.
“Because to the Grand Tutor, the capital is merely a place to stay,” he said. “But to my father the Prince, it is home.”
“My father the Prince was driven out of the capital since childhood. He always wanted to return home, afraid of forgetting it, so he had people thoroughly investigate every detail of the capital—the layout of streets and residences, every blade of grass and tree.”
“Especially these grand estates.”
“Grand Tutor, believe it or not, my father the Prince even arranged for people to guard many of these estates.”
Believe it? Why wouldn’t he believe it? After all, wasn’t he himself someone Prince Zhongshan had arranged to guard an estate? And the most magnificent estate of all—the Imperial City.
Deng Yi said flatly, “The Prince truly spares no effort in making preparations everywhere for emergencies.”
Xiao Xun’s voice carried light laughter: “It’s that the Grand Tutor and my father the Prince are destined to be connected, which is why you moved into this estate that just happened to have a guardian.”
As he spoke, he pushed lightly. Night air rushed in, along with the commotion and thick smoke.
Deng Yi looked up and realized they had passed through the tunnel to the neighboring estate.
The neighboring household had obviously been startled as well. Servants ran about in the courtyard, shouts continued without cease, mixed with children’s cries from being awakened, and whispered chaotic chatter.
“Help fight the fire—”
“Don’t meddle in others’ affairs—”
“Hide quickly—”
“Careful not to be implicated—”
Hearing these words, Deng Yi found it somewhat amusing.
Xiao Xun called softly, “Let’s go, Grand Tutor.” He smiled again, looking at the estate on the other side that had become eerily magnificent in the firelight. “Grand Tutor, reluctant to leave?”
Deng Yi said, “In this world there is nothing one cannot bear to leave, only what one must do.”
Xiao Xun smiled and said nothing more, turning to walk along the narrow passage. Even in someone else’s estate, his steps remained light and easy.
Deng Yi followed behind.
He didn’t know how many estates they passed through. The clamor, smoke and fire, the sound of soldiers and horses galloping—all gradually faded away. They stopped at an ironworks in the city.
Workers were busy even at night in the ironworks. Firelight flickered, bare-chested men swung iron hammers, sweat flying everywhere. They paid no attention to Xiao Xun and Deng Yi passing through the workshop.
Xiao Xun walked to the innermost area, pulled over a wooden bench to sit down, and picked up the teapot from the table, pouring a bowl of hot water.
“Grand Tutor, moisten your throat,” he said.
Deng Yi didn’t refuse and picked it up.
“Grand Tutor,” Xiao Xun leaned close to him and said in a low voice, “It was the Empress who wanted to kill you.”
Deng Yi glanced at him: “It wasn’t her.”
“But you’re now her obstacle,” Xiao Xun said with a smile. “Miss Zhao is someone who splits mountains when they block her path.”
Deng Yi slowly took a sip of water, raised his eyes to look at Xiao Xun, and smiled slightly: “I’m different from the Young Master. Miss Zhao wouldn’t actually try to kill me.”
He paused there.
“Even if she wanted to kill me, she would tell me first.”
The relationship between the Empress and the Grand Tutor was quite good. Earlier on the road, Chu Zhao’s attitude toward Deng Yi was indeed different compared to how she treated him.
And Deng Yi had even betrayed his father the Prince for Chu Zhao’s sake!
“But that was before,” Xiao Xun sighed softly. “People change, and with the Xie family there, you and the Empress cannot coexist.”
Deng Yi drained the water and looked at Xiao Xun: “Many people wish for my death, Young Master. You’re among them, and quite high on the list at that.”
Xiao Xun laughed heartily and asked with great interest, “Is the Grand Tutor saying I staged tonight’s drama myself?”
Deng Yi didn’t answer, but set down the tea bowl and asked, “What does the Young Master want? Speak plainly.”
Xiao Xun smiled slightly and said, “The same old request—I ask the Grand Tutor to open a door for me.”
Deng Yi said flatly, “Too late. Back then I had authority over the inner palace gates, but now I no longer do.”
“So the Grand Tutor truly cannot contend with the Empress,” Xiao Xun said with a laugh, clapping his hands in praise. “Miss Zhao is formidable indeed.”
Deng Yi ignored him and reached to pour water himself.
“I’m not asking the Grand Tutor to open the palace gates for me,” Xiao Xun said, his smile fading as he spoke softly. “I also don’t want to enter the Imperial City. Tonight’s events were actually a coincidence. When I learned the Grand Tutor had been confined by the Empress, this was a good opportunity, so I snuck in, planning to set a fire and then abduct you—”
At this point he laughed again.
“I didn’t expect someone else to have the same idea.”
“Though you say I’m one of those who wants to kill you, you should thank me for wanting to kill you. Otherwise you really would have died.”
Deng Yi held his cup drinking water, his expression wooden.
Xiao Xun laughed enough and stopped, saying, “I ask the Grand Tutor to open the door from the capital to Zhongshan Commandery for me.”
Deng Yi gripped his cup looking at him.
“The Grand Tutor is so cautious, you surely carry the imperial seal and military tally with you at all times,” Xiao Xun said, raising his hand in salute. “I ask the Grand Tutor to send me home.”
Deng Yi said nothing, just smiled slightly.
“Grand Tutor,” Xiao Xun’s expression was sincere. “Though this time it wasn’t the Empress trying to kill you, the Empress has already been misled by Xie Yanfang. Xie Yanfang will never tolerate your presence at court. With those two there, there is no place for you in Xiao Yu’s court. Rather than being a beast of burden for that child, why not come with me to see my father the Prince? Da Xia is the Xiao clan’s realm. If my father the Prince becomes Emperor, you can still be Da Xia’s Grand Tutor.”
Deng Yi lowered his eyes to look at his water cup. The clanging sounds of hammering and the sparking firelight reflected in the water cup seemed to show that girl’s face.
On that night of firelight and rising battle cries, beneath the palace gates, she had shouted at him: “Deng Yi, you owe me a meal.”
The Miss Zhao of today was no longer the Miss Zhao of before.
The debt of one meal had been repaid.
Deng Yi drained the water in one gulp.
…
…
Firelight flickered as Imperial Guards galloped through the Imperial City. They all wore python-patterned robes—clearly not just the Palace Guard Bureau, but the rear palace guards had all been mobilized too.
This also indicated that at this moment, the Empress trusted no one except the Dragon Guard.
One squadron headed outward, while another surrounded the outer hall where the Grand Tutor was located.
The officials were blocked and corralled, able only to stand at a distance watching them rush into the Grand Tutor’s hall to search.
“What are they looking for?”
“Did the Grand Tutor really die?”
“Without even confiscating his property, they’re directly—”
“Shut up. They’re obviously searching for the imperial seal and military tally.”
Chu Zhao strode into the Grand Tutor’s hall. This place was not unfamiliar to her. Now it had been ransacked—bookcases overturned, completely unrecognizable.
Besides the Imperial Guards, Eunuch Qi led palace servants searching everywhere. These palace people were more familiar with hidden compartments and such, but after a thorough search, they found nothing.
“As for the imperial seal and military tally, we actually rarely see them in daily affairs,” a minor official was brought in and knelt down to say. “When we receive memorials and documents, they’ve already been reviewed and stamped by the Grand Tutor.”
Xie Yanfang also led officials in, saying, “Your Majesty, the Six Ministries have all been searched. Nothing found.”
“The imperial seal and military tally are treasures of the state. The Grand Tutor should have carried them on his person,” Eunuch Qi said quietly. “We’ll have to see if they can be found at the Grand Tutor’s residence.”
The hope of finding them wasn’t great—everyone present understood this in their hearts.
The reason Deng Yi held such important position, apart from the Late Emperor bestowing the title of Grand Tutor, was because he held the imperial seal and military tally.
If Deng Yi had disappeared on his own, he certainly wouldn’t have left them behind.
If he was taken by others, one of their purposes would certainly be the imperial seal and military tally.
Chu Zhao said, “Bring the Phoenix Seal—seal the city gates—”
…
…
The smoke and fire that had risen in the city quickly vanished, but the commotion in the city still faintly spread.
Standing on the city gate, one could see leaping torches and hear the sound of galloping hooves. Footsteps also faintly carried over.
The city gate guards were also familiar with where the commotion was gathering.
The Grand Tutor’s residence.
“Things are unsettled,” one guard said quietly.
Another nodded: “The Palace Guard Bureau has surrounded the Grand Tutor’s residence.”
They didn’t discuss other matters further. As they were observing, a squadron of soldiers galloped from within the city.
“Halt—” the City Guard Commander ordered. “The city gates are closed. None may leave without authorization.”
The leading officer saluted from horseback: “Commander Ding.”
The City Guard Commander recognized him—an official from the Ministry of War—and hurriedly returned the salute: “Lord Xue, leaving the city so late?”
Lord Xue unfolded documents to show him while simultaneously presenting half of the military tally, saying, “Emergency order to match tallies with the Capital Garrison.”
Under bright torchlight the imperial seal stamp on the documents was visible. The City Guard Commander dared not handle the military tally, but hurriedly acknowledged the order. Without asking another question, he ordered the guards to open the city gate, watching as these officers led their attendants through the gate into the night.
The city gate slowly closed.