Thunder crashed at the horizon. In the brightly lit Zhe Gui Tower, the successful candidates from Yue Li Academy gathered together to celebrate today’s announcement of results.

Yue Li Academy had seventeen examinees, with thirteen passing—quite a high proportion. Among them, Shen Mi ranked highest at fourth place, Qi Yuansi at twenty-seventh, and Yang Yixiu at thirtieth. Da Wu failed, while Xiao Wu passed at one hundred thirty-second place. Tian Wu hadn’t even passed the provincial examinations before, so naturally didn’t participate in the spring examinations, but this didn’t prevent him from joyfully hosting two tables at Zhe Gui Tower to celebrate for Shen Mi, Qi Yuansi, and Yang Yixiu.

Passing was naturally a good thing. Everyone discussed the exam questions extensively and guessed what policy essays the palace examination might feature. Would it still focus on economics and border affairs?

But Shen Mi seemed somewhat distracted, always thinking about something. When Qi Yuansi asked him, he said: “I feel uneasy in my heart. Just now I asked Da Wu and Xiao Wu, and they said their examination rooms were good too, and the inspections were lenient…”

Before he finished speaking, they heard a distant rumbling sound. Someone remarked in surprise: “Thunder even on a spring night!”

Shen Mi stood up and pushed open the window, just in time to see a large troop of soldiers approaching quickly, turning and entering Zhe Gui Tower in an instant.

He suddenly turned around and looked at Qi Yuansi.

The sound of jumbled footsteps echoed on the stairs, and the private room door crashed against the wall.

The laughter stopped abruptly. The students turned around in shock to hear the lead soldier declare sternly: “Shen Mi! Qi Yuansi! Wu Yuanhong! You are suspected of colluding with examiners, bribing for test questions, and cheating in the examination hall. The Cabinet has ordered your immediate arrest!”

…

The private room fell silent as death. Rong Pu stood up abruptly.

Shen Mi wasn’t so shocked, muttering with a pale face: “I knew it… I knew it…” He suddenly grabbed Rong Pu’s hand. “Brother Lianzhui, quickly go notify the Crown Princess. This is definitely aimed at her!”

Qi Yuansi angrily demanded: “You say we cheated? Where’s the evidence!”

“Evidence will naturally be presented to the presiding officials during the Three Courts trial. That’s not your concern. Let’s go!”

Cheating was a major case. Once exposed, countless heads would roll. Rong Pu’s face also changed. He took a breath and wanted to step forward, but his guard appeared silently behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Rong Pu: “Uncle Rong!”

The guard who had followed him for a long time and even received the Rong family surname sighed softly: “Young Master, forgive me. This old servant received the Master’s orders and must stop you… Regarding today’s matter, you absolutely must not get involved.”

His hand pressed on Rong Pu’s shoulder like a boulder. Rong Pu couldn’t move even if he wanted to.

Rong Pu closed his eyes and said softly: “I understand.”

For the Cabinet to arrive so quickly, Deputy Minister Xiao couldn’t have obtained a joint resolution so fast. This matter had received Grandfather’s approval.

The guard sighed again.

“Uncle, I won’t do anything harmful to the Rong family. But these are my good friends. Let me say a few words to them, just a few words.”

The guard hesitated.

Rong Pu opened his palm, revealing a finger-length silver needle, gleaming as he pointed it at his own wrist pulse.

The guard’s eyebrow twitched. He had no choice but to let go, though he followed behind them.

Rong Pu walked to Shen Mi’s side, took his hand, and said softly: “Brother Shen, they come with ill intent. Don’t let them torture you. If they want to torture you, stall for time… I’ll find a way to help you.”

He gave the same advice to the others, but said to Qi Yuansi: “They may not torture you, but they might threaten you with your father. You must remember, their real purpose is to target the Crown Princess. If the Crown Princess falls, next will be all the royalist faction, and your father won’t fare well either.”

Qi Yuansi gritted his teeth and nodded.

Rong Pu whispered in his ear: “Ramble and digress, stall for time, don’t worry about too much.”

Shackles clanked as Shen Mi and the others were led away. Rong Pu watched their retreating figures intently as his guard said behind him: “Young Master, let’s return to the mansion.”

“Alright, Uncle.”

Before he finished speaking, the silver needle he’d held earlier pierced the guard’s pressure point.

The guard collapsed silently.

“Uncle, I’m sorry.” Rong Pu apologetically supported him and helped him sit in a chair.

Only then did Tian Wu, Da Wu, and the others react. Without bothering to say anything, they rushed downstairs, preparing to use every available resource to save their friends first.

However, as soon as they reached the staircase, they discovered that another group of soldiers hadn’t left. The entire Zhe Gui Tower was surrounded.

These should be capital prefecture troops. Their captain, hand on his sword, said coldly: “You shall remain here temporarily.”

“What’s the reasoning! We’re not involved in any crime. By what right do you detain us!”

“Who knows if you Yue Li Academy people are all in cahoots? Maybe when those few enter prison, they’ll confess and implicate you.”

“How long do you plan to keep us!”

“It won’t be very long. After questioning those scholars and confirming you’re innocent, you’ll naturally be released.”

No matter how angry and agitated the students became, the soldiers remained unmoved. Rong Pu pulled Tian Wu aside and said softly: “Stop making noise. They’re just afraid you’ll spread word and cause trouble, so they’re detaining you here first.”

Yang Yixiu craned his neck to look at the dense crowd below. “We need to find a way to send word, otherwise I’m afraid after one night passes, they’ll have all the confessions in hand.”

Rong Pu leaned against the window, looking quite melancholy as he said: “Such a good opportunity, I really hate to give it to him!”

Everyone: …Huh? What are you talking about?

Rong Pu didn’t explain. He turned to ask the trembling shopkeeper nearby: “Does your establishment have fireworks and firecrackers?”

“Yes, yes we do.”

“Bring them all. I’ll pay double.”

The puzzled shopkeeper went to fetch the fireworks and firecrackers. The capital prefecture soldiers watching coldly found it strange but couldn’t find reason to stop him.

Among this group were the Chief Minister’s legitimate grandson and a Minister’s son. The higher-ups had instructed to prevent anyone from entering or leaving, but not to harm them in the slightest.

This place was still far from the imperial palace, and the direction was wrong. Communication by fireworks couldn’t be seen anyway, so after the guards hesitated briefly, they still didn’t interfere.

Zhe Gui Tower itself operated under the banner of celebrating successful students, so they had prepared many fireworks and firecrackers, piled on the ground like a small mountain. Rong Pu had them moved to the outdoor terrace for viewing scenery and said: “Set them all off.”

The confused shopkeeper had no choice but to start setting off fireworks. Streaming light overflowed with color, startling people far and near. Many citizens came out to watch, pointing at the fireworks and laughing, saying the scholars must be celebrating joyfully.

Only the students in the gloomy private room looked at each other in confusion, wondering if Rong Pu had gone mad with anger.

The fireworks continued for a full half hour, until Rong Pu heard subtle scratching sounds overhead.

He remained calm and didn’t stop the shopkeeper.

Outside the window, the rain had stopped. Across the way, a touch of mountain scenery lay shrouded in misty green shadows. Rong Pu pushed open the partition door facing the terrace and walked out. At this moment, everyone was anxious and had no mood for appreciating mountain scenery, only looking at his figure with some puzzlement.

Someone wanted to follow, but Yang Yixiu, who had caught on, immediately stopped them.

Although they were all Yue Li Academy students, there were still degrees of closeness and distance. One had to be careful.

The watching soldiers poked their heads out, wanting to come over. Yang Yixiu casually blocked them, laughing: “Old Rong, get some fresh air and come back. The terrace is high, be careful not to fall.”

Rong Pu waved to show he understood.

The soldiers saw that terrace was suspended in air, with a drop of two zhang below. Indeed, no one would jump down, so they withdrew their heads. The rain had just stopped, and water would drip from the eaves.

Rong Pu stood under the dripping rain eaves, at an angle where people could only see half his back.

A pair of black boots silently descended from the eaves, with slender calves above the boots, dangling above his head.

Rong Pu slightly tilted his head to avoid these annoying boots, thinking this bastard had indeed rushed over as soon as he saw the fireworks.

After all, setting off fireworks at this time and place was very sensitive behavior. At the very least, Murong Yi would definitely notice.

With no time for jealousy or provocation, he quickly explained everything that happened tonight.

Murong Yi above listened unhurriedly, chuckled, and said: “Oh, so they finally came.”

Hearing this, Rong Pu’s eyes flashed as he said: “You should know what to do, but I have one more request. You must protect everyone in prison tonight from torture. Shen Mi and the others are all very important in the Crown Princess’s heart. If you protect them, the Crown Princess will be truly grateful to you.”

On the eaves, Murong Yi leisurely said: “Why should I listen to you?”

He didn’t mind letting this group who always followed behind Tie Ci suffer a bit.

“Because I’m giving you this important opportunity to win the Crown Princess’s heart.”

“What do you mean giving? This is clearly exploitation. If you weren’t trapped yourself, you would have already rushed off on your own.”

“Because only with my token can you possibly enter the palace and see Tie Ci.”

Silence above. After a while, Murong Yi said: “Hand it over.”

Rong Pu passed up his token, but added: “If you can’t protect Shen Mi and the others, it doesn’t matter. I’ve already given them medicine to feign unconsciousness for protection. After all, they trust me a bit more.”

Above, Murong Yi laughed heartily, stood up, and stomped his boot, splashing water all over Rong Pu’s head.

What kind of provocation was this?

This lotus pod full of scheming thoughts!

…

On the eaves, Murong Yi said to Mu Si: “Those who use me, I also have people I can use. Go find Tie Ci’s prairie dog best friend and have her find a way to protect people in prison.”

Between that group of bastards and Tie Ci, he would naturally go see Tie Ci first.

Rong Pu used him, he used the prairie dog.

But even with Rong Pu’s token, with the palace gates closed at night, entering the palace to see Tie Ci was still very difficult.

Murong Yi had also struggled his way up, so he naturally knew everyone was racing against time tonight.

It could be said that this suddenly erupted major cheating case would succeed or fail tonight.

Very clearly, this so-called imperial examination fraud case completely bypassed the Emperor and Tie Ci. Instead, the Cabinet had mysteriously formed unified opinion on this matter, drafted it, then directly submitted it to the Palace Ceremonial Supervisor. Li Gui from the Palace Ceremonial Supervisor belonged to the Empress Dowager. After years of regency, the Empress Dowager having some of the Emperor’s seals wasn’t difficult, or she could directly issue orders to arrest people under the name of imperial decrees.

Concealing this from the Emperor and Crown Prince on one side, while arresting people into the capital prefecture on the other, conducting overnight interrogation and torture to force confessions. By dawn, with confessions in hand and presented during morning court with solid evidence, the Crown Princess and He Zi and Duan Yande would be impeached. Even if the Emperor was furious, he couldn’t oppose the anger of all officials and scholars. Then the Crown Princess’s prestige would plummet, He Zi and Duan Yande would lose their positions if not their lives, the royalist faction would be severely wounded and lose leaders. After that, they would abolish the examination results and retest. Who could then stop the Xiao family from again arranging examiners from their own faction?

Since the Cabinet stood with the Xiao family this time, obviously they would eventually divide up examiner positions.

This was why the Xiao family suddenly withdrew from competition for chief and deputy examiners at the end.

On one hand, to undermine Tie Ci.

On the other hand, they still had this move waiting. Let you take the position temporarily, then give you an even crueler blow to completely destroy you. In the end, the examination world would still belong to the Xiao family.

Link by link, Rong Pu had thought of it, and Murong Yi had too.

Looking at the sky, there were only two hours left until morning court.

Within these two hours, that side would certainly intensify forced confessions, possibly even organizing student protests; this side also needed to make many corresponding moves.

Murong Yi gave his subordinates several instructions, and two people accepted orders and left.

The remaining few followed him toward the imperial city.

In the area where nobles and aristocrats gathered not far from the imperial city, he randomly chose a mansion to break into. Moments later, his subordinates emerged carrying a soft sedan chair at high speed, with him following behind, and behind him were the guards from that mansion, chasing and shouting, but unable to catch up. They watched as this group of inexplicable bandits rushed into the mansion wanting neither gold nor silver nor treasures, just stealing a sedan chair and floating away like scattered petals.

The few people carried the sedan chair all the way to the palace gate square. The palace’s outer guard army was the Vermillion Bird Guard, originally commanded by Xiao Chang. Xiao Chang had been impeached and lost his position in the Vermillion Bird Camp. Because this position guarded the imperial city and was extremely important, with several factions competing unsuccessfully, it remained undecided to this day, temporarily managed by the deputy commander.

But anyone who could serve as deputy commander under Xiao Chang was naturally from the Xiao family faction. This deputy commander had already received secret orders from the Xiao family to strictly guard the palace gates today—not even a fly was allowed in or out!

Murong Yi put on a white cloak he’d just stolen, ducked into the sedan chair, and his four subordinates lifted it, heading for the palace gate square.

Guards immediately came to block them, but the subordinates Murong Yi brought to Great Qian were all trained secretly with heavy investment for years. Not to mention martial arts, their lightness skills were exceptional. When they took off running, even their shadows couldn’t be seen.

The Vermillion Bird Guards moved forward to stop the sedan chair. But in a flash, the sedan chair’s shadow vanished. Looking back, the sedan chair had already crossed the Golden Water Bridge!

The Vermillion Bird Guards were greatly alarmed and quickly used whistle signals. But tonight the square was originally heavily controlled in layers. Two teams of guards turned from both sides of the Golden Water Bridge to block the sedan chair.

The four black-clothed men leaped into the air, literally carrying the black sedan chair as they stepped on the guards’ heads, jumping over the human wall.

People looked up.

This scene was truly somewhat eerie. The wet, deep blue night after rain, black robes and black sedan chair floating weightlessly in the monochrome blue sky. The sedan chair remained perfectly steady in mid-air, its curtain slightly lifted by wind, revealing half a snow-white face with deep red lips, lips curving slightly.

This curve was soul-stirring and captivating, mesmerizing the people below who forgot to thrust out their pear blossom spears to block.

By the time they reacted, the sedan chair had landed behind them again.

The four moved like ghosts, instantly sliding far away, not far from the palace gate.

But two teams of men approached like swimming dragons, everyone carrying long spears on their backs, led by the Vermillion Bird Camp deputy commander.

The deputy commander sternly shouted: “Who goes there! No loitering before the palace gate. After nightfall, anyone approaching within three zhang of the palace gate without orders shall be killed without mercy!”

…

Tie Ci had been recuperating recently, so she maintained excellent sleeping habits in the palace, always going to bed by the proper time at latest.

But tonight she didn’t sleep on time. She kept reading books, occasionally looking up toward the Chong Ming Palace in the distance.

Chong Ming Palace seemed very quiet tonight. It was said His Majesty had gone to sleep early.

Dan Shuang trimmed the candle wick for Tie Ci and said softly: “Your Highness, you seem a bit restless tonight.”

Tie Ci was silent for a while, then said: “Because I’m waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” Chi Xue’s expression changed slightly. “…The spring examinations announced results today…”

Tie Ci nodded approvingly.

“You mean they—”

“For something as major as the spring examinations, the Xiao family couldn’t possibly not cause trouble, but I don’t know if they’ll act immediately or wait a bit longer.” “Initially they yielded the chief and deputy examiner positions…”

“Precisely because they yielded the chief and deputy examiner positions, I’m worried they’ll cause trouble after the spring examinations. If the Xiao family were so reasonable, we wouldn’t have struggled so hard all these years.”

“Then since you knew their yielding the chief and deputy examiner positions was a conspiracy, why did you still accept?”

“If they dare give it, I dare take it. They think giving it means they can definitely take it back, but I haven’t agreed to that.” Tie Ci slowly said, “Being overly cautious accomplishes nothing. When gifts come to your door, take them first!”

“Then this servant will have everyone stay awake tonight and prepare.”

Dan Shuang said: “It may not necessarily be tonight. Maybe it’s tomorrow. If there’s a hard battle tomorrow, you must rest well first.”

Tie Ci shook her head: “Testing whether something will happen tonight is simple.”

Moments later, Dan Shuang went out carrying a box, saying she was delivering late-night refreshments to His Majesty on the Crown Princess’s orders.

The path was smooth, but she was stopped at the Chong Ming Palace gate by an unfamiliar eunuch who said His Majesty was sleeping.

Following Tie Ci’s instructions, Dan Shuang pleaded kindly. After being refused several times, she suddenly smashed the tray in her hands over the eunuch’s head.

The eunuch’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed with a thud.

But immediately a large group of guards poured out from outside Chong Ming Palace, as if they’d been waiting there all along.

Even the rooftops were lined with rows of people.

Dan Shuang suddenly leaped up. The people on the roof were in formation, but she only lightly touched the eaves corner with her toes and shouted toward the west pavilion of Chong Ming Palace: “Pingzong! Your little aunt is calling you to get up and work!”

After a moment, with a thunderous crash, a human figure shot out like lightning from the building, rumbling all the way toward the main hall.

Tie Ci had insisted on Pingzong staying in Chong Ming Palace’s west pavilion as a worshipper specifically to protect her father. Consort Jing had also been brought into Chong Ming Palace, living in the east pavilion near Pingzong.

Dan Shuang flipped backward and landed, picked up the tray, stepped over the eunuch, and went back.

The guards looked at each other in confusion.

A quarter-hour later, after hearing Dan Shuang’s report, Tie Ci immediately stood up and said: “Leave the palace immediately. Set off yellow fireworks. Summon the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards and the Blood Cavalry.”

The Blood Cavalry who had followed Tie Ci back to the capital last time had been kept by Tie Ci under the pretext of helping train the capital’s defenders. They were stationed in the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards’ camp west of the imperial city, conveniently training the Nine Guards.

Yellow fireworks shot into the night sky, exploding into a coiling yellow dragon.

The great red cloak swept behind her, flowing smoothly at her back, then pressed down by her black hair.

The cloak’s ties fastened under her chin, making Tie Ci’s complexion appear snow-white and her features sharper.

The people behind her moved in goose formation, following Tie Ci as she hurried down the steps.

Just after leaving the palace gate, countless White Marsh Guards surged forward.

But farther away, red-clothed figures flashed—the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards had also arrived.

The White Marsh Guards were under the Palace Ceremonial Supervisor’s jurisdiction, always responsible for palace defense. The most peculiar thing about this Great Qian dynasty was that the Emperor had no personal army. The original Feathered Forest Guards had been abolished. When Tie Ci returned to the capital with great merit this time, one requirement she made to the Cabinet and Palace Ceremonial Supervisor was for the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards to enter the inner palace for defense. Thus, the palace defense finally had the Tie family’s own people.

The two groups of troops met before Ruixiang Hall. The Crown Princess’s Nine Guards welcomed Tie Ci while the White Marsh Guards wanted to block but didn’t dare. They could only follow behind Tie Ci with small steps.

After all, as the female heir apparent, traveling between the inner palace and outer halls was her freedom. No one could interfere.

The White Marsh Guard commander walked sideways beside Tie Ci, constantly saying in a low voice: “Your Highness, please stop, Your Highness, please stop. Please tell us where you’re going so the White Marsh Guards can accompany and protect you…”

“I don’t need your protection, and I don’t need to explain to you.” Tie Ci said, “Step aside. When I advance, anyone appearing in front of me is committing great disrespect.”

The White Marsh Guard commander’s left foot tripped over his right foot, and he had to lead his men to step back. When he wanted to follow, Xia Houchun, stroking his cat, walked over silently, grinned at him, and said: “Brother, the days are long. If you don’t want to die mysteriously in the palace at midnight, keep your butt properly seated.”

That grin sent cold sweat down the White Marsh Guard commander’s spine. He had to step further back. Only after the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards surrounded Tie Ci did he follow again.

A large group of people advanced silently through the palace, their footsteps on the slightly wet ground making neat rustling sounds.

Not until the palace gate came into view did the White Marsh Guard commander rush forward again and shout loudly: “Your Highness! Unless it’s urgent military or state affairs, one cannot enter or leave the palace prohibition at night. The palace gates absolutely will not reopen after nightfall. You cannot go any further!”

At the same time, the sound of running on the palace walls grew more urgent as large numbers of soldiers flowed down like water.

Tie Ci raised her hand and pointed at the palace gate.

…