First Minister Rong stood isolated on all sides. Though he seemed unremarkable on the surface, he also had academy background, being He Zi’s disciple. He had served as chief examiner many times and had students throughout the realm. A considerable portion of court scholars were his disciples. He had always maintained an ambiguous attitude with unclear stance. No one could predict what attitude and countermeasures First Minister Rong would adopt in the upcoming anti-Xiao campaign – whether he would protect the Xiao clan out of sympathy for fellow foxes when the rabbit dies, continue choosing neutrality, or simply go all out, letting the snipe and clam fight while the fisherman profits.

More importantly, Old Madam Rong was born of the Di clan, the former number one military authority. Now most of the great generals of the nine borders came from under the Di family’s patronage. The Rong family’s influence in the military was currently even greater than the Xiao family’s.

Though years had passed and the military’s most famous Di Yiwei was at odds with the Rong family, and He Zi had taken away much scholarly support from the Rong family after entering court, once strife began and the Rong family made their move, no one knew which scholars under their command and border generals might also be Rong family people, whether they would turn at the crucial moment, whether this would trigger more unpredictable consequences.

An already exposed Xiao family wasn’t really worrying – it was the powerful figures with ambiguous, unclear attitudes that made one uneasy. Because the other side hadn’t shown too much hostility, one’s own side had no justification for action. And when already needing to concentrate all efforts against the Xiao family, they couldn’t easily make more enemies or constrain First Minister Rong’s forces.

Lest they drive him to the opposing side.

Everyone stared at that name, momentarily finding it truly thorny.

He Zi looked at Tie Ci tentatively: “Perhaps we could ask Rong Pu to step forward…”

Tie Ci immediately shook her head: “Since Commander Di is returning, let’s leave this matter to Commander Di first. She has a father-daughter relationship with the First Minister and can also suppress Old Madam Di. She should handle her own family.”

Ever since hearing Di Yiwei was returning, Xia Houchun’s buttocks had visibly become restless. Now he suddenly began coughing, one cough here, one cough there.

Tie Ci smiled: “Is Lord Xia feeling unwell? Perhaps you’ve been too overworked recently. What a pity – I was thinking that since Commander Di is returning from afar, the capital should naturally send someone to welcome her. Commander Xia is the same rank as Commander Di and has previous connections with her, making him the best choice. But now it seems…”

“Now it seems, who else but me!” Xia Houchun jumped up with surprising flexibility and immediately said: “This minister accepts the Crown Princess’s order. This minister will go right away!”

Without waiting for Tie Ci’s reply, the fat man disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Duan Yande laughed: “Look how anxious Xia Hou is.”

Zhu Yi said: “Hey, Second Assistant Minister Duan, you don’t know – this guy’s office is next to mine. He writes letters to Commander Di every few days. The message soldiers going to the post station have worn down a layer of the road surface between the Nine Guards Office and the post station!”

Everyone burst into laughter. They discussed more official business, mentioning how to arrange the ten people selected from the grand competition. Duan Yande said: “The Cabinet has already discussed this. Among the ten, the only woman, Jian Xi, will remain by the Crown Princess’s side as a female official of Ruixiang Palace. The remaining nine – five will observe politics and serve in the Six Ministries. Except for the Ministry of Rites, which ministry they go to will be decided by the Six Ministries’ selection. The remaining four – Fang Huai’an, Qi You, Chu Xingbai, and Bai Xingchu – are the most outstanding and will remain in the Cabinet as secretaries. If His Majesty has favorites, he may also keep one or two by his side to serve with writing materials.”

Tie Yan hesitated for a moment. He was inclined to suggest leaving them all for Tie Ci to cultivate close ministers, but thinking of the remaining young ministers, then thinking of someone’s tenth-level palace intrigue skills, thinking of Tie Ci’s mention of flower fertilizer under Ruixiang Palace, he abandoned this terrifying thought and smiled: “In that case, tomorrow arrange for those four to enter the palace. After I’ve seen them, I’ll make the selection.”

Tie Ci also felt it was better for Father Emperor to personally meet them before deciding. Though they were all carefully screened by Rong Pu – clean backgrounds and solid character – there was still the matter of personal compatibility between people.

She had an idea. She felt keeping one or two of these talented young men frequently entering and leaving the palace would create opportunities for Pingzong. The young lady was of age now. Having stayed in the palace to protect Father Emperor and Mother Consort, she hadn’t had opportunities to develop romantic connections. As her young aunt, she should be responsible for her.

By now it was late, and Father Emperor was showing signs of fatigue, so Tie Ci ordered everyone to disperse.

She personally escorted a group of veteran ministers averaging over sixty years old out of the palace.

Walking and chatting with the big shots toward the palace gates, she always felt like she was forgetting something. But with so many affairs and everyone talking to her, she soon pushed this feeling to the back of her mind.

Just as they neared the palace gates, suddenly bronze gongs rang urgently, whistles shrieked piercingly, and torches lit up successively on the palace walls as countless hurried footsteps rushed toward the palace city.

The entire quiet palace city instantly boiled over.

Tie Ci was startled.

This was the alarm for an attack on the palace city!

She immediately stopped and pulled Duan Yande and He Zi, who were walking beside her, back behind herself for protection.

A squad of soldiers rushed down from the palace walls. The leader was tall and armored, clanking as he ran to Tie Ci and shouted: “Crown Princess and esteemed ministers, quickly retreat! There are assassins breaking into the palace at night!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Tie Ci called out: “Tian Wu?”

Tian Wu, who happened to be on duty tonight, saluted: “This subordinate is here!”

“What ‘subordinate’.” Tie Ci said irritably. “How many assassins? Where did they appear? Are there accomplices?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, just one person! Originally he was darting about in the square. Our men routinely shot arrows to drive him away, but not only couldn’t we hit him, he kept getting closer. Just now he suddenly appeared ten zhang from the eastern palace wall…” Suddenly a whistle sounded, and he turned his head to listen: “Your Highness, now he’s at the western side!”

Tie Ci: “…An assassin gets on the wall but doesn’t jump in, instead running back and forth on the wall – what’s he doing!”

Tian Wu: “Right! Why?”

The two turned around to see a human figure suddenly appear on the high palace wall. From afar, the form looked tall and slender, holding something in his hands. Below, a crowd of soldiers chased and shot arrows. Arrows whooshed down and stuck halfway up the palace wall. Some threw grappling hooks trying to scale the wall. The person on the wall reached into the bag he was holding for projectiles, striking with one “ow!” after another.

Watching these movements and gestures from afar, Tie Ci suddenly began supporting her forehead.

Seeing his soldiers knocked into a heap of sorry states, Tian Wu angrily rushed back shouting orders: “Open the arrow tower crossbow machines!”

Someone received the order and left to command the arrow tower guards to operate the crossbows.

Tie Ci: “Don’t!”

But Tian Wu had already gone far. A flare shot out, and the arrow tower guards began loading strings. The crossbow machines creaked continuously as arrowheads slowly turned toward the figure on the wall.

Helplessly, Tie Ci had to move forward. Duan Yande grabbed her sleeve: “Your Highness, where are you going!”

Tie Ci said: “To see someone.”

“Your Highness must not. Your Highness’s precious body must not rashly enter dangerous places…”

“…And have a tryst.”

“…ous pla… what?”

Tie Ci sighed, brushed away Old Duan’s hand, and with a leap was already on the palace wall. As soon as she mounted the wall, everyone cried out in alarm. The squad leader responsible for the crossbow machines in the arrow tower whipped his head around.

Just then he saw the arrow tower guard with a full-drawn string, wooden mallet poised to strike down hard.

The squad leader let out a howl and pounced on the other man, knocking him off balance. The wooden mallet went askew and struck his own thigh, also producing a howl.

The crossbow machine shook from the impact, humming as a streak of light shot forth, flashing to the palace wall in an instant.

The next moment, under everyone’s heart-stopping gaze, it brushed past Tie Ci’s side. The violent wind lifted Tie Ci’s robes mid-air, which flapped against the face of the person beside her with a whoosh.

The man with his face covered calmly spat out a plum pit without hurry.

From when this heavy crossbow giant arrow that could pierce three bulls and shatter mountain stones was loaded to when it brushed past them, he never once looked up.

Tie Ci irritably pulled her robe off his face, revealing that incomparably serene face in the moonlight.

Half a day apart and he was already causing trouble!

Below, crowds surged like a tide with all kinds of shouts. Everyone’s hearts nearly burst from fear. The big shots watching from afar had weak knees.

That moment earlier, they almost thought the Crown Princess of the Great Qian dynasty would become the first person shot dead by her own palace’s corner tower crossbow.

Now wiping away sweat and looking at each other in bewilderment, they couldn’t understand at all.

Why did the Crown Princess suddenly risk running up the palace wall?

The Crown Princess seemed to know the other person?

Ah, not just know – they seemed very familiar. What was that person doing, feeding things into the Crown Princess’s mouth? Poison?

Oh my, the Crown Princess tilted her neck back and swallowed that “poison”!

Oh my, the two actually sat down on the palace wall!

That tall, fat guy from the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards – a commissioner, right? Heard he was the Crown Princess’s classmate? He ran over cheerfully and dispersed all the people making noise below.

That guy called Tian Wu, right? Why was he even greeting that assassin up there?

The group of big shots stopped leaving too, standing under the palace wall looking up with eyes sparkling with gossip light.

Oh my, shoulder to shoulder, head to head – what’s this, enjoying the scenery on the palace city wall?

Where couldn’t they enjoy scenery? Crane Garden with flying cranes, Yu Garden spread with gold, Maple Garden dyed red, Eastern Mountain bright with moon – countless famous sights large and small in the capital. If not those, couldn’t they enjoy scenery anywhere in the imperial garden? Why this bare palace wall?

Young people’s preferences these days are truly peculiar.

Goodness gracious, that fellow even carried a bundle, which he spread open right there on the palace wall, taking out one item after another… food?

Too far to see clearly, the big shots took a few quick steps and caught various lingering fragrances drifting down from the wall on the wind.

The big shots touched their bellies, which were singing in duet.

They’d sat in the imperial study for several hours, drinking cup after cup of tea. The Crown Princess was really too stingy, not even knowing to grant them a midnight snack.

Yet she ran up to this palace wall to eat her midnight snack!

The big shots resentfully looked up while Tian Wu approached, indicating the earlier alarm was false and that the Crown Princess now had some private business, ordering him to politely escort the ministers out of the palace.

Zhu Yi looked up, thinking of the delicious food from a certain someone that he’d tasted at Shanyin Tower last time. He swallowed and said wistfully: “I’m hungry and have no strength to walk.”

Tian Wu: “…”

Qi Ling looked up, vaguely guessing who this was, his eyes shooting fire as he said through gritted teeth: “The imperial family has no private affairs. I bear responsibility for guarding inside and outside the palace city. We’ll wait for the Crown Princess to finish her private business before leaving!”

He Zi looked up, stroking his beard meaningfully: “I am the Crown Princess’s teacher after all. What, does she plan to eat alone?”

Minister Gu glanced up, thinking not bad – Tie Ci finally had someone who wanted her, saving him from always thinking that if really no one wanted her, he’d have to fill the gap with Xiao Xiao.

The Crown Princess wouldn’t come torment his son anymore, and Xiao Xiao probably wouldn’t have to constantly organize the Crown Princess’s room either. Now they could finally discuss marriage.

Minister of Justice Jiang had little contact with the Crown Princess ordinarily and wasn’t clear on the situation. He poked his colleague’s sleeve and whispered: “Old Gu, what play is this?”

Minister Gu said without changing expression: “The play of lovers meeting secretly on palace walls at midnight.”

Minister Jiang was shocked. He didn’t like gossip and was behind on news, immediately saying: “Then what about General Qi’s beloved son? And your son also seems to have something with the Crown Princess…”

General Qi immediately turned around, killing him with his gaze.

Minister Gu said: “What are you talking about? My son is just the Crown Princess’s clothing organizer.”

Having received orders to escort people out, Tian Wu saw this group of big shots with their gossip fires and greedy hearts burning fiercely, none planning to leave. He wasn’t hurried either, standing in place scratching his head with a silly grin, lining up with the big shots to stare up at the palace wall and swallow saliva.

On the palace wall, Tie Ci ate the midnight snack that Murong Yi had gone to great lengths to bring by breaking into the palace at night, feeling like she had eyes boring into her back.

The gazes shooting from behind felt substantial, making it truly difficult to swallow.

Tie Ci nudged Murong Yi.

Murong Yi moved aside a bit and picked up a xiaolongbao: “Ah—”

Below, He Zi and Zhu Yi said: “Indeed, deleting this brat from Compassionate Heart Chronicles was right.”

Thinking of the various rare books his bookstore had received over this past half year, and considering there were still many rare books not yet delivered, Zhu Yi said against his conscience: “Perhaps he didn’t see us.”

He Zi glanced at him and said neither yin nor yang: “Oh, a few broken books turned a perfectly good person into a demon’s accomplice.”

Zhu Yi was dumbfounded, never expecting Master to catch this weakness.

He Zi sighed deeply: “Having rare books but not telling me – truly my disciples are all ungrateful traitors.”

This hit Zhu Yi’s soft spot. He immediately bowed his head in shame, no longer daring to aid the tiger.

On the palace wall, Tie Ci helplessly ate the xiaolongbao and sighed: “Dear, though you dislike that pile below, they are still my important ministers and teachers. Give them some face?”

Murong Yi said coldly: “It’s exactly this bunch of old goods occupying you and not letting go. They delayed our date – do you know how long I waited for you at the palace gates?”

Tie Ci coaxed him: “Sorry, sorry. I got so absorbed in discussing business that I forgot we had plans. Besides, I wasn’t sure what that gesture you made when leaving meant. Didn’t we just part ways?”

“Nonsense!” Murong Yi said seriously. “Clearly it’s been an autumn since we last met!”

One day apart feels like three autumns. He’d waited in this square for several hours – wasn’t that one autumn? Rounded up, that was a whole year.

Tie Ci absolutely wouldn’t oppose someone being stubborn. She immediately raised her hands in surrender: “Right, right, right – long time no see. I missed you to death. Come here, give me a kiss!”

Saying this, she quickly leaned over toward Murong Yi and gave him a peck.

She deliberately used the angle to block the view from below, figuring once she appeased Murong Yi it would be over. Otherwise, if this madman climbed the palace walls every night, how could they live?

Below, the big shots all stretched their necks long like meerkats.