There is no wall in this world that does not let wind through. Something this momentous had taken place in the palace, and those with keen ears beyond the palace walls had also learned of the upheaval in Jiaofang Palace.

Unfortunately, Jiaofang Palace was sealed with such thoroughness that not even a fly could get through, let alone anyone hoping to gather information.

The Crown Prince summoned the Crown Grandson to his study for a long private conversation.

The Crown Grandson clearly knew perfectly well what had happened, yet he wore an expression of complete ignorance, and said in a low voice to counsel the Crown Prince: “Father, this is a matter of the inner palace. The way the Imperial Grandfather has handled it makes it plain he wishes no one to know the true circumstances. If that is the case, it is best we act as though we know nothing — lest we invite the Imperial Grandfather’s suspicion.”

A dragon has its reverse scale. Since the Emperor had made his position plain, the wisest course was to know when to stay out of things.

The Crown Prince considered this briefly, and had to concede that the Crown Grandson spoke with reason: “Very well — let us simply wait and observe. In five or six days at the earliest, a month or two at the most, the truth will come to light.”

The Crown Grandson’s eyes flickered, and he said in a low voice: “Whatever the outcome, this matter appears to work considerably in our favor. The one who should truly be anxious right now is Prince Yan.”

With Empress Xu’s fall, Prince Yan had lost his greatest pillar of support. On his own, Prince Yan was simply no match for the two of them.

As for Princess Changping — she had been so thoroughly consumed by a certain infatuation that she was entirely wrapped up in scheming how to be rid of her husband, Duke Changping, and had no attention to spare for what was happening in the palace.

The Crown Prince’s brow also smoothed out, and he nodded with a smile: “You are right. The one now desperate to learn what has happened in Jiaofang Palace is Prince Yan — we need not involve ourselves.”

Father and son exchanged a glance of silent understanding and let the subject drop.

The Crown Prince then suddenly asked: “A’Yao, are you and Rongyue getting along well?”

The Crown Grandson was caught off guard by the question, and his expression stiffened slightly: “Why does Father bring this up so suddenly?”

The Crown Prince gave a faint sigh: “The affairs of you young couples are not really my place to comment on. Yet Rongyue is not only your wife — she is also the Duke of Ying’s only daughter, and my own niece. Do not treat her too coldly. Otherwise, would that not chill the hearts of the Duke of Ying’s household?”

They had been married fewer than two months, yet there was notably little of the warmth and sweetness one would expect of newlyweds. Anyone with eyes could see it.

The Crown Grandson, subjected to this gentle rebuke by the Crown Prince, felt his face grow slightly warm, and replied in a low voice: “Father’s reminder is well-taken. Your son understands.”

Since it was, after all, the private affairs of a young couple’s chamber, the Crown Prince said nothing further, only remarking mildly: “You must remember — Rongyue is your official primary wife. Only after she has borne you a legitimate son may you take a side consort into the household.”

The Crown Grandson fell silent.

The Crown Prince had clearly misunderstood the situation, assuming he was eager to bring Ling Jingshu into his household soon.

What he could not know was that this was nothing more than wishful thinking on his own part — Ling Jingshu had no intention whatsoever of marrying into the Crown Prince’s residence.

Something this enormous had happened in Jiaofang Palace, and Ling Jingshu had inevitably been caught up in its aftermath. The days she was facing in the palace right now must be extremely difficult to endure. He could only hate that he, as Crown Grandson, could not at this critical moment bring himself to speak up and save her — to do so would be too conspicuous, too dangerous.

And yet he had never imagined that Wei Yan would truly accomplish everything he had once promised.

Prince Yan’s Residence.

The atmosphere in the study was strangely heavy.

Prince Yan’s handsome face held not a trace of a smile, his gaze dark and brooding. The cluster of advisors seated below him likewise wore expressions of grave concern.

After a long silence, Prince Yan finally broke it: “Word has come from the palace — only that the Emperor has been in Jiaofang Palace all along, the Imperial Guards have sealed it off, and no one can get any information about what has happened inside.”

“Let us hear what everyone thinks — how should this Prince respond? Should we immediately enter the palace to call upon the Empress Dowager— my mother?”

The advisors glanced at one another. At last one of them steeled himself to speak: “Your Highness, such an action may be unwise. The palace situation is unclear — we do not yet know what has actually happened in Jiaofang Palace. To enter the palace so rashly now — what if we anger the Emperor?”

“Indeed, Your Highness, please think carefully before acting.”

“Perhaps Her Majesty the Empress has taken ill with some rare ailment, and the Emperor, deeply worried, sealed off Jiaofang Palace and came personally to keep her company…”

Prince Yan’s gaze swept coldly across the advisor’s face, full of contempt and chill: “Do you take this Prince for a fool? At a moment like this, do you still waste words on useless nonsense like that?”

The advisor’s smile froze, and he could find nothing further to say.

There was no fool in the room. Jiaofang Palace suddenly sealed; the Emperor carrying out a slaughter within its walls; female officials imprisoned in the inner prison — every one of these abnormalities pointed to a single conclusion.

Something catastrophic had happened in Jiaofang Palace. The Emperor was at the height of his thunderous fury.

This talk of Empress Xu falling ill was nothing but self-comforting nonsense.

Prince Yan watched the way his advisors had gone silent as cicadas in winter, and the fire smoldering in his chest burned all the more fiercely.

What could have befallen Empress Xu? The advisors did not know — but he, as her son, knew perfectly well. It was surely those eunuchs she kept that his imperial father had discovered.

How enraged his imperial father must be right now was not difficult to imagine.

If he went into the palace to plead for Empress Xu, his imperial father would likely show no mercy.

Yet to simply sit here and wait was to be even more at a disadvantage.

Empress Xu’s position as Empress was beyond saving. Whatever the outcome, he still had to beg his imperial father to spare Empress Xu’s life — and to cover up this shameful affair as completely as possible. Otherwise, what face would he, Prince Yan, have to show himself in public going forward? Let alone contend for the position of Crown Prince.

Prince Yan made up his mind quickly: “This Prince will enter the palace right now to call upon the Empress — my mother.”

Once Prince Yan had made a decision, his advisors had no power to stop him.

As Prince Yan stepped out of the study, the figure of Princess Yan appeared unexpectedly before him, a look of firm resolve on her face: “Your Highness, this consort wishes to accompany you into the palace.”

Prince Yan’s first instinct was to refuse, but a second thought gave him pause — as his son’s wife, Princess Yan’s entering the palace to call upon Empress Xu was entirely proper. If he went without bringing Princess Yan, it would only make him appear to have a guilty conscience.

“Very well — come with me.”

A single brief sentence moved Princess Yan to tears of gratitude.

After the initial warmth of their marriage had faded, Prince Yan had grown increasingly distant toward her. She was troubled by this, yet helpless to change it. When the incident in Jiaofang Palace broke out, she had waited outside the study all this time precisely in hopes that her loyalty might move Prince Yan.

Prince Yan was full of his own worries, with no attention to spare for Princess Yan’s small feelings. After boarding the carriage, he sat in silence the entire way, his face overcast.

Princess Yan cautiously opened her mouth: “Your Highness, do you know what has actually happened to the Empress — your mother? Why has the Emperor sealed off Jiaofang Palace and refused entry to anyone? This consort has also heard that many of the palace servants in Jiaofang Palace have died…”

Prince Yan cast her a cold glance, his eyes brimming with suppressed rage and menace: “Shut your mouth. Say another word, and I will have you get out and walk back to the residence right now.”

He had absolutely no patience for this right now.

Princess Yan gave a startled flinch, not daring to make another sound. Her tears circled the rims of her eyes, yet held on and did not fall.

The carriage fell into a silence that was suffocating.