The following day, Qiao Yun passed the message out of the palace.

Another day after that, the Crown Grandson sent a message back into the palace.

“Miss, this is a letter His Highness specifically instructed to be placed directly into your hands.” Qiao Yun handed Ling Jingshu a tightly rolled scroll of paper.

This was the second letter the Crown Grandson had ever written to her.

The first letter had been sent into the palace on the day of his wedding.

Ling Jingshu unrolled the scroll. Brushstrokes bold and forceful filled her view — the ink dark and heavy, pressing through the paper with every stroke. Before she had even taken in the words, a cold, austere energy already struck her face.

The writing was the true reflection of the man — without the slightest doubt.

Ling Jingshu swiftly read through the letter. It contained not one word touching on anything personal. The tone was icy, detached, lofty, and imperious — precisely the same as his manner of speech in everyday life.

The information has been received. I will order men to keep a close watch on Prince Yan’s every movement in secret and prepare our defenses in advance. You have done well in this matter — I will take note of your contribution. On the day my royal father ascends the throne and I become heir apparent, that is when I will make good on my promise. I will uproot the Lu Family entirely, leaving them with no hope of ever rising again.

The final line carried a thick, heavy reek of blood — merciless and absolute.

Ling Jingshu read those few short sentences over and over again, and the furrow between her brows slowly smoothed.

As long as the Crown Grandson had not forgotten his promise, that was what mattered.

As for the sentiment he harbored toward her — she was fated to be unable to return it. She had no choice but to treat the yearning and longing that seeped through this letter as something she had never perceived, and she burned the letter swiftly.

……

Four days later.

The Emperor, accompanied by Prince Yan and Princess Anya, together with several young consorts from the palace, set out for the imperial retreat. The procession included roughly two hundred palace maids and attendants, along with dozens of court musicians and singing-and-dancing performers.

The five hundred Imperial Guard cavalry riding in escort before and behind — each powerfully built and imposing — sat astride fine horses, long sabers at their hips, their gleaming polished armor flashing brilliantly in the sunlight.

The long convoy of carriages and horses stretched for several li, its presence vast and commanding.

The Crown Prince and the Crown Grandson led the civil and military officials in standing in formation to see the procession off.

Only when the imperial train had receded into the distance did the assembled party each breathe a private sigh of relief and make their way back to the court hall together.

With the Emperor away from the palace, the Crown Prince would serve in his stead to hold court from within, beginning that very day by taking up residence inside the palace. The Crown Prince’s consort entered the palace alongside him.

After the morning court session, the Crown Prince summoned the Crown Grandson for a private conversation.

Father and son had always been close; when they spoke together, there was no need to speak in roundabout terms.

The Crown Prince came straight to the point: “Your imperial grandfather’s journey to the retreat — at the very least it will be a month or two before he returns; at most, three to six months. The affairs of the court, both inside and out, will depend on the two of us to hold firm. I will hold court in your imperial grandfather’s stead from within the palace. As for everything else, you must be more attentive.”

“Regarding the affairs of the residence — aside from major matters that require my review, all routine business is for you to oversee and handle as you see fit.”

The Crown Grandson was not one for words. He simply clasped his hands in a bow and replied briefly in the affirmative.

The Crown Prince knew his son’s temperament well and naturally took no offense. He continued: “As for the safety of those at the imperial retreat — with General Yang Qu, the commander of the Imperial Guard, there, that need not be a concern for either of us.”

Yang Qu was a kinsman of the imperial clan and reckoned as a peer of the Crown Prince’s generation. Known for his strict military discipline and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, his presence made the Emperor’s safety a matter not worth worrying over.

A flash passed through the Crown Grandson’s eyes, and he said evenly: “Commander Yang is shrewd and capable, with formidable martial skill — truly a useful man. Even so, one must not grow complacent, lest those with treacherous intentions find an opening to exploit.”

Those words plainly implied something more — there was clearly a deeper meaning beneath the surface.

The Crown Prince was sharp-minded, and he immediately caught the subtle undercurrent: “A’Yao, what do you mean by that? Have you uncovered some information?”

The Crown Prince’s health had never been particularly robust, and the affairs of the Eastern Palace had long since been handed entirely into the Crown Grandson’s hands. So as not to burden the Crown Prince with unnecessary worry and toil, there were many matters the Crown Grandson would handle on his own — matters of which the Crown Prince might well be unaware.

The Crown Grandson’s expression remained unchanged; he replied in a seemingly casual manner: “Father need not be overly concerned. I simply feel that caution in all things is wise — to prevent any mistakes.”

There was no sense in speaking of something that had not yet happened and still had no definite shape — not if it would only cause the Crown Prince to worry.

The Crown Prince was not so easily fobbed off. He frowned and pressed: “I know you are not the type to raise alarms without cause. Since you have said as much, you must have come by some information. Do not keep it from me — tell me what you know.”

With the Crown Prince pressing him like this, the Crown Grandson found it no longer convenient to continue concealing things, and he quickly lowered his voice: “I have placed informants within the palace and learned that the reason His Imperial Grandfather insisted on making this journey to the retreat was due to Prince Yan’s private persuasion from behind the scenes. Given Prince Yan’s nature — never moving without something to gain — I fear he is not acting out of good intentions.”

The Crown Prince was taken aback. He turned sharply to look at the Crown Grandson: “A matter this important — why did you not say something sooner?”

“What would saying it sooner have changed?” The Crown Grandson raised an eyebrow, his expression calm to the point of near-indifference: “Over these past six months, Father has been extraordinarily indulgent and trusting toward Prince Yan — otherwise, he would not have heeded Prince Yan’s suggestion and made this journey to the retreat. Even if Father had known of this, with no evidence in hand, there would have been little one could appropriately say before His Imperial Grandfather.”

The Crown Prince fell silent.

Indeed —

What could he have done, even knowing? Would he have gone before the Emperor and declared that his youngest son was in truth harboring ill intent and dark schemes?

No matter how many suspicions he might harbor, without any proof, there was simply nothing to be done.

A faint gleam passed through the Crown Grandson’s eyes, and he said in a measured voice: “However vigilant one keeps for a thief day after day, there is bound to come a moment when one’s guard slips. It is far better to go along with Prince Yan’s intent and observe exactly what move he plans to make. Once the matter comes to light, His Imperial Grandfather will have no choice but to believe — however reluctant he might be — that Prince Yan truly harbors the ambition to seize the throne.”

The Crown Prince nodded at first, then quickly detected something unusual in the words, and could not help but look at the Crown Grandson: “You intend to use your imperial grandfather as bait and draw Prince Yan into making his move?”

The Crown Grandson pressed his lips together — a silent acknowledgment.

“Absurd! Outrageous! Brazenly reckless!” The Crown Prince’s expression changed abruptly. He fixed his son with a furious gaze and lashed out in a raised voice: “Who gave you such audacity — to actually disregard your imperial grandfather’s safety! Have you even considered what would happen if Prince Yan, in his recklessness, were to act against your imperial grandfather and bring harm to the imperial person? If His Majesty were to come to harm at that point — you — you have truly disappointed me beyond words!”

In the face of the Crown Prince’s fury, the Crown Grandson’s composure did not waver. He knelt to ask forgiveness: “I beg Father to restrain his anger and hear me out.”

“What I have done was done out of necessity. Prince Yan’s disguise in ordinary times is far too thorough — he spends every day at His Imperial Grandfather’s side, attending upon him in person. His Imperial Grandfather’s favoritism toward him has also grown ever more overt, to a point nearly approaching deference to his every word.”

“If Prince Yan were truly content to remain law-abiding and in his proper place, that would be one thing. But he is not. Father also understands this clearly in his heart — the way things are going, sooner or later Prince Yan will become Father’s most deeply embedded threat.”

“Father is the heir apparent — your every word and action is watched by ten thousand eyes. It would not be fitting for you to take the initiative and act against Prince Yan. Now, Prince Yan himself cannot hold back and has begun to stir — for us, that is in fact a favorable development.”

“So long as Prince Yan makes a move, we as father and son will have an entirely justified and legitimate reason to eliminate this hidden danger.”