The night wind blew with exceptional urgency, causing the large red lanterns hanging from the eaves to sway violently. Academician Chen’s face, illuminated by this dim yellow lamplight, was deathly pale and bloodless. In just moments, his entire body began to tremble.

Only now did he realize that something seemed to have gone wrong—the steward hadn’t returned. Thinking of the steward, he then recalled what the steward had said earlier about how the people in that residence seemed to have been arrested. Originally he had thought this wasn’t any major matter—after all, as long as something happened to the Grand Prince, the court would inevitably descend into chaos. Just the fighting over who should act as regent for the Emperor would probably be contentious and fiercely contested enough. Who would still have the leisure to care about the assassination of a former Grand Princess Consort? But… the problem was that things seemed not to be proceeding according to their plan at all?

This thought had barely risen when bustling footsteps sounded from outside the house, along with the whooshing sound of robes fluttering in the wind. A large group of Imperial Guards holding torches swarmed in like wolves and tigers, flooding into his study in one massive surge.

Only then did he react, so terrified he nearly fainted on the spot. He turned and desperately lunged toward his study—because things had been going so smoothly these past days, and because Old Xu hadn’t specifically instructed otherwise, Old Xu still had several letters currently placed in his possession! If they were searched out by the Imperial Guard, then he… he would truly be doomed beyond redemption.

Before he could lunge inside, the Imperial Guard Deputy Commander Hong Fa kicked him in the chest, sending him flying out into the courtyard where he crashed onto the ice-cold stone pavement. The servants below had already been scared witless, and seeing this scene, they screamed even more shrilly. Academician Chen collapsed on the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood with a “puh,” curling up his body, both frightened and in pain, constantly scrambling backward.

Something had happened… this time, without anyone telling him, he himself knew something had happened. If something hadn’t happened, how could this group of Imperial Guards still dare to be so arrogant?

But what exactly could have happened? He was somewhat puzzled. Just as he was about to climb up from the ground, Hong Fa had already led people out and strode before him, grabbing his back collar with one hand and hauling him up.

This group of Imperial Guards were truly like jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards. Being held in someone’s hand, his eyes bulged extremely wide. He wanted to ask something but didn’t dare utter a single word. Before he could react, he was hauled out and thrown into a prison cart.

From the back courtyard, Madam Chen came running out barefoot, crying out to heaven and earth. All those cries were instantly shut behind the door that slammed closed with a bang. Both shocked and frightened, his gaze darted around wildly. Turning his head, he saw that several other people were actually lying in the back, and looking more carefully, among them was clearly the steward who had already been beaten half to death.

The steward! His heart was even more terrified. He gripped the prison cart with both hands, so anxious his voice changed pitch: “What are you… what are you doing?! Quickly let me out! Let me out!”

However, no one paid him any attention. Before long, he saw clearly the direction this prison cart was heading—it was precisely toward the Northern Garrison Command’s yamen. He was so shocked that before he could even cry out, he fainted.

At this very moment, Old Xu, who had managed with great difficulty to slip into the palace, wasn’t faring any better. The imperial palace was simply so quiet it was somewhat strange, not at all like there had been any incident.

Normally at this time, the palace should already be in complete chaos—the Grand Prince poisoning someone, after all, was an extremely major matter. Even if those ministers were anxious to select a regent and couldn’t deal with the Grand Prince’s matter, just the争matter of争fighting over the regent should be lively enough, right? How could there be no commotion at all?

He followed the young fire-tender, bending his waist and sweeping the ground half-heartedly. He was distracted yet helpless—this was, after all, the imperial palace, not a place where he could move about freely. That he had successfully entered here was already an opportunity obtained after spending countless gold and silver. Beyond that, having reached this point, there was no further assistance available.

Waiting time was the most wearing. His hands had already gripped the bamboo broom so tightly it had several cracks. Just when he truly couldn’t wait any longer, suddenly the Eastern Palace finally became chaotic. Quite a few eunuchs and palace maids came toward the Eastern Palace and went directly to Mingcui Palace inside.

Finally it had begun! He first breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the unusually abnormal quietness just now was probably because Empress Dowager Lu and Zhou Weizhao had been arguing sophistically for too long, and now it had finally started.

As long as it had started, that was good. Thinking it over, he decided not to continue lingering here. Without Secretary Xie’s help, entering the palace was truly too difficult and too risky a move. Having failed in one strike and unable to find Prince Dongping, if he continued staying here, when they checked people in the evening, problems would definitely arise. Moreover, with the recent strict inspections, he could only think of another way later.

Thinking this, he was just about to move outward when he suddenly saw Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing rush in hastily, running without the slightest bit of composure. He couldn’t help but stop in his tracks—he recognized Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing. These two were both Prince Dongping’s trusted confidants. He had initially even considered first going to persuade these two, feeling them out indirectly.

But why were they running in so urgently?

Before he could figure it out, he heard Qian Ying ask breathlessly: “His Highness has had an incident! Quickly inform the Crown Prince…”

Old Xu’s foot that was about to move outward immediately stopped. He couldn’t help but ask aloud: “His Highness has had an incident? What kind of incident could there be?”

Moreover, the Crown Prince wasn’t even in this Eastern Palace right now, was he? What incident could Zhou Weiqi possibly have at this point?

Qian Ying shifted his gaze toward him, then after a moment moved his gaze away again, continuing to call out to people: “Where is the Crown Prince?”

Old Xu frowned, very uncertain about the current situation. He just felt everything was wrong everywhere. Although Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing were calling out enthusiastically, he suddenly felt something was off. He didn’t respond, glancing left and right, and taking advantage of the eunuchs rushing out, he too mixed himself into the crowd.

He naturally knew Prince Dongping’s importance, and also knew that if he watched while something happened to Prince Dongping, Han Zhengqing would definitely skin him alive. But he instinctively sensed something was wrong.

What incident could Prince Dongping possibly have at this point? It was more like someone was deliberately shouting this out for him to hear. Thinking this, his heart pounded with alarm at his own thought, and he lowered his head even further.

Qian Ying seemed to pay him no attention, extremely anxious: “The Crown Prince isn’t in the palace?! Then what about His Highness? His Majesty is thunderously furious and wants to kill His Highness…”

Like spring thunder exploding, the eunuchs who had rushed out stared at each other with wide eyes, not knowing what Qian Ying’s words actually meant.

Old Xu was even more shocked and discolored, not understanding why Qian Ying would suddenly say that His Majesty wanted to kill Prince Dongping. He instinctively rebuked: “Nonsense!”

This word “nonsense” had just left his mouth when he felt something was wrong. Raising his head again, he met Qian Ying’s meaningful cold smile and couldn’t help but retreat a step.

The panicked expression on Qian Ying’s face had completely vanished. He exchanged a glance with Huang Yiqing and clapped his hands. Like magic, over ten Imperial Guards surged in from behind, pouncing toward Old Xu like wolves and tigers.