By the latter half of the night, the wind and snow had lessened somewhat. Zhu Zhaowei was playing chess with Zhu Qiyue in the camp tent when a soldier suddenly came from outside to report: “Reporting to the Seventh Prince and Twelfth Prince, someone is approaching from down the mountain.”

Zhu Zhaowei’s movements paused: “Who?”

“Can’t see clearly,” the soldier said. “He’s standing just outside the defensive perimeter we secretly established.”

Zhu Zhaowei fell silent briefly, then put down the chess piece in his hand: “I’ll go take a look.”

By the firelight, one could see the newcomer wore a crow-blue cloak. He stood motionless on the mountainside. When Zhu Zhaowei emerged from the tent, only then did he lift his head slightly and open his mouth in the wind and snow. His voice, mixed with the howling wind, was almost inaudible, but Zhu Zhaowei made out the shape of his lips: “Seventh Brother.”

Zhu Qiyue asked from inside the tent: “Who is it?”

Zhu Zhaowei said: “The Tenth Prince.”

Zhu Qiyue said: “I’ll go to the inner tent.”

Zhu Zhaowei acknowledged with a sound. After a moment, he heard rustling noises—probably the Twelfth Prince collecting the chess board. He added: “No need to collect it. I’m not afraid of him seeing.”

Having finished speaking, only then did he take a torch from a guard’s hand and walk a few steps down the mountain. As if only now recognizing Zhu Yiheng, he curved his eyes in a gentle smile: “Tenth Brother, what brings you here?” Then he raised a hand, and the personal soldiers around them drew their spears back slightly.

Zhu Yiheng smiled faintly, then quickly walked up in two strides instead of three: “I heard some extremely urgent news and rushed over to tell Seventh Brother.”

The cinnabar mark between his brows reflected the firelight, mirrored in his eyes, adding three parts alluring color. Zhu Zhaowei said in a warm voice: “We can’t very well stand in this wind and snow. Come into the tent to talk.”

As he spoke, he personally held open the tent flap for Zhu Yiheng. Once inside, he poured tea to warm his hands.

A brazier burned inside the tent, making it much warmer than outside. Zhu Yiheng removed his cloak, revealing tea-white python robes. His waist clasp was inlaid with a rare agate of lustrous color—though unfortunately, compared to the man himself, it paled in comparison.

Zhu Zhaowei seated him at a low table beside the brazier and said gently: “What could Tenth Brother have to say that you must rush over at this hour? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until tomorrow when the wind and snow are lighter? You might catch a chill, which would make Seventh Brother worry for you.”

Zhu Yiheng’s amber eyes were soft and serene, his manner somewhat earnest: “Did Seventh Brother arrange for hidden guards to assassinate Eldest Brother?” He asked again, “Besides the hidden guards, do you have a backup plan?”

Zhu Zhaowei’s face still wore the faint smile from before, but he didn’t respond.

Zhu Yiheng said: “Seventh Brother need not be guarded. Your younger brother ultimately stands on Seventh Brother’s side.” His long lashes lowered slightly as he pondered, then he raised his eyes again. “Eldest Brother’s enthronement is imminent. If Seventh Brother doesn’t act soon, it will be too late. Yet choosing to act today is a grave mistake. If Seventh Brother trusts me, immediately send someone to recall the hidden guards and whatever backup plan you’ve hidden.”

Zhu Zhaowei stared at him for a long while, then suddenly laughed: “What kind of talk is this from Tenth Brother? Though I usually have some friction with Eldest Brother, he is the Crown Prince after all. In my heart, I respect and honor him. Now that Father Emperor’s health is poor and Eldest Brother can ascend to share his burdens, I’m too delighted—why would I make a move against him?”

Zhu Yiheng’s long lashes trembled. Looking at the tea in his cup, he said with some disappointment: “Seventh Brother still doesn’t trust me.”

He sat by the brazier, the firelight illuminating his flawless white jade face in half-light and shadow.

“Does Seventh Brother remember how many Tiger Guard cavalry came along today?”

Zhu Zhaowei’s expression froze.

Zhu Yiheng said: “In previous winter hunts, the accompanying cavalry never exceeded thirty to fifty riders, with five hundred infantry. But this year’s winter hunt has eighty cavalry riders with only four hundred infantry.”

Zhu Zhaowei understood Zhu Yiheng’s meaning.

He had originally thought that too few officials had come on this year’s winter hunt, so reducing a hundred accompanying infantry was understandable. But thinking it over, winter mountain paths were covered in snow and difficult for horses—if they were going to reduce the accompanying troops, why not reduce the cavalry instead?

Zhu Yiheng said: “I’m afraid Father Emperor long ago anticipated someone would make a move against Eldest Brother during the winter hunt. He brought so many additional Tiger Guard cavalry because the hunting grounds are vast, making it convenient for timely pursuit and rescue. Moreover—” he paused slightly, a trace of worry coloring his swallow-tail eye corners, “—I also suspect those four hundred infantry who came along are a false front. After entering the forest, I had one of my personal soldiers carry the Tenth Prince’s banner into the woods while I myself circled back to guard the forest entrance. Sure enough, three quarters of an hour after Thirteenth Brother entered the hunting grounds, Father Emperor summoned two hundred plainclothes Tiger Guards who had been lying in ambush outside the camp to enter the forest together with those eighty cavalry.”

As he spoke to this point, seeming somewhat uneasy, he gripped his tea cup tightly and said in a low voice: “I heard Father Emperor give the order that if anyone dares make a move against Eldest Brother, they should be killed without question.”

As Zhu Zhaowei listened, the smile at the corners of his mouth gradually disappeared completely, though his expression remained gentle. He reached out, took the tea cup Zhu Yiheng held tightly, and said softly: “The tea has cooled. Seventh Brother will pour you another cup.”

As he spoke, he casually splashed the tea water onto the brazier beside them. The silver charcoal in the furnace made a sizzling sound upon contact with water. While lifting the teapot, he said: “Tenth Brother need not worry. Seventh Brother is not rash. I have my own sense of proportion in all matters.”

Seeing he was unwilling to say more, Zhu Yiheng could only lower his eyes to accept the tea cup, tilt his head to drain it, then rise to take his leave: “In that case, your younger brother will depart first.” Having finished speaking, he went to the wooden rack nearby to retrieve his cloak and lifted the tent flap to leave.

Zhu Zhaowei said with some surprise: “Won’t Tenth Brother rest here with Seventh Brother?” He put down his tea cup and walked to the tent entrance. Through the flap Zhu Yiheng had lifted, he looked outside: “The snow hasn’t stopped yet. If you leave now, won’t you make me, your elder brother, worry needlessly?”

Zhu Yiheng smiled faintly: “The winter hunt rules stipulate that all princes hunt separately. If I rest at Seventh Brother’s place, wouldn’t that give people cause for gossip?” He lowered his eyes and said softly: “To be honest with Seventh Brother, after entering the forest, I kept only two personal soldiers with me. The rest were sent out to gather information. Counting the time, they should have returned by now. I’ll go back to ask them—if something truly has happened, I can help Seventh Brother see if there’s any way to remedy the situation.”

Having finished speaking, he pulled up his hood. His figure folding into the wind and snow was like a jade tree mistakenly entering an immortal forest.

Zhu Zhaowei stared at his retreating back and suddenly called out: “Tenth Brother.” Then he smiled and asked: “Last time you said you have an ally in the Imperial Censorate who can help you obtain evidence of Qian Zhihuan’s embezzlement and frame the Shen family. Who is this old friend you mentioned? Liu Yun?”

Zhu Yiheng seemed somewhat surprised. After a moment, he said dejectedly: “Seventh Brother jests. How could a pillar official like Censor Liu possibly think highly of a powerless prince like me?” But he quickly added: “My ally is only willing to hand the concrete evidence to me. I must do the framing myself. Fortunately, Shen Qingyue is currently worried about the Eastern Palace’s safety and has no time for other concerns. If Seventh Brother trusts me, give me a few more days. I definitely won’t disappoint Seventh Brother.”

Zhu Zhaowei smiled and gave one instruction: “It’s dark—watch your footing. Go on back.”

After Zhu Yiheng’s figure disappeared into the wind and snow, the smile on Zhu Zhaowei’s face also completely vanished. He silently lifted the flap and returned to the tent, sat down on a sleeping couch to the side, and for a long while said not a word.

Zhu Qiyue had already emerged from the inner tent. Seeing Zhu Zhaowei’s deeply somber expression, he couldn’t help but ask: “Seventh Brother, is everything Tenth Brother said true? Did Father Emperor truly dispatch the Tiger Guard…”

“I’m afraid so.” Zhu Zhaowei interrupted. “I blame myself for being too hasty. Watching Father Emperor increasingly neglect state affairs after the Dengwen Drum case, I thought he was going to completely let go and stop managing things. Thinking about it now, after the New Year banquet—the winter hunt, blessing ceremony, welcoming spring, and reviewing troops—were all of a piece. Father Emperor’s health is already poor. Why would he hand all the subsequent matters to Zhu Minda yet insist on coming along for the winter hunt?”

As he spoke to this point, ruthless malice filled his eyes: “So this undying old thing staged a performance of neglecting state affairs to escort Zhu Minda’s path, using the winter hunt as an opportunity to secretly make preparations, having the Tiger Guard keep watch to root out everyone with disloyal intentions toward Zhu Minda!”

“Seventh Brother, mind your words.” Zhu Qiyue frowned slightly. “Father Emperor… has treated us quite well.”

“Quite well?” Zhu Zhaowei laughed coldly. “Yes, quite well. But that depends on who you’re comparing to. The old thing is protective. Compared to the court officials, compared to all the subjects under heaven, we princes naturally have the advantage. But he’s always doted on the Eastern Palace—Zhu Minda, Zhu Nanxian, and that useless thing Zhu Min’er. In his eyes, aren’t they a hundred times more precious than us?

“He even staged such an elaborate performance to deceive all his sons, all for the sake of finding a reason before going into the ground to have me—this prince who has always opposed the Eastern Palace—buried alongside him, isn’t it?”

Zhu Qiyue said: “Since what Tenth Brother said is true, why doesn’t Seventh Brother immediately send someone to stop those hidden guards and the ‘secret move’ you arranged beforehand from making a move against Eldest Brother?”

Zhu Zhaowei shook his head: “It’s too late.” He said, “Fearing delay would cause complications, I already instructed them to take Zhu Minda’s life at precisely three quarters past midnight. Moreover, to avoid arousing suspicion, I cut off contact with them as soon as I entered the forest. It’s already the hour of Yin now. Zhu Minda is probably already a corpse. If I send someone now, wouldn’t I be walking into a trap?”

Zhu Qiyue froze: “Has Eldest Brother… truly already died?”

Zhu Zhaowei acknowledged with a sound: “This ‘secret move’ of mine should be foolproof.” He paused, raised his hand to support his temple, then added: “Of course, there’s a one in ten thousand chance Zhu Minda was rescued by the Tiger Guard. But whether he’s dead or alive, my arrangement of a ‘secret move’ to kill Zhu Minda has been witnessed by the Tiger Guard. I won’t survive.”

Zhu Qiyue looked at him this way, pondered briefly, then said: “As soon as dawn breaks, I’ll accompany Seventh Brother into the restricted area, circle past the Lan River, and head through Huguang territory toward Fengyang Prefecture.”

Fengyang was Zhu Zhaowei’s fiefdom, with strong troops and horses. Once there, surely they would be safe.

Zhu Zhaowei smiled: “It’s useless. Between you and me, we have only two people and sixteen personal soldiers. No matter how fast we travel through this dense forest, how could we possibly escape pursuit by eighty Tiger Guard cavalry?”

As he spoke, he lifted his eyes to glance at Zhu Qiyue. After pausing, he shifted his gaze away again: “You should go. This matter has nothing to do with you. You don’t know all my arrangements and schemes. You were only trying to help me.”

The candlelight flickered dimly. The cinnabar mark between his brows was dark and without luster. Zhu Zhaowei smiled once more: “As soon as dawn breaks, leave the forest. Seventh Brother will wait half a day after you leave before departing. I won’t implicate you.”

But unexpectedly, Zhu Qiyue removed the “Qingya” sword from his waist and placed it on the table: “I’m not leaving. Tomorrow after noon passes, I’ll leave the forest together with Seventh Brother.” He sat down on a low stool nearby, his expression resolute. “In any case, the Eagle Guard is in my hands. I said I would use my troops to protect you. At worst, when that time comes, we’ll carve out a bloody path together.”