Prince Wei and Prince Shao each harbored their own resentments, and the moment they clashed, the killing intent was palpable. On Prince Wei’s side, everyone except Su Xingzhi was a man of the military — fierce, bold, and brutal, with no concern for rules. Many times they charged directly at the riders themselves.

In a match like this, just protecting oneself was no small feat, let alone snatching a ball no larger than a fist from among a tangle of galloping horses.

From the very first moment, Li Chongrun regretted his own rashness. Had he known from the start that Prince Wei would be so ruthless, he would not have been soft-hearted — he should not have allowed Ren Yao and Jiang Ling to join his team as dead weight, nor even kept Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan. He should have swapped in more professional soldiers.

Yet as it turned out, the four people he had dismissed as liabilities demonstrated on the polo field a remarkably seasoned competence and seamless coordination. The four of them had clear roles — often a single gesture from Ming Huazhang was enough for the others to grasp the tactic, and they adjusted positions swiftly: feinting, flanking, breaking through, passing — all in perfect concert. By comparison, it was Li Chongrun and the Prince of Linzi who had become little more than incidental flourishes.

Rather than opening up as Prince Wei had anticipated, the gap in score was actually tilting in the other direction, with his team showing signs of falling behind. Prince Wei grew more displeased, and his tactics grew increasingly ruthless.

Watching as Prince Wei’s men used their mallets to assault riders and snatch away a ball their side had worked so hard to gain, Ren Yao could not swallow the humiliation. She suddenly spurred her horse forward at full gallop, drew close behind an opponent’s horse, then twisted back and bent low — her body nearly fully airborne off the saddle — and hooked the colorful ball out from between the horse’s hooves. She then swung with full force and passed to Ming Huazhang.

Ming Huazhang’s reaction was equally swift. The moment he had the ball he turned, protecting it as he wove left and right and quickly opened up space. Jiang Ling and Xie Jichuan, seeing this, moved at once to block Prince Wei’s men. Then Ming Huazhang, on a single white horse swift as a meteor, blazed across half the polo field and broke through Prince Wei’s team’s defense, sending the ball crashing powerfully into the goal.

A roar of earth-shaking cheers exploded outside the field. Ming Huashang had been watching so intently from the front that she had not dared to breathe. When she saw Ren Yao’s body hang in the air to go after the ball, her heart nearly leaped from her chest.

Polo was an extremely accident-prone sport. Once a rider lost their seat and fell, they faced the trampling and collisions of dozens of hooves — death or permanent injury was by no means uncommon.

Ren Yao’s body hung suspended in the air, supported only by the strength of her legs braced against the stirrups — she was gambling with her life. Ming Huashang truly felt a cold sweat on Ren Yao’s behalf. Fortunately, Ren Yao’s riding and physical strength were both exceptional, and she somehow wrested the ball back from Prince Wei’s team’s hands, then combined with Ming Huazhang in a stunning last-moment reversal.

When Ming Huazhang scored, Ming Huashang’s voice cracked from cheering. She grabbed the person next to her and jumped up and down in excitement: “It’s in! They scored!”

Su Yuji was shaken so dizzy by her that she struggled to pull her own hand back: “I know — let go of me.”

Zhao Cai was thrilled for Second Master, but she also felt that Ming Huashang was making a scene. She hurried to pull Ming Huashang back and urged her: “My lady, please be a little composed — so many people are still watching!”

Ming Huashang took a sip of the drink that was no longer cold, her voice already hoarse, yet she still cried out with all she had: “White team must win!”

Prince Wei’s side had lost several rounds in a row and was playing with growing desperation. Both teams retreated to the sideline to rest briefly and exchange tactics. The referee waved the flag in signal, and a new round began.

This was the decisive round, and both sides were fully prepared. From the first moment, Ming Huazhang sensed that the opposing side had malicious intent. Several times a mallet swung past him — and the feeling it gave him was not that they were after the ball, but after him personally.

The mallets were made of solid wood. Struck with full force against a person, they were enough to knock a rider from their saddle. A fall from the horse, followed by trampling and collisions with hooves, would constitute a completely “uncontrollable” accident.

Ming Huazhang raised his guard, but the match had already begun — he had no time to warn the others. Ren Yao, being in the thick of it, quickly sensed the opponents’ hostility — and mixed in with it, something else that made her deeply uncomfortable.

These men seemed to be appraising merchandise. Their gazes lingered deliberately over her chest, waist, and legs. Even though she had openly defeated them time and again, in their eyes she remained a young woman they could freely assess and remark upon.

Many women might have taken this as a point of pride — having so many men admire her figure was her appeal, her charm. Ren Yao, however, wanted nothing to do with that. She was here on the playing field. The black team should have treated her as an opponent — not as a woman.

After the mallet swept past her chest once more with its unmistakable undercurrent of suggestion, Ren Yao lost her last thread of patience. She tightened her grip and returned the blow with force.

She had said it plainly enough: she was this year’s top military scholar. Of the six examination disciplines, all except strength-bearing and wrestling were full marks. In mounted spear technique especially, even an examiner looking for reasons to deduct points had been unable to find any.

The reputation of the Ren family spear technique had not been built on the laurels of ancestral glory — it had been forged drop by drop, in blood and sweat, on real battlefields. The crescent-blade mallet was shorter than she would have liked, and its form was crude and clumsy. But it was enough.

Ren Yao parried her opponent’s mallet without ceremony, hooked into the shaft and spun it rapidly, then with a flick of her wrist sent it flying from his grasp. The man was distracted for only an instant — and his mallet was already gone. Stripped of his weapon on horseback, he was nothing more than a sitting target.

That parry, that flick, that throw — these were standard spear techniques. Ren Yao gripped her mallet and assumed the opening stance of the Ren family spear form. The meaning was unmistakable.

If they continued to press her, she would not hold back.

The man was visibly taken aback. He had not expected Ren Yao — a woman — to strike back, and had not thought she would dare to do so this openly. In front of so many spectators inside the field and beyond, even before the Empress herself, she had disarmed him of his weapon.

All of this had unfolded in an instant. Not only were the players of both sides momentarily stunned — even Prince Wei and Li Chongrun were briefly taken aback.

Anyone could see that what had just happened under the guise of a polo match was in fact a private contest — but once something like that is made explicit and placed openly on the table, the implications change entirely.

Li Chongrun was in a very difficult position. His confrontation with Prince Wei had been an impulse of momentary pride. But his father had already been installed as Crown Prince, and his whole family had only just been released from confinement. If he antagonized Prince Wei too severely, would it cause the Empress to look on him with disfavor?

A commander’s hesitation deals a fatal blow to morale. Prince Wei could see that Li Chongrun did not dare push further, and he smiled immediately, riding his horse forward to close in on Ren Yao: “This lady — polo is a contest of wit and strategy, decided by cunning and skill. What did you mean by knocking the mallet from my team member’s hand?”

Ren Yao was being turned into the offender — she was furious enough to explode, but the man before her was a prince. She dared not speak too bluntly, and could only say through gritted teeth: “He struck at me first!”

“Do you have evidence? Did anyone see this?” Prince Wei gazed down at her with contemptuous eyes and said from his position above: “All I saw was you deliberately disarming his mallet and then taking an attack stance, clearly intending a personal assault.”

Ren Yao had never been skilled in verbal combat. She was so frustrated the words stuck in her throat, and the hand holding her mallet trembled almost imperceptibly. At that moment, the sound of horse hooves came from behind, and Ming Huazhang rode over: “Prince Wei — His Majesty is watching from above, and there are so many eyes both inside and outside this field. No one here is blind. What you had your people do just now — did you truly think none of us could see it? Everything must be kept within proper bounds. Do not go too far.”

Prince Wei looked at Ming Huazhang and narrowed his eyes slightly: “Who are you to dare speak to this prince this way?”

“I am Ming Huazhang.” Ming Huazhang met his gaze just as coldly, and said with resounding clarity: “I speak on behalf of reason and justice, and my conscience is clear.”

When Jiang Ling saw Prince Wei bringing his men to surround and bear down on Ren Yao, he had tried to charge over — but was blocked by Xie Jichuan. After several failed attempts to break through, he roared: “Xie Jichuan, what do you think you are doing!”

Xie Jichuan turned halfway, casting a glance at Ming Huazhang and Ren Yao, and said lightly: “If you want her to get out of this safely, do not go over there.”

“Mind your own business — get out of my way!”

Xie Jichuan held Jiang Ling off with practiced ease, still with enough composure to look over at Li Chongrun. The moment he noticed the caution and hesitation on Li Chongrun’s face, he knew the Li family could not be counted on.

In affairs like this, regardless of how many reasons a minister might have, speaking back to a prince was insubordination. The only person with both the standing and the right to step in was someone of the Li family. And yet the Li clan was looking out for its own survival — the Crown Prince’s legitimate firstborn son would not even wade into these murky waters. The one who should not be wading in was out there arguing on another’s behalf.

Xie Jichuan gave a quiet laugh. He should not have been surprised — human nature was simply like this. How tiresome.

Xie Jichuan was already thinking about what grounds Han Jie might use to extract Ming Huazhang from the situation, when the Prince of Linzi suddenly drove his horse forward and said to Prince Wei with a smile: “Uncle Wei — we are family playing around, why so serious? Lady Ren is only seventeen years old. She played aggressively and was a little heavy-handed in the heat of the moment. How could you truly take issue with a young woman?”

Xie Jichuan raised his brows in genuine surprise. Ming Huazhang looked over at the Prince of Linzi with equal unexpectedness. The Prince of Linzi was the Marquis Prince Xiang’s third son by a concubine — neither the eldest nor the legitimate heir. By all counts he was of little consequence within the Li family. Even Prince Shao had not dared to offend Prince Wei, yet here he was, stepping in to smooth things over. That was genuinely unforeseen.

Prince Wei did not hold this son of a concubine in any regard. He let out a cold, contemptuous sound and was about to act when a eunuch descended from the high platform and bowed to everyone on the field: “Prince Wei, Prince Shao, the Prince of Linzi — His Majesty found the polo match most impressive and is greatly pleased. You have been riding for so long; you must be tired. Please rest.”

The Empress’s representative arrived in time to stop the confrontation from escalating further. Her meaning was plain: private scheming and maneuvering was their own affair, but in plain view of the whole city, no one was permitted to bring disgrace upon the imperial family.

No matter how unwilling, Prince Wei had no choice but to stand down. Li Chongrun quietly let out a breath of relief and took the opportunity to bring the polo match to a close.

At the sideline, Zhao Cai noticed the cluster of people gathered in conversation and asked Ming Huashang with puzzlement: “My lady, what are Second Master and Lady Ren doing over there — why have they stopped playing?”

Ming Huashang stared in that direction, her expression grave. Fortunately, the eunuch arrived quickly. The eunuch smiled and said something; Prince Wei rode away unwillingly, and Ming Huazhang and the others reined in their horses and made their way out of the field.

Only then did Ming Huashang finally let out a breath of relief. She quickly had Zhao Cai bring the iced drinks and set off at a swift pace toward Ming Huazhang.

“Second Elder Brother!”

Ming Huazhang had just dismounted and faintly heard someone call for him from behind. The polo field was a riot of voices, and her call was swallowed up in the noise — hardly noticeable at all. Yet Ming Huazhang seemed to sense it by instinct, and amid ten thousand clamoring sounds, suddenly turned around.

Ming Huashang ran up to them, her face flushed red. She asked urgently: “What happened? None of you are hurt, are you?”

Ming Huazhang shook his head and looked at her with a smile: “Nothing is wrong. Why has your voice gone so hoarse?”

Ming Huashang cleared her throat and only then realized how hoarse she sounded. She said: “I shouted too hard just now. It is entirely your fault for being so conspicuous — with so many young ladies cheering for you, if I did not make a real effort, could my voice have reached your ears?”

She said this and then asked hopefully: “Did you hear me?”

Ming Huazhang let out a quiet sound: “You were not cheering for me — what was there for me to hear?”

Ming Huashang shot him an exasperated look: “Fine. With so many young ladies cheering for you, hear them or don’t, as you like. I am going to find Elder Sister Ren.”

Without waiting for Ming Huazhang to respond, Ming Huashang lifted her skirt and ran toward Ren Yao. Jiang Ling was speaking with Ren Yao, his expression somewhat serious. As Ming Huashang ran over, calling out from a distance: “Elder Sister Ren, congratulations — that goal just now was magnificent!”

Jiang Ling saw Ming Huashang coming and had no choice but to swallow the rest of what he was saying. Ren Yao said: “That goal was not mine — it was still Ming Huazhang who scored.”

“He has nothing to do with it.” Ming Huashang dismissed Ming Huazhang’s contribution without the slightest remorse, and proceeded to praise Ren Yao with bright, animated enthusiasm: “Just now I was watching so hard I almost frightened myself to death. Elder Sister Ren, you are truly incredible — riding and playing polo, not a bit inferior to any man… No, that’s not right, you are far superior to many men. When you went for that ball, you were running faster than Jiang Ling — you are truly the pride of us women!”

“Hey.” Jiang Ling reminded her with mild annoyance. “Praise away, but don’t casually trample on me while you’re at it. That was tactical.”

A forward and a defender naturally play very different roles — Ming Huashang understood this perfectly well. But it did not matter, and she continued to pour out praise for Ren Yao without reserve. Ren Yao was not accustomed to Ming Huashang’s style of warm, open-hearted expression, and felt a little awkward inside. But without her realizing it, the tension around her eyes and brows softened.

She had done it. They had won the match. It was Prince Wei’s people who had started the trouble — why should she keep it pressed down inside herself?

At this moment, Zhao Cai came over carrying a great many iced drinks. Ming Huashang quickly waved her over and handed out drinks to everyone one by one: “Even if the referee declared no winner, in my heart you are all the champions! I raise this sour plum juice in the place of wine and toast to each of you!”

A cup of sour plum juice was nothing out of the ordinary in ordinary circumstances — but they had just finished a strenuous polo match and were desperately thirsty. To have someone offer a cold, tart drink at this precise moment was like long drought met with sweet rain, like finding a pillow just when one is overcome with sleep. Ming Huashang herself was sweet-faced and warm-eyed, and everything she said was thoughtful and considerate. Even Prince Shao and the Prince of Linzi, cautious about food from outside the palace, found themselves accepting the drinks.

After distributing drinks to everyone on the white team, Ming Huashang gave specific instructions to Zhao Cai: “Zhao Cai — take silver needles and bring drinks to Prince Wei’s side as well.”

“Ah?” Zhao Cai had just been quietly pleased with herself, thinking how well her young mistress had spent her money this day. Hearing this, she was thoroughly astonished. “Their team was so vicious, deliberately making things difficult for people during the match — why send drinks to them?”

Even Zhao Cai, a mere maid, could see that Prince Wei had harbored ill intentions. Did Ming Huashang not see this? Ming Huashang made no comment on his behavior, and said evenly: “How other people conduct themselves is their business. How we conduct ourselves is ours. Take the drinks over. Keep a smile on your face, speak pleasant words, and before handing anything over, test for poison with the silver needles in plain view of everyone.”

Zhao Cai acknowledged the instructions and went off with the drinks. Xie Jichuan, leading his horse and standing at the edge of the field, said to Ming Huazhang: “Your second younger sister has a sweet tongue and a strong heart. She handles every situation with perfect poise and leaves no loose ends. She is far better at navigating the world than you are.”

Ming Huazhang shot him a cold glance. Xie Jichuan shrugged, gesturing with the iced drink in his hand: “I accept favors from others, so I am obliged to say something kind about her.”

Ming Huazhang’s eyes fell on the drink in Xie Jichuan’s hand and found it thoroughly disagreeable. He turned and walked off in another direction. Xie Jichuan’s voice followed him from behind: “Jingzhan — when you stood up for someone just now, did you stop to consider the consequences?”

Prince Wei was petty and vindictive, ruthless and cold-blooded. Could offending him possibly end well?

Ming Huazhang’s steps paused for just a moment. Then he continued forward with long, steady strides: “I only followed my heart and did what I ought to do. As for the consequences — I leave those to heaven.”

Xie Jichuan gave a light laugh — whether it was mockery or admiration was impossible to say. He drifted along behind at an unhurried pace, then suddenly gave a soft sound of surprise: “Is that not Su Xingzhi? When did he get so close with Second Miss?”

Ming Huazhang spun around at once, and sure enough, Su Xingzhi and Ming Huashang were standing together. Ming Huashang had her head tilted slightly back, her eyes fixed on Su Xingzhi with focused attention, her whole face lit with smiles.

With a sharp crack, the bamboo tube in Ming Huazhang’s hand buckled under the pressure — unable to bear the force — and split into a thin seam. The sour plum juice inside began to seep out drop by drop, winding a trail down Ming Huazhang’s palm, and at first glance it looked uncannily like blood.

On Ming Huashang’s side: after she had sent Zhao Cai to deliver the sour plum juice, Su Xingzhi came over personally, not long after, to offer his thanks.

Su Xingzhi had not wished to be drawn into the princes’ power struggle in the first place and had only been pulled in on account of Ming Huazhang. Though he had ended up on Prince Wei’s team, he had contributed almost nothing throughout — he simply trailed along at the back as a token presence. He had watched clearly as Prince Wei’s team repeatedly resorted to underhanded tactics against Ming Huazhang and the others, and had already felt uneasy about it. After the match, with Ming Huashang still sending cooling drinks to all sides, Su Xingzhi could no longer bear his own sense of guilt, and came over of his own accord to explain himself.

Ming Huashang had been hoping to build a rapport with Su Xingzhi, and with one having something to atone for and the other being well-intentioned, their conversation flowed with great ease. Unfortunately a eunuch arrived with a summons, and Ming Huashang had to reluctantly stop, smiling at Su Xingzhi: “His Majesty has sent for you — Top Scholar, please go present yourself. I have also gotten along famously with Elder Sister Su. Another day, I shall host a banquet and invite you both as guests — you must do me the honor of coming.”

Su Xingzhi was inwardly startled — since when had Ming Huashang become so close with Su Yuji? He followed the eunuch with some doubt, and Ming Huashang watched them walk away with a smile. When they were out of sight she turned around, and gave a soft sound of confusion.

She had the impression that Second Elder Brother had been right here a moment ago — why was he nowhere to be seen? With today’s polo players all likely to be summoned to an imperial audience at some point, it would not be surprising that he had left. But even so — when he left, how had he done so without saying even a word to her?

Ren Yao was the last to be brought away by a eunuch. She stepped into a side hall and was met first by an enormous folding screen, behind which figures seemed to be moving. Ren Yao kept her eyes down and knelt at the entrance to perform a full prostration: “This vassal woman, Ren Yao of the Marquis Pingnan estate, prostrates before Your Majesty.”

After a moment, a figure in a light fur robe with gently swinging jade pendants came from behind the screen. She personally helped Ren Yao to her feet, and smiled: “Lady Ren, please rise. Your exploits today were not unworthy of the finest heroes. His Majesty was deeply impressed. Please come inside.”

Ren Yao recognized her at once — this was Shangguan Wan’er, known as the female chief minister. The whole world turned dreamlike and unreal beneath her feet. She was led behind the screen and found herself looking at an elderly woman in magnificent, jewel-laden robes, her expression cool and severe. Ren Yao realized in an instant who this was and fell to her knees in haste: “This vassal pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“Rise.” The Empress raised her hand with mild ease and said: “Offer her a seat.”

Ren Yao sat down in trembling caution, her whole body rigid with tension. The Empress noticed her nervousness and even had tea brought for her.

The Empress spoke in a natural, easy manner, without any air of dominance or authority — she seemed like a wise and tolerant grandmother. Nothing in her bearing suggested this was an emperor who had very nearly wiped out her husband’s entire lineage and presided over a decade of reign by cruel officials and darkness. The Empress asked: “I hear from Third Son that you nominated yourself to join him in the polo match. He also says you are this year’s top military scholar?”

Ren Yao had not expected the Prince of Linzi to have mentioned her to the Empress at all, and was filled with reverent awe: “It was this vassal woman — I have made Your Majesty laugh.”

The Empress gave an easy sound and said: “Having the courage to nominate yourself is a talent in itself — what is there to laugh at? Since you are the top military scholar, how is it that this ruler has never heard of you?”

Ren Yao hesitated for a moment. She decided that if the men of the Ministry of War dared to do what they had done, she could not be blamed for speaking of it — and so she said: “The Vice Minister of the Ministry of War holds the view that women ought to tend to their husbands and raise their children. For a woman of humble standing to have won the top military position was considered unseemly. Therefore, no official posting was ever granted to this vassal, and Your Majesty naturally would not have known.”

Shangguan Wan’er, at this juncture, lifted her eyes and looked at Ren Yao without a word. The Empress’s expression did not change. She said evenly: “Earning a place as the top military scholar through the military examinations is already full of obstacles for a woman. To still claim the top position — you are a rare talent. What led you to sit the military examinations in the first place?”

Ren Yao tightened the fists in her lap. She knew one had to be cautious in an imperial audience, and every word required deliberation. But the goal she had striven toward for years was now within arm’s reach — if the Empress spoke a single word, the question of the Marquis Pingnan estate’s succession could be resolved. Ren Yao could not control herself, and said: “This vassal woman wishes to go to battle as my father did, to fight the enemy on the field, and to preserve the legacy of the Marquis Pingnan estate.”

The Empress’s eyebrows moved almost imperceptibly. She smiled: “A woman of real ambition. Very well — you may go. The matter of your posting — someone will be sent to make arrangements in a few days.”

Ren Yao very much wanted to ask whether a woman could truly inherit the marquisate. The Empress herself had ascended the throne — why was it that a woman could not be granted a title of nobility? But looking at the Empress’s calm, unreadable face, Ren Yao ultimately did not dare let the question out. She performed a bow of obeisance and silently withdrew.

After Ren Yao left, Shangguan Wan’er read the Empress’s expression carefully and said with a smile: “This little Lady Ren is quite a courageous one. Old Madam Ren of the Marquis Pingnan estate has petitioned several times already. Your Majesty — do you wish to grant an audience?”

The Empress kept her joy and displeasure from showing. She raised a hand gently; Shangguan Wan’er stepped forward at once and helped the Empress to her feet. The Empress said: “This ruler is tired. Return to the palace.”

Shangguan Wan’er dared not press further on the matter of the Ren family, and quickly bowed her head in acknowledgment: “Yes.”

That night, dark clouds blanketed the moon, and starlight was dim. In Prince Wei’s estate, Prince Wei listened to his subordinate’s full report and let out a slow, cold smile: “It seems this prince has underestimated them. Every single one of them dares to go against this prince now.”

Word had arrived from the palace — the Empress had privately summoned the Prince of Linzi and Prince Shao for an audience. What was said, no one knew. But judging by the eunuchs’ tone, the Empress was not in a favorable mood.

Today, Prince Wei had openly made a show of force. While he had not directly targeted Prince Shao, he had shown no restraint toward those on Prince Shao’s side. That was likely what had put the Empress in poor temper toward him.

Prince Wei truly could not fathom it — why would a handful of ordinary people be worth such great agitation from his imperial aunt? Ming Huazhang, Ren Yao, and the others were from families that could certainly be considered noteworthy, but Chang’an was full of their like. Ming Huazhang was the second-place examination scholar, but next year there would be another whole cohort of scholars. He was nothing special. Why would his imperial aunt be so displeased merely because he had moved against these people?

His subordinate asked: “Prince Wei — what are your instructions going forward?”

Prince Wei could not work out why the Empress was angry, but it was always prudent to avoid drawing attention at the foot of a sacred mountain. Keeping a low profile for a time could never go wrong. He said: “Imperial Aunt is in poor spirits — keep a low profile for now. Do not draw her attention.”

But that was only the most foolish approach. Attack was always the best defense. Prince Wei was urgently seeking to regain the Empress’s favor, and asked: “The person you have been watching — what is the situation?”

“This subordinate has kept people discreetly following at all times. So far, no contact with any outsiders has been discovered.”

Prince Wei was not surprised. He said: “Continue watching. Do not let any movement, however small, escape notice. In addition, send another team — watch the pair of twins from the Ming family.”

His subordinate was puzzled and asked: “Your Highness — why focus on them?”

Prince Wei cast a cold sweep of his gaze over the man. The subordinate hurriedly lowered his head: “This subordinate spoke out of turn — please forgive this subordinate, Your Highness.”

Prince Wei’s face was dark and unpleasant. He slowly turned a jade scepter in his fingers, his voice quiet and menacing: “Ming Huazhang — at Flying Crimson Manor before, it was he who caused interference and ruined everything at the final moment, letting that fool of a Prince Luling become Crown Prince. I found him an eyesore long ago. Today he dared speak back to me in front of others — he truly does not wish to go on living.”

The subordinate ventured: “Your Highness — should we perhaps…?”

“No rush.” Prince Wei said. “He is nothing more than a son of a duke’s household — he does not even hold an official position. He is not worth this prince’s personal attention. At present, this prince has more pressing people to deal with.”

“Your Highness means…”

Prince Wei gripped the jade scepter, and an expression of furtive calculation spread across his face. Some time ago, someone had come over to his side, and through this person Prince Wei had learned that his imperial aunt had secretly maintained a private force of agents called the Xuan Xiaowei. Among them, a figure known as “Dual Jade” had accomplished great things repeatedly — recovering the blueprints of Wei Tan’s designs, facilitating the relocation of the capital — all attributed to this person.

The thought that someone was watching him from the shadows, without his knowledge, made Prince Wei profoundly unsettled, disrupting both his sleep and his appetite. He could not help but think back to those past occasions when everything had been meticulously arranged, only to go wrong at the very last moment. Could those failures have been the work of the Xuan Xiaowei?

Prince Wei dared not pursue that thought too far. But whatever the case, this person “Dual Jade” could not be permitted to live. Prince Wei said: “Step back — this prince must think carefully on how to lure Dual Jade out into the open, and then capture and kill him.”

As he spoke, he lowered his eyes and looked at the jade object in his hand — beautiful, but fragile. He said slowly: “This operation must be held in absolute secrecy. Let us call it… the Jade-Shatter Plan.”

Dual Jade. Dual Jade. No matter how beautiful the name, when all was said and done — was it not just a piece of jade?