Inside Haoxin Hall, the Emperor was in good spirits, calling for the servants to set out a meal. The impudent boy — returning to the capital without so much as coming to see him first, forcing him to send someone to fetch him. And yet — good, it was good he was back. Now someone could help him get through those memorials.

“Your Majesty, the Chief of the Seven Lodges Division requests an audience.”

The Emperor’s smile stiffened. His head snapped up.

Not any of the other identities typically used. Not the Shizi. The one standing outside, waiting at the threshold, was the Chief of the Seven Lodges Division — wearing his mask.

He was travel-worn, the black hem of his robe marked with plainly visible grime. He was also formidable — body held taut and straight as a spear.

Something had happened. The Emperor closed his eyes briefly. He knew this nephew of his. He would never come before him like this unless the matter was serious. The last time it had been this way was when he had been poisoned. And this time…

An already heavy body grew heavier still. The Emperor waved his hand. “Everyone, withdraw.”

Handmaids and attendants flowed out like water. Lai Fu himself stood guard at the doors outside, and behind his lowered eyes, a trace of worry showed through.

Gu Yanxi carried the wooden tray inside and dropped to one knee. His voice was low and firm. “This subject brings charges against Second Prince Gu Cheng’an.”

“On what grounds?”

“On the grounds of corruption, treason, collusion with the enemy, and the persecution of loyal subjects.”

The Emperor felt darkness close in at the edges of his vision, a faint dizziness rising in his head. He forced himself to show nothing, drew a slow, heavy breath, and said, “Speak.”

“Yes.” Gu Yanxi picked up two memorials with both hands and held them forward. “Please review these.”

The one on top was from Wu Yong. The Emperor read it quickly, then picked up the one beneath — and found it was from Hua Yizheng.

He did not open it. He looked down at Yanxi, still kneeling before him. “You left in such haste before — that was when you went to Yinshan Pass? Why?”

“Yes. Your subject received word that Yinshan Pass had fallen into an irregular situation. At first, your subject believed the problem lay beyond the border — but after investigating thoroughly, it became clear that the problem originated from within our own ranks. On the night of the nineteenth of the seventh month, enemy forces launched a large-scale night raid. Both General Wu and your subject were drawn to the front line. As it turned out, the raid was a diversion — the true purpose was to draw us away. Their actual target was the Hua Family.”

“Why!”

“The Wu Family are warriors born and bred — leading troops in battle presents no difficulty for them, but their internal affairs have long been in disarray. Hua Yizheng helped General Wu root out quite a number of those causing damage from within. Your subject suspects they feared that further investigation would uncover things still more damaging to them — and so the Hua Family had to disappear.”

Gu Yanxi’s tone remained even. He reached to the tray and produced another memorial with both hands. “This contains the witness testimonies. Your subject has also brought the witnesses back to the capital.”

A long moment passed before the Emperor took the memorial from him. He still did not open it. He recalled that not long ago he had received a report from Wu Yong regarding enemy agents embedded in Yinshan Pass.

“Hua Yizheng can still hold a brush — which means the Hua Family is safe.”

“What held the situation until your subject arrived was the Hua Family’s daughter Hua Zhi, along with one of the Seven Lodges Division’s agents who had been embedded in Yinshan Pass for many years.” Before the question could be asked, Gu Yanxi spoke first. “Upon arrival, your subject learned that this was in fact Hua Zhi’s second journey to Yinshan Pass. She had made her first visit there before the new year.”

The Emperor raised his brows. “A Hua Family daughter? A woman went to Yinshan Pass?”

“Yes.”

“Where did she find the nerve? Wasn’t she afraid that if your subject — that if I found out, she wouldn’t be able to come back at all?”

“Your subject asked her the same. She said that the laws of the Great Qing only prohibit those under exile from returning without summons. Nowhere does it state that family and friends are forbidden from traveling to visit them.”

The Emperor suddenly wanted to laugh out loud. She was right — the Great Qing had never once enacted any such prohibition. Had no one thought of it? No — they had, but those who tried hadn’t lasted long enough to keep making the journey.

As though the serious matter at hand had momentarily slipped his mind, the Emperor teased his nephew with a glint in his eye. “You went into business with her — and then ran into her again, a thousand li away. How is it? Has she grown on you?”

“Your subject admires her. Among all the paths open to the Hua Family, she chose the hardest — yet it was also the right one. She has not diminished the name Hua.” Gu Yanxi answered without deflection or hesitation. “As your subject understands it, she has already withdrawn from the betrothal with the Shen Family and has put all thought of marriage behind her.”

The Emperor pointed at him with the memorial — the expression of someone who had seen straight through him. “The more you say, the more it shows how differently you regard her. Your subject has watched you grow up — you think I don’t know you? If you truly had no interest, you’d have given me two or three words and been done with it.”

Gu Yanxi did not take the bait. He reached for the next item from the tray, already beginning to speak, when the Emperor raised a hand to stop him. “Never mind. If you’re bringing charges, those crimes aren’t going anywhere. Your subject doesn’t wish to be troubled by all this — you handle it.”

Looking at his Imperial Uncle’s listless expression, Gu Yanxi felt something he could not quite name settle over him. Fifty-four members of the Hua Family had nearly lost their lives. Wu Yong had been poisoned. The injustice done to Zeng Xian. Treason and collaboration with enemies. Each matter was grave enough to shake the court — and his Imperial Uncle had dismissed it all with a single sentence.

“As for the second son — strip him of his rank and confine him to his imperial residence.”

“…Yes.”

“What are you still kneeling there for? Get up. Come and eat with your subject.”

The Emperor leaned forward and clapped him on the shoulder. He had always been proud of this nephew — traveling to all corners of the realm year after year, barely getting a proper meal or a decent night’s sleep, this set of robes probably holding enough dust to form a solid layer if beaten out. He did more than anyone else and never once sought recognition for it.

When the Second Prince’s misdeeds were uncovered, there would certainly have been people warning him to keep his distance — to avoid the risk of setting off a fire meant for someone else. Bringing down one prince after another could not possibly benefit him personally, and he was surely aware of the calculations involved. Had he taken what he held and gone to negotiate with the Second Prince instead, the Second Prince — even if he eventually sat on the throne — would have owed him half of it. Yet he had laid everything bare before him without a trace of concealment. This nephew of his — if only he had been his own son.

The Emperor felt, not for the first time, a pang of regret. He even found himself contemplating moving names in the official genealogical record. If Yanxi were truly his son…

Lai Fu’s voice carried in from outside. “Your Majesty, Chen Qing of the Seven Lodges Division requests an audience.”

“Bring him in.”

Chen Qing entered quickly, paid his respects to the Emperor first, then turned to report to his Chief. “The Second Prince is in the imperial harem at Noble Consort Hui’s quarters. Your subordinate has no authority to enter the inner palace. Awaiting the Chief’s instruction.”

“Noble Consort Hui?” The Emperor was reminded — there was still a delightful someone there. Noble Consort Hui had done well, after a fashion. He rose. “Your subject will go along. Yanxi — this matter does not implicate Noble Consort Hui.”

“…Yes.” Gu Yanxi answered softly and fell in behind him without another word. He had expected the Emperor to fly into a towering rage. He had expected the Second Prince to join the First Prince in disgrace. He had expected Fang Hongzhi to be arrested and have his property seized. He had expected the Tong Family to face severe punishment for overreaching so badly. He had even entertained the thought that he himself might be caught in the backlash — and yet it seemed as though the whole thing had not stirred so much as a ripple. Not even the call for Noble Consort Hui to be held accountable.

His entire body felt weightless. His feet felt as though they were shod in iron. He watched the Emperor walking ahead — thinner, somehow, than before, his back carrying the first hints of a stoop — and something difficult settled into Gu Yanxi’s chest. The Emperor who had once burned with sweeping ambition — what was left of him now?