Black gunpowder was not an inexhaustible supply, however. The quantity that could be produced at such short notice was limited, and it could not all be thrown away here in one go.

After suppressing the enemies, the Seven Lodges members surged forward. Fu Gang ordered half of them to remain and assist in the fight, while the other half spread out to search through the various palace halls for any remaining enemies in hiding.

Only at this point did Hua Zhi stand up. She glanced down at her disheveled state and could not be bothered to care. “May I ask — are the shadow guards still present?”

The Crown Prince nodded. “They are.”

“Please have Your Highness dispatch some of them into Fushou Palace. Their priority is to gather intelligence — they must not startle the enemy into flight.”

The Crown Prince clasped both hands behind his back. “Did you hear? Send two people.”

The shadow guards’ figures flashed and vanished.

“And as for the defense of the capital — does Your Highness have the military tally on your person?”

The Crown Prince nodded. “I carry it with me at all times.”

“They have caused such a massive disturbance within the palace grounds. The capital will not have been left without preparations. Please have Your Highness entrust the military tally to someone trustworthy and immediately call up General Zhou of the Central Camp to guard the capital, and dispatch the Northern Camp to stand ready to reinforce. No matter what, the capital must be secured. If we lose that, then even if we hold the palace grounds it will be for nothing.”

The Crown Prince drew out the military tally and placed it in Hua Zhi’s hands. “The person I trust most is the Grand Tutor — whoever the Grand Tutor trusts, I trust.”

“Yes. Your subject will not disappoint Your Highness.” The trust was an immense weight, yet Hua Zhi accepted it without the slightest hesitation. She hoped that in the years to come, the Crown Prince would still be capable of entrusting such faith to people — it was something only those who still harbored light in their hearts could do.

Seeing the imperial guards heading this way, Hua Zhi pushed the Crown Prince back a step. “Even Nanny Yuxiang could turn out to be a Chaoli tribesperson — at this moment, your subject dares not assume there are none of their people among the imperial guards. A man of great worth does not stand beneath a crumbling wall, and Your Highness is worth far more than that, so please hide yourself well.”

The Crown Prince was amused by the Grand Tutor’s casual words and willingly stepped back to set her mind at ease.

Just before the imperial guards reached the door and pushed it open, Hua Zhi stepped out ahead of them. Fu Gang spotted her from not far away and immediately jogged over, cupping his fists in a salute. “Grand Tutor, is His Highness the Crown Prince present?”

“The danger has not yet passed — there is no need for His Highness to show himself for now. What does Commander Fu think?”

The Grand Tutor before him was a full head shorter than he was — unmistakably a civil official, yet her bearing was not the slightest bit weaker than his own. It was evident that she was genuinely, wholeheartedly looking out for the Crown Prince, unwilling to expose him to unnecessary risk. And so Fu Gang gave a very ready nod. “What instructions does the Grand Tutor have?”

“Has the young lord of Prince Ling’s household arrived?”

“Yes. This subordinate has had people watching over him. Does the Grand Tutor intend to make use of him?”

Hua Zhi’s gaze fell on the group locked in combat. Her voice dropped slightly. “He is the only one who can identify the Wiseman. Keep him well protected.”

Fu Gang’s mind immediately sharpened with clarity. Of course — that was the Wiseman’s own maternal grandfather. Others might not recognize the Wiseman, but he surely would. “As expected of the Grand Tutor — you think of everything.”

Hua Zhi accepted the praise, and as she spoke she also located the person she was looking for. “Please ask Commander Fu to send for Qu Qi.”

Fu Gang glanced back, gestured to have someone go and fetch him, then discreetly withdrew once Qu Qi arrived.

“What are your instructions?”

“Call up the Central Camp and the Northern Camp to guard the capital and stand ready to reinforce the palace at any moment — quickly. After that, make a trip to the Shizi’s residence and call up all the hands there to assist in the defense. Any suspicious individual, regardless of their identity, is to be apprehended first and questions asked later. I will bear all consequences.”

Hua Zhi raised her hand, palm facing down. Qu Qi extended his hand beneath hers. With a slight sweep of a sleeve, and when the hands pulled apart again both were empty — the military tally had changed hands without leaving the slightest trace.

“Your subordinate will go at once.”

Hua Zhi ultimately did not mention the Hua Family. It was not that she was unconcerned — only that in the current circumstances she could only look after the greater whole and had no capacity to tend to her own. And she did not believe the Chaoli tribe had any spare hands left to move against the Hua Family members, who posed little enough threat anyway.

A dark shape flashed before her. Hua Zhi’s hand flew to her dagger on instinct.

“Grand Tutor.” The dark shape revealed itself — a shadow guard dressed in a form-fitting black garment.

Hua Zhi’s heart eased. “What is the situation?”

“Your subordinate was unable to get inside. There are at least twenty people in Fushou Palace.”

Hua Zhi signaled for him to go inside and report to the Crown Prince, then descended the steps and observed the battle in the distance, which was reaching a boiling point.

“Grand Tutor.”

Hua Zhi turned. It was Fu Gang, arriving with Gu Yanze in tow.

Hua Zhi felt a measure of sympathy for this young lord. For the first ten years of his life he had known nothing but cherished love, yet everything he possessed had collapsed in an instant. He had no imperial uncle to shield him, and after this ordeal there was no knowing how Prince Ling would treat him. Compared to Yanxi’s situation back in his day, this was actually even more devastating.

“If I were to ask you to identify the Wiseman, would you be willing?”

“Willing.” Gu Yanze’s voice was flat, without the slightest hesitation. Due to his long-standing illness, even in the nighttime one could tell his complexion was extremely poor. Hua Zhi suddenly felt a pang of tenderness — strictly reckoning it, he had not yet turned ten years of age, the very age when boys were at their most rambunctious. And yet here he was, facing the most cruel experience of his young life.

She turned her head away, keeping that tenderness from her expression. It was insufficient to alter her resolve.

At this moment the Grand Preceptor and the others all came over. “Is His Highness safe?”

“He is safe, for now.”

Everyone let out a long, collective breath. As long as His Highness was safe, nothing else truly mattered.

The Grand Preceptor did not ask where the Crown Prince currently was. He asked further: “And the Empress Dowager — is she safe?”

“We have not yet managed to find out.”

The Grand Preceptor was about to press for more details when he saw Hua Zhi offer a hasty bow and stride forward — all the enemies on that side had been brought down.

The others dared not linger, and quickly followed.

“Scouts have established that there are still around twenty people in Fushou Palace, and the Wiseman should be among them.” Hua Zhi looked toward Xue Liang. “The Empress Dowager’s situation is currently unknown. What plan do you all have?”

Xue Liang’s brow furrowed slightly. “Does the Grand Tutor have a plan?”

Hua Zhi shook her head. “The Empress Dowager is in their hands — our hands are tied. However… we must make an attempt.”

They were anxious, but their opponents could only be more so. The Crown Prince was unharmed, and the Chaoli people had lost the greater part of their forces. What the enemies would be thinking about now was their escape route. Unless they intended to fight to the bitter end this very moment, they would not harm the Empress Dowager.

“I will go.” The Grand Preceptor suddenly spoke. “There are very few members of the imperial family remaining. Nothing can happen to the Empress Dowager.”

Hua Zhi wanted to stop him, but she opened her mouth and then closed it again. She had no right to hold him back.

The Grand Preceptor turned to face Hua Zhi and gave her a grave, deliberate bow. “The late Emperor was a keen judge of talent. With Grand Tutor’s guidance, the Crown Prince will surely become an enlightened ruler who ushers in a golden age — and afterward, we shall have to trouble the Grand Tutor greatly for her continued labors.”

Hearing these words that sounded like a final testament, Hua Zhi’s heart ached unbearably. She forced a smile and said: “Look at this body of mine — how could it bear such a great burden? It is still the Grand Preceptor’s steadfast presence that is truly needed. Xue Liang, accompany the Grand Preceptor — make certain he is well protected.”

“Yes.”

The Grand Preceptor seemed to smile, then shook out his robe and strode toward Fushou Palace with long, resolute steps.

As he walked, Xue Liang rapidly issued a series of hand signals, and the Seven Lodges members moved past the Grand Preceptor and took up positions at various points around Fushou Palace.