In her previous life, Lin Hao had returned to the capital next year. At that time, Emperor Tai’an had fallen ill, and the Crown Prince had supervised the state.

Regarding these matters, Qi Shuo, who had remained in the capital all along, knew more clearly than Lin Hao. “The timing is wrong. In the previous life, the Emperor didn’t fall ill until early spring next year, and then the Crown Prince supervised the state.”

It was precisely because of this that Prince Jing’s Manor had suffered annihilation under the Crown Prince’s schemes.

“In the previous life, the Crown Prince wasn’t deposed, Prince Wei didn’t die, and the three-way rebellion didn’t occur. In this life, the Emperor experienced all these distressing matters, which is probably why he fell ill earlier.” As Lin Hao spoke, she revealed a bitter smile. “A’Shuo, why do I feel that because of our changes, quite a few bad things have happened too?”

Setting aside other matters, Prince Wei’s death and the three-way rebellion were things that hadn’t happened in the previous life.

Qi Shuo reached out and ruffled Lin Hao’s hair. “Don’t add to your psychological burden. Do you really think these things wouldn’t have happened in the previous life?”

Lin Hao batted away the hand that was mussing up her hair bun. “You’ve messed up my hair.”

They were discussing serious matters—what was he doing with his hands?

Qi Shuo smiled. “We’re going to rest soon anyway.”

Lin Hao simply pulled out the hairpin securing her bun, letting her long hair cascade down. She stared intently at the man with a smile on his lips. “You’re saying these bad things would have happened in the previous life too?”

Qi Shuo didn’t answer directly but asked a question instead. “How does the Crown Prince compare to the current Emperor?”

Lin Hao’s expression was full of disdain. “Calling the Crown Prince a heap of mud would be an insult to mud.”

“If someone like the Crown Prince had ascended the throne in the previous life, Emperor Pingle’s faction alone would have been enough to devour him alive. You can imagine what the Great Zhou’s prospects would have been. Although we didn’t see it, that was the inevitable trajectory. While these events happened earlier in this life, at least the outcome isn’t too bad—the external situation is stable in the short term.”

“A’Shuo, you’re right. I was being too rigid in my thinking.” Lin Hao nodded in agreement, then suddenly remembered something. “But didn’t you kill the Crown Prince?”

Qi Shuo: “…”

Lin Hao’s expression turned strange. “In that case, wouldn’t Prince Wei have seized power—”

“In this life, Prince Wei died at Qi Ming’s hands. In the previous life, Emperor Pingle’s faction would have had more time, their preparations would have been more thorough and complete, and the destruction they caused would only have been greater.” Qi Shuo reached out to wrap his arm around her waist and looked toward the window. “No need to dwell on these things. We just need to look forward.”

“Mm.” Lin Hao nodded slightly and also looked toward the window.

The sky was overcast, the howling wind making withered branches sway wildly, their shadowy forms like malevolent spirits come to life.

“With the Emperor bedridden and the heir’s position vacant, although things are temporarily stable externally, there will likely be some turmoil internally.” Qi Shuo murmured.

“Then what can we do?” Lin Hao tilted her head slightly to ask.

“Just as Father said—we come home early every day.”

Prince Jing’s Manor harbored no treasonous intentions. At a time like this, what they could do was behave properly.

Prince Liang had been publicly rejected by the Emperor in the great hall and had completely lost the possibility of succession. The worst outcome would be Emperor Pingle’s restoration.

Qi Shuo didn’t believe Emperor Tai’an, who had reigned for many years, was completely unprepared for this. For those who weren’t planning to wade into muddy waters, the smartest thing to do was nothing at all.

For several consecutive days, the sky remained overcast. Darkness fell earlier each day, and the moon in the sky grew thinner each night.

The palace walls towered high, and within the imperial palace, it seemed even darker than elsewhere.

Qianqing Palace became exceptionally quiet as Emperor Tai’an slept longer and longer. Palace servants even tried to lighten their breathing, afraid of disturbing the Emperor and bringing calamity upon themselves.

Liu Chuan tucked in the corners of the sleeping Emperor Tai’an’s blanket, then walked to the window and sighed softly at the thin crescent moon in the sky.

In Yungui Palace, the young prince suddenly began to cry. The wet nurse, who had only just fallen asleep, climbed up to soothe him but couldn’t calm him down no matter what. The several palace maids caring for the young prince were successively awakened and gathered together.

The young prince was a very well-behaved infant—this was the first time he had cried like this.

“What’s wrong with the young prince?”

“Is he uncomfortable somewhere?”

The wet nurse touched the young prince’s forehead. “No fever. I just checked—his body is clean and dry too.”

“Could it be a stomachache or something? Should we summon an Imperial Physician?”

“Summon an Imperial Physician?” A palace maid glanced outside. “How would it be convenient to summon an Imperial Physician at this hour?”

Because of the young prince’s unspeakable abnormality, the Imperial Physicians who came to check his pulse were specifically designated. At this late hour, it would require a noble’s summons.

Ultimately concerned about the young prince’s wellbeing, the head matron of Yungui Palace spoke up. “Little Guizi, go and ask Consort Zhuang for instructions.”

The young eunuch called Little Guizi acknowledged the order, picked up a lantern, and hurried out of Yungui Palace.

As soon as he left the warm palace hall, the cold wind drilled straight through his collar. Little Guizi shivered, the lantern in his hand swaying, its light flickering bright and dim.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps.

Anyone sent to serve the young prince had to be cautious and alert. Little Guizi instinctively extinguished his lantern and lay on the ground, holding his breath to listen.

Pressed against the ground, the footsteps suddenly became much louder.

Little Guizi’s face turned pale.

From childhood, his ears had been exceptionally sharp and could hear far. The direction of these footsteps—something was wrong. This definitely wasn’t the sound made by palace guards on patrol!

Little Guizi climbed up and carefully moved toward that direction. Suddenly his pupils constricted, and he froze in place.

Groups of armored guards carrying blades passed before him. The night concealed their faces, but their deliberately lightened footsteps alone revealed the abnormality.

The place they were heading toward—Little Guizi stiffly turned his head, his face growing even paler.

These Imperial Guards were heading to Qianqing Palace!

What was happening? Weren’t they the palace guards? Could they be staging a rebellion?

Realizing this, Little Guizi heard his own thunderous heartbeat.

What should he do?

Countless thoughts raced through Little Guizi’s mind, but his legs seemed to have their own consciousness, firmly rooted to the ground and refusing to move. Only after this group of guards had gone far did he regain control of his limbs. He ran toward Yuhe Palace with stumbling steps.

“Who’s outside?” A palace attendant in Qianqing Palace had just called out when he saw a flash of blade light and blood sprayed forth.

“This is terrible—someone is forcing their way into the palace!” The palace servants who heard the screams saw those cold-faced guards and cried out loudly.

Qianqing Palace quickly descended into chaos.

Compared to the completely unprepared palace servants, this group of guards had a clear objective—they headed straight for Emperor Tai’an’s bedchamber.

“How dare you! Are you staging a rebellion?” Liu Chuan rushed out hastily. When he recognized the leader, his face filled with shock. “Commander Zhang, how can it be you?”

Commander Zhang had no desire to waste time. He pushed Liu Chuan aside and barged in.

The inner chamber was thick with medicinal scent. The lowered gauze curtains allowed one to see only the silhouette of someone lying within.

Commander Zhang gave a look, and immediately two guards gripping long blades stepped forward and swept aside the bed curtains.

Emperor Tai’an lay on the bed with closed eyes, his cheeks sunken and face sallow. Even with such commotion, he showed no signs of waking.

Commander Zhang nodded slightly, and the two guards flanked Emperor Tai’an on left and right, lifting him up.

“Release the Emperor!” Liu Chuan rushed in.

Having secured control of the Emperor, Commander Zhang finally spoke. “Eunuch Liu, don’t be anxious. Zhang will release him, but first I need you to do something.”