Yun Chu felt as if her entire body had plunged into an icy cavern.

Behind her, Qiutong raised her foot and kicked the wet nurse.

The wet nurse awoke with a painful cry. She first glanced at the child sleeping soundly on the bed, then prepared to bow to Yun Chu, when suddenly she froze: “This child… is not His Highness!”

Yun Chu steadied herself and demanded sternly: “What happened?”

“This servant also doesn’t know…” The wet nurse said halfway, then immediately continued, “It was Lady Qi. Half a shichen ago, she came holding a child, saying she had business with the Empress Dowager… Somehow, this old servant lost consciousness… When I woke up, it was like this. This old servant deserves death ten thousand times over.”

All the other palace servants in Kangning Palace were so frightened they knelt on the ground.

Lady Qi had indeed come, holding the Qi family’s child who was just over a year old to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

But the Empress Dowager was not present. Lady Qi sat in Kangning Palace for a while before leaving, and when she departed, she was similarly holding a child in her arms.

No one had thought anything of it.

They never imagined that child was actually Prince Yan.

Yun Chu said coldly: “Immediately arrange for people to go to the Qi residence, and simultaneously guard all exits from the capital.”

Shortly after, a servant came to report: “Lady Qi hanged herself to death at home. The rest of the Qi family has no idea what happened. The entire Qi household is currently searching everywhere for the Qi family’s young child…”

“The Qi family…” Yun Chu pinched the bridge of her nose, her fingers suddenly pausing. “It’s Chu Rui!”

If she remembered correctly, Lady Qi’s maternal younger brother’s wife was from the Su family.

Although Su Ziyue had died at Chu Rui’s hands, Chu Rui was skilled at beautifying his own actions—the Su family might not necessarily blame Chu Rui.

While she was handling court affairs, Chu Rui took advantage by using Lady Qi to take away Brother Jue.

That Chu Rui dared to do this meant he wasn’t afraid of her discovering it at all.

He must want to use Brother Jue to coerce her…

Since it was Chu Rui, Brother Jue should not be in mortal danger at present.

Now, the vast majority of people in the court had been persuaded by Chief Minister Li, ready at any moment to jointly memorialize for the removal of the Prince Regent.

Chu Rui’s greatest sources of power, besides his identity as Prince Regent, were the eight thousand Yulin Guards.

These Yulin Guards were distributed throughout every corner of the Imperial City, essentially serving as Chu Rui’s eyes and ears…

Although she had promoted Fan Ming to become Deputy Commander of the Yulin Guards, she still had no way to completely command them.

She ordered coldly: “Go and summon Lin Qiang.”

Lin Qiang was from the Lin family, the younger brother of Chu Rui’s imperial mother and consort. He had been promoted to Commander of the Yulin Guards and was on duty in the palace daily. He arrived quickly.

He bowed with his head lowered: “Paying respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Yun Chu concealed her emotions about not being able to find her child and spoke calmly: “Commander Lin, please sit and have a cup of tea. The Emperor will also come shortly.”

Lin Qiang felt somewhat uneasy.

Soon, Chu Hongyu arrived with Lin Dongdong. The two did not enter the flower hall but instead went into the adjacent side room.

This side room was separated from the flower hall by a wall with latticed windows, so sounds from there carried over quite clearly.

They heard Chu Hongyu’s authoritative voice: “Lin Dongdong, I now need you to do something that may endanger your life. Are you willing to do it?”

Lin Dongdong declared loudly: “I am willing to sacrifice everything for Your Majesty! Please give your command, Your Majesty!”

“My imperial younger brother, Prince Yan, has been stolen by the Prince Regent.” Chu Hongyu enunciated each word clearly. “Now, you will go to the Prince Regent’s manor and bring back my imperial brother.”

Lin Dongdong showed no hesitation whatsoever: “I obey your command!”

Lin Qiang suddenly stood up.

If Dongdong just charged to the Prince Regent’s manor to demand the child, Chu Rui would never spare Dongdong, and might even suspect his loyalty.

Although he had long since… But he had only switched the guards at Yangxin Hall and Kangning Palace—he had never done anything else to betray the Prince Regent.

“Commander Lin, this mourning one’s young child has been taken away by the Prince Regent.” Yun Chu spoke slowly. “Now someone must be sent to the Prince Regent’s manor to rescue Prince Yan. Either Lin Dongdong goes, or Commander Lin goes… At this moment, this mourning one is merely a mother who has lost her child. If anything happens to my child, Commander Lin’s child need not think of surviving either.”

Lin Qiang clenched his fists.

Then his fists slowly relaxed.

Both his son and his future prospects were important, but to him, his son was more important.

If he supported Chu Rui as emperor but lost his son, it would all be rather meaningless.

Moreover, Chu Rui becoming emperor was neither proper nor justified. In the future, he would be criticized for the rest of his life.

On the other hand, his Dongdong had earned the young Emperor’s trust and become the first study companion at the young Emperor’s side. Dongdong would surely have great accomplishments in the future…

Lin Qiang closed his eyes, then opened them and cupped his hands: “Empress Dowager, please give your command!”

The night grew deeper and deeper.

A large contingent emerged from the palace and surrounded the Prince Regent’s manor, which was not far from the Imperial Palace.

Standing at the entrance of the Prince Regent’s manor, Yun Chu’s eyes were filled with a murderous coldness.

“Ram the door.”

At her command, Yulin Guards carried forward a battering ram. After just one strike, the gates of the Prince Regent’s manor suddenly swung open.

Two manor guards pulled open the gates. Inside the front courtyard stood a man dressed in white robes—it was Chu Rui.

The corners of his lips curved into a smile: “The Empress Dowager visits late at night—for what purpose? Why did you not inform me in advance so this minister could prepare wine and brew tea in welcome?”

Yun Chu strode forward, walking into the manor, and said coldly: “Search!”

“Let me see who dares!” Chu Rui’s gentle voice suddenly turned cold and severe. “To search a dignified prince’s manor requires a joint order from the Court of Judicial Review and the Court of the Imperial Clan. For the Empress Dowager to do this violates ancestral law!”

Yun Chu raised her hand: “The late Emperor is dead. This mourning one is the Empress Dowager and represents ancestral law. Everyone, enter and search thoroughly inside and out.”

Lin Qiang and Fan Ming led hundreds upon hundreds of Yulin Guards streaming in, one group going left, the other right.

Chu Rui’s eyes narrowed: “Commander Lin?”

Lin Qiang glanced at Chu Rui, then continued leading his men to the left, conducting a thorough search.

Chu Rui suddenly laughed.

Lin Qiang was his maternal uncle, the person he trusted most.

He had believed that blood relationships were the most resilient bonds, ones that would never break. Therefore, he had entrusted the most crucial Yulin Guards into Lin Qiang’s hands.

The Yulin Guards protected the entire Imperial Palace, and many matters in the capital were also handled by the Yulin Guards’ deployment—they were his greatest source of power.

He had originally thought Yun Chu would come with the garrison troops. Although the garrison numbered thirty thousand, they were stationed outside the capital and entering the city would not be easy.

Most crucially, if the garrison and Yulin Guards fought, the casualties would be severe and the Imperial family would suffer the greatest losses.

Therefore, he was certain Yun Chu would not dare make this matter too big.

He never imagined that Lin Qiang would actually be won over by Yun Chu…

“It seems I underestimated the Empress Dowager.” Chu Rui laughed self-mockingly. “And I also overestimated myself.”

He stepped forward and continued: “I just don’t know whether I’ve overestimated Prince Yan’s importance in the Empress Dowager’s heart.”

“Probably not.” His smile grew even broader. “Late at night, the Empress Dowager personally left the palace—you must value Prince Yan extraordinarily. After all, he is your own flesh and blood son…”