Hua Zhi's heart sank. She had truly been deceived. She had actually relied quite heavily on this former leader, thinking that if anything happened, there would still be someone who could control the situation. But now...
"Please rest and recover from your injury, Elder. I will handle matters outside. If I encounter any uncertainties, I will return to seek your advice."
"You have done very well." Gu Yelin put away his usual mocking expression and offered a rare, genuine smile. He had overheard her arrangements outside earlier—knowing to stabilize their own side before confronting the enemy. While her offensive capabilities might still be lacking, her defensive measures were already commendable.
Hua Zhi forced a smile and curtsied before returning to the adjacent room.
"Ying Chun, return home and inform Fourth Aunt to halt all purchases, secure the gates, and allow no one in or out. Then, go to the shop managers and instruct them that if anything happens in the capital, they are not to worry about the shops or money but to immediately gather at the Food Studio."
"Yes."
Just then, Fu Dong arrived carrying food. Hua Zhi fell silent, realizing she had forgotten that the Food Studio's manager was still here. But sending her to take charge now...
"There's no need for Sister Ying Chun to make this trip. This servant will go immediately."
Hua Zhi pressed her lips together. How much courage must this timid maid, who would cry at the sound of thunder, have mustered to say such words? She wanted to keep Fu Dong by her side, but if she did, how could she in good conscience let Ying Chun run back and forth outside like this?
How had she driven the senior maids around her to such a state?
Placing a hand on Fu Dong's shoulder, Hua Zhi said hoarsely, "Don't be afraid. If the sky falls, your young lady will hold it up for you."
"You are so tired, young lady. Let this servant hold it up for you." Fu Dong grasped her young lady's hand and shook her head obediently. "This servant's courage has grown. I am not afraid."
"...Alright." Hua Zhi turned away. "Go about your duties, all of you. Be careful and stay safe."
"Yes."
It took Hua Zhi a while to calm down. For the first time, she ate Fu Dong's food without tasting it.
When Chen Qing returned, the rain had grown heavier. Even with rain gear, it hadn't helped much. Afraid of passing the chill to the young lady, he didn't dare approach and stopped five steps away. "This subordinate contacted someone from the Fourth Prince's residence. He mentioned something: earlier this year, when the Xu family sent New Year gifts to the Fourth Prince's residence, he accidentally overheard the Fourth Prince and Xu Ting discussing the need to search farther away for someone no older than eight. Since he couldn't see any connection to the matters in the capital, he didn't report it. Only when asked today did he mention it."
"Xu Ting is Consort Xu's brother?"
"Yes."
Hua Zhi's mind raced. "We previously found out that Xu Ting has been traveling frequently these past few months, and each time he returns, he enters the palace to deliver gifts to Consort Xu. We couldn't determine what the gifts were. And the Fourth Prince told Xu Ting to search farther away for a child under eight. What does he want with a child under eight? To train as a death warrior? Or to send into the palace? But why send a child into the palace? If Haoyue is falsely pregnant, or if they are preparing in case she gives birth to a daughter, they should be looking for a newborn."
Chen Qing was equally puzzled. "He once searched the Fourth Prince's study but found nothing suspicious. I'm afraid we won't be able to find any evidence starting from the Fourth Prince."With a mother like Consort Xu, the Fourth Prince wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave behind letters or anything that could be used as evidence against him, especially in such a major affair. Her initial approach had been misguided.
She still needed to enter Like Moon Hall and investigate the Emperor’s daily records to see if they aligned with the time Haoyue became pregnant. Given the Emperor’s physical condition, it was impossible for him to indulge in nightly revelries—this was a potential breakthrough. Another approach was to start with the people in Like Moon Hall. If someone could confirm the affair between the two and provide evidence, then neither of them would be able to escape the consequences.
But it was difficult.
First of all, they couldn’t even enter the palace.
"Has there been any response to your request for an audience?"
Chen Qing shook his head. The reason he had returned only now was that he had been waiting all along, but there had been no response.
It was uncertain whether the request had even reached the Emperor. Hua Zhi lowered her head and looked at her hands. "Spread the news among the officials, then keep a close watch on the Fourth Prince."
"Yes."
The spring thunder rumbled, and the news of the remnants of the Chao Li Tribe in the palace struck the court officials like a thunderclap. They paid no heed to the actual thunder, scrambling out of their offices or homes in a panic to seek an audience with the Emperor. The Central Camp, responsible for guarding the capital, was on high alert, ready to protect the Emperor at any moment.
The princes, of course, arrived without exception. But after an hour, there was no movement from the palace.
In the side hall where they awaited the Emperor’s decree, civil and military officials exchanged uneasy glances. Duke Anguo and Zhu Bowen exchanged a look and approached Duke Dingguo, who wore a stern expression.
Although both were dukes, Duke Dingguo was different from the Lu family. He was of legitimate imperial bloodline, holding a revered and high position. Though he usually stayed out of affairs, he was the Zongzheng, the official in charge of imperial clan matters, and even the Emperor had always treated him with respect.
Given the complexity of the palace situation, they needed the support of the Zongzheng to act effectively.
Countless thoughts raced through his mind in an instant. Duke Anguo cupped his hands and said, "Duke Dingguo, may we speak privately?"
Duke Dingguo opened his slightly closed eyes and, without a word, walked toward an unoccupied corner. It was clear that his mind was not entirely calm. Duke Anguo felt a surge of relief and hurried after him.
The others watched them openly or covertly.
Duke Anguo lowered his voice. "Duke Dingguo, in your opinion, how likely is this matter to be true?"
Duke Dingguo glanced at him but asked another question instead. "Why has the Heir not returned?"
"Why would Duke Dingguo assume that I know the Heir’s whereabouts?"
"When will he return?"
The two stood in a stalemate for a long moment. In the end, Duke Anguo, being the one in need, spoke first. "I truly do not know when he will return. I only learned from the Hua family’s young lady that he went to Yanzhou, where the Chao Li Tribe has a hidden silver stash. Is there anything else Duke Dingguo wishes to know?"
Duke Dingguo closed his eyes and let out a long, silent sigh. So, at this very moment, the Heir might still be fighting the Chao Li Tribe. The Emperor was being foolish! If a person had such ambitions, why would he remain unmarried to this day? Why would he scar his face? Why would he wear the mask of the Seven Constellation Bureau’s leader? By tradition, once that mask was put on, one could only remain a faceless person forever. If not for the Emperor’s coercion, how many would even know that the leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau was the Heir!
Just like the previous leader—he had suspected for decades that he was his own younger brother, yet he had never been able to confirm it.
Duke Anguo lowered his gaze and did not press further. They had no intention of opposing the Emperor, nor did they covet the throne. But as the Heir’s maternal grandfather, he found it hard to accept the injustice!Before taking such action, did the Emperor ever consider what would happen if the Seven Constellation Bureau lost the Heir's leadership, or if the court lost the Heir's stabilizing presence? He truly wished to risk his life and ask in person—for whose empire was his grandson exhausting every ounce of his strength!
"I understand." Duke Dingguo gently shook his sleeves, walked to the hall entrance, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt. "Your subject, Zongzheng Gu Yecheng, humbly requests Your Majesty to step forward and calm the anxious hearts of the officials."
Duke Anguo quickly moved behind him and knelt. "We implore Your Majesty."
All the ministers knelt in unison. "We implore Your Majesty."
The imperial princes also knelt. "We implore Father Emperor."
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