Tonight's events surged like giant waves, one after another without end.
Officials standing outside the inner palace gate stared in shock at Deng Yi's return.
This departure and return had transformed him into a different person.
The former minor official in blue robes had become a powerful minister in crimson, wearing a high crown with vermilion and purple ribbons hanging from his waist, imperial guards fanning out behind him like a peacock's tail.
This was truly ascending to heaven in a single step.
"De—Deng... Lord Deng," one official stammered, almost calling him Deng Yi out of habit before quickly correcting himself. "What are His Majesty's instructions?"
Deng Yi produced the imperial seal: "His Majesty has appointed me as Grand Tutor to oversee the overall situation."
Grand Tutor! And the imperial seal! His Majesty had actually given the imperial seal to Deng Yi!
Everyone knew that although the Crown Prince had been supervising state affairs for years, the imperial seal remained in the Emperor's study—accessible for use but never carried by the Crown Prince personally.
The officials immediately knelt and bowed, proclaiming, "Long live His Majesty!"
Deng Yi stored away the imperial seal and stepped forward to help them up. "His Majesty has entrusted us with this heavy responsibility. I ask you all to work together with me. When the situation stabilizes, there will surely be rewards."
The officials grew excited. Even after his meteoric rise, Deng Yi remained generous by nature—just look at this straightforward and satisfying promise.
"Lord Deng, just give the orders. We stand with you," they declared their loyalty one after another.
Some even lifted their robes, ready to charge out and fight the enemy.
Deng Yi stopped them, saying, "Our only mission tonight is to guard the inner palace and ensure His Majesty's safety. As for other matters, we will not interfere."
He looked toward the outer Imperial City, where sounds of fighting had earlier been heard—likely clashes between the Third Prince's and Crown Prince's forces vying for control of the city.
"No matter how fiercely they fight to the death, as long as they don't approach the inner palace, they remain imperial princes," he said, gazing toward the outer hall before turning to the commander of the Emperor's guards beside him. "But should anyone approach the inner palace, they become traitors."
Traitors could be killed—even if they were the Emperor's own sons.
"Show no mercy."
Whether they came seeking rescue or to force the Emperor's hand—those seeking rescue were already doomed, beyond saving, while those forcing the palace naturally deserved death even more.
The guard commander acknowledged the order.
Hearing this, the officials felt their hearts race with fear. Such ruthlessness and cruelty—was this the Emperor's will or Deng Yi's? Regardless, since they didn't need to risk their lives now, they all breathed sighs of relief, vowing they would be the first to fight anyone daring to breach the palace and offend His Majesty. Then they asked, "What can we do now?"
"What we must do now isn't about the present, but about what comes after dawn, after everything settles," Deng Yi said, looking toward the outer hall. "I'm going to the Grand Tutor Hall."
The outer hall was for court discussions, and senior ministers each had their own designated spaces for daily work.
Now that Deng Yi was Grand Tutor, of course he should go to the Grand Tutor's place. The officials unanimously agreed. Deng Yi arranged personnel to guard the inner palace securely, then selected a contingent of guards. Clad in armor and armed, they surrounded him like a dark cloud as he proceeded toward the outer hall.
Their heavy footsteps made the ground tremble, while the torches they carried turned the night sky blazing white.
Truthfully, even Deng Yi hadn't expected that when he embarked on this path, he would become so transformed.
Yet it didn't feel entirely unreal—his steps remained steady, his mood calm, as if he had known this day would come long ago.
Lord Deng is so remarkable—
He suddenly recalled the girl's words. Well, if that girl learned he had become Grand Tutor, she wouldn't be shocked. She would only say, "Lord Deng has always been this remarkable."Indeed, Lord Deng is truly remarkable. For him to rise from a village chief to a county clerk, and then a decade later, from Palace Gate Commander to Grand Tutor, holding the imperial seal and commanding the tiger tally—what is so strange about that?
"Grand Tutor," an official approached, having already grown accustomed to addressing him as such, as if it had always been the case. "What shall we do with the former Grand Tutor?"
Though the Emperor had neglected state affairs for years, the position of Grand Tutor had never been vacant—there had always been one.
Once matters were settled, wouldn’t it be awkward for the two Grand Tutors to meet?
Deng Yi smiled faintly. "I will deal with him beforehand, so he won’t be put in an awkward position."
Such words truly befitted a Grand Tutor. The official shrank his neck slightly and, with even greater determination and enthusiasm, guided the way. "Grand Tutor, please follow me."
……
……
Torches burning along the outer city wall illuminated the scattered corpses lying haphazardly on the ground.
Clearly, a fierce battle had taken place here.
Although the gruesome scene had subsided, the fighting had not yet ceased.
Five figures appeared beneath the wall of the barbican ahead. There were no lights here, and they moved stealthily in the darkness, their footsteps almost inaudible. But just as they were about to step into the gate passage, a shadow, swift as a black cat, darted out from the darkness.
In a single motion, the foremost figure had his throat slit. Before the two beside him could react, two feet struck their throats with brutal force. All three fell to their knees and collapsed dead without a sound.
The two at the rear retreated swiftly, raising gleaming longswords to strike forward. But they were a step too late. The shadow lunged at them, limbs wrapping around both simultaneously. With a spinning leap, all three crashed to the ground. Amid the clatter of swords hitting the stone, two of them lay motionless.
The shadow rose from among them, gazing down at the fresh corpses. He lit a firestarter and tossed it onto the bodies, then threw the scattered torches around them onto the pile. Flames surged upward instantly, devouring the darkness. The barbican’s main gate tower was suddenly bathed in a glaring, brilliant light.
Standing amidst the flames, the figure was like a spear, gleaming coldly, intimidating any prying eyes ahead.
"Yan Lai, Yan Lai!"
A voice called out from the watchtower beside him, and a rope ladder was lowered.
The figure leaped up in a few strides, grabbed the ladder, and climbed nimbly like a cat.
He flipped over the wall and landed inside, while other imperial guards hurriedly retracted the rope ladder.
Torches illuminated the figure who had landed—it was Xie Yanlai. At this moment, Xie Yanlai looked even more terrifying than he had that day on the street when he was whipped. Blood covered his face and body—it was impossible to tell whether it was his own or someone else’s.
He raised a hand and gently wiped his cheek, smearing a single drop of blood into a broad streak. The stark contrast against his pale skin was horrifying under the torchlight.
The seven or eight imperial guards who had pulled him up were also splattered with blood, though not as heavily as Xie Yanlai.
"Those bastards will be back," one of them said, his face pale. "We’re too few in number."
Xie Yanlai looked past them toward the rear. This was the palace wall, sporadically lit by torches, where scattered imperial guards stood.
There were only a few dozen of them.
Beyond the barbican, the enemy forces still numbered at least three hundred.
Moreover, the sounds of battle echoed from the distant night, as if the entire capital were engulfed in chaos and flames.
It was impossible to say how many more troops would charge toward the Imperial City.
"Yan Lai," one of the guards said, "let’s retreat to the inner palace."
The inner palace still housed many of the Emperor’s guards and was the safest place.
Xie Yanlai turned and looked toward the silent inner palace."The fighting outside is so intense, yet there's not a single movement from inside. Not even anyone coming out to ask what's happening. Do you think they're unaware, or do they know everything but simply don't care?"
"If they don't care about the Crown Prince's life or death, if they turn a blind eye to the Third Prince's evil deeds, do you think they'd pay any attention if we ran to them for help?"
We'd probably be shot dead by random arrows before we could even get close.
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