To the right of the outer hall, the central main chamber served as the Grand Tutor's daily office.
The Grand Tutor was appointed by the Emperor. As the Emperor's health declined, he established the Crown Prince and selected a Grand Tutor to assist him, then withdrew from governance.
However, since the Crown Prince began overseeing state affairs, he favored his personally appointed equestrian and archery officials. Coupled with Imperial Uncle Yang's monopolization of power, the Grand Tutor retained the title but bowed to Imperial Uncle Yang in practice, obeying every directive.
The Grand Tutor's office appeared somewhat disordered, as Imperial Uncle Yang often occupied it as well, justifying the arrangement as "efficiency" and "multi-purpose use of the hall."
When lanterns were lit, eunuchs and several officials scrambled to tidy up.
Deng Yi paid no mind, casually seating himself in a spacious chair to review documents.
"Sir, no one has approached from the outer city walls," an official whispered.
They were already quite close to the outer city. With lights illuminated and movement visible, those outside would certainly notice.
At this moment, imperial guards were stationed around, gripping crossbows, poised for action.
Yet no one came—not even a single scout.
Deng Yi looked up from the documents, smiling faintly. "It seems there are clever minds over there."
It would be natural and reasonable for someone to report news, pledge loyalty, or seek rescue and information. He hadn't expected anyone to resist the temptation and remain completely unmoved.
Still, clever people were plentiful, and intelligence didn't guarantee good fortune—take Young Master Xie the Third, Xie Yanfang, for example.
With the Crown Prince dead, all his efforts had come to nothing.
Deng Yi dismissed the thought and returned to the documents. He had much to learn anew. Although even brash warriors could secure official posts, and though competence wasn't the sole criterion at this moment, to excel in this role required more than just luck and brute force.
The officials dared not disturb Deng Yi, quietly withdrawing to guard the entrance as a show of loyalty, leaving only eunuchs bustling inside.
One eunuch brought more lamps, while another brewed and served tea.
Deng Yi picked up the cup and took a sip.
"Does it suit Your Excellency's taste, Grand Tutor?" the eunuch inquired.
This eunuch hadn't retreated? He was still asking questions? Deng Yi held the teacup and glanced over, seeing a eunuch in his fifties, ordinary and inconspicuous.
This was a eunuch who had followed from the Emperor's bedchambers. An old-timer who had survived there for years was anything but ordinary.
His gaze was sharp.
Facing the piercing look, the eunuch showed no retreat, as if unaware, and said, "There's no fine tea here. This old servant specially brought some from His Majesty's stock, but the water was hastily prepared."
Deng Yi gave an acknowledging hum. "It's acceptable."
With that, he lowered his eyes and continued reading.
The eunuch still didn't leave, gently wiping dust from the desk with his sleeve and murmuring, "The Crown Prince of Zhongshan wishes to enter the Imperial City to protect His Majesty—"
Deng Yi's hand, holding the documents, paused slightly.
"—and requests that Lord Deng honor his promise," the eunuch whispered, head bowed. "Open the gates."
Having spoken, the eunuch retreated with a deferential bow.
Deng Yi sat silently, documents in hand, then suddenly laughed.
Could Prince Zhongshan be that rare combination of intelligence and good fortune?
……
……
The urgent clatter of hooves echoed as Xiao Xun navigated through streets shrouded in darkness and flickering flames, returning to the courier station.
The area had clearly witnessed fierce fighting: surrounding buildings still smoldered, corpses—officials, soldiers, and civilians alike—littered the streets.
Xiao Xun dismounted and entered the station, his eyes passing indifferently over the scene.The officials and servants at the courier station who had once greeted the Heir Apparent with smiling faces were all gone—not exactly gone, but lying on the ground as corpses. There wasn’t a single living soul left in the entire station. Of course—this wasn’t the Third Prince’s doing.
Of course, in the end, it would be pinned on the Third Prince.
Xiao Xun stepped over a corpse and ascended the steps into the building.
“Why bother leaving? We could have just done it ourselves at the Chu residence,” Tie Ying followed behind, frowning in confusion.
He had no regard for Chu Lan.
“Utterly incompetent and prone to ruining things.”
Ning Kun chuckled, “Don’t underestimate scholars. Once a scholar becomes consumed by ambition and greed, there’s no atrocity they won’t commit. No matter how noble one’s status or how formidable one’s martial prowess, they can still meet their end at the hands of such a person.”
He emphasized the words “martial prowess” while looking pointedly at Tie Ying.
Tie Ying snorted dismissively.
Xiao Xun soothed him, “Don’t worry. Our people are still in place. If he fails, we’ll step in.” He then explained, “Having him do it himself is to secure his pledge of allegiance. Only then will he be bound to me in the future.”
Tie Ying argued, “Even without such a pledge, someone like Chu Lan would obey Your Highness unquestioningly.”
“Mere obedience isn’t enough. He must actively wield the blade for me, charge into battle, and kill on my behalf,” Xiao Xun replied. “As you said, Chu Lan is a despicable man. Without shackles binding him, he won’t fight to the death for me.”
Ning Kun nodded, “The Heir Apparent understands people and how to use them perfectly.” He added, “Returning to the courier station is just as well. It’s closer to the Imperial City, making it more convenient to enter the palace when the time comes.”
Xiao Xun gazed in the direction of the Imperial City, his usually impassive face now etched with complex emotions.
Overnight, the world had turned upside down.
Just as his father had said, the capital was perilous—but also, as his father had hoped, the most dangerous place held the greatest opportunities.
When the Crown Prince suddenly decided to go hunting and began recruiting strongmen like the Third Prince, Xiao Xun immediately infiltrated his own men—after all, who didn’t have powerful warriors at their disposal?
If the Third Prince intended to kill his elder brother, Xiao Xun would lend him a hand.
At this thought, Xiao Xun smiled, his dimples deepening.
With the Crown Prince dead, whether the Third Prince was torn apart by the mad dogs of the Xie family or held accountable by the Emperor, he was as good as dead.
Once the Crown Prince’s son was eliminated, the Emperor’s only direct bloodline would be severed. The throne of Great Xia would then rightfully belong to their line, the House of Zhongshan.
His father would finally reclaim everything that was rightfully his.
For years, his father had meticulously built connections. From childhood, his father had painstakingly educated him. And at the opportune moment, his father had sent him to the capital.
What seemed like luck was, in truth, the fruit of his father’s sharp intellect and tireless efforts.
Reflecting on this, Xiao Xun’s eyes filled with profound respect.
“All of this rightfully belongs to Father.”
Who else but his father deserved it!
“The only regret is failing to establish ties with Chu Ling,” Ning Kun remarked, sighing meaningfully. “Your Highness, now you see how formidable Chu Ling’s hidden influence truly is.”
Amidst sudden upheaval, with the entire city’s nobility in chaos, the Crown Prince’s orphan had sought refuge with Chu Ling, trusting no one else.
Oh, and there was more—his father had also revealed a secret passage in the capital. That very night, Xiao Xun had watched as a eunuch emerged from it, carrying a child.
This was a secret known only to the Emperor. In the past, the late Emperor, who cherished Xiao Xun’s father, had confided in him—
Proof that, in the late Emperor’s eyes, the throne was always intended for his father.
“The Emperor’s trust in Chu Ling, and Chu Ling’s unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, are anything but ordinary,” Ning Kun mused with a sigh. “If Your Highness could marry Miss Chu, the Emperor would be even more convinced of Your Highness’s legitimacy.”Xiao Xun smiled slightly: "It's alright. When I meet with His Majesty, I will recount the fate between Miss Chu and myself, then request His Majesty to bestow the marriage."
Ning Kun clapped his hands: "Good, good. This is excellent."
Not only would His Majesty be reassured, but Chu Lan would also be reassured. As for Chu Ling, he would have no choice but to become the Heir Apparent's man - Chu Ling's connections would belong to him, while the infamy would fall upon Chu Ling.
Looking at Xiao Xun's faint smile, Ning Kun felt a pang of sympathy.
"Only, Your Highness will have to endure some hardship," he said. "Having such a wife won't make for easy days."
At least for some time it wouldn't be easy.
After all, it was an imperial marriage - this wife wouldn't be so easily discarded.
Xiao Xun smiled and looked out at the night beyond the door, the darkness heavy and cold, just like the gaze that girl had given him.
Having such a wife would certainly make life interesting.
......
......
Tonight's night was exceptionally long, the ink-black darkness stubbornly refusing to disperse.
It felt like so much time had passed - why wasn't the sky brightening yet?
But he was also terribly afraid of daybreak.
If day broke, this would no longer be just a nightmare.
The small child crouched among the firewood piles, burying his head in his knees, desperately squeezing his eyes shut.
With a faint creak, the door was pushed open, and a lantern's light shone in, its dim yellow glow piercing through the wood piles, through his knees.
So bright! So hateful!
The child wanted to scream and shout. In the past, he would have done just that - everyone around him had feared him and never dared to oppose him. But now he could only tightly shut his eyes and mouth, trying to shrink into himself, even holding his breath to avoid being discovered.
"Are you in here?" a woman's voice murmured softly, as if she wasn't certain whom she was looking for. Then she paused and said, "I am Chu Ling's daughter, Chu Zhao."
Chu Ling's daughter, Chu Zhao.
The child slowly opened his eyes, peeking through the gaps between his fingers. Through his fingers, through the wood piles, he saw a figure standing in the dim lantern light.
She seemed very tall, yet didn't appear much older than him. She had jet-black hair, luminous pale skin, and eyes that shone like stars.
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