Deng Yi's nose and mouth were filled with a pungent odor, making it impossible for him to detect the scent of the smoke.
Yet in what seemed like the blink of an eye, a thud echoed as someone collapsed.
Turning to look, Deng Yi saw a figure who had been standing silently in the shadows by the bookshelf now lying on the ground.
This was one of Xiao Xun's men, who had remained as quiet and unnoticeable as if he weren't there.
"See that?" Xiao Xun whispered close to his ear. "Such a potent poison. Grand Tutor, you are truly doomed."
After saying this, Xiao Xun shoved pills into both his own mouth and Deng Yi's, then pulled Deng Yi with him as they retreated behind the bookshelf. The next moment, thicker smoke billowed from outside—
……
……
At the Grand Tutor's residence, Ding Dachui had come personally to oversee the situation.
Since the establishment of the Garrison Guard, tasks like breaking into homes or extracting prisoners from the Ministry of Justice's dungeons rarely required Ding Dachui's direct involvement. With his Python Pattern uniform and the Garrison Guard's Waist Token, almost no one dared to obstruct him.
The Grand Tutor was merely under house arrest—forbidden from leaving the residence and barred from receiving visitors. Compared to the Garrison Guard's usual missions, this was relatively straightforward, requiring only a perimeter lockdown outside the residence.
Yet Ding Dachui still came in person to take charge. After all, the Grand Tutor held a unique position, commanding military authority with the power to mobilize the Capital Garrison troops. If the Grand Tutor truly attempted to leave, other Dragon Cloak Guard members might not be able to stop him.
Ding Dachui was different. As the Commander, if the Grand Tutor dared to force his way out with military support, he would personally confront the Capital Garrison troops.
Even if it meant dying here, he would make sure the world understood that the Empress's authority was not to be challenged.
However, since being escorted back, the Grand Tutor had caused no trouble. He remained in his study, reading, seemingly enjoying the rare peace. The household servants were also well-behaved. With no visitors, they had little to do and mostly stayed in their quarters.
Sitting in the gatehouse of the Grand Tutor's residence, Ding Dachui remained vigilant. He summoned the Dragon Cloak Guard to brief them on the night watch, but halfway through his instructions, he sensed something amiss.
"Fire," he said.
The Dragon Cloak Guard looked around, bewildered. There was no sign of fire or smoke, inside or out—
But Ding Dachui was already sprinting into the residence, sniffing intently. He couldn't be mistaken. Having experienced numerous wildfires in the mountains, he could detect them even before the flames erupted.
Though puzzled, the Dragon Cloak Guard didn't hesitate. Some followed Ding Dachui inside, while others immediately dispersed to reinforce the defenses.
"Be alert for anyone trying to exploit the chaos."
As the Dragon Cloak Guard rushed in, the servants who were patrolling and tending to the lanterns were startled. Had these guards dropped their pretense and now begun their violent intrusion to make arrests?
"Put out the fire—" Ding Dachui shouted.
The servants were confused. What fire? Where?
They stared blankly in the direction Ding Dachui was headed. Under the night sky, the Grand Tutor's residence was brightly lit. The next moment, the darkness seemed to surge, dimming the lanterns, and then flames erupted, engulfing the night.
It really was on fire—
The servants screamed, and the residence descended into chaos.
Ding Dachui had already reached the study. Flames flickered around it but had not yet intensified. Without a moment's pause, he slammed against the door and burst inside.
The Dragon Cloak Guard following behind cried out.
"Commander—"
……
……Chu Zhao had no intention of resting tonight. While officials in the front hall discussed matters of the Border Army, she remained available to participate at any moment. Midway through, she returned to the rear palace to accompany Xiao Yu—a habit between them, to share conversation before he fell asleep.
After recounting the Border Army’s great victory, with Chu Zhao leaning against the headboard and gently patting him, Xiao Yu gradually closed his eyes.
It was at this moment that the news arrived.
Ding Dachui’s face was blackened, his clothes burned away, with severe burns exposing raw, bloody flesh in some areas. He was supported by two Dragon Cloak Guards.
Xiao Man and A Le were hastily tending to his wounds, cutting away the tattered remnants of his robes.
Ding Dachui refused to let Chu Zhao summon the imperial physician, urgently needing to report first: “The fire spread extremely fast. The entire room had been doused with flammable oil. If I had been a step later, I wouldn’t have made it out either.”
Chu Zhao’s gaze fell to the ground.
Lying there was another man, similarly blackened and disheveled, his clothes burned away.
“But when I entered, he was already dead,” Ding Dachui said quietly. “And—”
He was not Deng Yi.
Chu Zhao studied the man on the ground. He bore a striking resemblance to Deng Yi, even the ash-covered contours of his face and features were alike.
“But if he had been burned beyond recognition,” she said, “it would truly be impossible to tell.”
Was this man Deng Yi’s double?
Could Deng Yi actually have a double?
Had he prepared it himself? Or had someone else arranged it?
Was the fire set by Deng Yi, or was someone else trying to kill him?
“The Grand Tutor’s residence has been searched,” Ding Dachui reported. “There is no trace of the Grand Tutor.”
His shame was unmistakable, even beneath the soot.
“We were stationed outside and saw no one entering or leaving.”
Yet there must have been a lapse they had missed—a person couldn’t simply vanish into thin air or disappear into the ground.
Chu Zhao said, “Do not blame yourselves. The other party knew you were guarding the residence. Since they dared to act, they must have had the means to succeed.”
None of that mattered now. The crucial question was: Who was behind it?
Was it Deng Yi executing a golden cicada stratagem, or was someone else making Deng Yi disappear?
“Your Majesty, if something happens to the Grand Tutor at this time, it will be unfavorable for you,” Yin Canshi whispered. “Malicious parties may frame it as Your Majesty eliminating the Grand Tutor.”
The Garrison Guard had escorted Grand Tutor Deng Yi out of the Imperial City and confined him to his residence. Now, the Grand Tutor’s residence had caught fire, and the Grand Tutor’s fate was unknown. The conflict between the Empress and the Grand Tutor was widely known. With the Border Army capturing the King of Xiliang and the Empress’s prestige soaring, eliminating the Grand Tutor now would not cause turmoil in the court. Instead, it could even be used to pin crimes on him—such as colluding with Western Liang to cause the fall of Stone Slope City.
Chu Zhao’s expression remained indifferent as she looked at the corpse on the ground.
“The court officials are all present. Summon them and announce this matter,” she said.
Although the fire at the Grand Tutor’s residence had caused a significant commotion, it had been discovered quickly, and the Garrison Guard’s containment had temporarily prevented the news from leaking.
At this moment, frank disclosure was indeed more appropriate. Yin Canshi acknowledged the order and turned to leave, but Chu Zhao called him back.
“Is Deng Yi’s mother still there?” she asked.
Yin Canshi nodded. “Yes. Aside from the Grand Tutor and his study, no other areas or individuals showed any abnormalities. They are all under guard.”
Chu Zhao turned and called for Xiao Man.
Unlike her usual habit of turning away, Xiao Man responded with a quiet “Mm.”
“Yin Canshi, secretly escort Deng’s mother out,” Chu Zhao instructed. “Xiao Man, arrange for her safekeeping. Ensure no one discovers her. Let it be assumed that she, too, is missing and presumed dead.”
Yin Canshi acknowledged with a “Yes,” while Xiao Man turned and left without another word."Summon the imperial physician," Chu Zhao instructed, looking at Ding Dachui. "You must hold on a little longer to answer the court officials' inquiries."
Ding Dachui acknowledged the order.
Qi Gonggong turned to arrange for the summoning of the imperial physician and the court officials, causing the entire rear palace to become bustling with activity.
Chu Zhao gazed at the corpse lying on the ground.
"Sister, do you think the Grand Tutor didn't flee out of guilt?" Xiao Yu asked quietly beside her. "Do you suspect someone harmed him?"
That was why, whether Deng Yi was captured or escaped, Sister Chu wanted to protect Deng's mother—to prevent her, as Deng Yi's only relative, from falling into danger.
Chu Zhao nodded.
"Although I can't be certain, I don't believe Deng Yi is the type to think I would imprison him and then have him killed, forcing him to flee to such extremes," she murmured.
So either someone tried to kill him, and he had no choice but to escape, or he was abducted.
Even though Deng Yi had once said that in times of crisis, he wouldn't risk himself for his mother's sake—
Chu Zhao said softly, "Deng's mother is an innocent blind woman. She shouldn't be dragged into this."
...
...
The officials, who had just begun to recover from the shock of the great victory news, were summoned to the inner palace. Seeing the corpse on the ground and hearing Ding Dachui's account, they were thrown into an even greater uproar.
"The Grand Tutor is dead!"
"He's not dead—he's missing!"
"Missing? Who knows if he's alive or dead?"
"In broad daylight, the Grand Tutor met with disaster in his own home!"
"If it was an accident, why was there a body double?"
The officials argued fiercely. The Vice Minister of Justice stepped forward, looking at Chu Zhao. "I request to investigate the case of the Grand Tutor's misfortune."
Chu Zhao replied, "Granted. Not just you—the three judicial offices will investigate together."
Without delay, the Vice Minister of Justice turned and left, followed hastily by seven or eight other officials. The debates and questions in the hall showed no sign of subsiding.
Chu Zhao paid no heed, allowing them to speculate freely.
"Was this body double prepared by the Grand Tutor himself, or by someone else?" Xie Yanfang, who hadn't joined the discussions, stood beside the corpse, bending down to examine it curiously. "It's remarkably similar. If the Empress's people hadn't acted quickly, rushing into the fire to drag it out, we would have truly believed the Grand Tutor was dead—"
He looked at Chu Zhao and sighed softly.
"Thanks to the Empress, this is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune."
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