Chen Siming looked at the young heir before him, fear flickering in the Crown Prince’s eyes, and sighed inwardly. But his face remained steady. “Your Highness, we’ve done all we can—destroying evidence, moving the stolen silver, framing the Third Prince, silencing Sun Yun’guang. As long as none of these steps falter, Princess Zhaohua’s command token remains a solitary piece of evidence, hard to prove conclusively. If the Ministry of Revenue’s original records are destroyed, the Ministry of Justice will have no way to pursue the northern payroll. If the blame for the leaked defense map is pinned on the Third Prince, His Majesty’s suspicion will shift, giving Your Highness breathing room—perhaps even a chance to strike back.”
“The key is execution—fast, precise, ruthless. No loose ends, no handles left behind.”
The Crown Prince drew a deep breath, forcing calm. A vicious gleam returned to his eyes. “Yes! I cannot fall. I am the Crown Prince, the future Emperor of Great Zhao! Zhaohua, Third Brother, just wait. I’ll make you both pay the price!” He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms until blood seeped, unnoticed.
…
At the Third Prince’s residence.
Back at his manor, Baili Jing shed the mask of gentle courtesy, his face dark with calculation.
His trusted strategist, Master Fang, spoke gravely: “My lord, the Crown Prince’s counterattack is venomous. Your close ties with Zheng Bin, the gifts of northern specialties—these ordinary dealings, once twisted in court, have planted seeds of suspicion in His Majesty’s mind. The consequences could be dire.”
The Third Prince did not answer immediately. He straightened, sharp gaze sweeping Fang, no trace of courtly gentleness remaining.
“I know!” His low voice carried suppressed fury.
He paused, struggling to contain his emotions. “The Crown Prince has been driven to the wall—cornered, desperate. He sees himself doomed, so he wants to drag me down with him! That leaked defense map—he’s determined to dump that filth on me, to divert Father’s wrath from himself, to muddy the waters and make me share the blame.”
His eyes lifted, a flash of murderous intent gleaming. “He wants me as his scapegoat? Dream on! Master Fang, it’s time we act.”
“At your command!” Fang’s spirit sharpened.
Cold light flickered in the Third Prince’s eyes as he laid out his plan:
“Activate our spies in the Northern Guard Bureau. Forge letters of the Crown Prince ordering Sun Yun’guang to collude with Zheng Bin. Write that Zheng Bin used his access to steal the defense map—meant to frame the Xiao family, and to serve as a tool to implicate me later if needed. Then plant northern tokens on Sun Yun’guang. Spread word outside that he is close to confessing—naming the Crown Prince as a traitor who sold out the realm. The dirt must be hurled back at the Eastern Palace, every drop!”
Master Fang quickly memorized, then added shrewdly: “A brilliant move, my lord. But the Crown Prince, cornered, will lash out madly. We must prepare defenses as well as attacks.”
The Third Prince nodded, thinking. “Send death orders to our hidden agents on the frontier. Before the imperial edict arrives, make Zheng Bin ‘disappear’—a fall from his horse, a sudden illness, whatever is quickest. He must die without leaving testimony. And in the prison and Ministry of Justice, keep our men watching closely. If Sun Yun’guang is about to break, or if the Crown Prince tries to silence him, I must be informed immediately!”
After laying out these urgent countermeasures, the Third Prince’s taut nerves finally eased a little. He rose and walked to the window, gazing toward the Princess’s residence, eyes deep and thoughtful.
“Zhaohua…” he murmured, voice layered with complexity. “My royal sister… today in court, she was the true protagonist. She hid herself too well. We all underestimated her. Not only did she personally kill Ji Huai’an, she also uncovered the crucial ledger evidence, and forced the Crown Prince into panic at the last moment. The way he looked at her—I saw it clearly. It was fear. She must hold something fatal against him!” His eyes gleamed with sharp light.
“My lord wishes to win Princess Zhaohua over?” Master Fang, his strategist, hesitated. “Today, she revealed her edge in court. Her mind runs deep. She may not be easy to control, nor willing to cooperate.”
“Not win over—ally with!” the Third Prince corrected. “We share a common enemy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. She holds the Crown Prince’s fatal evidence, backed by her uncle, who commands two hundred thousand troops. We have influence at court and deeper schemes. Now she is confined by Father’s decree. It looks like imprisonment, but in truth, it keeps her safe for the moment. This is the perfect time to reach her. Father’s order of confinement gives us natural cover.”
He turned to his most trusted aide, voice solemn. “Master Fang, you will go yourself. Use illness as a pretext. Prepare rare medicinal tonics, carry my visiting card, and deliver them discreetly to the Princess’s residence. Tell the gatekeepers the Third Prince worries for his sister’s ‘illness’ and sends his confidant to inquire. Keep the posture humble, but make sure she understands—I come with sincerity.”
Master Fang quickly reviewed the instructions in his mind, then bowed deeply. “My lord’s foresight is thorough. Forging evidence and spreading rumors are urgent and must be handled with utmost care. I will personally oversee it, ensuring perfection, leaving the Crown Prince no chance to bite back or detect us. As for presenting the card at the Princess’s residence, it is delicate and must remain secret. I will choose the most agile and reliable confidant—skilled in stealth and negotiation—to carry it out flawlessly.”
“Go.” The Third Prince nodded, returning to his desk. Candlelight flickered across his face, shadows shifting. “Remember—be swift, be clean. This is the decisive moment against the Crown Prince. No mistakes allowed. We must tighten the noose around his neck before he can react.”
Master Fang accepted the order and withdrew.
Alone in the study, the Third Prince picked up his brush, but did not write.
Zhaohua, would she accept the olive branch he offered? Would this sharp blade serve him? Or was her ambition far greater than that?
A faint unease crept into his heart, but was quickly smothered by stronger ambition and urgency.
No matter what, he had to try.
Toppling the Crown Prince was the first—and most perilous—step toward the throne.