Master Fang pondered for a moment before speaking: “My lord, Princess Zhaohua revealed her sharp edge in court today—it was clearly premeditated. She may hold more than we know. Her refusal to cooperate is not disdain, but rather, she does not wish to be bound by anyone.”
*Bang!* The Third Prince slammed a white jade chess piece onto the board, the sound shrill. “Does she think she alone can topple the Crown Prince?”
Master Fang shook his head. “She may not intend to fight him alone, but she clearly has her own designs. My lord, her actions today were not impulsive—they were long prepared. She killed Ji Huai’an, exposed grain corruption, and forced Sun Yun’guang’s confession—each step precise and ruthless. Such a person will not easily ally with others, unless we can offer her greater benefit.”
The Third Prince fell silent, then sneered: “Greater benefit? What does she want? The Crown Prince dead? The Xiao clan restored to nobility? I can give her all that! Yet she won’t even talk!”
Master Fang lowered his voice: “My lord, perhaps… she wants more than that.”
The Third Prince’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean?”
Master Fang spoke cautiously: “Today, Princess Zhaohua seemed to defend General Xiao, but her methods went beyond mere revenge. She dared storm the court, confront the Crown Prince before all officials, and speak bluntly before His Majesty. Her aim may not be revenge alone, but power.”
The Third Prince’s pupils contracted. Power!
“She wants to use the Xiao case to establish herself in court?” His voice was cold.
Master Fang nodded. “My lord, though she is a woman, her methods and ambition rival any prince. Today, she dared storm the court; tomorrow, she may intervene in governance. If she gains His Majesty’s trust, she will cease to be merely a princess—she will become a force to reckon with.”
The Third Prince’s eyes darkened, fingers unconsciously stroking the desk’s edge. He had thought Princess Zhaohua was merely a vengeful woman, driven by hatred, who would gladly serve as his ally if given the chance. But now it seemed she disdained dependence. She sought to be the player, not the piece.
Master Fang continued: “Her refusal to cooperate is both a loss and a risk. If her evidence cannot be used by us, and if the Crown Prince manages a counterattack—or if she pursues her own agenda…”
The Third Prince’s expression shifted, troubled. Master Fang’s words struck his deepest fear.
Baili Jun was like volatile gunpowder, holding a fuse of immense power—but no one knew where she would explode.
After a pause, the Third Prince chuckled coldly, though without warmth.
“Well played, Princess Zhaohua! She wants to sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight—waiting for me and the Crown Prince to tear each other apart?”
Master Fang asked: “My lord, then we…”
“No matter.” The Third Prince waved calmly. “Her refusal was expected. If she had agreed too easily, she would not be trustworthy. We proceed as planned—focus on framing the Crown Prince and protecting ourselves. At the same time…”
A cold gleam flashed in his eyes. “Strengthen surveillance of the Princess’s residence. I want to know everything she does while confined—whom she meets, what she plots. That blade in her hand—if it cannot serve me, it must never strike me.”
…
Night fell like ink.
The ruins of the prince consort’s mansion loomed eerie under the moonlight.
The air still reeked of heavy charred smoke.
Several figures slipped silently into the backyard behind the broken walls.
One of the shadowy figures made a hand signal, and the others immediately dispersed, gliding through the ruins like phantoms. Soon, four figures gathered at the site of the consort’s study.
Once adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, the study was now nothing but charred timber and thick ash.
“Search carefully,” ordered Wu Six. “Especially beneath the floorboards and inside wall compartments.”
Wu Seven, Wu Eight, and Wu Nine quickly sifted through the scorched wood and rubble. Their movements were swift yet cautious, trained to avoid any sound that might draw attention. Each had been specially trained, with sharp instincts for hidden structures and possible caches.
Wu Six remained perched atop the tallest broken wall, scanning the darkness vigilantly. Soon, Wu Seven focused on a section of ground seemingly pinned by a massive beam. They shifted the heavy timber, revealing tiles beneath, covered in thick ash.
Wu Seven drew a short-handled pickaxe from his belt. He didn’t dig blindly, but tapped each tile with the pointed end, listening closely. When he struck one inconspicuous tile near the center, the sound rang hollow.
“Found it!” Wu Seven’s movements grew more careful.
Wu Eight and Wu Nine hurried over, clearing away debris.
Wu Seven’s fingers traced the stone foundation beneath, finding a tiny raised bump. His eyes gleamed. He slid a fine steel needle into a nearly invisible hole beside the bump and flicked it.
*Click!* The sound was sharp in the silence.
A stone slab slid open. Beneath lay a small, soot-blackened but intact stone compartment. Inside rested a charred ebony box, its surface scorched but structure preserved—the stone shield had protected it.
Wu Seven’s heart sank and lifted at once. Sank—because Ji Huai’an had indeed left a hidden contingency. Lifted—because Princess Zhaohua hadn’t found it; they had.
From his perch, Wu Six swept the shadows, sensing something amiss. He barked: “Quick, take it out!”
Wu Seven reached for the box. Just as his fingers brushed it—
*Whizz!*
Arrows shrieked from multiple directions, slicing through the night toward the four men.
Wu Eight reacted first. The instant he heard the deadly hiss, his hair stood on end, and instinct hurled him sideways.
*Thud!*
An arrow grazed his shoulder, embedding in charred wood behind him, quivering.
Wu Six sprang back like a released bowstring, hurling a throwing dart to intercept.
*Clang!*
One arrow was deflected, but another slipped past at a cruel angle, grazing his ribs and drawing a streak of blood.