The news of total defeat at Blackwater Pool and the stolen silver struck the Crown Prince like a thunderbolt.
“Useless! A pack of useless fools!!” He kicked over the heavy desk, ink and brushes scattering across the floor. His eyes were blood‑red, veins bulging on his neck. “Old Ghost is dead? The silver stolen?! Who did it?! Who?!!”
The spy kneeling on the ground nearly buried his head in the floor, voice trembling: “R‑reporting to Your Highness… the scene was chaotic. There were traces of river bandits and greenwood fighters. But… but the core force was extremely elite, well‑trained… like… like bred death‑soldiers. Your servant suspects…”
“The Third! Baili Jing!!” The Crown Prince spat the name through clenched teeth, his voice dripping with venom.
“Who else? Only he would dare! Only he has the guts and the strength to strike at me! Fine! Very fine! Steal my silver? Cut off my lifeline? I’ll see you die without a grave!”
He whirled toward his advisor Chen Siming, whose face was pale as paper. “Sir, send word to the Misty Valley. Have them dispatch a squad of death‑soldiers. At all costs, find where that silver went! Dig three feet into the earth if you must! And once found—”
He drew a hand across his throat, eyes blazing with murderous intent.
“—destroy it on the spot! Melt it! Sink it! Not a single scrap must remain!”
“Your Highness, the Third Prince will surely hide it well. In a short time…” Chen Siming said anxiously.
“Then force him to expose it!” The Crown Prince’s eyes gleamed with madness. “He wants to use this silver as ironclad proof to topple me? I’ll make sure he’s too busy to care!
Immediately release the evidence we prepared—about the Third colluding with northern merchants, stockpiling grain in Jiangnan for treachery, and the proof of his officials embezzling river‑works funds. Throw it all out!”
“Have our men in the Censorate draft impeachment memorials overnight. Tomorrow at court, I want him accused left and right, overwhelmed!
Let’s see if he still has the mind to deal with that burning silver!”
“Yes, at once!” Chen Siming bowed, knowing this was a diversionary strike—yet the only way to disrupt the Third Prince’s focus.
The Crown Prince panted heavily, chest heaving, his gaze falling on the copy of the capital’s defense map hanging on the wall. Finally, his eyes locked on the marks representing the twelve garrisons of the Imperial Guard.
A more desperate, reckless thought swelled in his mind.
“And also…” His voice dropped low, dangerous, filled with fatal resolve.
“Tell the hidden agents to be ready. Await my command. Life and death will be decided in one stroke!”
He gripped tightly the last remaining token of command hidden in his sleeve—different in design from the others.
Since the defense map and replacement lists might already be in Zhaohua’s hands, he had to ensure he possessed the power to overturn the board before the worst came.
Even if it meant… forcing the palace.
At the Third Prince’s manor.
After hearing Advisor Fang’s report, the prince’s face showed no joy—only deep anxiety.
Advisor Fang said gravely: “The Crown Prince is no fool. He surely suspects us. And I’ve just received word—he is frantically searching for the silver’s whereabouts. His spies are sniffing around Youzhou and nearby prefectures like mad dogs!”
The Third Prince’s heart sank. He knew the Crown Prince’s vengeance was relentless. He also knew this silver was a sword hanging over his head. It had to be dealt with quickly. Either melt it down and sink it in the river, destroying the evidence completely. But that would mean all their effort wasted—and would enrage the Crown Prince beyond measure. Or use it swiftly, to deliver a fatal blow against him in court.
But how to transport such ironclad proof safely back to the capital?
How to ensure both silver and culprits were captured, under the Crown Prince’s furious counterattack?
Just as the Third Prince was overwhelmed, a trusted aide rushed in: “My lord! Bad news! Several censors of the Court of Justice have jointly submitted a memorial, impeaching three of your officials for embezzling river‑works funds—huge sums!”
“And… and there is also a secret memorial accusing you of close dealings with northern merchants, stockpiling grain in Jiangnan with treacherous intent!”
“What?” The Third Prince felt as if struck by lightning. He instantly understood—the Crown Prince’s counterattack was swift and vicious.
This was meant to drag him down, to leave him too distracted to act.
“Crown Prince! Such poisonous methods!”
He realized at once: the Crown Prince was not only retaliating, but buying time. Time to search for the silver and destroy it while the Third Prince struggled against impeachment. Perhaps even to strike directly at him.
“Advisor Fang, send more men—no, you personally take our core forces to guard the mines at Luoyan Slope. Without my order, no one is to approach those silver chests!”
“At the same time, forge several ledgers. Insert clues pointing toward the Crown Prince, to be used when needed!”
The Third Prince’s orders came rapid and urgent. He had to fight on two fronts: fend off attacks in court, while keeping the deadly treasure hidden, and prepare to shift blame onto the Crown Prince. It felt like clutching a burning coal—too dangerous to hold, yet impossible to throw away.
Inside the Princess’s manor, Baili Jun listened to Qingluan’s report.
“Your Highness, the Third Prince has hidden the silver in abandoned mines at Luoyan Slope, guarded heavily by Advisor Fang. But his manor is now in chaos, beset by impeachment over river‑works embezzlement and collusion with northern merchants. He has been urgently summoned to the palace to defend himself.”
“Also,” Qingluan paused, voice tightening, “at the Crown Prince’s manor today, several unidentified groups entered and left in secret. Security has been raised to the highest level. One of our embedded spies among the Twelve Guards risked his life to send word: the Crown Prince has issued the highest‑level ‘Dormant Awaiting Orders’ signal, and distributed additional… weapons.”
Baili Jun sat poised behind her desk, fingertips tapping the hidden compartment where several items lay quietly: The copy of the Northern Army’s Youzhou ledgers, the capital defense map, the replacement list for the Twelve Guards, and the jet‑black token engraved with “Zhang.”
The Crown Prince’s reaction was exactly as she had foreseen. Frantically searching for the silver to destroy it, while dragging the Third Prince down with impeachment to buy time. But the most critical was the last detail. He was mobilizing his hidden agents!
Dormant orders? Weapons distributed? This was not mere self‑defense. It was the signal of a desperate gamble—preparing for a coup at the final moment.
The timing was now.
The Crown Prince, consumed by rage and desperation, was on the brink of reckless action. And everyone had overlooked her—confined, seemingly quiet.
Cold light flashed in Baili Jun’s eyes. She hesitated no longer.
“Qingdai!”
“Your servant is here!” The commander of the Princess’s guards answered solemnly.
“Take my token at once. Gather all visible and hidden guards. Arm them fully. Guard every passage of the manor. No one may trespass. Activate all defenses!” Baili Jun’s voice was rapid, carrying unquestionable authority.