Cao Yi held the antidote brought from the Eastern Depot as he watched the Sixth Prince board another carriage.
“Chief, about His Highness… what about this medicine?”
That kind of drug was common in brothels. Unless an antidote was taken, it could only be cleared through physical intimacy. Since the antidote was still in his hand, then…
Cao Yi’s pupils shrank. He looked at his master in shock.
Could it be that the Sixth Prince lost control under the drug’s influence, and the Chief was tempted by his beauty, and then, and then in Xiao Yun Restaurant…
“Cao Yi, drive the carriage back to the Eastern Depot.” Lu Shiting took a step, then noticed the dazed look on Cao Yi’s face. “Cao Yi?”
“Ah? Ch—Chief, I hear you. As you command.”
Cao Yi hurried to grab the horse’s reins. In his haste, he tripped over a hole in the ground.
He felt like he was about to lose his job.
“If you cannot do your job well, I can find someone to replace you.”
Lu Shiting grabbed the reins, untied a white horse from the carriage, and flipped himself onto its back. Dressed in black, he looked elegant and composed, but his expression was too cold to show any of the typical arrogance of a young man on a fine horse.
Cao Yi quickly followed on another horse. “Please calm your anger, Chief. I was just wondering if I should send the antidote into the palace for the Sixth Prince.”
“No need. I gave him a Nine-Cycle Pill.”
Cao Yi breathed a sigh of relief, but then he almost cried out in surprise. “Chief, you gave him a Nine-Cycle Pill?”
The Nine-Cycle Pill could cure a hundred poisons. The ingredients came from the dense forests of the Southern Border and were extremely rare. Only one could be made every three to five years. Even the Eastern Depot did not have much in stock.
The Sixth Prince was only hit with a common brothel drug, yet the Chief fed him a precious Nine-Cycle Pill?
“He was too noisy under the drug’s effect.”
Lu Shiting did not talk more about it. He snapped the reins, and the snow-white horse neighed and galloped down the long street.
Cao Yi considered himself a trained soldier since childhood, but he could never catch up to the Chief’s riding speed.
Back at the Eastern Depot, he hurried to the Chief’s side. The spies monitoring the Eastern Palace and the Ninth Prince had already sent word.
On the surface, the Crown Prince did not break with the Ninth Prince, but he threw a massive tantrum after returning to his palace. The Ninth Prince went to the Empress, likely trying to get his mother to feel sorry for him as her youngest son.
Compared to the Sixth Prince, the Crown Prince was clearly more wary of his own brother. It was likely going to be another life-and-death struggle.
Lu Shiting finished listening to the report and waved them away. He reached for a plate on the desk and began eating the dried fruit.
Cao Yi said, “Chief, now that the Crown Prince and Ninth Prince have turned against each other, the Eastern Palace shouldn’t have time to cause trouble for us for a while. However, there is still one thing I don’t understand.”
“Since you don’t plan to support His Highness, why didn’t you just let something happen between him and the Northern Di Little Khan today? If the scandal broke out and a Prince was insulted by a Northern Di man, the royal family would lose face and be mocked by everyone.”
Lu Shiting gave a low laugh.
The plate of dried fruit was empty. He opened another bag and said calmly, “The dried fruit the Sixth Prince sent is quite good.”
Cao Yi was confused, but he couldn’t help adding a thought in his mind: The Sixth Prince is a good person too. He is always kind and polite to those of us serving in the Eastern Depot—not like the Crown Prince, who acts humble just for show. Having been an Imperial Guard for so many years, I can tell the difference.
If they weren’t serving different masters…
The Chief stayed at his desk checking memorials for six hours, and he ate the dried fruit for six hours.
Every bag the Sixth Prince sent was finished.
Cao Yi’s eyelid twitched. He hesitated whether to call a doctor for the Chief. After all, eating that much dried fruit might cause stomach discomfort. But just as he stepped out, he saw a gyrfalcon circling above the courtyard.
Unless it was an urgent message, the Eastern Depot would not use a gyrfalcon.
He quickly waved, and the bird dove down to land on his arm. He took a scroll from the small bamboo tube tied to its leg.
“Chief, military intelligence from the Northern Border.”
Lu Shiting took it.
“Fifty thousand elite Black Armor soldiers have arrived at the border city in small groups, disguised as refugees.”
Cao Yi looked happy. “Then when do we send the troops to kick those Northern Di dogs back home?”
“Northern Di looted three or four of our cities and killed countless people. This time, they are demanding too much in the peace talks—fifty million silver taels, ten million rolls of silk, a hostage, and territory. It’s an insult!”
Lu Shiting held the letter over a candle flame and burned it.
“Send someone to tell the Crown Prince: we can send the hostage first. The other terms can be discussed later. It won’t be too late to sign the treaty once the hostage is within Northern Di territory.”
Cao Yi bowed. “Yes, Chief.”
By agreeing to send the hostage, Northern Di would surely believe that the peace treaty was a sure thing. Their military guard at the border would relax.
At that time, fifty thousand elite Black Armor soldiers combined with the border guards would strike. Northern Di wouldn’t be able to stop them. Reclaiming the lost lands would be within reach, and they wouldn’t have to sign those humiliating terms.
“But the hostage is still the Sixth Prince. No change?”
Cao Yi saw the answer in the Chief’s cold eyes. He pushed down his sympathy and left respectfully.
The next day, Mu Jue arrived at the study hall in the Hall of Literary Brilliance half an hour early, carrying his book box as usual.
The young man spread a sheet of paper on the desk, ground his ink, and began practicing his calligraphy.
His handwriting had always been poor. He had practiced by writing on dirt with sticks as a child, so using a brush on paper felt awkward.
By early morning, he packed away his brushes. He saw the Ninth Prince walk in with dark circles under his eyes from exhaustion. The Prince glared at him gloomily for a few moments before taking his seat.
The entire morning passed, and the Prince did not say a single mocking word.
But the way he looked at Mu Jue was strange. Even the other princes and study companions had odd expressions, as if Mu Jue were some kind of monster sitting there.
Mu Jue walked out of the Hall and looked at his reflection in a small well. He didn’t see any ink stains or anything funny on his face or clothes.
He sent Xia Ming to find out what was happening in the palace, but there was no news.
At lunchtime, Xia Ming didn’t bring the food containers as usual. He ran in hurriedly and said:
“Master, I saw a eunuch with an imperial decree outside. It seems he’s coming toward the Hall of Literary Brilliance.”
As soon as he spoke, a high-pitched voice shouted from outside:
“Let the Sixth Prince, Mu Jue, come forward to receive the decree!”
Xia Ming sounded nervous. “Why is there a decree for you? When I went to the kitchen today, the staff acted very strange and completely ignored me.”
Mu Jue straightened his robes and stood up. The other princes and companions followed him out.
He knelt outside the Hall to receive the decree. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the eunuch unroll the scroll. The Ninth Prince had a satisfied, cruel smile on his face.
Mu Jue knew then that this decree was likely not good news.