I slaughtered my way through the border at the start, I am the Great Ming's Night Raider!

Qin Xiang shook her head: "My adoptive father didn't tell me. He only said that if this matter were to be exposed, it would cause a huge uproar, and countless heads would roll."

Chen Yuan remained silent.

Qin Xiang continued, "After the child was sent away, the Grand Princess kept a close watch on you. She regularly checked on you through Eunuch Qin. Until five years ago, when Eunuch Qin suddenly died, that connection was severed."

"and then?"

"Then, three months ago," Qin Xiang said, "After my adoptive father died, I was investigating the cause of his death. By chance, I discovered that the Eastern Depot was secretly investigating the Chen family and Chen Yuan. I felt something was wrong, so I wrote a letter to warn Lord Chen Xi. He replied that he knew and would be careful... but obviously, it was still not enough to prevent it."

With reddened eyes, Chen Jin asked, "So the Chen family was wiped out because my father found out about Yuan-ge's background?"

"More than that," Qin Xiang said. "If it were just knowing, perhaps it wouldn't have brought about the extermination of our entire family. I suspect... Lord Chen may have uncovered something deeper, something that has touched upon the fundamental interests of certain individuals."

"for example?"

"For example, the truth behind that palace secret from back then," Qin Xiang said. "For example, who exactly was the child's biological father? For example... why someone was determined to kill the Grand Princess."

Chen Yuan frowned: "Put the Grand Princess to death? Isn't she now all-powerful?"

"That's just on the surface," Qin Xiang said in a low voice. "The Emperor's health has been poor in recent years, and the Crown Prince is still young. As regent, the Grand Princess does indeed wield considerable power. However, there are many who oppose her in the court, especially the eunuch faction led by Cao Jixiang, as well as a group of civil officials. They have been looking for an opportunity to bring down the Grand Princess."

"So, regarding the Chen family..."

"It might be a setup by the eunuch faction," Qin Xiang said. "They framed the Chen family for treason, forcing the Grand Princess to take a stand. If she protects the Chen family, she'll be shielding rebels; if she doesn't, she'll alienate those loyal to her. No matter what she chooses, she'll lose."

Chen Jin's heart pounded with fear: "Then... what do we do now?"

Qin Xiang looked at Chen Yuan: "Young Master Chen, you now have two choices. First, I will arrange for you to leave the capital and go south, to live in anonymity, until the storm passes."

"And the second one?"

"Second," Qin Xiang said, emphasizing each word, "go see the Grand Princess."

Chen Yuan remained silent.

Go see the mother you've never met?

To be drawn into a deeper political vortex?

To face unknown dangers?

But does he have a choice?

"If I choose second place, what will happen?" he asked.

Qin Xiang took out a jade pendant from her bosom and placed it on the table.

The jade pendant, carved from white jade with a dragon, is exactly the same as the one Chen Yuan buried under the old locust tree years ago.

"This is..."

"These are the Grand Princess's tokens," Qin Xiang said. "There are two in total, one with me and the other should be with you. If you'd like, I can arrange for you to meet. But be careful, the Eastern Depot is watching very closely."

Chen Yuan stared at the jade pendant for a long time before slowly saying, "I need time to consider."

"Okay," Qin Xiang said. "You can stay here for now; it's safe. Let me know when you've made up your mind."

She got up, called the old servant, and arranged for the two of them to rest in a side room.

The room was very clean, and the bedding was all new.

Chen Jin lay on the bed and quickly fell asleep—he was too tired.

Chen Yuan sat by the window, looking at the plum blossoms in the courtyard.

Qin Xiang's words echoed in his mind.

Shall we go see the Grand Princess?

The woman who gave birth to him and then abandoned him.

That woman who held immense power yet was in grave danger.

That person might be his only blood relative in the world, or they might be the indirect murderer who killed the Chen family.

he does not know.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

It's Qin Xiang.

"Is there anything else?" Chen Yuan asked as he opened the door.

Qin Xiang stood outside the door, the moonlight shining on her face, making her appear somewhat pale.

She handed me a small cloth bag: "This is for you."

Chen Yuan took it, opened it, and inside was a dagger. The dagger was exquisite, with gemstones inlaid on its sheath; it was clearly not an ordinary item.

"This is..."

"It was left by my adoptive father," Qin Xiang said. "He said that if he ever saw you again, he would give this to you. It's a memento from your biological father."

Chen Yuan's hand trembled slightly.

His biological father's belongings.

He drew his dagger, its blade gleaming with a ghostly blue light in the moonlight.

The hilt of the knife is engraved with a character, "朱" in seal script.

朱。

Huang surname.

Chen Yuan suddenly looked up at Qin Xiang.

Qin Xiang nodded, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "Now you understand why this matter has caused such a huge uproar, right?"

Chen Yuan gripped the dagger tightly, his knuckles turning white.

朱。

His biological father's surname was Zhu.

Is it a member of the royal family? Or...?

He dared not think.

"Get some rest," Qin Xiang said softly. "Give me your answer tomorrow."

She turned and left.

Chen Yuan closed the door, leaned against it, and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.

The dagger was cold in my hand.

Like his heart.

Outside the window, the lights of Beijing were dim.

Chen Yuan barely slept that night.

The dagger lay beside the pillow, the moonlight shining through the window paper, making the character "朱" (Zhu) glow faintly.

He stared at the word, countless possibilities flashing through his mind.

朱。

In the Ming Dynasty, this surname belonged only to one type of person—the imperial family.

His biological father was royalty. So who was he? A prince? A duke? Or...?

He dared not think any further.

If the truth is as he suspects, then his very existence is a thunderbolt capable of devastating the entire court.

No wonder Eunuch Qin was silenced.

No wonder the entire Chen family was executed.

No wonder the Eastern Depot relentlessly pursued them.

Because anyone who knows this secret must die.

The sound of a wooden clapper came from outside the window; it was past midnight.

Chen Yuan got up, walked to the table, poured himself a glass of cold water, and drank it all in one gulp.

The water was cold, which made him more alert.

He picked up the dagger again and examined it carefully.

The dagger was exquisitely crafted. Its scabbard was made of sharkskin covered with silver and inlaid with seven gemstones arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper. The blade was long and narrow, gleaming with a cold, deep blue light, clearly forged from refined steel. The character "朱" was engraved at the end of the hilt, the characters ancient and vigorous.

This is no ordinary dagger; it is a royal artifact.

Chen Yuan flipped the knife over and saw two smaller characters below the character "朱" (Zhu), so small that they were almost invisible without careful observation.

"Bright Moon".

Zhu Mingyue.

The name of the Grand Princess.

Chen Yuan's hand trembled, and the dagger almost slipped from his grasp.

Is this dagger a keepsake from the Grand Princess? Or...?

He recalled Qin Xiang's words: "These are your biological father's belongings."

So, what does it mean to have the words "bright moon" engraved on it?

Is it a token of love?

still...

Chen Yuan felt a wave of dizziness.

He sat down, leaning on the table, closed his eyes, and tried to organize his thoughts.

If the dagger was a keepsake left to the Grand Princess by her biological father, and it was engraved with the Grand Princess's name, it would indicate that the two had an extremely close relationship.

They were so close that they could exchange personal items engraved with each other's names.

Then the identity of the biological father can almost be confirmed.

It could only be that person.

The man who was only mentioned briefly in historical records, yet profoundly influenced the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

"Impossible..." Chen Yuan muttered to himself.

But all the clues point to that answer.

The sound of the clapper outside the window rang out again; it was the fourth watch of the night.

Chen Yuan rewrapped the dagger and tucked it into his pocket.

He needs more evidence and needs to ask the Grand Princess in person.

But before that, he had to stay alive.

Chen Jin woke up at daybreak.

He saw Chen Yuan sitting by the window, his eyes dark-rimmed, and was startled: "Brother Yuan, you're not asleep?"

"I can't sleep," Chen Yuan said. "How's the wound?"

"Much better." Chen Jin flexed her left shoulder. "Miss Qin's medicine is very effective."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Qin Xiang brought in breakfast—two bowls of porridge, a few steamed buns, and a dish of pickled vegetables.

Simple, but piping hot.

"Let's eat first." She placed the tray on the table, glanced at Chen Yuan, and asked, "Have you made up your mind?"

Chen Yuan didn't answer, but instead asked, "What does the word 'Bright Moon' on the dagger mean?"

Qin Xiang paused, then said softly, "You noticed."

"Yes."

"That dagger was a gift from Emperor Renzong to the Grand Princess," Qin Xiang said. "Emperor Renzong was your maternal grandfather."

Chen Yuan clenched his fist.

"Later, the Grand Princess gave it to..." Qin Xiang paused, "...to that person. As a token."

"who's that person?"

Qin Xiang shook her head: "My adoptive father didn't tell me the specific name. He only said that the person was already dead, in the winter of the second year of Xuande."