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

The second year of the Xuande reign.

The year Chen Yuan was born.

"How did he die?"

"Sudden illness." Qin Xiang looked at Chen Yuan, "But my adoptive father suspects she was poisoned. Because three days after that person died, the Grand Princess was found to be pregnant. And then... you came into the picture."

Chen Yuan closed his eyes.

All the fragments match up.

In the second year of the Xuande reign, a member of the royal family died suddenly.

In the same year, the eldest princess, who had been widowed for many years, secretly gave birth to a son.

The child was sent out of the palace and given to the Chen family of Yingchuan to raise.

That member of the royal family was his biological father.

"Whose son is he?" Chen Yuan asked. "Which prince?"

Qin Xiang remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Young Master Chen, some things are dangerous if you know too much. You only need to know that your bloodline dictates that you cannot live an ordinary life."

"But I want to know." Chen Yuan stared at her. "I have the right to know who I am."

Qin Xiang met his gaze, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes: "Alright. But after I finish speaking, you'll have to make a choice—to leave or to stay."

She took a deep breath and said slowly, "Your biological father is the late Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui."

Chen Yuan was struck dumb.

Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui, was the third brother of Emperor Renzong. During the Yongle reign, he and Prince Han, Zhu Gaoxu, were known as the "Two Princes" and were both popular candidates for the throne.

In the twenty-second year of the Yongle reign, after Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, Prince Zhao was stripped of his guards and placed under house arrest in his fiefdom.

In the first year of the Xuande reign, the rebellion of Zhu Gaoxu, the Prince of Han, was suppressed.

In the second year of the Xuande reign, the King of Zhao died suddenly.

Historical records state that King Zhao died of illness.

But if what Qin Xiang said is true...

"King Zhao and the Grand Princess..." Chen Yuan's voice was hoarse, "They are..."

"Cousins," Qin Xiang said. "In the royal family, this is a major taboo. But back then... it's said they were childhood sweethearts and had a very deep affection for each other. Prince Zhao had proposed to her many times, but Emperor Taizong disagreed and betrothed the Grand Princess to the grandson of Marquis Wuding, Guo Ying. Later, the prince consort died young, and the Grand Princess became a widow. Prince Zhao was already under house arrest at that time, and somehow the two of them..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

The cousins ​​had an affair and had a child.

If this gets out, it will not only be a scandal, but also a matter that will shake the very foundation of the country.

No wonder they wanted to silence them.

No wonder they had to nip it in the bud.

Chen Yuan suddenly laughed, a laugh filled with bitterness: "So, my existence is a mistake. A mistake that shouldn't have come into this world."

"No." Qin Xiang shook her head. "My adoptive father said that the Grand Princess never regretted giving birth to you. She sent you away to protect you. Because the situation at the time... was too dangerous."

"Danger?" Chen Jin couldn't help but ask, "What kind of danger?"

"The rebellion of the King of Han has just been quelled, and the court is unstable," Qin Xiang said. "Although the King of Zhao died suddenly, he still has his old subordinates and sons. If people find out that the Grand Princess is pregnant with the King of Zhao's child, neither the Emperor nor the court officials will allow that child to live."

Chen Yuan understood.

His existence might be used by the former subordinates of the King of Zhao as a banner for a comeback.

They might also be seen as a threat by the emperor and must be eliminated.

Therefore, the Grand Princess chose to send him away and have him live in anonymity.

"Then why now..." Chen Jin asked, puzzled, "is the Eastern Depot hunting down Brother Yuan again?"

"Because someone knows this secret," Qin Xiang said. "Moreover, the situation is different now than it was back then. The Emperor is seriously ill, the Crown Prince is young, and the Grand Princess is overseeing the country. If it were to be revealed now that she has a son, and that he is the son of the Prince of Zhao..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Chen Yuan already understood.

That would be a political earthquake.

Those who support the Grand Princess might demand recognition of Chen Yuan's identity, or even...

He dared not think any further.

"So the Eastern Depot wants to kill me in order to bring down the Grand Princess?" Chen Yuan asked.

"Yes." Qin Xiang nodded. "Cao Jixiang is a eunuch in the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Director of the Eastern Depot, but he has people behind him. I suspect that certain forces in the court want to use this incident to completely overthrow the Grand Princess and seize control of the government."

"Does the Grand Princess know about this?"

"She should know some of it," Qin Xiang said, "but she's in a very difficult situation right now. The Tatars are invading the borders, the court officials are hindering her, and she also has to guard against the eunuch faction... She dares not act rashly."

Chen Yuan fell silent.

After a long while, he looked up and said, "I want to see her."

"Have you thought it through?" Qin Xiang asked. "Once you appear before her, there will be no turning back. From then on, you will be embroiled in the most brutal political struggles, and every step could lead to utter ruin."

"Do I have a choice?" Chen Yuan smiled bitterly. "The Eastern Depot is hunting me down, and 137 members of the Chen family are waiting for my revenge. Besides... I also want to know what kind of person she really is."

Qin Xiang looked at him, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes: "Alright. I'll arrange it. But it will take time. The Grand Princess is currently in the palace, surrounded by many spies, so we must be careful."

"How long will it take?"

"Three days," Qin Xiang said. "You cannot leave this courtyard for these three days. The Eastern Depot has spies all over the capital. If you are discovered, all our efforts will be in vain."

Chen Yuan nodded: "I'll listen to you."

After the meal, Qin Xiang left to make arrangements.

Chen Jin looked at Chen Yuan, hesitant to speak.

"What do you want to say?" Chen Yuan asked.

"Brother Yuan..." Chen Jin hesitated, "If...if you really acknowledge your ancestors and return to the family, then...then will you still be my brother?"

Chen Yuan was taken aback, then laughed and patted his shoulder: "Silly boy, I'll always be your brother. No matter what my surname or given name is, that won't change."

Chen Jin's eyes reddened: "But you are...you are..."

"I am Chen Yuan," Chen Yuan said. "I grew up in the Chen family, ate the Chen family's food, and studied the Chen family's books. No one can change this identity."

Chen Jin nodded vigorously.

For the next three days, the two were trapped in the courtyard.

The yard isn't big, but it's very safe.

The old servant was mute, but he was quick and efficient and took good care of the two of them.

Qin Xiang comes once a day, bringing news from the outside world.

On the first day, she brought news: the fall of Xuanfu had reached the capital, shocking the court and the public. The Emperor vomited blood during court and was helped back to the inner palace. The Grand Princess ordered the mobilization of troops from Datong and Jizhou to aid Xuanfu, but this was far from sufficient to address the immediate crisis.

The next day, she brought news: the Eastern Depot was conducting a massive search in the capital for "deserters from Xuanfu," but in reality, they were looking for Chen Yuan and Chen Jin. Their portraits had been drawn and posted on city gates and street corners. A reward of one hundred taels of silver was offered.

On the evening of the third day, Qin Xiang rushed over, her face grave.

"Something's happened," she said. "The Eastern Depot has tracked down the Yuelai Inn and arrested the manager and the staff. Although the manager is stubborn and hasn't implicated us, it's no longer safe here."

"About the meeting..." Chen Yuan asked.

"It's all arranged." Qin Xiang lowered her voice. "Tonight at midnight, the Grand Princess will secretly leave the palace to offer incense at Biyun Temple in the Western Hills. She goes there every December, so it won't arouse suspicion. We'll meet at the temple."

Is it safe?

"The abbot of Biyun Temple is a former official from the reign of Emperor Renzong, so he's reliable," Qin Xiang said. "There's a secret passage in the temple; if something happens, we can leave through the back mountain."

Chen Yuan nodded: "Okay."

Qin Xiang took out two more sets of clothes: "Change into these. These are the clothes for the temple's servants. We'll disguise ourselves as vegetable cart drivers and sneak in."

His clothes were very ordinary, coarse cotton-padded clothes with patches.

Chen Yuan and Chen Jin changed into their new clothes and used the medicine Qin Xiang brought to wipe their faces and hands, making them look like servants who had worked hard all year round.

After dark, a donkey cart carrying vegetables stopped at the entrance of the alley.

Qin Xiang gestured for the two to get into the car.

The truck was piled high with cabbages and radishes. They crawled into the pile of vegetables and covered them with burlap sacks.

The donkey cart creaked and groaned as it set off.

The carriage was stuffy, and the smell of rotting vegetables was overwhelming. Chen Jin couldn't help but cough, and Chen Yuan covered his mouth, signaling him to be quiet.

The car traveled for about an hour before stopping.

Voices could be heard coming from outside.

"What are you doing?" It was the guard's voice.

"I'm delivering vegetables to Biyun Temple," the driver replied. "Tomorrow is the first day of the twelfth lunar month, and the temple is holding a religious ceremony, so they need fresh vegetables."

"Open it and take a look."

The carriage door was pulled open, and a guard shone a torch inside. Chen Yuan held his breath, his hand resting on his dagger.

The guard looked around for a while, found nothing unusual, and waved his hand: "Go in."

The door closed, and the donkey cart continued on its way.

After walking for another fifteen minutes, we finally stopped.

Qin Xiang lifted the sack: "We're here, come out quickly."