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

On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, at night, at 3:45 PM.

The Eastern Depot was located north of the Dong'an Gate of the Imperial City. Although it did not occupy a large area, it was enough to make all the civil and military officials in the court turn pale at the mere mention of its name.

The courtyard is surrounded by high walls and deep courtyards. The main gate is always closed, and only the side gate is open for people to enter and exit.

There was no plaque above the door, only a white paper lantern with a black "factory" character written on it, swaying in the cold wind like a banner summoning souls.

Chen Yuan had been lying on the roof of the building across the street for half an hour.

Snowflakes fell on his black night clothes and quickly melted, leaving only a damp patch.

He remained motionless, his eyes fixed on the side door of the Eastern Depot's office.

"Remember, the Eastern Depot patrols every fifteen minutes, three people each time," Uncle Zhao's voice echoed in my ears. "Climb over the west wall and avoid the gatekeeper. Sun Desheng's study is on the second floor of the east wing of the back office, the one with the east-facing window."

Uncle Zhao didn't come.

He said he would be there to meet them outside, so that if anything went wrong, he could create chaos and give Chen Yuan a chance to escape.

Chen Yuan knew that this was Uncle Zhao's excuse.

The real reason was that Qin Xiang was worried and wanted to leave Uncle Zhao outside so that if Chen Yuan made a mistake, at least someone could bring the news back.

But Chen Yuan didn't care.

He served as a night watchman for three years, carrying out seventeen infiltration missions, sixteen of which were successful and one failed.

During that defeat, eleven brothers died, and only he returned alive.

It wasn't because of good luck, but because he was ruthless and calm.

The sound of the clapper at midnight came from afar, long and mournful.

The side gate of the Eastern Depot's office opened, and a group of agents filed out to begin their night patrol.

Chen Yuan counted them: twelve people, divided into four groups of three, heading in four different directions.

In an instant, like a falling leaf, it drifted down from the roof and landed silently.

I crossed the street in a few steps and arrived at the west wall of the East Factory.

The wall was two zhang high, smooth as a mirror, with no place to lean on.

But Chen Yuan was prepared – he took the grappling hook from his waist, swung it twice, and tossed it upwards.

"Click."

The grappling hook gripped the top of the wall.

Chen Yuan tested his strength, then climbed the rope with the swiftness of a monkey.

He climbed to the top of the wall and crouched down to observe.

Inside the wall was a small courtyard, piled with miscellaneous items, and no one was there.

There are lights in the distance; that's the gatehouse.

He retracted his grappling hook, leaped lightly, and rolled upon landing to dissipate the force, disappearing into the shadows.

According to the map given by Uncle Zhao, it takes three gates to get from here to the back office.

The first gate is the ceremonial gate, which is guarded year-round. But Uncle Zhao said that when the shift changes at 3 AM, the guards will leave for a short while to go to the toilet.

Chen Yuan glanced at the sky; it would take another half an hour.

He hid behind a pile of junk, holding his breath.

The snow was still falling, and soon a thin layer covered him.

He stood motionless, like a stone statue.

Time passed little by little.

Footsteps could be heard in the distance; the patrolling guards were returning.

They walked and chatted in groups of three.

"It's fucking cold today, I'm freezing to death."

"Be content. Chief Wang is doing us a favor by letting us keep watch at night."

"Come on, Boss Sun isn't here tonight. Who are we keeping watch for?"

"Shh—keep your voice down! You dare to talk about Boss Sun's affairs?"

The three of them talked as they entered the gatehouse.

Chen Yuan's eyes turned cold.

Is Sun Desheng not here?

Qin Xiang said he would return at 9 PM, could something have changed?

Just then, the sound of a door opening came from the direction of the ceremonial gate.

The two guards came out while fastening their belts, cursing as they returned to their posts.

It's time to change shifts.

Chen Yuan moved like a shadow, swiftly along the wall, and when he reached the ceremonial gate, he slipped past the guards the moment they turned around.

The guard seemed to sense something and looked back, but only saw an empty courtyard and falling snowflakes.

"Damn it..." the guard muttered, and continued to stand guard.

The second gate was a hanging flower gate, unguarded, but locked.

Chen Yuan pulled a wire from his hair bun—an essential tool for night watchmen—and inserted it into the keyhole, gently stirring it.

"Click".

The lock is open.

He pushed the door open and entered, then closed it behind him.

Inside the door was a corridor leading to the main hall. The main hall was still lit, and people were talking.

Chen Yuan crouched behind a pillar, listening intently.

"...That kid definitely has something going on." It was Wang Zhen's voice. "At Li Xian's birthday banquet, the way I looked at him was definitely not that of a scholar from Jiangnan."

"Your Excellency is wise," another voice flattered. "Should I send someone to investigate his background?"

"Investigate? How? Qin Xiang is a shrewd woman. Since she dared to bring him out, she must have made preparations." Wang Zhen sneered. "But... you can't hide forever. Have you made arrangements with Sun Desheng?"

"It's all arranged. If he dares to come, he'll never leave alive."

Chen Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

This is a trap!

Sun Desheng was not there, but there was an ambush in the study.

Wang Zhen had long suspected him and deliberately leaked the news of the love letter to lure him into a trap.

To retreat or to advance?

Chen Yuan hesitated for only a moment before making his decision—to go.

Since he'd already come all this way, leaving empty-handed wasn't his style.

Moreover, the bigger the trap, the more likely it is to contain something real.

A man like Wang Zhen would definitely keep the real love letters close at hand as key evidence to bring down the Grand Princess.

The question is how to obtain it.

Inside the main hall, Wang Zhen was still speaking: "...Did you keep that letter safe?"

"It's hidden away in the secret compartment in the adult's study."

"Okay. I'll go check. You guys stay here and keep watch; don't let a single fly in."

Footsteps sounded, and Wang Zhen left the main hall and walked towards the east wing.

Chen Yuan's heart stirred.

The opportunity is here.

After Wang Zhen walked away, Chen Yuan emerged from the shadows and walked along the other side of the corridor towards the east wing.

On the second floor of the east wing, two rooms were lit up: one was Wang Zhen's study, and the other was Sun Desheng's study.

Wang Zhen went into his study.

Chen Yuan went to the window of Sun Desheng's study, listened, but there was no sound from inside.

He pushed open the window—it wasn't locked—and climbed in.

The study was small and simply furnished, with a desk, two bookshelves, and a daybed.

Chen Yuan quickly searched the bookshelves; the books were all military strategy classics, and the desk drawers contained official documents, but no love letters.

Where is the hidden compartment?

Uncle Zhao said that Sun Desheng's secret compartment was behind the bookshelf.

Chen Yuan walked to the bookshelf and carefully examined it.

The bookshelf is made of rosewood; it's very heavy and can't be moved.

He checked each layer and finally found an inconspicuous bulge on the second layer.

Press.

"Click."

The bookshelf silently moved half a foot away, revealing the wall behind it.

There was a hidden door in the wall, with a brass lock hanging on it.

Chen Yuan took out the wire again and unlocked the lock.

It took a while this time because the lock was very delicate.

But he was patient, testing the waters little by little.

"Click".

The lock is open.

The hidden door led to a small space containing several wooden boxes.

Chen Yuan opened the first box, which contained gold and silver; the second box contained jewelry; and the third box contained a stack of letters.

He picked up the letter and quickly flipped through it.

Most of them are secret letters exchanged between Sun Desheng and others, some concerning embezzlement, some concerning framing, and some concerning court infighting.

Turning to the bottom, a letter caught his attention.

The envelope was made of ordinary yellow paper, but the seal had a special mark on it—a coiled dragon.

The mark of the Prince Zhao's Mansion.

Chen Yuan's heart raced.

He opened the letter and, by the moonlight streaming in through the window, saw the handwriting on it.