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

A hint of disappointment flashed in the Grand Princess's eyes, but she quickly concealed it: "No rush, take your time."

She stood up. "Eunuch Li, take them to the side hall to rest."

"Yes."

The four followed Eunuch Li out of the inner hall.

Walking down the corridor, Chen Jin whispered to Chen Yuan, "Brother Yuan, why didn't you call out?"

After a long silence, Chen Yuan finally said, "It's not that I don't want to, it's just... I'm not used to it."

For twenty years, he has never called her "mother".

When I was a child in the Chen family, I called Madam Chen Xi "Mother", but she was never my biological mother.

Now that I suddenly have a biological mother, I don't know how to get along with her.

The side hall was very clean, and the furnishings were simple but complete.

Eunuch Li arranged for two young eunuchs to serve him, and also brought hot soup and snacks.

"Young masters, please rest first. If you need anything, please let us know," said Eunuch Li. "There are many rules in the palace. You shouldn't move around freely during the day, and even less so at night. We'll wait for His Highness's instructions."

Chen Yuan nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."

After Eunuch Li left, Chen Jin collapsed onto the bed: "I'm exhausted... This night felt like a dream."

Chen Yuan walked to the window and pushed it open a crack.

Outside the window are palace walls, and beyond those walls are more palace walls.

Layer upon layer, stretching as far as the eye can see.

This is the imperial palace, the most prestigious and also the most dangerous place in the world.

"Brother Yuan, you mean... we'll be living here from now on?" Chen Jin asked.

"For now," Chen Yuan said. "We'll make further plans once things are settled."

"It's over..." Chen Jin murmured, "When will it be over?"

Chen Yuan did not answer.

He didn't know it himself.

But one thing he was very clear about: from the moment he stepped into this palace, he could never go back.

Whether he returned to the border and was not arrested that night, or returned to Jiangnan to live as an ordinary person, it was impossible.

His fate was now inextricably linked to this palace and to the mother he had just reunited with.

One glory and one glory.

A bell tolled outside the window; it was the palace's morning bell.

It's almost dawn.

There's a saying in Beijing: "On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, your chin will freeze off."

This year's Laba Festival is particularly fitting; the north wind is so strong it hurts your face, and the moat is so frozen you could run a horse through it.

Even the coldest weather can't freeze the scheming in people's hearts.

Duke Zhu Yong of Chengguo got up exceptionally early today.

It wasn't that he was diligent; he simply had something on his mind—Cao Jixiang had sent someone last night to deliver a message saying that he had "important matters to discuss."

As for what important matter it was, Zhu Yong knew perfectly well: it was nothing more than urging him to quickly state his position and which side he was on.

"Your Excellency, the sedan chair is ready," the steward announced from outside the door.

Zhu Yong straightened his clothes in front of the bronze mirror.

The man in the mirror was an elderly man in his early fifties, with a square face and a wide mouth, his eyes revealing both shrewdness and greed.

He stroked his chin, thinking of Su Xiaoxiao from the Jiaofangsi, and felt a surge of heat in his heart.

That girl was only eighteen, with a waist so thin you could snap it in half, and a voice so sweet it could drip honey.

Unfortunately, the tigress at home keeps a close eye on me.

Zhu Yong shuddered at the thought of his wife, Madam Zhang.

The aunt from the Duke of England's mansion had the same temper as her father, Zhang Fu—she was a woman of her word, and would readily resort to family discipline.

Last year, he secretly took a concubine. When his wife found out, she led a group of people to his door, cut off the concubine's hair, and sent her to a nunnery.

Zhu Yong shook his head, trying to shake off Su Xiaoxiao's shadow.

"Let's go to Eunuch Cao's place."

The sedan chair left the Duke of Cheng's mansion and headed towards Dong'an Gate.

Halfway there, the sedan chair carriers suddenly stopped.

"What's going on?" Zhu Yong lifted the sedan curtain.

"Your Excellency, there's a funeral procession ahead, and the road is blocked," the steward replied.

Zhu Yong frowned: "Take a detour."

The sedan chair turned into a small alley.

The alley was narrow, only wide enough for one sedan chair to pass through.

As they reached the middle, another sedan chair came from the opposite direction, and the two chairs blocked each other, preventing either from passing.

"Get out of the way!" Zhu Yong's steward shouted. "The sedan chair of the Duke of Cheng's mansion dares to block the road?"

A woman's voice came from the sedan chair opposite, unhurried: "What's wrong with the Duke of Cheng's mansion? Did you build this road?"

Before the words were finished, the sedan curtain was lifted, and a woman in her forties stepped out. She was dressed in plain clothes, but the fabric was made of the finest brocade, and she wore a white jade hairpin in her hair, exuding an elegant and graceful air.

Zhu Yong's heart skipped a beat when he saw her—wasn't this the second aunt of the Duke of Ying's mansion, his wife's younger sister?

"Oh, it's my brother-in-law." Aunt Zhang Er said with a forced smile, "Where are you going so early?"

Zhu Yong quickly got out of the sedan chair: "Second Sister, what's this...?"

"I'm going to give Cao Gonggong some face," Aunt Zhang said casually. "I heard he's been getting quite close to my brother-in-law lately. I'm going to ask if he's up to something good and is keeping it from the Zhang family."

Zhu Yong broke out in a cold sweat: "Second sister, you're joking. I just... just went to catch up with some old friends."

"Catch up?" Aunt Zhang Er took two steps closer and lowered her voice, "Brother-in-law, let me remind you, who is Cao Jixiang? The head of the eunuch faction! If you get too close to him, be careful not to get into trouble. Not only will my sister object, but even our old subordinates from the Zhang family won't stand idly by."

These words were spoken with a subtle but firm tone, and Zhu Yong understood: the Zhang family already knew about his collusion with Cao Jixiang.

"Second sister, you've misunderstood. We were just catching up..."

"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, you know the answer in your heart." Aunt Zhang Er turned and got into the sedan chair. "By the way, I heard that a new courtesan has arrived at the Imperial Music Bureau, her name is Su Xiaoxiao, and she sings quite well. When will you take me to hear her sing?"

The sedan chair left, leaving Zhu Yong standing there, his clothes soaked with sweat.

This "chance encounter" was naturally arranged by Uncle Zhao.

He managed to get Zhang Ergu's help through his old connections with the Embroidered Uniform Guard; the timing and location were calculated precisely.

As for the results, you can tell from Zhu Yong's expression—it worked.

Meanwhile, in the side hall of Yongshou Palace.

Chen Yuan is practicing his swordplay.

Since weapons were not allowed in the palace, he found a wooden stick and used it as a makeshift knife.

His moves were still the same old ones from the Night Scouts: simple, sharp, and deadly.

The wooden sticks whistled through the air, swirling up the snow on the ground.

Chen Jin was looking at the book under the eaves, holding a copy of "The Art of War" in her hands, which Qin Xiang had found for her.

He struggled to read it—although he had read books, military treatises and the Four Books and Five Classics were ultimately different.

"Brother Yuan, take a break." Chen Jin handed over a towel.

Chen Yuan took it, wiped his sweat, and asked, "How's your understanding of military strategy?"

"It's giving me a headache," Chen Jin said honestly. "The saying 'The best strategy is to subdue the enemy without fighting; the next best is to disrupt their alliances' sounds easy, but it's hard to do."

"Take your time." Chen Yuan sat down on the steps. "Back when I was a scout, this was the first lesson I taught as a centurion. He said that fighting a war isn't a contest of strength; you can't rely on brute force alone. You have to use your brain."

"But I feel that using my brain is more tiring than using a knife."

Chen Yuan smiled.

This kid did tell the truth.

Just then, Eunuch Li hurried over: "Young masters, His Highness invites you."

The two followed Eunuch Li to the rear hall. The Grand Princess was reading memorials, her brows furrowed.

Seeing them come in, he put down his pen and rubbed his temples.

"Urgent report from the border," she said bluntly. "Xuanfu has been recovered."

Chen Yuan was taken aback: "So fast?"

"General Yang Hong of Datong led his troops to reinforce the city, attacking from both inside and outside, and the Tatars retreated," said the Grand Princess. "However, nine out of ten houses in Xuanfu Town are empty, and the city walls are severely damaged. It will take at least three years to recover."

Chen Jin couldn't help but ask, "Then... what about General Zhao?"

"He's escaped." The Grand Princess sneered. "It's said he fled to the grasslands and surrendered to the Tatars. The court has issued a warrant for his capture and is offering a reward of a thousand taels of gold."

Chen Yuan remained silent.

Zhao Guang was a good-for-nothing; he deserved to die.

The people of Xuanfu and the soldiers who died in battle were pitiful.

"Let's get down to business." The Grand Princess tapped the table. "As for Duke Cheng, Commander Zhao has already made his move. Just now, news came that Zhu Yong was caught red-handed by his sister-in-law on his way to see Cao Jixiang, and he slunk home."