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

"But people who have seen me before will recognize me," Chen Yuan replied.

"Yes," Qin Xiang said. "Yesterday, the guards on duty near Yongshou Palace were summoned by the Eastern Depot to identify portraits. Eunuch Li found out about it."

Chen Yuan paused for a moment, then asked, "Does the Grand Princess know?"

"I don't know yet," Qin Xiang said. "Eunuch Li told me to tell you first, and see what you think."

"Tell her," Chen Yuan said. "There's no point in hiding it."

"But..."

Chen Yuan turned and walked into the hall. "What's meant to happen will happen. Rather than being passively attacked, we should take the initiative to deal with it."

As Qin Xiang watched his retreating figure, she suddenly realized that this young man was more composed than she had imagined.

That composure wasn't feigned; it was something he naturally developed after experiencing life and death and witnessing bloodshed.

The two arrived at the rear hall.

The Grand Princess was indeed still awake, reviewing memorials.

Upon hearing the report, she put down her pen and rubbed her temples.

"I understand." She was surprisingly calm. "Cao Jixiang would investigate sooner or later. I just didn't expect it to be so soon."

"Your Highness, what should we do now?" Qin Xiang asked.

The Grand Princess didn't answer, but looked at Chen Yuan: "Child, what do you say?"

Chen Yuan thought for a moment: "Let's play along."

"How so?"

"Cao Jixiang suspects my identity, but isn't sure," Chen Yuan said. "Then we'll give him a definite identity—but not a real one."

"you mean..."

"Forge an identity, one that Cao Jixiang can believe, but which won't implicate the Prince of Zhao," Chen Yuan said. "For example... a descendant of a soldier who was saved by the Prince of Zhao, who was adopted by the Grand Princess to repay a debt of gratitude."

The Grand Princess's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea. The Prince of Zhao did indeed save many people back then, including a commander named Chen who died in battle in the northern deserts. He had a son who later went missing..."

"That's it," Chen Yuan said. "Make the story believable, gather enough evidence. Let Cao Jixiang investigate, and he'll find what we want him to find."

Qin Xiang couldn't help but praise, "Brilliant plan! This explains both your identity and why the Grand Princess treats you so well—to repay the kindness shown to Prince Zhao back then."

"But there's a problem," Princess Dayue said. "Cao Jixiang is suspicious. A story alone isn't enough; we also need witnesses."

"I'll find the witness."

Uncle Zhao's voice came from outside the door.

He pushed open the door and entered, looking travel-worn, clearly having just returned. "I know that Commander Chen from back then. He did have a son who went missing at the age of three and was never found. He still has relatives in his hometown; I can make arrangements for them."

The Grand Princess looked at the three people before her and suddenly smiled: "It seems you are all ready."

Chen Yuan nodded: "Since we're going to fight, we have to fight to the very end."

"Alright." The Grand Princess stood up and walked to the window. "Then let's do it your way. Uncle Zhao, you're in charge of the witnesses and evidence. Qin Xiang, you're in charge of spreading the story. Make it natural, not too deliberate."

"Yes."

"As for you..." The Grand Princess looked at Chen Yuan, "From today onwards, you are Chen Qianhu's son, Chen Mingyuan. The name Zhu Mingyuan can no longer be used."

"clear."

The Grand Princess then looked at Qin Xiang: "There's one more thing. Cao Jixiang won't let Liu Qiu and his men get away with it. Find a way to protect them secretly. You don't need to make it too obvious, just make sure they don't die."

Qin Xiang frowned: "Your Highness, I'm afraid... Cao Jixiang is in a bad mood right now. Wouldn't protecting them at this time...?"

"So it has to be done secretly," the Grand Princess said. "Cao Jixiang can make an example of someone, but we can't let him kill them all. There always has to be someone in the court who dares to speak out, otherwise, the Ming Dynasty will truly become the domain of the eunuch faction."

She spoke calmly, but a hint of pain flashed in her eyes.

Chen Yuan saw this and a complex emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.

This woman, his mother, may not have been a perfect mother, but she was a competent politician.

At least, she still has this country in her heart.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will make the arrangements," Qin Xiang said.

The Grand Princess nodded and waved wearily, "Go ahead. I'm tired."

The three of them left the inner hall.

As they walked into the corridor, Uncle Zhao suddenly said, "Your Highness...it hasn't been easy."

Qin Xiang sighed, "Yes. We're beset by internal and external troubles, and we still have to protect people like us."

Chen Yuan remained silent.

He looked at the dawning sky in the east and suddenly remembered something Zhang Meng had said: "It's hard to be a good person in this world. But it's precisely because it's hard that there's so much more reason for people to do it."

He didn't understand it then, but he understands it a little now.

"Uncle Zhao, do you need my help with the witnesses?" Chen Yuan asked.

"No need," Uncle Zhao said. "You're safe in the palace. Leave the outside matters to me and Miss Qin."

Qin Xiang also said, "Yes, your most important task now is to adapt to your new identity. You need to figure out what kind of person Chen Qianhu's son should be. Cao Jixiang will definitely find an opportunity to test you."

Chen Yuan nodded: "I understand."

The three of them went their separate ways.

When Chen Yuan returned to the side hall, Chen Jin had already woken up and was washing up.

"Brother Yuan, you didn't sleep last night?" Chen Jin noticed the bloodshot in his eyes.

"I took a nap," Chen Yuan said. "Chen Jin, from today onwards, my name is Chen Mingyuan. Remember, I am the son of the late Commander Chen, and you are my cousin."

Chen Jin was taken aback, then realized: "Someone's investigating you?"

"Hmm." Chen Yuan sat down. "Cao Jixiang is investigating my identity. We need to give him one."

"Then...our grudge..."

"You must avenge your family, but you have to live first." Chen Yuan looked at him. "Chen Jin, you must remember, only by living can you have a chance to take revenge. If you die, you have nothing left."

Chen Jin nodded vigorously: "I understand. Brother Yuan, I'll listen to you."

Chen Yuan patted him on the shoulder: "Go practice your skills. You have a long road ahead of you, and you can't get by without ability."

Chen Jin went to the courtyard.

Chen Yuan sat by the window, watching the sky gradually brighten.

A bell rang outside the palace walls; it was the fifth watch of the night.

A new day, a new identity, a new battle.

Chen Yuan clenched his fist.

come on.

Let the storm rage on.

He wanted to see just how many demons and monsters were lurking within this deep palace.

The sky outside the window was covered with dark clouds.

It's going to snow again.

On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, Yongshou Palace received a note.

The invitation was sent by the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. It had a gold-embossed cover and neat handwriting, but the content was strange. Cao Jixiang wanted to hold a banquet at the Eastern Depot's office to celebrate the "great victory at Xuanfu" and invited the Grand Princess to "take the time to attend".

Along with the invitation came a long list of guests, including civil and military officials, members of the imperial family, and nobles—more than sixty people in total.

"A weasel paying respects to a chicken." Eunuch Li held the invitation, his face grim. "Your Highness, this banquet cannot be attended."

The Grand Princess sat on the warm couch, looking at the invitation repeatedly: "Not going? Then Cao Jixiang will have even more to say. 'The Grand Princess won't even grace us with her presence at the banquet celebrating the great victory at the border. Could it be that she is dissatisfied with the recapture of Xuanfu?' -- If this gets out, it will be enough for the censors to write ten memorials."

"But what kind of place is the Eastern Depot? It's a den of dragons and tigers! Your Highness's life is of utmost importance..."

"Precisely because it's a den of dragons and tigers, we must go." The Grand Princess put down the invitation. "If I don't go, it will seem like I'm afraid of him. If I go, he won't dare to act rashly." She paused. "Besides, this is an opportunity."

Eunuch Li was puzzled.

The Grand Princess didn't explain, but instead looked at Chen Yuan beside her: "Mingyuan, what do you think?"