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

These days, Chen Yuan has been cramming on everything that "Chen Qianhu's son" should know—Chen Qianhu's name, where he was from, when he died in battle, what his achievements were, who else was in his family... He's memorizing it until his head is spinning.

Hearing the question, he raised his head: "Cao Jixiang has only two purposes in hosting this banquet. One is to test Your Highness's strength and the other is to show off the power of the Eastern Depot. Since that's the case, we might as well turn the tables on him."

"How can we turn the tables on them?"

"When he shows off, we watch. When he tests us, we pretend," Chen Yuan said. "We see what kind of act he wants to put on, and we play along. But we have to act better than him, so that he can't see through our true intentions."

A hint of approval flashed in the Grand Princess's eyes: "Well said. You will come with me."

Chen Yuan was taken aback: "Me?"

"right."

The Grand Princess stood up. "The son of Commander Chen, to repay his father's kindness, joined the Grand Princess's household—this story should be seen by Cao Jixiang himself."

Eunuch Li grew anxious: "Your Highness, this is too risky! Cao Jixiang is already suspicious of Young Master Mingyuan's identity; if he goes..."

"This trip will dispel his suspicions," the Grand Princess interrupted him. "The more you hide it, the more suspicious he'll become. If you take her out openly, he'll think: if there were really a problem, would the Grand Princess dare to be so blatant?"

Chen Yuan understood.

This is an open conspiracy.

Cao Jixiang is suspicious, so use his suspicion against him.

"I'll go," Chen Yuan said, "but Chen Jin can't go."

"Why?" Chen Jin had just returned from practicing martial arts outside and looked indignant upon hearing this.

"Because you have to stay home and look after the house." Chen Yuan patted his shoulder. "If we don't come back, you have to survive and finish what you're supposed to do."

Chen Jin's eyes reddened: "Brother Yuan..."

"Don't cry," Chen Yuan said. "A real man sheds blood, not tears."

The Grand Princess watched this scene with a sense of emotion.

These two brothers, who are not related by blood, have a bond that is deeper than that of many biological brothers.

This reminded her of herself and the King of Zhao, who had grown up together and shared a deep bond...

She shook her head, clearing her mind of these thoughts: "It's settled then. Eunuch Li, go and make the preparations. The banquet is tomorrow night, there's not much time, so make sure everything that needs to be taken care of is done properly."

"Yes."

At the same time, in the slums south of the city, at the Guandi Temple.

Qin Xiang stood at the temple entrance, looking at the beggars lying haphazardly inside, her brows furrowed.

Uncle Zhao stood beside her and whispered, "This is it. Imperial Censor Liu and his men are hiding here."

Is it safe?

"It's safe for now," Uncle Zhao said. "The temple keeper is one of my old subordinates, so he's reliable. But the Eastern Depot is cracking down hard; we can only hide for three more days at most."

Qin Xiang nodded and walked into the temple.

The temple was dilapidated, half of the face of the Guan Yu statue was missing, and the incense table was covered with a thick layer of dust.

In the corner, several small rooms were partitioned off with straw mats, where Liu Qiu and several other officials hid.

Upon seeing Qin Xiang, Liu Qiu struggled to get up.

He was injured – on his way home from court the day before, he was attacked by a group of “vagrants”, his leg was broken, and two of his ribs were fractured.

"Imperial Censor Liu, don't move." Qin Xiang pressed him down. "How are your injuries?"

"I won't die." Liu Qiu smiled bitterly. "Miss Qin, thank you for saving me. But I've dragged you into this."

"Imperial Censor Liu is too kind." Qin Xiang sat down on the straw mat. "Cao Jixiang wants to make an example of you, and you are that chicken. Saving you is not only for your own sake, but also for the sake of the court so that there are still people who dare to speak out."

A young censor standing nearby said indignantly, "The eunuch faction has gone too far! They dare to attack a high-ranking official in broad daylight! Is there no law left?"

"The law?" Liu Qiu sneered. "In the eyes of the Eastern Depot, they are the law."

Qin Xiang took out a cloth bag from her bosom, which contained some silver and medicine for wounds: "Use these for now. We'll arrange for you to leave the city once things have calmed down."

"Leave the city?" Liu Qiu shook his head. "I'm not leaving. Leaving would be admitting defeat."

"Imperial Censor Liu, as long as the green hills remain..."

"I appreciate Miss Qin's kindness," Liu Qiu interrupted her, "but at my age, death is nothing to regret. If I can use this life to expose the true face of the eunuch faction to the court and the public, it will be worth it."

Looking at this white-haired old minister, Qin Xiang felt both admiration and heartache.

This is the backbone of the Ming Dynasty; it would rather break than bend.

"So, what does Imperial Censor Liu intend to do..."

"Once I'm healed, I'll still submit a petition." A stubborn glint flashed in Liu Qiu's eyes. "If once isn't enough, I'll try twice; if twice isn't enough, I'll try three times. Unless Cao Jixiang kills me, I'll fight him to the bitter end!"

Other officials echoed this sentiment.

Qin Xiang knew she couldn't persuade him, so she stopped trying.

She gave Uncle Zhao a few instructions, then got up and left.

Upon reaching the temple entrance, Uncle Zhao whispered, "Miss Qin, this won't do. Cao Jixiang won't let this go; next time, it won't just be a broken leg."

"I know," Qin Xiang said, looking at the gloomy sky. "So we have to think of another way."

"What method?"

Qin Xiang did not answer.

She recalled the Grand Princess's words: "There must always be someone in the court who dares to speak out."

But now, those who dare to speak out are either suppressed or intimidated. How many are left?

"Save their lives first," Qin Xiang said. "We can discuss the rest later."

The two left the Guandi Temple.

Not far from the street corner, Qin Xiang suddenly stopped and turned to look at the street corner—there was a vendor selling steamed buns, kneading dough with his head down, but his eyes kept glancing this way.

"It has a tail," Qin Xiang whispered.

Uncle Zhao also noticed: "People from the Eastern Depot?"

"It doesn't seem like it." Qin Xiang observed, "The agents of the Eastern Depot wouldn't be this clumsy. It's more like...江湖人 (jianghu people, people from the martial arts world)."

"A江湖人 (jianghu person)?" Uncle Zhao frowned. "Why are they watching us?"

Qin Xiang thought for a moment and said, "Let's go ask them."

The two walked up to the pancake stall.

The vendor looked up and saw a young man in his twenties with dark skin and shrewd eyes.

"Two of you, would you like two steamed buns?" the vendor asked with a smile.

Qin Xiang stared at him: "You're not a pancake seller."

The vendor's smile froze: "Young lady, you're joking. I'm not selling pancakes, am I selling people?"

"No calluses on your hands, and no smell of cooking oil on you," Qin Xiang said calmly. "So, tell me, who sent you?"

The vendor's expression changed, and he suddenly pulled a short knife from under the chopping board.

But Uncle Zhao was faster; he kicked the short knife away and grabbed the vendor by the neck.

"explain."

The vendor, his face red and neck bulging from being choked, managed to say with difficulty, "...The Green Dragon Society...we are from the Green Dragon Society..."

Green Dragon Society?

Qin Xiang and Uncle Zhao exchanged a glance.

The Green Dragon Society is the largest gang in the capital, with influence in both the legitimate and criminal worlds, but it never interferes in the affairs of the imperial court.

Why would they target them?

"Why are you staring at us?" Qin Xiang asked.

"Someone...someone paid us...to keep an eye on people coming out of the Guandi Temple..." the vendor gasped. "We're just doing this for money...we don't know who our employer is..."

"What does the employer look like?"

"We've never met...the money was given through an intermediary..."

Qin Xiang knew she wouldn't get any more information, so she signaled Uncle Zhao to let go.

The vendor collapsed to the ground, coughing incessantly.

"Go back and tell your boss," Qin Xiang said coldly, "some money can be earned, some money can cost you your life. If you dare to take this job again, the Green Dragon Society will cease to exist."

After saying that, the two turned and left.

After walking quite a distance, Uncle Zhao finally asked, "Miss Qin, how did the Azure Dragon Society get involved?"

"There are two possibilities," Qin Xiang said. "One is that Cao Jixiang hired them, using underworld figures to monitor them, so it wouldn't be easily detected. The other is... someone else entirely."

"Who is it?"

Qin Xiang did not answer.

She thought of the Imperial Music Bureau, of the Duke of Cheng, of Cao Jixiang...

This pool is deeper than I imagined.

"Never mind that for now," Qin Xiang said. "The eldest princess is going to a banquet at the Eastern Depot tomorrow night, that's the most important thing right now."

"What do you need me to do?"

"You continue to protect Imperial Censor Liu and the others," Qin Xiang said. "I'm going to prepare for tomorrow night. The banquet at the Eastern Depot won't be very good."