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

Zhu Yong took the letter and slowly unfolded it.

The letter was written by the Grand Princess; her handwriting was elegant yet strong.

The message was simple, consisting of only a few sentences: "Duke Cheng, please be wise: the scourge of the eunuch faction is greater than that of the Tartars. I hope you will prioritize the stability of the country and the nation, and not be used by treacherous people. If you repent and return from your misguided path, the past can be forgiven."

The letter was stamped with the official seal of Yongshou Palace at the end.

Zhu Yong's hands trembled: "What...what time is this...?"

"It was delivered yesterday," Zhang said. "The Grand Princess also sent someone to say that as long as you are willing to turn back, she will still acknowledge you as her uncle."

uncle.

Zhu Yong is the eldest princess's cousin, the current emperor's cousin. In terms of kinship, he should indeed be called uncle.

However, due to political differences, the two families have become estranged over the years.

"She...she still acknowledges me as her uncle?"

"I admit it," Zhang said. "Not only do I admit it, but I also said that as long as you are willing to help bring down Cao Jixiang, I will guarantee your Zhu family wealth and prosperity, and I will forgive and forget what happened."

Zhu Yong was tempted.

The Grand Princess's promise was far more substantial than Cao Jixiang's empty promises.

And... he was genuinely afraid.

What Cao Jixiang was going to do was to confiscate their property and exterminate their entire clan, something he dared not do.

"But... what about Cao Jixiang..."

"I have my own way of dealing with Cao Jixiang." A ruthless glint flashed in Zhang's eyes. "You just need to do as I say at tomorrow's court meeting."

"How do I do it?"

Zhang whispered in his ear.

Zhu Yong listened, his eyes widening until he finally gasped, "This...this can't possibly work?"

"It has to be done, no matter what," Zhang said. "This is our only chance. Either the entire Zhu family is executed, or we fight for a better future. You choose."

Zhu Yong gritted his teeth: "I...I'll listen to my wife!"

Only then did Madam Zhang smile: "That's more like it. Go, wash your face, change your clothes, and look like a duke."

At the same time, in a side hall of Yongshou Palace.

Chen Jin is organizing documents.

These days, following Chen Yuan's instructions, he categorized and filed important letters, copies of memorials, and account details, putting them into several iron boxes.

The box also contained lime and camphor to prevent moisture and insects.

"Young Master Jin, please rest for a while," said Eunuch Li, bringing in tea. "These matters can be handled by the servants."

"Eunuch Li, at this time, we can't always rely on the people below." Chen Jin wiped his sweat. "Brother Yuan said that the more important the matter, the more we must do it ourselves."

Eunuch Li sighed, "Young Master Chen is right. In this palace, everyone seems to be one of our own, but who knows which one is a spy for the Eastern Depot?"

Just then, a young eunuch hurried in and whispered a few words in Eunuch Li's ear.

Eunuch Li's expression changed, and he waved for the young eunuch to leave.

"What happened?" Chen Jin asked.

"Imperial Censor Liu...is gone." Eunuch Li's voice was low.

Chen Jin's hand trembled, and ink dripped onto the paper, spreading into a black blot: "When?"

"This morning," said Eunuch Li, "the Eastern Depot interrogated him last night, using excessive torture... When they found him this morning, he was already cold."

Chen Jin closed her eyes.

Liu Qiu's stubborn face appeared before my eyes—in the Guandi Temple, that unyielding old minister, in the end, still couldn't hold on.

"Where's the body?"

"The Eastern Depot won't let us take it, saying they need to perform an autopsy." Eunuch Li smiled bitterly. "They say it's an autopsy, but it's really just to destroy the evidence. By the time it's returned, it probably won't even be human."

Chen Jin clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

This is the imperial court; this is the struggle.

It's bloodless, but more brutal than a battlefield.

"Eunuch Li, Imperial Censor Liu...did they leave any message?"

"Yes." Eunuch Li took out a crumpled piece of paper from his bosom, on which were written in blood: "A loyal minister dies for his country, heaven and earth bear witness."

The handwriting was crooked and distorted, clearly written when the person was on the verge of death.

Chen Jin took the note, her hands trembling.

He thought of his father, Chen Xi. Was he like this before he died? Did he also think of "a loyal minister dying for his principles"?

"Young Master Jin?" Eunuch Li looked at him with concern.

"I'm fine." Chen Jin took a deep breath, carefully folded the note, and put it in her bosom. "The family of Imperial Censor Liu..."

"Arrangements have been made to get her out of the city," said Eunuch Li. "Miss Qin has entrusted the Qinglong Society with escorting her, and she should be arriving in Tongzhou soon."

"That's good." Chen Jin nodded. "Eunuch Li, I need to trouble you with something."

"Please speak, sir."

"Don't tell His Highness about Imperial Censor Liu's matter yet," Chen Jin said. "His Highness has been worried enough lately; we should keep it from him for as long as possible."

A look of approval flashed in Eunuch Li's eyes: "Young Master Jin has grown up and knows how to think of His Highness. Good, this old servant understands."

Chen Jin continued organizing the documents, but her mind was no longer on them.

Liu Qiu's death was like a wake-up call, striking his heart.

This is no longer a game, no longer revenge.

This is a war, a war of life and death.

But they had no way out.

Chen Yuan returned in the evening.

He was travel-worn and tired, but his eyes were bright.

"Brother Yuan!" Chen Jin greeted him, "How is it?"

"It's done."

Chen Yuan sat down, took the tea Chen Jin offered, and drank it all in one gulp. "The Azure Dragon Society has made arrangements. They have people in every one of the nine gates of the capital. If anything changes, at least they can guarantee that we can get out."

"And what about the palace?"

Chen Yuan put down his teacup. "Cao Jixiang has taken control of the Qianqing Palace, but the Directorate of Ceremonial is in chaos. Wang Zhen wants to take his place, and several old eunuchs are also dissatisfied with Cao Jixiang. Miss Qin is currently contacting them; there's hope."

Chen Jin told Chen Yuan about Liu Qiu's death.

Chen Yuan remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Imperial Censor Liu will not have died in vain. Someone will pay for this debt."

"Who will repay? How will they repay?" Chen Jin's voice trembled. "Cao Jixiang wields immense power, and the Emperor is gravely ill... Can we really win?"

"Yes," Chen Yuan said, looking at him. "Because we have no other choice. If we lose, we die. If we win, we have a chance to live."

This is harsh, but true.

Chen Jin suddenly remembered a sentence her father had said: "In this world, it's not about whether you want to fight or not; it's that if you don't fight, others will take your life."

Now he understands.

"Brother Yuan, I want to...do something," Chen Jin said.

"What do you want to do?"

"Investigate the Duke of Cheng," Chen Jin said. "Miss Qin said the Azure Dragon Society is investigating, but that's a江湖 (jianghu) method. I want to investigate using official methods—the Duke of Cheng's accounts, his shady businesses, there will always be clues."

Chen Yuan looked at him, a hint of relief in his eyes: "Good. But be careful. The Duke of Cheng's mansion is not like the Eastern Depot, but it's not a safe place either."

"I know," Chen Jin said. "I'll be careful."

Just then, Qin Xiang rushed in, her face grave: "Something's happened."

"A message came from the Qianqing Palace that the Emperor... has awakened. However, he is delirious and only recognizes Cao Jixiang. Taking advantage of this, Cao Jixiang drafted an edict to abolish the Grand Princess's power of regency and hand it over to the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Grand Secretariat for joint administration."

Chen Yuan's eyes turned cold: "This is an attempt to seize power."

"Not only that," Qin Xiang said. "The imperial decree also mentioned a thorough investigation into the 'evil spirits within the palace,' pointing directly at Yongshou Palace."

Chen Jin grew anxious: "Then Your Highness..."

"His Highness already knows."

"She is waiting for you in the back hall."