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

The three of them rushed to the rear hall.

The Grand Princess stood by the window, watching the snow falling outside, her back view lonely and resolute.

"Your Highness," Chen Yuan bowed.

"They've arrived." The Grand Princess turned around, her face revealing neither joy nor anger. "You know about the imperial decree?"

"Understood," Chen Yuan said. "How does Your Highness intend to respond?"

"I have already submitted a memorial requesting an audience with the Emperor," the Grand Princess said, "but Cao Jixiang turned it away, saying that His Majesty is unwell and will not see anyone."

"This is to isolate the inside from the outside," Chen Yuan said.

"right."

The Grand Princess walked to the table and spread out a map. "So, we have to think of another way."

The map is a floor plan of the palace, with detailed markings of the location of each palace and hall, as well as the arrangement of guards.

"Cao Jixiang controlled the Qianqing Palace, but the palace was not just the Qianqing Palace."

The Grand Princess pointed to several points on the map, "The Cining Palace, the Kunning Palace, the Wenhua Hall... we have people in all these places."

"Your Highness means..."

"Force your way in."

The Grand Princess said, "Take advantage of the fact that Cao Jixiang has not yet fully taken control of the situation and force an audience with the Emperor. As long as we see the Emperor, everything will turn around."

Chen Yuan frowned: "It's too risky. The Qianqing Palace is heavily guarded; forcing our way in would be treason."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" The Grand Princess looked at him. "Wait for Cao Jixiang to announce the decree to the world? Wait for me to be deposed? Wait for you to be labeled a 'monster' and executed?"

Chen Yuan remained silent.

Indeed, waiting any longer would be a dead end.

"I have an idea," he suddenly said.

"explain."

"A feint to the east while attacking in the west." Chen Yuan pointed to the map. "Cao Jixiang's attention is all on the Qianqing Palace, so let's start from elsewhere. For example... the duty room of the Directorate of Ceremonial."

Qin Xiang's eyes lit up: "You mean..."

"Since Cao Jixiang drafted the edict, the edict must be archived in the Directorate of Ceremonial. If we can obtain the original, we can prove that it was a forged edict."

"But the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is also a den of dragons and tigers..." Chen Jin said worriedly.

Chen Yuan said firmly, "No matter how dangerous it is, we have to go. Besides, the guards at the Directorate of Ceremonial are definitely weaker than those at the Qianqing Palace. We have a chance."

The Grand Princess pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Alright. But who will go?"

"I'll go," Chen Yuan said. "Miss Qin will assist, and the Qinglong Society will provide backup outside."

"I'll go too," Chen Jin said.

"No way." Chen Yuan and Chen Yuan said in unison.

Chen Jin became anxious: "Why? I'm also a member of the Chen family, I want to contribute too!"

"Because you have a more important task," the Grand Princess said. "Go to the Duke of Cheng's residence."

"Chengguo Duke's Mansion?"

"Yes," said the Grand Princess. "The attitude of the Duke of Cheng will be crucial at tomorrow's court assembly. Go see him and tell him that I agree to his conditions, as long as he acts according to plan tomorrow."

Chen Jin was stunned: "I...I'll go?"

"Yes, you go." The Grand Princess looked at him. "Chen Jin, you are no longer a child. There are some things you should take responsibility for."

Chen Jin looked at the Grand Princess, then at Chen Yuan, and finally nodded vigorously: "Okay, I'll go."

The plan is set.

Chen Yuan and Qin Xiang went to the Directorate of Ceremonial to steal the imperial edict, Chen Jin went to the Duke of Cheng's mansion to deliver a message, and the Grand Princess was stationed at Yongshou Palace, ready to respond to any contingencies.

The time was set at midnight.

As night deepened, the snow fell heavier and heavier.

Chen Yuan stood by the window, watching the snow falling all around him.

Tomorrow is the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, and there are only half a month left until the end of the year.

These two weeks will determine the fate of many people.

Including his.

"Brother Yuan." Chen Jin walked over and handed him a cloak. "It's cold, put on another layer."

Chen Yuan took the cloak and patted his younger brother on the shoulder: "Are you scared?"

"I'm afraid," Chen Jin said honestly, "but I have to do it even if I'm afraid."

"Yes, we have to do it even if we're afraid." Chen Yuan smiled. "Remember, no matter what happens, live on. Only by living can there be hope."

Chen Jin nodded: "I'll remember. Brother Yuan, you... you must live too."

The two brothers exchanged a glance, and everything was understood without a word.

Outside the window, the wind and snow howled.

The sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, at midnight.

The capital city was as quiet as a tomb.

The weight of the snow broke the bare branches, making a crisp "crack" sound that was particularly jarring in the dead of night.

The night watchman, carrying a lantern, hurried through the streets and alleys with his neck hunched, muttering, "The weather is dry, be careful with fire," while his eyes vigilantly scanned every shadow—tonight, even the dogs weren't barking.

Outside the office of the Directorate of Ceremonial, eight agents of the Eastern Depot stood with their hands on their swords.

The cold wind whipped snowflakes against their faces, but they stood ramrod straight, their eyes unblinking.

The light was on in the duty room, and two figures were projected onto the window paper, talking in hushed tones.

"Godfather, the imperial decree has been stamped and will be sent to the cabinet tomorrow morning."

Wang Zhen's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Cao Jixiang sat in his armchair, toying with a jade thumb ring in his hand: "Have things been arranged with the cabinet?"

"It's all taken care of." Wang Zhen bowed. "Grand Secretary Yang received 50,000 taels and agreed to take the lead in seconding the motion. The other Grand Secretaries have also been taken care of."

"Alright." Cao Jixiang smiled, a chilling smile. "What about the Grand Princess?"

"Yongshou Palace is sealed off; not even a fly can get out. If the imperial decree is issued tomorrow morning, she'll be a cripple."

Wang Zhen paused, "However... what about the Duke of Cheng..."

"Zhu Yong is a fence-sitter and not worth worrying about."

Cao Jixiang waved his hand, "If he knows what's good for him, he'll do as we say tomorrow. If he doesn't..."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "His filth is enough to kill him ten times over."

Outside the window, Chen Yuan had been lying in the snow on the roof for half an hour.

He was like a stone, blending into the roof.

Breathing slows to almost a standstill; this is the tortoise breathing technique used by the Night Watchman, which allows him to conserve energy to the maximum extent possible in extreme environments.

Snowflakes fell on him and quickly froze into a thin layer of ice.

He heard the conversation in the duty room clearly.

Sure enough, they're going to make their move tomorrow morning.

time is limited.

Chen Yuan observed the patrol route of the guards.

There were eight guards: four to guard the gate and four to patrol. The four patrolling guards were divided into two groups and walked clockwise around the guardhouse, which took about a hundred breaths.

The two sets alternate, with a gap of twenty breaths in between.

It's those twenty breaths.

He slid down the eaves like a gecko, landing silently.

Using the shadows as cover, he slipped to the window on the side of the duty room.

The windows were closed.

It's too cold in winter, and the window cracks are all covered with paper, so no one will open the windows.

Chen Yuan took out his dagger and gently cut open the window paper.

The paper was thick, and it made a slight "ripping" sound when it was cut.

He stopped and listened intently—the guards' footsteps remained the same, and their conversations continued.

carry on.

A slit was cut in the window paper, just big enough for a hand to slip inside.

He used his dagger to pry open the window latch, gently pushed open the window, flipped himself inside, and landed silently.

The duty room was warm, with a charcoal fire burning brightly.

Chen Yuan lay hidden behind the screen, watching the backs of Cao Jixiang and Wang Zhen.

The two men had their backs to him and were pointing at the map on the wall.

opportunity.

Chen Yuan's gaze swept across the room.

Against the wall was a row of bookshelves, and in the middle was a desk piled with memorials and documents.

Where is the imperial decree?

According to custom, an imperial edict with the seal on it should be placed in a gilded box on the left side of the desk.

However, Cao Jixiang is suspicious and may not follow the rules.

His gaze fell on the wall behind the desk. There hung a painting called "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains," the scroll very new, out of place with the surrounding old furnishings.

Moreover... there is a faint bulge in the lower right corner of the drawing.

Hidden compartment.

Chen Yuan moved silently to the wall and reached out to touch the painting.

Sure enough, there was a hidden door behind the painting, and the door was locked.

He took out a wire and inserted it into the keyhole.

The sound of the lock opening was very soft, but it was still clearly audible in the quiet night.

Wang Zhen suddenly turned around.

What was that sound?