If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

The rain finally started to fall.

It wasn't the fine, silky rain of before, but large, bean-sized raindrops that pounded and splashed on the ground, sending up circles of muddy water. The sky darkened instantly, as if someone had covered it with a thick, black cloth.

Qin Shuang stood outside the East Palace Gate, motionless.

The icy rain streamed down her hair, past her neck, and soaked the collar of her clothes. The chill seemed to seep into her very bones.

She looked at the vermilion gate.

The two characters "Eastern Palace" on the door gleamed eerily in the dim light. Inside was an upside-down world, an empty shell being devoured by demons.

She couldn't wait for Zhou Yang.

By the time he returns, it will be too late.

She turned around, her movement resolute. Raindrops arced through her sleeves. Instead of getting into her own sedan chair, she walked directly to the side and pulled a tall, strong horse from the stable.

This is her warhorse.

She mounted the horse without a saddle, her movements swift and decisive.

"drive!"

She gave a low shout and spurred the horse's flanks. The horse neighed loudly, its hooves flying as it charged into the torrential rain.

Pedestrians on the road scrambled to avoid him, their eyes filled with astonishment as they watched the soaking wet Jinyiwei commander galloping through the downpour.

Qin Shuang didn't care.

There was only one thing on her mind.

Go find Li Wei.

The current prime minister is Li Wei.

A veteran of three reigns, with students and former officials spread throughout the court and the countryside. More importantly, he was the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, a teacher who had watched the Crown Prince grow up. Only he had enough weight to face this matter.

The horses' hooves pounded on the cobblestone path, splashing water that was taller than a person. The only sounds in the world were the rushing rain and the hurried hoofbeats.

Li Wei's residence was in the west of the city, in a very quiet place.

When Qin Shuang knocked on the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, the old steward guarding the gate almost didn't recognize her.

"Qin... Commander Qin? What brings you here...?"

The old housekeeper was startled when he saw Qin Shuang in front of him.

She looked as if she had been pulled out of the water. Her hair was wet and clung to her face, her lips were pale, but her eyes were frighteningly bright, like two clusters of fire burning in the rainy night.

"Is the Prime Minister here?" Qin Shuang asked, her voice a little hoarse but steady.

"Yes, yes. Master is in his study..."

"Take me there."

Qin Shuang's voice left no room for doubt.

The old housekeeper didn't dare delay and quickly opened an oil-paper umbrella, intending to hand it to her. Qin Shuang waved her hand and walked straight inside.

Her footprints left a trail of damp marks on the clean stone path. Water droplets dripped continuously from the hem of her clothes.

After passing through several corridors, you arrive at the study.

The door was ajar, and warm light shone from inside, along with a faint scent of ink.

Just as the old housekeeper was about to announce her arrival, Qin Shuang pushed open the door and went inside.

"Prime Minister."

Li Wei was writing a piece of calligraphy. He was sixty-two years old this year, with gray hair, but he was in good spirits. Hearing the sound, he looked up and was taken aback when he saw Qin Shuang's appearance.

He put down his brush, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Commander Qin, what's the matter that you're so panicked?"

Qin Shuang did not answer, but instead closed the study door behind her.

This action made Li Wei's expression instantly turn serious.

There were only the two of them in the study.

Outside, the world was engulfed in wind and rain; inside, there was a tranquility with flickering candlelight.

"Your Majesty," Qin Shuang said as she walked to the desk, rain still dripping from her, leaving a small dark stain on the expensive carpet. "I have something important to tell you."

"speak."

Li Wei's voice was calm, but his hand had unconsciously pressed onto the jade paperweight.

Qin Shuang took something out of her bosom.

It was a jade pendant. The design was very ordinary, the kind of thing that children from ordinary wealthy families would wear. But on the surface of the jade pendant, there were some extremely fine black lines that looked like living things moving around.

"I obtained this from a guard in the Eastern Palace a few days ago."

Li Wei's gaze fell on the jade pendant.

He recognized the jade. He had personally given it to a close attendant of the Crown Prince on his birthday last year.

"What are those black lines?" Li Wei asked.

"Corpse poison," Qin Shuang uttered.

Li Wei's pupils suddenly contracted.

As the prime minister, he was well-informed and naturally knew what those two words meant. This was no ordinary poison; it was a legendary evil technique.

"you mean……"

"The Eastern Palace has been infiltrated by the Heavenly Principle Sect." Qin Shuang's voice was soft, but every word was like a heavy hammer, striking Li Wei's heart. "Your Highness... is probably no longer here. The one sitting in the Eastern Palace now is a puppet controlled by evil spirits."

"Nonsense!"

Li Wei suddenly stood up, the chair behind him slamming against him with a loud thud. He pointed at Qin Shuang, his finger trembling slightly.

"Qin Shuang! Do you know what you're saying? This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!"

Qin Shuang did not avoid his gaze.

Her eyes were clear and firm.

"I know. That's why I dared not speak out and could only come directly to the Prime Minister." She paused, then continued, "Prime Minister, think carefully. In the past three months, has His Highness's temperament changed drastically? Why did he, who was once benevolent and loved the people, suddenly advocate harsh laws and severe punishments? Why did he, who was once diligent and studious, begin to indulge in unorthodox practices? Also, aren't most of the people he promoted to have dubious backgrounds, yet possess outstanding abilities?"

Li Wei's breathing became heavy.

He had noticed everything Qin Shuang said. He had simply assumed it was a necessary detour in the young emperor's growth, and had even offered advice on it several times. But now, connecting these matters with "corpse poison" and "puppets"...

Everything has changed.

He took two steps back, plopped back into his chair, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

"Impossible... This is absolutely impossible..."

He muttered to himself.

The study fell into a deathly silence.

The only sounds were the rain outside the window and the dripping of water droplets from Qin Shuang's body.

Li Wei's fingers tapped unconsciously on the table, the rhythm growing increasingly erratic. He was quickly weighing his options.

To harm the crown prince?

The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, personally appointed by the Emperor. To harm him is tantamount to questioning the Emperor's judgment. This is to shake the very foundation of the nation! Once the matter is exposed, or if the evidence is insufficient, Li Wei, along with the entire Li family, will be utterly destroyed. What will the Emperor think? He will believe that Li Wei is blackmailing the Crown Prince and plotting something treacherous.

Don't move?

If Qin Shuang's words are true... the consequences would be unimaginable. A crown prince controlled by evil spirits would ascend the throne. The entire Liang Dynasty would become fertile ground for the Heavenly Principle Sect. The land would be transformed, and countless lives would be lost. How could Li Wei, burdened by imperial favor and holding the position of one of the Three Dukes, face his ancestors?

On one side is a bottomless abyss, and on the other side is a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire.

Both paths seemed to lead to dead ends.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Li Wei's forehead. He looked at Qin Shuang in front of him, this young woman who, at this moment, stood there like a mountain, firmly bearing all the pressure.

"Do you... have any evidence?" Li Wei's voice was somewhat hoarse. "A jade pendant alone is not enough to convince His Majesty, much less to convince the entire court."

"The evidence will come soon," Qin Shuang said. "Zhou Yang has already gone to Jiangnan, and he will wipe out the Heavenly Principle Sect's stronghold. By then, we will have both witnesses and physical evidence."

"Zhou Yang?" Li Wei frowned. He recognized the name; the recently rising star, a junior officer in the Imperial Guard, Qin Shuang's subordinate. A young man who looked somewhat sinister.

"Yes, it was him. He's the one who found out everything." A complex emotion flashed in Qin Shuang's eyes, a mixture of trust and helplessness. "Prime Minister, we can't wait any longer. By the time he returns, it'll be too late. The Heavenly Principle Sect could launch an attack at any moment. We must take control of the Crown Prince before they make their move, and then ask His Majesty for a decision."

"Controlling the Crown Prince..." Li Wei gave a wry smile, "Easier said than done. The Eastern Palace is guarded by three thousand men. What makes us think we can control him?"

"With you and me," Qin Shuang looked at Li Wei, her gaze intense. "Prime Minister, you are the Crown Prince's tutor. No one will stop you from seeing the Crown Prince. As long as you can get the Crown Prince out alone, leave the rest to me. If we can get him out of that corrupt place, the Eastern Palace, there's a chance he'll regain his senses."

"What are the odds?" Li Wei grasped the key question.

"I don't know," Qin Shuang said frankly. "It might be a near-death experience, or it might... be completely useless. But we have to try."

Li Wei fell silent.

He looked at the candlelight. The flame flickered, casting an intermittent glow on his face.

He recalled his youth, when he passed the imperial examination with flying colors, full of vigor and high spirits, and made a promise to the emperor.

"I am willing to dedicate my life to Your Majesty, and even unto death."

He then remembered his teacher, the Grand Tutor of the previous dynasty, and the words he spoke to him before his death, holding his hand.

"Wei'er, remember this. An official must be loyal to the emperor, but even more so to the country. The emperor is but a passerby, the country belongs to all its people. If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?"

If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach itself?

Yes.

If the country is gone, what is the point of him being prime minister? What is the point of the Li family's wealth and glory?

Li Wei's hand slowly clenched into a fist.

He slowly raised his head, and the hesitation and fear on his face gradually faded away, replaced by an unprecedented determination and fortitude.

That is the integrity of scholars, the responsibility of pillars of the court.

He slammed his hand on the table!

"Bang!"

The fine Duan inkstone bounced up when he slapped it, splashing ink everywhere.

"I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's favor and receive his bounty; how can I stand by and watch the nation fall into the hands of evil forces!"

His voice, like a thunderclap, resounded in the small study.

He stood up and walked to Qin Shuang. He wasn't tall, but at that moment, Qin Shuang had to look up at him.

"Commander Qin," Li Wei looked at her, his eyes now devoid of any hesitation, "from this moment on, you have full authority over the defense of the capital! My personal guards are also at your disposal!"

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

"At your command!"

Qin Shuang's heart suddenly relaxed.

The tension that had been building for so long could finally ease for a moment. She knew that from this moment on, she was no longer fighting alone.

She bowed deeply to Li Wei.

"Your subject, Qin Shuang, obeys!"

Outside the window, the rain was gradually subsiding.

The dark clouds on the horizon seemed to have cracked open, letting in a faint ray of light.

In the study, Li Wei had already laid out a map of the capital's defenses. His fingers moved across it, calm and swift.

"Controlling the Crown Prince is only the first step. Next, the Nine Gates Commandery, the Five City Garrison Commands, and the Imperial Guards must all be under our control. Otherwise, if the news leaks out, the capital will be thrown into chaos..."

His voice was steady and powerful, full of strength.

Qin Shuang stood beside him, looking at the map.

Her finger also landed on the picture.

Two people who had no connection before stood together because of an impending storm.

One is in power, the other is out of power.

One is a strategist, the other a ruthless commander.

A storm that would sweep through the capital was quietly brewing in this small study.