Heaven and earth overturned in a single night.
This was truly as Father had said—the capital was very dangerous, but also exactly as Father wished, the most dangerous place also offered the greatest opportunity.
When the Crown Prince suddenly wanted to go hunting and even recruited strongmen like the Third Prince did, he immediately had people infiltrate—after all, who didn’t have powerful warriors at their disposal?
If the Third Prince intended to commit fratricide, he would lend him a helping hand.
Thinking of this, Xiao Xun smiled, his cheek dimples deepening.
With the Crown Prince dead, whether the Third Prince was torn apart by the Xie family’s mad dogs or held accountable by the Emperor, he was as good as dead either way.
Then eliminate the Crown Prince’s son, and the Emperor’s only bloodline would be severed. The throne of Da Xia could only belong to their Prince of Zhongshan’s line.
Father could finally reclaim everything that belonged to him.
Father’s years of cultivating connections, Father’s careful instruction of him since childhood, Father sending him to the capital at the right time.
All this seemed like luck, but actually it was Father’s keen wisdom and painstaking effort.
Thinking of all this, Xiao Xun’s eyes filled with admiration.
“All this should rightfully belong to Father.”
Besides Father, who else!
“The only regret is not being able to establish a connection with Chu Ling,” Ning Kun said, sighing meaningfully. “Your Highness, now you see how formidable Chu Ling’s hidden position is.”
In the sudden upheaval, among all the capital’s nobility, the Crown Prince’s orphan actually sought refuge with Chu Ling, trusting only Chu Ling.
Oh, and Father had also told him about a secret passage in the capital. Tonight he personally watched a eunuch carrying a child emerge from it.
This was a secret known only to the Emperor. Back then, the Late Emperor cherished Father and told Father about it—
Clearly, in the Late Emperor’s eyes, this throne was originally intended for Father.
“His Majesty’s trust in Chu Ling, Chu Ling’s loyalty to His Majesty—it’s definitely extraordinary,” Ning Kun sighed. “If Your Highness could marry Miss Chu, His Majesty would be even more convinced of Your Highness.”
Xiao Xun smiled: “No matter. When I see His Majesty, I’ll tell him about the connection between Miss Chu and myself, then request His Majesty to grant the marriage.”
Ning Kun clapped his hands: “Excellent, excellent, most excellent indeed.”
Not only would His Majesty feel at ease, Chu Lan would feel at ease, and Chu Ling would have no choice but to become the Prince’s heir’s man. Chu Ling’s connections would belong to him, while the infamy would belong to Chu Ling.
Looking at the faint smile on Xiao Xun’s face, Ning Kun felt somewhat sympathetic.
“It’s just that Your Highness will suffer,” he said. “With such a wife, life won’t be easy.”
At least for a period of time it wouldn’t be easy.
After all, it was an imperial marriage decree. This wife wouldn’t be so easy to cast aside.
Xiao Xun smiled, looking toward the night outside the door. The night was deep and cold, like that girl’s eyes when she looked at him.
With such a wife, life would certainly be very interesting.
……
……
Tonight’s night was extraordinarily long. The thick inky darkness stubbornly refused to dissipate.
It felt like so much time had passed already—why wasn’t it light yet?
But he was also terrified of daybreak.
If day broke, this would no longer be a nightmare.
The small child crouched in the middle of the woodpile, burying his head against his knees, desperately keeping his eyes closed.
With a creak, the door was pushed open. A lamp shone in, its dim yellow light penetrating the woodpile, penetrating his knees.
So bright! So hateful!
The child wanted to shout and scream. If it were before, he would have done so. Everyone around him feared him and would never defy him. But now he could only tightly close his eyes and mouth, trying hard to curl up smaller, even stopping his breathing, lest he be discovered.
“Are you here?” A female voice sounded softly, as if she too wasn’t certain who she was looking for. Then she paused and said, “I am Chu Ling’s daughter, Chu Zhao.”
Chu Ling’s daughter, Chu Zhao.
The child slowly opened his eyes, looking through the gaps between his fingers. Through those gaps, through the woodpile, he saw a figure standing in the dim yellow lamplight.
She seemed very tall, yet seemed not much older than him. She had jet-black hair, luminous white skin, and eyes bright as stars.