Meow, said Wuyun. “The Emperor says that the Jing Dynasty will certainly want to have Privy Council Vice Grand Secretary Yuan Cheng returned. The noble Yuan clan in Shangjing will not allow Yuan Cheng to be disgraced in the Ning Dynasty. It’s either war or an exchange of people. Envoys are probably already on their way. The Emperor says we must return Yuan Cheng to the Jing Dynasty to balance Grand Councilor Yuan Xiang and Vice Minister of the Privy Council Lu Jin.”

“The Emperor says we must guard against military generals killing the envoys. The Wansui Army, the Five Army Camps, and the border armies are all pro-war factions. If they slay the envoys, there could be great chaos. But he hasn’t decided who to send to Chongli Pass to escort the envoys into the capital. This matter must be kept secret.”

“It’s not just the military generals who want to kill the envoys; Lu Jin’s intelligence agency will also try every means to kill the envoys and Yuan Cheng. This mission is perilous, and some of the Twelve Zodiacs will also be following secretly.”

In Renshou Palace, the court officials stood with bowed heads as Wuyun nonchalantly relayed the secrets.

The Jing Dynasty’s intelligence agency had exhausted all efforts but couldn’t infiltrate a spy close to the Ning Emperor, yet he had achieved it.

The Imperial Secret Agents were truly formidable.

Chen Ji quietly looked up. The Ning Emperor sat cross-legged on the throne.

The last time he had seen the Ning Emperor’s revered face was during the reception of the Goryeo envoys. The Emperor had worn a Pibian robe, a black gauze cap, and a crimson gauze gown, appearing majestic and solemn.

This time, the Ning Emperor wore a black brocade Daoist robe embroidered with the Twenty-Eight Mansions in gold thread, with a simple wooden hairpin in his hair.

The majesty was still there, but it wasn’t as solemn.

As Chen Ji observed, he happened to meet the Ning Emperor’s piercing gaze and quickly lowered his head again.

The Ning Emperor stroked Wuyun’s head and slowly spoke, “Recently, I don’t know why, but a strange wind has swept through the capital, and strange incidents have occurred one after another. First, there was an arson attack on Qipan Street, then someone dared to impersonate a Jiefan Guard during the spring hunt to assassinate, and a few days ago, a madman charged into the Five City Military and Horse Division in front of Anding Gate. And today, during the Zhuangyuan’s procession, someone dared to collide with the imperial retinue. All of you are the pillars of my Ning Dynasty. Tell me, what is wrong with my Ning Dynasty? Is it because I, as Emperor, lack virtue, causing demons to wreak havoc among the people?”

The court officials in the hall knelt down one after another, “Your humble servants deserve death ten thousand times!”

The Ning Emperor smiled, “I was merely jesting with you all; there’s no need to take it seriously. Grand Secretary Chen, you speak first. Your family’s disciples were exiled to Lingnan, so how did they end up as wealthy merchants in Jinling? Not only did they spend a fortune to acquire a garden, but they also bought twelve concubines imported from Nanyang in one go.”

Grand Secretary Chen bowed low, “Your humble servant deserves death ten thousand times.”

The Ning Emperor said casually, “I just want to know, Grand Secretary, were you aware of this?”

Grand Secretary Hu turned to look at Grand Secretary Chen, who said confidently, “Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble servant was not aware.”

The Ning Emperor patted Wuyun’s head, placed it on the throne, then stood up and walked down from the throne. “It’s understandable that Grand Secretary Chen, having to manage a large family, might not have been aware. The primary culprit in this case is Chen Lizhi, who not only forged a household registration for Chen Wenren but also sent someone to serve forced labor in Lingnan in Chen Wenren’s place. Truly a masterful deception, excellent tactics.”

Grand Secretary Chen knelt on the ground, trembling, “The family discipline is lax; your humble old servant is also culpable.”

The Ning Emperor said indifferently, “Grand Secretary, what punishment do you think I should decree for Chen Lizhi and Chen Wenren?”

“It is entirely up to Your Majesty,” Grand Secretary Chen said in a low voice. “Your humble servant feels ashamed and wishes to retire to my hometown to study at the Chen family in Luzhou, so that the Chen family’s disciples may work diligently for Your Majesty’s new policies until death.”

The Ning Emperor said casually, “It’s good that Grand Secretary has such intentions. There’s no need to retire to your hometown. Currently, the Crown Prince is diligently studying, and he cannot do without you.”

The court officials mused silently.

Court struggles had never been such that an imperial decree issued from the throne would always be fully implemented below. The saying ‘imperial power does not extend below the county level’ meant that how much of an imperial decree issued from the capital would be enforced depended on the discretion of the powerful families and gentry, as long as it was done in a way that left no fault to be found.

If faults were truly found, sacrificing a few scapegoats would suffice.

But now, the matter of implementing new policies in Luzhou had been thoroughly won by His Majesty. If there were any more overt compliance but covert defiance, with Liao Zhong before and Chen Wenren after, it was feared that all would be brought to account.

Just as the officials were watching the Chen family’s misfortune, the Ning Emperor commanded, “Wu Xiu, immediately dispatch fast horses to convey my decree to the Jinling and Lingnan Jiefan Guard encampments. Instruct them to secretly investigate and see which other exiled criminals are still living comfortable lives, and have them all brought to the capital.”

Wu Xiu whispered, “Yes.”

He walked out of Renshou Palace and relayed the orders to the Jiefan Guards.

The court officials were startled. Several of them thought of their own family members hidden in Jinling and immediately wanted to send messengers to warn them, but kneeling in Renshou Palace as they were, it was too late.

Someone secretly glared at Chen Ji. If it weren’t for this boy causing trouble, His Majesty probably wouldn’t have thought of using such a small matter to open up a crack.

Before they could think of a countermeasure, they heard the Ning Emperor change the subject and ask Wang Daosheng, “Why did General Wang return to the capital early? I heard you rode back, wearing out several warhorses with twelve attendants. If Yuan Cheng had suffered any mishap, how would you have accounted to me?”

Wang Daosheng prostrated himself on the ground, “Your humble servant is guilty.”

Seeing that he offered no explanation, the Ning Emperor chuckled, “General Wang doesn’t plan to explain? Or is it that General Wang, having read the sages’ books, is unwilling to lie to me?”

Wang Daosheng reiterated, “Your humble servant is guilty.”

He ultimately did not reveal Chen Ji and Zhang Zhuo.

Chen Ji sighed inwardly.

At this moment, Wuyun continued to relay information, “The Princess is doing very well in the palace. The beautiful, kind, dignified, and generous Empress Dowager summons her to Kunning Palace every few days, gives her snacks and fruits, and even made her a new Daoist robe and changed her hairpin.”

“No one in Jingyang Palace dares to bully the Princess anymore. Now she is the Abbey Mistress, with an old woman named Xuansu acting as her deputy. However, I’ve observed that the Princess seems to be cultivating, though I don’t know what she’s cultivating.”

Chen Ji was slightly surprised; had the Princess also embarked on the path of an official practitioner?

Wuyun meowed as if no one else was there, “Can you find a way to get rid of that old woman named Yuan Jin who is by the Empress Dowager’s side? She’s so annoying…”

As Wuyun was speaking, the Ning Emperor suddenly asked, “Now, let’s talk about this madman, Chen Ji. You tell me, why did you collide with the imperial retinue today?”

Chen Ji was still prostrated on the ground, silently listening to Wuyun complain about trivial matters of daily life.

It was only when the attendant next to him nudged him that he snapped back, “What?”

The Ning Emperor said with interest, “Grand Secretary, are the disciples taught by your Chen family all so disrespectful to their sovereign? Daring to zone out even in my Renshou Palace?”

Chen Ji hurriedly said, “Your humble servant deserves death ten thousand times.”

The Ning Emperor looked at Chen Ji, a faint smile playing on his lips, “Could it be that you also want to follow your teacher’s example of self-defilement? Could it be that Master Zhang also taught you this?”

Chen Ji’s heart stirred. So the Ning Emperor had long seen that Wang Daosheng’s early return to the capital was a tactic of self-defilement, and he also saw that it was Zhang Zhuo’s doing.

Zhang Zhuo spoke loudly, “Your Majesty, this matter was entirely my own doing…”

The Ning Emperor interrupted impatiently, “Enough, enough. Do not do such clever things in the future. If others knew, they would think I cannot tolerate loyal and virtuous officials. By defiling yourselves, where do you place me? You are loyal officials, so am I a foolish emperor?”

Zhang Zhuo dared not say more.

The Ning Emperor casually said, “Draft an imperial edict: Wang Daosheng’s great victory this time has amplified the prestige of our Ning Dynasty. Promote him to Minister of War and bestow upon him twelve ‘Zhongyi’ commemorative arches…”

Wang Daosheng hesitated for a long time before again kowtowing heavily, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s gracious benevolence.”

This series of awards was unexpected.

Everyone thought the Ning Emperor would use this opportunity to diminish Wang Daosheng’s achievements, but instead, he directly gave Wang Daosheng the position of Minister of War.

Although he had not entered the Grand Secretariat, he was only one step away.

Zhang Zhuo sighed inwardly: His Majesty’s tactics are excellent. This time, he intends to use him to win over people’s hearts.

If he hadn’t created this incident, causing Wang Daosheng to defy an imperial decree and self-defile, all the awards would have been natural and well-deserved by Wang Daosheng.

But as things stood now, they all became His Majesty’s grace.

At this moment, before everyone could ponder further, the Ning Emperor turned to Chen Ji, “You, young man, as long as you are in the capital for one day, the capital will not know peace for one day. Don’t bother me in the capital anymore; go to Chongli Pass as a Yebushou. You are not to return to the capital without an imperial decree.”

Yebushou?

Chen Ji knew that the so-called “capable fast-moving Yebushou” was another name for the border scouts of the Ning Dynasty, distinct from ordinary scouts. The Yebushou directly under the command of the border general were all performed by official practitioners.

Espionage, infiltration, and mapping were all the work of a Yebushou.

In the twenty-ninth year of Jianing of the Ning Dynasty, two Yebushou once roamed the wilderness outside Chongli Pass for thirty-seven days, killed forty-six Jing Dynasty scouts, and returned to Chongli Pass leading forty-six warhorses.

But this was also an obscure and arduous task, akin to exile in Lingnan.

The Ning Emperor saw Chen Ji silent. “What, you don’t want to go?”

Chen Ji hurriedly said, “Your humble servant obeys the decree. When does Your Majesty wish for me to depart?”

“Leave tomorrow morning. The sooner you leave, the sooner there’s peace,” the Ning Emperor waved his robe sleeve. “All of you may withdraw. The Qionglin Feast is about to begin; you may proceed there first.”

Just as the court officials were leaving Renshou Palace, the Ning Emperor suddenly added, “Zhang Zhuo, stay.”

Zhang Zhuo’s figure paused. “Yes.”

Chen Ji quietly followed behind the court officials, led by a young eunuch holding a palace lantern out of the Forbidden City.

As he passed through the moon gate outside Renshou Palace, he saw Bai Long standing outside, watching the Grand Secretaries and ministers depart.

Chen Ji’s heart tightened—Bai Long was back.

He carefully observed Bai Long: his robe, belt, black boots, hairpin, and even the jade pendant at his waist were all exactly as they were when he first saw him, spotless.

Presumably, it was the mask’s ability.

Chen Ji did not speak to Bai Long. As he passed by with his head bowed, Bai Long slipped a thin bamboo tube into his hand.

He discreetly put it into his sleeve. It wasn’t until he was out of Wumen Gate and the officials had all turned towards the Guozijian that he found a secluded spot to open and examine it.

A secret edict!

This secret edict seemed to be written in the Ning Emperor’s own hand, without the formal style of official documents, but rather like the Ning Emperor speaking directly in person: “I appoint you as Supervisor of the Capital Garrison and Imperial Retinue, with authority over the Yulin Army forces. First, as a Yebushou, investigate military strategies, then the Yulin Army will go to Chongli Pass to provide support. Once the Jing Dynasty envoys arrive at Chongli Pass, immediately lead the Yulin Army to escort them to the capital, ensuring their safety.”

Chen Ji suddenly looked up.

When Wuyun had mentioned this earlier, he hadn’t taken it seriously, but now this arduous task had fallen upon him!

What kind of official position was Supervisor of the Capital Garrison and Imperial Retinue? It had no official rank, yet it commanded the Imperial Yulin Army.

If he hadn’t just been granted the noble title of Baron Wuxiang, he truly couldn’t have borne such a heavy responsibility.