The main hall of the royal residence was quieter than expected.
As she walked down the corridor, the ceremonial officials standing on either side kept their heads lowered, but their gazes drifted toward Jiang Lijin and Rowen. Some faces showed curiosity, some nervousness, but most were simply watching.
Portraits of past emperors hung on the walls, the last one a painting of the late emperor in her youth. The woman in the portrait was dashing and valiant, her red hair and golden eyes matching Rowen’s exactly.
Rowen’s steps slowed for a moment. She looked up at the portrait, then lowered her head again, walking with even more steadiness.
At the entrance to the council chamber, a group of people in high-ranking imperial uniforms filed out, blocking the steps at the top. The man leading them was a gray-haired elder leaning on a black wooden cane.
It was Hall, the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet whom Jiang Lijin had seen outside the late emperor’s sickroom.
He looked down from the steps at the people below, his gaze halting on the uniforms of the Aegis Squad. His brows twisted into a knot.
“Regent Princess,” Hall said, tapping his cane against the ground. “This is the heart of the imperial palace. Forcing your way in with federal armed forces is a blatant disregard for the empire’s rules.”
Jiang Lijin stopped at the bottom of the steps without even lifting her head. Debating with an old fossil like him was a waste of breath.
“Chief Secretary,” Chiron interjected, his voice gentle but clear. “According to Article 72, Volume 4 of the Imperial Code, before the crown prince’s coronation ceremony is complete, their guardian holds the highest level of authority over security arrangements. If the empire’s standard defensive forces fail to provide sufficient trust, the guardian has the right to summon a private guard.”
Hall snorted coldly. “The Imperial Guard has protected the royal family for generations. What do you mean by insufficient trust?”
“Ten minutes ago,” Chiron said unhurriedly, “Major Colin of the Imperial Guard pointed a gun at the Third Prince outside the palace gates. According to Article 15, Volume 9 of the Code, this constitutes an attempted act of treason. If the Cabinet disputes the guardian’s security authority, we can go through judicial procedures first—starting with a thorough investigation of the Imperial Guard from top to bottom.”
Hall was left speechless. He had intended to use protocol to suppress them, but the other party had recited the Code even better than he could.
“You—” Hall pointed at Chiron. “Doctor Chiron, as a member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, you’re actually siding with an outsider?”
“I follow only the laws of the empire,” Chiron said, adjusting his sleeve. “Also, allow me to correct a mistake of yours. Lady Jiang Lijin is the Regent Princess appointed by the late emperor’s final will, and also my wife. She is no outsider. Your earlier address was a serious act of presumption.”
Hall’s face went from pale to red in waves, the veins on the back of his hand gripping the cane bulging. He was used to giving orders in the Cabinet and had never been so directly rebuked.
“Enough, Hall. No need to get so worked up.”
A deep male voice came from inside the council chamber.
Footsteps followed. A middle-aged man in a dark purple tailored suit walked out. He bore a resemblance to the late emperor—those defining features of the direct royal line: golden eyes and red hair.
Prince Darron. The late emperor’s younger brother.
Seeing him, Hall stepped aside, yielding the lead.
Darron walked down the steps, a genial smile on his face. He didn’t even glance at the black muzzles of the Aegis Squad’s weapons, stopping three paces in front of Jiang Lijin.
“Regent Princess, reputation is less impressive than meeting in person,” Darron said with a slight nod. “When the will was announced yesterday, I wondered why my sister would entrust such a heavy burden to a young girl. Seeing you today, I suppose you truly have remarkable qualities.”
Jiang Lijin watched him perform his role and said nothing.
Unbothered by her silence, Darron shifted his gaze to Rowen, who stood by Jiang Lijin’s leg. His smile deepened. He bent down and extended a hand to Rowen.
“Rowen, come to your uncle,” he said, softening his voice. “You must have been frightened last night. Your mother left in a hurry, and I didn’t have time to come to the palace to pick you up. It’s all right now—I’ll take you home. The bloodline of the royal family shouldn’t be raised by outsiders.”
The implication was razor-sharp: blood ties above all.
The late emperor had been a female, iron-willed and decisive. She had kept Darron suppressed for most of her life. Now she was dead, leaving behind a six-year-old “male” prince.
In Darron’s eyes, that was the perfect puppet. If he could seize Rowen and bring the Cabinet into alignment, overturning the will and taking over imperial power was only a matter of time.
Jiang Lijin didn’t move. She wanted to see what other tricks this old fox had up his sleeve.
Rowen shrank back behind Jiang Lijin.
“Rowen.” Darron dropped his smile, putting on a stern elder’s air. “Your sister was too sick for too long—she was confused when she placed you with outsiders. A direct blood relative is the one legally entitled to be your guardian. Be a good child and come here.”
Rhett’s finger was already on the trigger. Chiron’s eyes had gone cold.
Just as Jiang Lijin was calculating exactly how to tear the old bastard’s face off, the small hand in hers pulled free.
Rowen peeked half her body out from behind Jiang Lijin.
“Uncle,” Rowen said, her voice still carrying a child’s lilt, but her words unnaturally clear.
A flicker of delight passed over the prince’s face. He thought the child was yielding and hurriedly bent down. “Yes, my good child—”
“My Empress Mother wasn’t confused,” Rowen cut him off.
The prince’s smile froze.
“My Empress Mother said that among all the imperial relatives, you’re the greediest,” Rowen stated matter-of-factly. “You’d even try to embezzle mining rights from the Third Star System. If she handed me over to you, she said, you’d chew me up, bones and all.”
The great hall fell into complete silence.
The Cabinet officials barely dared to breathe.
Rowen wasn’t finished. She pointed straight at the prince’s nose. “The crown mainframe has already confirmed the Empress Mother’s will. Are you trying to start a revolt by seeking to overturn it now?”
A six-year-old child pronounced the word “revolt” with crystalline clarity.
The prince’s smile vanished entirely, his face cycling through shades of pale and red. His trembling finger aimed at Rowen as he sputtered, “You—you insolent brat! I am your own uncle!”
“I am the Crown Prince of the Empire,” Rowen said without backing down. “When you address me, you should bow.”
Standing behind her, Jiang Lijin’s eyes lit up.
This little one was usually as well-behaved as a kitten, but when the claws came out, they struck fast and deep. A true disciple of the late emperor—this political awareness, that skill at pinning charges—absolutely brilliant.
She was a born student indeed.
Stepping forward, Jiang Lijin pulled Rowen back to her side, rustled her hand over the boy’s red hair, and looked at the prince.
“Did you hear that clearly, Prince Darron?” Jiang Lijin said lightly. “The Crown Prince has rejected you as her guardian. If you’re truly so bored, why not go file a complaint with the crown mainframe and see if it takes your grievance?”
The prince clenched his teeth, glaring daggers at Jiang Lijin. After a long moment, he let out a cold snort, spun on his heel, and stormed off.
“Let’s go!” he barked at the Cabinet officials.
The Chief Secretary, leaning on his cane, followed meekly behind the prince. The group dispersed quickly, leaving the hall empty and quiet.
The doors of the council chamber were now fully open.
An elderly man in elaborate court robes stood inside. His hair was snow-white, combed to perfection, and a gold badge hung on his chest, marking him as the Master of Ceremonies. In his hands, he held a heavy, gilded-bound register.
As Jiang Lijin and the others approached, the old man stepped forward, crossed his hands over his chest, and bowed deeply.
Your loyal subject Victor pays his respects to His Highness the Third Prince. Pay respects to the Prince Regent.
His etiquette was impeccable, his demeanor respectful beyond reproach.
Jiang Lijin studied him. The commotion outside had been intense just moments ago, yet this old man had stood within the door without uttering a single word. Only when the Cabinet members had all departed did he step out to offer his salutations.
Victor straightened himself, his gaze lingering on Rowan for a moment, a mix of complex emotions flickering in his eyes. Having served the old emperor all his life, he naturally knew the emperor’s secrets. His loyalty lay solely with the direct bloodline of the imperial family.
“Regent Prince, the procedures and venue setup for the coronation ceremony have been prepared according to the late emperor’s instructions,” Victor said, opening the gold-edged booklet in his hands. “It is scheduled for three days from now. Your subject humbly requests that you review the final details.”
Jiang Lijin took the booklet and casually flipped through a few pages. It was densely covered with the ceremonial codes of the ancient empire.
“No need for a review,” Jiang Lijin said, closing the booklet and handing it back to Victor. “Follow everything according to the late emperor’s regulations. I trust your work.”
Victor took the booklet with both hands and bowed again. “Your subject will do his utmost to ensure that the coronation ceremony goes without a hitch. However…”
