Chirp chirp chirp.
The little flower fluttered to a stop in front of a courtyard, tilting its head to glance back at the two men following it.
Lu Chao and Xiao Zheng looked up, and in an instant, a flash of astonishment crossed both their eyes.
"It’s the Crown Prince’s Residence!"
Lu Chao couldn’t help but exclaim under his breath.
He then lightly tapped the blue bird perched on his hand, his face full of skepticism.
"Little Red, you didn’t lead us astray, did you?"
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
Little Red seemed deeply offended, puffing up its tail as if ready to peck Lu Chao’s hand in retaliation.
"Ow! My mistake, I shouldn’t have doubted you!"
Beside them, Xiao Zheng furrowed his brows, lost in thought. The many puzzling clues that had eluded him before now seemed to fall into place, as if he had finally found the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle.
Just then, a patrol of guards marched past with disciplined, heavy footsteps.
Xiao Zheng reacted swiftly, pulling Lu Chao firmly into his arms as the two—along with the bird—darted into the shadows of a nearby alley. Once the guards’ footsteps faded into the distance, Xiao Zheng lowered his gaze to Lu Chao, his expression grave.
"It’s not safe here. I’ll take you back first."
Lu Chao knew he’d only be a burden if he stayed, so he nodded reluctantly. In the blink of an eye, their figures vanished into the thick veil of night.
After escorting Lu Chao safely home, Xiao Zheng didn’t linger. Alone, he slipped back into the darkness, making his way once more toward the Crown Prince’s Residence.
Perhaps due to the Crown Prince’s concubine nearing childbirth, the number of guards had noticeably increased. Under the cover of night, Xiao Zheng cautiously navigated his way to the rear courtyard of the residence.
As he approached the concubine’s quarters, he immediately sensed something amiss. The area was swarming with hidden sentinels, their expressions vigilant, forming an impenetrable ring around her chambers like an iron fortress.
Xiao Zheng lurked in the shadows, casting a frustrated glance toward the heavily guarded center before retreating silently, melting back into the abyss of night.
Lu Chao tossed and turned in bed, his dreams chaotic and disjointed. One moment, he saw the gentle smile of the Crown Prince before him; the next, the bloodied, unseeing eyes of the Northwest Marquis on the battlefield. Just as he managed to shake them off, a familiar figure appeared in his haze—Xiao Zheng!
Lu Chao’s heart swelled with joy, and he opened his mouth to call out. But when Xiao Zheng turned to face him, his eyes were cold and distant, devoid of any warmth or recognition.
Lu Chao jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat, to find daylight already streaming in.
"Young Master, you’re awake? You look terrible! I’ll fetch the physician at once!"
Liu Yao had just entered with warm water to help Lu Chao freshen up but froze at the sight of his pale face.
"Come back. I’m fine—just a stiff neck."
Lu Chao waved Liu Yao off, rubbing his temples vigorously before shaking his head. He decided he still had to report for duty. There was more he needed to uncover about the Crown Prince’s Residence.
If he recalled correctly, the Crown Prince’s concubine was the daughter of Chancellor Murong Yun.
Murong Yun had once taken a sword strike for the Emperor, using the injury as an excuse to retire gracefully. The Emperor, appreciating his tact and past contributions, granted his request. Later, when the concubine became pregnant, Murong Yun remained in the capital under the pretense of recuperating.
Back then, the Second Prince and the Chancellor had jointly overseen state affairs. After the Second Prince’s failed coup led to his execution, could the traitor have been Murong Yun? Upon returning to the capital, Prince Kang had ordered surveillance on the Murong estate, but nothing turned up. Now, it seemed the breakthrough lay with the Crown Prince’s concubine—but what could Murong Yun possibly gain from this?
Bleary-eyed and unsteady on his feet, Lu Chao made his way to the government office. After a brief word with Chief Clerk Zhang, he headed straight for the palace.
From afar, a garishly dressed nobleman—resembling a multicolored rooster—strutted toward him.
Lost in thought, Lu Chao barely noticed and simply moved aside. Yet, despite the wide road, the man deliberately blocked his path.
Lu Chao looked up at the flamboyant figure, but before he could speak, the sharp-faced man sneered in a mocking tone.
"Well, well! If it isn’t the legendary Clerk Lu! Such peach-blossom cheeks—even the top courtesan of the Red Sleeve Pavilion pales in comparison! Truly enviable!"
His words dripped with lewd amusement, drawing raucous laughter from his entourage.
"How dare you—!"
Liu Yao bristled, but Lu Chao held him back.
"Might I ask who you are?"
The "rooster" lifted his chin, fanning himself with exaggerated flair.
"This young master is the heir of the Prince of Nanchang!"
Lu Chao’s eyes widened in realization—this was the infamous Xiao Shining, despised by man and dog alike in the capital.
"My humble self failed to recognize Your Highness. I beg your forgiveness."
Just as Xiao Shining opened his mouth to reply, Lu Chao continued with a smile.
"I’m flattered by your praise, but Your Highness shouldn’t undervalue yourself. As Zhuangzi said, 'Virtue excels, while form is forgotten.' Your Highness’s moral grandeur is beyond reproach—why demean yourself over trivial appearances?"
Xiao Shining, who had barely cracked a book in his life, blinked in confusion. Was Lu Chao… complimenting him? Had he missed the insult?
"Enough of your nonsense! Who praised you? Pah! A man who clings to a woman’s coattails for rank ought to be ashamed! A disgrace to all men!"
Lu Chao chuckled leisurely.
"What an intriguing perspective. The 'all men' you speak of—does that include noble figures like Prince Kang? Or perhaps…"
He paused meaningfully, his gaze drifting upward, "the one who issued the decree in the first place?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Xiao Shining leaped as if scalded. His face flushed crimson as he jabbed a finger at Lu Chao, sputtering with rage.
"Shut your mouth!! You—you shameless wretch!! Not only do you lack shame for your parasitic rise, but you dare twist my words!!"
"Your Highness seems quite agitated. Could it be that my 'woman-earned' rank offends you? If so, there’s no need for concern."
He deliberately let the silence linger, a glint of mischief in his eyes before adding,
"After all, some don’t even have the chance to rely on a woman."
If memory served, the Prince of Nanchang had once groveled before the Emperor, begging for Xiao Zheng’s hand in marriage. Now, here was his heir, still bitter and desperate to assert himself.
Lu Chao met Xiao Shining’s gaze with an amused smirk, as if watching a clown’s pitiful antics.
Xiao Shining’s face cycled between white and red, his finger trembling with fury.
"You insolent cur!! How dare you speak to me like this!! Men!! Seize him!!"
Xiao Zheng obediently extended his hands.
"Ah, how could this humble official dare show disrespect to the Young Master? If the Young Master insists on saying so, then this humble official has no choice but to comply."
Liu Yao stared blankly at his master, utterly bewildered.
Wait—the token from Prince Kang was right there in the pouch! Why had they obediently followed these men without protest?!
"Hey, let go of our Young Master!!"
"Tie him up as well!"
The carriage swayed and jolted before coming to a halt shortly after. Lu Chao and Liu Yao were then unceremoniously thrown into an empty room.
