Chapter 20

The Crown Prince lowered his gaze and glanced at her…

A maiden’s thoughts were ever-changing, and Yun Huan had always been eccentric and whimsical. Having no experience dealing with young ladies, it was natural he couldn’t guess her mind.

After contemplating for a moment, Chu Tingyan saw that Yun Huan seemed spirited enough, swishing her cat tail as she went off to eat by herself, and finally felt relieved.

The sun had just set, and though the sky hadn’t completely darkened, the wind outside rustled with a slight chill. Chu Tingyan closed the window a bit.

He Zaizhi knocked and entered. Is everything alright?

All is well, Chu Tingyan replied briefly.

His expression was as calm as still water as he casually closed the book, stating with certainty, Everything is proceeding as planned.

Though it was just a simple statement, it inexplicably brought a sense of reassurance. He Zaizhi nodded. That’s good.

He had more to say and sat down across the desk. Looking up, he was somewhat surprised. Your cat?

Chu Tingyan didn’t wish to elaborate. Mm.

A new character has appeared!

After clearing out the food container, Yun Huan became interested and walked over with her head held high. Bypassing Chu Tingyan’s outstretched hand, she jumped onto the table and sat down across from this person.

He wore official robes—she couldn’t quite distinguish the ranks of the outer court, but this man was young and so familiar with the Crown Prince; he must have a promising future ahead.

Yun Huan swished her tail, staring at him expectantly: Human, how about refreshing some more food?

Chu Tingyan frowned and shot a glance at He Zaizhi.

Why are you looking at me! He Zaizhi felt a chill run down his spine.

After squatting for a while with no food appearing, Yun Huan lost interest and walked away. Besides, this person’s scent wasn’t very pleasant—not like that soothing fragrance…

Speaking of which, the Crown Prince’s scent was much nicer.

Chu Tingyan reached out his hand again. Yun Huan condescended to approach him, rubbing her head against his wrist. Chu Tingyan’s expression remained unchanged, but He Zaizhi inexplicably felt the atmosphere warm around them.

After a brief moment of affection, Yun Huan jumped off the table, deliberately letting out a delicate whimper before walking suggestively toward the food container. As expected, Chu Tingyan came over and refilled it for her.

He Zaizhi watched in amazement.

Was there anything else? Chu Tingyan asked, frowning at him.

He didn’t want to reveal Yun Huan’s identity. And even though Yun Huan was currently a cat, it wouldn’t be respectful to casually show intimacy with her in front of an uninformed outsider.

Yes, He Zaizhi finally managed to reset his nearly dislocated jaw and regain his train of thought. There’s official business.

Since this person was wearing court robes, it must be important matters from the imperial court. Yun Huan wasn’t particularly interested in such things. Having eaten and drunk her fill, she swished her tail, preparing to leave.

It was still early. If Li Yan was around today, she could go take a nap at his place.

Chu Tingyan glanced at her but didn’t stop her, casually saying, Remember to return early today. Don’t linger outside.

He Zaizhi laughed. As if this cat can understand you.

Chu Tingyan smiled faintly but didn’t refute him.

Yun Huan obediently looked at him and meowed.

—No way! Who do you think you are, trying to boss me around?

Yun Huan turned her head away, no longer looking at him, and jumped straight off the windowsill.

With no one watching this time, she didn’t whimper. There was only a solid thud as she landed.

Chu Tingyan and He Zaizhi conversed for a long time.

…So that’s how it is. My subordinates have also discovered some clues.

Chu Tingyan finished reading the thin sheet of paper and burned it over the candle flame, speaking calmly, They’ve come at just the right time.

He had originally planned to close the net tonight. If the other side intended to add fuel to the fire, they would be walking right into the trap, perfectly aligning with his intentions.

He Zaizhi also smiled, picked up his teacup, and clinked it against Chu Tingyan’s with a clear ring.

Any further preparations needed?

None. Chu Tingyan turned to retrieve his weapon, changed into light armor, and pulled down his face-concealing helmet.

He Zaizhi: Shall we go?

Let’s go. Chu Tingyan raised an eyebrow with a smile, his right hand resting on his sword as he casually flicked the hilt.

The latter half of the night was pitch black, with pitifully few stars. Dark clouds had been looming in the sky for a long time, and finally, rain began to fall.

The people they were waiting for had arrived as well.

The formation was triggered by those who stepped into the area, quickly activating as dim streams of light flowed across the ground. Chu Tingyan made a chopping gesture with his hand.

In the blink of an eye, the battle began.

The raindrops seemed black as well, landing on blades and reflecting a cold gleam before being flung away with sword swings, silver flashes disappearing completely into the night.

A moonless, windy night—perfect for killing and arson. The fight was bloody and swift, with one side laying an ambush and the other walking right into it. From the start, it resembled a one-sided slaughter.

Ah—

A hoarse, agonized scream echoed far into the distance.

He Zaizhi tensed, glancing toward the direction of Taiji Palace and Danfeng Palace. As a third-rank commandant of the Imperial Guards, his duty was to protect the imperial palace. Although he knew preparations had been made in advance, he still feared the Emperor and Empress might be disturbed by the commotion.

Don’t worry, Chu Tingyan slashed out with his sword, orders have been given. A strict curfew is in effect tonight for all rear palace halls. Anyone other than our people daring to leave their gates will be executed. Restrictions have been placed on the palace doors—whether human or demon, they may exit but not enter. As long as they stay quietly inside, they won’t be affected.

He wielded a heavy sword, powerful and forceful, sending blood and flesh flying with each swing, yet his tone remained indifferent. His peerlessly handsome face showed no change in expression.

To prevent leaks, the curfew had been announced temporarily after sunset. He Zaizhi had personally assigned loyal and reliable soldiers to enforce it. With the restrictions already in effect, he assumed there would be no mistakes and felt slightly reassured.

The sound of a sharp blade cutting into human flesh was like tearing silk. Swing after swing, tear after tear, swords and blades reaped lives as evenly as scything grass. The rain grew heavier, cold droplets streaming down his cheeks. As Chu Tingyan swung his sword again, he unexpectedly thought of Yun Huan.

She should be in Danfeng Palace by now, sleeping soundly.

It was just as well Yun Huan wasn’t here.

Her life was actually quite routine. At night, she was either in Danfeng Palace or came looking for him. Strangely enough, his whereabouts at night were unpredictable—sometimes in the Library Pavilion, sometimes with the Imperial Guards, other times in temporary palace quarters—yet Yun Huan always managed to find him without fail. A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Chu Tingyan’s lips.

If Yun Huan had been in his quarters tonight, Chu Tingyan had planned to have a palace servant keep a close watch on her to prevent her from going out. But Yun Huan hadn’t stayed long, and according to reports from spies sent to Danfeng Palace, she was sleeping peacefully in bed.

Just as well. With her timid nature, if she accidentally stumbled upon this scene, she would surely be terrified.

Yun Huan was already terrified.

She had merely been in low spirits and decided to take a nighttime stroll—how could she have ended up witnessing such a scene!

Nothing like this had ever happened before!

Today was truly unlucky. After leaving the Crown Prince’s chambers, she had intended to find Li Yan, but the Imperial Guards’ courtyard was empty—no one knew where they had been dispatched this time. Yun Huan slipped into the Imperial Kitchen for a snack and, on her way out, took a different route to explore. The Library Pavilion was dark, and even the young eunuch guarding the entrance was nowhere to be seen.

The situation felt eerie, and Yun Huan grew alert. Pricking up her ears, she realized that in the short time since she had left the Imperial Kitchen, even the patrolling eunuchs had vanished from the paths.

The best course of action now was to return to the palace early. Yun Huan made a swift decision and ran so fast she nearly left afterimages.

But who could have predicted encountering this on the way!

Sparring, shouts, and… blood. Under the pitch-black night and pouring rain, the soldiers fighting in the palace alley seemed less like humans and more like jade-faced Yama guarding the entrance to the abyss.

Yun Huan was so frightened her hair stood on end, and she bolted into the distance. She needed to hurry back to Danfeng Palace—while the Crown Prince hunted Demons, a minor character like her must not get caught in the crossfire.

When she reached the entrance of Danfeng Palace, she slammed into a cold, invisible Restriction with a thud.

What was this? Yun Huan tried again and found that this Restriction, cast at some unknown time, would not lift until dawn.

After the heavy rain, at daybreak, the cleanup of the battlefield proceeded swiftly and silently.

One, two, three, four, five, He Zaizhi counted the corpses on the ground. Five dead, three alive.

There’s one last one—the one you mentioned today, Chu Tingyan said calmly. That fellow infiltrated the palace first and has been hiding all along. Now that his accomplices have been cleared out, it’s time for him to show himself.

The others were merely mortal Spies, at best armed with Magical artifacts altered by Demon Qi, but this last one was a different story.

Your Highness. The guards tied up the remaining three and respectfully awaited his instructions.

Let’s go, Chu Tingyan sheathed his sword and declared, It’s almost time for court. Accompany me to Daming Palace to report this good news to His Majesty. All of you who fought alongside me will be rewarded.

After a quick change of clothes, right at the hour for court, he led the group with great fanfare to seek an audience at Longhua Gate of Daming Palace. This was the necessary path for officials attending court, where civil officials descended from their sedans and military officers dismounted, waiting for the palace bell to ring before entering together.

A few small stars still dotted the brightening sky, the sun not yet risen. The officials, arriving from their respective residences, had barely finished yawning when their drowsiness vanished—

The Crown Prince had returned to the capital?!

When did this happen?

What Spies had been caught, and were they really connected to the Demon Clan?

Sidelong glances filled with shock occasionally swept over him. Chu Tingyan remained composed, turning his head with a slight smile. Minister Xue? Good morning.

Good morning, Your Highness. The other chuckled and cupped his hands in salute.

The bell atop the city tower rang.

Before the assembled officials, the reporting guard announced clearly, Please inform His Majesty that the Crown Prince, upon hearing of pseudo-Shu Spies infiltrating Chang’an, returned post-haste by starlight, captured them overnight, and now awaits summons outside Donghua Gate.

A eunuch scurried off to deliver the message and returned beaming, drawing out his words: Summon—the Crown Prince—to the hall—

Under the gaze of the entire court, Chu Tingyan strode in boldly, followed by He Zaizhi and a group of guards. The three captives, bound tightly, could not utter a sound.

The Emperor laughed heartily, My son has achieved outstanding merits, bringing great comfort to my heart!

Chu Tingyan expressed his gratitude and looked up. Their gazes met in the air, and indeed, the Emperor’s eyes held a faint smile.

Once this act unfolded, the entire court was astounded. Who knew how earth-shattering the news would be when it reached the front lines in Shu. They had already seized the initiative in this game, and the mastermind behind the scenes, unable to restrain themselves, was about to reveal their hand.

Chu Tingyan calmly accepted the rewards, left the court, and proceeded to Danfeng Palace to pay respects to the Empress. This had long been planned—a performance must be carried out from beginning to end, with grandeur and intensity, to be convincing.

His heart was as clear and calm as snow, while his face wore just the right expression of restrained satisfaction. As he approached the entrance of Danfeng Palace, he suddenly halted.

What is it? He Zaizhi followed his gaze upward to the treetops, squinting to get a closer look, and spotted a… cat covered in mud and water.

The cat leaped down abruptly, stepped on Chu Tingyan’s shoulders, and jumped again, not forgetting to stomp firmly on him twice. Chu Tingyan instinctively reached out to catch it mid-air, but Yun Huan took the opportunity to kick a few more times, treating the luxurious sleeve as nothing more than a rag.

Meow! The little cat shook its fur, splattering mud and water all over the Crown Prince.

It was all the Crown Prince’s fault! If he hadn’t suddenly closed the net, she wouldn’t have accidentally stumbled upon the scene late at night, getting drenched and terrified!

That scoundrel of a Crown Prince!

Yun Huan knew her anger was unreasonable—a momentary impulse born of old and new grievances boiling over. But she was a cat now, and the dignified Crown Prince surely wouldn’t stoop to holding a grudge against a mere feline. Thinking this, she seized the chance to vent her frustration, stomping a few more times to wipe all four paws clean before darting away.

—After all, you’ll never catch me, she thought cowardly as she ran.

Mo Gugu had ordered her into the Inner Palace, and she didn’t dare refuse outright, but she could retaliate while in her cat form. Even the Crown Prince’s sleeves weren’t spared from being used as a rag by a little cat!

If the Crown Prince wanted to blame anyone, it shouldn’t be her. She had been innocently tending to the plants outside the palace, caught up in the mess without knowing whom to hold accountable!

Chu Tingyan stared at the paw prints on his sleeve and slowly furrowed his brow.

Is that your cat? He Zaizhi paused briefly before refocusing, Do you need to change clothes?

No need, Chu Tingyan ignored the first part of the question, Let’s stick to the schedule and pay respects to Mother first.

The sky was bright, and the Restriction had been lifted. Yun Huan dashed away, leaped over the palace wall, and used an inconspicuous escape technique to slip back into her room, removing the sleeping substitute from her bed.

It was time to rise. Just as she opened the door, a young palace maid hurried over and said, Sister Yun, the Crown Prince has returned to the capital and is coming to Danfeng Palace to pay respects to Her Majesty. We must all go to welcome him. Hurry, hurry!

Yun Huan cursed the Crown Prince once more in her heart, quickened her pace, and stood with the others in the open space on either side of the palace entrance, ready to respectfully welcome His Highness the Crown Prince.

The palace doors opened, and a young eunuch cleared the way. In the center, surrounded by attendants, stood a man wearing the Crown Prince’s ceremonial robes, a formal crown upon his head. He was quite tall, and even the wide sleeves of his robe could not conceal his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

Yun Huan had seen him up close before, but that was when she was a cat, looking up at him. Back then, she only noticed his exceptionally dark brows and eyes as bright as polished lacquer. As for the rest, she hardly remembered—caring about that was far less important than worrying about whether the Crown Prince would give her more food.

Now, stealing glances from within the crowd, she could see his dignified appearance and the noble bearing subtly revealed in his every movement.

So this was the Crown Prince?

Not the one who hunted Demons on a rainy night, nor the one who effortlessly eliminated Spies in the Imperial Treasury. This was the first time Yun Huan saw him so openly surrounded by people, as if he were naturally suited to be guarded by the masses. Only then did she realize he truly lived up to being the Crown Prince—his demeanor was heroic, and his gaze shone with brilliance.

Yun Huan lowered her eyes and knelt with the others around her. Her line of sight dropped accordingly, leaving her only able to see pairs of boots.

The Crown Prince drew closer, and a pair of black boots stopped not far in front of her.

Wh-what was going on? Wasn’t he here to pay respects to the Empress?

Already feeling uneasy, Yun Huan’s heart raced wildly, her thoughts a tangled mess as she struggled to make sense of the situation. She stole a glance upward, trying to see why the Crown Prince had stopped—

Only to find him looking down, his gaze meeting hers.

💝 Support the Team

soowe05

✍️ Translator

💙 PayPal