My father ordered me to kill the emperor, but His Majesty bestowed a princess upon me instead.

Wei Zhi arrived just as Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

He arrived at the perfect time.

It was as accurate as a needle, pricking me precisely when I least wanted to see anyone.

Outside Chengpingfang Gate, the palace carriages were parked quietly.

There was no fanfare.

There were no ceremonial processions.

Two eunuchs carried an ebony trunk, which was sealed with a seal from the Imperial Wardrobe.

Wei Zhi stood beside the box, smiling at me.

"Lord Shen, you must have had a long night."

I glanced at him.

"Eunuch Wei's information comes very quickly."

News from the palace is always timely.

He said it very casually.

But when I heard that, I felt a chill in my heart.

News from the palace comes quickly.

If the people in the palace really want to take action, they won't be slow.

I bowed.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for bestowing these clothes upon me."

Wei Zhi smiled and offered a helping hand.

"Lord Shen, there's no need for such formalities. His Majesty said that with the wedding approaching, the palace robes should be sent early to put your mind at ease."

Peace of mind.

I looked at the ebony trunk.

It sits in the courtyard, its box a deep black with a clean white seal.

It doesn't look like something that would put people at ease.

It looks more like a small coffin.

Ah Liu stood behind me, his eyes fixed on the trunk.

He only slept for half an hour last night, and now his eyes are so bruised that he looks like he's been beaten up.

Zhou Xian didn't leave either.

It's not appropriate for him to leave now.

The Ministry of Rites had just burned down the old treasury and unearthed the names of the dead, and then the imperial bestowal of clothing arrived. If he left now, it would be difficult to explain himself in court later.

Qiu Tang also came.

She represents the Princess's residence.

The entire courtyard, filled with people from the Ministry of Rites, the Princess's residence, the inner court, and the Censorate, were all staring at a single box.

If we were to describe this scene in another way, it would resemble the lively atmosphere before a grand wedding.

But amidst the commotion, no one dared to laugh first.

Wei Zhi looked around, and finally his gaze fell on me.

"Lord Shen, shall we open the box?"

I smiled and said, "Since it was sent by Eunuch Wei, of course I should open it."

"Is Lord Shen not afraid?"

"Afraid."

Wei Zhi was taken aback.

I spoke very sincerely.

"Last night, I found the names of the dead in the inner robe of the Ministry of Rites, and I also retrieved a fake knife engraved with my name from the water gate. Now that I see the trunk, it's really hard not to be afraid."

Ah Liu whispered from the side, "Young master, you're being too honest."

Wei Zhi laughed.

"Lord Shen is very frank about his fear."

"Timid people are usually frank."

Wei Zhi's smile deepened.

"His Majesty said that if Lord Shen is afraid, he should watch even more."

That sounds just like what Xiao Jingheng said.

I looked at the box.

"Let's open it."

The young eunuch stepped forward and first verified the seal.

The seal is intact.

The seal of the Imperial Clothing Bureau is clearly visible.

There are no signs of secondary pressing.

I specifically looked at the box buckle.

There were no scratches.

From the outside, this box looks much cleaner than the one from the Ministry of Rites.

Clean.

It's clean again.

I'm most afraid of cleanliness now.

The box was opened.

The inside was lined with light yellow silk.

On the silk fabric was a moon-white undergarment.

The fabric is fine with a subtle texture, and the collar, cuffs, and waistline are all very neat.

It has no calming scent.

There was no musty smell from the old clothes.

There are no traces of fumigation.

It has only a faint scent of soapberry.

It was as clean as if it had just been washed out of the snow.

Ah Liu visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

But I didn't let go.

Because this palace robe was too clean.

If the inner robe of the Ministry of Rites was so dirty it was obvious, this palace robe was so clean it looked like it was deliberately shown to me.

Wei Zhi asked, "What does Lord Shen think?"

I said, "Nice clothes."

"Shall we give it a try?"

The courtyard fell silent.

I looked at him.

Wei Zhi was still smiling.

"His Majesty said that the palace robes were sent early so that Lord Shen could try them on first. If they don't fit, the Imperial Wardrobe can make alterations."

That's a thoughtful suggestion.

They actually wanted me to put it on right there.

Ah Liu's face turned pale again.

Qiu Tang looked at me but didn't say anything.

Zhou Xian also held his breath.

I know what they're worried about.

Just because palace robes look clean doesn't mean there are no problems.

Some things aren't necessarily hidden inside clothes.

It might be hidden in the incense.

It might be hidden in the needle and thread.

It might be hidden in a lining that only becomes visible after you put it on.

It might even be hidden in the fact that "I dare not wear it".

The emperor spoke.

If I wouldn't even dare accept a single garment, there's no need to investigate the accounts.

When this news gets out, all the officials and civil and military officials will be very happy.

They would say Shen An is guilty.

A prospective imperial son-in-law dared not even wear the clothes bestowed upon him by the emperor.

Are you afraid that something will be reflected on your clothes?

I seemed to see the emperor's invisible hand through Wei Zhi's sleeve.

I must wear this.

But you can't wear something stupid.

I said to Qiu Tang, "Please have the lady-in-waiting from the Princess's residence examine her first."

Qiu Tang nodded.

Wei Zhi did not stop him.

A female official from the princess's residence washed her hands and stepped forward to carefully examine the palace robes.

Examine each detail: collar, cuffs, lining, waist, and hidden stitching.

After reading it, she shook her head.

"No lining, old lining, or unusual needles were found."

Zhou Xian also stepped forward to take a look.

He's now more afraid than anyone else of finding a dead body hidden in his clothes.

After reading it, his voice was a little dry.

"The stitching is indeed the work of the Imperial Wardrobe."

I asked, "Are you redesigning an old order?"

Zhou Xiandao said, "Judging from the size, it seems to have been modified according to the new measurements, rather than being arbitrarily altered from the old ones."

Wei Zhi smiled and said, "Is Lord Shen now at ease?"

I looked at that moon-white undergarment.

"I'm even more worried now."

Wei Zhi's smile faltered.

I said, "It's too clean."

Ah Liu whispered from behind, "Young master, you're afraid of it being dirty, and you're afraid of it being clean."

I turned to look at him.

"That's why I'm still alive."

He thought about it and realized it made sense.

I didn't put it on right away, but went to the trunk instead.

The fact that the palace robes are fine doesn't mean the box is fine.

The clothes were for me to see.

The box may not be.

I reached out and tapped the bottom of the box.

The sound was slightly muffled.

It's normal for ebony to be a bit stuffy because it's thick.

However, the sounds in the bottom left and bottom right corners are different.

I typed it out again.

Wei Zhi looked at me.

"Does Lord Shen also know how to look after boxes?"

"No," I said, "but I'm afraid of dying."

I squatted down and felt around the bottom of the box.

The bottom of the box was lined with a layer of yellow silk, which was pressed flat and secured with nails at the four corners.

I asked, "Eunuch Wei, may I lift the yellow silk at the bottom of the trunk?"

The young eunuch's expression changed.

Wei Zhi laughed and said, "This is a wardrobe from the palace."

"I understand."

"Logically, it shouldn't be dismantled arbitrarily."

"Logically, the names of dead people should not be sewn into the wedding robes of the Ministry of Rites."

Wei Zhi paused for a moment.

He then said, "Demolish."

Two young eunuchs immediately stepped forward and carefully removed the four corner nails.

The yellow silk was lifted.

Below is the bottom of the ebony box.

It seems there are still no problems.

But I saw a very thin slit in the lower left corner.

It's not natural wood grain.

It's a sandwich layer.

I scratched it with my fingernail.

It can't be opened.

Yan Xiaoyi wasn't in the courtyard last night, but now he's popping out from over the wall.

He jumped down and handed me a small, thin knife.

Use this.

I look at him.

"When did you arrive?"

"When the box arrives."

"Why didn't you use the door?"

"I'm used to it."

Ah Liu said numbly, "I don't want to ask anymore."

I used a thin knife to pick along the seam.

Click.

A thin piece of wood loosened.

A very narrow compartment is visible at the bottom left corner of the box.

There was no knife inside.

It is not poisonous.

There are no old clothes.

There was only half a hard cover.

The cover was torn unevenly, and there were burn marks on the edges.

I took it out and placed it on the table.

Most of the ink on it has faded, but a few words can still be seen.

A complete collection of clothing belonging to people from the three prefectures north of the Yangtze River.

Everyone in the courtyard fell silent.

These words are sharper than a knife.

Zhou Xian's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Qiu Tang's gaze darkened.

Ah Liu's mouth was open, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

Wei Zhi's smile finally disappeared.

Looking at that half-cover, I felt surprisingly calm.

It was calm, almost chilling.

Du Heng said that the official register had been entered into the palace.

He didn't lie completely.

At least the cover of this main volume has been in the palace wardrobe.

As for where the contents of the main book went, who took it, who put this half of the cover, and why it was placed at the bottom of the trunk of the emperor's bestowed clothes...

Each problem is like a rope.

The other end of the rope was not in the Ministry of Revenue.

Not under the Ministry of Rites.

In the palace.

I looked up at Wei Zhi.

"Eunuch Wei, who touched this box after it left the Imperial Wardrobe?"

Wei Zhi did not answer immediately.

This is rare.

He is usually smiling and doesn't talk much, but he never hesitates.

At that moment, he hesitated.

very short.

That's enough.

"After the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau sealed the boxes, they were delivered to the Emperor for verification by a female official in charge of clothing and two eunuchs."

"Gozen?"

"His Majesty has seen the seal."

My heart skipped a beat.

The emperor had seen the seal.

Was this half of the cover placed before the emperor saw it, or after he saw it?

Why did the emperor remain silent before?

If this happens later, it means that someone was able to move the palace's clothing chests after the seal was verified in front of the emperor.

Either one is deadly.

Wei Zhi said slowly, "Lord Shen, this item must be presented to His Majesty in the palace immediately."

I looked at that half-cover.

"certainly."

Ah Liu was just about to breathe a sigh of relief.

I added, "But you must make a copy before entering the palace."

Wei looked at me.

"Master Shen, don't you believe me?"

I am very honest.

It's not that I don't trust my father-in-law.

"That is?"

"It's because they don't trust this capital city."

Wei Zhi looked at me for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"His Majesty will probably like to hear what Lord Shen has to say."

"I hope Your Majesty will not be angry after hearing this."

"This isn't the first time His Majesty has been angry."

That's a very experienced way of saying it.

I had Ah Liu copy the lettering on the cover, and then had the princess's female official and Zhou Xian witness it together, and then sealed another copy.

Throughout the entire process, Wei Zhi did not interfere.

The less he tried to stop me, the more complicated things seemed to me.

If the emperor already knew there was something at the bottom of the box, he was using Wei Zhi to let me discover it.

If the emperor was unaware, then Wei Zhi's current calmness indicates that he has realized someone in the palace has tampered with the box that was sealed before the emperor.

Regardless of the reason, this half-cover is not as simple as evidence.

It was a challenge from the palace.

After copying, Wei Zhi carefully put away the original cover.

"Lord Shen, you should still try on the clothes."

Ah Liu almost jumped up.

"Want to try again?"

Wei Zhi looked at him.

Ah Liu immediately shrank back.

I looked at that moon-white undergarment.

"Eunuch Wei, the bottom of the trunk has already been opened to reveal the clothes, book covers, and other items. Are you still going to try them on?"

Wei Zhi said, "His Majesty said that the clothes are sent to Lord Shen to wear."

I smiled.

"Your Majesty really doesn't waste a single thing."

"Lord Shen doesn't have to wear it."

That's more dangerous than me wearing it.

Everyone in the courtyard was looking at me.

I reached out and picked up the palace robe.

The fabric is very cold.

Like a layer of snow.

I went into the inner room to change my clothes.

Ah Liu wanted to go with me, but I stopped him.

"Wait outside."

"Young master, what if..."

"If I die inside the house, shout it out."

Ah Liu's eyes were red.

"Who are you calling?"

"Call whoever is closest."

I closed the door.

Only I and this palace dress remained in the room.

I took out the small porcelain bottle Gu Xingzhi had given me, poured out a pill, and put it under my tongue.

It can ward off calming incense, and also other things.

Then, I took off my outer robe and put on my palace dress.

The moment the fabric touched my skin, there was nothing unusual.

No needle pricks were used.

It has no medicinal smell.

There is no organization.

It fits perfectly.

It fits me perfectly, as if it had been measured beforehand.

I looked down at my cuffs.

The sleeves of the palace robes were not narrow; in fact, they were wider than those of the inner robes worn by officials in the Ministry of Rites.

Hiding a knife is not a problem.

This only made me feel colder inside.

It is not allowed to hide external clothing.

But the palace robes could conceal it.

If a knife cannot be found in the sleeve of the Ministry of Rites' outer robe on the wedding day, but can be "just so" hidden in the palace robe, then who can say for sure who put the knife there?

I put the "Return to Sheath" back on my wrist.

It was hidden inside the sleeve of the palace robe, yet it remained remarkably stable.

It's so stable, it's as if this garment was originally made for hiding knives.

I stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking at the person in it.

She wore a white robe and had slender, delicate features; a blade was concealed in her sleeve.

Unlike a prince consort.

Like a secret letter sent to the palace.

I pushed open the door and went out.

Wei Zhi's gaze paused slightly when he saw me.

"It fits perfectly."

I looked down at my cuffs.

"It fits perfectly."

It fits so well it makes me want to curse.

Wei Zhi said, "Your Majesty has one more thing to say."

"Please speak, sir."

"His Majesty has instructed Lord Shen to wear this garment when he enters the palace to express his gratitude."

I looked at him.

Wei Zhi's smile was faint.

"The original words were, 'Since someone has sent the money into the clothing chest, Shen An will wear the clothes into the palace.'"

Ah Liu's face turned pale.

Qiu Tang also frowned.

But then I suddenly understood.

The emperor was not unaware of the danger.

He was trying to bring the danger back to the palace.

Let me enter the palace wearing this palace robe that once housed the cover of a collection of human garments.

Let's see who's afraid.

Let's see who makes the move.

Let's see who's in a hurry to kill me.

I let out a soft breath.

This garment is more dangerous than a knife.

But I have to wear it.

Because now, it's not just clothing.

It was the second lock the emperor gave me.

It was also a dead end that the accounting committee had handed me.

What I have to do is walk through this dead-end road and into the palace gates.