The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

The night wind swept in through the half-open courtyard gate, causing the branches of the trees along the corridor to sway unsteadily.

Pei Yan strode ahead, his dark robes billowing in the wind.

"What exactly happened?"

Xiao San followed closely behind, his voice low but his speech rapid:

"This afternoon, His Majesty suddenly issued an edict to go to Youguo Temple on Baiyun Mountain to offer incense. Accompanying him was Consort Yu, who has recently been in the limelight."

Pei Yan couldn't remember for a moment.

"Jade Consort?"

Xiao San immediately reminded him: "It's the beautiful woman with a physical disability that the Empress presented to us a few days ago."

Pei Yan nodded. "And then?"

"His Majesty had just arrived at Youguo Temple and was resting in the guest courtyard on the back hill when he unexpectedly bumped into Minister Gong of the Ministry of Rites!"

Pei Yan suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around and stared at him.

Tomorrow is the fifteenth of March.

This was the day he and Xiao Yuzhen had privately arranged to meet at Youguo Temple.

Empress Xiao Yuzhen has been making many moves behind the scenes over the years.

The current crown prince is the eldest son of the late empress, and has the right to rule, but he is a good-for-nothing who can't be helped.

He spends his days indulging in pleasure and debauchery, and can't even properly approve imperial edicts. The emperor has long harbored the intention to depose the crown prince.

Besides the Crown Prince, the Third Prince was the most popular choice in the court.

But the Third Prince is the Imperial Concubine's own flesh and blood. After Xiao Yuzhen entered the palace, she fought fiercely with the Imperial Concubine. How could she let the son of her mortal enemy climb to the position of Crown Prince?

She secretly cultivated relationships with court officials, clearly intending to bypass the older ones and support the youngest prince, making it easier for her to rule from behind the curtain in the future.

Minister Gong of the Ministry of Rites is the target that Xiao Yuzhen has recently set her sights on.

In order to catch her red-handed, Pei Yan specially arranged for a spy in the Ministry of Rites to tip off Minister Gong.

This led Minister Gong to mistakenly believe that Xiao Yuzhen would go to Youguo Temple to pray for blessings the next day in order to meet with him privately and discuss the important matter of choosing sides in the struggle for the throne.

Minister Gong was greedy and wanted to gain merit by supporting the emperor, so he would definitely arrive at Youguo Temple the night before.

As long as Xiao Yuzhen shows up tomorrow, Pei Yan will be able to expose her for forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices on the spot.

But now, the whole plan is in chaos.

Why did the Emperor go?

"What did Lord Gong say?" Pei Yan clenched his hands behind his back.

Cold sweat beaded on Xiao San's forehead.

"The Emperor was furious and immediately confronted Lord Gong, questioning him about why he was lurking suspiciously in the temple."

"Lord Gong was terrified and kowtowed more than a dozen times before secretly reporting to the Emperor that Your Excellency had sent someone to deliver a note inviting him to a secret meeting at Youguo Temple."

He also said, "I don't know what the Prime Minister's intentions are, so please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly!"

Pei Yan was so angry that he laughed instead.

What a clever scheme!

Xiao Yuzhen truly lives up to her name; she's ruthless!

Not only did they see through his scheme, but they also turned the tables on him, using Minister Gong to turn the tables on him.

What's even more crucial is that the Emperor taking Consort Yu out of the palace shouldn't be a coincidence.

This matter might have been orchestrated by Xiao Yuzhen.

Her move was intended to definitively prove his crimes of controlling the government and forming cliques to seize power as the Grand Secretary!

"Prepare the horses!"

Xiao San said urgently, "Master, wouldn't going now be like walking into a trap?"

"The Emperor's chief eunuch, Sun Fuhai, is probably already on his way to arrest me."

Pei Yan strode out the door, "If he catches me in the mansion, then I'll truly be sitting here waiting to die."

Two fast horses galloped out of the Prime Minister's residence under the cover of night and headed straight for the city gate.

With the prime minister's official badge clearing the way, the city gate guards dared not stop them.

Once outside the city, the official road leading to Baiyun Mountain was pitch black, with only the sound of horses' hooves.

After running less than five miles, a cluster of torches lit up the official road ahead.

Dozens of Imperial Guards surrounded a carriage, blocking its way.

Pei Yan pulled on the reins, and the horse reared up on its hind legs, letting out a neigh.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and the eunuch Sun Fuhai, holding the hand of a young eunuch, slowly stepped down onto a footstool.

The firelight illuminated his face, which was as white as dough, with smile lines squeezed together.

"Oh dear, Your Excellency, where are you headed in the middle of the night?"

Sun Fuhai, in a high-pitched voice, gave a forced, insincere smile.

Pei Yan sat upright on his horse, looking down at the Imperial Guards holding their embroidered spring knives.

"Where is Eunuch Sun heading with such a large entourage?"

Sun Fuhai flicked his whisk, took two steps forward, and his smile vanished.

"This servant was on His Majesty's orders to go to the residence to invite the Prime Minister. Unexpectedly, the Prime Minister came out on his own."

He paused, his tone sarcastic.

"Your Excellency, it is a taboo for officials of the imperial court to collude in private."

"As the Grand Secretary of the current dynasty, leading the way in forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices, your crime is now even more serious."

The surrounding Imperial Guards all drew half of their Embroidered Spring Blades, the blades gleaming coldly in the torchlight.

With a flick of his wrist, Xiao San revealed a hidden weapon ready to be unleashed from his sleeve.

Pei Yan slightly raised his hand to stop Xiao San.

He dismounted, straightened his sleeves which had been ruffled by the wind, and remained calm.

"You flatter me, Eunuch Sun. I left the city in the dead of night to rush to Youguo Temple to meet the Emperor."

Sun Fuhai raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Isn't the Prime Minister going to see Lord Gong?"

"Lord Gong?... He's also at Youguo Temple?"

Pei Yan looked puzzled, his tone chilling.

"I have a matter of utmost importance concerning the fate of the Great Chu Kingdom, which I must report to the Emperor in person."

"I originally planned to enter the palace early tomorrow morning, but since His Majesty has left the palace, I should report to him as soon as possible."

"As for why Minister Gong was there, I was just about to ask him in person."

Sun Fuhai stared at Pei Yan for a long time.

This Grand Secretary wields great power, and although he is currently embroiled in trouble, he has not yet been convicted.

If pushed too far, even the Embroidered Uniform Guard might not be able to stop them.

A matter of great importance concerning the fate of the nation?

These four words carried too much weight for Sun Fuhai to take on without authorization.

"Since the Prime Minister is also going to meet the Emperor, then please proceed."

Sun Fuhai stepped aside to make way for him.

"However, the rules cannot be disregarded, so the Prime Minister will have to endure some hardship and accompany the Imperial Guards on this trip."

Pei Yan was surrounded by a group of Imperial Guards and rushed towards Youguo Temple.

It was already past midnight when we arrived at Youguo Temple.

The entire temple was completely surrounded by the Imperial Guards; not even a fly could get in.

The emperor did not immediately summon Pei Yan.

Sun Fuhai led him to a monk's room in a side courtyard.

"His Majesty has already retired for the night. Prime Minister, you may stay here for the night. His Majesty will question you first thing tomorrow morning."

The door to the meditation room was pushed open roughly, and a musty smell wafted out.

Pei Yan stepped inside, and just as Xiao San was about to follow, two embroidered spring knives crossed and blocked the doorway.

"No unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter," the Imperial Guard coldly rebuked.

Pei Yan turned to Xiao San and instructed, "Wait outside."

The door slammed shut behind me and was locked.

Several figures moved outside the window, clearly indicating a heavily guarded area.

There were no lights in the meditation room. Only the high-hanging moon shone through the window, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor.

Pei Yan leaned back on the couch, closing his eyes to rest.

The emperor deliberately ignored him, simply to put pressure on him and temper his arrogance.

In the latter half of the night, the wind gradually picked up, making the paper windows rustle.

"Hehehe..."

A woman's laughter drifted in on the wind, carrying a chilling and ominous tone.

Pei Yan suddenly opened his eyes.

"Prime Minister..."

Pei Yan remained seated, his back ramrod straight, but his hand instinctively rested on the hidden buckle of his belt.

A soft snap.

Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared on the window frame covered with paper.

Then, something scratched at the window, making a chilling "crackling" sound.

By the pale moonlight, Pei Yan finally saw clearly.

She was a woman with disheveled hair.

Long hair hung down the window paper, and through the thin paper, a bloodshot eye was visible.

"Pei Yan...you owe me my life..."

A mournful murmur seeped in through the crack in the window.

"You cut off my leg... Do you know how much pain I'm in?!"

The woman laughed as she scraped the wooden frame hard with her fingernails.

"I hate you so much... Give me your life... Pei Yan, give me your life!"

That voice...that face...

Red bead!

Hongzhu, whom he ordered to have one leg broken and be expelled from the Prime Minister's residence!

Pei Yan broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

When did she die?

Is she a human or a ghost now?