With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

The jade pendant was placed under the candlelight.

The three long marks are lined up side by side. The first two are each crossed diagonally by a short mark, as if two people were erased at the same time.

The last remaining step extends all the way to that small circle.

Shen Nannan turned the jade pendant around, and the circle looked exactly like a chair viewed from above.

Or rather, it's a position.

A position that all the princes of the Xiao family would fight tooth and nail for.

"There are three people," Shen Nannan whispered.

Xiao Yunzhao's finger stopped at two of the scratch marks.

"Two people died."

"The last one will ascend the throne."

The room was so quiet that the only sound was the soft crackling of the candle wick.

If they only had these scratches, they wouldn't be able to tell who the three people were.

However, the front of this jade pendant is engraved with the character "礼" (li, meaning etiquette).

The "li" in Xiao Yunli's name.

Shen Nian was telling them that the Sixth Prince would be the one to eventually sit in that position.

Xiao Yunzhao's coldness deepened little by little. "As expected, the Empress Dowager did not choose the Crown Prince."

She brought Shen Nian into Cining Palace and ordered the Imperial Wardrobe to prepare an inappropriate formal suit for the Sixth Prince.

Now, Shen Nian risked giving away the sixth prince's jade pendant, leaving behind traces on the back of three people, two of whom were eliminated, and the last one ascended the throne.

Everything points to the same answer.

The Empress Dowager clearly knew that Xiao Yunzhao would not leave the capital easily, and she wanted the Crown Prince to compete with Xiao Yunzhao.

Once one of them dies and the other is accused of treason, the throne will fall to the sixth prince whom she raised.

The distant sound of a night watchman's drum could be faintly heard.

It's almost midnight.

The second batch of spies sent by the Crown Prince to the north of the city should have already returned to the Eastern Palace.

Shen Run also sent word that the originally closed side gate of the East Palace had opened three times in succession after nightfall.

Someone entered the palace.

Some people also went to the place where the Imperial Guards were stationed in the city.

Everything tells them this.

The palace coup that plunged Xiao Yunzhao into utter ruin in his past life might just happen tonight.

"The Empress Dowager wants me to wait until the Crown Prince makes his move before entering the palace." Xiao Yunzhao stroked Shen Nannan's long hair, his voice returning to calm. "Once I save the Emperor and kill the Crown Prince, she will produce that edict, saying that I have long harbored rebellious intentions."

"So you can't go in through the door she wants." Shen Nannan looked up at him, "And you certainly can't face the Emperor and the Crown Prince alone when no one is watching."

A faint hint of coldness flashed across Xiao Yunzhao's eyes.

"She wants to plan my ending."

"This time, she won't be writing it."

Shen Nannan took his hand.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than something flew in through the window.

Xiao Yunzhao's eyes sharpened, and he reached out to catch it.

It's not a hidden weapon.

It is a folding fan.

The fan ribs are made of very rare black jade, with an inconspicuous cloud pattern carved at the end.

Xiao Yunzhao's expression suddenly changed when he saw the pattern.

A piece of paper was tucked inside the folding fan.

There was only one line of text on the paper.

"Chengtian Gate has prepared a dead end for you. If you wish to take another path, meet me at the former Prince Rui's residence at midnight tonight."

Shen Nannan looked at the folding fan. "The Third Prince?"

Xiao Yunzhao slowly tightened his grip. "It belongs to the Third Imperial Uncle."

-----------------

"You stay at the Prince's residence." After reading the line of words on the paper, Xiao Yunzhao's first words were to tell Shen Nannan to stay.

Shen Nannan leaned against the headboard, still holding the jade pendant that Shen Nian had given her. She looked up at him when she heard this.

"What did we talk about just two days ago?"

"Tonight is different."

Xiao Yunzhao tucked the folding fan into his sleeve and bent down to tuck the blanket around her. "Xiao Yunting has been missing for so long, and then he suddenly sends this message at this time. I don't know what he's trying to do."

"That's why I should go even more."

Shen Nannan grasped his hand. "If the Third Prince simply wanted to see you, he could have chosen any place. Why did he specifically choose the old Rui Prince's residence?"

The former Prince Rui's Mansion has been abandoned for many years.

That was where Xiao Yunting lived when he was young. Later, he was granted the title of Prince Rui and a new residence, and the old house gradually became empty.

An abandoned house with no servants, no guards, and not even a lamp lit. It's certainly a perfect place to hide secrets.

"My little girl."

"You can choose not to take me to the palace, and you can choose not to let me face the Crown Prince with you." Shen Nannan gently stroked his palm with her fingertips. "But the person we're meeting tonight is Xiao Yunting. He knows about Consort Yu, and perhaps he even knows about the fire you suffered as a child. Do you think you can come back and casually tell me about your past?"

Xiao Yunzhao didn't speak. If he were to go alone, no matter what Xiao Yunting said, he would only tell Shen Nannan things that wouldn't worry her.

He might not even say anything.

This has become an ingrained habit.

Shen Nannan refused to stay because she knew him too well. "I won't wander off, and I won't leave your side."

She gently tugged at his hand. "Have Mo Bai take more people with him, and prepare a more stable carriage. If we feel something is wrong when we get there, we'll come back immediately."

"It's too cold on the road."

"Bring an extra hand warmer."

It's already midnight.

"Go back to sleep when you get back."

Xiao Yunzhao looked at her.

Shen Nannan did not avoid his gaze.

After a moment, the man seemed to finally admit defeat, and he lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

"Wear something warmer."

A hint of a smile appeared in Shen Nannan's eyes.

"it is good."

Fifteen minutes later, a carriage without any royal markings left through the back gate.

Shen Nannan was wrapped in a fox fur coat by him, with only her face showing.

She looked down at herself, then at the man sitting opposite her, "If you wrap me up like this, I probably won't even be able to stick my hands out if I'm in danger."

"You don't need to help." Xiao Yunzhao pulled her close, letting her lean against him.

"I can move."

"If the Third Prince saw this, he would think that there was a silkworm that had become a spirit hiding in the Prince Zhao's mansion."

"Let him see."

Xiao Yunzhao didn't mind. He held her waist with one hand and kept the other hand on her abdomen. When the carriage occasionally went over uneven cobblestone roads, he would hold her tighter in advance.

Shen Nannan leaned against him, listening to the deliberately quiet sound of wheels outside.

"Ah Chao".

"Um?"

Why do you think the Third Prince helped us?

Xiao Yunzhao slowly stroked her waist with his fingertips, "It might not be to help us."

"Then who is he helping?"

"she."