After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

As the autumn wind blows, the lanterns on the covered walkway sway gently in the breeze.

A dozen or so eunuchs, their backs bent, moved silently around, their lanterns casting a shimmering green glow on the grass and trees.

The area outside the council chamber was as bright as day.

Mu Ziying's shadow was stretched long by the slivers of light.

When he meticulously presented his report, the assembled officials stood with their hands clasped in front of them, their faces a mixture of pale and flushed.

His Highness's insightful remarks on the training ground just now not only enlightened the five master craftsmen of the Ministry of Works, but also greatly surprised everyone else.

After a moment's thought and some quiet discussion, they suddenly realized something, and their admiration grew even stronger, especially their deep respect for the late emperor's foresight. The late emperor had truly made the right choice in selecting the two tutors for His Highness.

Previously, I only felt that His Highness's "Master Wen" Gu Taifu was a learned scholar and master, worthy of the title "Imperial Tutor".

Unexpectedly, His Highness's "martial arts instructor," Lu Chong, not only taught His Highness how to wield spears and sticks, but also cultivated His Highness's profound knowledge of firearms. Even when encountering this flintlock musket, His Highness understood its principles and implications, and his words were thought-provoking. Lu Chong, this old eunuch, truly deserves to be called a great contributor to the Great Liang.

Hearing Mu Ziying say that "everything is ready" and that they can start "practicing etiquette" again, everyone's hearts were even more excited. Today is August 21, and there are only eight days left until His Highness ascends the throne.

When His Highness ascends the throne.

After His Highness bestows titles and rewards upon them, the officials of the Eastern Palace can rightfully enter the court and realize their ambitions.

Even the mature and composed Sun Chengshan couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed upon hearing these words, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

As early as the Hongjing era, he submitted a ten-thousand-word book entitled "Ten Policies" in order to seek reform and strengthen the country. The late emperor greatly praised him, saying that he was a talented man of the country and capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

At the time, there were many obstacles, and the late emperor did not immediately implement the new laws, but instead kept him in the Censorate to cultivate his reputation. Unexpectedly, a few years later, the late emperor passed away, and Sun Chengshan was devastated.

When the young emperor ascended the throne, the chief minister of Qin assisted in governing. He was banished from the capital by the chief minister and sent to Jiangxi. Fortunately, the emperor was filial and wise. After assuming personal rule at the age of fourteen, he recalled him to the capital and appointed him as the vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel. The emperor upheld his father's will and continued to seek reform plans with him.

However, fate is unpredictable. The emperor's health was failing, and before the reforms could even begin, his health was in danger. He had no choice but to pass the throne to Prince Xin and transfer him to the Eastern Palace to assist Prince Xin.

After twenty years of wasted time, seeing the court's chronic illnesses and his own great cause fading away, Sun Chengshan felt deeply indebted to the emperor. Even if he were not afraid to challenge Gongsun Yang of the Great Liang, in the end, he feared he would not even be able to become Jia Sidao. Thinking of this, he often couldn't help but shed tears.

Seeing the image of His Highness Prince Xin as a benevolent ruler, reminiscent of Empress Dowager Fuye in her prime, Sun Chengshan was invigorated and vowed to complete the great reform to repay the late emperor and the Son of Heaven for their kindness and favor.

Zhu Cuiwei's face fluttered slightly as she thought for a moment and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Physician Mu."

Mu Ziying repeatedly said that she dared not, saying that the Imperial Observatory had already divined that August 24th was an extremely auspicious day, the perfect time for offering sacrifices to Heaven and ancestors, and that it would be convenient for His Highness and the other officials to visit the mausoleum and practice the rites on that day.

Since it was a lesson in etiquette, it naturally included the ministers whom she regarded as her right-hand men. Zhu Cuiwei then asked the ministers of the Eastern Palace. The ministers wished that His Highness would ascend the throne today. Except for Sun Chengshan, who frowned and remained silent, the others said, "What Doctor Mu said makes sense."

Thus, the matter was settled.

After all the officials had dispersed.

Sun Chengshan pondered for a long time in the courtyard, and finally asked a young eunuch to announce that he wished to see Prince Xin.

Zhu Cuiwei sat upright in the carved rosewood chair in the temporary imperial study, put down a memorial in her hand, and said gently to the old minister opposite her, "I wonder what important matter Grand Tutor Sun has to discuss?"

Sun Chengshan thought for a moment, his expression gradually becoming serious, and bowed.

"Your Highness, after much deliberation, I urge you to treat the matter of practicing etiquette and visiting the mausoleum with utmost care."

Zhu Cuiwei's eyes flickered, and she asked with suspicion, "What concerns does Grand Tutor Sun have?"

Unable to interfere with relatives, Sun Chengshan could only vaguely reply: "I believe that Lü Xiang's death is very suspicious. This case is unclear. I think Your Highness's best course of action now is to remain firmly in the Prince's Palace, without bothering with etiquette, and ascend the throne directly on the 29th of August."

Zhu Cuiwei frowned and said:

"With the vassal states coming to the capital and other countries watching, this is a momentous event, and the whole world is looking to us. If we are not familiar with etiquette, and make even the slightest mistake, we will become a laughing stock. If the Emperor Taizu and Empress Xiaoci are watching from heaven, they will surely be dissatisfied with such an unworthy descendant as me."

Sun Chengshan paused for a moment, about to say, "The founding emperor would never be dissatisfied."

Zhu Cuiwei smiled and advised:

"Don't worry, Elder Sun. Whether it's visiting the mausoleum to learn the rites or on the day of my enthronement, my imperial brother has dispatched enough Beijing garrison and Embroidered Uniform Guard to protect me. Nothing will happen."

The crown prince's words were firm and confident.

Sun Chengshan remained silent for a moment, thinking that both the Emperor and His Highness were extremely intelligent and would surely handle the situation with ease. So he said no more, only bowed and smiled, "Your subject has overstepped his bounds."

Zhu Cuiwei's gaze darkened, and she said:

"Mr. Sun, you flatter me."

After bowing again, Sun Chengshan took his leave.

Zhu Cuiwei looked up at his back until the two eunuchs outside the door gently closed the vermilion door of the imperial study, then slowly withdrew her gaze.

A lithe figure emerged from behind the large left pillar.

Zhu Cuiwei turned her head slightly, looked at the Jinyiwei commander in his scarlet robe, and said softly:

"Tomorrow night, send a trusted person to Elder Sun's residence to inform him that he should claim illness and not participate in the tomb-visiting ceremony on the 24th."

With a solemn expression, Qin Qianshi bowed and said, "Yes, sir."

Qin Yuanyao's brow twitched, and she said again:

"Besides Lord Sun, there are two other ministers in the Crown Prince's Palace who are over fifty years old."

Zhu Cuiwei thought for a while.

But he didn't say anything.

Qin Yuanyao immediately lowered her head:

"I made a mistake."

The lamplight flickered in the Imperial Study.

Zhu Cuiwei picked up the green memorial she had just put down, waved it, and smiled:

"Chen Mu has returned? The Five Military Commands said that the Embroidered Uniform Guard has checked Chen Mu and found no problems. He is no longer assigned to the Brave Guard Battalion and has been transferred to Shence Gate as a garrison commander."

Qin Yuanyao nodded and said, "Chen Mu is indeed fine. At least we have been investigating for nearly two months and have not found anything wrong. He was indeed kidnapped and held hostage. Someone took his signal spoof and impersonated him."

After a pause, Qin Yuanyao bit her cheek again and frowned, saying:

"However, there is a strange thing."

"Speak," Zhu Cuiwei said, tossing down the memorial.

"According to the spies who were specifically watching Chen Mu, after Chen Mu was released from the imperial prison, his temperament changed drastically during the month he was idle. He often beat his three concubines, who would cry and wail. If he hadn't been in the limelight, they might have been beaten to death. Later, he sold all the concubines... Other servants in the mansion were also often beaten and scolded by him, and he would throw things. His wife, a daughter of a military family, couldn't stand his temper and went back to her parents' home, saying that she wanted to divorce him."

Zhu Cuiwei pondered for a moment, her brow furrowing. It was a pity that the fake Chen Mu died from a single shot by the young doctor, and was later burned to a crisp. There were no survivors, and no one could verify the truth. However, it was not his fault. At the time, no one could have imagined that it would be a fake Chen Mu.

"Whose connections did he use this time?" she asked, suppressing those thoughts.

"They've all left. The people from the Five Military Commands have all given gifts, and the Ministry of War official has also given one. The person who actually transferred him was Jiao Dun, the Vice Minister of War."

"Jiao Dun?" Zhu Cuiwei frowned. The document she received only had the seals of the Crown Prince and the Ministry of War after review.

Qin Yuanyao nodded, her pupils narrowing slightly as she said:

"Your Highness, Jiao Dun was promoted by Prince Qi when he was the Minister of War."