Zong Zhao entered the Eastern Palace to check on His Highness.
The Crown Princess gestured for Xu Wan to sit and began chatting with her: "I’ve heard your household has faced quite a few troubles lately. Are you alright? Do you need my help?"
Xu Wan smiled and shook her head. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. The matters at home have been resolved. It’s just that the delays kept me from entering the palace sooner, making you wait."
The Crown Princess sighed bitterly. "To be honest, when you didn’t come the past few days, I feared you might be holding a grudge against His Highness because the City Patrol barred Jin Cheng and the others from entering the city… But His Highness has been unconscious all this time. He knew nothing of it."
Xu Wan asked, "Did the City Patrol deliberately stop us because of Luo Jingfeng?"
The Crown Princess hesitated before nodding. "Yes. They believed Zong Zhao was aligned with Luo Jingfeng, and with His Highness in this state, they assumed Luo Jingfeng was behind it. That’s why they refused to let you enter the city."
"So that’s really what happened…" Xu Wan murmured, then added, "Then they’re quite brave. The entire capital fears Luo Jingfeng—only the City Patrol dares to stand against the Luo family."
The Crown Princess gave a wry smile. "Indeed. In all the capital, only they… only His Highness… defies power and fears no death. Those under His Highness’s command are hardly cowards." Follow current novels on novel✦fire.net
As they spoke, Zong Zhao emerged from the inner chambers.
He bid farewell to the Crown Princess, but she suddenly called out to him: "Zong Zhao, though I don’t know what exactly you intend with Luo Jingfeng, the mere fact that you convinced him to halt his push to depose the Crown Prince makes me believe you would never harm His Highness, no matter what you do."
Zong Zhao did not respond.
His loyalty to His Highness was his own affair, and he cared little whether the Crown Princess misunderstood.
The Crown Princess continued, "The City Patrol’s ten thousand troops guard the imperial city—it’s His Highness’s greatest reliance. I cannot ask them to apologize to you, whether for Luo Jingfeng or Jin Cheng."
Zong Zhao replied, "I understand. An apology is unnecessary."
The Crown Princess then took out a token from her robes and handed it to him. "But I can entrust the City Patrol to you."
"!" Xu Wan was stunned.
That token commanded the City Patrol—the Crown Prince’s most vital force, responsible for the safety of the entire capital. Though it couldn’t rival Luo Jingfeng’s military power, within the capital, no faction was stronger than the City Patrol.
Zong Zhao’s expression darkened. "This token holds immense weight. Your Highness truly trusts me with it?"
The Crown Princess shook her head. "Truthfully, I don’t. This trust is too heavy—one misstep, and both His Highness and I would face ruin. But I know His Highness well. He’s kept many things from me, whether about Jin Cheng or you. He never wanted me dragged into this mess… yet I wish to share his burdens, to stand with him through the storm. But he… refuses me that chance."
Her voice trembled, though she held back her tears. "Since His Highness won’t tell me, I leave it to you. I trust that when he wakes, he’ll see a court cleansed of corruption."
Zong Zhao took the token from her.
Such a small object, yet it carried the weight of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s trust. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Very well. I’ll see it done."
With that, the authority of the City Patrol was quietly transferred.
Zong Zhao secured the token and left the palace with Xu Wan.
Having learned yet another staggering secret, Xu Wan realized she knew far too much. But what was done couldn’t be undone—she couldn’t erase her memories. So she stayed silent, pretending she didn’t exist.
Neither spoke, and the journey home passed in silence.
By evening, the examinations in the grand study concluded.
The invigilator, Shunzi, delivered nine answer scrolls. Xu Wan, well-rested after a day off, had eaten early to review them promptly.
Zong Zhao sat at the desk, helping her assess the papers.
Xu Wan picked up the little devil’s first, curious about his progress in policy essays. The first half was logically structured and well-argued, but the latter part made her frown.
It wasn’t poorly written—just oddly reasoned.
Puzzled, she called out, "Zong Zhao, take a look at Jin Cheng’s paper. Something feels off."
"What is it?" Zong Zhao set down his own scroll and leaned over.
After reading, he too fell silent.
Xu Wan ventured timidly, "Maybe Jin Cheng just went off-topic?"
The essay began with the duties of an official but then shifted to advising a new emperor on appointing officials—a matter for the sovereign, not a candidate.
Zong Zhao set the paper down, his gaze sharp. "No. He didn’t stray—he genuinely believes this is his role. He shouldn’t know these things."
Xu Wan’s heart skipped a beat.
She recalled how, for a year and a half, His Highness had visited monthly, spending entire days on the grand study’s second floor, deep in conversation with Jin Cheng.
When she’d asked what they discussed, Jin Cheng had sealed his lips tight. Now, it seemed…
Xu Wan guessed, "Did His Highness teach him this?"
Zong Zhao acted swiftly, grabbing the paper and pulling Xu Wan along. "Let’s ask him."
"Ah? Ask him? I’ve tried before—he never talks!" Xu Wan was helpless.
"I’ll handle it," Zong Zhao said.
In the grand study, Jin Cheng and his brothers munched on steamed buns while poring over books—their evening routine. They believed eating while studying helped knowledge "digest" faster.
"General, Madam," the maids announced at the door.
The tutor and students looked up.
"Father, Mother." "Uncle Zong, Auntie." "General, Madam."
Jin Cheng spotted his paper immediately and beamed. "Father! Did you read my brilliant policy essay? Surely you think I’m the reincarnation of the Literary Star now?"
There it was—that cringe-worthy confidence.
The others stifled smirks, though none dared refute him outright, given his essay’s actual merit.
Ignoring the boast, Zong Zhao said, "Bring a lamp upstairs. I’ll discuss your essay with you."
"Yes!" The little devil was thrilled.
Whether praised or tutored, this one-on-one time with his father was rare.
The others, seeing they weren’t involved, returned to their studies.
Jin Cheng, bursting with energy, fetched a second lamp for extra light, dashing up and down the stairs.
Before he could even sit, his father cut straight to the point in front of his mother: "His Highness taught you how to appoint officials, didn’t he?"