With the rise of the sun, the pale veil that had cloaked Liang City was gently lifted.

A crisp morning breeze carried a faint chill.

The din of yesterday had faded, and the radiant pleasure boat now lay moored on the inner river. As if pausing to breathe, or like a graceful lady, quietly tending to her reflection, adorning herself in the hush of morning.

By this time, the court of Liang City had already been in motion for a full hour and a half, just ending the morning session.

Returning to the Internal Rectitude Office, Gao Quan received a wax-sealed pellet.

A young eunuch of the designated route, now officially bearing the title after donning a new identity with Gao Quan's jade thumb ring,

Stood humbly to the side, his gaze fixed downward on his toes.

Gao Quan wore a radiant smile, once again exuding the gracious warmth of a chief eunuch in favor.

If not for his loss of manhood, he might have even gone out to enjoy a performance.

All within the Internal Rectitude Office could sense the change in their superior’s mood, proof enough that imperial favor was upon him again.

Those who served diligently might even get to sip a bit of nourishing soup.

The shift in demeanor had occurred overnight.

Those who had wavered before now decisively aligned themselves under Gao Quan’s banner.

Taking the wax pellet in hand, Gao Quan mused over what good news it might contain.

Even the towering stack of official documents before him did not stir the usual tedium.

After cleansing his hands and sipping tea, he seated himself at his desk and unsealed the pellet.

But as he read, the smile on his face vanished instantly.

Even his posture straightened unconsciously.

His expression grew neutral, neither joy nor sorrow.

Though the young eunuch could not see his master’s face, the sudden silence and sharp halt in movement were telling enough of the shift in atmosphere.

Clearly, the message in the wax pellet was anything but good news.

At times like this, the young eunuch became all the more deferential, even slowing his own breath and standing motionless, not daring to make a sound.

Gao Quan’s palm clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning pale from the force.

He had never expected that, upon hearing only some vague information, Zheng Zhong would immediately dispatch an assassin to the marquis’s residence to kill Wen Yue.

Zheng Zhong had no proper intelligence, he simply heard the old marquis mention the "Organ-Refining" realm and took it at face value.

Fortunately, Wen Yue was actually an Innate Grandmaster. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Anger aside, Gao Quan broke out in a cold sweat.

Zheng Zhong didn’t want just Wen Yue dead, he wanted his death as well.

If Wen Yue died, all of Gao Quan’s allies would deem him finished and defect to Zheng Zhong.

After all, eunuchs were the emperor’s servants. Their supposed reverence for the chief eunuch was more show than substance. Who didn’t want to climb higher and become the sole Grand Eunuch, second only to the emperor and above all others?

If he were merely out of favor, that was one thing. But once he truly lost power, it would be a case of "when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter."

To preserve himself, one had to build alliances both within and beyond the palace.

Dealing with the outer court was one thing, the inner court was far more vicious.

“He must be crushed. And someone else must be elevated.”

“Preferably someone clever. His Majesty dislikes harmony between the two chief eunuchs of the Internal Rectitude Office.”

Forget about harmony among palace eunuchs, even unity among ministers and generals was something that only existed in annals and fiction.

When it happened in reality, someone usually died.

The art of emperorship was rooted in balance; alliances among civil and military officials were deeply frowned upon.

“Come! Call Sanlang, Head Clerk Cao, Head Clerk Fu…”

Now that Wen Yue had been reinstated and was married into the Annan Marquis’s family, wielding the power of both noble houses and was about to enter the military as an Innate Grandmaster to earn his merits, his future status would only rise, potentially becoming a legend in the military.

Gao Quan could not afford to sit idle.

In the past, it was the loss of imperial favor that made him feel hopeless. But times had changed, and the tide was turning.

Activity surged within the Internal Rectitude Office, causing noticeable stirrings.

Those watching Gao Quan’s faction quickly reported back to Zheng Zhong.

Dusk.

Though dusk had not fully arrived,

The maple leaves on the mountainside had already begun to turn yellow.

The layered woods were steeped in red, as if kissed by fire.

“Chief, it seems Eunuch Gao isn’t staying quiet.”

A eunuch in green robes entered hurriedly and whispered softly.

Zheng Zhong frowned, he had yet to receive word from beyond the palace.

An entire day had passed.

Mister Shen’s reports had always come swiftly in the past.

More importantly, even the spies assigned to watch Jing’an Marquis’s estate had gone silent.

Now his old rival was stirring, this troubled him greatly.

In the worst-case scenario, the assassination had failed and the assassin was captured. Under torture, he might have confessed his mastermind.

Zheng Zhong also felt a pang of regret.

Yesterday, in a fit of rage, he had rashly sent Mister Shen, something he ought not have done.

Now that Wen Yue had recovered, it might have been better to win him over.

Anyone with a clear view of the political climate could see that Zheng Zhong held the advantage.

He was but one step away from gaining full control over the Three Directorates.

Gao Quan was yesterday’s news.

Anyone with sense would know which side to choose.

Perhaps he had climbed too high, lost his vigilance, and abandoned the humility of old.

He had thought Wen Yue as just a marquis’s heir who could be crippled once more if necessary.

But in this world, nothing is ever certain.

Especially when it involves sending assassins to take a life.

The wisest course would have been to show goodwill while maintaining dominance, ultimately using the greater political climate to force submission.

“I truly was too hasty.”

Zheng Zhong murmured softly.

Compared to Gao Quan, he was younger, more energetic, and had risen earlier.

Though his tactics weren’t the most refined, he was sharp enough.

Most importantly, like Gao Quan, he was loyal to Emperor Liang.

When it came to loyalty, neither outshone the other.

For eunuchs, the emperor was their entire world.

Lacking the ability to father children, their lives depended wholly on imperial favor.

Exhaling slowly, Zheng Zhong suppressed his regret.

Now that things had escalated, and such deep enmity formed, peaceful resolution was no longer possible.

Even if Wen Yue were to surrender, Zheng Zhong would always be wary, and would eventually look for a chance to eliminate him.

He knew full well what he had done.

If someone had sent assassins to kill him, he would not allow them a chance to justify themselves either.

“The roots must be cut, and the grass destroyed.”

Zheng Zhong’s expression steadied, his face solemn.

Whether or not his suspicions were accurate, as long as Wen Yue lived, he had to be crushed and never allowed to rise again.

Judging by the chain of events, Zheng Zhong was almost certain Wen Yue was still alive.

And now, his old foe Gao Quan had raised his guard.

To kill Wen Yue in Liang City through shadowy means would require exploiting factional strife and pinning an inescapable crime on him.

But Wen Yue remained inside the marquis’s estate, never setting foot beyond.

Investigating the estate’s holdings wouldn’t yield much either. Due to the old marquis’s timid nature, most shady businesses were simple and sparse.

The old man was a coward, lacking initiative but also free of major faults.

Wen Yue himself was known for generosity and virtue. His reputation was sound, making it hard to frame him for any serious crime.

“If there’s no way to act within Liang City, then I’ll bide my time.”

“In military campaigns, slip-ups are inevitable.”

Zheng Zhong’s expression remained calm.

He had cooled his anger and resolved to proceed with care.

He no longer dared to underestimate Wen Yue.

The army would soon set out.

He had men within the ranks, so long as they hesitated at the crucial moment, Wen Yue could be easily doomed.

Such a plan would be simpler, cleaner, and without a trace.

Having made his decision, Zheng Zhong now sought to lull Wen Yue into a false sense of security:

“Pass down my orders, keep close watch on the Jing’an Marquis’s heir, Wen Yue, but do not provoke conflict.”

“Anyone who disobeys will taste the sharpness of this eunuch’s blade!”

The cold, cutting tone struck fear.

The green-robed eunuch hastily cupped his hands in acknowledgment. “Rest assured, Chief. I will see that the men are thoroughly warned.”

“Go.”

(Chapter End)