Riding on horseback, Du Chuanyun carried Prince Ying, who sat in front, excitedly shouting “giddyup” while Du Chuanyun held the reins. This was Prince Ying’s first time on horseback, and even a moderate pace was enough to fill him with joy.

    Prince Donghai and Han Ruzi rode behind them. “The life of the common people isn’t bad. I’m almost getting used to it,” Prince Donghai said.

    Without an entourage or commoners hurriedly making way and standing at attention, Prince Donghai felt this was truly commoner’s life. Though he claimed to be used to it, he couldn’t help but sigh, “This also shows our lives aren’t important anymore, and our so-called dignity is worthless... Look, that fellow is glaring at me!”

    Prince Donghai pointed his riding crop at a pedestrian who was indeed looking in his direction. After a moment, the man smiled and waved – he had actually been looking at someone familiar behind Prince Donghai.

    This upset Prince Donghai even more. “He doesn’t even recognize me! My clothes, my hat – isn’t everything obvious? Sometimes you really need an entourage to make a grand display for these people to even take notice...”

    Prince Donghai complained the whole way while Han Ruzi just listened without comment.

    They traveled slowly, with someone running ahead to deliver their calling cards to the Chancellor’s residence. By the time they reached the alley entrance, a large group had come out from the Chancellor’s residence to welcome them.

    Prince Donghai nodded with satisfaction. “Now that’s more like it. The Chancellor understands proper etiquette better than commoners.”

    To show respect, the visitors dismounted, though Prince Ying wanted to keep riding. Du Chuanyun lifted him down, and seeing the crowd, the child’s attention quickly shifted. As Prince Ying was the elder, Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai were happy to defer to him, protecting him as they walked. The many servants made way, even kneeling and kowtowing, only rising to follow after the three had passed.

    Prince Ying clapped and laughed, “The Chancellor’s home is so fun! Are they all here to welcome me?”

    “Of course, you are the Martial Emperor’s son after all,” said Prince Donghai, looking at the crowd filling the alley with a hint of envy in his eyes. “No wonder all the officials want to become Chancellor. Look at this grandeur – it rivals the Cui clan at their peak. Even princes can’t compare. Well, at least the princes remaining in the capital can’t compare – they say the princes who go to their domains have even grander displays...”

    Han Ruzi also silently lamented that his years as an imperial prince and grandson had been wasted – except for the few times he saw grand displays while emperor, most times were far more modest than the Chancellor’s residence.

    The Chancellor’s residence had over a hundred officials and servants just to welcome them at the main gate – almost equal to the entire population of the Weary Marquis’s residence.

    Yin Wuhai couldn’t refuse their visit or hide, so he opted for a grand reception.

    Outside the Chancellor’s residence main gate, Yin’s two sons, five grandsons, and many relatives with titles or official positions had been waiting respectfully. Upon seeing the three royal descendants, they immediately came forward and performed a perfect formal greeting that even the Minister of Rites and Decorum couldn’t have found fault with.

    As they entered the residence, Prince Donghai spoke over Prince Ying’s head: “The old fellow was well-prepared.”

    Having served as an official for many years and managing to rise to Chancellor during the Martial Emperor’s most brutal later years was no easy feat – Yin Wuhai certainly had the ability to handle unexpected situations.

    In the guest hall, Yin’s eldest son personally served tea, thanking the three for visiting his father. He then introduced the clan members one by one, who either clasped hands or knelt and kowtowed according to their rank – not a single ritual was omitted. ?a???ΒE?S?

    The Yin family was clearly stalling for time. Both Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai noticed but couldn’t refuse. As they were internally speculating about the reason, someone entered to announce: the Champion Marquis had personally come to inquire about the Chancellor’s health.

    Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai exchanged glances, having to admire the old fox’s quick thinking. With four royal descendants competing for the throne visiting simultaneously, outsiders would be unable to guess the Chancellor’s true position, allowing him to maintain his neutral stance.

    The Champion Marquis had clearly rushed over after receiving news, his face slightly flushed. Upon entering, he immediately bowed to Han Ruzi and the others, exchanging pleasant greetings as if they had planned to meet here.

    Han Ruzi smiled slightly. Yang Feng wasn’t that loyal – he had actually chosen to serve the Weary Marquis again only after comparing his options. If he could have gained an important position with the Champion Marquis, this ambitious eunuch would never have chosen the weaker side.

    The Champion Marquis disagreed, believing everything had been predetermined and that Yang Feng had never been truly loyal to him.

    Prince Ying and Prince Donghai had already run out the main gate, with Yin’s family members following at a distance, not daring to get too close. The Champion Marquis still couldn’t let go of the Yang Feng matter and said, “Regardless, Han clan members shouldn’t fight each other. The Weary Marquis can make whatever moves you want – as long as they don’t break the rules, I can accept them all. In the future, I’ll even make you a prince. You seem skilled at warfare, so I’ll grant you a princedom in the northern frontier to help Great Chu hold back the Xiongnu. Yang Feng doesn’t have the Han surname – he’s just a eunuch. Please tell Yang Feng that there is no place for those with divided loyalties in the entire world.”

    Han Ruzi smiled and said, “The Champion Marquis is mistaken. You just said Yang Feng saved all his clever strategies for me, which proves his unwavering loyalty in supporting me. How can you speak of ‘divided loyalties’?”

    The Champion Marquis’s face turned cold. As Han Ruzi departed with a flourish, he sighed inwardly. The Champion Marquis was easy to deal with, but the officials were the real problem. They would rather support the mediocre Champion Marquis than restore a deposed emperor. The more capable the deposed emperor appeared, the more the officials feared him.

    Winning over Xiao Sheng wasn’t enough. Han Ruzi needed to show even more magnanimity to convince the officials that when the deposed emperor returned to the throne, he would not take any retaliatory measures. The key was how to make the officials believe this. Han Ruzi decided he needed to have a good discussion with Yang Feng about this issue tonight.

    A small commotion broke out beyond the main gate. Prince Ying jumped on his horse and, under Du Chuanyun’s protection, broke through the crowd and galloped away. Several people ran behind, begging the prince to stop, then hurriedly found horses and mounted them, giving chase.

    Prince Donghai smiled and said, “Yuan Zifan just arrived.” Then he lowered his voice, “He really is quite...”

    Among the shouting voices in the street, one belonged to Yuan Zifan, and it was indeed noticeably more shrill than the others.

    Han Ruzi’s mind stirred, but he said nothing. He mounted his horse with Prince Donghai, bid farewell to the Yin family members, and after leaving the alley, said to Prince Donghai, “Is it possible that Yuan Zifan isn’t actually a fate seer at all?”

    “Hmm? What do you mean?”

    “Going with the flow – that’s the most common trick of fate seers. There might only be very few genuine fate seers. Others, like Yuan Zifan and Lu Congxin, might have special backgrounds that got them recruited, and only then received the title of fate seer...”

    “I see what you mean, it makes sense... Yuan Zifan and Lu Congxin clearly lack eloquence, though Lin Kunshan is slightly better...”

    Suddenly, a series of screams came from up ahead.

    Though it was just after nightfall, there were still many people on the street. The screams quickly spread, and pedestrians rushed toward the source of the commotion.

    Han Ruzi and Prince Donghai rode quickly forward, with Prince Donghai’s whip clearing a path.

    In the middle of the street, a horse lay fallen, pinning two people beneath it.

    Yuan Zifan and several servants had arrived first and stood there dumbfounded. Yuan Zifan turned to look at the Weary Marquis and Prince Donghai, suddenly saying, “This is all your doing!”

    The two people trapped under the horse lay motionless. Someone brought a lantern, illuminating the street. Everyone could see blood slowly flowing from beneath the two bodies, mixing with the melting snow.

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