The Guanghua Tigers only had one day left to capture the assassins. Besides searching the city for people from the pugilist world, they seemed to have no other options. Their efforts yielded abundant results – the prisons were nearly full. Over ten bodyguards at the Weary Marquis’s mansion who were formerly from the pugilist world now didn’t dare to step outside the main gate.

    Han Ruzi also stayed home, waiting for news, while Yang Feng alone rushed about outside.

    By late morning, Prince Donghai arrived fashionably late. After his wife’s guidance, he wasn’t as agitated as yesterday. He greeted everyone warmly, sat down steadily, casually flipped through some books, and said to Han Ruzi: “Tomorrow Shang-guan Sheng will appear. In at most ten days, the Eight Palace Guard Camps will control the entire Capital. We all know that hunting for the assassin is just an excuse. Shang-guan Sheng’s reach will certainly extend further until it penetrates the Southern and Northern Army camps.”

    “That must be so. The Empress Dowager won’t be at ease without dealing with the threat from the Southern and Northern Armies.”

    “So we need to have a final plan. We can’t just wait around.”

    After a moment of silence, Han Ruzi beckoned with his arm. Prince Donghai immediately stood up and walked over. Han Ruzi said quietly: “First, have both the Southern and Northern Armies come guard White Bridge Town to put some pressure on the Empress Dowager and Shang-guan Sheng.”

    “That’s no problem. It’s already in progress. Within five days, the Southern and Northern Armies will be stationed together at White Bridge Town like brothers.”

    “When the time is right, I hope the Southern and Northern Armies can have some conflict.”

    “Ah? It’s easy to make those fellows fight, but the timing is hard to control. The Southern and Northern Armies are like brothers waiting to divide an inheritance – they could fight at any time.”

    “That’s why I need your help. The Northern Army will only send a small portion of troops to White Bridge Town, likely led by Cai Xinghai. He’ll follow my arrangements – staying patient normally but provoking the Southern Army at the critical moment. But you need to have Grand Tutor Cui show some restraint and not bully them with superior numbers by completely wiping out Cai Xinghai’s Northern forces. Let the situation develop gradually until it draws the court’s attention.”

    “I understand. While the Southern and Northern Armies are deadlocked, if the Empress Dowager and Shang-guan Sheng want to seize power, they might send out the Palace Guards leaving the city’s defenses weak...”

    Han Ruzi nodded. Together with Prince Donghai, they could command over a thousand loyal troops – enough to stage a coup to seize power.

    After thinking for a while, Prince Donghai asked, “What if the Empress Dowager and Shang-guan Sheng don’t take the bait?”

    “Then I’ll have to find a way to escape the Capital.”

    “It’s settled then. In at most half a month, we can make our move. The Eight Palace Guard Camps aren’t completely unified either. I’ve already contacted some people who can help when the time comes.”

    “Don’t leak any information until it’s time to act.”

    “Of course not. Would I make that kind of mistake? Those people all think we’re still competing for the throne. By the time they realize what’s happening, you’ll already be ascending the throne. That’s the good thing about officials – as long as someone sits on the throne, no matter who it is, they’ll obediently kowtow.”

    “Also, we need to find a way to contact people inside the palace...”

    “My mother is also in the palace. I won’t let the Empress Dowager harm them. In fact, my wife has already contacted some people inside. They say the Empress Dowager is acting even more ‘insane’ now, hiding in the Founding Emperor’s wardrobe room every day to repent, constantly mistaking people’s identities, thinking the Thoughtful Emperor is still alive. Hmph, she acts quite convincingly – the palace people don’t suspect anything.”

    They began discussing the details of the plan, both feeling that if Shang-guan Sheng took the bait and left the city, the coup would likely succeed. This was different from the Cui clan’s previous attempted coup – once they captured the palace, they wouldn’t need to avoid the ministers but could count on their support.

    One of Prince Donghai’s attendants came running, requesting to see him outside. Prince Donghai went out to talk with him for a while, then returned smiling: “Those scholars are causing trouble again.”

    What impressed Guo Cong’s group wasn’t just this declaration, but also the Weary Marquis’s performance at Shattered Iron City. He had proven himself an unyielding Northern Protection General, making his words more credible.

    Han Ruzi didn’t mention peace talks or the western threat. While a military man like Marquis Piyuan could understand these matters, scholars like Guo Cong who had devoted themselves to classical texts would find them hard to accept.

    As the group left, Guo Cong lingered behind to quietly tell the Weary Marquis: “Master Qu has sent word. He’s gone beyond the passes and is lobbying the prefects in the east, strongly recommending you to them.”

    Han Ruzi bowed in thanks. Guo Cong continued: “Like a fish leaping the dragon gate, everything depends on this one struggle. I hope the Weary Marquis perseveres and doesn’t disappoint the realm.”

    Though Guo Cong had once advised the Weary Marquis to withdraw from the succession struggle, once he deemed him worthy of support, he became his most steadfast backer.

    Near midnight, Yang Feng returned. After rushing around all day, he had found no new leads: “I’ve had people ask all the notable martial artists in the Capital, but none have hosted any young bandits in recent months. I couldn’t keep the news secret any longer and informed Lian Danchen at noon. He questioned the prisoners but got no leads either.”

    Though exhausted, Yang Feng remained tense. After sitting and thinking briefly, he said, “I think we made a mistake.”

    “Please explain.”

    “There’s no use just focusing on the assassins. We need to find those fate seers.”

    “The fake fate seers? They’re the Empress Dowager’s people – either hiding under her protection or already silenced. How can we find them?”

    Yang Feng shook his head. “You told me Prince Ying’s assassination really shocked Yuan Zifan. Do you think that reaction was also fake?”

    “Hmm... I think Yuan Zifan’s shock was genuine.”

    “So perhaps Yuan Zifan truly didn’t know about the assassination. Seeing Prince Ying killed, he’d be terrified and more likely to flee than seek the Empress Dowager’s help.”

    “That makes sense. Can we find him?”

    Yang Feng sighed wearily. “Let’s have Shang-guan Sheng search first. The places he overlooks are where we should focus. If he finds the person first, we’ll need another plan.”

    “Our original plan?”

    Yang Feng nodded and was about to speak when there was suddenly a tapping at the window – not the door, but the window. The sound was soft, just loud enough for those inside to hear.

    Han Ruzi and Yang Feng exchanged glances without speaking. Yang Feng stood and opened the door to check. Seeing who it was, he clearly startled, stepped back, and held the door to invite the visitor in.

    Meng E’s brother Meng Che entered. Standing before Han Ruzi, he spread his arms to show he carried no weapons, then said: “I come with a message from the Empress Dowager.”

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