This time, it was half an hour before everything was done. Afterward, Consort Rong urged Commander Zhu to leave. Commander Zhu reluctantly got up, while Consort Rong rested her chin on one hand, watching Commander Zhu dress. She instructed, "Don’t delay that matter for too long. It’s easier to act here at the traveling palace. Once we return to Xiang City, it won’t be so easy."

Commander Zhu nodded, "I understand. Rest assured, it won’t be long. Once I figure out his routine and understand the layout of the courtyard, I’ll act."

Consort Rong sat up, stuffed a sachet by her pillow into Commander Zhu’s arms, and said with a charming smile, "I’ll be waiting for your good news."

Commander Zhu affectionately kissed Consort Rong on the face before climbing out through the window the same way he came in.

Only then did Consort Rong call Aunt Xue to come in, fetch water to clean up, and tidy the bed.

······

Years passed, and the Royal Academy gained an eight-year-old Fifth Prince, while the rest remained old faces.

Nowadays, Princes and Princesses attend classes separately.

The Princes, destined to govern in the future, study the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as historical and military texts.

Meanwhile, the Princesses, destined for marriage, focus on cultivating their temperament through music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

The Princes’ classes are held next door; when school is dismissed, Ruru joyfully ran to the Princes’ side, calling to Xie Heng, "Brother Hang, come to my brother’s place to eat. After eating, we can play Landlord together."

Xie Heng thought for a moment, "Alright."

He turned and instructed his servant, "You go back first and bring the food box over there later."

As he spoke, the Second Prince walked past them without looking sideways.

The Second Prince had a very proud temperament and rarely spoke to others at the Academy.

Watching the Second Prince walk away, Ruru stuck out her tongue, "I always feel like he dislikes me."

Xie Heng chuckled, "Nonsense. It’s just the Second Prince’s personality."

The two chatted as they walked towards Yun Jiao and the others’ courtyard.

The Second Prince returned to his quarters, washed his hands, changed clothes, and waited for the eunuch to bring the food box before leisurely having his meal.

Normally, Xie Heng accompanied him during meals, but today, without Xie Heng, he had to eat alone.

After eating, the Second Prince focused on reading. When it came to the Xu hour, hearing noises from the room next door, the Second Prince knew that Xie Heng had likely returned.

Seeing that it was getting late, the Second Prince called the eunuch to help him wash up and then went to bed.

Before sleeping, the eunuch ensured the gauze windows and doors were closed properly.

The night watch eunuch slept on a footstool under the Second Prince’s bed, while another small eunuch prepared for night service lay in the outer chamber.

The night grew deeper, and the moon hid behind the clouds.

A sharp blade extended through the window seam, lifting the latch silently, and the window opened without a sound.

Next, a person dressed in black night clothes, with their entire head wrapped in black cloth, revealing only a pair of eyes, climbed in through the window.

Standing in the room for a moment, they moved toward the bed.

Standing by the bedside, they picked up the knife used to lift the latch and plunged it at the Second Prince lying on the bed.

At that moment, the small eunuch under the footstool awoke, and with a heart-wrenching cry, "Assassin!"

He reached out to push the man in black by the bed.

Caught off guard, the man in black stumbled, causing the knife in his hand to miss its mark.

The Second Prince awoke abruptly, the gleaming blade causing his pupils and heart to constrict simultaneously.

The Second Prince suddenly grabbed the porcelain pillow from the bed and hurled it at the man in black.