Chapter 611: Every Corner Bears the Trace of Palace Items

Feng Heng, hearing Liang Guan's words, also grew interested, leaned forward, his fingertips avoiding the snarling peach‑wood nail, carefully pinching a corner of the brocade, scrutinizing the mottled sunlight filtering through the locust leaves, and after a moment let out a low sigh: "You don't say, I really don't say, indeed it is!"

His fingertips gently brushed the hidden embroidered entwined‑branch lotus pattern on the brocade; the design was fine but already a bit worn, not as bright as new cloth. "The fabric of this piece is somewhat aged; look at the sheen of the threads and the weave—at least seven or eight years. If you don't examine closely, you'd think it's just ordinary palace brocade and wouldn't notice…"

Liang Guan heard this, his brow spiking, his eyes instinctively flicking to the Yuwen Ze standing nearby, his brows furrowing tighter, and in a deep voice said, "I recall, the Commandery Prince's wife, Du, is now pregnant with six months; counting the days, she is likely near labor…"

"And the brocade on this puppet is also a palace item…"

Speaking of that, as if he suddenly recalled a crucial point, his words abruptly halted, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he stared at Feng Heng in astonishment, the latter half of his sentence stuck in his throat, shocked into silence, "Wait! Could it be…?!"

Feng Heng instantly understood, his eyes narrowed slightly, his expression changed dramatically, the few moments of leisure vanished, his voice carried a barely perceptible tremor as he said in a disbelieving low tone, "This… this can't be true?!"

An emperor's mind is deep and inscrutable, but if one truly strikes at a woman pregnant with six months, it would be excessively cruel and poisonous…

Moreover, the child in Du Shuying's womb also carries the Yuwen family's blood.

Realizing the gravity of the matter, Liang Guan snapped his head around, looked at the guard who had just escorted Yuwen Ze here, and barked in a harsh tone, "Step back!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping the Training Ground's perimeter, spotting a few patrolling soldiers in the distance looking this way, then in a deep, solemn voice ordered, "Send the word: within ten steps, no one may approach!"

"Those who disobey shall be dealt with by military law!"

The guard, seeing this, dared not speak further, quickly bowed and replied, "As you command!"

He then hurried away, and soon led several soldiers to set up a watch not far off, securing the area tightly.

The wind slipped through the gaps in the locust leaves, producing a soft rustle.

The atmosphere beside the stone table was so oppressive it seemed almost solidified.

Chen Yan remained composed, his fingertips twirling the palm‑sized paulownia wood puppet, his gaze lightly sweeping over the panic and gravity on Liang Guan and Feng Heng's faces.

He blinked, the corner of his mouth lifting a faint curve, directly exposing the unspoken thoughts of the two, his tone calm and even, "Do the two Senior Uncles perhaps think this clandestine affair was orchestrated by the one on the Dragon Throne?"

Feng Heng heard this, showed no hesitation, nodded heavily, his brows heavy with seriousness, "Hmm!"

"If this truly involves the palace, that one's motive would be considerable…"

Although the current Your Majesty is the child of Taizu, he ascended the throne only with the support of Grand Preceptor Yuwen Hu.

In the court, the Grand Preceptor oversees the Five Officials of the Celestial Office, wielding heavy military authority over court and realm; Your Majesty appears obedient, yet is constrained everywhere, how could he not harbor resentment?

Yuwen Ze is the Grand Preceptor's only son, and the child in Du Shuying's womb is also a direct grandchild of the Grand Preceptor…

If something were to happen to this child, not only would Yuwen Ze lose his Gutou, but the Grand Preceptor's line would be severed—this move cannot be said to be without Poison.

Liang Guan also furrowed his brows, his eyes filled with lingering doubt, and in a deep voice analyzed, "Although that one appears outwardly deferential to the Grand Preceptor, listening and obeying, behind the scenes he may still have his own designs."

"He certainly does not wish the Crown Prince's Consort to give birth smoothly…"

"If this child does not come to the world, the Grand Preceptor's lineage weakens each day, and this Emperor can gain a few more breaths of respite!"

As for the person directly involved, Yuwen Ze stood beside the stone table the whole time without a word, neither agreeing nor refuting, merely watching silently the paulownia wood puppet in his own A Xiong's hand.

Those eyes, usually warm and bright, now were as deep as a cold pool, revealing no trace of emotion.

Chen Yan took in everyone's expressions, his mouth curling slightly, drawing a smile full of meaning.

He slowly raised the paulownia wood puppet, facing the sunlight; the tip of the peach‑wood nail glinted coldly under the light. With a half‑smile, he spoke, his voice low but each word clear, striking the point, "Senior Uncle, if you think this way, you have precisely fallen into the trap set by the mastermind!"

At those words, Liang Guan was instantly stunned, his face full of confusion, and couldn't help but ask, "A Yan, what do you mean?"

"Could it be that this truly has nothing to do with that one?"

Feng Heng also shifted his gaze from the brocade to Chen Yan's face, his eyes full of doubt, "This puppet and the brocade, everywhere bear the marks of palace items; if it wasn't Your Majesty's order, what trap is the one behind this trying to hide?"

Chen Yan lightly tapped the head of the paulownia wood puppet with his fingertip, producing a dull sound; he smiled half‑heartedly, his tone suddenly deepening, "That person wants to use this palace brocade to stir our suspicion and doubt, directing every accusation toward that one in the palace!"

He paused, his gaze sharp as a blade, sweeping over the three beside the stone table, "Consider this: if this matter escalates, the Grand Preceptor learns his daughter‑in‑law has been cursed with the Yansheng Technique, his unborn grandson in peril, and all evidence points to Your Majesty. Even if the Grand Preceptor can keep his composure, would others readily give up?"

"When that time comes, the court will be swept by a storm of blood and carnage!"

Liang Guan and Feng Heng, both seasoned court veterans, saw their faces change in unison, feeling a sudden chill rise behind them.

Indeed, they only thought of the power struggle between Your Majesty and the Grand Preceptor…

But they forgot, if this truly spirals out of control…

The beneficiaries have never been the two combatants on the surface!

"When that time comes, the Grand Preceptor and Your Majesty will clash like a snipe and a clam, the court will be in turmoil, the Imperial Guard will be exhausted, and the ambitious ones on the borders will likely stir…" Chen Yan's voice faded slowly, with a hint of coldness, "And the one lurking in the shadows who set the trap can reap the fisherman's profit; that is their true aim!"

Liang Guan felt a chill run down his neck, couldn't help inhaling a gasp of cold air, his chest roiling with shock and anger, exclaiming, "A person harboring a hidden agenda is so insidiously vicious?!"

Having fought half his life, accustomed to the clashing of swords on the battlefield, he never expected court scheming could be so poisonous…

Using the Yansheng Technique to harm others is one thing, but to stir the winds and treat the entire Great Zhou's safety as a chess piece!

Feng Heng's heart sank heavily, as if struck by a massive stone; he clenched his fists hard, his knuckles whitening, his jaw grinding, each word spat out with teeth clenched, "This is to use the Wugu Technique to disrupt Great Zhou's stability!"

If the Grand Preceptor and Your Majesty were to openly turn against each other, and be further manipulated, the court would inevitably fall into civil strife, while border enemies would eye the situation hungrily…

When internal and external threats strike together, the hard‑won era of peace may be shattered in an instant.

The wind whirled the locust leaves rustling, and the atmosphere beside the stone table grew so heavy it was suffocating.

Liang Guan took several deep breaths, forcing his surging emotions to settle, his gaze sweeping over Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze; though both wore solemn expressions, there was no hint of panic, only a composed confidence that sparked a few doubts in his mind.

He twirled the beard beneath his chin, thoughtfully probing, "A Yan, Commandery Prince, does your calm demeanor hide any speculation?"

Chen Yan heard this, lifted his gaze toward the Yuwen Ze beside him; the two exchanged a look, instantly understanding each other's thoughts, and simultaneously nodded, replying lightly, "Hmm."

That light reply struck like a flash of thunder, instantly cleaving the fog over Feng Heng's mind.

A name leapt from his mind, almost subconsciously blurted out, his tone full of incredulous shock, "Could it be that the previously unfinished Gao Changjing is secretly pulling strings?!"

Chen Yan heard this, a faint half‑smile curving his mouth, calmly weighing the paulownia wood puppet in his hand; the rough wood pressed his fingertips, yet clarified his thoughts.

He spoke slowly, his voice calm yet bearing undeniable certainty, "Yes, but not entirely…"

He paused, his fingertip lightly tapping the old palace brocade, "Gao Changjing is merely a fugitive; even hiding his name is hard enough, let alone obtaining this uniquely palace brocade?"

"Not to mention, he somehow precisely knew the birth chart of the siblings and silently buried this item beneath the peony tree at Jin Wang Fu…"

"Even if only in the outer courtyard!"

Liang Guan, hearing this, felt a sudden jolt in his heart, as if awakened, his subconscious habit of stroking his beard abruptly stopped, his pupils contracting, and he exclaimed in shocked amazement, "Doesn't this indicate that someone in the court colluded with Gao Changjing, in league together?!"

This remark sent a chill down his own spine, and the thought that Gao Changjing might be hidden in the shadows, conspiring, made the air feel even more oppressive.

With internal and external moves aligning like this, this game is truly laid out both vast and perilous.

Feng Heng's expression grew increasingly grim; leaning on the stone chair, his fingertips unconsciously tapped the stone table, producing a dull thud, and he muttered in a low voice, "To achieve this level, his rank and status must be quite high…".

"Then who could it be?"

In his mind, images of senior court officials flashed by in rapid succession, from the Grand General who wielded military authority, to the Chancellor who ran state affairs, and then the imperial relatives and nobles attached to the Grand Preceptor or Your Majesty…

Yet after pondering, he eliminated each of those candidates one by one.

Someone who can easily obtain the palace's brocade, infiltrate Jin Wang Fu, and has motive to provoke a conflict between the Grand Preceptor and Your Majesty…

Such a person must hold high rank and power, and sit at the very center of the power vortex!

But oddly, he could not think of a candidate who fit perfectly.

Feng Heng furrowed his brows even tighter, his complexion so sullen it seemed it could drip water, and a chill ran down his spine, spreading slowly to his limbs and bones.

Chen Yan slowly set the paulownia wood figurine down; the rough trinket hit the stone table with a soft clink, breaking the brief silence.

He turned his head toward Yuwen Ze beside him, his brows and eyes losing some of the earlier sharpness, gaining a genuine concern, and asked, "A Ze, how are the younger siblings doing?"

"They shouldn't have been frightened, right?"

Chen Yan already had a conclusion in mind; as Du Shuying's husband and the father of the child in her womb, his lack of strong reaction surely meant he had taken care of the matters behind the scenes…

But as an elder brother, concerned about his younger siblings and his own nephew, he couldn't help asking another question.

Yuwen Ze heard this, the tension in his jaw softened slightly, he gave a gentle shake of his head, and replied with firm tone, "A Xiong, rest assured!"

"I haven't let Shuying know about this…"

He paused, his voice deepened, a hint of caution flashed in his eyes, "Your younger brother immediately fortified the courtyard where Shuying resides, assigning trusted subordinates inside and outside, so not a single rumor can penetrate!"

"Moreover, I hired two seasoned physicians and found the most reliable midwife, placing them in a separate residence, ready to act at any moment, to ensure Shuying and her unborn child remain safe."

Chen Yan, after listening, couldn't help but nod; admiration filled his eyes, and he praised, "Excellent! This arrangement is indeed very proper!"

Du Shuying, carrying a child, and with this matter at hand, any slip that let her discover the sordid dealings of this counter‑evil technique could disturb the fetal qi; A Ze's airtight setup is indeed very comprehensive.

Having gone through so much, this kid has also grown considerably…

Yuwen Ze heard this, a rare faint smile briefly tugged at his lips, but it vanished instantly; he let out a light sigh and said solemnly, "Your younger brother does not dare any slightest negligence…"

He lowered his gaze to the paulownia wood figurine on the stone table, a cold glint flashing in his eyes; whoever harms his wife and child will never be allowed to get away with it.

Chen Yan, seeing the resolve in Yuwen Ze's eyes, understood, and abruptly shifted his tone, asking a crucial question, "Is the Grand Preceptor aware of this?"

Yuwen Ze, upon hearing this, nodded without hesitation, and in a deep voice replied, "It was Father who sent your younger brother to bring this item here to find A Xiong…"

Chen Yan, hearing this, let a faint, composed smile tug at his lips, his gaze returning to the paulownia wood figurine on the stone table, eyes dark as ink with a hint of lingering meaning, and said steadily, "Then I, as your elder brother, now know what to do!"