Shen Rui did not sleep until midnight. Not because the watchtower was uncomfortable. Not because the wind kept rattling the broken windows. And definitely not because he was worried about the Night Pavilion. He simply had the misfortune of being surrounded by people who believed whispering loudly counted as silence. “Check the eastern perimeter.” “Keep watch over the prisoners.” “Don’t let anyone approach the documents.” Shen Rui opened one eye. If they continue talking, I’m going to personally investigate the cause of their sudden inability to shut up. He pulled his blanket over his head. A moment later, someone knocked on the wooden door. “Young Master Shen?” Shen Rui remained motionless. “Young Master Shen, Minister Han requests your presence.” Tell Minister Han I have passed away peacefully. The door opened. A young soldier stood outside. He looked barely older than twenty, with a round face and an expression that suggested he had been sent to perform an unpleasant task. “Minister Han says it is urgent.” Shen Rui sat up slowly. “Is the watchtower collapsing?” “No.” “Are the assassins attacking?” “No.” “Then it can wait until morning.” The soldier hesitated. “Minister Han said you would say that.” Shen Rui stared at him. That man is becoming far too familiar with my personality. He put on his outer robe and followed the soldier downstairs. Minister Han stood beside a table covered with maps, weapons, and scattered reports. Several guards surrounded him, including the captain responsible for the convoy. When Shen Rui entered, everyone turned. He immediately regretted coming. So many people. And not one of them looks like they brought food. Minister Han pointed toward the table. “Come here.” Shen Rui approached. “What happened?” “We found a body.” Shen Rui glanced at the minister. “Another one?” The captain’s expression tightened. “One of our guards was found dead near the eastern perimeter.” Shen Rui’s eyes shifted toward the doorway. “When?” “Less than half an hour ago.” “Who discovered him?” “I did,” the captain answered. “Was he on duty?” “Yes.” “Who was stationed beside him?” The captain hesitated. “Guard Liu.” “Where is Guard Liu?” “He disappeared.” Shen Rui sighed. Of course he did. People in this investigation have an unfortunate habit of vanishing whenever questions become inconvenient. Minister Han’s face darkened. “His weapon and armor were found beside the body. There was no sign of a struggle.” Shen Rui walked toward the table. “Show me the report.” The captain handed him a folded sheet. Shen Rui scanned it quickly. The dead guard had been assigned to the eastern perimeter. His throat had been cut, but there were no defensive wounds. His body had been found beside a broken section of the watchtower wall. Shen Rui frowned. “Where is the blood?” The captain blinked. “What?” “If he was killed here, there should be blood on the ground.” The captain looked toward Minister Han. Shen Rui continued, “Was the body moved?” “We don’t know.” “Then find out.” Minister Han looked at him. “You’re giving orders now?” “No. I’m making suggestions before someone gives me another useless report.” The captain hurried away. Minister Han watched Shen Rui carefully. “You noticed something else.” Shen Rui pointed at the report. “The guard was killed somewhere else and placed near the wall. Whoever did it wanted us to believe the eastern perimeter had been breached.” “Why?” “To make us move the guards.” Minister Han’s expression changed. Shen Rui looked toward the prisoners. “Or to make us believe someone escaped.” The minister immediately ordered the prisoners to be checked. Every prisoner was still present. Except one. Wang Tao. The young man from Qinghe Village had disappeared. The discovery sent the camp into disorder. Guards searched the watchtower, the nearby road, and the surrounding fields. Minister Han ordered the remaining prisoners to be restrained separately, while the documents were moved into a guarded room. Shen Rui stood outside the tower, looking at the ground. There were footprints near the broken wall. Three sets. One belonged to the dead guard. One belonged to Guard Liu. The third was smaller and lighter. Shen Rui crouched. The third set of footprints led toward the river. Wang Tao escaped on foot. Guard Liu helped him. But why kill their own man? He examined the mud beside the footprints. A faint mark had been pressed into the ground—a crescent-shaped indentation. A shoe with a metal edge. Shen Rui’s expression became cold. He had seen that type of mark before, years ago, during an assassination operation in his former life. A signal used by covert groups to mark escape routes. The Night Pavilion has people everywhere. He stood and turned toward the river. A guard approached. “Young Master Shen, Minister Han wants you to remain inside the tower.” “Tell him I’m going to the river.” The guard looked alarmed. “But the minister ordered—” “Then tell him I’m disobeying.” The guard stared at him. Shen Rui smiled politely. “Go on. I’m sure he’ll appreciate your efficiency.” The guard hurried away. Shen Rui followed the footprints alone. He did not go far. At the edge of the riverbank, he found a strip of dark fabric caught on a thorn bush. It had been torn from someone’s sleeve. There was also a small wooden box lying beneath the reeds. Shen Rui picked it up. The box was empty, but its inner lid had been carved with several characters. The debt of the northern campaign remains unpaid. Shen Rui stared at the words. His fingers tightened around the box. Why does everyone keep mentioning a war that happened seven years ago? He had no memory of it. Not personally. But the body he now occupied belonged to the Marquis of Yong’an’s family—one of the most influential military households in Great Yong. If the northern campaign involved the imperial court, the marquis family might know more than they had revealed. A twig snapped behind him. Shen Rui turned. A shadow moved between the trees. He threw the wooden box. The figure dodged and immediately fled. Shen Rui chased him for three steps before stopping. Absolutely not. He looked at the dark forest. I am not running through trees in the middle of the night after someone who may have friends. Instead, he bent down and picked up a stone. He threw it toward the fleeing figure. The stone struck the man’s shoulder. A curse echoed through the trees. Shen Rui smiled faintly. “Consider that a warning.” The figure disappeared. Moments later, guards arrived with Minister Han. The minister was breathing heavily. “What were you thinking? I ordered you to remain inside!” Shen Rui held out the wooden box. “I found this.” Minister Han took it. His face changed as he read the inscription. “You recognize it?” “No.” The minister looked toward the forest. “Then we need to return immediately.” Shen Rui glanced at the river. At least he finally agrees with me about going home. Before dawn, a messenger arrived from the capital. He wore black robes marked with the imperial insignia and carried a sealed decree. Every official in the watchtower gathered in the courtyard. The messenger knelt before Minister Han. “By order of His Majesty, the investigation team is to return to the capital under military escort.” Minister Han accepted the decree and broke the seal. His eyes moved across the contents. “What else?” he asked. The messenger lowered his voice. “His Majesty commands that Young Master Shen Rui be placed under direct imperial protection.” Shen Rui, who had been drinking warm water nearby, nearly choked. “Direct what?” The messenger turned toward him. “Imperial protection, Young Master.” Shen Rui stared at Minister Han. “Why?” The minister folded the decree. “Because the emperor considers you a target.” Shen Rui looked offended. “I’m not a target. I’m a person.” The messenger lowered his head. The emperor has excellent hearing, apparently. But his judgment is questionable. Several guards looked toward the sky. Minister Han rubbed his forehead. “The order is clear. You will travel in the center of the convoy.” Shen Rui immediately shook his head. “No.” Minister Han’s eyes narrowed. “No?” “I prefer the rear.” “The rear is more dangerous.” “Exactly. Everyone will assume the important people are in the center. The assassins will attack there, and I can sleep peacefully at the back.” The courtyard went silent. Minister Han stared at him. The messenger’s expression remained carefully blank. Then the minister said, “You will travel in the center.” Shen Rui sighed. Powerful people are unreasonable. I must become powerful enough to avoid them. In the capital, Xiao Jingyuan stood in the imperial study while a Black Guard commander knelt before him. “The convoy has received your order, Your Majesty.” “Good.” “The Night Pavilion’s involvement has been confirmed. We also discovered that one of their agents infiltrated the investigation team.” Xiao Jingyuan’s gaze moved toward the window. “Guard Liu?” “Yes. His identity was false. He served under another name for nearly two years.” The emperor’s fingers rested against the edge of the desk. “Who assigned him?” The commander hesitated. “The military headquarters.” The room grew silent. Xiao Jingyuan’s eyes turned colder. “Investigate the officer responsible.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” “And the ledger?” “It remains in Minister Han’s possession.” “Ensure it reaches me intact.” The commander bowed. After he left, Xiao Jingyuan opened a separate report. It contained information about Shen Rui. Fourteen years old. Seventh son of the Marquis of Yong’an. Previously regarded as lazy, foolish, and insignificant. Yet within a short period, he had identified irregularities in the grain records, noticed an ambush, rescued a hostage, and discovered evidence connected to the Night Pavilion. Xiao Jingyuan read the final line. His behavior does not match his established reputation. The emperor closed the report. He remembered Shen Rui standing in the imperial study, complaining silently about morning court. He remembered the boy’s sharp answers and careless expression. And he remembered the strange sensation that sometimes accompanied Shen Rui’s presence—as though the boy’s unspoken thoughts were somehow louder than his spoken words. Xiao Jingyuan’s gaze darkened. “Keep watching him,” he ordered the eunuch beside him. The eunuch bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” “Do not let anyone harm him.” The eunuch hesitated. “Your Majesty, may this servant ask why?” Xiao Jingyuan looked at him. “No.” The eunuch immediately lowered his head. The convoy began its return journey shortly after sunrise. Shen Rui sat in the center carriage, directly between two heavily guarded wagons. He stared at the arrangement with deep resentment. This is not protection. This is imprisonment with better horses. Minister Han sat opposite him. “You should be grateful.” “For what?” “His Majesty is concerned about your safety.” Shen Rui looked out the window. The emperor should be concerned about my sleep. Minister Han’s eyes flickered. Shen Rui turned toward him. “Minister, why is everyone so interested in the northern campaign?” Minister Han’s expression became guarded. “It is an old matter.” “Old matters don’t usually cause people to explode wagons.” “You should not ask questions about things you do not understand.” Shen Rui leaned back. “Then explain them.” Minister Han did not answer. The carriage rolled through the countryside, heading toward the capital. For several moments, neither spoke. Then Minister Han quietly said, “Seven years ago, the imperial army suffered a serious defeat in the north. Thousands of soldiers died. Grain shipments intended for the troops disappeared before reaching the battlefield.” Shen Rui’s eyes narrowed. “Was someone punished?” “Yes.” “Who?” “The commander responsible for the supply routes.” “And was he guilty?” Minister Han looked at him. “No one knows.” Shen Rui stared at the road ahead. Gao Ren was framed. The grain was stolen. The northern campaign involved missing supplies. How many people were sacrificed to hide the truth? Minister Han’s hands tightened around his sleeve. Shen Rui closed his eyes. This is becoming troublesome. Far behind the convoy, a rider watched the road from a distant hill. He held a folded letter in one hand. The message contained only one sentence. The seventh son has seen too much. The rider turned his horse toward the capital. And in the center of the convoy, Shen Rui began to fall asleep—unaware that someone had already decided he could not be allowed to reach home safely.

The Emperor’s Secret Order