The commotion outside Tingfeng Pavilion had temporarily died down with Fang Bin's departure.
But everyone knew this was only a brief calm.
Zhu Zhanjun returned to a private room in Tingfeng Pavilion, where Princess Channing had already poured him a pot of hot tea.
"Zhang Ke is suspicious."
Zhu Zhanjun didn't sit down. He spoke at once, his tone certain.
Princess Channing's hand froze in midair as she held the teacup, a flicker of surprise passing through her eyes.
"What makes you say that? He's the Yulin Guard Commander your father trusts most. He's served your father for more than a decade."
"My horse told me."
Zhu Zhanjun answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Princess Channing was briefly at a loss for words.
She felt that her nephew's way of thinking was indeed unlike that of ordinary people.
"Zhanjun, this is no game."
Princess Channing put down her teacup, her expression turning serious.
"Zhang Ke commands the Yulin Guard, one of the Three Great Camps in the capital, and is responsible for the safety of the entire Imperial City. If there's something wrong with him, the consequences would be unthinkable."
"That's why I said this palace isn't clean either."
Zhu Zhanjun walked to the window and gazed down at the dispersing crowd, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
"Aunt, Fang Bin is just a dog Prince Han and Prince Zhao pushed into the open to test my strength."
"Now that the dog's been crippled, their next move will either be to enter the fray themselves or to use an even more deeply buried pawn."
Zhu Zhanjun turned and looked at Princess Channing.
"And Zhang Ke may well be their most important pawn."
Princess Channing's heart sank. She knew Zhu Zhanjun never made baseless judgments.
"Then