Changing the Heavens Tonight

Ning Fengzhi arrived at the Crown Prince's Residence half an hour later.

The reason for inviting him was still that Xue Ye had been unwell recently and there were several matters at the Crown Prince's Residence that needed discussion. Thus, when he entered the study, he did not sense anything amiss—until the door closed behind him, and Xue Qinghe, seated behind the desk, did not rise to greet him as usual.

A faint golden glow spread from Qian Renxue's body. Xue Qinghe's features gradually faded away, and her tied-up hair reverted to its dazzling gold. Once every trace of disguise had vanished, the person seated there was a young woman Ning Fengzhi had never seen before.

Ning Fengzhi stopped at the door and said nothing for a long time.

Qian Renxue did not urge him. She merely stood and gave him a solemn bow. "Teacher."

At that address, the shock in Ning Fengzhi's eyes deepened instead.

"Where is Xue Qinghe?"

"He died many years ago."

Only the patter of rain beyond the window remained in the study. Ning Fengzhi looked at the utterly unfamiliar face before him. The government affairs he had personally taught over the years, the political situations they had discussed together, and the student who had sat before him time and again, listening earnestly—all of it now took on another explanation.

"Then who exactly have I been teaching all these years?"

Qian Renxue met his gaze without avoiding it. "I never treated a single thing you taught me as false."

Ning Fengzhi was silent for a long while before slowly walking to the desk. "So you did not call me here tonight merely to tell me this."

"Tonight, I am entering the palace."

The complexity in Ning Fengzhi's eyes swiftly settled, turning into the calmness befitting the