The next morning, Ning Fengzhi arrived at the Crown Prince's Residence as usual.
Since the Palace Coup, Tiangou's political landscape had changed almost daily. Xue Qinghe had only just assumed the authority to govern as regent. As his teacher and the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi had been visiting the Crown Prince's Residence frequently. Even if outsiders saw him, they would only think the sect was reassessing its stance toward the royal family.
Lu Yuan was already in the study when Ning Fengzhi entered. Qian Renxue still wore Xue Qinghe's appearance. Several military reports newly delivered from the palace lay across the desk, and the three of them began by discussing court affairs. Several officials who had backed the wrong side on the night of the Palace Coup had been temporarily transferred. The West Camp's troop rolls had been checked again, and new commanders had been assigned to guard the Imperial Palace's four gates. Ning Fengzhi made no rush to plead for anyone. He merely mentioned several requests for visits the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had recently received. Many of the senders had been waiting to see how things unfolded just days ago; now they were reaching out to both the Crown Prince's Residence and the sect.
Lu Yuan listened until Ning Fengzhi mentioned that the sect was preparing to reopen several trade routes. Familiar gray light suddenly spread across his vision, clearer than what he had seen through the Pope Token the night before.
[Ning Fengzhi] [Affiliated faction: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect]
Gray threads stretched outward from behind Ning Fengzhi, quickly branching into an intricate web. The paths that should have continued into the future seemed to be pulled tight by something in the distance. They contracted toward Lu