Su Ziji instructed someone to invite Jian Qu and Cen Rubai over. Zhang Sui had stayed rather than leaving, so he was invited as well.
He also had tea and refreshments laid out in the study. Once everyone had arrived, Su Ziji sat at the head, with Wild Daoist, Jian Qu, Cen Rubai, and Zhang Sui seated below him, and they held a small meeting.
"My respects, Duke of Dai."
After following Su Ziji back to the capital, Zhang Sui had also helped Wild Daoist handle several matters. Though he was only a minor official and sometimes lacked courage, he had shared hardship with Su Ziji, after all, and deserved more trust than those who had flocked to Su Ziji after he was made a marquis and then a duke.
Zhang Sui was delighted to learn that Su Ziji had become Commander of the Imperial Feather Guards. Since he had already entered Su Ziji's service, he bore the Duke of Dai's stamp. Naturally, he hoped the man he followed would ascend the throne. Then he would earn merit for helping the dragon rise and soar to the heavens himself.
But he was no fool. Once invited into the study, he noticed that the atmosphere was wrong, and the congratulations he had intended to offer privately stuck in his throat.
Jian Qu and Cen Rubai had also sensed something amiss earlier. Jian Qu had once served Marshal Qian, while Cen Rubai had been a former retainer of the crown prince. However they looked at the present situation, it carried a faintly unsettling air.
"Don't overthink this."
Su Ziji began, "His Majesty has ordered me to serve as Commander of the Imperial Feather Guards. But as I told you earlier, the waters within the Imperial Feather Guards run deep."
"With only four