Wang He'fu.
Minister of War of the Great Yan, concurrently a Scattered Official Senior Doctor, and also the Patriarch of the Wang Family—a prominent clan in the Imperial Capital. His family had served as officials for three generations, and his own prestige in the Court was exceptionally high. He controlled half of the Court's military tokens, so his words carried immense weight; he was by no means a mere figurehead.
According to his predecessor's memories, his grandfather had never held high expectations for him. After all, as the Sixth Prince, his chances at the Emperor's Throne were incredibly slim. His grandfather had doted on him since childhood but would also discipline him for being disobedient, playing the role of a stern father. Emperor Yong'an was always preoccupied with political and military affairs, waging campaigns in the south and north, and had little time to raise his sons. That responsibility fell entirely upon his maternal grandfather.
Therefore, Wang He'fu would often lecture his predecessor, but it was a pity none of it ever sank in. Whenever he tried to discipline the boy, his mother, Wang Zhaoyan, would rush to protect him.
It was a perfect example of the saying: a doting mother raises a spoiled son.
Wang Zhaoyan was half-responsible for her son becoming the number one wastrel in the Capital City.
His predecessor's attitude toward Wang He'fu, however, was one of respect and awe—not quite the same as the fear he felt when facing Emperor Yong'an.
Now, Lu Mingyuan was utterly baffled, with no idea why his grandfather would come to see him here.
He was completely stunned.
"Grandfather, why have you come here?"
It was no wonder he was surprised. Ever since his imprisonment, he hadn't seen his grandfather once. A month had passed, winter had come and gone, and even after the Lantern Festival, the man had never appeared.
Yet now, at this critical juncture, he had sought him out.
'It's hard not to suspect he has an ulterior motive.'
Wang He'fu didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at the martial arts manual in Lu Mingyuan's hands and smiled.
"It seems you've truly had an awakening. To think you're reading a martial arts manual right now... Your grandfather is truly gratified. That's my grandson. Your mother told me a while ago that with nothing else to do in the Cold Palace, you had started practicing martial arts. I thought she was just making it up, but I never expected it to be true."
As befitting a high-ranking Court official, Wang He'fu's voice was powerful and resonant. He enunciated with perfect clarity, and each word seemed to leave a deep impression.
His face was kind, and his eyes were filled with joy and pride.
Lu Mingyuan replied candidly, "The grand principles in the Confucian classics are too dry and obscure. I truly don't understand them, so I can only read martial arts manuals to pass the time."
But he hadn't forgotten the real issue. He looked at Wang He'fu and said seriously, "Grandfather, you must have come to see me at this hour for a reason. Otherwise... two months have passed, and you've never once come to visit me."
"Yuan'Er."
Wang He'fu's expression suddenly turned serious, his face perfectly calm.
"The reason I haven't visited you these past two months is twofold. First, I was genuinely swamped with work and couldn't get away. Second, it was to avoid arousing suspicion. With the Holy Emperor nearby and all the lords in the Court, countless eyes are watching. Unlike your mother, I am a high-ranking minister. My every word and deed is scrutinized, so I must naturally be cautious."
He didn't expect Lu Mingyuan to understand any of this, so he spoke quickly, almost brushing past the details.
"Then why have you come now, Grandfather—" Lu Mingyuan began to ask, but was cut off.
"Do you know what has happened in the Imperial City?"
Lu Mingyuan shook his head. "I do not."
"Your brother, Lu Mingkong, is dead."
Wang He'fu announced the news calmly.
"What? The Fifth Prince is dead?"
Lu Mingyuan put on a look of great surprise.
Wang He'fu reassured him, "Don't worry. Even though you two had a grudge, the blame won't fall on you. The Taoist Qi left on the corpse indicates it was the work of the Taoist Sect."
"Did you feel the tremor in the Imperial Capital about half an hour ago?"
Lu Mingyuan nodded dutifully. "Yes. It came and went quickly, but the disturbance was significant."
Wang He'fu stroked his beard and said grimly, "You should know, the last time a tremor this violent occurred was a hundred years ago, when a treacherous minister usurped power. The fortune of the Great Flame Dragon Wall was weak, and the Dragon Vein in the mountain behind it collapsed."
"For it to shake again now... the implication is self-evident."
Lu Mingyuan figured he'd better play dumb, so he asked, "What does it imply?"
"The skies over Great Yan are about to change."
Wang He'fu said, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"And just a moment ago, I received news that the Eldest Prince has already mobilized the Imperial Guard and is starting to surround the Imperial Capital City."
This time, Lu Mingyuan was genuinely shocked. His eyes went wide as he exclaimed, "What? Is Eldest Brother planning a rebellion?"
As the Minister of War, his grandfather's network of governors and informants was spread throughout the Great Yan Army. He would naturally be the first to learn of any deployment orders and know exactly which troops were being mobilized.
But Wang He'fu shook his head. "It's not a rebellion. It's self-preservation."
"Something has happened to the Holy Emperor. Among the seven remaining princes, there are bound to be some with sinister ambitions. If they make a move and things go awry, I'm afraid the entire Imperial Capital will descend into chaos."
Lu Mingyuan listened, not having expected this at all.
'To think my grandfather possesses such foresight and strategic depth.'
'Anyone who can climb to a high position in the Court is no fool. They're all exceptionally clever.'
After explaining the situation, Wang He'fu finally turned his gaze to Lu Mingyuan.
"Yuan'Er, I don't expect you to win the Emperor's Throne. I just want you to be safe. Don't end up like the Fifth Prince, Lu Mingkong, dying a wretched death in an alleyway."
"Therefore, I intend to send men to get you out during the chaos. We'll send you away from the Capital City to live in seclusion. Sooner or later, this palace will become a hotbed of conflict. It's not a place you can remain."
"What?!"
Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan almost cried out.
"No need to get excited."
Wang He'fu assumed he was just overly excited from being cooped up in the Cold Palace for so long. "I've already prepared a mansion and beautiful consorts for you in Jiangnan Gusu," he said soothingly. "When the upheaval begins, you just need to follow my instructions."
'But I don't want to leave at all,' Lu Mingyuan thought silently.
He couldn't let it show, however, and instead voiced a doubt:
"Grandfather, the Imperial Palace is guarded by masters of the Middle Fifth Grade. How could I possibly get out?"
But Wang He'fu waved it off. "The Wang Family has three generations of influence, after all. Besides, you're a nobody in this palace. Who is going to be paying attention to you?"
Lu Mingyuan's heart was a tangle of emotions, and he didn't know what to do.
The prerequisite for escaping the palace was, of course, chaos.
But if he were to escape the Cold Palace, it would be a capital offense—the kind that not even his own father could easily save him from.
'However, if Grandfather can really get me out without any danger, it's not out of the question.'
'Ultimately, it all depends on how the situation in the Capital City develops.'
Lu Mingyuan glanced at the Six-Yao Turtle Shell in his mind, but surprisingly, it remained uncharacteristically still.
'This must mean nothing is happening for the moment.'
"Very well."
Lu Mingyuan temporarily agreed, deciding to wait for his grandfather's further arrangements.
Seeing that Lu Mingyuan was now actually listening to him, Wang He'fu smiled, gratified by how much he had changed. Stroking his beard, he said, "If a major incident occurs in the Capital City, just hide and stay safe. You must learn to be smarter. Whatever you do, don't give anyone any leverage against you. Wait for my signal. As long as you're alive, there's a sliver of hope—you might even have a shot at the Emperor's Throne."
Every word was a pearl of wisdom, a sincere lesson for Lu Mingyuan.
"Rest assured, Grandfather. I will remember your words."
"Alright, Yuan'Er. Get some rest and don't tire yourself out. If anything happens, I'll be here to handle it."
With those words, Wang He'fu left the room in Qingzhu Hall.
"Take care, Grandfather."
「After Wang He'fu had left.」
Lu Mingyuan fell silent for a moment, gazing out the window at the dim sky as he replayed their conversation in his mind.
'How will this situation unfold?'
...