The Eldest Daughter Returns with Power

Night slowly descended, enveloping the entire Crown Prince's residence. The gentle moonlight softly spilled into the tranquil courtyard, and the lanterns hanging in front of the study swayed gently in the breeze, emitting a faint, dim yellow glow.

Yin Feng leaped lightly from the distant rooftop, his figure as swift as an owl, landing silently and steadily in front of the door. His black outfit blended perfectly with the deep night.

His figure was faintly visible in the bright moonlight. He then stepped forward, knocked on the door of the Crown Prince's study, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the young master sent me to report that they escaped and we couldn't catch them." After Yin Feng finished reporting, he stood respectfully to the side.

"They got away? What happened? Wasn't everything arranged?" The Crown Prince frowned, his gaze sharp as he looked at Yin Feng.

"Your Highness, as planned, the young master patiently waited outside with his men. Later, someone sneaked in, and the young master immediately led his men to capture him. However, once inside, they found no trace of him. Just as they were about to search the area, they suddenly heard urgent shouts of 'fire breaking out!' Fearing something had changed, the young master led his men to investigate. Unexpectedly, the person who had sneaked in took this opportunity to escape quickly." Yin Feng calmly and methodically described the situation to the Crown Prince.

The crown prince was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "They are indeed shrewd."

"Yinfeng, go and tell your young master to withdraw. They've already been alarmed; this plan is useless now," the Crown Prince solemnly instructed Yinfeng.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will go right away." Yin Feng bowed respectfully to the Crown Prince and then hurriedly left.

…………

In the imperial study of the palace, the night was even more tranquil and peaceful than the daytime. A bright moon hung high in the sky outside the window, casting a cool, silvery glow that gently illuminated a corner of the study. The tall bookshelves surrounding the room were filled to the brim with precious royal texts, exuding a faint, elegant fragrance.

In the stillness of the night, only a solitary lamp illuminated the vast desk in the Imperial Study. The Emperor, his brow furrowed, frequently annotated the memorials with his vermilion brush. His eyes revealed exhaustion, yet unwavering resolve. Suddenly, the heavy door to the study was gently pushed open, and the Crown Prince entered with slow, steady steps. His face appeared particularly solemn and dignified in the dim lamplight. The Emperor raised his head, his gaze sharp as lightning, instantly discerning the Crown Prince's purpose. The Crown Prince bowed slightly, his voice low yet firm, saying, "Father, I have important matters to report to you."

"The Shadow Cult sent men to assassinate those in the Ministry of Justice prison. I ordered my brother Lin to lay in ambush outside, but they still managed to escape. Fortunately, their assassination attempt failed. I have come here to receive my punishment." The Crown Prince reported before the Emperor could speak.

The Emperor put down his vermilion brush, sighed softly, and said, "You have done your best in this matter, so there is no need for punishment. The Shadow Cult has always acted in a mysterious and unpredictable manner, so this failure is to be expected. However, you must be more careful and cautious when dealing with them in the future."

The Crown Prince, with a solemn expression, respectfully replied, "Your subject will heed Your Majesty's teachings." The Emperor rose, slowly walked to the window, gazed at the bright moon hanging high in the sky, and said in a low and heavy voice, "The Shadow Cult is becoming increasingly rampant. If it is not strongly curbed, it will surely endanger our country and the nation."

The crown prince stepped forward and said, "Father, I am willing to devote all my efforts, even my life, to eradicating the Shadow Cult."

The Emperor turned around, his gaze fixed on the Crown Prince. After a long while, he slowly said, "I know of your loyalty, but this matter must not be rushed. We need to consider it carefully and plan it thoroughly."

The Crown Prince nodded and replied, "Your subject understands."

The Emperor sat back down at his desk and said, "Go back and think carefully about how to wipe out the Shadow Cult in one fell swoop."

"Wait a minute, isn't Yun Ruo coming back soon?"

"Father, Sister Yunruo will depart in half a month and will arrive in the capital before the end of the month." The Crown Prince reported Su Yunruo's itinerary to the Emperor in detail.

"Hmm, you may go back now." The emperor picked up the memorial on his desk again, and the crown prince bowed and took his leave, slowly exiting the imperial study.

The night remained as deep as ink, and the lights in the palace flickered gently in the wind, as if foreshadowing the endless unknowns and hardships that lay ahead in the struggle against the Shadow Cult.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the clouds onto the Crown Prince's residence, and everything seemed peaceful. However, inside the Crown Prince's study, a tense and serious meeting was underway. The Crown Prince sat at his desk, his expression grave, with Gongsun Lin and Gongsun You seated beside him.

"Although they escaped this time, we absolutely cannot let this go!" The Crown Prince clenched his fists, his eyes filled with unwavering determination. Gongsun Lin nodded in agreement, "Brother Crown Prince, what should we do next?"

After a moment of contemplation, the Crown Prince slowly said, "The Shadow Cult's operation failed this time, so they will definitely be on guard. Therefore, our first task is to send people to secretly investigate their movements."

"Okay, I'll go arrange the manpower right away." Gongsun Lin turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," the Crown Prince called out to him. "This matter must be handled with utmost secrecy. We must not alert the enemy. The Shadow Cult is a powerful force. If we are not careful, all our efforts will be in vain."

Gongsun Lin nodded to indicate that he understood, and then he and Gongsun You left in a hurry.

The Crown Prince stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the scenery outside, his mind filled with countless thoughts. He knew that as long as the Shadow Cult remained, the court and the people would never have peace. He secretly resolved that no matter the cost, he would completely eradicate this thorn in his side.

…………

Meanwhile, within the Shadow Cult, the cult leader, his face grim and eyes flashing with a cold light, said, "This failure means we must be doubly careful. That prince will not let this go." Everyone bowed their heads in agreement, indicating they would be extra cautious.

At this moment, a man dressed in black stepped forward, his eyes firm and calm: "Master, I have a plan. We can send someone to infiltrate the Crown Prince's residence and seize the opportunity to steal their intelligence. This way, we can not only learn about their movements but also grasp their weaknesses, which will facilitate our future actions."

The cult leader nodded slightly, approving of the suggestion: "This plan is feasible, but we need to find a trustworthy person to go. After all, the Crown Prince's residence is heavily guarded, and the slightest carelessness could expose our identities."

At this moment, another man in black stepped forward, his voice deep and firm: "Master, I am willing to go. I am confident in my abilities and will definitely be able to complete the mission."

The cult leader scrutinized him carefully, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, and finally nodded: "Alright, in that case, you will carry out this mission. But remember, you must be careful and report any unusual activity immediately."

The man in black bowed respectfully, then turned and left. A few days later, a new guard appeared in the Crown Prince's residence. He was tall and imposing, with a stern face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. No one knew that he was actually an undercover agent sent by the Shadow Cult, tasked with the crucial mission of gathering intelligence.

…………

Within the Third Prince's residence, all was peaceful and serene. Since his last conversation with Grand Tutor Qi, the Third Prince had decided to settle down in his residence and no longer participate in the outside world's conflicts. Every day, he would come to the plum garden, either playing the zither and reciting poetry, or contemplating quietly, immersing himself in nature and enjoying this rare tranquility.

However, his nonchalant attitude greatly puzzled those who tried to win him over and those who wanted to frame him. No matter what they did, they couldn't find a way to influence the Third Prince. And in this atmosphere, the Third Prince remained calm and unmoved.

On this bright and sunny day, the plum blossoms were in full bloom. The Third Prince, as usual, was playing the zither in the pavilion of the plum garden. The melodious music echoed in the air, seemingly able to soothe the restlessness in people's hearts. Suddenly, a guard rushed over, and whispered something in the Third Prince's ear.

The Third Prince paused slightly, a subtle change flashing across his face, but he quickly regained his composure. He nodded gently, indicating he understood, and then continued to focus on playing the zither. When the piece ended, the Third Prince slowly spoke, "I understand." His gaze drifted into the distance, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips, as he muttered to himself, "They finally couldn't resist making their move… Did they succeed?"

The guard respectfully replied, "No, the eldest princess's son, Gongsun Lin, was lying in ambush outside. They must have realized they were ambushed, so they chose to retreat."

The Third Prince nodded, signaling the guards to leave. He sat alone in the pavilion, lost in thought. "I wonder if my maternal grandfather has made the necessary arrangements. So many days have passed..." he wondered to himself.