Chapter 26_The Spy Who Thought He Was Clever
The palace was unusually quiet.
And that was exactly what worried Lei Hua.
Because in her experience, whenever a palace became quiet...
Something terrible was usually preparing to happen.
Lei Hua sat in the corner of the palace hall, eating pastries.
One.
Two.
Three.
She reached for the fourth.
Then stopped.
"System."
[Yes, Host?]
"Why is everyone acting so suspicious?"
[Because everyone is suspicious.]
Lei Hua stared at the empty space in front of her.
"That's not an answer."
[It is technically an answer.]
"Your attitude is getting worse."
[The Host's influence is spreading.]
Lei Hua almost choked.
"Don't blame me for your personality!"
Across the hall, Emperor Zhen watched his ministers argue.
The Crown Prince stood beside him.
Zhen Ruo stood several steps away.
And Lei Yue...
Lei Yue was casually drinking tea.
She looked completely uninterested.
Which, somehow, made everyone else even more nervous.
Lei Hua glanced at her.
How can someone look that calm?
There are probably thirty people in this room plotting against each other.
And she's drinking tea like she's watching a cooking show.
Lei Yue's fingers paused around her cup.
A tiny smile appeared.
Lei Hua immediately looked away.
Nope.
Don't stare.
That woman is terrifyingly observant.
Lei Yue continued drinking her tea.
The Emperor finally spoke.
"Regarding the Crown Prince's proposed northern inspection..."
The room became silent.
Zhen Ruo lowered his eyes.
"Father, the northern provinces have suffered repeated disturbances. It would be beneficial for the Crown Prince to personally inspect the military arrangements."
Zhen Wu's expression remained calm.
"I agree that the northern provinces require attention."
Lei Hua nearly dropped her pastry.
WHY ARE YOU AGREEING?!
That's literally what the suspicious prince wants!
Zhen Wu's eyes flickered.
Lei Hua froze.
Oh.
Right.
People can hear me.
She carefully put the pastry down.
I need to stop thinking so loudly.
Lei Yue glanced sideways.
Lei Hua immediately lowered her head.
The Emperor looked toward Zhen Wu.
"You understand the risks?"
"Yes."
"And you still intend to go?"
Zhen Wu looked directly at his father.
"If the northern border truly requires my attention, then I should go."
Zhen Ruo smiled faintly.
Lei Hua's eyes narrowed.
That smile.
That is not a normal smile.
That's the smile of someone who has already prepared three backup plans.
The system chimed.
[Gossip detected.]
Lei Hua's eyes brightened.
"Oh?"
[There is currently a secret discussion taking place between three palace officials.]
Lei Hua sat straighter.
"Where?"
[Eastern corridor.]
Lei Hua immediately stood.
Then remembered she was in the middle of the palace.
She slowly sat back down.
No.
Absolutely not.
Last time I followed gossip, I nearly got myself killed.
The system continued.
[The officials are discussing the Crown Prince's departure.]
Lei Hua's expression changed.
Fine.
Maybe just a little investigation.
She glanced toward Lei Yue.
Lei Yue had already put down her tea.
She knew.
Lei Hua sighed.
Of course she knows.
---
THE EASTERN CORRIDOR
Three palace officials stood beneath the covered walkway.
One was a minor official from the Ministry of War.
Another worked in the palace treasury.
The third...
Was the palace servant Lei Hua had noticed the previous day.
The servant looked around carefully.
"No one followed you?"
The Ministry official shook his head.
"No."
"Good."
The treasury official lowered his voice.
"When the Crown Prince leaves tomorrow, the transfer must happen immediately."
Lei Hua, hiding behind a decorative screen several steps away, widened her eyes.
Transfer?
What transfer?
The system spoke softly.
[The Host has discovered only part of the conversation.]
"Then give me the useful part!"
[Patience.]
"I hate patience!"
The servant continued.
"The western military documents will be moved first."
Lei Hua's eyes widened.
Military documents?
The treasury official nodded.
"Once the Crown Prince is gone, no one will question the change."
The Ministry official frowned.
"And the Emperor?"
"The Emperor will be too occupied with the border situation."
Lei Hua slowly covered her mouth.
They're planning to alter military records.
That could be disastrous.
But there was something strange.
The system had not revealed everything.
Lei Hua whispered:
"System, who are they working for?"
A pause.
[One of them is working for Zhen Ruo.]
Lei Hua's eyes widened.
"And the others?"
[Unknown.]
Lei Hua blinked.
"Unknown?"
[The gossip system cannot reveal every secret.]
Lei Hua frowned.
So there are still pieces missing.
Then footsteps sounded.
Lei Hua immediately ducked behind the screen.
The three men separated.
The palace servant walked away.
Lei Hua waited.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Then she slowly peeked out.
The corridor was empty.
"System?"
[Yes?]
"Tell me something."
[What?]
"Why do I feel like we're being watched?"
The system went silent.
Lei Hua's smile disappeared.
A moment later...
[Because you are.]
Lei Hua's blood ran cold.
She slowly turned.
Someone stood at the end of the corridor.
A palace maid.
Watching her.
Lei Hua stared.
The maid immediately bowed.
"Lady Lei."
Lei Hua smiled awkwardly.
"Oh! You scared me."
The maid smiled.
"My apologies."
Then she walked away.
Lei Hua watched her disappear.
That was weird.
The system spoke.
[The maid is not the spy.]
Lei Hua relaxed.
"Thank goodness."
[She is the person the spy reports to.]
Lei Hua's smile vanished.
"WHAT?"
---
THE EMPEROR'S PRIVATE CHAMBER
Lei Hua rushed toward Lei Yue.
"Lei Yue!"
Lei Yue turned.
"Yes?"
"I found something."
Lei Yue's eyes sharpened.
"Speak."
Lei Hua quickly explained what she had heard.
Lei Yue listened without interrupting.
When Lei Hua finished, Lei Yue remained silent.
Then she asked:
"How certain are you?"
"About the conversation?"
"Yes."
"Very."
"And the maid?"
"The system said she's connected to the spy."
Lei Yue nodded.
"Don't expose her."
Lei Hua stared.
"Again?!"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Lei Yue's expression remained calm.
"Because if we remove one spy, another will replace them."
Lei Hua blinked.
Lei Yue continued.
"But if we allow them to continue reporting..."
Her eyes became colder.
"...they will eventually reveal everyone they report to."
Lei Hua stared at her.
Oh.
That's actually terrifying.
Lei Yue took another sip of tea.
"We don't need to chase the snake."
Lei Hua whispered:
"We just follow where it crawls."
Lei Yue smiled.
"Exactly."
Lei Hua stared at her.
"Did you just steal my dramatic line?"
"I improved it."
"YOU—"
Lei Yue walked away.
Lei Hua stood there in disbelief.
She really is a diva.
---
MEANWHILE...
In another part of the palace...
Zhen Ruo sat inside a private room.
The palace maid stood before him.
"Young Prince."
"Speak."
"The Crown Prince will leave tomorrow."
Zhen Ruo smiled.
"And Lei Hua?"
"She discovered the corridor conversation."
His smile disappeared.
"She did?"
"Yes."
"Does she know about us?"
"No."
Zhen Ruo leaned back.
For several moments, he said nothing.
Then he laughed softly.
"So she is investigating."
"Yes."
"Good."
The maid looked confused.
"Good?"
Zhen Ruo's eyes narrowed.
"Let her investigate."
"Why?"
"Because every investigation creates movement."
He stood.
"And movement creates opportunities."
The maid bowed.
Zhen Ruo looked toward the palace window.
"The Crown Prince leaves tomorrow."
His expression became colder.
"And when he does..."
He placed a document on the table.
"The capital will become much easier to control."
---
THAT NIGHT
Lei Hua couldn't sleep.
She sat on her bed staring at the ceiling.
Something is wrong.
The Crown Prince leaving.
Military documents being transferred.
The spy.
The maid.
Zhen Ruo.
She rolled over.
"This is too much."
The system chimed.
[Host.]
"What?"
[There is new gossip.]
Lei Hua immediately sat upright.
"Tell me."
[Someone has entered the Crown Prince's residence.]
Lei Hua froze.
"Who?"
[A person who should not be there.]
Lei Hua jumped out of bed.
"System, that's not specific!"
[The system enjoys suspense.]
"I DON'T!"
Lei Hua rushed toward the door.
But before she could open it...
A voice came from the hallway.
"Lady Lei."
Lei Hua stopped.
It was Lei Yue.
She opened the door.
Lei Yue stood outside.
"Get dressed."
Lei Hua blinked.
"Why?"
Lei Yue looked toward the dark corridor.
"Because the Crown Prince is in danger."
Lei Hua's eyes widened.
"Already?"
Lei Yue nodded.
"And this time..."
Her expression became completely serious.
"...we may not be dealing with palace spies."
Lei Hua swallowed.
"What are we dealing with?"
Lei Yue looked toward the distant Crown Prince's residence.
"Someone inside the palace has opened the gate."
Lei Hua's face went pale.
The system chimed.
[Emergency gossip unlocked.]
Lei Hua whispered:
"Who opened it?"
The system answered.
[The person closest to the Emperor.]
Lei Hua froze.
And somewhere in the palace...
A bell rang once.
Then the palace gates closed.
TO BE CONTINUED...