Chapter LXXXXIII - Return to the Capital
The capital greeted them with rain.
Not snow.
Rain.
Cold spring rain falling against palace walls and tiled rooftops.
As though winter had finally loosened its grip.
Yet somehow—
the city felt more dangerous than the battlefield ever had.
—
News of Prince Rui's victory arrived days before the army.
News of Consort Xu's disappearance arrived even faster.
By the time the northern forces approached the capital gates—
rumors had become uncontrollable.
Tea houses buzzed with speculation.
Nobles whispered behind fans.
Officials avoided eye contact in court.
Because everyone understood:
Prince Rui was returning.
Victorious.
Armed with evidence.
And no longer distracted by war.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
—
The procession entered the capital at noon.
Silver wolf banners fluttered above cheering crowds.
Soldiers marched proudly.
Victory belonged to them.
Yet Prince Rui barely noticed.
His attention remained fixed ahead.
Toward the palace.
Toward answers.
Beside him, Shen Li rode calmly.
The black jade bracelet still rested around her wrist.
A small thing.
Yet somehow—
seeing it eased something inside Prince Rui immediately.
Dangerous habit.
Very dangerous habit.
—
The Crown Prince met them at the palace gates personally.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because future emperors did not usually wait outside.
Not unless circumstances were serious.
And these circumstances were very serious.
The moment Prince Rui dismounted—
the Crown Prince spoke quietly.
No greetings.
No formalities.
Straight to the point.
"Royal Uncle."
"We have a problem."
Prince Rui looked unimpressed.
"This prince assumed so."
Fair.
Very fair.
Then the Crown Prince lowered his voice further.
"Consort Xu didn't disappear."
Silence.
Shen Li's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then:
"She was taken."
The rain seemed colder suddenly.
Because those two statements meant completely different things.
Disappearance implied escape.
Abduction implied panic.
Then Prince Rui asked:
"By whom?"
The Crown Prince's expression darkened.
Then:
"That's the problem."
"We don't know."
—
Inside the palace—
the atmosphere felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too careful.
Too many officials watching.
Too many servants listening.
Everyone seemed afraid of something.
Or someone.
Then Shen Li realized:
The palace wasn't waiting for Prince Rui's return.
The palace had been surviving without him.
Barely.
And now he was back.
The balance had changed.
Again.
—
That evening—
the Emperor summoned them privately.
No court.
No ministers.
Only:
the Emperor,
the Crown Prince,
Prince Rui,
Shen Li.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The meeting began in silence.
A dangerous silence.
Then the Emperor finally spoke.
And immediately surprised everyone.
"I owe you an apology."
The room froze.
Because emperors did not apologize.
Not easily.
Not publicly.
Not ever.
Yet the Emperor's expression remained serious.
Tired.
Older than Shen Li remembered.
Then:
"The northern conspiracy reached further than I realized."
Silence.
Prince Rui remained expressionless.
Then quietly:
"How far?"
The Emperor looked directly at him.
And for the first time—
hesitated.
Enough.
Because everyone saw it.
Then finally:
"Far enough that even I was watched."
Absolute silence.
Because suddenly—
the conspiracy had grown larger again.
Not merely court factions.
Not merely succession politics.
Something deeper.
Something capable of reaching the Emperor himself.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
—
Then the Emperor reached beneath his desk.
And withdrew a small wooden box.
Old.
Weathered.
Locked.
The moment Prince Rui saw it—
he froze.
Only briefly.
Enough.
Because he recognized it.
The Emperor noticed immediately.
Then softly:
"I thought you might."
The room became very quiet.
Then Shen Li looked toward Prince Rui.
His expression had changed.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Something else.
Memory.
Old memory.
Painful memory.
Then Prince Rui quietly asked:
"Where did you find it?"
The Emperor answered:
"Among Consort Xu's hidden possessions."
Silence.
Then:
"Two days before she disappeared."
The rain hammered softly against the palace windows.
No one spoke.
Because suddenly—
Consort Xu's disappearance looked very different.
Very dangerous.
Very intentional.
Then the Emperor placed the box onto the table.
Directly before Prince Rui.
And quietly said:
"Open it."
—
Prince Rui stared at the box.
A simple object.
Nothing remarkable.
Yet somehow—
the room felt smaller around it.
Then slowly—
he reached forward.
Unlocked it.
Opened it.
And froze.
Absolute silence.
Because inside lay a single document.
Yellowed with age.
Folded carefully.
Hidden for seven years.
At the top—
written in unmistakable imperial handwriting—
were four words:
Project Northern Wolf
The room stopped breathing.
Because after seven years—
the conspiracy had finally followed Prince Rui home.