Chu Chuyan was alarmed. “Please watch what you say!”

She looked around quickly. Satisfied that no one had heard anything, she said quietly ,“The Embroidered Envoy are His Majesty’s eyes and ears, and Zhuxie Chixin is the emperor’s most loyal aide! If news of what you said reached the emperor’s ears, you’d be dead for sure!”

However, Zu An didn’t seem to mind. He shrugged and said, “I’m already in such dire straits, it doesn’t really matter. If His Majesty finds out, then so be it.”

Chu Chuyan gently held his hand to comfort him. A moment passed before she spoke again. “Actually, several rumors that echoed your thoughts did spread. Without proof, though, they only remained as speculation.”

Zu An smiled. “How can anyone other than the main actors have any proof? There is something else that I’m curious about. All the other princes seem incredibly intelligent. Why is the crown prince the only one who is dumb?”

Chu Chuyan frowned. “There’s no consensus on this subject either. The fiend races claim that His Majesty has too much blood on his hands, and that this is retribution. Some humans believe that someone might have done something to the crown prince while he was still...