The lean-faced old man narrowed his eyes, and something calculating glittered in them.

"None of that matters... What matters is that this piece of intelligence is enough to ruin Ning Chen's name."

"He's been carrying on with the Wu woman emperor. If word of that reaches His Majesty, he'll die a horrible death."

The plump, pale young man thought it over and shook his head slightly. "The report may be reliable, but without proof there's nothing we can do to Ning Chen."

"Our man has already begun looking into it!"

"If Ning Chen really is carrying on with the Wu woman emperor, is that the sort of thing that leaves proof behind?"

Light flickered in the lean-faced old man's eyes. "If we used the matter to bring Ning Chen over, we might well succeed... Ning Chen's ability is plain for everyone to see. If he were willing to help us, what great thing could we fail to accomplish?"

The plump, pale young man shook his head. "The boy's temper is wild and he has no reverence at all for the imperial house. His Majesty is the only man alive who can put up with a nature like that... Ning Chen is too hard to control. Better to be rid of him."

The lean-faced old man smiled. "Once we've used him to accomplish the great thing, there'll still be time enough to be rid of him."

The plump, pale young man was quiet a moment, then gave a slight nod.

The lean-faced old man said, "I'll try making contact with him."

"You can't. You'll expose yourself!"

"I may already be exposed... It was I who proposed that Ning Ziming be beheaded at once, and with Ning Chen's wits, he is bound to suspect me by now."

The next morning Ning Chen climbed off Yudie's soft, lovely body with real reluctance.

"Why is Ning, dear up so early today?"

Yudie opened her eyes, her voice languid and inviting.

Ning Chen had pushed himself up; now he pressed back down against her. "I have something to see to!"

And as he said it…