The next day, the morning court.

The Xuan Emperor sat high on the dragon throne.

The ministers knelt.

"Your subjects greet Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be in health!"

The Xuan Emperor raised a hand. "Rise. No ceremony."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The ministers got to their feet, and could not stop themselves from looking toward Ning Chen.

Those who were well informed had known for some time that Ning Chen was back from Wu, and that he had taken men and ransacked Li Hongzhuo's residence the night before.

Those who were out of the loop stared at Ning Chen in surprise, learning only now that he was back from the mission to Wu.

The Xuan Emperor spoke. "A piece of good news for you all, beloved ministers. The talks with the Wu Kingdom have succeeded!"

The ministers looked at one another.

Was that not what everyone had expected?

Quite a few of them looked sideways at Ning Chen, envious and jealous and hateful about it. The boy had picked up another enormous piece of luck and another great merit.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Our felicitations, Your Majesty!"

The ministers cried it out in one voice.

The Xuan Emperor said flatly, "But there is something that has made this emperor very angry... Beloved ministers, you will not yet know that Li Hongzhuo died in Wu."

Li Hongzhuo was dead?

The whole court, civil and military, boiled over at once.

A censor stepped out and bowed. "Your subject makes bold to ask Your Majesty — how did Lord Li Hongzhuo die?"

The Xuan Emperor gave a cold snort. "Killed by the Prince Regent of Wu."

The officials began whispering among themselves.

The Wu Prince Regent had killed Li Hongzhuo — so why was His Majesty saying the talks had succeeded?

"Your Majesty, your subject rises to impeach Marquis Ning... The marquis led these talks, and yet he let the President of the Secretariat meet a violent death in a foreign kingdom. The marquis could hardly escape the blame."

A censor had stepped out.

"Your Majesty, the marquis was head of the embassy…