"Old Pan, word that I've been stripped of my command hasn't gotten out yet. Take everyone to the Sky River landing right now, and board a ship for Lingzhou on my orders.

But remember this: don't get off at Lingzhou. Before you reach Lingzhou there's a landing called the Thousand Sails Crossing. Get off there, then go around to Mangzhou.

Once you reach Mangzhou, don't linger... Head straight for Xuanwu City."

Ning Chen had to make his arrangements in a hurry, and this was the best he could come up with. Anything that came up on the road, Pan Yucheng and the others would have to handle themselves.

Pan Yucheng's face was grave, and he nodded. Once they left... they would probably never come back!

Just then Gu Yichun came hurrying in. "My lord prince, someone's here from the palace. His Majesty is summoning you to the palace at once!"

Ning Chen frowned, then sighed. There was no dodging what was coming.

He glanced at Pan Yucheng, told Gu Yichun to stay behind, and went to the main hall alone.

The visitor was a eunuch, though not the edict-bearer Ning Chen was used to.

With the young eunuch was an old acquaintance: Nie Liang.

"Greetings, my lord prince!"

The eunuch, Nie Liang and seven or eight of the inner palace guards went down on one knee in salute!

Ning Chen raised a hand. "Get up!"

"Thank you, my lord prince!"

They got to their feet, and the young eunuch said, "My lord prince, His Majesty has issued a decree. You and the Ninth Princess are summoned to the palace for an audience at once!"

Ning Chen frowned and glanced at Nie Liang.

His Majesty had sent Nie Liang because he was worried Ning Chen would resist.

Nie Liang caught the look in Ning Chen's eyes and looked ashamed, but what could he do? An imperial command was not to be disobeyed.

"Let's go!"

Ning Chen's voice was flat.

The young eunuch's voice was shrill. "My lord prince, what about the Ninth Princess?"

Ning Chen said coolly, "The Ninth Princess has…