Feng Qizheng shook his head. "Nope! I'm a respectable man. How could I do something as low-down as digging up graves?"

Ning Chen said nothing.

The carriage reached the palace gates.

Ning Chen got out. "Old Feng, you don't need to come into the palace with me. Go rob a grave."

"Huh?"

Feng Qizheng gaped at him.

Ning Chen beckoned him to lean in.

Feng Qizheng bent closer, and Ning Chen whispered a few words in his ear.

Feng Qizheng's face grew more and more shocked. When Ning Chen finished, he asked, hardly believing it, "You serious?"

Ning Chen nodded. "Mm."

"That's a crime punishable to the ninth degree of kin."

Ning Chen said, "Your whole family is just you. What ninth degree of kin?"

Feng Qizheng rubbed the back of his head. "Good point. I'm off, then."

Ning Chen nodded. "Get it done and get back fast."

Feng Qizheng had someone bring his horse, swung into the saddle and galloped off.

Ning Chen watched him go, then turned and went into the palace.

He had sent Feng Qizheng to rob the Second Prince's grave.

The army marched in three days.

Three days was about right to get from the capital to Mount Anlong and back.

Ning Chen took Xie Siyu and Hua Linglong into the palace and saw the An Emperor in the Hall of Cultivated Heart.

The main reason for today's visit: he was leaving on campaign and needed to introduce Xie Siyu and Hua Linglong to the Xuan Emperor.

"Your subject..."

"Enough with your subject..." The An Emperor put down the memorial in her hand. Her eyes filled with worry at how pale Ning Chen looked. This awful man gets hurt every other day. He doesn't care one bit about his own body. "Heye, quick, bring the prince a seat."

Heye bowed. "Yes!"

She had someone bring over a cushioned seat for Ning Chen.

The An Emperor pointed to the side of the dragon throne. "Put it here."

Once it was in place beside the dragon throne, Ning Chen went over and sat down.

The An Emperor…