Ning Chen sent a hundred of the Ning'an Army to escort Lin Wen and Meng Jianbai into the imperial tombs.

He did not go in himself.

The workmen were all in his hands, but there was no telling whether a fish had slipped the net.

If he went in and the tomb door came down, he could only die inside it.

So long as he stayed out, the men who went in were safe instead.

Before they went in, Ning Chen handed Meng Jianbai a bundle and said a few words in his ear.

Seeing that Ning Chen was not going in, disappointment went through the depths of the Fifth Prince's eyes, and the Right Chancellor's.

They had indeed kept something in reserve.

If Ning Chen had gone in, they would have dropped the tomb-door stone and shut him inside forever.

But it made no difference, because the dead men really were the Xuan Emperor and Eunuch Quan — or so they believed.

An hour later Lin Wen and Meng Jianbai and the rest came out.

Both their faces were full of shock.

The civil and military officials watched the two of them closely.

Ning Chen was tense enough that his fingertips were shaking. He came forward quickly and asked, "Well? What is it?"

Meng Jianbai was shaking all over with excitement. "My lord marquis, we have examined Eunuch Quan's body. The dead man is not Eunuch Quan."

Every person there froze, like stone and wood.

Ning Chen was wild with joy. He was so worked up that his head swam for an instant.

He had guessed right!

He had bet right!

His Majesty's body had not been examined yet.

But since the dead man was not Eunuch Quan, His Majesty was certainly still alive.

Ning Chen turned his head to the Fifth Prince, and could not help stopping short.

The Fifth Prince and the Right Chancellor both had disbelief all over their faces, and their eyes had gone blank.

Could it be that they did not know either that the dead men were not His Majesty and Eunuch Quan?