Three days later the Xuan Emperor returned to the capital.

On the way back to the palace, when he saw the whole city in white and the common people in mourning hemp, the Xuan Emperor went iron gray with anger and could not stop coughing.

Ning Chen calmed him and had pears brought, and the Xuan Emperor ate two before the coughing eased a little.

Ning Chen led the Ning'an Army and escorted His Majesty back to the palace the whole way.

Outside the Hall of Cultivated Heart the ministers knelt in a crowd.

Inside the hall, the tears ran down Old General Chen's old face.

Nie Liang knelt in front of the dragon desk, his whole face full of feeling.

Ning Chen really had brought the Xuan Emperor back.

The Xuan Emperor looked at Ning Chen. "Ning Chen, this emperor will know now. Who was it that wanted this emperor dead?"

Ning Chen bowed low. "Your subject obeys the command! Your subject will go and make ready, and give Your Majesty the answer."

The Xuan Emperor nodded.

Ning Chen went outside, let his eye pass over the civil and military officials and then looked away, and said in a lowered voice to Pan Yucheng, "Go and tell Yuan Long to take men and ring the Fifth Prince's residence and the Right Chancellor's, and the Censor-in-Chief's as well. Men may go in and none may come out. Anyone who disobeys is cut down!"

"And bring me that so-called adept, Guo Wuxiang."

The Ning'an Army was back in the capital, quartered outside the walls and waiting on Ning Chen's orders.

Pan Yucheng nodded. "Yes!"

"That reminds me. Bring me Fang Zhengqing while you're at it."

Fang Zhengqing had been hidden away since he came back to the capital.

Pan Yucheng took the order and went.

Ning Chen gave Feng Qizheng his instructions. "Take some men back to the Ning residence and bring me Guan Rongrong... And under the saber rack in my room there is a hollow. There are some letters inside it. Bring those back too."

Feng Qizheng nodded, turned…