Ning Chen's first thought was whether Prince Rui might be pretending.

These people of the imperial house had no other talents to speak of, but at fighting among themselves and at acting a part, every one of them was a master.

Since he had begun dealing with these people of the imperial house, he had felt his own mind going darker.

There is not much human in the people of the imperial house.

For that dragon throne, a son kills a father, a father kills a son, a son kills a son. In a word, it is a mess.

So when he heard Geng Jing say Prince Rui had been paralyzed for years, his first thought was that the man was faking it... and that in private he very likely stepped out as though he were flying.

After the business of the Fifth Prince playing the fool, he did not find a man faking paralysis worth being shocked at.

"There are Inspectorate agents in this Prince Rui's household, I take it?"

Geng Jing hesitated a moment, then gave a slight nod.

"Are they certain his legs are paralyzed?"

"How could that be faked?"

"How did it happen?"

Geng Jing said, "He came off his horse at a hunt and fell into a mountain ravine. His life was saved, but his legs were finished."

"When His Majesty heard of it he sent an imperial physician to Xiangzhou especially."

Ning Chen asked, curious, "Which imperial physician?"

Geng Jing said, "That would have to be looked up at the palace. The Imperial Physicians' Bureau should have a record of it."

"Why? Are you still suspecting Prince Rui?"

Ning Chen held up the file in his hand. "The dancing girl who tried to kill His Majesty was sent up to His Majesty by Prince Rui."

"Old Geng. Send word to the agents in Xiangzhou and have them go over this Prince Rui again in detail."

Geng Jing gave a slight nod. "All right."

Just then Pan Yucheng's voice came from outside the door.

"Geng the Purple Coat. May I come in?"

Geng Jing said,…