The Xuan Emperor looked at the Ninth Princess, at a loss for words.

"These are unofficial histories and idle talk. How can they be taken seriously?"

If it were the official history, the civil and military officials would have nothing to say, since the Founding Emperor had done exactly that... and doing the same himself would be nothing more than following the Founding Emperor's example.

But an unofficial history simply could not be trusted.

The Ninth Princess muttered, "The official histories aren't necessarily true either. They're all written by the winners... and an unofficial history isn't necessarily false."

The Xuan Emperor had no answer for that.

Eunuch Quan looked like a man on the verge of speaking who had thought better of it. In the end he could not hold it in. "Your Majesty, an unofficial history can be turned into official history."

The Xuan Emperor frowned. "What do you mean?"

Eunuch Quan said, "Your Majesty, the historians of the Founding Emperor's time have been dead for several hundred years. Slip this story quietly into the histories, and who would ever know whether it was true or false?"

"You forget yourself!" The Xuan Emperor was furious. "You dog! The nerve of you, urging this emperor to tamper with the histories!"

In his fright Eunuch Quan dropped to his knees with a thump, sweat standing out on his forehead.

"This old servant deserves to die. Forgive this offense, Your Majesty!"

The Xuan Emperor gave a cold snort. "This matter is not to be raised again. Huai'an, you go back too, and you are not to speak of this to anyone."

Seeing the Xuan Emperor lose his temper, the Ninth Princess did not dare linger. "Your child takes her leave!"

Then she slipped away as fast as she could.

The Xuan Emperor glanced at the doorway, then said, "You dog, get up!"

Eunuch Quan scrambled to his feet.

The Xuan Emperor narrowed his eyes and fixed them on him. "Quan Sheng, with your skills, could you get into the Wenyuan Pavilion without being seen?"

Eunuch Quan was taken aback.

"Huai'an was here…