Samuel Parker gasped for breath as he caught up, anxiously saying, “My lord, the princess, she…” Before he could finish, there was a loud slap—Samuel Parker clutched his face, red as pig’s blood, utterly stunned.

It was David Sullivan who had struck him.

David Sullivan looked coldly at Samuel Parker and said, “Fool, since Her Highness the Princess is here, we ought to welcome her. How can you try to stop her? Step back at once!”

Samuel Parker, eager to please David Sullivan, felt as aggrieved as a loyal dog kicked aside, but dared not protest and could only retreat awkwardly.

David Sullivan then turned to Princess Yunmeng and said, “Your Highness, what brings you here today?” Suddenly, catching sight of William Foster’s smug expression, David Sullivan felt a chill in his heart and instantly understood the situation, secretly cursing.

As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and a trusted confidant of the Emperor, David Sullivan was, of course, well-versed in the tangled web of court factions.

What seemed like an ordinary selection of personnel was, in the eyes of Charles Thompson and David Sullivan, of great significance.

The current Emperor Zhu Di was already old and had three sons: the eldest, Zhu Gaochi; the second, Zhu Gaoxu; and the third, Zhu Gaosui.

To prevent turmoil after his death, Zhu Di had long ago appointed Zhu Gaochi as Crown Prince, granted the title Prince of Han to his second son Zhu Gaoxu, and made his third son Zhu Gaosui the Prince of Zhao. By doing so, Zhu Di made it clear to the world that the imperial succession was settled.

However, in Zhu Di’s heart, his favorite was the second son, Zhu Gaoxu—the current, highly influential Prince of Han. Back in the “Jingnan Campaign,” the Prince of Han had achieved great military merit. Relying on his achievements and his father’s favor, he always looked down on his elder brother and coveted the position of Crown Prince.

A few years ago, the talented and dashing Xie Jin, a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince, offended the Prince of Han and was framed by him over the “Eastern Palace Welcoming the Emperor” affair. At the Prince of Han’s instigation, David Sullivan found an excuse to arrest and execute Xie Jin. Similarly, the prominent court official Matthew Thompson, a close ally of Charles Thompson, was also targeted by the Prince of Han for supporting the Crown Prince. He was impeached and sent to the imperial prison by David Sullivan, and has yet to be released.

The Prince of Han’s actions were clearly aimed at eliminating the Crown Prince’s capable supporters, paving the way for his own bid for the throne and eventual ascension as emperor. David Sullivan, with his keen instincts, sensed that although the Prince of Han was not the Crown Prince, his chances of taking the throne were high, so he secretly supported him.

Charles Thompson, as the Crown Prince’s tutor, naturally supported the Crown Prince. After Xie Jin’s death, Charles Thompson became the chief strategist at the Crown Prince’s side, and began to win over the Five Armies Command and counter the influence of the Prince of Han and David Sullivan. That’s why he came with William Foster this time. But ultimately, the decision of who would ascend the throne still rested with the current emperor, Zhu Di. Yao Guangxiao held great sway with the emperor, so both David Sullivan and Charles Thompson sought to curry favor with Yao Guangxiao to gain leverage for their respective candidates.

Charles Thompson had clearly anticipated that David Sullivan would interfere, so he had informed the princess in advance.

Everyone knew that although the princess and the Crown Prince, Prince of Han, and Prince of Zhao were as close as siblings, she had always been dissatisfied with her second brother’s arrogance and was sympathetic toward her somewhat timid eldest brother, the Crown Prince. So her arrival was undoubtedly to undermine David Sullivan and assist Charles Thompson.

In a brief moment, David Sullivan saw through all the relationships at play and sneered inwardly: Charles Thompson, do you really think that by winning over the Command and the princess, you can oppose me? I won’t let you have your way. Though he grumbled inwardly, his face remained respectful.

But Princess Yunmeng’s expression was far from respectful. She looked at David Sullivan and said coldly, “You don’t know what business I have here?”

David Sullivan feigned confusion and shook his head. Princess Yunmeng glanced at everyone in the tower and announced loudly, “I heard that the Master has a difficult task and needs someone to undertake it, so I’ve come to offer my help. I’ve specially selected someone for the Master to consider. Well… what do you all think of this person?”

As she spoke, the princess pointed behind her, looking quite pleased, clearly very satisfied with her choice.

Everyone had already noticed someone following behind Princess Yunmeng. Now, seeing her gesture, they couldn’t help but look over, surprise appearing on their faces.

Even David Sullivan frowned. He had expected the princess might recommend someone, but he certainly hadn’t anticipated that the person she chose would be…

Brian Carter appeared to be looking at his toes, but the corner of his eye was also watching that person. A strange expression crossed his face; his five fingers clenched into a fist, so tightly that his knuckles had turned pale…

Pale, just like the look of bewildered excitement on his face.

Chapter Two: Fire Crane

No one noticed Brian Carter’s odd reaction; they were all focused on the person the princess had recommended.

Even if Princess Yunmeng had chosen a golden-armored warrior, someone with three heads and six arms, or three eyes, it wouldn’t have surprised David Sullivan so much. But what he hadn’t expected was that the princess’s choice was also a woman.

A woman dressed in blue.

She was not burly; on the contrary, her waist beneath the blue robe was slender, easily encircled by a single hand, as if a gust of wind could blow her over. She had no three heads or six arms—her hands were delicate, her ten fingers slender and sculpted like fine jade, so fragile they seemed unfit even for embroidery. She certainly had no three eyes—her gaze was clear and limpid as mountain streams, yet carried a chill like the thin ice of early winter.

No matter how one looked at her, this woman’s beauty and bearing were in no way inferior to the princess’s. In fact, she seemed even more feminine than the princess herself.