This was a question that could get you killed.
However, Li Ying was not flustered in the slightest and calmly replied.
"Imperial Father is still young. There is no need to rush to name a Crown Prince.
But the court officials’ worries are not without reason.
In my humble opinion, we could consider establishing a guard station.
It would be specifically responsible for gathering intelligence, which would then be compiled and submitted for Imperial Father’s review.
This way, even without leaving your chambers, Imperial Father, you can have the entire realm under your control.
In the future, no one will dare to feel uneasy just because Imperial Father is ill."
The Emperor had not expected Li Ying to give such an answer.
But upon careful consideration, the matter was indeed feasible.
The reason the Emperor was so agitated now was that he was bedridden and unable to keep abreast of the changing situation outside.
If someone could monitor the shifting winds outside for him at all times, he would be well-informed and could keep the initiative in his own hands.
The Emperor asked again, "According to you, who do you think would be most suitable to handle this matter?"
Li Ying lowered his eyes and said respectfully.
"I believe Eunuch Zuo Ji, who is by Imperial Father’s side, is very suitable. He has served you for many years and has always been completely loyal. If he were to manage this, he would certainly handle it flawlessly."
The Emperor looked at Zuo Ji, who was standing in attendance nearby.
Zuo Ji never imagined he would be singled out by Prince Wu Zhang, and a look of clear surprise appeared on his face.
After Li Ying left, the Emperor was still pondering what he had just said.
In truth, Li Ying had a point. Zuo Ji was indeed a very suitable candidate.
Zuo Ji was competent and had always been diligent and dedicated over the years, never making any mistakes.
Most importantly, he was a eunuch, a man without roots. His only path to survival was to depend on the Emperor, so there was no need to worry he would develop any ulterior motives.
However—
The Emperor still harbored doubts.
He had so many capable, loyal, and reliable eunuchs around him. Why did Li Ying single out Zuo Ji specifically?
The Emperor did not believe it was a mere coincidence.
He suspected that Zuo Ji might have already been bought by Li Ying.
Zuo Ji was completely unaware of the Emperor’s suspicions.
At this moment, Zuo Ji was thrilled. If he was truly appointed by the Emperor to manage the new guard station, it would be like a huge pie falling from the sky.
Zuo Ji was extremely grateful to Prince Wu Zhang for delivering this pie to him.
He mulled it over. ’When I get the chance, I must put in a few good words for Prince Wu Zhang before the Emperor to repay him for this recommendation.’
Three days later, the Emperor issued a decree establishing the Night Owl Guard. It was allocated four thousand men and tasked with intelligence gathering. The Chief Eunuch, Wu Wang, was appointed to temporarily serve as its Supervisor.
Once this was announced, the entire court and country were shaken.
’Intelligence gathering? Isn’t that just digging up the private affairs and secrets of every household!’
Once the Night Owl Guard was truly established, it would mean that the civil and military officials would have no privacy to speak of.
The thought alone was terrifying!
The court officials submitted memorials one after another, hoping the Emperor would change his mind and abandon the idea of establishing the Night Owl Guard.
Citing his need to recuperate in peace, the Emperor refused to grant an audience to the officials.
The officials’ memorials were all blocked outside Hanzhang Hall.
Zuo Ji looked at Wu Wang in his new official robes; it would be a lie to say he wasn’t jealous.
That lucrative post should have been his.
’I don’t know what the Emperor was thinking, changing his mind at the last minute and giving this plum job to Wu Wang.’
Zuo Ji was fuming inside.
He laughed, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"My congratulations, Duzhu Wu. Not long after being promoted to Chief Eunuch, you’ve been entrusted with yet another great responsibility by the Saint. Such favor is truly enviable!"
But Wu Wang just smiled faintly, his tone light and breezy.
"I am grateful for the Saint’s profound favor, and also for Eunuch Zuo’s usual care. In the future, we will have to work together to serve the Saint."
Zuo Ji had been rebuffed politely. He grew even more disgruntled, but he knew what was done was done. No amount of anger would help, so he could only flick his sleeves and leave with a dark expression.
...
Half a month later, Hua Manman returned to the city in a carriage.
As she passed through the city gates, she happened to overhear some commoners queuing to enter the city mention the Night Owl Guard.
Those three words were like a key, unlocking memories in Hua Manman’s mind and reminding her of many plot points from *Palace Intrigue*.
In the original text, the Crown Prince launched a rebellion. Although it ended in failure, it was a huge blow to the Emperor, causing a relapse of his heart condition and leaving him bedridden for several months.
To prevent anyone from taking the opportunity to stir up trouble, the Emperor specially created the Night Owl Guard. Ostensibly, it was to make it easier for him to understand the lives and sentiments of the people, but in reality, it was to monitor everyone in the court on his behalf.
The Night Owl Guard was the Emperor’s eyes and ears. When necessary, they would also become the sword in his hand.
For a time, everyone in the court felt they were in peril.
And Wu Wang used his position as the Supervisor of the Night Owl Guard to further solidify his standing by the Emperor’s side.
Hua Manman compared the plot from the original text with reality.
Although the Crown Prince had long been dealt with by Prince Zhao, the rebellion plotline had not disappeared.
It was just that the person leading the rebellion had changed from the Crown Prince to Prince Dongyang.
The process was different, but the outcome was basically the same.
’The plot took a huge detour, yet it’s back on track.’
Hua Manman muttered to herself. ’The Emperor established the Night Owl Guard much earlier than in the original novel.’
She had originally thought the Night Owl Guard wouldn’t appear for at least another year or so.
’This plot is becoming more and more incomprehensible.’
If things continued to follow the original plot, the Emperor’s illness would grow progressively worse until he was beyond cure and passed away.
At that time, Prince Wu Zhang, Li Ying, would produce an imperial edict of succession, declaring that he was the heir to the throne chosen by the Emperor before his death.
Once Li Ying ascended the throne, the power of the Night Owl Guard would expand further, and Wu Wang, its Supervisor, would become a man deeply feared by the entire court and country.
Back when Hua Manman first read this part, aside from being a little worried for the female lead, Hua Qingqing, she hadn’t given it much thought.
After all, dynastic change is a natural cycle. It didn’t matter who became emperor.
But now, things were different.
Hua Manman was now a character in the book, and what’s more, the original owner of her body had been entangled with Li Ying.
Once Li Ying took the throne, her situation would become very awkward.
Furthermore, Li Ji’s existence was also a hidden danger to Li Ying.
After ascending the throne, Li Ying would surely find a way to eliminate Li Ji to remove the threat for good.
Hua Manman muttered under her breath.
"We can’t just sit here and wait to be killed."
Si Yun looked at her in surprise. "Princess Consort, what are you talking about?"
Hua Manman didn’t answer. She was counting on her fingers. In the original novel, about four months after the Emperor established the Night Owl Guard, his condition would suddenly worsen. Then, he would hang on by a thread for another two months, sustained by all sorts of precious medicines, before finally passing away.
’In other words, there are at most six months until the Emperor’s death and Li Ying’s ascension to the throne.’
’Of course, that’s an objective estimate.’
Now that the plot’s pacing had been disrupted, Hua Manman didn’t know if the upcoming events would also be moved up.
’In any case, she was running out of time.’