Song Jia did not sleep immediately after ending the conversation with Gong Yuhan.
She sat alone inside Courtyard Nine.
On the table lay the copied Imperial index.
One name remained at the center of her attention.
Cui Zhen.
Custodian of the sealed inventory from the Special Preservation Office.
Grandfather of—
Cui Guo.
Song Jia closed her eyes.
Cui Guo had fought beside her.
Not once.
Not twice.
For years.
He had stood in military tents while she planned campaigns.
He had argued with Lei Tai.
Drank with Dai Chen.
Complained about Wen Huo's medicines.
He had once taken a blade meant for another soldier.
General Song Jia had trusted him.
And now—
his family stood directly inside the network surrounding her final battle.
That did not mean Cui Guo had betrayed her.
It did not even mean he knew what his grandfather had done.
But Song Jia could no longer ignore the possibility.
"Crystal."
Her voice was quiet.
Yes, Mistress?
"Find everything I have on Cui Guo."
