The imperial guards in the Third Prince’s courtyard had all been reassigned—some sent to the frontier, others stationed along the moat to take on important defensive duties. In short, the place had become a complete paradise cut off from the world. Looking around, there was no sign of human presence. Aside from some rare plants and trees, the only things that gave the place any sense of life were the insects hopping about in the grass.
And that once-glorious Wenyang Palace had now returned to its former desolation. The plaque had been removed. With a leap, the Third Prince carved three large characters into it with his sword: Linhan Palace.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed, as if nothing had ever happened. Only now, when the Emperor entered this place, he no longer needed to be formally announced. Everything the master of this place once enjoyed—all his privileges—had been stripped away because of a single painting he had created.
“Lu Jue, you clearly knew that Emperor Hao Lin came here to stir conflict with Yunxi and seize our land. Why did you still give him this opportunity? Is Mu Xueshi really that important to you, that you would disregard all the people of Yunxi for his sake?”
“Father Emperor, whether Xueshi is important to me has nothing to do with my killing Princess Wenyang. Even if I hadn’t killed her, someone else would have done it and framed us. Would that not be even more unjust?”
The Third Prince’s matter-of-fact expression made the Emperor’s face turn livid with anger. He sat heavily in his chair, glaring at him with a fury he had never shown before.
“If that were truly the case, we would have had ways to expose his lies. But by acting as you did, you’ve left no room for reconciliation.”
The Third Prince gave a cold laugh. “Father Emperor, even if Emperor Hao Lin plotted against us and we exposed his lies, he would still find another excuse to force you to cede territory. Reasoning with him is useless. What you should do is completely crush his ambitions.”
“And do you think your actions will crush his ambitions? On the contrary, you’ve helped him achieve them,” the Emperor retorted.
“Father Emperor, only by forcing him to reveal his true intentions and then destroying them can we address the root of the problem. Lubei’s purpose in coming here is to set itself against Yunxi and force us to give up land. They will not stop until they succeed.”
The Emperor sighed, his face full of helplessness. “When I was young, I was just as arrogant and domineering, always thinking of annexing other nations and making Yunxi the strongest empire. After years of war, I finally carved out territory, only to find that our forces had already suffered heavy losses. And the people, living in hardship, felt no pride in that victory. Their lives were miserable—how could they feel any triumph? It took more than a decade of recovery for the people to live somewhat comfortably again. If we stir up conflict once more, how many will end up homeless…”
The Third Prince’s gaze darkened slightly. He replied calmly, “Father Emperor, choosing not to provoke conflict is not the same as refusing to defend against invasion. If other nations have no intention of attacking, then there is no need to strike first. But if they encroach upon the very seat of the Son of Heaven and you continue to compromise, will not your people suffer an even greater cost?”
“He cannot reach the imperial capital. The frontier defenses are tight—far from easy to break through. We can use this time to devise strategies, to outwit Emperor Hao Lin and make him retreat. That is what matters.”
The Third Prince gave a faint, mocking smile.
“Father Emperor, you’ve heard about the cannons, haven’t you?”
The Emperor replied in a low voice, “Of course I have. What, are even you afraid?”
“That’s not the point,” the Third Prince said. “I only wish to remind Father Emperor that you should consider where those cannons came from. When Emperor Hao Lin arrived in the capital a month ago, the troops behind him carried no such weapons. At most, they had spears and blades.”
The Emperor pondered for a moment before saying, “I have my own plans regarding this matter. After this confrontation, I will certainly eliminate certain traitors within. I already have an idea—I’m simply waiting for them to reveal themselves.”
“Father Emperor, I am not telling you to be wary of your subordinates. I am reminding you that weapons can be smuggled into Yunxi. Soldiers can be as well.”
The Emperor’s expression darkened slightly. He walked over to the Third Prince and said earnestly, “Do not be blindly overconfident, nor unnecessarily anxious. Right now, preserving your life is what matters most. Leave everything else to me.”
“Preserve my life?” the Third Prince said with a hint of mockery. “Father Emperor, Emperor Hao Lin has likely already demanded my life. And I suspect… you’ve agreed.”
The Emperor’s face grew solemn. He nodded. “Yes, I agreed—but only to test him. I would never truly gamble with your life.”
“By doing so, you only give Emperor Hao Lin another reason to mock you. If he truly demands that you kill your own son to show sincerity, what will you do?”
The Emperor frowned and replied firmly, “Of course I would have someone die in your place. Do you think I would truly sacrifice my own son over a single demand of his?”
The Third Prince let out a cold laugh. “Father Emperor, do you take Emperor Hao Lin for a fool? If he proposed such a condition, he has already considered that you would not truly let me die. If he exposes your deception, would that not be another act of dishonor on your part?”
“Then what do you suggest?”
The Third Prince answered calmly, “Then let me die.”
“Impossible!” the Emperor roared in fury. “No matter how foolish I may be, I would never push my own flesh and blood into the fire. Everything else can be discussed—but on this matter, I will not yield.”
“That is not what I mean by ‘death,’ Father Emperor…” The Third Prince turned to face him, his expression serious. “If you entrust this matter to me, I guarantee that this life of mine will be exchanged for Yunxi’s future peace.”
The Emperor fell silent for a long while. He paced the room several times before finally stopping at the doorway. In a deep voice, he said, “From this day forward, you are not to step outside this courtyard even half a step. I will station heavy guards here to ensure your safety. As for affairs of the court, I alone am sufficient. You will remain here and reflect.”
Just as the Emperor finished speaking and stepped out the door, the Third Prince’s cold voice sounded from behind him.
“Father Emperor, I predict that before the Shen hour, the Lubei army will have already breached the city gates.”
The Emperor’s expression darkened with anger. His voice carried clear impatience as he replied, “Even if that were the case, it is not something you need concern yourself with. Besides, that will not happen.”
After saying this, the Emperor walked out with a grave expression. Behind him, the Third Prince let out a few cold laughs before withdrawing his gaze.
……
A middle-aged man dressed in coarse linen, his figure somewhat stout, walked down a street and stopped at the entrance of an ordinary residence at a street corner. He glanced around to make sure no one suspicious was following him, then pushed open the door and strode in openly.
Sitting in the main hall was none other than Emperor Hao Lin—the elusive figure General Xiao had spoken of. Clad in a dark black robe and holding an ink-colored folding fan, he sat there calmly, looking like a leisurely nobleman who had just returned from strolling the streets with a bird. His eyes were filled with indifference and laziness, without the slightest hint of urgency.
“The envoy has only just left, and you’ve already arrived. Quite efficient,” Hao Lin said lightly, tapping the table with his fingers as he looked over the plainly dressed Eunuch Li from head to toe.
Eunuch Li forced a smile. “Yes… when His Majesty dismissed me, I thought it best to come and inform Your Highness at once.”
“No need. The envoy has already told me everything. His Majesty has finally resolved to use the Third Prince’s life to repay my imperial sister’s death, hasn’t he? Fine—I have no objections. Tell him not to trouble himself further.”
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Li’s expression shifted slightly. He slowly stepped closer to Hao Lin and asked in a low voice, “Then… what does Your Highness plan to do next?”
Hao Lin glanced at him and replied calmly, “What else is there to do? I’ll wait until he truly kills the Third Prince before deciding.”
Eunuch Li nodded quickly. “That makes sense. Your Highness should not act rashly yet. I believe His Majesty will attempt some trickery. Once it is exposed, it will be much easier to press further demands.”
“As expected of you, Eunuch—you are quite clever,” Hao Lin said faintly, the smile on his face deepening.
Eunuch Li’s eyes suddenly widened. Before he could utter another word, he collapsed to the ground, his face filled with unwillingness.
“His Majesty has already discovered you are a traitor. You are of no further use,” Hao Lin said kindly, as if explaining.
Eunuch Li’s body convulsed briefly, then went still.
After returning, the Emperor’s mind kept replaying the Third Prince’s final words. A faint unease lingered in his heart. Though he repeatedly told himself not to take the Third Prince’s words too seriously, that firm tone still planted a seed of doubt.
In the end, the Emperor summoned General Xiao to Taihe Hall and questioned him carefully.
“How could that be?” General Xiao immediately dismissed the idea. “Your Majesty must be joking. To breach the city gates, one must first cross the moat. To reach the moat, they must first break through the border. Even if they truly entered the border, it would still take several days to reach the moat. How could they possibly break the city gates before the Shen hour?”
The Emperor nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “Are you certain that in recent days no soldiers from Lubei have infiltrated Yunxi?”
General Xiao stood straight, speaking with confidence. “Your Majesty can rest assured. Since Emperor Hao Lin arrived in Yunxi, we have reinforced the border defenses. All personnel leaving or entering are subject to strict inspection. During this time, aside from the grain transport teams dispatched by Your Majesty, no one else has been permitted to pass. Even if one or two slipped through, they would pose no real threat. There is no need for concern.”
“That is good,” the Emperor sighed, then said, “You may withdraw. I will rest for a while.”
General Xiao bowed. “I take my leave. Your Majesty must not overexert yourself—your health is of utmost importance.”
With that, General Xiao’s upright figure disappeared beyond the doors of Taihe Hall. The Emperor leaned back against the dragon throne and slowly closed his eyes.
In a hazy daze, the Emperor drifted into a dream. He saw a scene from years ago—Grand Tutor Mu playing chess with him in court. The Grand Tutor played the qin beautifully; his elegant fingers brushed the strings, producing soft, enchanting melodies.
But gradually, the man lifted his head—and his face changed into that of the Third Prince. The gentleness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp beauty.
The strings of the qin snapped, transforming into a sword. The blade danced in the wind, then slipped from the Third Prince’s hand and shot toward the Emperor. He tried to dodge, but his body would not move. He could only watch as the sword pierced his throat, blood gushing out and staining the Third Prince’s eyes red…
With a start, the Emperor awoke from the throne, drenched in cold sweat.
Outside, a chaotic sound of hurried footsteps suddenly arose. Someone shouted “Your Majesty!” and a figure rushed in.
The Emperor’s body stiffened instantly. His gaze swept toward the guard below, his heart tightening as if he already sensed what had happened.
“Your Majesty—Lubei forces, numbering in the thousands, have suddenly stormed into the capital! They’ve cut their way toward the palace and are now attacking the city gates… the outside is filled with cannon fire… If reinforcements are not dispatched immediately… I fear that soon—”
The Emperor felt as if struck by lightning. His face changed drastically, and for a long moment, he could not recover.
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