As though to confirm Feng Xuanmo’s words, the howling wind and pounding hooves mingled with the snow that had begun to fall, drawing steadily closer.
Only moments earlier, Feng Xuanzhe had looked down arrogantly upon his prey, surrounded on every side like a trapped beast. Yet the tables turned with astonishing speed. The mounted soldiers charging toward them carried either swords or spears, surging forward like a vast net descending from the heavens and leaving no room to breathe. They enclosed the existing formation within several more impenetrable rings. A man accustomed to standing above others might suppress his fleeting astonishment and swiftly recover his composure, but not every soldier under his command possessed the same ability.
The soldiers who had lain in wait for their quarry and believed their master had already achieved victory suddenly panicked at this unexpected reversal. Although they had successfully trapped their prey, they had never imagined that they themselves were also prey caught within someone else’s snare.
“Huo Yan?” Seeing the commander leading the newly arrived troops, astonishment flashed across Feng Xuanzhe’s face. His brows drew faintly together before his expression swiftly returned to perfect calm. He turned toward Feng Xuanmo, whom he still held within his encirclement, and recalled the Crown Prince’s unwavering composure from beginning to end. Understanding gradually dawned within him. “Your Highness is truly capable. I have lost by a single move. However, I advise Your Highness to order these men to withdraw. The army outside the city remains ready for orders. At a single command from me, they will immediately storm the capital. Even if Your Highness manages to lay eyes upon the throne, there will be no meaning in it if you cannot sit upon it.”
“Lost by a single move?” Feng Xuanmo chuckled. “Eldest Brother must be joking. You have lost by far more than one move. As the saying goes, while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole waits behind. I am the ‘cicada’ targeted by everyone, while you are merely the ‘mantis.’ The oriole is still waiting behind you. Neither you nor I has any right to speak here.” Ignoring Feng Xuanzhe’s astonishment, Feng Xuanmo turned his gaze toward the outermost layer of the encirclement. Although he could see nothing through the soldiers, it was as though he had already identified the person waiting there. Raising his voice, he called clearly, “Am I right, Fifth Brother?”
Hearing the commotion behind him, Feng Xuanzhe turned in disbelief. Amid the shifting crowd, a figure slowly approached. His long hair streamed through the air, and he sat upon his horse with heroic grace. Even the carefree smile upon his face appeared so genuine and familiar. The man who had been lounging improperly in Feng Xuanzhe’s residence only moments earlier, joining the other officials in making idle noise, now sat mounted before him. Who else could he be but Feng Xuanzhe’s full younger brother, Feng Xuanyi?
“Fifth Brother… Eighth Brother…” Feng Xuanzhe’s shaken gaze moved repeatedly between Feng Xuanyi and Feng Xuanzhen. Even he could no longer remain completely unmoved or unruffled by the sudden change.
“Eldest Brother. Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Feng Xuanyi cupped his hands in greeting. His manner was casual without appearing disrespectful or irreverent. It was the same gesture he always made, yet with his position, perspective, and state of mind transformed, the frivolity he ordinarily displayed had become an innate imperial majesty.
Feng Xuanzhe pressed his lips tightly together and looked toward Ning Xuan beside him. His face was calm, and even his ink-dark eyes remained silent and undisturbed. Ning Xuan, however, was entirely unable to meet his gaze. He had known this day would eventually come. It had already become inevitable the moment he made his decision and left Prince Rong’s Residence. Yet when it truly became reality, he found himself unable to face it. Feng Xuanzhe was far too intelligent. Even if his shock had prevented him from understanding everything a moment earlier, he could now discern at least part of the truth.
“Fifth Brother, Eighth Brother—what perfect timing.” Feng Xuanmo greeted them with a cheerful smile, completely ignoring the tense situation in which a person might lose his head at any moment. Whether he truly did not care or had simply abandoned all restraint, he continued joking. “I wonder whether the guarantees Eldest Brother offered me just now would also apply under Fifth Brother’s authority?”
“Your Highness is joking. I know more or less how much ability I possess. Your Highness and Eldest Brother hold immense influence at court, capable of gathering countless supporters with a single call. These minor tricks and limited abilities of mine can only intimidate others temporarily. Now that Imperial Father is critically ill, considerable turmoil will inevitably arise within the court. Powerful enemies are watching from beyond our borders, while influential ministers control authority within. Although I respect both of you as my elder brothers and would prefer to show leniency, I dare not gamble with the realm our ancestors fought to establish or the lives of the common people. I ask my elder brothers to forgive this younger brother’s offense.”
His words were logical and complete, overflowing with benevolence and righteousness, yet they could not conceal the cruelty of turning against his own brothers or his ambition to seize the throne.
At those words, Ning Xuan abruptly raised his head and met Feng Xuanyi’s smiling yet utterly frigid gaze in astonishment.
Feng Xuanmo, however, showed no surprise at Feng Xuanyi’s declaration. He merely shrugged indifferently, as though everything had unfolded precisely as he expected.
“Fifth Brother is too modest. Judging by the situation now, neither he nor I possesses even a fraction of your influence at court. As expected, among all our brothers, you are the one with the deepest schemes and greatest ambition. Unfortunately, I underestimated you, while your own full brother misjudged you entirely. Still, I am now extremely curious to see how you intend to deal with your own brother. I would be even more interested in witnessing Her Majesty the Empress’s reaction to your actions, but I suspect I will never have that opportunity.” Although Feng Xuanmo stood at a disadvantage, his playful expression and every word remained deliberately provocative. Watching Feng Xuanyi’s face grow increasingly dark as he spoke brought him a surge of satisfaction.
“Your Highness need not trouble yourself. I will handle it.” Feng Xuanyi’s brows drew together slightly as he swept one hand through the air. Understanding the signal, the soldiers moved into formation and advanced to seize Feng Xuanzhe and Feng Xuanmo.
Feng Xuanmo violently shook them off and flicked his sleeves, his expression and voice both severe, his authority permitting no offense. “Insolence! Imperial Father has not issued a decree deposing the Crown Prince. How dare the likes of you behave presumptuously before me? I can walk on my own.”
Ning Xuan dismounted, stepped forward, and placed himself before Feng Xuanzhe. He swept aside the soldiers approaching to seize him, then raised his head with tightly furrowed brows. His voice seemed almost scattered by the wind and snow. “I told you that I would devote everything I possessed to granting you the military power you desired, while you would grant me my freedom. I ask Your Highness to honor your promise.”
“I told you before: only I can give you what you want.”
“Then please allow us to leave. I promise that I will never appear before you again, and Prince Yi will never pose a threat to your imperial authority.”
“Tsk, tsk. So there was something like this between you as well. Today truly is lively. No matter how I look at it, I appear to have gained the most.” Feng Xuanmo raised a brow, his gaze circling twice among Feng Xuanyi, Feng Xuanzhe, and Ning Xuan, who stood between them. He suddenly smiled. Despite already being another man’s prisoner, he resembled a detached nobleman watching an entertaining performance, observing this unexpected drama with open fascination.
“Step aside. This matter has nothing to do with you.” Feng Xuanyi’s brows drew deeply together. For the first time, the man who always wore a careless, smiling expression before others revealed such a look, startling everyone present.
Everyone except Ning Xuan.
“I ask Your Highness to honor your promise.” Ning Xuan remained firm and resolute, refusing to yield by even the slightest degree. Although something seemed to press heavily upon his chest, making it difficult to breathe and sending darkness repeatedly across his vision, he knew that if he compromised now, the person behind him would never meet a good end.
Feng Xuanyi remained silent, continuing to confront Ning Xuan. As the tension between them intensified toward its breaking point, Feng Xuanzhen, standing behind Feng Xuanyi, sensed that the situation was rapidly turning disastrous.
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