Ming Zhang could not help but sigh. He had meticulously planned and executed Xu Xinyao’s death, even letting him witness the tragic scene with his own eyes, smoothly planting a seed of suspicion in Yan Yihuan’s heart. Every step had been calculated with precision, and he had watched as Yan Yihuan foolishly walked into the trap.
But the one thing he had not accounted for was precisely this honest and guileless nature of his, and his inexplicable trust in the Emperor, which would so easily shatter his carefully laid plans.
“Ming Zhang-ge, I know I’m not very clever, but I will always repay those who are good to me with my whole heart.” Yan Yihuan looked at Ming Zhang and said each word clearly, “I like you, and I also like the Emperor, so I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings between you.”
“You like me?” Ming Zhang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled until his eyes curved. “Now I see why your fate is so good. With such an open and sincere heart, who could bear to be harsh with you?”
Yan Yihuan felt a bit frustrated. He did not understand why Ming Zhang always changed the subject when he sincerely wanted to talk to him. But someone as perceptive as Ming Zhang could not possibly fail to understand, so what he had said should already be enough.
“But why did you have to appear before him…” Ming Zhang was still smiling, but even under the bright sun, his smile evoked a deep sadness. His low murmur was so soft that even Yan Yihuan, standing close, could not hear it clearly. “If only he hadn’t gone to Linjing back then.”
“Ming Zhang-ge, what are you saying?”
“Nothing.” Ming Zhang’s gaze fell upon the water. In the shimmering reflections, he seemed to be pondering something and slowly said, “You have been serving as Grand Historian for so long. You should have returned to the Hanlin Academy to report on your duties long ago.”
“What?” Yan Yihuan immediately grew nervous. “Do I really have to report on my duties?”
Previously, the Emperor had written part of the historical records for him. After that, everything had been in chaos, and he had not kept proper records. He could not possibly ask the Emperor to write them for him again.
“Don’t worry, it’s just routine procedure.” Ming Zhang smiled gently, but a cold glint flickered in his eyes. “I’ll go with you.”
—
The Emperor hadn’t attended court in a long time. The doors of his bedchamber remained tightly shut, and aside from a few trusted palace attendants, no one knew what was happening inside. Rumors had spread from the court to the common people. Some even claimed that the Emperor had already passed away, and that his death was being concealed to prevent chaos across the realm.
At this point, King Qin could no longer sit still. He knew that King Wei had already mobilized troops, and had been hoping they would clash with the court first so he could reap the benefits.
But if the Emperor truly had died, then if King Wei struck first, he would seize the advantage. Seeing that King Wei’s army was already nearing his territory, whether to fight or not left him in a dilemma.
“Your Highness.” Du Cheng’en stood up. “I believe this matter cannot be ignored. If we remain idle and allow King Wei to enter the capital, it will be too late.”
“Then what should be done in your opinion, my nephew?”
Ever since receiving the letter sent by Du Yunsong, Du Cheng’en had shut himself in his room for a day before coming forward on his own to pledge loyalty. King Qin had initially harbored doubts but then thought that since his father had been of one mind with him, as a son he should understand the stakes. Moreover, with him under his control, it was unlikely he could stir up any trouble.
“I believe King Wei must be engaged in a fight, even if only to disrupt his advance and buy us time.” Du Cheng’en stood before the map and pointed to the route King Wei’s army had to take. “If we do not stop him here, then beyond this point it will no longer be within our control.”
“Cheng’en is right.” King Yan, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke. “The news of the Emperor’s death may be false, but it is clear that the court is already in turmoil. Cui Yan has also become overwhelmed to the point of speaking incoherently. Even so, the Emperor has yet to appear. His serious illness is likely real.”
“But according to the news Xuanjing sent, he shouldn’t have been severely wounded.”
“Xuanjing was only speculating,” King Yan said. “At the time, the Emperor was struck by an arrow while inside the carriage. It’s possible he was gravely injured from the start but deliberately let Xuanjing believe it was only a light wound, all to delay our movements.”
King Qin fell silent for a long time. He understood that whether it was the fear of King Wei seizing the advantage or the fact that he, King Yan, and Du Cheng’en had been stationed here for so long, they could not afford to drag this out any further.
“An opportunity like this won’t come twice. We march!” King Qin turned around. “Cheng’en, you will remain at Changyun Prefecture to contain the Northern Di and prevent them from taking advantage of the situation. Yan Zheng will lead troops to harass King Wei. King Yan and I will command the main army and strike straight for the capital. Yan Zheng will regroup with us afterward to provide support.”
Du Cheng’en wanted to say something more but was stopped by a look from King Yan standing behind King Qin. He immediately cupped his fists and replied in a clear voice, “This subordinate obeys!”
Once King Qin decided to send out troops, he naturally wrote a hurried letter to Li Xuanjing, urging him to leave the capital as soon as possible. At the same time, Li Xuanjing found himself caught in hesitation.
According to Ming Zhang, that arrow had not been immediately fatal. Yet for some reason, the wound refused to heal and had instead begun to fester. The Emperor was already slipping into delirium and might truly not have much time left.
Li Xuanjing should take this chance to leave the capital and lie low, ready to support the Qin and Yan armies at any moment. But just last night, Ming Zhang had suddenly sent word that he would soon find a way to take Yan Yihuan out of the palace, and that would be Li Xuanjing’s best chance to take him away.
But at a time like this, every extra day spent in the capital carried countless dangers. Li Xuanjing felt deeply uneasy, and after much deliberation—
“Your Highness.” The steward knocked and entered. “Everything is prepared. Tomorrow at dawn, as soon as the city gates open, we will leave the city.”
Li Xuanjing nodded, but the steward hesitated before adding, “Just now, someone from Lord Ming went to the shop used for contact and passed along a message saying that in three days, they will bring Third Young Master Yan out of the palace. This…”
“Three days?”
Li Xuanjing froze for a moment, his heart beginning to struggle. His father had set the uprising for tomorrow, and the news could not possibly reach the capital so quickly. Three days should not be a problem. After all, whether out of personal desire or the matter of fate, he was unwilling, deep down, to give up his obsession with Yan Yihuan.
Just three days. Li Xuanjing made his decision in secret. After three days, whether he could take Yihuan away or not, he had to leave.
Yan Yihuan’s unease naturally did not escape Li Xuanming’s notice. Seeing him put on a pitiful expression and say he wanted to go to the Hanlin Academy to report on his duties, his little scheme was obvious without words.
But at a time when he, the Emperor, was still “of uncertain life or death,” Ming Zhang actually had Yan Yihuan go to the Hanlin Academy to report. The matter itself was already unreasonable.
There was something on Ming Zhang’s mind. That much was beyond doubt.
Although it was indeed Li Xuanming who had told him to keep Li Xuanjing in check, many things in between, while Ming Zhang could explain them flawlessly, still carried an air of strangeness.
For now, pretending to be ill and not leaving the bedchamber could indeed mislead those with ill intent, but it was also true that his own movements were restricted.
“No need to go.” Li Xuanming’s brows and eyes carried a trace of coldness. “It’s not safe outside the palace right now.”
Yan Yihuan instinctively wanted to nod in agreement, but the doubts he had been pondering for so long were hard to let go. Unable to hold back, he probed, “Your Majesty, you’ve been staying in the bedchamber and not going out. Are you pretending to be seriously ill?”
So he finally asked.
Li Xuanming had originally not wanted Yan Yihuan to get involved in these matters, but lately he had often tossed and turned in the middle of the night, sighing, clearly overthinking things.
If he did not lay it all out, who knew what else he might imagine. So Li Xuanming suddenly tapped Yan Yihuan’s lowered head.
“Then tell me, why do you think Zhen is doing this?”
