Inside the carriage was like a paradise, while outside was hell on earth.
Fifty assassins stood imposingly around the carriages, their blades gleaming. Their leader glanced at the “weak and elderly” on the carriage and sneered disdainfully, “No need for us to dirty our hands. Just kill yourselves and save us the trouble of cleaning our blades.”
The people on the carriage remained silent for a moment, exchanged glances, and then swiftly descended.
The assassin leader thought to himself, how obedient they were! No crying or panic like ordinary commoners!
However, in the next instant, he saw these compliant people holding strange objects – some wielding blacksmith hammers, others holding long hooks used for roasting pigs, and even some carrying abacuses and cane switches!
“What? Thinking of resisting?!” The leader asked mockingly, then waved his hand and commanded, “Brothers, attack! Let them see what’s faster – our blades or their worthless junk!”
Roars erupted all around as fifty assassins charged forward simultaneously.
Yin Yanzhong sighed, reflecting on how the blind fear no cliff’s height and newborn calves fear no tiger. It’s truly about the clothes making the man – if they were wearing armor, would these wretches dare to charge?
Luo Hao was excited though, having been a law-abiding citizen for so long that he’d almost forgotten the taste of battlefield bloodshed. Though this wasn’t a battlefield, when people came seeking death, they couldn’t refuse to accommodate!
Madam Qiu gently wielded her abacus, kicking away an assassin who rushed at her, and elegantly declared, “Beat them up!”
Thus, the fifty assassins who thought victory was assured were frantically counter-attacked by this group of “weak and elderly.” The person wielding the iron hammer had such tremendous strength that each strike knocked someone unconscious, with dull thuds making nearby people instinctively cover their heads. Those who thought women would be easy targets found that the lady in autumn-colored robes had incredibly powerful kicks – even the strongest men felt chest pain and saw white when struck.
“Foolish wretches, get up and fight with your grandfather! You say grandfather’s hook is worthless junk!”
“Let’s see you talk big now! Let’s see you talk big!”
The leader was dumbfounded, completely unable to comprehend what was happening. The orders from above said there were only twenty-some people, all useless ones – how could fifty of their skilled fighters be unable to defeat them?
Guan Zhi held Ling Shu while watching the excitement from the side, commenting admiringly, “Still sharp as ever, truly impressive!”
Ling Shu frowned, disliking the bloody scene, and buried her head in Guan Zhi’s embrace, refusing to watch anymore.
The assassins suffered heavy losses and finally realized these supposed “ordinary civilians” were not to be trifled with. The cleverer ones had their companions provide cover while they charged toward the Crown Prince’s carriage with drawn blades, planning to thrust inside and finish him!
However, when the curtain was lifted, he met an icy gaze, and then noticed the person’s extraordinary appearance, as beautiful as an immortal – how could someone be so stunning?
In that moment of stupefaction, Yin Gezhi impatiently drew out one hand, sent a flying dagger into his forehead, and kicked him flying away, landing with a “bang” not far off.
Missing one hand covering her ears, Feng Yue was about to complain when that hand swiftly returned, as if nothing had happened, continuing to block out the chaos outside.
Having witnessed this, Guan Zhi sighed, looking at the half-dead assassin at his feet, and said softly, “If you couldn’t even defeat the others, what made you think you could touch those in the carriage? What were you thinking?”
The assassin’s body convulsed, and shortly after, his eyes closed.
Amitabha, hands pressed together, Guan Zhi bowed to the corpse, then continued watching the fighting with enthusiasm.
When Feng Yue awoke, the carriage continued as if nothing had happened.
Sitting up, she asked, “How long until we reach Wei Kingdom’s border?”
Yin Gezhi replied indifferently, “If we travel through the night, we’ll cross the border early tomorrow morning.”
Nodding, Feng Yue lifted the curtain to look at the others. They seemed quite quiet throughout the journey, probably feeling suppressed traveling with the Crown Prince. Should she think of a way to help them relax?
While pondering this, she knelt on the carriage shaft and looked back, and her jaw dropped.
Luo Hao was excited, jumping up and down on top of the carriage. Madam Qiu was singing folk songs while playing with her abacus. The others all wore smiles on their faces.
Shocked by the sight, Feng Yue turned and asked the person in the carriage, “Did they find silver while I was sleeping?”
Yin Gezhi shook his head: “No.”
“Then why are they so happy?”
Looking away, Crown Prince Yin coldly replied, “Perhaps because the weather is nice today.”
Squinting at him, then sticking her head out to look at the gloomy sky, Feng Yue scratched her head, thinking to let them be – surely nothing major had happened, or they would have told her.
The grand procession finally entered Wei Kingdom’s border. Yin Gezhi had sent ahead Wu Kingdom’s diplomatic letter to Li Capital, along with a personal letter inquiring about his father emperor’s health.
When these items reached Li Capital, the Wei Kingdom court was shocked – everyone thought the Crown Prince would hardly return from Wu Kingdom, how had he come back so quickly and unexpectedly, bearing Wu Kingdom’s diplomatic letter?
The Wei Emperor was extremely nervous, simultaneously preparing to welcome the Crown Prince back to the palace while wearing a troubled expression as he went to the Eastern Palace to speak with someone.
“Finally back.” Seeing the character “Li Capital” on the city tower in the distance, Feng Yue smiled and took a deep breath, her eyes showing an indescribable expression.
The others were also emotional – this place they had hastily left three years ago remained as prosperous as ever. They wondered how their old friends who had stayed behind were doing.
“Your Highness,” looking at Yin Gezhi, Feng Yue smiled, “Thank you for your help along the way. After entering the city, we shall part ways.”
Guan Zhi, hearing this from the carriage shaft, frowned. Throughout the journey, the relationship between the two masters had been good, getting along well – parting ways upon arrival seemed too cruel. However… thinking of Feng Yue’s identity that he had learned about on the road, he let out a long sigh.
What could be used to make her stay?
“Do you have a place to stay in Li Capital?” Yin Gezhi asked indifferently, lifting his eyelids slightly.
Feng Yue thought for a moment and said, “I should. People went ahead early to make arrangements, so they must have found a place to stay.”
Gently rubbing his fingers, Yin Gezhi said, “Those people suffered, dragging along a troublemaker like you. It wouldn’t matter if they were recognized, as they bear no crimes. But you’re troublesome – someone who should be dead, yet living well. Once discovered, they would all be implicated for harboring a criminal official.”
Slightly startled, Feng Yue frowned, “I will stay confined in the residence and not go out. Even if I do go out, I will surely disguise myself well and not let anyone recognize me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, yes.”
“…” Closing his eyes briefly, Yin Gezhi grew slightly annoyed and immediately grabbed Feng Yue’s collar, throwing her off the carriage!
“Your Highness is as ungentle as ever!”
Pouting as she stood up, Feng Yue took the luggage Guan Zhi handed over, threw a flirtatious look at Yin Gezhi, and said seductively as if back at their first meeting at Dream Tower, licking her lips, “However, thank you, Your Highness. Until we meet again.”
Yin Gezhi snorted coldly, dropped the curtain, and commanded in a low voice, “Guan Zhi, return to the palace!”
“Yes!”
The carriages departed in two different directions. Feng Yue smiled and squeezed into the carriage beside her, letting out a long sigh of relief: “We’re back. Let’s get settled and proceed according to plan.”
“Alright.” Everyone nodded in agreement.
At the palace gates, civil and military officials and princes and princesses stood in several rows. Upon seeing Yin Gezhi’s carriage, Princess Nanping immediately rushed forward, choking out, “Royal Brother!”
Lifting the curtain, Yin Gezhi slowly descended, reaching out to catch his spoiled sister, then glanced ahead.
“Welcome back, Your Highness!” Everyone bowed, some with clasped hands, others kneeling, except for the one in the middle wearing a silver-gray four-clawed dragon robe, who merely nodded slightly without moving.
Looking at that person’s attire, Yin Gezhi was somewhat confused: “Has the Wei Kingdom appointed a Crown Prince?”
The hand gripping his sleeve tightened, and Nanping quickly whispered, “Father Emperor thought Royal Brother wouldn’t return, so he appointed Second Royal Brother. It just happened not long ago…”
“Royal Brother has had a tiring journey. Whatever needs to be said can wait until after paying respects to Father Emperor,” Yin Chengyue stepped forward and said stiffly.
Yin Gezhi nodded, his eyes showing dark emotions. He nodded to each of the senior officials behind him, then stepped into the long-absent Wei Kingdom palace.
When he decided to follow Yi Guoru back to Wu Kingdom as a hostage, Wei Emperor spoke to him very painfully, saying that even if he left, Wei Kingdom would wait for his return. He would always be his most pride-worthy son, the only prince worthy of residing in the Eastern Palace. No matter how much he loved this throne, sooner or later, he would place this position in his hands.
Yin Gezhi had been moved, after all, Wei Emperor was truly obsessed with imperial power. Not appointing a Crown Prince for so many years was because he didn’t want anyone to legitimately share the power in his hands. Being able to say such words to him showed genuine love.
But now, looking at these strange yet familiar palace halls, watching the person wearing the four-clawed dragon robe walking ahead, Yin Gezhi suddenly understood.
Wei Emperor wasn’t afraid to appoint a Crown Prince; he was afraid to appoint him as Crown Prince. He gave him the Eastern Palace, and let him fight wars, but never shared even a bit of court power with him. Rather than saying he was like a prince, it would be more accurate to say he was like a general – the kind that could only be used by the royal family, unable to gain too much prominence before the emperor willingly shared power.
In an instant, he suddenly understood why so many people would rather follow Guan Feng Yue in displacement than stay in Wei Kingdom continuing to serve the royal family. If even his son was so distrusted, had Father Emperor ever truly trusted anyone else?
“My son!” A trembling voice rang out in the court. Yin Gezhi looked up, finding himself already at the top of the high palace steps, able to see the person sitting on the throne with just a glance.
Wei Emperor’s face was full of kindness as he excitedly rose from the throne, walking down and extending both arms before him, saying, “You’ve finally returned!”