The night had grown deep, and atop the southern gate tower of Lin’an City, the patrol garrison soldiers were growing drowsy. Suddenly, two galloping horses emerged from the dark streets, their hoofbeats breaking the silence. The garrison guards on the tower were startled awake. Through the wind and snow, they raised their torches and squinted, soon making out two Imperial Guard soldiers approaching on horseback.

“Why are the Imperial Guards coming at this late hour?”

By the time they finished speaking, the horsemen had reached the base of the tower. The Imperial Guards didn’t dismount but called up to the tower, “Have there been any unusual occurrences at the city gate?”

The patrol garrison captain on night duty stepped forward and replied, “No, none at all. It’s so late, and the gates have been closed for hours. How could there be anything unusual?”

The men on horseback exchanged glances but didn’t immediately leave. The captain called down suspiciously, “Brothers, what’s the matter? Has something happened?”

One of the Imperial Guards explained, “There was a fire in the southern part of the city. Two people died—it’s very likely the Crown Princess. The Deputy Commander sent us to watch the city gates. He suspects the Empress and Crown Prince might try to flee the city tonight…”

Upon hearing that the Crown Princess had been burned to death, all the patrol garrison soldiers were shocked to their core.

The next moment, the two Imperial Guards dismounted and began climbing up to the tower. The captain frowned, about to say something, but seeing their distinguished Imperial Guard uniforms and the official tablets at their waists, he swallowed his words. As they climbed, the guard who had spoken earlier continued, “All four city gates must be strictly guarded. We can’t grow careless just because it’s late. If anyone escapes, our Deputy Commander will face consequences, and none of us subordinates will fare well…”

By then, they had reached the top of the tower. While this was normally patrol garrison territory, and even Prince Rui and Zhao Yu had brought their men up before, it was unprecedented for two mere Imperial Guards to show such disregard for protocol. The captain was displeased but understood they were following orders—partly to supervise, partly to demonstrate authority. After some thought, the captain eagerly offered them a hot water bottle, reasoning that having Imperial Guards present would mean he wouldn’t have to bear responsibility alone if anything went wrong.

With the arrival of the two Imperial Guards, everyone’s drowsiness vanished. However, the wind and snow were too fierce, so except for those stationed on top of the tower, the rest retreated to the barracks below. About half a cup of tea’s time later, two torches suddenly appeared on the pitch-black official road outside the city. The captain was the first to spot them, jumping up in alarm, “Look, what’s that…”

In the dark, snowy night, two torches were approaching the city gate rapidly. The captain’s shout drew all the soldiers on the tower together, and everyone’s hearts pounded with fear. On such a stormy night, whoever was coming couldn’t bring good news. Of course, if they were merely common folk, they would simply be denied entry.

But with the Empress and Crown Prince having fled the palace under suspicion of treason, everyone had an ominous feeling.

“Urgent report! Urgent military report from Yingzhou! Open the gates quickly!”

“We are personal guards of General Luo Xiucheng of Yingzhou, bearing the Golden Feather Arrow! Open the gates immediately!”

The “torches” quickly reached the base of the city gate. Several desperate shouts pierced through the wind and snow to reach those above. The captain led everyone to peer down from the tower, barely making out two young men in scarlet military uniforms. Both had stern expressions, their faces reddened with frostbite from who knows how long they’d been traveling through the storm.

Upon hearing the words “Golden Feather Arrow,” the captain immediately panicked. “Yingzhou?! Why would there suddenly be an urgent report from Yingzhou?!”

One of the Imperial Guards stepped forward, “Luo Xiucheng is the General of Yingzhou. His guards bringing a Golden Feather Arrow must mean something has happened in the north! Open the gates now!”

The captain was already flustered, and after being shouted at like this, he immediately ordered the gates to be opened! Though the gates were opened, the captain remained uneasy. As soon as he descended, two horses rushed in. The captain caught sight of the Golden Feather Arrow, the military’s special symbol for urgent reports that could not be delayed anywhere. The two riders didn’t linger after entering the gates, immediately raising their whips and galloping toward the imperial city.

Everyone watched them rush away, only coming to their senses after the riders had disappeared from view.

“Yingzhou is only a day’s journey from the capital. What could have happened?”

“We heard earlier that Cangzhou was already under Northern Army control. Could it be that they’ve reached Yingzhou in just these few days?”

“No! Impossible! Above Yingzhou are Chongzhou and Fengzhou. If the Northern Army were advancing south, those two places would have sent urgent reports…”

“Could it be… could it be they didn’t have time…”

The crowd below the tower buzzed with discussion. The Northern Army had always been elite troops, fierce and unstoppable. With the Empress and Crown Prince fleeing the palace, it signaled massive changes ahead. Even though no one knew what had happened in Yingzhou, their speculations alone were enough to raise tremendous waves throughout the Great Zhou.

Everyone at the city gate grew increasingly anxious. If the Northern Army had already reached Yingzhou, they would certainly reach Lin’an tomorrow or the day after!

With less than fifty thousand defenders in Lin’an now, how could they possibly resist the Northern Army?!

While the city gate patrol garrison guards were in turmoil, the two soldiers carrying the Golden Feather Arrow had already reached the imperial city.

The arrival of Golden Feather Arrow soldiers in the dead of night was like a thunderbolt, exploding through the snowy night of the capital.

At the same moment, Yan Chi stood alone at the entrance of Prince Gong’s mansion.