Seeing the Crown Prince’s corpse, Xie Yanfang was not greatly shocked.

The shock had been completely spent the moment he heard the news.

And he never harbored unrealistic hopes—such as it being an accident, a false rumor, merely serious injuries, or that there was still a breath of life remaining.

“Young Master.” The palace maid wailed sorrowfully, kneeling on the ground and clutching at his sleeve. “Miss, Miss—”

Xie Yanfang’s gaze shifted from the Crown Prince’s body and fell upon the Crown Princess lying beside him.

The Crown Princess’s clothes were completely stained red with blood, and she was breathing violently, like a fish thrown onto the shore.

She was still alive, but would soon die.

An arrow had pierced through her neck.

She should have died on the spot, but was clinging to that final breath, refusing to let go.

“A, A’fang—” She made a hoarse, muffled, gasping sound.

The palace maid knelt on the ground crying: “—struck by a stray arrow, this servant is useless, this servant is useless—”

Xie Yanfang neither blamed nor scolded her, and paid the maid no mind. He knelt down and grasped the Crown Princess’s hand: “Elder Sister, I’m here.”

The Crown Princess’s hand gripped his tightly, her nails digging into the flesh of his palm: “Yu, Yu—”

“Yu’er has me.” Xie Yanfang said, “Even if you and the Crown Prince are gone, Yu’er will inherit everything.”

Having received this promise, the Crown Princess released her final breath, her body going limp as she closed her eyes.

Xie Yanfang bent down, placing his head against the Crown Princess’s hand: “Elder Sister, you did not live in vain. Even in death you will live on forever, and the Xie clan will forever be the Xie clan.”

The palace maid on the ground cried until she nearly fainted, then in the next moment was yanked up by Xie Yanfang.

“Where is the Young Prince?” he asked.

The maid held back her tears, forcing herself to calm down so she could express herself clearly.

“As soon as the Crown Prince met with disaster, Eunuch Qi said he had to take the Young Prince away immediately.” She recalled the scene from that time, closing her eyes—it was too terrifying, and even now her mind was completely blank thinking back on it—

His Highness the Crown Prince, how, how could he just die?

She panted urgently, tears streaming out.

What was even more terrifying were Eunuch Qi’s words, saying that with the Crown Prince dead, the Young Prince would be in danger, and he absolutely had to take the Young Prince away.

The Crown Princess had been extremely calm at that time, asking no questions and shedding no tears. She picked up the still-sleeping Young Prince and thrust him into Eunuch Qi’s arms.

“Mother—” The Young Prince had been completely bewildered at the time, calling out to the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess kissed the Young Prince’s face forcefully, leaving purple-red marks where she pressed her lips.

“Yu’er, Yu’er, go quickly, go quickly.” The Crown Princess finally let go reluctantly.

The Young Prince probably guessed what was happening. Looking at the Crown Princess, tears streamed down like rain, but he did not make a fuss.

Eunuch Qi, wearing a large cloak, concealed the Young Prince in his embrace and raced away swiftly.

Just after they left, many black-clothed men appeared at the hunting grounds. Arrows fell like rain, killing everyone they saw.

The palace maid collapsed to the ground again, crying too hard to continue.

This truly was a nightmare-like scene, and this nightmare would never end.

Fortunately, the Young Prince had left in time—thank heaven and earth.

But when she finished speaking, the others standing in the room did not feel thankful. Du Qi even let out a low cry of “This is bad.”

The maid raised her head to see Xie Yanfang’s face turn even paler than before.

Xie Yanfang said: “The Imperial City is more dangerous.”

Since the Third Prince intended to move against the Crown Prince, he would certainly block all messages. The Imperial City must have heavy troops lying in ambush. Going to the Imperial City at this moment would be walking straight to death.

Moreover—

“This matter is not the work of the Third Prince alone.” he said.

The Third Prince had not yet arrived, but the Crown Prince was already dead. The Third Prince claimed it was his people who did it, but if it really were his people, why would he need to come in person?

To eliminate all threats completely?

Then he need only guard the capital and wait for them to walk into the trap.

Someone else had entered the fray tonight!

Xie Yanfang closed his eyes. If his expectations were correct, it should be Prince Zhongshan—

“Yanlai is in the Imperial City.” Du Qi struggled to say. “We can’t expect him to repel the enemy, but as long as he can fight with his life to take the Young Prince away—”

Hearing this, Xie Yanfang laughed, looking at Du Qi.

He said nothing.

Du Qi couldn’t continue on his own.

How was this possible? Xie Yanlai was just one person, while the Third Prince’s forces in the Imperial City—the first people they would eliminate would be the Crown Prince’s men—

Xie Yanlai was probably already dead by now.

Furthermore, there was still the great gate of the capital. It was already difficult for them to fight their way out, and even harder to fight their way in.

Perhaps they should never have come here originally, but should have recaptured the city gates and held their ground without moving.

Truly, heaven intends to destroy the Xie clan—

Sensing the stagnant atmosphere in the tent, the palace maid spoke again: “Young Master, Eunuch Qi did not take the Young Prince to the Imperial City.”

Not there? Xie Yanfang was startled and looked at the maid. Naturally, Eunuch Qi had also guessed that the Imperial City was dangerous, so he took the Young Prince into hiding?

But where in the capital was there still a place that could protect the Young Prince? Outside the Yang household, the Xie household, and the residences of important court officials and powerful families, assassins must surely be lurking. When they left the city, killing had already begun within.

“It’s Chu, Chu—” The maid was somewhat nervous and momentarily couldn’t recall the name. Fortunately, there was another name that was quite famous, one she had heard often these past days. “Chu Zhao’s home.”

Xie Yanfang was astonished. He hadn’t expected to hear this girl’s name at such a time. Many thoughts spun chaotically through his mind in an instant: “Her?”

“Her father, Chu Zhao’s father.” The maid hastily explained. “Eunuch Qi said that the only one who could protect the Young Prince was him.”

Chu Ling?

Xie Yanfang knew that Chu Ling was no ordinary person, but this single statement from Eunuch Qi carried extraordinary implications.

The one who could protect the Young Prince was actually Chu Ling?

Why?

The maid didn’t know. The situation had been too urgent at the time. Eunuch Qi had only said this much to the Crown Princess, asking her to trust him.

What choice did the Crown Princess have? At that moment, whether she believed or not, she had to believe.

Du Qi found it difficult to understand: “Even if Chu Ling is the only person His Majesty trusts, he’s far away at the border commandery. How would taking the Young Prince to his house help?”

The Chu family had nothing—no men, no prestige. Their residence wasn’t even as secure as the Xie residence.

Could it be that they thought being completely inconspicuous made it better for hiding?

Du Qi’s head ached from thinking.

Xie Yanfang raised his hand to interrupt him: “Don’t think about it anymore.”

He looked toward the direction of the capital.

“Keep the Third Prince’s death a secret! Continue to proclaim that the Crown Prince is dead!”

Although concealing the Third Prince’s death would allow his forces to continue their rampage, it would also make Prince Zhongshan’s people wary.

From now on, plotting, calculating, guessing, and deducing were all illusions. Only blades and blood were real.

His Xie clan must carve out a path with blood.

“Kill our way to the capital!”

……

……

The Chu garden was dark as thick ink, without a single point of lamplight visible.

But looking through the gaps in the artificial mountain, one could see patches of orange-red rising into the distant night sky. Those were flames burning. Crying and shouting drifted on the night wind.

Everything appeared illusory, yet it was all real.

Chu Zhao closed her eyes.

“Miss.” A’Le came hurrying from the darkness. “Seven or eight more people have been let in. They’re all hiding in the garden now.”

Chu Zhao nodded: “Tell the gatekeeper to listen carefully. If there are still people calling for help, remember to open the gate.” She paused here. “But, act within your capabilities.”

A’Le understood in her heart what “act within your capabilities” meant. Right now there were panicked civilians running about seeking help, able to enter the high-walled compound to hide. If they were merely seeking shelter, they could be let in, but if they were being pursued and crying for their lives to be saved, they couldn’t open the gates without regard—

In that case, everyone in the Chu residence would face danger.

This was a painful choice with no alternative. A’Le clenched her hands.

“Miss, I’ll personally guard by the gate.”

She would make this painful choice.

Chu Zhao grasped A’Le’s hand, making her relax: “It shouldn’t be too severe.”

She looked toward the night outside.

Compared to her previous life, the disturbance was much smaller.

But this matter had still happened.

Chu Zhao felt somewhat melancholy. This also meant that something had happened on the Crown Prince’s side as well.