Daxing City. The Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Yang Jing glanced at the gate — Liu Chongxin had been gone for some time. Yet he did not stop immediately. He played out the foolish game alone for another full half-hour, sweating through his hair, and even then, after he finally stopped, he still instinctively glanced at the gate.

Tile-kick.

He found it disgusting himself — a man in his mid-to-late twenties, forcing himself to endure the disgust, calling a eunuch “godfather.”

He had expected to feel rage, to need an outlet. But he felt neither. He walked back to his room with perfect calm, closed the door, and said quietly that he was tired and not to be disturbed. The world behind that door became his world.

Only in these moments was he truly himself.

Yesterday, a man sent by Yuwen Chonghe had come quietly to tell him that Prince Wu’s army would return within half a year at most. And today, Liu Chongxin had come to probe him. A Crown Prince of Great Chu, reduced to cringing before a eunuch.

The man Yuwen Chonghe had sent also said the plan was nearly ready — once the timing of Prince Wu’s army’s return to Jingzhou was confirmed, the plan would begin to unfold.

Prince Wu’s posting to Jizhou had itself been part of the plan.

The plan in its entirety spanned roughly two years. Every step had been drafted by Crown Prince Yang Jing himself — refined down to what each person should do, and even what each person should say. From beginning to end, no more than five people knew the full scope of it. Even Yuwen Chonghe’s two sons did not know the details — they understood only roughly that they were waiting for Prince Wu’s return, and had no idea what that return was meant to accomplish.

Sitting at his writing desk in a kind of trance, Yang Jing’s eyes took on a grief that no one else could understand.

“You seem troubled, Your Highness.”

A figure stepped out from behind the standing screen and looked at Yang Jing’s face.

Yang Jing turned. “You grow more audacious by the day.”

The figure smiled. “Because I’ve come to realize I am quite an important person right now. And if I’m important at this critical juncture — why shouldn’t I be a little audacious?”

And he simply sat himself down next to Yang Jing, propped both feet up on the table, and made himself thoroughly at home, with complete disregard for propriety.

Yang Jing had no reaction. He wasn’t even angry.

“Yao Wuhen,” he said. “You were sent by my royal uncle. Why did you choose to stay at my side?”

“Because killing you held no challenge.”

Yao Wuhen smiled. “A few days ago, when I was about to kill you, you said something to me. You said — how dull it would be to kill the Crown Prince. After all, there are so many people in this world right now who could kill the Crown Prince. One more or one less makes no difference.”

“I thought about it,” Yao Wuhen said, “and found it rather sensible.”

Yang Jing smiled. “You’re a madman too.”

“Not at all,” Yao Wuhen said easily. “Neither are you. Your Highness wants to save Great Chu. I want to become famous.”

“Is fame so important?” Yang Jing asked.

Yao Wuhen shrugged. “That’s a question without much meaning. I could just as easily ask Your Highness — is saving Great Chu so important?”

Yang Jing nodded. “Fair enough. I won’t ask… but I want to know: when Prince Yu sent you to kill me, how much did he pay you? I asked you once before. You didn’t answer.”

“Not much,” Yao Wuhen said. “If it were about money, could Your Highness’s one sentence have changed my mind?”

He stood up and stretched. “I’m going out to enjoy myself for a while. If nothing goes wrong, Your Highness’s plan is about to start. What if I end up dying? Give me money — I’m short.”

Yang Jing gestured toward a chest nearby. “Help yourself. Everything in there was already set aside for you.”

Yao Wuhen nodded, walked over to the chest, then looked back. “What’s the most sought-after name in the pleasure quarters of this capital?”

Yang Jing shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Yao Wuhen asked again: “Then what’s the most expensive establishment?”

Yang Jing shook his head again. “I don’t know.”

Yao Wuhen pursed his lips. “Poor performance. A man in his mid-to-late twenties, interested only in children’s games and entirely indifferent to women.”

Yang Jing’s expression shifted sharply. A moment later, he stood. “Then I’ll go with you.”

Yao Wuhen smiled. “But you can’t compete with me. Even if you’re the Crown Prince.”

“I won’t compete,” Yang Jing said. “I’ll even pay your bill. Whatever you want to eat, I’ll buy. Whatever you want, I’ll give.”

Yao Wuhen raised a thumb. “So you’ll win anyway.”

He looked around the room, then asked Yang Jing: “Have you slept with any of the Eastern Palace serving maids?”

Yang Jing said: “I’d rather not answer that.”

Yao Wuhen sighed. “Your Highness may decline to answer, but you’d be wise to ask around first — which serving maid is not available tonight to attend you. If you suddenly show up at a pleasure house, Liu Chongxin will grow suspicious.”

Yang Jing was quiet a moment, then said to Yao Wuhen: “If you weren’t an assassin, you’d make an excellent strategist.”

“Tedious,” Yao Wuhen said.

—

One hour later. The Imperial Palace.

Liu Chongxin was in the middle of a meal when a subordinate reported that the Crown Prince had left with a few attendants for a pleasure house. This gave him a start.

The Crown Prince, for all his childishness, was the opposite of his father in this one respect. The Emperor was consumed by women; the Crown Prince had no interest in them whatsoever. He had not selected a Crown Princess to this day — a serious breach of propriety, yet one the reigning Emperor did not concern himself with, so propriety had ceased to matter.

“Why has he suddenly gone to a pleasure house?” Liu Chongxin asked.

A subordinate bent and murmured a few words in his ear. Liu Chongxin gave a small sound of acknowledgment. “Have people watch him. If His Highness enjoys playing, let him play. Once he’s Emperor, he can’t go on playing like this. Our Emperor has played a lifetime — he cannot do the same. Great Chu would be played into oblivion.”

He waved a hand. “Go. Don’t disturb my meal.”

—

Jizhou City. Prince Yu’s Estate.

Military Governor Zeng Ling came in at a quick pace, bowed before Prince Yu, and said: “Your Highness, something urgent has happened — I was in the middle of investigating the Jizhou Prefecture jail affair when I heard you had summoned me. I came as quickly as I could.”

Prince Yu said: “Just now, my royal brother sent word in haste. He says the imperial edict has arrived — His Majesty commands him to return to the capital at once with his army. But the Black Wu forces have only just withdrawn and haven’t fully retreated. My brother is worried that if the Left Guard Army pulls out, there will be no one to hold Daizhou Pass.”

“Prince Wu’s meaning is that the Jizhou forces should go?” Zeng Ling asked.

Prince Yu shook his head. “I don’t want to send Jizhou forces.”

Zeng Ling said: “If Prince Wu’s army returns to the capital, Your Highness will indeed need a large force ready here to prepare for your own campaign. Dividing our troops at this stage is very unwise. But if we send no one, Prince Wu won’t easily abandon the frontier…”

“That’s why I asked you back,” Prince Yu said. “I want to discuss this with you. See if you can first dispatch a few thousand men — call them a vanguard — and once they arrive, let my brother set out. Then you send someone to find Yu Chaozong. Tell him I need him to post men at Daizhou Pass.”

Zeng Ling thought for a moment, and his eyes brightened.

“A brilliant move, Your Highness. Yu Chaozong already shows signs of insubordination — and his forces are strong and well-supplied. Moving against him before he acts would not be practical. Better to have him divide his men to hold Daizhou Pass — and keep him watching Xinzhou Pass as well, in addition to Yanshan Camp. With his forces split three ways, he ceases to be a threat.”

Prince Yu smiled slightly. “Since he doesn’t want to follow me, I’ll let him guard my rear for the time being. A stable rear means I can lead an army south. Yu Chaozong wants the name of a righteous man — I’ll give it to him.”

He looked at Zeng Ling. “Go to Youzhou again.”

Zeng Ling understood immediately and bowed. “I’ll leave tomorrow. I must get a firm commitment from Luo Geng. If his cavalry is willing to march south with Your Highness, great things can be accomplished.”

“Yu Chaozong at my back,” Prince Yu said, “Luo Geng before me, and you holding the center…”

He rose and began to pace. “I almost feel like I could just sit here and let things unfold.”

Zeng Ling sensed something unsaid in those words. He bowed. “Your Highness, when I return from Youzhou, I’ll continue investigating the Jizhou Prefecture jail affair. I will get to the bottom of it.”

“Never mind that,” Prince Yu said. “Do you really think I care about a few Western Regions barbarians? I gave them face because they’re the Yuwen family’s dogs.”

He looked at Zeng Ling. “Just go to Youzhou. You needn’t concern yourself with anything else.”

Zeng Ling acknowledged this promptly, but as he left, something nagged at him. There was no real reason for the Prince to send someone of his stature — a Military Governor — to meet with Luo Geng personally. It would have been simpler to summon Luo Geng to Jizhou.

If Luo Geng agreed, all would go smoothly. If he refused, they could detain him in Jizhou and let his son lead the troops to come and see them.

But if Zeng Ling himself went to Youzhou, and Luo Geng refused to leave his own stronghold — what leverage would that give them?

Something clicked.

After leaving Prince Yu’s estate, Zeng Ling gave a quiet instruction to his attendant from the carriage: “Send someone discreetly to find Jiang Ran. Tell him — if he can run, run. If he can’t run, hide. The Prince is likely about to move against him.”

His attendant was stunned. “But Governor, the Prince has no reason to move against General Jiang.”

Zeng Ling sighed. “What do you know. The Prince never liked him — if not for my intercession, Jiang Ran would have died once already. Now the Prince needs to rely on the Yuwen family. Jing Yanli is the Yuwen family’s dog. Jing Yanli wants Jiang Ran dead. The Prince will stand with Jing Yanli.”

His attendant exhaled. *What has the world come to.*

Half an hour later, Zeng Ling’s man entered Jiang Ran’s home through the back gate, delivered his message, and left in haste.

Jiang Ran sat down heavily in a chair, face drained of color. Only one thought moved through his mind — if it was Prince Yu who wanted him dead, where could he possibly run? The Prince had surely already given the order. He likely couldn’t even get out of Jizhou.

“I refuse to accept this!”

Jiang Ran suddenly stood up. His eyes had gone slightly red.

He raised a hand. “Everyone — pack up. Escort my wife and son out of the city. If anyone tries to stop you, come back. If no one stops you, go.”

He said loudly: “You all go too. I’ll stay here alone.”

Jiang Ran had commanded soldiers in his time. The fighting spirit in his bones was still there. He strode out to the door, pulled his favored long pike down from the weapons rack, and called for his men to bring his armor.

His wife and children wept and pleaded — but he hardened his heart and sent them all away. An hour passed with no one returning. Jiang Ran understood: the Prince wanted only his death, nothing more — one life to give that Western Regions barbarian his satisfaction.

He donned his iron armor and took up his long pike.

Then Jiang Ran pulled a stool into the center of the courtyard and sat down — pike in his right hand, a roasted chicken in his left. He ate the chicken and waited for dark.

Either way, just the one death. He would take as many of them with him as he could.

—