It was one thing for the Second and Fourth Princes to have trouble, but how had the Eleventh Prince disappeared too?

The Eleventh Prince was just a gambling addict—why would anyone target him?

It was fine to target him, but why drag the Great Prince into it again?

The Eleventh Prince often secretly ran out to gamble. After he went missing, his birth mother also thought he had gone gambling. She sent people to search, and after searching high and low, they said the last person seen with the Eleventh Prince was him. And it seemed there had been a conflict too.

Well, the matter had circled back to him again.

The Great Prince silently took a sip of wine.

What “last person with the Eleventh Prince”!

That day he had clearly been handling affairs in the inner study, delayed by some matter, and returned a bit late. He encountered the Eleventh Prince at the palace gates, who asked to borrow money from him. He was disgusted by his lack of ambition and put on his elder brother’s airs to scold him a few times.

His voice was a bit loud, and the palace gate guards nearby heard it.

On any ordinary day, this would have been nothing.

But then the Eleventh Prince disappeared again.

The Great Prince numbly took another drink.

He had worn one suspect’s hat after another.

Was his head particularly large?

If he hadn’t been repeatedly suspected and placed in such an awkward position, why would he have voluntarily requested from his father king to leave his warm palace and come inspect the borders in this harsh winter?

Guard Xue’s eyelid twitched, and after a long moment he said, “I fear it’s more danger than fortune.”

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone shivered.

The Great Prince was silent for a long moment, then asked, “Then who do you think is scheming behind the scenes?”

Guard Xue was an old follower of many years, so they spoke without much restraint. He pondered, “Whoever benefits most is the one. It must be among the Great King’s sons.”

“So they think it’s me, but obviously I’m being targeted.” Murong Jun smiled bitterly. “Once or twice might be possible, but every single time it’s me—doesn’t Father King find that strange?”

The advisor who had remained silent all along sighed, “You’re wrong. If solid evidence all pointed to you, the Great King might be puzzled, but with things as they are now—seemingly there yet not, seemingly true yet false—the Great King is even more convinced you have problems.”

Murong Jun thought about it and felt utterly dejected.

Human nature was like this—when a thousand fingers pointed accusingly, one might think there could still be hidden circumstances. But if one personally investigated and found unclear threads of evidence, one would trust one’s own judgment even more.

“Let me find out who it is, and I’ll tear his skin off!” Murong Jun lifted the curtain to look at the fighting outside. His people had already surrounded those bandits and were driving them aside. Safety was clearly no problem, so he relaxedly let down the curtain and said, “Do you think it’s Third Brother? He’s skilled in martial arts, and those military generals all like him very much.”

“The Third Prince is honest and simple by nature—he couldn’t do such things.”

“Fifth Brother?”

“The Fifth Prince has no maternal family support and is weak-willed by nature. He shouldn’t have such courage.”

“Seventh Brother?” Murong Jun shook his head himself. “Seventh Brother is a cripple—why would he compete for these things?”

“What about the Twelfth? His birth mother is newly favored.”

“A country girl whose family doesn’t even have three rooms—what can new favor accomplish? Can it give him people or money? To do such things requires both money and people, otherwise it’s impossible.”

“The Fifteenth Prince studies very well…”

“A sour scholar, instigated by some sour pedants, wanting to take the virtuous prince route, respecting literature and valuing scholars, thinking this way he can win the world’s hearts… He doesn’t consider that in Liaodong, reading a few more books isn’t as useful as raising a few more soldiers!”

“The Seventeenth Prince—his mother is clever…”

“No good, no good. His mother being clever and well-born is useless—the Seventeenth Prince is just a coward…”

“What about the Eighteenth Prince?”

The carriage suddenly fell silent.

Then Murong Jun burst into laughter.

“If it’s really him, I’ll cut off my head for you!”

The other two also began laughing.

Indeed.

They had mentioned all those princes before, each with reasons why they couldn’t succeed.

If none of them could succeed, the Eighteenth Prince was even more impossible.

No money, no soldiers, no favor, no literati support, no military generals’ regard, no maternal family backing, a mother who dragged him down, and he himself was despised for cross-dressing as a woman.

Such terrible circumstances—it was like concentrating every possible disadvantage.

Even after going through the first seventeen, it wouldn’t be his turn.

Not to mention that though he saved the Great King last time, he fell seriously ill after returning to Liaodong and was still recuperating.

This matter made everyone sigh inwardly—finally achieving merit to catch the Great King’s eye, then falling ill again. Truly no such fate!

Murong Jun leaned heavily back and exhaled a long breath.

Looking around, none seemed likely, but without finding this person, he would never have peace.

However, as long as the bait was fragrant enough, the fish would eventually take the hook.

He lifted the carriage curtain and discreetly glanced back at the vast official road behind.

Suddenly his peripheral vision caught flying snow from the roadside forest, splashing toward them.

Cold light flickered within the flying snow. Murong Jun was startled and immediately dropped the curtain, fastening it to the side.

Patter, patter—something splashed against the now-taut curtain. Then came a series of hissing sounds as the curtain shook. Murong Jun had dodged quickly, and turning his head, he saw several small holes appear in the curtain, faintly revealing traces of blue-cold light.

This carriage curtain was made of specially treated animal hide, warm and capable of blocking blades and swords, yet these needle-like hidden weapons had managed to penetrate it.

If Murong Jun hadn’t retreated in time, those needle points would have pierced his nose.

His expression changed slightly as he shot to his feet, but then light flooded overhead with a bang.

The carriage roof had been torn off!

Then came another flash—cold sword light, this time aimed at his crown.

Without thinking, Murong Jun raised his hand to block.

Clang! Sparks flew everywhere. The sharp blade failed to sever his arm and instead struck something hard.

Murong Jun withdrew his arm, feeling his entire arm numb and tingling. His face remained expressionless as he inwardly thanked his daily training in the martial grounds and secretly thanked his father king for the steel arm guards. He reached under the carriage cushion to draw a blade and strike back.

His guard captain had already sprung up, silently embracing the assassin overhead by the neck.

That person faced two opponents without fear, parrying Murong Jun’s blade with a backhand stroke while dodging Guard Xue with a head movement. Like a swimming fish, he was about to slip into the carriage, his hand spreading a sheet of cold light that swept toward Murong Jun’s ankles.

But at this moment, the seemingly frail advisor sitting to one side suddenly looked up.

Brilliant light shot from his small eyes.

The wine cup in his hand flew out in a crystal arc. Clang! That sheet of cold light was knocked away.

He sprang up in the carriage like a cat, hands spreading like withered trees. With several clicking sounds, he had climbed onto the assassin’s ankle.

Murong Jun laughed loudly, “Mere bandits dare to come cause trouble!”

The advisor was about to lock pressure points when suddenly a great force came from above, forcibly pulling the trapped assassin out.

The advisor and guard leaped onto the carriage roof to pursue, but suddenly arrows whistled densely, raining down.

The two men quickly ducked their heads in alarm.

Watching the two fleeing figures face the arrow rain, their bodies shuddered as their snow-white clothes were immediately stained red.

Though hit by arrows, those two didn’t slow their steps. While running, they sent signals, and the other bandits engaged in fierce battle immediately withdrew and turned to flee into the mountains.

From down the road came a stern voice: “Xining Border Army on road patrol! What bandits dare waylay travelers in broad daylight!”

Before the words finished, over ten riders caught up, pursuing that group into the forest. Sounds of battle cries arose, and Murong Jun and his party listened with considerable satisfaction.

Guard Xue said, “The Xining Army finally arrived.”

Murong Jun said, “Still came late. If I hadn’t been prepared, we might have fallen for that later person’s trap.”

The advisor said, “Does Your Highness plan to reveal your identity to them? That would provide better protection.”

“No need,” the Great Prince said. “The Xining Border Army commander is Liang Shiyi—whose relative he is, you surely know. If I reveal my identity now and this group spreads word back, then I won’t be able to see anything. Better to go with them to the military camp—we’ll have soldiers’ protection and can observe along the way.”

Both agreed this was wise.

The battle cries in the forest gradually lessened. After a while, Murong Jun saw several fierce men carrying blood-stained heads back to report to the officer who looked like a squad leader. That person waved his hand, and the men threw the heads into a nearby mountain ravine.

The squad leader dismounted and walked toward the convoy, followed by several soldiers.

Murong Jun quickly got out of his carriage. At thirty-five, he was tall and martial-looking, wearing a blue-based silk robe with continuous swastika patterns—he looked like a traveling merchant who knew some martial arts.

This was indeed the role he was playing. He stepped forward with a smile to thank the Xining Army for their assistance, claiming he and his party were going to Xining to visit relatives while trading some northern furs, planning to do business with the south afterward.

Liaodong people called Great Qian “the south.” Usually in autumn and winter, they often traded furs, animal oils, and iron implements with Great Qian for porcelain, cosmetics, and other refined goods that women liked.

The squad leader identified himself as a soldier from the South Camp of Zhuma Fort under Commander Liang of Xining Pass, and told Murong Jun, “Your plans this year will come to nothing—the border is now sealed, and traveling merchants have all been sent back.”

Murong Jun naturally knew this, so he said they still needed to visit relatives. The advisor beside him handed over a heavy money pouch, requesting the military officers to give them a ride.

Seeing the money, the squad leader’s eyes crinkled with smiles. He grasped it tightly, then pushed it back, saying, “Helping fellow travelers is nothing special. Our Commander Liang maintains strict military discipline…”

The advisor pushed it back with a smile, “Just to buy everyone a hot meal.”

Only then did the squad leader close his fist around it.

Murong Jun watched this behavior with both disdain and relief.

So-called strict military discipline was just surface show. This showed that Liang Shiyi’s troops were just like that.

The troops directly commanded by the Great King in Ruzhou would never be so greasy.

The squad leader’s attitude improved greatly after receiving the silver. He told them this trip involved both road patrol and snow-clearing duties, as important people were coming recently.

He beckoned, and over ten men came forward with brooms and shovels to clear the road. Murong Jun also had his guards help, everyone working together with laughter and good fellowship.

Soon the road was cleaned, and everyone had become more familiar. Watching those people’s behavior and habits that were indeed military regulations, Murong Jun gradually relaxed his guard and chatted through the carriage window.

After finishing, everyone got into carriages or mounted horses to travel together.

The official road gradually returned to quiet.

The snow on the ground was neatly piled to one side.

Several white-clothed figures emerged from the forest, their clothes bloodstained but walking calmly. One walked while dipping his finger in the red substance on his body, muttering, “Such a pity about the good sugar syrup…”

Someone walked to the snowy ravine and picked up those discarded “heads,” patting off the snow, tearing off a piece, and stuffing it in his mouth to chew heartily.

The others also laughed and scrambled for those “heads,” noisily arguing that the master had personally baked good dough balls with dates inside—don’t hoard them all, give them a piece too.

In no time, the “dismembered corpses” were completely consumed. Everyone brushed crumbs from their hands, tramped the red sugar syrup into the soil, and followed the clear tracks on the official road forward.

The official road returned to silence once more.

Wind and snow rose again at some unknown time, the world becoming misty.

In the misty world, far on the horizon, another long, faint line of shadows appeared.

…

After traveling toward Xining for another two or three days, they were almost at Liang Shiyi’s main camp at Xining Pass.

The two groups had developed good camaraderie over these days. Initially when finding inns they still slept separately—Murong Jun’s group stayed in the inn’s upper rooms while the penniless common soldiers forced the innkeeper to open several ordinary rooms where they squeezed together stinking.

But that inn turned out to be a black shop with leg hair found in human meat buns. Murong Jun and his subordinates vomited violently. The innkeeper roared and overturned tables, not even getting his double axes out before those soldiers rushed in.

After that day, when staying overnight again, Murong Jun invited the others to stay in upper rooms.

Starting the second day, eating separately also became eating together.

Because they missed lodging and the Liaodong border was desolate, the soldiers found a suitable cave in a sheltered valley and hunted game on the spot, roasting it at the cave entrance.

One small-bearded man in the group was skilled at roasting meat—the aroma was irresistible to anyone.

Murong Jun normally didn’t eat such wild food, but how could dry rations compare to hot, fragrant roasted meat? When invited, his guards accepted with smiles, testing with silver needles for poison before giving it to him. One bite and he was conquered.

Afterward they ate together, practically becoming one family.

At this moment in the wind and snow, Squad Leader Zhong waved his whip and said to him, “Brother Jun, look—we’ve reached Commander Liang’s territory. It’s no more than twenty li to the main camp. It’s late today, so let’s rest first. Tomorrow this brother will accompany you the last stretch, and after that we’ll part ways.”

“Thank you, brother, for your care along the way,” Murong Jun said with a smile. “But whether we must part ways remains to be seen.”

Over these days, he had come to secretly admire this group. Though they were somewhat greedy and fond of eating, in advance scouting, travel security, and individual martial prowess and stamina, they were comparable to elite troops from Ruzhou’s three great camps. He had developed thoughts of recruiting talent.

He’d speak with Liang Shiyi later about transferring this group to serve as his personal guards. Liang Shiyi surely wouldn’t begrudge a group of ordinary soldiers, and these men, suddenly receiving such an opportunity, would definitely be overjoyed and grateful.

Especially he wanted to take that small-bearded man.

He roasted excellent meat.

Though he was rather lazy—dawdling when others cleaned, sleeping soundly when others stood watch, with a full beard extending to behind his ears that he never trimmed, getting up in the morning and simply grabbing snow to wipe his face.

It was said he was originally a mess cook who accidentally achieved military merit, and because his cooking skills weren’t bad, everyone didn’t argue with him.

Murong Jun imagined everyone’s shocked and respectful expressions when they discovered his identity, and felt quite pleased.

He went to sleep in this good mood, drinking a bowl of hot roe deer meat and dried vegetable soup before bed.

The delicious soup was fragrant going down, and even in his dreams he carried a slight smile.

After this inspection tour ended, with all his hardships along the way, Father King should resolve his misunderstandings, right?

Before sleeping he sent his guards to the main camp to report. Now that they’d entered Xining, proper ceremony should be arranged—Liang Shiyi should come personally to pay respects.

He had a good night’s dream.

In his drowsiness he suddenly heard urgent hoofbeats accompanied by someone loudly saying, “Commander Liang personally leads troops to welcome the Great Prince!”

Murong Jun woke with a start, opening his eyes to see dawn breaking dimly. He tried to get up but found his whole body weak and soft—he couldn’t even move his fingers.

Bang! The door was crashed open. Squad Leader Zhong, who had been calling him brother these past days, strode in. His heart filled with joy as he called hoarsely, “Brother Zhong, quickly help me up…”

The door stood wide open, and he could vaguely see behind Squad Leader Zhong were fully equipped Xining troops, led by a man of short stature with a square, rigid face—precisely Xining Army Commander Liang Shiyi.

Liang Shiyi stepped into the courtyard, seeing soldiers guarding under the eaves turning to push the door. Thinking these were the Great Prince’s personal guards, he stepped forward to announce himself, but heard that soldier shout loudly, “Commander, if we don’t kill now, when will we wait!”

Murong Jun was stunned.

Commander Liang was shocked.

Before either could react,

A blade light suddenly flared in the room.

That blade light was like flowing silk, instantly reaching Murong Jun’s head.

Murong Jun’s pupils dilated as he screamed hoarsely, “Wait, I am Murong—”

Liang Shiyi’s eyes contracted as he shouted sternly, “Who are you? Stop—”

Simultaneously a figure flew from the rooftop, smashing through the roof and jumping down.

But regardless of any commotion, the blade light didn’t stop.

Like an inverted snowy cascade,

It illuminated Murong Jun’s face, eyes wide with rage.

“Slash”—a soft sound.

That fine head was neatly severed.

Now it was Liang Shiyi whose eyes were wide with rage.

Right under his nose, before his very face, someone had killed the heir with the loudest voice in Liaodong!

How would he explain this to the Great King!

Cold wind struck his face as Liang Shiyi felt ice-cold all over. His advisor was very quick-witted, suddenly grabbing his sleeve and urgently saying, “Commander, leave quickly! Otherwise, in such suspicious circumstances, it will be difficult to clear yourself!”

Liang Shiyi started in alarm, shouting sternly “Someone go chase that assassin!” while turning to leave.

But bang!—the courtyard gate was crashed open as Murong Jun’s guards rushed in, almost colliding with Liang Shiyi.

Guard Xue looked up, saw the scene inside the room, and his face went deathly pale. Instinctively he moved to block Liang Shiyi.

“Commander Liang!” His heart filled with despair as he said hoarsely, “Are you planning rebellion!”

Liang Shiyi had been furious, but now being blocked and questioned, his eyes suddenly turned cold.

Guard Xue felt his heart grow cold under such a gaze.

The advisor behind Liang Shiyi said quietly, “Commander, things have come to this…”

Things had come to this—in for a penny, in for a pound.

The misunderstanding was established. Not only would it be impossible to explain clearly, but even if it could be explained, Murong Jun dying on his territory was still his responsibility. Loss of power and position would be light—prison, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he’d have plenty of torture to endure.

These Great Prince guards absolutely could not be left alive.

If he let them live, these men would desperately throw dirty water on him to save their own lives.

They had to be killed, then rise in rebellion.

Though it was rather hasty and his brother-in-law was still in Ruzhou, there was no choice.

Liang Shiyi slowly nodded, no longer eager to leave but instead retreating several steps into his guard circle.

The courtyard gate slammed shut behind Murong Jun’s guards.

Guard Xue: “You—”

The taciturn advisor had already vaulted onto the courtyard wall, preparing to escape.

Thud thud thud—behind him arrows rained like a storm, turning him into a pincushion. He tumbled heavily from the wall top, the first to die in this courtyard.

Under heavy guard protection, Liang Shiyi retreated into the room.

On the bed the Great Prince lay with head and body separated, his wide-open pupils frozen in death with shock, fury, and despair.

Liang Shiyi bent down to look at those eyes. Legend said a dead person’s eyes would retain the image of their killer.

Of course he could see nothing, yet felt the Great Prince’s expression very strange.

For that instant he seemed to see the most shocking person or thing in the world.

So much so that his heart remained unwilling even in death.

Liang Shiyi coldly observed the corpse for a long moment, listening to the clash of blades and continuous screams outside that gradually ceased, leaving only deathly silence.

A faint smell of blood drifted over, merging with the room’s bloody stench like iron rust, like the greasy, stinking sewage gradually rising in underground passages in the dark night.

Liang Shiyi stepped out the door, glanced at the mottled red covering the ground, and walked out of the courtyard treading on blood.

Behind him the orderly sound of military boots on ground followed closely.

Leaving the courtyard, Liang Shiyi didn’t look back as he said, “Burn it.”

Deep red fire lines leaped across the sky as the small courtyard was engulfed in flames.

Liang Shiyi walked away with his back to the fire. Behind him the firelight danced, blurring his outline as his calm expression gradually turned harsh and cold.

Behind him his advisor trotted to catch up, bowing his head and waiting for orders.

He said, “Urgently deploy cavalry battalions from the main camp, west camp, and Yuema Pass. Summon all commanders to reach Xining main camp within three days. Send people to contact Qiu Wujiu, send people to race to Ruzhou to secretly bring back Miss and the son-in-law… We’re going out for a walk.”

…