The carriage traveled all the way to a spot three li from the palace gates, when the driver suddenly stopped the carriage.
Lan Xian’er poked her head out and gasped in shock.
…
The Empress Dowager suddenly stood up.
Assistant Minister Xiao glanced at her and said calmly, “Fires are common occurrences. The Bureau of Water Management can send people to extinguish it.”
The Empress Dowager immediately calmed down, knowing that at this moment, any unexpected complications needed no entanglement—just cut them off. She immediately said, “Looking at that direction, it’s the Cold Palace. Probably some palace servant couldn’t bear the spring cold and started a fire to keep warm. Baize Guards, send another squad of guards there. This Palace permits you to use any means necessary to extinguish the fire and rescue people.”
Her last few words squeezed out from between her teeth, chillingly cold.
A squad of guards hurried off.
But the atmosphere in the plaza below had obviously been affected. Everyone looked at the raging flames, clearly somewhat afraid the fire might spread to the front court, and also worried that some incident in the palace might implicate themselves. Buzzing and murmuring sounds continued incessantly. The Empress Dowager had to send officials down again to explain the situation and comfort everyone. After considerable effort, everyone finally knelt properly again.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, “Speaking of the High Ancestor’s heaven-gifted abilities, they were truly world-shocking and extraordinary, as if aided by gods. Our Great Qian thus swept away all obstacles and successfully founded the nation—this was truly a divine mandate. Great Qian’s national fortune has extended for a hundred years, yet afterward we have never seen anyone who could inherit the High Ancestor’s abilities. The imperial clan considers this a regrettable matter. Surely the High Ancestor’s heroic spirit… his descendants lack the fortune to receive his blessing, otherwise our Great Qian’s revival would be at hand… This believing woman therefore prays day and night, only begging Heaven for mercy. Fortunately, the High Ancestor’s heroic spirit is not far away… Now our imperial family has a great joyous occasion to share with all the fathers and elders.”
She nodded slightly in indication.
Li Gui announced, “Presenting Prince Zhao’s heir—”
…
Prince Zhao of the Xiao clan’s method of blocking Tie Ci to protect himself was very simple and brutal.
Human wave tactics.
Outside the palace gates, Iron Armor Guards stretched for a full three li, arranged in fish-scale formation, densely packed along the main road leading to the palace city gates. Forget a living person—even a fly would have to slim down a layer to squeeze through.
Inside the carriage, Dan Shuang gripped her sword tightly. “Your Highness, we have no choice but to force our way through.”
Unfortunately, His Highness’s severe injuries hadn’t healed, his inner energy was disordered. He should avoid combat as much as possible now, and especially couldn’t casually use teleportation, otherwise why would it be so difficult?
“If we start forcing our way through now, what about after entering the palace gates? The palace has nine gates. Chengqian Hall’s plaza is between Zhengguang Gate and Chengqian Gate—we’d still have to break through at least three more gates. Do we have that stamina?”
Without waiting for Dan Shuang to answer, Tie Ci knocked her unconscious with one palm and tossed her to Xia Houchun outside, saying, “For the road ahead, don’t follow me anymore. Stay outside to respond to the Blood Cavalry and organize the people. The Xiao clan uses the people to hold me hostage—can’t I hold them hostage in return?”
Xia Houchun understood, caught Dan Shuang, and darted into the roadside.
Lan Xian’er turned and climbed into the carriage, saying, “Your Highness, for the final stretch before the palace gates, you can only go alone.”
With the Iron Armor Guards watching so strictly, they wouldn’t allow a carriage to enter. Going on foot, Lan Xian’er following would only be a burden.
She handed Tie Ci the small bundle containing the medicine box, and also passed over a note on which she had already written the medicine names, dosages, usage methods with an eyebrow pencil, and even included basic information about the Xiao family.
Such a thoughtful person.
Tie Ci glanced at the medicine—Tie Lin still had some kidney qi deficiency problems.
She took the bundle and exchanged clothes and positions with Lan Xian’er. The carriage couldn’t go more than a few steps forward before Iron Armor Guards rode up to inquire. Tie Ci answered that she was delivering medicine to Prince Zhao’s heir. The guards didn’t relax their inspection because of the Xiao family carriage, and carefully asked about the medicine’s details, the identity of the medicine deliverer, and basic information about the Xiao family, while examining the tokens from both the Xiao family and Prince Zhao’s mansion.
It must be said that Xiao Wenliu’s identity served as an excellent pass at this time—being both a Xiao family member and a person from Prince Zhao’s mansion was most secure, which is why these Iron Armor Guards didn’t immediately expel her.
That guard went to report to his superior after questioning, and returned after a moment saying, “Since you’re delivering medicine, why make such a big fuss? One person is permitted to enter, but may not carry weapons.”
As Tie Ci expected, medicine was quite sensitive—not everyone would be like that Young Master Wang Ran, daring to offer to deliver it himself.
She took the small bundle and got off the carriage. A matron came up to search her. The weapons had been left behind earlier. The matron picked up the jade brush and examined it several times, feeling it was just an exquisite ornament. She only marveled inwardly that the Xiao family was indeed extravagant—even a servant girl had such fine things—and let it pass.
The soldier then waved his hand. With a sharp “clang,” the Iron Armor Guards in the middle of the road shouldered their spears, turned, and walked three steps away, leaving Tie Ci a gap one and a half people wide. That gap was long and narrow, with the palace gates invisible at the far end.
The soldier at the very front revealed a mocking smile in his eyes and said to the “wealthy family’s maid” before him, “Quite brave, aren’t you? Walk through this forest of blades and spears then—those are the rules. If you don’t have the courage, turn back and go home now. Don’t walk halfway and start crying and wet your pants—we won’t help you clean up. When the spears rise,” he raised his chin, and several soldiers swiftly thrust out their spears, the spear points crossing overhead and pushing outward.
In the ringing sound, he said, “Just like that—swoosh—we’ll throw you out of the military formation. Scared?”
Tie Ci hugged her little bundle, blinked, and said, “Scared—”
The soldier had just begun to show a smug smile when he saw this wealthy family’s maid say she was scared while simultaneously darting into the Iron Armor corridor. In the blink of an eye, she had already walked several zhang inside.
The soldier: “…”
Iron armor surrounded her like the sea, spears and halberds like a forest. The soldiers could step forward and crush her to death, or tilt their spear points slightly to pierce her chest, not to mention that the cold gleam of iron armor and weapons combined with the cold, fierce light in the soldiers’ eyes would create enormous psychological pressure for anyone walking among them—except for Tie Ci.
She was someone who had walked through thousands of troops and ten thousand horses, had seen battlefields and corpse-strewn fields, had beaten generals and killed Liaodong soldiers, had charged alone into and out of Liaodong’s cavalry camps. In her eyes, this was child’s play.
So those Iron Armor Guards who deliberately exerted pressure, wanting to see this wealthy family’s maid fear, cry, and wet her pants, felt a strange sense of discord—the maid seemed very frightened, the maid seemed about to cry any second, the maid’s legs were trembling so much it made people worry she’d wet herself, but why did she walk faster the more she shook? In the blink of an eye, she was almost at the palace gates.
Tie Ci also saw the deep red palace gates studded with countless copper nails, not far ahead.
But just then, rapid horse hooves sounded again.
At the same time, someone urgently shouted, “Message from the outer city! The Imperial Crown Princess may have already entered the city gates! Palace city and imperial city checkpoints are not permitted to—”
“Swoosh!”
A cold arrow like lightning pierced through his throat, and the man fell headfirst to the ground. The horse continued charging forward.
But it was already a step too late.
The Iron Armor Guards here changed color dramatically. Someone shouted loudly, “Surround her! Surround her! Stop that woman—”
The ringing sound of metal continued incessantly as spears and sabers from all directions were drawn together. The Iron Armor Guards at the front turned and pounced.
Again came a great thundering of horse hooves. A group of soldiers wearing the armor of the Five Military Commissioners Office, led by Qi Yuansi, charged wildly forward. Qi Yuansi at the front shouted loudly, “We have been pursuing this person all the way here—how dare you Iron Armor Guards steal our achievement!”
The Iron Armor Guards were startled. Seeing that group approaching menacingly, they thought this person really was a wanted criminal being pursued by the Five Military Commissioners Office. Matters involving stealing achievements often meant disputes and trouble, so they instinctively held back.
That group fiercely crashed in. The Iron Armor Guards at the front gave way, so naturally those behind also instinctively gave way, allowing Qi Yuansi to lead the charge right up to near Tie Ci.
Qi Yuansi gave a great shout—Tie Ci turned back with a cold glare—what are you shouting about? Performing opera? Hurry up!
Qi Yuansi: …Oh.
He turned his back and reached out. He had specifically brought a long spear, performed a beautiful spear flourish. Tie Ci jumped up at just the right moment. The spear went under Tie Ci’s feet, gave a slight bounce and push, and with a “swoosh,” Tie Ci’s figure flew over the vast sea of heads and landed with a “thap” on the palace gate’s copper nails.
In the distance, someone shouted loudly, “Archers, ready!”
Qi Yuansi: “Don’t steal my achievement!”
Behind him were a group of veteran soldiers most trusted by Commander Qi—all were killing generals who had crawled and rolled together on battlefields in the past, life-and-death comrades who cared about nothing except fighting. They all drew their sabers, spears, swords, and halberds, jumped onto the crowd, and danced chaotically while stepping on people’s heads, knocking down two-thirds of the arrows. Tie Ci easily dodged the remaining third.
She stepped on the copper nails, her entire body almost at a ninety-degree angle to the palace gate, climbing up the palace wall by stepping on the gate like this, leaving those above and below the city dumbstruck.
For the final step, she kicked apart the wall bricks with one foot, creating a large hole in the wall surface. Smoke and dust billowed, and in the confusion, the soldiers instinctively dodged. The rolling stones and tung oil in their hands couldn’t be poured down. In the haze, they only saw a slender figure flash by. Tie Ci slipped inside the city wall and conveniently grabbed a nearby barrel of scalding tung oil, splashing it over the crowd of city defenders.
With a great splash, soldiers fell in large numbers. Tie Ci slid like ice skating across the slippery oil surface, gliding past the struggling crowd trying to pursue her. The continuous thumping sounds of people falling echoed along the way.
Below, Qi Yuansi was still shouting at the Iron Armor Guards: “Shoot arrows! Why aren’t you shooting arrows!” while fitting a fire starter to an arrow and shooting it up at the palace city wall.
The city defense guards who had just struggled up from the oil all over the ground looked up to see a flash of fire, and the next instant came crackling sounds as flames whooshed up before their eyes.
They were immediately burned and howling like ghosts and wolves.
Tie Ci had already reached the other end of the city tower. She turned back and laughed loudly at those below: “Bah! As if you lot could catch up to me!”
Qi Yuansi was “furious,” shouting loudly: “Open the gates! Open the gates! Let us in! If we don’t avenge this, we swear we’re not human!”
A deputy general of the Iron Armor Guards finally arrived at this moment. He grabbed Qi Yuansi by the back collar and angrily said, “Green brat, don’t come here making trouble!” He threw the man back with a reverse motion.
Qi Yuansi rolled once and was caught by his own veteran soldiers. The veteran soldier whispered in his ear, “Young Master, that’s enough. Even if we charge in, we can’t help, and it would only backfire.”
Qi Yuansi stopped, took a deep look at the city top, waved his hand, and said, “Withdraw!”
This was as far as they could escort her.
On the city top, Tie Ci slid down with gliding steps, landing in the plaza between the two palace gates.
The Baize Guards in white armor and red sashes quickly moved to surround her.
Rushing through this plaza and the next palace gate would bring her to the plaza in front of Chengqian Hall.
She looked up at the sun’s position. Court sessions never lasted past noon at the latest. Today the Empress Dowager would definitely want a quick victory and would finish even earlier. She didn’t have much time left.
Fighting all the way through would waste too much time.
Tie Ci took a breath, planning to use her teleportation.
Before charging the city, Rong Pu had warned her repeatedly that her talent ability was unstable and best not used. If she absolutely had to use it, she could only do so once or twice, because there was no guarantee it wouldn’t malfunction when she wanted to use it later.
Her talent ability was meant to be saved for the final crushing of Tie Lin in the plaza before Chengqian Hall. If she used it now and couldn’t perform it later, this entire assault on the city would lose its meaning.
Suddenly a shadow passed overhead, and the palace guards charging forward cried out in alarm.
Tie Ci looked up.
…
In the plaza, Tie Lin strode forward to the front of the platform.
Though the young man’s face maintained composure, the light dancing in his eyes and the slight trembling at his eyebrows that he couldn’t control showed he was extremely excited and pleased with himself.
In front of and behind him, a full twenty guards followed, surrounding him so tightly that not even water could leak through.
The Empress Dowager smiled slightly.
Prime Minister Rong remained expressionless.
He Zi squinted his eyes, remembering when he first met the Imperial Crown Princess. She wore men’s clothing with complete naturalness, striding with composed steps into the valley, appreciating flowers along the way. When she saw the killing mechanisms hidden in the water, she remained unperturbed. She stopped before the small pavilion and, though full of questions, maintained perfect composure, patiently waiting for them to finish a round of mahjong before speaking, her manner as natural as if she had visited countless times before.
At that time he thought: this person is extraordinary.
This so-called Prince Zhao’s heir was frivolous and rash, lacking even courage.
Even if he had talent abilities from head to toe, he couldn’t compare to one bit of Tie Ci.
However, it was precisely such a person that the Xiao clan and power-hungry ministers preferred and felt more at ease with.
A useless, stupid master was easiest to manipulate.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, “Heir, let the ministers and people witness your heaven-gifted talents.”
Tie Lin nodded with a smile.
Today, for the convenience of facing ministers and people, the court session had been moved to the surrounding platform outside Chengqian Hall. Below the white jade railings were dozens of steps, separating the imperial clan from the officials and common people.
Tie Lin walked to the front of the steps, reached out with a beckoning gesture, and a whisk held by a eunuch standing behind him suddenly flew into mid-air.
People of all kinds below exclaimed in amazement.
Tie Lin looked smug.
The Empress Dowager frowned.
He Zi laughed once.
He wouldn’t say much, but his disciple could take his place. Zhu Yi, who held the position of Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, gave a cool laugh and said in measured tones, “Why is the heir snatching a eunuch’s whisk? Perhaps he’s also eager to serve the Empress Dowager?”
Tie Lin was startled, only then realizing that in his eagerness to display his abilities, he had chosen the relatively light whisk for safety, but hadn’t thought that this was something palace slaves commonly used to drive away mosquitoes and flies and brush away dust. Displaying this at such a grand and important occasion had inauspicious implications.
Imperial ceremonies always emphasized auspicious symbolism. Tie Lin immediately realized his choice was inappropriate and looked somewhat flustered at Prince Zhao.
Prince Zhao said calmly, “Junior Minister Zhu speaks incorrectly. The whisk is also a Buddhist ritual implement, meaning to brush away dust and troubles. It has always been a solemn implement of the Buddhist school. The heir’s action signifies his aspiration to remove worries and sweep away dust for all under Heaven—what great ambition. What’s inappropriate about that?”
Zhu Yi’s smile remained unchanged. “I never thought Prince Zhao was so well-versed in Buddhist principles. This official is impressed. Buddhism emphasizes purity and detachment, not being stained by dust or involved in disturbances. For Your Highness father and son to have such transcendent mindset while positioned in court halls, this official is even more impressed.”
Before Prince Zhao could speak, Tie Lin angrily said, “Stop your sarcastic remarks!”
Zhu Yi looked astonished. “Heir, this official was praising you. How is it that you became angry? Then please instruct this official—how should I speak to satisfy you, Heir?”
The Empress Dowager’s expression grew cold.
Foolish.
That curse was for Tie Lin.
In just a few words, he was led into revealing his true nature.
Zhu Yi was an old master of sarcasm. Civil officials all had sharp tongues. After saying a couple sentences, if you ignored him, he’d have no recourse. You absolutely couldn’t entangle with him—once entangled, there’d be no end, and delaying time was the least of it; you’d also easily fall into his trap.
Just like Zhu Yi’s few sentences—they were originally meant to draw out Prince Zhao’s explanation, then provoke Tie Lin’s anger. Once Tie Lin was angry, Zhu Yi would deliberately misinterpret, leading everyone’s thoughts toward “Tie Lin has a violent, tyrannical temperament, lacks capacity, and cannot tolerate others.”
Such a person, if he became heir apparent and later emperor, would make officials and subjects inevitably uneasy.
She glanced at Assistant Minister Xiao. Assistant Minister Xiao had already put on his Grand Academician airs and scolded, “Junior Minister Zhu, how can you keep arguing during such a grand ceremony? Withdraw immediately!”
Zhu Yi smiled. “The Court of Imperial Sacrifices oversees major ceremonies and has the responsibility to investigate and correct any improper words or actions during ceremonies. If the heir’s whisk display accidentally covers noble people with dust, that would be the Court of Imperial Sacrifices’ dereliction of duty. How can this official not be concerned?”
Assistant Minister Xiao wouldn’t entangle with him and immediately said, “Heir, object manipulation has been demonstrated. You should proceed to the next step.”
Tie Lin suppressed his anger, glared at Zhu Yi with resentment, and secretly vowed that once he became crown prince, he would first destroy this old pedantic scholar.
With anger still burning in his heart, he said coldly, “I fear no harm from any weapon under Heaven. Junior Minister Zhu, do you believe it or not?”
Zhu Yi smiled genially. “I believe it.”
“I permit you to stab me anywhere with any weapon.” Tie Lin raised his chin. “Let you personally witness what divine wonder the talent ability bestowed upon me by High Ancestor Emperor in dreams possesses.”
Then use the charge of harming imperial clan to kill you.
A commotion arose in the plaza. The people of Great Qian all knew of High Ancestor Emperor’s most miraculous ability, which had been deified through years of official histories, unofficial histories, and legends. Now hearing Prince Zhao’s heir’s implication that he had also acquired this ability, and that it was also granted by High Ancestor Emperor in dreams?
Tie Lin saw the fervent, excited gazes below and smiled with satisfaction.
Prince Zhao had someone present a short, small dagger.
Tie Lin’s face paled slightly.
Being immune to harm and able to heal didn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt at the time.
But his father had persuaded him—endure momentary pain for eternal honor and respect. It was worth it.
He chose Zhu Yi to do this deed, first for future revenge, and second because court officials would definitely fear retaliation when harming him, surely only daring to make shallow cuts in the skin, so he could suffer less.
Zhu Yi picked up the dagger and smiled. “Your Highness has a body worth a thousand gold pieces. How dare this official randomly stab? Even if Your Highness has skin of bronze and bones of iron and fears no harm, it would still hurt.”
Tie Lin found these words quite comfortable and nodded with satisfaction. “You may cut lightly. I won’t blame you.”
“It must be lightly then.” Zhu Yi gestured, his expression troubled. “Your Highness, truly anywhere is acceptable?”
“Of course.”
“Then Your Highness,” Zhu Yi’s smile deepened as the dagger slowly moved downward, pressing against Tie Lin’s crotch, “is this place also acceptable?”