On Changming Street, Prince Zhao and Tie Lin stared blankly at the corpses scattered on the ground and the upturned roadway before them.

Where was Xiao Liheng?

Where were the Liaodong masters?

They had excitedly mixed in with the Shengdu garrison and entered the city, bringing their three hundred personal guards as they rushed toward the inner city. They were indeed met by people sent by the Xiao family, who promised that after entering the inner city, Liaodong masters would come to rendezvous with them. Xiao Liheng would also bring Grand Secretary Rong to escort him into the palace. With the Xiao family controlling the situation and the Grand Secretary controlling power, having these two openly attending him while the officials were coerced by the Xiao family, they would surely only be able to support him. Then, with the officials recognizing their master and the Cabinet drafting edicts, he would naturally and legitimately ascend to the throne.

But now, clearly things had not proceeded in the anticipated direction.

Prince Zhao even saw the corpse of Sixth Master Xiao in an overturned prison cart by the roadside.

“Father King, what should we do?” Tie Lin couldn’t hide the panic in his voice.

Just moments ago, he had been holding Xiao Wenliu’s hand, boastfully fantasizing about soon becoming Crown Prince, mockingly telling her that because she hadn’t immediately gone to the imperial tombs to accompany him earlier, the position of Crown Princess might not necessarily be hers – it would depend on the Xiao family’s subsequent loyalty.

What disappointed him somewhat was that Xiao Wenliu remained indifferent, as if she didn’t care at all about such an incomparably glorious title as Crown Princess.

Now Tie Lin could no longer afford to fantasize about the Crown Prince’s life. The current situation was embarrassing – with no one to meet them and being completely in the dark about the path ahead, could they really enter the imperial palace with just these three hundred personal soldiers?

But having already come this far, if they didn’t enter the palace, with fighting still ongoing in the outer city, they couldn’t get out either.

Caught between a rock and a hard place.

Prince Zhao’s expression was also very unpleasant. Now having mounted the tiger, they could only take things one step at a time. After thinking, he said, “Search! See if there are any Xiao family members around!”

A hundred of the three hundred personal guards spread out, searching everywhere in confusion, but only discovered many more Xiao family corpses.

This made Prince Zhao increasingly anxious.

Suddenly, screams and cries from women erupted from a small house across the street, along with shouting voices. Then a personal guard quickly came to report: “Your Highness, we just discovered a group of women in a civilian house by the street. They say they’re from the Xiao family!”

The carriage curtain that had been still suddenly lifted, and Xiao Wenliu jumped down quickly from the carriage with Lan Xian!

“Where are they?”

“Just across the street, in an inconspicuous small house.”

Xiao Wenliu looked toward Prince Zhao: “Father-in-law…”

Prince Zhao turned to look at Xiao Wenliu, then at the direction across the street, finally looking at the imperial palace. Not knowing what he was thinking, a smile appeared at the corner of his lips as he said, “Send someone to bring them over.”

Xiao Wenliu stared at him, then bowed: “Thank you, Father-in-law.”

She lifted her skirts to leave when Prince Zhao said, “The night is dark and the roads are slippery. You don’t need to go – just wait here.”

“Father-in-law, the Old Madam and others have just experienced imprisonment and are probably frightened. If only soldiers are sent over, it might cause misunderstandings. If daughter-in-law goes, it would be good to comfort the Old Madam.”

Prince Zhao found this reasonable and nodded. Xiao Wenliu added, “They’re all female family members, and the Xiao family women don’t know martial arts. The personal guards needn’t go – let daughter-in-law go alone to persuade them.”

Prince Zhao was preoccupied with thoughts of holding these women as hostages. First, they could be used to threaten Xiao Liheng – he was quite filial, so as long as he was still alive, he surely couldn’t ignore his mother. Second, the old, weak, women and children would serve as shields. Hearing this, he nodded, only letting one personal guard accompany Xiao Wenliu.

He had wanted Tie Lin to go along to flatter the old woman, but Tie Lin felt there was no need to humble himself so much.

Accompanied by the personal guard and Lan Xian, Xiao Wenliu went through a small alley on Changming Street to the adjacent street. Indeed, at the entrance of a civilian house, a large group of Xiao family women were huddled together, trembling.

Grandmother, second aunt, third aunt, fifth aunt, sixth aunt, eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, cousin sister… all were there, even the ancient great-grandmother had been brought out.

Xiao Wenliu stood still and said to the surrounding personal guards, “Please withdraw for now and let me speak a few words with Grandmother.”

The personal guards withdrew as ordered.

Old Madam Xiao rushed forward, grabbed her hands, and said urgently, “Liu’er, it’s you! You’ve come to the capital? Is Prince Zhao going to be elected as Emperor? Your grandfather should have been nearby just now, saying he would come get us after talking things over with the Rong residence, but just now we heard quite a commotion like mountains collapsing and earth splitting…”

Thinking of the tragic scene on Changming Street, Xiao Wenliu felt compassionate. She gripped Old Madam Xiao’s hand tightly, then squeezed it again.

Old Madam Xiao was startled and instinctively stopped speaking.

Xiao Wenliu leaned close to her ear and said, “Grandmother, does the Xiao family have other safe houses in the city?”

Old Madam Xiao whispered, “There are two places, both in the outer city – one in the east, one in the south.”

Xiao Wenliu said softly, “The inner city gates have all been sealed.”

Old Madam Xiao: “Why would we need to leave the city? Your grandfather and the others…”

Xiao Wenliu suddenly said, “No, there’s still a way.”

She squeezed her grandmother’s hand again and said, “Do you have carriages and horses?”

“Yes.” Old Madam Xiao said, “This house is actually one of our Xiao family’s hiding places. It appears to be a carriage and horse business on the outside, but inside it has complete carriages and horses. All are fine horses.”

“Good.” Xiao Wenliu looked back at the faint light across the street, where Prince Zhao and his three hundred personal guards were still waiting.

“Have the aunts go inside immediately, get in the carriages, and prepare. When I give the signal outside, everyone rush out immediately.”

“Wait, Wenliu, why rush out? What’s happened…”

“Grandmother, I’ll explain later. If you want to live, listen to me first!”

Old Madam Xiao asked no more questions. Her hand behind her back made a gesture.

The Xiao family women were all shrewd. Behind her, several madams immediately understood and all said they needed to get their luggage, turning back into the courtyard.

The personal guard accompanying Xiao Wenliu was puzzled seeing them return and walked over asking, “World Consort…”

Lan Xian suddenly moved behind him, blade light flashing in her hand as she thrust it into his spine with a soft sound.

One hand was already tightly covering his mouth, forcefully stuffing a handkerchief into his mouth to block his cries.

The personal guard convulsed and fell, landing silently in the snow.

Old Madam Xiao’s expression showed shock.

With a thunderous crash, the gate behind them was smashed open by a galloping carriage. The carriage door was open, and Xiao Wenliu and Lan Xian worked together to lift Old Madam Xiao into the carriage.

Lan Xian flipped onto the carriage and reached out to pull Xiao Wenliu.

“What are you doing!”

A loud shout crossed the alley as Tie Lin, having heard the commotion, came running with personal guards.

Xiao Wenliu quickly drew a small bow from her bosom, without a word drew the bowstring and shot an arrow straight at Tie Lin!

Tie Lin never expected his World Consort would shoot arrows at him. With a cry of alarm, he fell from his horse.

His guards could only stop to rescue him first. Several horses immediately blocked the small alley completely. By the time Prince Zhao realized something was wrong and rushed over, he saw several carriages racing like lightning, crossing the alley entrance and rumbling toward the outer city.

Prince Zhao’s expression was annoyed.

Pursuing now would be disadvantageous to himself, and besides, he was still in danger – how could he mobilize forces to chase people?

Then Prince Zhao gave a cold laugh.

So what if the Xiao family women escaped?

If the Xiao family truly failed, then the whole family were traitors. Shengdu would certainly search the entire city, and that family would die sooner or later anyway, possibly even more miserably!

…

Underground in the southern outer city.

Oil lamps burned dimly in a room.

The bloody chains had been removed, wounds re-bandaged. Chazi’s eyes contained tears as she fed Murong Yi qi-restoring pills, then waited for him to slowly awaken.

Some voices and movement came from outside, but she paid no attention.

Murong Yi slowly opened his eyes, feeling his entire body was scattered and broken, even his consciousness unclear, not knowing what day or time it was.

In his haze, he was still in heavy snow, sitting in a sedan chair going to Ruixiang Hall, hearing that little palace servant from Ruixiang Hall proudly declare who was a passing guest and who was a lifelong companion.

Or perhaps it was in heavy snow, the meandering bright yellow imperial procession, while he and she swam following the waves in warm water, flower petals silently drifting east and west on the surface.

One moment it became Tie Yan’s fierce face, Consort Jing’s rigid face, wind lifting the curtains in Chongming Palace’s inner hall, pale lamplight filtering through like hanging funeral drapes.

Behind the funeral drapes stood Tie Ci.

Another moment he was in the southern city, a young woman’s tearful face swaying before his eyes. The scissors entering his shoulder felt not painful but cold, just like those words piercing his heart.

“…But what Your Highness likes is what we cherish… Master Murong, please be good to His Highness, better, always protect her, never betray her, otherwise, even if we risk our lives, we… we won’t spare you…”

One moment it was again in Chongming Palace, layers upon layers of impeachment memorials before him, across from him Tie Yan staring at him with burning eyes.

“She and I don’t play those so-called endurance, fulfillment, sacrifice, and righteousness games. Because she doesn’t need them, and neither do I. I believe in this vast world, there’s always a path to walk; I believe my lifelong loyalty to her won’t bring her any harm; I believe all the troubles I cause her, I will ultimately compensate her tenfold.”

Murong Yi smiled bleakly.

Using A’Ci’s words, he’d been slapped in the face.

So there really were such cruel and deep cold barriers in this world that couldn’t be crossed.

So this damned Heaven truly had always been against him, wearing an emotionless face, determined to tear apart everything in his life, making him seek but never obtain.

He laughed more and more intensely, yet always silently, his throat hoarse, his whole body trembling.

“Young Master… stop laughing.” Chazi pressed on his ribs, afraid his torn wounds would split open again, which would truly kill him from blood loss alone.

She was more afraid he had truly gone mad.

“Young Master, please… please… stop laughing, stop laughing…”

Zhao San kept his back turned to them, burying his head against the earthen wall. Mu Si stood with crossed arms looking up at the sky.

Suddenly a scream interrupted Murong Yi’s laughter, accompanied by an angry rebuke: “Be gentler!”

Murong Yi stopped laughing and listened quietly for a while, saying, “…Who’s outside?”

“Seems to be someone who came later, just arrived not long ago… maybe someone they’re meeting.”

Zhao San silently went out. After a while he returned, looking down and saying, “Nothing much, Liaodong people.”

Murong Yi was silent for a while, then said, “Chazi, I want to eat tangyuan.”

Chazi was very surprised. Given Murong Yi’s current state, he should have no appetite, but since he wanted to eat, she was naturally happy. Even though they were being pursued and finding tangyuan would be quite difficult, she quickly agreed and went out.

Murong Yi asked Zhao San again: “Who’s outside.”

Zhao San hesitated, seeing Murong Yi preparing to get up himself, hurriedly said, “It’s Xiao Liheng. He’s severely injured, lost an arm. He has cooperation with Liaodong, knows this hiding place, and escaped here with his people.”

Looking at Murong Yi’s expression, he said, “Young Master, I know you’re angry, but please don’t act rashly. Xiao Liheng isn’t the mastermind of this affair. He brought many people, and the Liaodong people here won’t listen to our commands either… You should focus on healing first.”

Murong Yi’s expression was calm as he leaned against the pillow, saying, “…Why should I care about him… Wasn’t this arranged by my dear father…”

Zhao San breathed a sigh of relief but also felt sad, lowering his head.

With the Young Master severely injured and being escorted back like this, given the Great King’s methods, the Young Master would truly be completely controlled from now on.

“I want to sleep…” Murong Yi said, “Go away.”

Zhao San now didn’t dare look at him or disobey, lowering his head and walking out.

Mu Si looked back at Murong Yi once.

For a moment, he suspected Murong Yi was planning something.

But considering his condition, he felt it was absolutely impossible.

He walked out.

As soon as the two left, a Liaodong secret guard immediately entered, sitting by the door holding his sword while dozing.

It was at this moment that Murong Yi slowly opened his eyes.