Princess Changling had jumped into the water in full view of everyone. The guards and palace servants who dove in to search only retrieved her clothes – she wasn’t in the upper pool. She must have fallen into the deep pool below, where everyone knew the giant snake dwelled. No one dared to go down.
They wouldn’t even approach the pool, as it was surrounded by numerous colorful, highly venomous snakes. They held torches at a distance, seeing no movement in the dark depths.
Just then, the sea eagle came circling overhead, its proud cry drawing everyone’s gaze upward. At that moment, someone dragged Princess Changling into the upper pool, holding her at the bottom as she weakly struggled, tears streaming continuously.
From above, she appeared to float down with the current. The sea eagle’s cry not only attracted everyone’s attention but also enraged the vengeful giant snake, which angrily thrust its head from the pool. The small snakes at the water’s edge also became notably agitated.
The sea eagle circled high overhead, calling constantly. Its voice infuriated the giant snake, yet even at full stretch, it couldn’t reach the eagle. The sea eagle playfully taunted it, repeatedly swooping just out of reach. Combined with the fearful guards’ arrows attacking the snake, this drove it into a wild rage.
Its tail swept up huge waves along with flying small snakes, striking at the surrounding guards. Many couldn’t retreat in time and were bitten, quickly falling. This successfully drove back all the guards.
“It’s the Fourth Princess, it’s the Fourth Princess!”
Just then, Princess Changling crashed down from above with the current. The enraged giant snake immediately snapped at her. Everyone watched as the snake caught her in its jaws, blood spraying, before throwing her back onto the pool’s surface.
As if warning everyone, the snake cruelly tore at and swallowed Princess Changling. This sight left everyone trembling with terror, weak in their limbs.
Just then, Emperor Youning arrived on horseback with his entourage, held back at a safe distance. His face was frost-like: “Where is Changling?”
All around fell silent, and no one responded.
Emperor Youning grew angrier: “Where is Changling!”
The head guard finally came to his senses, trembling as he ran over and knelt before the Emperor: “Your Majesty… the Princess was swallowed by the giant snake…”
They dared not say Princess Changling had fallen from the upper pool they were searching, or they would have to die with her. They could only let His Majesty believe they couldn’t catch up with the current, arriving only to find the Princess already in the snake’s mouth.
Xiao Huayong had anticipated their reaction, which was why he acted this way. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had time to force the medicine into Changling. The final step was concealing the poison in Changling’s body.
“Liu Sanzhi, personally order Li Jin to lead three thousand men into the hunting grounds to kill the snake!” Emperor Youning handed his command token to Liu Sanzhi.
Among the princes present (except for the gravely ill Crown Prince), the Twelfth Prince Xiao Changgeng quickly stepped forward: “Your Majesty, I know you are enraged over Fourth Sister, but a forceful attack is not wise.”
Emperor Youning’s piercing gaze cut through the night to fall on Xiao Changgeng.
Xiao Changgeng’s heart trembled. This was his first time experiencing the Emperor’s silent fury directly – it felt as if one more word would cost him his life. But remembering that person’s instructions, Xiao Changgeng steeled himself: “Your Majesty, when men serve in battle to protect country and home, with iron will and integrity, shedding blood and laying down lives for the peace of our mountains and rivers, for the tranquility of the state – that is loyalty and bravery, a worthy death. They should not die in vain here.”
As Xiao Changgeng spoke, screams rose in waves. Emperor Youning and the others looked over to see the enraged giant snake, most of its body now out of the deep pool, beginning to tear at the guards. No guard could match its speed and strength. One sweep of its body sent many guards flying, crashing down heavily to die spitting blood.
“Speak of your better strategy!” Emperor Youning asked sternly.
Xiao Changgeng’s gaze steadied: “Poison.”
The princes looked at each other. Before Emperor Youning could inquire further, someone shouted: “Your Majesty, quickly retreat!”
The giant snake had left the deep pool entirely. Seeing this, everyone immediately turned their horses, escorting Emperor Youning away.
While riding to keep up with His Majesty, Xiao Changgeng called out loudly: “Your Majesty, we must not further enrage the giant snake. Please order everyone to retreat, or it will surely pursue relentlessly!”
If such a giant snake pursued them to the palace pavilion, it would surely be catastrophic.
This was the outcome Xiao Huayong had predicted early on. The giant snake couldn’t be attacked forcefully because it couldn’t be killed quickly. Once enraged, if they couldn’t kill it, everyone might die needlessly.
“Liu Sanzhi, order everyone to retreat completely!” Emperor Youning turned back to tell Liu Sanzhi.
Liu Sanzhi immediately transmitted the imperial order. Everyone swiftly retreated as the giant snake pursued for some distance, determined to take revenge. Xiao Huayong watched from above as they fled in disarray for a moment, until they were nearly at the palace pavilion, before finally blowing his bone whistle.
Following orders, the sea eagle swooped down to intercept the giant snake. With its extreme speed, agility, and fierce attacks, the snake was no match for it. The sea eagle forced it back into the deep pool.
The sea eagle circled several times above the deep pool before stretching its neck and soaring straight toward the clouds.
“His Majesty has Heaven’s mandate, protected by a divine bird,” Liu Sanzhi immediately rallied morale as everyone remained shaken and disheveled.
Everyone showed looks of solemn respect. Xiao Changgeng lowered his gaze. Now living in the Eastern Palace, he had come to the hunting grounds with the Crown Prince and was staying in the Crown Prince’s palace pavilion.
An hour earlier, Xiao Huayong had appeared before him, that magnificent sea eagle perched on his raised arm.
“I’m giving you a good opportunity to stand out. If you succeed, you will surely gain His Majesty’s special regard – it will be a great achievement,” Xiao Huayong’s voice was clear and deep. In the night, it was like falling autumn leaves, casual yet carrying late autumn’s chill and severity.
Xiao Huayong concealed nothing from Xiao Changgeng, even allowing him free access throughout the Eastern Palace, including Xiao Huayong’s library. Seeing those books and Xiao Huayong’s annotations, he felt both respect and fear.
This Crown Prince’s brother became more frightening the more one understood him. He fully grasped why Sixth Brother had chosen to flee far from the imperial city after learning his true nature. For a moment, he too wanted to flee.
Having someone like Xiao Huayong in this imperial city was like having an invisible sword suspended above one’s head, ready to fall silently at any moment.
If he was in a good mood, he might grant a quick death. If he was in a bad mood, that sword would cut to the bone, leaving one crippled but unable to die!
“Seventh Brother, please instruct me,” Xiao Changgeng said most respectfully.