Liu Jue rode hard the entire way and finally arrived at Gu City on the third day of the second month. One hundred fifty thousand Southern Army troops were encamped outside Gu City. From there, going north through Gu City past Shunhe Town, the Southern Army firmly held this vital southern passage. A secret report from the Dove Squad revealed that Grand Commandant Wang’s two hundred thousand Eastern Route troops had already set up camp fifty li outside Feng City’s east gate.
Liu Jue frowned inwardly. By rights, the Southern Army was far stronger than the Eastern Route Army, but he had left necessary garrisons in every southern city along the way to guard against another Chen Guo incursion — which meant that, numerically, he now had fewer men at hand than the Eastern Route Army. After issuing a series of orders, he led five thousand Iron Guards and the Black-Robe Guard onward toward Feng City.
The Duning River was as wide and clear as ever, but the south gate stood firmly shut. As the column crossed the pontoon bridge and reached the gate, the city wall suddenly bristled with archers. Liu Jue sat lazily astride his horse. One of the Iron Guards drew a breath and shouted, “Prince Pingnan has arrived!”
A defending officer appeared atop the wall and said with a fawning smile, “By order of the Crown Prince acting as regent, in this special time, only Prince Pingnan’s Black-Robe Guard is permitted to enter the city.”
Liu Jue raised a hand, and the five thousand Iron Guards withdrew back across the river. The gate slowly opened, and Liu Jue led the Black-Robe Guard in through the south gate. The defending officer stood respectfully at the gate with a smile. “This lowly officer was only following orders. I beg the Prince’s forgiveness.”
Liu Jue glanced sideways at him, drew the Crimson Dragon Token from his robe, and tossed it to the officer. Startled, the officer caught it with both hands, at a loss for how to handle such a treasure, and his knees gave way beneath him as he fell to kneel. Liu Jue smiled. “Do you see clearly what this is?”
“…The Crimson Dragon Token, which can command—command—” The officer stammered, terrified.
Liu Jue swung his riding crop to reclaim the token, held it high, and declared loudly, “Bestowed by the late King’s ancestor, the Crimson Dragon Token grants command of Feng City’s defenses in times of danger! Anyone who defies this order shall be executed without trial!”
The soldiers guarding the wall fell to their knees in a wave, though a few of the Wang family’s soldiers drew their swords instead. “The King has only just passed, and the Crown Prince is regent — does Prince Pingnan mean to rebel?”
The words had barely left his mouth when Liu Jue’s sword flashed, and the speaker’s head rolled to the ground with a thud. Liu Jue’s expression did not change as he declared proudly, “Daring to disrespect the late King’s ancestor? This prince has come precisely to protect the throne and defend His Majesty’s line. Whoever else dares to sow discord between this prince and the Crown Prince — this is the fate that awaits them!”
His cold gaze swept over the soldiers who had shown defiance a moment before, and the sheer pressure of it forced their knees to buckle in submission. Liu Jue shot a glance at Ming Yin of the Black-Robe Guard, signaling him to note which men had been disobedient — likely men loyal to the Crown Prince or the Wang family. Ming Yin understood at once; at a juncture like this, to ensure the army’s smooth entry into the city, not one of them could be spared.
Within two quarters of an hour, the five thousand Iron Guards had crossed the pontoon bridge from the far bank and swiftly took over the defense of the south gate, thoroughly securing the passage for the Southern Army’s march into Feng City. Once his orders were carried out, Liu Jue led the Black-Robe Guard back to Anqing Manor.
Just as Liu Jue was making his show of force and executing men at the south gate, the carriage sent to bring A’Luo into the palace was ambushed not far from the Chancellor’s residence by a group of men in black. The attackers were highly skilled; the palace guards had never imagined that anyone would dare openly intercept a carriage so close to the royal palace. The men in black worked in seamless coordination, seizing A’Luo and scattering in all directions. Not a single clue was left at the scene. The surviving guards rushed back into the palace to report.
When Prince Anqing heard that Liu Jue had returned to the manor in a fury, he hurriedly lay down on his couch, a damp cloth draped over his forehead, and began moaning weakly.
Liu Jue strode into the bedchamber to find his father looking thoroughly sickly. He sneered. “Ill? Ill from anger?”
Prince Anqing bristled inwardly — this brat doesn’t even think to show some concern for his old father, what an attitude, no wonder even A’Luo is more agreeable. He grunted and said feebly, “You wretched boy! You don’t even care to ask how I’m doing — no wonder your bride doesn’t want you!”
“And you’re still talking?! Wasn’t it me who begged you nicely to look after her? What is going on here?” Liu Jue said irritably, thinking to himself, I haven’t even been driven sick with anger yet, and you’ve beaten me to it?
Prince Anqing waved a hand, and an attendant carefully helped him sit up. “My boy, that Third Young Lady of the Chancellor’s household doesn’t seem to think much of you, does she?”
“Get to the point. What happened?”
“Wasn’t she abducted three years ago — or was it that she fled her own wedding?” Prince Anqing asked lazily.
“Mm, and then?”
“It seems she’d secretly pledged herself to Prince Li — that’s why she ran. And now that Prince Li is coming back, word is he intends to marry her, so she doesn’t want to marry you anymore!” Prince Anqing said, speeding up his words, eyes flicking over quietly to gauge his son’s reaction.
“Since when? Why didn’t I know about this? Liu Fei wants to marry her? Three years without marrying her, and now, at a time like this?” Liu Jue instinctively refused to believe it.
Prince Anqing thought, If you don’t believe it, then this matter can’t be told to you just yet. Knowing your temper, you’d surely go and take A’Luo away, and then this whole scheme would fall apart.
He yanked the cloth off his forehead and jumped up, cursing, “Who told you to go making decisions on your own and setting this engagement?! All my life I’ve been a man of might and majesty, and now I’m the laughingstock of the entire court! You’re no match for Liu Fei in any respect — letting someone climb right over your head and relieve themselves there! Even your betrothed dares to be stolen from under your nose?! And that Li Qingluo, shameless girl, openly declaring she’ll marry no one but Liu Fei! She — you — ah, this is going to be the death of me, my head—!” Prince Anqing clutched his head and lay back down, his beard twitching with rage.
Seeing his father’s face turn iron-blue, Liu Jue panicked and rushed forward. “Father, are you alright?”
Prince Anqing swatted his hand away. “You — go. Go tell Chancellor Li that even if he kills his own daughter, she is not to marry that man! A daughter like that only brings shame — strangle her!”
Huh? Liu Jue thought his father had truly worked himself into a rage. His heart ached with both sorrow and pain. A’Luo, you — you really did something so scandalous! How could you have the nerve! Where does this leave my household’s honor! “Father, rest for now. I’ll go to Chancellor Li’s residence and ask her to her face, and get to the bottom of this!”
Without hearing A’Luo’s own account, Liu Jue still clung to a thread of hope. He found it strange — in three years, if A’Luo truly had feelings for Zili, why hadn’t she gone to the border city? There, under Zili’s protection, no one could have touched her. He recalled the warmth he’d felt when he was together with A’Luo. He remembered the begonia ice pendant she’d given him, remembered the sweetness of the moment he’d kissed her. He shook his head hard — he didn’t believe it, he had to go find her! Liu Jue turned and headed for the door.
Suddenly a Black-Robe Guard burst through the doorway. “Report! Master, the carriage bringing the Third Young Lady of the Chancellor’s household into the palace was ambushed at East Third Alley — her whereabouts are unknown!”
Prince Anqing startled up from his couch. “Who would dare such a thing?! Intercepting a palace carriage!”
Liu Jue’s head buzzed with a loud ringing. He’d only just gotten back — how could this be happening! He grabbed the messenger by the collar and demanded fiercely, “Who the hell had the nerve to do this?!”
The Black-Robe Guard, half-choked by his collar being yanked, still answered respectfully, “It looks like the Fourth Prince’s men — clean and efficient work!”
“What makes you say it’s the Fourth Prince?”
“We examined the wounded guards closely — one had a sword wound on his neck that closely resembles the ‘Snow Mountain Floating Jade’ technique. The Fourth Prince has ten subordinates specially trained in that sword formation!”
Liu Jue’s grip loosened. Through gritted teeth he said, word by word, “Liu Fei — the humiliation of stealing my bride, I will not rest until this is settled between us! The city gates are already sealed, they must still be within the city — search every household, sweep the ground three feet deep, I want that man found!”
Hearing this, Prince Anqing’s heart blossomed with delight. He fanned the flames further. “I hear that whelp Liu Fei has already gathered troops from the border and is marching here to contend for the throne.”
“Hmph. This king shall go into the palace to see the Crown Prince right now — if Liu Fei wants to sit steady on the throne, he’ll have to ask our permission first!”
A’Luo dismounted, and the man in black knelt down with a thud. “My lady, please take care of yourself!”
A’Luo laughed despite herself. “Don’t shout like that, it makes my skin crawl!”
Anye’s eyes held a layer of warmth and respect. “For a lady willing to take such a risk for my master’s sake — the entire Black-Robe Guard is moved to tears of gratitude. Please command us as you see fit. The old Prince has instructed that you may have to endure some hardship.”
A’Luo pursed her lips. “Tell that old fox — I’ll settle the score with him later! If I lose so much as a single hair, I’ll pluck every hair out of his beard!”
She looked up, then pushed the door open and walked into Suxin Studio.
In the palace, the Queen, the Crown Prince, Wang Yanhui, and Grand Commandant Wang were all uneasy upon hearing the news. The Queen said, “Could it really be Prince Li?”
“According to our intelligence, he’s already on the road to Feng City. The Right Flank Army is no easy bone to chew!”
The Crown Prince said fiercely, “On what grounds does he dare raise troops? At the very least, I am still the rightful, legitimate Crown Prince! Don’t forget, his own consort is still here in Feng City!”
“Your Highness, calm your anger,” Wang Yanhui analyzed coolly. “My fourth brother is likely counting on the fact that you would not dare touch the Gu household. At this point, with less than a month left until the eighteenth of the third month, don’t forget — Chancellor Gu is a two-reign veteran official with countless disciples. Touching him without cause risks Gu Tianxiang flying into a rage and letting the Chen Guo army in — that would spell disaster for Ning Guo! I believe Prince Li would not dare raise troops — it would be an unjustified cause. If he brings a few thousand soldiers into the capital to mourn, no one could say a word against him. Even if we suspect rebellious intent, we can only watch and guard against it before he actually acts. That said — in three years he never once came back to Feng City to see his consort. If he truly has Li Qingluo in his heart, he must love her to the bone. Whatever the case, we must find Li Qingluo!”
“Reporting to Your Majesty and Your Highness — Prince Pingnan requests an audience outside!” a palace attendant reported in a low voice.
The four exchanged glances. Grand Commandant Wang and Wang Yanhui quickly withdrew behind the screen. The Queen said, “Let him in!”
Liu Jue strode into the hall and bowed to the Queen and the Crown Prince, covered in the dust of travel — clearly he had rushed straight here. “Prince Pingnan must be exhausted from the road. I hear Prince Anqing has also fallen ill from exhaustion — these past few days he’s had to be carried to court in a sedan chair. What brings my minister here in such haste?” the Queen asked slowly.
“This subject requests permission to duel Prince Li, to avenge the humiliation of my stolen bride!” Liu Jue said, his voice bitter.
The Queen and the Crown Prince exchanged a glance. The Crown Prince said, “We’ve only just heard that the Chancellor’s Third Young Lady was abducted by men in black — this matter—”
“The Black-Robe Guard of my household has confirmed it was the handiwork of Prince Li’s subordinates! This subject knows His Majesty has only just passed and Prince Li is coming to pay his respects, but I truly cannot swallow this humiliation. I have already ordered a citywide search! I know Prince Li is rushing from the border for the mourning, but I ask, on my own personal account, to duel him — I beg Your Majesty and the Crown Prince to grant this!” Liu Jue’s face was dark, already at the edge of fury.
“Prince Pingnan, restrain your anger for now. Let us wait until the Third Young Lady is found before we settle the matter — what if it turns out not to be my fourth brother’s doing? Wouldn’t that be an unjust accusation?” the Crown Prince said.
“This subject requests command over the three gates — as long as she remains within the city, she will be found!”
The Queen had no choice but to answer, “Prince Pingnan, restrain your fury. Granted.”
Once Liu Jue had left, Wang Yanhui frowned and spoke up. “We had no choice but to agree — Prince Pingnan already controls the south gate. Refusing him would only cause trouble too. If he doesn’t side with us, we won’t be able to control Feng City at all!”
“Daughter, don’t be so anxious,” Grand Commandant Wang said with a smile. “My Eastern Route Army is already camped fifty li outside the east gate, ready to march into Feng City at any time. I think Prince Anqing and Prince Pingnan have well and truly fallen out with the Fourth Prince.”
“Father, until we confirm where Li Qingluo is, my heart won’t be at ease!” Wang Yanhui replied. “Actually, it wouldn’t be a bad thing at all if Prince Pingnan and the Fourth Prince came to blows. Let them fight it out. Otherwise, how could we possibly feel secure!”