By the hour of the Monkey, the ritual officials carried the coffins of the Late Crown Prince and Late Crown Princess into the mausoleum. Zhu Nanxian led the imperial clan and officials in performing the three-kowtow, three-bow ceremonial rites.

On the west side of the mausoleum was also a Filial Piety Platform. If Zhu Lin were still here, then after the ceremonial rites, he should ascend the Filial Piety Platform to perform the imperial family’s filial rites again for Zhu Minda and Shen Jing.

But Zhu Lin’s whereabouts were unknown, so today this filial ceremony would be performed by Zhu Nanxian and Zhu Min’er in his stead.

This actually wasn’t quite proper protocol.

Zhu Min’er was one thing, but Zhu Nanxian now held the status of heir apparent—he should be the sovereign of Zhu Minda and Shen Jing.

Zhu Nanxian led Zhu Min’er up to the Filial Piety Platform. Facing the direction of the mausoleum, they first performed three kowtows and three rises in prostration, then each received the chanted text of the *Classic of Filial Piety* from the ritual officials’ hands and recited it aloud.

Officials and imperial clan members all waited below the Filial Piety Platform.

As Zhu Nanxian recited the *Classic of Filial Piety*, Zhu Zhaowei glanced at the sky. The third quarter of the hour of the Monkey—it was about time.

He looked left and right, then turned and walked toward the east side gate of the Imperial Mausoleum as if no one else existed.

Qin Sang saw Zhu Zhaowei’s movements and leaned close to Zhu Nanxian’s ear: “Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Seventh Prince has gone toward the direction of the Stele Pavilion.”

Zhu Nanxian didn’t respond to this. After finishing reciting the *Classic of Filial Piety* in his hands, lighting incense, and completing the bowing ceremony, he said: “Wait for him to bare his weapons.”

“Yes.”

The Imperial Mausoleum was located below Dulong Embankment, facing Plum Blossom Mountain to the south (note). As the hour of the Rooster approached, heaven and earth were filled with fierce mountain winds.

When Zhu Zhaowei reached the Stele Pavilion, he was blocked by two Zhongxiao Guards who said: “Seventh Prince, the Crown Prince has not yet completed the filial rites. No one may leave.”

Today he wore an imperially bestowed python robe. By rights, aside from Zhu Nanxian, no one should dare obstruct him.

Zhu Zhaowei knew that Zhu Nanxian had stationed two Zhongxiao Guards here precisely to wait for him to deploy troops first.

Deploy troops then—so be it.

He glanced left and right. His attendants on both sides simultaneously drew their swords, and in moments had slain the Zhongxiao Guards blocking their path.

As the bloodied swords were sheathed with a ringing sound, Zhu Zhaowei immediately shouted: “Manor troops, heed my command!”

These so-called manor troops were not the Manor Guard, one of the palace’s Imperial Guards, but rather Zhu Zhaowei’s integration of his manor soldiers, secret guards, and remnant old subordinates into the Seventh Prince’s Manor Army.

The sound of weapons wrapped in the long wind instantly echoed throughout the entire Imperial Mausoleum. Outside the embankment in the mountains, rebel soldiers in black armor wielding spears and shouting battle cries could be seen everywhere.

The court officials and imperial clan members guarding below the Filial Piety Platform all showed expressions of terror, looking around in panic as they searched for places to hide.

Zhu Qiyue looked back at Qi Huan, who stood at the head of the female relatives. Seeing her gazing at him, her eyes full of worry.

He smiled slightly and gently shook his head. Then he gathered all trace of his smile, turned resolutely toward Zhu Zhaowei’s direction, unsheathed the Qingya sword from his waist, raised it above his head, and also shouted: “Manor troops, heed my command!”

From the dense forest of the Imperial Mausoleum came another thunderous unified shout of imposing power: “Here—”

“Heed my command—form ranks, engage the enemy!”

“Yes!”

Accompanying this command, nearly a thousand more guards surged from around the Stele Pavilion’s perimeter, raising spears to strike at the Zhongxiao Guards before them.

Seeing this formation, the court officials and imperial clan members all fell into chaos, surging toward the Treasure Summit guarded by the Banner Guards.

Liu Chaoming glanced from afar at Zhu Zhaowei trying to escape through the east side gate, turned back, and alone went against the crowd toward Zhu Nanxian, who was descending from the Filial Piety Platform.

Along the way, he passed Zuo Qian, who called out: “Lord Liu.”

Liu Chaoming nodded once: “Take action.”

At the same time, Zhu Nanxian standing on the high platform also shouted decisively: “Take action!”

Guard Qin Sang responded: “Yes!” He immediately ascended the Filial Piety Platform and announced in a loud voice: “Huben Guard, Jinwu Guard, Fengxiang Guard, heed my command!”

Below the high platform, at the mountain’s far end, and around the Imperial Mausoleum’s perimeter, over ten thousand guards almost simultaneously responded: “Here!”

“The Seventh Prince Zhu Zhaowei has murdered Imperial Guards and intends rebellion—his crimes are heinous! The Crown Prince commands you all to swiftly apprehend him!”

“Yes!”

The entire Imperial Mausoleum instantly became a hellish battlefield, with guards wielding swords and slashing everywhere.

At this moment, twilight descended. The firmament, scorched all day by blazing sun, spread out brilliant and fierce sunset colors, as if to shroud all heaven and earth in blood-red.

Under his guards’ protection, Zhu Zhaowei retreated toward the east side gate while asking a secret guard who had caught up: “How is it?”

That secret guard said: “Just as the Seventh Prince predicted, the Crown Prince already knew we deployed troops here. He’s stationed Imperial Guards at every exit. Not to mention others, just the valiant Jinwu Guard and Huben Guard alone exceed ten thousand men.”

Zhu Zhaowei pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard a nearby secret guard call out: “Twelfth Prince.”

Zhu Zhaowei abruptly turned to look and saw Zhu Qiyue indeed approaching him with the Qingya sword.

He frowned and asked: “What are you doing here?”

Zhu Qiyue said: “I’ve mustered troops to guard your rear, Seventh Brother.”

Zhu Zhaowei was somewhat angry: “Didn’t you hear what charge Zhu Nanxian put on me? Rebellion and treason. And you still follow? You truly don’t know the gravity of things!”

Zhu Qiyue didn’t answer this.

He raised his eyes to look at the guards fighting everywhere, contemplated for a moment, then said: “Seventh Brother’s manor troops total only twelve hundred men. Even though this place is located at a narrow pass, they’re absolutely no match for the Imperial Guards. I’m afraid they’re insufficient to guard your rear. Give these men to me, plus the nine hundred men in my hands. Have them all heed my command—I can hold out for you.” After thinking again, he added: “Also, don’t head toward the east side gate anymore. The ambush there will certainly be heaviest. Go toward the Pivot Star Gate, exit through the main entrance. There are only Zhongxiao Guards and Banner Guards stationed there who haven’t received Zhu Nanxian’s command. With your imperially bestowed python robe, they won’t dare stop you.”

Exiting through the main gate was originally the most difficult route, but at this moment with Zhu Qiyue guarding the rear, it became the path with the greatest hope of survival.

However, hearing these words, Zhu Zhaowei didn’t immediately move. He only asked: “And what about you?”

An Imperial Guard broke through the siege and charged forward. Zhu Qiyue dodged to the side, Qingya left its sheath, and he swung the sword in one strike.

As fresh blood splattered, the sword had already been returned to its sheath.

Zhu Qiyue glanced sideways at Zhu Zhaowei, saying without fear: “Seventh Brother can rest assured. I’ve campaigned for so many years and witnessed scenes of hundreds of thousands of troops. How could I possibly perish here?”

A flash of complex emotion crossed Zhu Zhaowei’s eyes, his brow furrowing slightly. After a moment, he actually sighed: “Ah, you really are—” He paused. “So annoying.”

Zhu Qiyue remembered that when they were young, Seventh Brother had been the mildest, good-tempered with everyone. Only toward himself, who knew his true nature yet insisted on following him, would he always say this one phrase—”so annoying.”

He smiled, raised his sword, leapt onto his horse, and held the long sword high. The sword’s gleam reflected the almost tragic sunset colors at heaven’s edge: “All manor troops, heed my command—”

“Here—”

Zhu Zhaowei watched Zhu Qiyue command from horseback. The guards who had been scattered everywhere suddenly seemed to find their backbone, surging to the front of the Stele Pavilion, forming ranks to build for him a human wall like bronze walls and iron ramparts.

A nearby secret guard said: “Seventh Prince, opportunity doesn’t wait—hurry and leave.”

Zhu Zhaowei nodded. After walking a few steps, he suddenly halted and asked: “I told you to capture a living Zhongxiao Guard. Did you bring him?”

“Already brought,” the secret guard said, then glanced behind.

The attendants behind immediately brought forward a bound person and presented him before Zhu Zhaowei.

Zhu Zhaowei looked at this Zhongxiao Guard and said: “You go tell Zhu Nanxian and Liu Yun that this prince buried gunpowder on the route Su Shiyu took leaving the palace. It’s not in Yingtian City—it’s in a place much closer…”

A nearby secret guard, hearing these words, couldn’t help but say: “Your Highness, why do you want to tell the Crown Prince and Lord Liu about the gunpowder at this moment?” He paused, then explained: “This subordinate believes this isn’t the best timing.”

How could Zhu Zhaowei not understand the reasoning in the secret guard’s words?

Right now, with Zhu Qiyue leading troops to guard the rear, he could already successfully reach Pivot Star Gate.

He should wait until after exiting Pivot Star Gate, or even after leaving the Imperial Mausoleum through the main gate and departing Yingtian Prefecture, before telling Zhu Nanxian and Liu Yun about this matter. Only that way could he buy himself sufficient time.

But Zhu Zhaowei fell silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but turn back to look at that figure commanding from horseback—Zhu Qiyue’s back.

When they were young, that little Twelfth Brother who always clung to him, so small in stature, had grown into a towering tree, thinking he could shelter others under his protection.

Zhu Zhaowei truly couldn’t understand—in his heartless, unfeeling life, how did he encounter such a stubborn fool who always insisted on unilaterally wielding his sword, sacrificing his life to protect him?

Even if he himself could safely escape, blades and swords had no eyes. Would Twelve perish here?

Ah, he really was so annoying.

Once again, Zhu Zhaowei said to the bound Zhongxiao Guard before him: “Go tell Thirteen and Liu Yun—either go save Su Shiyu now, or see her again in the next life.”

“Yes, yes.” After being unbound, that Zhongxiao Guard kowtowed in acknowledgment.

“Your Highness—”

The secret guard at his side wanted to say more, but Zhu Zhaowei raised his hand to stop him. He didn’t let him continue speaking and strode toward the direction of Pivot Star Gate.

Zhu Nanxian stood on the stone steps of the Filial Piety Platform, raising his eyes to watch the Imperial Guards fighting throughout the Imperial Mausoleum.

Though these soldiers were led by Zuo Qian, because they were distributed too scattered, and Zhu Qiyue was leading troops to hold the narrow pass leading to Pivot Star Gate, they couldn’t stop Zhu Zhaowei for the moment.

Zhu Qiyue was a general of great talent who had led troops in Lingnan. His military tactics were renowned for cunning, and he excelled at using terrain to deploy different formations to resist enemies. With his strategic ability, though he commanded only two thousand manor troops, holding a narrow pass for a while wasn’t difficult.

Zhu Nanxian thought it over. Just as he was about to descend from the high platform to personally lead troops, he suddenly saw Jinwu Guards in the distance leading a panicked Zhongxiao Guard rushing toward him.

This Zhongxiao Guard knew the matter he was about to report was of utmost importance. Upon seeing Zhu Nanxian and Liu Chaoming, he prostrated himself on the ground, trembling as he said: “Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, reporting to Lord Liu—the Seventh Prince told, told this humble person to relay a message to Your Highness and my lord. He said he previously stockpiled some sulfur and secretly purchased saltpeter using his private funds, so it couldn’t be traced. He’s already made gunpowder. He didn’t bury it in Yingtian City but buried it on the route the envoy lord and vice minister lord took leaving the capital.”

Hearing these words, both Liu Chaoming and Zhu Nanxian were stunned. The two seemed to understand yet also seemed not to. After a long while, Liu Chaoming said: “What did you say?” Then: “Say it again.”

The Zhongxiao Guard also knew that in his panic, his words had been incoherent. He swallowed and nodded vigorously: “This humble person just said, Vice Minister Su and Envoy Lord—”

Before he could finish speaking, they suddenly heard a horse’s neighing.

Zhu Nanxian and Liu Chaoming looked up and saw that Shen Xi, disregarding Imperial Mausoleum protocol, had ridden his horse all the way to the mausoleum area.

Shen Xi dismounted and strode forward, directly pushing aside the Zhongxiao Guard blocking his way. He glanced at Zhu Nanxian frozen in place, then at the somewhat bewildered Liu Chaoming. First taking a deep breath, he then said: “I’m going to tell you, but you absolutely must not panic.”

“Zhu Zhaowei buried gunpowder on the route Su Shiyu took escorting the envoy out of the city.”

“He told all his people the gunpowder was buried in Yingtian City.”

“Actually it’s not.”

“This is his smokescreen.”

“I thought it through carefully on my way here—when he deployed troops should be when the gunpowder detonated.”

“So right now—” Shen Xi looked back at the guards shouting and killing throughout the mountains and mausoleum, this blood-soaked battlefield. “The gunpowder should have already exploded.”

The sunset colors were so red they seemed to drip blood from the sky’s edge.

Again brilliant, dazzling, about to illuminate the mortal world into a dark underworld.

The guards fighting far and near suddenly transformed into demon generals wielding halberds and forks, each move and stance stealing souls and seizing spirits.

Clearly weapons clashed and horses ran wild, clearly crushing people’s hearts and minds, yet there was no sound.

Not a single sound could be heard anymore.

Liu Chaoming stood extremely still and silent in place. The slanting sunset shone upon him, stretching a long, lonely, solitary shadow on the ground.

His entire person was wrapped in this dark shadow. His usually calm, self-possessed eyes were suddenly filled with confusion, as if he didn’t know what to do.

Zhu Nanxian also froze in place without moving.

For a long while, he raised his eyes to look at the distant silent combat, at the palace towers amid the myriad sunset colors and verdant mountain reflections at the sky’s edge. All these colors woven like brocade falling into his eyes became a blur of gray.

He took a step forward as if unable to summon strength, his ankle weakening and nearly collapsing to the ground.

Qin Sang at his side quickly stepped forward to steady him, saying: “Your Highness, be careful.”

In this world of utter silence, a sound suddenly entering his ears startled Zhu Nanxian.

He seemed to finally react. Looking at Shen Xi, then at his own shadow on the ground, he abruptly pushed Qin Sang away, straightened up, glanced around, turned and went to untie the horse fastened to the imperial palanquin. Halfway through untying it, he felt something was wrong. He seized a blade from a nearby guard’s waist, turned back and was about to lead away the horse Shen Xi had just ridden into the Imperial Mausoleum.

Shen Xi grabbed Zhu Nanxian’s arm: “What are you doing?!”

“I’m going to save Ayu.”

Zhu Nanxian’s voice was terrifyingly hoarse.

“How will you save her?” Shen Xi said. “That’s gunpowder. What use would you be going there?”

As he spoke, he took another breath: “When I came here, I already ordered the palace’s physicians and guards to rush there, but I’m afraid it’s not enough.”

Zhu Nanxian said nothing in silence, broke free of Shen Xi’s hand, and again tried to lead the horse.

Shen Xi grabbed the reins: “Give me the troops. I’ll go save her.” He paused, then added: “It’s Zhu Qiyue leading troops here. Only you can deal with him. You cannot let Zhu Zhaowei return to Fengyang—that would be releasing a tiger back to the mountain.”

Once Zhu Zhaowei returned to Fengyang, if he one day raised an army, it would inevitably result in massive loss of life.

And the Great Sui, already devastated and with wars erupting at all four borders, could no longer withstand such internal conflict.

Shen Xi looked at Zhu Nanxian and finally said: “Thirteen, with position comes responsibility.”

Zhu Nanxian opened his mouth and said hoarsely: “But I cannot—”

“Let me go.” At this time, Liu Chaoming spoke.

He seemed to have recovered from his earlier confusion, yet also seemed not to have.

He turned and looked at that road blocked by Zhu Qiyue’s troops, the road leading to Pivot Star Gate, leading to the main entrance. His entire being was in an extremely still posture: “You stay here and kill him.”

Liu Chaoming didn’t say who “him” was, but Zhu Nanxian understood—this person could be none other than Zhu Zhaowei.

The fierce wind swept past, carrying thick scents of blood.

Zhu Nanxian looked at Liu Yun.

Actually, he didn’t want to entrust Ayu’s life to anyone’s hands. Only by going himself to see her, to confirm she was still alive, could he feel at ease.

But he also knew that in this world, if there could be another person who could spare no effort, spare no life to protect Su Shiyu as he would, it was only this Liu Yun standing before him, so utterly different from himself.

After a moment, Zhu Nanxian nodded: “I’m giving you the Jinwu Guard.”

He called out: “Zuo Qian, from this moment on, you heed only Liu Yun’s commands.”

Zuo Qian was stunned: “But Your Highness here—”

Zhu Nanxian lowered his eyes and shook his head. His Adam’s apple moved up and down. When he opened his mouth, he couldn’t help but let out a choked sob, then said again to Liu Chaoming: “You must—bring her back alive.”