Tuoba Liuxiu bypassed the checkpoints and returned to New Pingcheng.

As soon as he entered the city, he fell from his horse and lost consciousness.

The tribal generals who came to meet him were alarmed and quickly asked the followers who returned with him, “What happened to the Eldest Prince?”

They had fled for two days and two nights. Afraid of attracting pursuers, they hadn’t even dared light fires, catching wild roe deer in the wilderness to eat raw. They alternated between two horses, and in between nearly ran into pursuers coming to intercept them, taking a long detour to return.

Tuoba Liuxiu was only briefly unconscious—less than a quarter hour before he regained consciousness. He ordered: “Muster the troops. I’m going back to bring my mother home.”

Several generals exchanged glances and complied, immediately going to prepare.

Tuoba Liuxiu, supporting himself with someone’s hand, stood up. He first stuffed his belly with a bowl of sheep’s milk and a large flatbread before saying: “Send people to investigate the troop strength on the other side of the river. Find a way to get their defense map. This battle must be quick and decisive.”

Seeing he had calmed down somewhat, Suhe Xiong asked in detail: “Eldest Prince, how did things with the Great King reach this point? You went to Pingcheng to go to Luoyang to congratulate the new emperor on ascending the throne, didn’t you?”

Tuoba Liuxiu said: “Father has long found me displeasing. He sent me here to pave the way for Tuoba Biyan. This time was the same.”

He recounted everything that happened in Pingcheng. The generals were all enraged. “We are willing to follow the Eldest Prince to rescue the princess.”

Suhe Xiong also stopped objecting, only saying: “We’ll only rescue her. You mustn’t clash with the Great King again. Even if there’s fighting, let us do it. As long as you don’t act personally, there’s still a chance for reconciliation.”

Just as they were speaking, a fast horse arrived with news: “Eldest Prince, news has come from across the river. They say the princess… the princess has passed away.”

Tuoba Liuxiu froze, his facial expression going blank.

“Officials from Pingcheng have arrived, saying the Great King summons the Eldest Prince.”

Tuoba Liuxiu steadied himself against the table and stood, his whole body swaying. He asked: “Where are they?”

“They’re, they’re outside.”

Suhe Xiong wanted to stop him. “Eldest Prince…”

Tuoba Liuxiu pushed his hand away, his gaze fixed straight ahead as he stumbled toward the exit.

The official sent by Tuoba Yilu stood with his head bowed at the side of the earthen house, very worried about his own fate.

The Eldest Prince was not good-tempered. This time he came not only to summon the Eldest Prince but also to inform him of Lady Zao’s death. He didn’t know if he could return safely to Pingcheng.

Tuoba Liuxiu ran out the door and immediately fixed his eyes on him.

The official sighed inwardly, raised his hand in salute and said: “This humble official Li Jing pays respects to the Eldest Prince.”

Tuoba Liuxiu saw at a glance that he was Han Chinese and directly asked: “What happened to my mother?”

Li Jing lowered his eyes respectfully and said: “Lady Zao blocked the Great King’s guards. She and fifteen guards all… died in battle. The Great King has already buried them. The Eldest Prince disrespected the Great King and fled together with Lady Zao. The Great King is very angry, so he orders the Eldest Prince to return to Pingcheng immediately to receive punishment.”

Tuoba Liuxiu’s lips trembled slightly. He wanted to say something but couldn’t. His vision blurred and he fell backward.

Suhe Xiong and the others cried out in alarm, hurrying to catch Tuoba Liuxiu. They carried him back and quickly sent someone to fetch a physician.

Li Jing stood to the side watching, sighing again inwardly. He quietly withdrew, planning to wait until he woke up before mentioning returning to Pingcheng.

However, he felt that Tuoba Liuxiu would very likely not go with him.

No, the awakened Tuoba Liuxiu decided to go to Pingcheng—with a large army.

Full of rage, as soon as he woke up he smashed everything in the room, saying to Suhe Xiong: “I’m going. I’m going to level Pingcheng!”

How could Suhe Xiong let him go? He hurriedly advised: “The Great King did all this to provoke you. Going now is wrong, but not going is even more wrong. He can think of any excuse to kill you.”

Others also advised Tuoba Liuxiu not to go. “Lady Zao is already dead. What use is it for you to go now? They used their lives to save you. If you go to Pingcheng now, isn’t that throwing your life away? Then they died for nothing.”

Tuoba Liuxiu clenched his fists. “Are my vengeance and hatred just supposed to dissipate like this?”

Suhe Xiong said: “Eldest Prince, you should go to Luoyang and file a complaint!”

“What use is going to Luoyang? Can the emperor manage affairs of our Dai Kingdom?”

“The emperor cannot manage them, but the emperor can decide whether or not to establish an heir,” Suhe Xiong said. “The Great King is doing these things for two reasons: first, to make the Xianbei tribes accept the Third Prince as successor, and second, to have the court confer and confirm the Third Prince’s status as heir.

“You go to Luoyang. The new emperor is your aunt. She has always favored you. If you go to complain and prevent the Third Prince from becoming heir,” Suhe Xiong said, “The Great King, in order to make the Third Prince heir, will certainly slander you before the new emperor. So you must vindicate yourself.”

“But, but we don’t have an invitation,” Tuoba Suzhou said. “Without an invitation from the court, vassal kings, regional governors, and local military commanders cannot freely go to Luoyang.”

Not only could they not freely go to Luoyang, they also couldn’t freely leave their own jurisdictions to go to others’ territories.

For instance, if Tuoba Liuxiu one day ventured into the interior of Bingzhou without notice, if Beigong Chun saw him and speared him through, it wouldn’t be a crime.

And from New Pingcheng to Luoyang, they would need to pass through many cities. Even if they secretly infiltrated there, they wouldn’t be able to see anyone once in Luoyang, right?

Tuoba Liuxiu lowered his eyes. “I know. There’s one person who can help, but… am I really just going to Luoyang like this?”

He still wanted to attack Pingcheng directly rather than pitifully go to Luoyang seeking comfort and justice.

Suhe Xiong urged him: “Think of Lady Zao. You can’t just throw your life away.”

No one believed that Tuoba Liuxiu could defeat Tuoba Yilu with just the few people in New Pingcheng.

Tuoba Yilu thought the same way. He felt that with his military strength and ability, as long as he sent troops, he could level New Pingcheng in one day.

So even though they were about to depart, he was still weighing his options. “Perhaps I can first send troops to New Pingcheng. After everything is settled, I can ride fast to Luoyang. There will still be time.”

Wei Xiong immediately advised: “The new emperor’s enthronement is imminent. News of warfare at this time would not be good.” Especially warfare between father and son.

Tuoba Yilu snorted. “Dai Kingdom is Dai Kingdom, and Hua Kingdom is Hua Kingdom. Even when the Jin Emperor was alive, he couldn’t interfere in my Dai Kingdom’s internal affairs, let alone matters between my son and me. Zhao Hanzhang has only just ascended the throne—she’s the one who least wants changes on the border.

“Otherwise, if I loudly proclaim I am a Jin subject and don’t recognize this usurper, what can she do?”

Wei Xiong said: “Great King, Dai Kingdom cannot defeat her.”

Tuoba Yilu choked, then asked: “Does she dare let warfare break out across the realm again? She has only just ascended the throne.”

With this rebuttal, Tuoba Yilu increasingly wanted to settle this matter first to avoid further complications once in Luoyang. “Those Han people are the most troublesome, binding themselves with all sorts of ritual regulations, yet they’re also the ones who least observe ritual regulations. What if they still don’t approve of Biyan as heir? Better that I first sweep away domestic obstacles. Then when I petition to establish an heir, it will be even more legitimate.”

For the first time, Wei Xiong deeply understood that people truly do become more muddled and stubborn with age.

When Tuoba Yilu was young, although he was also domineering and severe in law, he could still listen to advice. But now…

Wei Xiong was too disappointed to speak. Ji Dan, standing nearby, was also disappointed, and thoughts of retreat sprouted in his heart.

Although Tuoba Yilu had this idea, he hadn’t yet discussed it with his generals, so he hadn’t made a decision. Just at this moment, chaos erupted in the rear palace, and sounds of screaming came through.

Tuoba Yilu was slightly stunned, then immediately stood up, grabbed his great blade, and headed toward the rear courtyard.