Rebelling within the palace wasn’t easy. The Pingyang palace was now full of Zhao Hanzhang’s people. Even the eunuchs and palace maids were carefully selected. She would rather go without than compromise, preferring to have her personal guards attend to matters rather than use palace maids whose safety couldn’t be guaranteed.
Fu Tinghan’s security was even tighter. Only their own people could even see him. Even walking through the palace, eunuchs and palace maids couldn’t encounter him. His security level exceeded even Zhao Hanzhang’s.
Ming Yu was ultimately persuaded by Zhao Hanzhang and Ji Yuan to use a two-pronged approach—he would watch Liu Yi to prevent him from harming anyone, while Ji Yuan would send out spies to contact Liu Yi and gather intelligence on Xiongnu internal secrets.
And Ji Yuan really did manage to insert someone.
He had a large intelligence network at his disposal. He directly activated spies previously planted in Pingyang City. There weren’t many, but they could serve as an introduction to bring in more operatives.
Near dusk, Zhong Yao, having received orders, grabbed his neighbor Huyan Ping and dragged him along to the palace to pay respects.
At the first invitation, Huyan Ping went, even bringing his two sons along.
He walked toward the palace with an aggressive air. Seeing shops already open for business on the main street, he immediately grew indignant. “His Majesty was harmed by that Zhao bandit, yet these people don’t think of revenge but have the heart to do business during His Majesty’s fresh mourning. They’re worse than wolves and dogs.”
His eldest son walked beside him and couldn’t help saying, “Father, everyone outside says His Majesty died of illness himself. Zhao Hanzhang not only didn’t harm His Majesty but even summoned imperial physicians to try to save him.”
“Nonsense! If she hadn’t attacked Pingyang City, would His Majesty have had no heart for recuperation? His Majesty was killed by that Zhao bandit—probably worried to death by her.”
Thinking of this made Huyan Ping’s heart ache.
But brothers Huyan Wen and Huyan Wu had been running around outside these past two days. They’d read announcement after announcement. Though some of this contained Zhao Family Army propaganda to deceive hearts, there was also some truth.
Besides, both were already fourteen, at the age of seeking positions. They knew some soldiers. They didn’t know the upper-level secrets, but they’d heard some military inside information.
The two were at the most righteous age, when their thinking was most active. They’d formed their own understanding and could think for themselves. “If you ask me, His Majesty shouldn’t have sent troops to attack Jin at this time. If he was ill, he should have recuperated properly. Moreover, Pingyang City suffered severe drought, and Bingzhou and Jizhou were even more affected by locust plagues. Our lives were already difficult. Sending troops at this time made things even harder.”
He said, “His Majesty’s action clearly showed excessive ambition. If he attacked Jin, he should have known Jin would counterattack and might even break through Pingyang City.”
“You wretched brat! Why do you think His Majesty attacked Jin?” Huyan Ping said angrily. “Wasn’t it for us? Bingzhou and Pingyang suffered disasters. Everyone was about to starve. We could only attack Jin!”
“His Majesty died for us. You don’t speak of gratitude or repaying him with your lives, yet you criticize His Majesty here!” Huyan Ping wanted to hit them. Zhong Yao quickly stopped him. “We’re on the main street—making a scene looks bad.”
He glanced around. “The Zhao Family Army are all very alert. Even if you have complaints, keep your voice down. It would be bad to get arrested.”
Only then did Huyan Ping restrain himself.
Zhong Yao said to Huyan Wen, “Regardless of whether His Majesty’s action was correct, he truly did it for our benefit. If we’d conquered Jin, we could eat well and drink well. Why would we fear drought or locust plagues?”
Huyan Ping immediately nodded. “Exactly!”
“So we can’t sit by and watch the prince suffer. We must repay His Majesty somehow,” Zhong Yao said. “The Prince of Beihai has been captured. Right now, because they’re arranging His Majesty’s funeral, that Zhao bandit hasn’t executed the prince. But once the funeral ends, who knows what indignities the prince will suffer.”
Upon hearing this, tears filled Huyan Ping’s eyes again. “Brother Zhong, you’re clever. Tell us what we should do.”
Zhong Yao said quietly, “When we enter the palace to pay respects this time, we’ll find a way to speak with the Prince of Beihai. Once the funeral ends, we’ll secretly rescue the prince and send him away. Then even if we immediately go down to see His Majesty, we’ll have no regrets.”
Huyan Ping felt he made sense and immediately agreed.
Huyan Wen on the side shuddered, a chill running down his spine. He quickly tried to dissuade them. “Father, you mustn’t!”
He looked at Zhong Yao with displeasure. “Uncle Zhong, Zhao Hanzhang is burying His Majesty with imperial rites. Not one surrendered official has died. After the Zhao Family Army entered Pingyang City, they committed no offenses. Clearly she’s a merciful person. How could such a person kill the Prince of Beihai?”
“Moreover, I heard the Prince of Beihai has a very good relationship with her—they’re good friends. This being so, Zhao Hanzhang definitely won’t kill him.”
“What good friends—that’s all fake,” Zhong Yao said. “Would you kill your way into a good friend’s home, harm his father to death, and seize your friend’s home and property?”
Of course not, but…
Huyan Wen opened his mouth, feeling this comparison wasn’t quite right. Zhao Hanzhang and the Prince of Beihai weren’t simply friends—they also represented their respective nations.
But he hadn’t thought it through yet, didn’t know how to convert his thoughts into reasoning to express.
Huyan Ping on the side glared at him menacingly. “Wen, are you Xiongnu or Han? Are you from Han or Jin? Why do you always speak up for Zhao Hanzhang?”
The silent Huyan Wu tugged at his brother’s sleeve. “Elder brother, stop talking. Father can’t out-argue you, but he can out-fight you.”
Huyan Wen fell silent.
Only then was Huyan Ping satisfied, leading them toward the palace gates.
Entering the imperial city, the roads became even wider and more people appeared. Only it wasn’t as noisy as outside. Everyone was very quiet, just hurrying toward the palace gates or out of the imperial city.
Guards stood in strict formation on both sides of the road, one person every five steps, their sharp gazes sweeping over each person.
Even the defiant Huyan Ping involuntarily lowered his head under their stares, avoiding their eyes.
Huyan Wen noticed this and snorted inwardly. As he thought—Father wasn’t so righteous and confident after all. It was only because to them, he was their father, so he could be domineering, could lord it over them, could be unreasonable.
Huyan Wen felt depressed, holding this frustration as he walked to the palace gates.
Before and after the gates, people formed two lines—the left for those coming out, the right for those going in. Whether entering or leaving, everyone had to be inspected.
Men were inspected by guards and eunuchs; women by palace maids and female officials.
No weapons were permitted inside, nor could anything be taken out from within.
After inspection, they didn’t even ask for names or household registration. They simply waved them through as casually as if entering not the palace but just another city.
Truthfully, Huyan Wen had never entered the palace before and had never imagined he would one day enter it this way. They simply said they’d come to pay respects to His Majesty, and they were let in.