Thunder and lightning through the midnight hours, wild wind and rain all night long.

The rain was so heavy—as if heaven wanted to pour down next year’s rain all in this one night.

At daybreak, the rain gradually lessened, and the sky gradually brightened.

The palace servants of the Crown Prince’s palace breathed long sighs of relief, thinking if the rain continued like this, the Grand Prince’s bridal procession would be quite miserable.

At this time, the Grand Prince had already washed and dressed. In full wedding robes, he entered the Crown Prince’s sleeping chamber.

After paying respects to the Crown Prince and his consort, he, surrounded by guards, boarded a carriage and headed straight for the imperial palace.

Emperor Yonghe didn’t wait inside the hall as usual but stood on the last tier of steps.

Very tall, wearing bright yellow dragon robes, he stood quietly under a large umbrella watching his most beloved grandson approach step by step.

When their eyes met, Zhao Yishi was about to bow when the Emperor suddenly grasped his hand.

“Your Majesty?”

He was startled.

The Emperor coldly glanced at the attendants behind him.

“All of you withdraw. We will accompany the Grand Prince for a stretch.”

“Yes!”

Zhao Yishi took the umbrella an attendant passed to him. “Your Majesty, watch your step.”

The Emperor frowned slightly, looking at him. After a moment, he said:

“Shi’er, do you know why an emperor must hide deep within this palace, where even his pillow companion cannot easily see him?”

Zhao Yishi replied, “There are too many people in this world with ulterior motives.”

“Because when hidden, looking outward, you can see myriad forms.”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly.

“You can see the selfish heart of your pillow companion, see the schemes of ministers, see the ambitions of those eunuchs behind you. Seeing these, you understand when to be ruthless and when to endure.”

Zhao Yishi’s heart thumped.

“Shi’er, the greatest taboo in life is smooth sailing. What goes smoothly will eventually overturn.”

Emperor Yonghe said slowly:

“These years, We deliberately put you between the Crown Prince and Ourselves, intentionally making you suffer. After you swallow that bitterness, when you encounter other matters, you can handle them with ease. Shi’er, even emperors have grievances and sorrows.”

Zhao Yishi looked with some surprise at the old man beside him, suddenly realizing that after following him for over a decade, he’d only learned superficial things.

“Go.”

Emperor Yonghe released his grandson’s hand, his face showing a kind smile. “Don’t look back.”

The path of life—just walk it.

Look back once, and your heart softens.

For an emperor, a soft heart is most taboo.

“Imperial Grandfather, your grandson takes his leave!”

Zhao Yishi bowed, turned, and strode forward, never looking back again.

…

Walking out the palace gates.

The first people Zhao Yishi saw were Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao. These two—one in official robes, one in white—shared an umbrella.

Zhao Yishi smiled faintly at them and, with an attendant’s support, boarded the bridal carriage.

The ceremonial official called out loudly, “His Highness the Grand Prince departs!”

Ceremonial music began. The group proceeded in grand procession toward the Wu residence.

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao exchanged glances. Both donned thin rain capes, mounted horses, and followed in the middle of the bridal procession.

As Huairen’s groomsmen, they accompanied him throughout.

This was also the first time they openly stood beside Huairen. In Huairen’s words—it was time to let others know whom the Grand Prince valued most!

When the procession reached Vermillion Bird Gate, the surroundings suddenly grew lively.

Commoners on both sides of the road held umbrellas, craning their necks, vying to glimpse the Grand Prince’s wedding spectacle.

Between the commoners and the bridal carriage stood two human walls formed by rows of Imperial Guards.

Xie Zhifei glanced at Pei Xiao. Years of experience catching thieves told him—the true danger hid among these tightly packed commoners.

Pei Xiao broke out in a palm full of sweat, his gaze occasionally lifting upward.

He didn’t know where Hero Li was hiding. If assassins truly attacked, she absolutely must hide behind Zhu Qing. Don’t charge forward mindlessly.

The procession passed through four streets. The watching crowd grew denser.

Xie Zhifei looked at that dark, chaotic mass of people. For some reason, an ominous feeling suddenly rose in his heart.

He jumped down from the carriage, walked to the very front of the procession. Just as he was about to remind them to move faster, suddenly a flash of white light crossed before his eyes.

Before he could react to what that white light was, he heard Shen Chong roar:

“Protect His Highness! Assassins!”

Countless arrows fell like flying rain, heading straight for the bridal carriage.

The sudden change was too quick to react to.

The Imperial Guards hadn’t even had time to draw their blades when the bridal carriage was shot full of holes like a beehive.

The commoners never expected such a scene. They fled in panic. The tide of people instantly broke through the Imperial Guards’ defensive line.

In the chaos, shadow guards from Prince Han’s residence mixed among the commoners struck with their blades. Over a dozen Imperial Guards had their throats slit in unison.

For a moment, the entire bridal procession was thrown into turmoil, people and horses tumbling in confusion.

Just then, countless black-clothed figures jumped down from high walls, heading straight for the bridal carriage.

Shen Chong’s pupils contracted sharply as he raised his sword to meet them.

After brief panic, the Imperial Guards quickly reacted and engaged the black-clothed fighters.

Xie Zhifei pushed through the bridal party, rushed to the carriage front, and yanked the curtain aside. He saw the Grand Prince sitting pale-faced amid dense arrows.

The nearest arrowhead was only three inches from his temple.

So close!

Fortunately, the carriage walls had been reinforced with extra wooden boards at the last minute, otherwise…

“Your Highness, stay inside the carriage. Don’t come out no matter what. This subject will quickly capture the rebels.”

Xie Zhifei picked up a longsword from the ground. By the carriage wheel, Pei Xiao’s head poked out.

“Xie Fifty, you damned well better be careful.”

“You damned well better hide well.”

Xie Zhifei roared at him, “Remember the signal flare.”

Oh no, forgot about the signal flare.

Pei Xiao quickly scrambled under the carriage wheel, trembling as he pulled out a signal flare from his chest, then extended his body outward.

The flare shot out with a piercing whistle, straight into the clouds.

This was pre-arranged—once this flare was fired, all the Emperor’s personal guards, Crown Prince’s personal guards, and Imperial Guards throughout the capital would rush over.

“That bastard Zhao Yanjin, this young master will make you go but never re…”

The word “turn” hadn’t left his mouth when Pei Xiao’s eyes suddenly widened.

What did he see?

On the wall—a row of arrows was aimed at him and the carriage behind him.

What the hell!

How many shadow guards did Prince Han’s residence actually raise!

It’s over. This young master really won’t return.

Just then, he saw two figures attack from behind the archers.

Pei Xiao’s eyes lit up—it was Hero and Zhu Qing.

The swords in their hands were so fast they could be described as lightning. In an instant, they’d brought down seven or eight men.

Haha, saved!

But Li Buyan’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

These black-clothed fighters were extremely skilled, and there were so many. She and Zhu Qing pulled off “mantis catches cicada, oriole behind” and barely succeeded by chance.

Now in direct combat, the situation was dire.

She shouted, “Young Master Pei, drive the carriage and take His Highness away. There are too many ambushed here—I’m afraid we can’t hold out.”

As her voice rang out—

The two men in and outside the carriage both felt a shock in their hearts.

The one inside was shocked: How is she here?

The one outside was shocked: If I leave, what about her?