As dawn approached, Gu Fu suddenly threw open the imperial tent and strode out, her face dark and stormy, with the wrath of an impending tempest. The murderous aura around her was no longer concealed.
Gu Fu seized the horse prepared by the tent and the whip from the stable hand. After mounting the horse, she forcefully cracked the whip, galloping through the tents and bonfires, heading straight for the campâs exit.
Eunuch Zhao rushed out of the imperial tent, supported by others as he ran a few steps. Pointing at Gu Fuâs departing figure with the dust whisk in his hand, he sharply and theatrically shouted to those around him, “Stop her!!”
The surrounding imperial guards quickly mounted their horses and gave chase.
The sound of hooves startled many from their sleep. They emerged from their tents, only to see the second daughter of the Gu family, dressed in men’s attire, riding a horse with the imperial guards in hot pursuit, heading straight for the campâs exit.
The campâs exit was blocked by a spiked barricade, its spearheads glinting with a cold, menacing light, yet the second daughter of the Gu family showed no intention of stoppingâshe only accelerated.
Amid a chorus of gasps, the second daughter of the Gu family galloped high into the air, leaping over the barricade and charging out of the camp.
The imperial guards chasing her were blocked by the obstacle, and by the time the spiked barricade was cleared, Gu Fu had long disappeared.
As the radiant light slowly rose in the east, before the sky fully brightened, the story of the second daughter of the Gu family stealing a horse and escaping from the camp, evading the imperial guards, had already spread throughout the camp.
However, only a few officials knew about the more severe matterâthe Prince of Yiâs rebellion, his seizure of the capital, and the burning of the Qitian Tower.
In the early morning, as people were busy boiling water and preparing meals, a eunuch disguised as a servant quietly ran into the Prince of Yiâs tent.
Inside the tent, the Prince of Yi sat before a chessboard, holding a chess piece in one hand as though deep in thought. He tapped the jade white piece against the edge of the golden nanmu chessboard, producing a rhythmic sound.
The eunuch hurried to the Prince of Yiâs side, knelt, and saluted: “Your Highness, the Prince of Yi.”
The Prince of Yi remained focused on the chess game before him, not sparing even a glance at the eunuch, and said calmly, “Speak.”
The eunuch quickly conveyed the information he had gathered: “After learning of the situation in the capital, the second daughter of the Gu family was very anxious. She is certain that Prince Ying does not have enough troops and will not be able to send forces to attack Xishan after occupying the capital. She intends to ask His Majesty to lend her the Chiyao army to retake the capital and confirm the fate of the National Preceptor, but from what Iâve heard from His Majesty⌔
“His Majesty refused.” The Prince of Yi tossed the chess piece back into the box, the sharp sound of the jade striking causing the eunuch to lower his head even further.
“Of course, he would refuse. Even though the Imperial Preceptor removed the Prince Yingâs claws for him, and even though the Marquis Zhongshun, a military genius, promised him that he would reclaim the capital, how could all of that compare to the Emperor’s own safety?”
The the Prince of Yi chuckled softly, his voice gentle as always, like flowing water: “What does it matter if theyâre brothers, or if theyâre meritorious officials? Being indulged in every way, they really thought they were different from others? Little do they know that the imperial family is mercilessâitâs just a matter of time.”
Years ago, his father, Prince Yi, had been favored by the late Emperor, only to die by execution in the end. His mother found a servant to act as his body double, set Prince Yi’s manor ablaze, and perished in the fire herselfâonly then did she manage to save his life.
Who could have imagined that before all that happened, he could freely enter the palace and call the late Emperor, who wiped out everyone in Prince Yiâs manor, “Grandfather Emperor”?
After a short while, the eunuch left the Prince of Yiâs tent, head bowed as he hurried away.
The guard standing beside the Prince of Yi with his sword in hand softly asked, âMarquis Zhongshun has already left the camp. Should we continue with the original plan?”
The Prince of Yi paused for a moment, then sighed: “I had hoped to capture the Great General of the Northwest and the imperial guards, and even the former commander of the northern border. But what a pity⌠I knew Prince Ying was foolish, but I never expected him to be foolish enough to kill the Imperial Preceptor so hastily.”
The guard said, “General Wei Xiao of the northern border is already there. Why must Your Highness continue to pursue Marquis Zhongshun? Sheâs just a woman, and sheâs already lost her military commandâŚâ
“You don’t understand.” The Prince of Yi interrupted him. “It is easy to find thousands of soldiers, but hard to find a skilled general. Besides, her true identity has yet to be exposed. The foundation she has built in the northern border cannot be compared to that of Wei Xiao.”
The Prince of Yi waved his hand dismissively. “Enough about this. Give the orders according to the plan. We strike tonight.”
“Yes.” The guard responded.
The originally planned final hunt for the day was suddenly canceled, and the Emperor issued an edict: apart from the officials he summoned, everyone elseâeven the servantsâwas to remain inside their tents.
Imperial guards surrounded the camp, plunging it into a suffocating silence, a stark contrast to the liveliness of the day before.
Inside the imperial tent, the summoned civil and military officials, aware of the situation in the capital, were embroiled in a heated argument over the next course of action.
The Emperor sat at the head of the room, one hand supporting his forehead, his face dark and grim.
In the end, the Emperor decided to send Mu Heng with the military seal to mobilize troops from Weizhou and Huzhou to escort him back to the capital. With soldiers at the city gates, they would surely be able to reclaim the capital.
Mu Heng took the military seal and swiftly led his soldiers out of the camp.
The Emperor ordered Li Yu to take the officials to a nearby tent, forbidding them from wandering around, ensuring they were ready to be summoned at any moment.
As the night deepened, the Emperor, plagued by a splitting headache, did not go to rest.
Eunuch Zhao brought a bowl of hot soup, gently saying, “Your Majesty, you haven’t eaten anything all day. Please, have at least a little.”
The Emperor silently shook his head, but even that simple movement made his head feel like it was spinning within his skull, causing him immense pain and discomfort.
Eunuch Zhao was about to urge the Emperor further when he suddenly heard a commotion behind him. The next moment, a fierce wind swept into the tent, and someone had lifted the curtain of the imperial tent without permission.
Accompanying the gust of wind was none other than the Prince of Yi, dressed in a prince’s robe. He strode in slowly, followed by a group of guards, and no one stopped him.
Eunuch Zhao was first stunned, then outraged. “Your Highness, the Prince of Yi! His Majesty did not summon you. How dare you enter the imperial tent without notification!”
Eunuch Zhao’s reprimand was so loud that the ministers in the adjacent tent, who had not yet gone to rest, all heard it. They exchanged uneasy glances before General Zhen Nan was the first to step forward. He lifted the heavy tent curtain and saw that the imperial guards who should have been stationed outside were nowhere to be seen. The entire camp was deathly silent, with only the flickering bonfires crackling in the wind, like ghostly flames.
The ministers were startled and rushed over to the imperial tent. As soon as they entered, they saw the Prince of Yi, tall and composed, standing before the Emperor, with his guards behind him.
The Prince of Yi, always gentle and refined, turned to look at them, offering the same warm smile as usual. He greeted them casually, “Gentlemen, youâre here.”
“What is Your Highness planning to do?” Hu Quan, a senior cabinet minister, was the first to question the Prince of Yi.
“Nothing much,” the Prince of Yi replied with a smile. “I just came to settle an old score with His Majesty.”
A wave of unease rippled through the ministers. Hu Quan shouted angrily, “How dare you!”
The Prince of Yi, far from angered, only smiled more deeply. He reminded them, “I’ve already had the imperial guards escort your families elsewhere. If you don’t wish to be separated from your loved ones forever, I advise you not to act rashly.”
It was only then that the ministers understood why there were no imperial guards in sight.
The Emperor, sitting behind the desk, furrowed his brows and asked, “Junzhi, what is the meaning of this?”
Junzhi was the Prince of Yi’s given name.
The Prince of Yi turned to face the Emperor and said, “I will certainly explain everything. But before that, Your Majesty, please go and see my father first.”
His fatherâthe late Prince Yiâhad been executed for treason.
As the Prince of Yi spoke, the guard at his side drew his sword and began advancing toward the Emperor. Eunuch Zhao immediately stepped in front of the Emperor, shielding him, while the ministers at the tent’s entrance tried to rush forward to protect the Emperor. However, they were blocked by the Prince of Yiâs other guards, and a fierce battle broke out between the military officials and the guards. Some of the civil officials attempted to get past them, only to be ruthlessly struck down by the guards, their injuries leaving them no choice but to hurl insults at the Prince of Yi, all decorum and restraint gone.
One minister, believing the Prince of Yi had allied with Prince Ying to orchestrate the current situation, shouted at him, âThe Emperor has already ordered General Mu to take the military seal and mobilize troops from Wei and Hu provinces. Do you really think your treacherous plot will succeed?!â
The Prince of Yi kept his eyes fixed on the Emperorâs expression and calmly responded, âHis Majesty was so enraged by Prince Yingâs rebellion that he died from it. Before his death, he specifically sent General Mu to gather troops and abdicated the throne to me. Naturally, I will lead the army back to the capital and capture that treacherous rebel, Prince Ying.â
The Prince of Yi’s ambitions were laid bare.
He no longer paid any attention to the insults being hurled at him, instead relishing the look of shock on the Emperorâs face. He eagerly awaited the moment when his guard would behead the Emperor, avenging his parents in the afterlife.
Eunuch Zhao threw himself over the Emperor in a desperate attempt to shield him. The guard raised his sword high, intending to kill both the Emperor and his loyal servant in one swift stroke, before cutting off the Emperorâs head to present it to the Prince of Yi as a trophy.
The Emperor did not look at the sword poised to take his life. Even in this dire situation, his gaze never wavered from the Prince of Yi. He said to him, âJunzhi, itâs not too late to stop.â
The Prince of Yi smiled but remained silent, and his guardâs sword came crashing down.
“But before the long blade could touch Eunuch Zhao’s clothing, blood gushed out like a fountain, covering Eunuch Zhao’s entire body and face.
A pair of black boots arrogantly stomped onto the imperial desk, the hem of a raven-blue robe fell, and at the same time, something resembling a ball rolled onto the floor.
The smile on the Prince of Yi’s face froze. He suddenly turned his head and shouted to his guards, ‘Kill them all!!’
Just as he finished speaking, a dark shadow flashed past the Prince of Yi, followed by the sound of blades slicing through flesh. The guards who had been fighting with the military officers fell one by one, their heads rolling to the ground.
Trembling, Eunuch Zhao backed away from the emperor, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the emperor’s face, which had also been stained with blood.
Having finished off the guards, Gu Fu stood in front of the utterly dumbfounded ministers, looking down at the black blade in her hand. She complained, ‘This blade is too sharp. I only meant to cut their necks, not to slice their heads off.’
Before the ministers could react, they heard the emperor ask Gu Fu, ‘How is the evacuation?’
Gu Fu replied, ‘Rest assured, Your Majesty. Li Yu and Guo Jian have already escorted the empress and the families of the ministers to the safe palace.’
‘Li Yu?!!’ The Prince of Yi exclaimed in disbelief upon hearing the name.
Gu Fu glanced at the Prince of Yi, ‘Yes, itâs Li Yu.’
She stepped up to the Prince of Yi, raising the blade and pointing it at him. ‘So, Your Highness, the Prince of Yi, why did you think that Li Yu would give up the opportunity to be the imperial in-law and instead assist you in your plans, chasing after some so-called merit for helping a new emperor ascend?’â
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