Blossom

The room was silent, a deathly stillness hanging in the air.

Only the innocent Yuan Ge'er, peeking out from his grandmother's embrace, broke the silence with his clear voice calling out, "Uncle!"

Gu Yu lifted his head, his eyes red and slightly moist.

"Yuan Ge'er!" He forced a smile. "Uncle has wronged you." As he spoke, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

Dou Zhao shot Duan Gongyi a glance and said, "What kind of talk is that? We're already deeply grateful that you rushed here from Tianjin. This matter wasn't something you could control—why take all the blame on yourself? Get up now. If your nephew sees you crouching on the ground like this, he'll laugh at you."

Duan Gongyi and Chen Xiaofeng immediately stepped forward, each taking one of Gu Yu's arms to help him up. Duan Gongyi asked bluntly, "Young Master Gu, since you knew something had happened here, did you inform the Young Lord? Has Prince Liao really entered the palace as they claimed?"

Gu Yu allowed himself to be pulled up, dazed, and said to Dou Zhao, "It was those two wretched servants my aunt assigned to me who gave me away. I only learned of my cousin's situation yesterday and immediately found a reason to detain them. I rode day and night to reach the Capital, but I was too late—the city gates were already closed. Even with the imperial token the Emperor granted me, I couldn't get in. Remembering that Brother Tianci mentioned a few days ago that you and Yuan Ge'er were staying at the Fragrant Mountain Estate to escape the summer heat, I decided to come see you. I never thought..."

He lowered his head in anguish.

In other words, Gu Yu hadn't had the chance to warn Song Mo.

Everyone's expressions darkened.

Yuan Ge'er called out uneasily, "Mother!"

Dou Zhao walked over and picked up her son.

Chen Xiaofeng pressed his lips together and stepped forward to bow. "Madam, please entrust the young master to us. As long as we draw breath, no harm will come to him."

Dawn was approaching. If they could hold out until daybreak, they might have a chance to break through the encirclement and find a way into the city to contact Song Mo.

Only by reaching Song Mo could they resolve the siege at the Fragrant Mountain Estate.

But the thought of being separated from her son filled Dou Zhao with unbearable pain.

After a moment's hesitation, she kissed her son's little face, tears in her eyes, and handed Yuan Ge'er to Chen Xiaofeng.

Gu Yu immediately understood their plan.

He straightened his back and stepped forward. "Sister-in-law, let me escort Yuan Ge'er into the city."

"No!" Dou Zhao shook her head without hesitation. "You're too conspicuous. You should focus on finding a way out of the estate to send word to your Brother Tianci."

By now, even if he sent word, it would likely be too late.

Gu Yu kept this thought to himself, not daring to voice it to Dou Zhao.

"Then I'll stay here with you, Sister-in-law," he said, his eyes flashing with ferocity. "They want to invite you to Prince Liao's Residence as a guest—"

"It's not as dire as you think!" Dou Zhao's heart raced, but she softened her tone to reassure him. "They only want to capture me and Yuan Ge'er to threaten your Brother Tianci—"

Before she could finish, screams and roars erupted from outside.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

Yuan Ge'er squirmed in fear, reaching for Dou Zhao.

She took him back into her arms as Gu Yu lifted the curtain to look outside.

"Sister-in-law!" His face lit up with joy. "Someone's come to rescue us!"

At this hour, who could possibly come to their aid?

"Ah!" Dou Zhao, half in doubt and half in hope, ran over anxiously to look.They saw that the bows and crossbows previously aimed at them had all shifted direction, with many arrows now flying toward Liao Wang's men. One after another, his followers were shot down from the rooftops, falling lifeless into the courtyard.

"This—" Dou Zhao was both shocked and delighted.

"Who could it be?" Gu Yu's eyes sparkled. "But they must have been sent by Brother Tianci to rescue us—no, perhaps Brother Tianci himself has arrived!"

Dou Zhao hoped the same.

A voice called out from the other courtyard: "Sister-in-law, it's Chen Zan Zhi. I've been sent by the Young Lord to suppress these rebels. Don't be alarmed—the Divine Machine Battalion is with me, and we've brought firearms."

"Amitabha!" Dou Zhao couldn't help but murmur.

Though she didn't know how Chen Jia had learned of their plight, the fact that he had brought the Divine Pivot Camp proved the situation was still under Song Mo's control.

A deafening explosion lit up the sky with flames, sending several men tumbling from the rooftops.

Gu Yu's spirits soared. Eagerly retrieving his sword, he said, "Sister-in-law, take your son and hide. They'll surely fight desperately and attack us fiercely."

Before he could finish, Duan Gongyi and Chen Xiaofeng stepped forward. "We'll go with you!" they declared.

Gu Yu nodded decisively and flung open the door.

Dou Zhao hurried after him. "Brother-in-law, two hands can't fend off four fists. Use the side rooms for cover. As long as we don't go out, they can't harm us."

"Without their bows, the outcome is anyone's guess!" Gu Yu's gaze was resolute. "Hiding inside is too stifling!"

Duan Gongyi, who usually held little regard for Gu Yu, now looked at him with newfound respect.

He clapped Gu Yu on the shoulder. "Well said! That's the spirit of a true man. It's unthinkable to hide inside while our lord fights outside. Young Master, I'll go with you. Even if we die, they won't set foot in this room."

By staying outside, they could form a defensive line. If they fought inside and Liao Wang's men broke through, Dou Zhao and Yuan Ge'er would face the rebels directly.

Gu Yu laughed heartily and, with Duan Gongyi and the few remaining guards, stepped out, closing the door behind them to seal Dou Zhao, Yuan Ge'er, and the grandmother inside.

Tears welled in the grandmother's eyes.

Yuan Ge'er whispered anxiously to his mother, "Why won't Uncle hold me?"

Dou Zhao couldn't hold back her tears. "Uncle is driving away the bad men for you," she choked out. "Once they're gone, he'll come play with you."

Yuan Ge'er nodded obediently. "I'll be good and not disturb Uncle."

Dou Zhao hugged him tightly.

※※

At the entrance of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the Crown Prince stepped forward and grasped Song Mo's hand tightly. His lips moved as if to speak, but in the end, he only sighed softly.

"Your Highness!" Cui Yijun cast a complicated glance at Song Mo and whispered to the Crown Prince, "Should we summon someone from the Grand Secretariat to reason with Liao Wang?"

His implication was clear—to bring a Grand Secretary as a witness.

"No need!" Ji Yong fumed. "I detoured to the duty room earlier—our Grand Secretary Dai was fast asleep and couldn't be roused. They're all cunning men with no regard for the state!"

The Crown Prince's face darkened.

The clash outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity grew fiercer.

Cui Yijun could no longer conceal the anxiety etched between his brows.Song Mo whispered, "Your Highness, perhaps you should step forward and persuade Liao Wang. It would set the Emperor's mind at ease."

Or rather, let the Emperor see Liao Wang's treacherous ambitions.

The Crown Prince was an intelligent man, but due to his position, he had never been allowed to make decisions. Over time, he had lost the ability to form his own opinions.

After hearing Song Mo's words, he pondered carefully before pushing aside the Golden Guard blocking his path and raising his voice, "Fifth Brother, among all of us, Father Emperor loves you the most. He even issued an edict summoning you to the palace because Empress Mother said she missed you dearly after not seeing you for so long. If you have grievances, why not speak properly with Father Emperor instead of resorting to holding him hostage? Father Emperor is advanced in years—how can he endure such turmoil? Release him at once!"

The Crown Prince's words were relayed layer by layer into the palace. After a long pause, Liao Wang's voice echoed from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility: "Eldest Brother, how can you say I'm the one tormenting Father Emperor? Clearly, it's you who has been troubling him—preventing him from entrusting state affairs to you even to this day! There's no need for you to feign loyalty and filial piety here. If you truly were loyal and filial, you would surrender yourself and exchange your life for Father Emperor's safety."

The Crown Prince froze.

Cui Junyi broke out in a cold sweat.

As if anticipating the Crown Prince's reaction, Liao Wang laughed loudly, "Eldest Brother, you must be in quite a dilemma now! But I'm not like you—incapable of anything except putting on an act! The Five Armies Battalion and the Imperial Bodyguard are under my command. With the Five Armies Battalion outside and the Imperial Bodyguard inside, what use is Song Yantang standing by your side? Don’t forget—the Divine Pivot Camp is far away in the Western Mountains! You’ve monopolized the inner palace, poisoned the Emperor, and repeatedly clouded his judgment. When Empress Mother discovered your vile deeds, she feared you would silence her to cover your crimes and wrong the Emperor. So she secretly sent Martial Retainers to summon me to the capital to protect the throne!"

What a perfect excuse!

Ji Yong cursed inwardly.

If not for his concern for Dou Zhao and her child, why would he have taken sides so early?

Now, he had assumed Song Mo would have a backup plan given his capabilities. Who knew Song Mo was a paper tiger—impressive in appearance but useless when it mattered, even dragging Dou Zhao and her child into danger.

He glared fiercely at Song Mo.

Song Mo pretended not to notice, standing silently as he listened to the Crown Prince and Liao Wang exchange words.

A bloodied Golden Guard rushed over, "Your Highness, Lord Song! Deputy General Ma Youming of the Divine Pivot Camp has arrived with his troops to rescue His Majesty!"

Song Mo looked up, his eyes shining like morning stars.

Ji Yong's heart clenched.

"What did you say?" Cui Yijun grabbed the messenger. "The Divine Pivot Camp—how did they know about the turmoil in the palace?"

The Crown Prince, no longer preoccupied with Liao Wang, hurried over.

The messenger gasped, "I don’t know either. We were locked in battle with the Five Armies Battalion when Jiang Yi, the South City Commander of the Five Cities Garrison, arrived with General Ma and his men. The Divine Pivot Camp brought firearms—the Five Armies Battalion was caught between two fronts and has already collapsed!"

Overjoyed, the Crown Prince turned toward the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and declared, "Fifth Brother, did you hear that? The Divine Pivot Camp has come to rescue His Majesty—and they’ve brought firearms. I suggest you release Father Emperor immediately before his wrath falls upon you!"

Chaos erupted within the Palace of Earthly Tranquility before silence descended once more.

The Crown Prince whispered to Song Mo, "What should we do now?"Song Mo said respectfully, "I believe that to secure the interior, we must first address external threats. Without eliminating the Five Armies Battalion and the Imperial Bodyguard, His Majesty's safety cannot be guaranteed."

The Crown Prince nodded in agreement and said, "Then let’s start by purging the Five Armies Battalion before negotiating terms with Liao Wang."

Song Mo acknowledged the order and relayed the command.

However, Cui Yijun suddenly exclaimed as if remembering something and whispered, "Your Highness, should we invite Grand Secretary Dai over?"

"Grand Secretary Dai?" The Crown Prince's previously pleased expression darkened instantly. He said coldly, "Of course, we must summon him. I doubt he’s still sound asleep at this hour."

Song Mo glanced at Cui Junyi and suddenly thought—all crows under heaven are equally black, and all eunuchs are equally fond of scheming.