The snow had caused the sky to darken earlier than usual.
By the time Xie Zheng led Fan Changyu into the study, the light had already dimmed considerably. Only after lighting the lamps could they clearly see the furnishings inside.
Xie Zheng retrieved a map from the bookshelf and spread it out on the desk, pointing it out to Fan Changyu: "The Li family's plot against Wei Yan backfired, and they fell into his trap instead. The only way out now is to take control of the entire capital and push for the imperial grandson's ascension to the throne. The Meridian Gate's platform is no lower than the city gates. If the Li family launches a direct assault, they won't be able to breach it quickly. But the Li family has been entrenched in the capital for years—it's hard to say whether they have moles within the Golden Guard.
Since Wei Yan has forced the Li family into this position, he must have prepared countermeasures. But with me still in the capital, both the Li and Wei factions will do everything they can to drag me down first to prevent me from reaping the benefits."
As Fan Changyu listened to Xie Zheng analyze the situation, her grip on the desk tightened.
She looked up and asked, "So the Li family struck first against you, ordering the Five Armies Garrison to surround the Xie residence?"
Xie Zheng's lips curled slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "This is just the opening act."
At that moment, a personal guard stationed outside the door reported again: "Master, the Five Armies Garrison outside are demanding to search the residence, claiming someone saw a fugitive from the Court of Revision enter the marquis's estate last night."
Fan Changyu looked at Xie Zheng with concern, but he merely said to the guard outside, "Then tell the Five Armies Garrison that if they dare break through the gates of my residence, they're welcome to come in and search."
After the guard withdrew, Fan Changyu asked, "Did we really leave any traces?"
The candlelight flickered in Xie Zheng's eyes but brought little warmth: "This is just Wei Yan's scheme to drag me in. When we broke into the prison last time and made the Li family believe Wei Yan had taken the prisoner, he must have already begun his plan. Last night, when the Blood-Clad Cavalry intercepted the Su family's steward, they caught the Li family killing the turncoat strategist and discovered the hiding place for the letters exchanged between the Li family and Qi Min. With such leverage in my hands, how could the Li family remain idle? Whether there's a witness or not, they'll find an excuse to surround the estate."
Fan Changyu understood that the Li family was determined to go down this path. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat as she said, "Qi Min knows Bao'er is still with us. Could the Office of Presentations also be surrounded?"
Xie Zheng nodded: "With the Five Armies Garrison's forces, surrounding the Office of Presentations would be effortless."
Fan Changyu frowned immediately: "General Tang and Aunt Zhao are still at the Office of Presentations..."
Xie Zheng looked up at her: "That's exactly what I need you to handle next."
Fan Changyu's expression grew even more solemn.
Xie Zheng's slender index finger pointed to the palace gates on the map: "The Five Armies Garrison is divided into five battalions and seventy-two guards, with a force of no less than twenty thousand. Four of these battalions may side with the Li family, but the left battalion's commander, Shen Shen, is on good terms with me. The Shen family has always been loyal ministers. Xie Shisan will take my token to him and have him block Wei Yan's attempt to mobilize the Divine Machine Battalion's troops. However, we still need bait to divert the attention of the Li and Wei factions. I've already given you the token to command the Blood-Clad Cavalry. When the time comes, take all the Blood-Clad Cavalry from the estate and fight your way back to the Office of Presentations to bring Tang Peiyi and the others out."
Fan Changyu looked up sharply: "If I take all the Blood-Clad Cavalry, what about you?"
Xie Zheng's phoenix eyes swept toward the snowflakes drifting outside the window, his expression both carefree and tinged with the languor of someone who had long awaited this moment: "They won't believe I've assigned all the Blood-Clad Cavalry to you. They'll only think I still have hidden forces in the capital."At this point, he gave a faint smile and looked at Fan Changyu, saying, "When falsehood resembles truth, truth itself becomes doubtful. Who would dare stake everything on an uncertain outcome?"
Yet Fan Changyu remained uneasy. "Even if the Li family only has the troops from the Four Great Garrisons at their disposal, that's still over fifteen thousand soldiers. How will you handle them?"
Xie Zheng replied simply, "Both the Li and Wei families are holding back their trump cards—they won't throw all their forces at me in a desperate gamble. At worst, if it comes down to a fight to the death, the few hundred Xie Family Army troops I brought to the capital can still make them pay dearly."
As Fan Changyu slowly processed his words, she suddenly asked, "Why is it your men who are intercepting the Divine Machine Battalion? Why aren't the Li family's forces handling it?"
Xie Zheng raised his hand and lightly touched her cheek. "The Golden Guard answers directly to the young emperor. Wei Yan is now on the same boat as the emperor, so the Golden Guard will undoubtedly serve him. Combined with the elite troops of the Three Thousand Battalion, he can hold the palace city against the Li family for a while. But with the Divine Machine Battalion's artillery, no matter how many troops the Five Armies Garrison has, they'll just end up as scattered limbs under cannon fire."
He paused before continuing, "When I sent Shen Shen, it wasn't so much to block the Divine Machine Battalion as it was to have all sides fighting over their weapons. Understand now?"
Only then did Fan Changyu grasp the importance of this move. She said, "After rescuing General Tang, I'll temporarily hand over all available troops in the capital to him. I'll go to the Western Gardens myself—if General Shen fails to stop the Divine Machine Battalion, I'll do it!"
The Divine Machine Battalion's weapons were stored in the Western Gardens outside the palace city.
Xie Zheng gazed at her for a long moment. Fan Changyu frowned. "You don't believe I can stop them?"
Xie Zheng pulled her tightly into his arms. "If you can't stop them, then don't. Just come back to me alive."
Fan Changyu looked up. "That's not something you should say to a general."
Xie Zheng lowered his head slightly, his bangs casting a faint shadow over his eyes, veiling the tenderness hidden in their depths. "You're a general to thousands, but you're also my wife. What I said was to my wife."
Even amid the urgency of the situation, Fan Changyu's heart skipped a beat at his words. She pressed her lips together and stared at him intently.
"I'm leaving," she said.
She had already reached the door when she suddenly turned back, strode forward, grabbed his collar, and pulled him down to plant a firm kiss on his lips. Then, lowering her long, fan-like lashes, she muttered, "I know what you're planning to do."
With that, she pushed open the door and strode away.
Xie Zheng stood where he was, watching her retreating figure, his dark eyes simmering with unreadable intensity. "If she suffers even the slightest harm, none of you need return."
A shadow seemed to flit swiftly out of the room.
With the Blood-Clad Cavalry—each worth a hundred men—leading the charge, the Five Armies Garrison troops surrounding the Xie residence were no match. Fan Changyu and her forces quickly broke through, riding straight for the Office of Presentations.
It was the New Year, and most shops along the street were shuttered—whether their owners had gone home for the holidays or were frightened into closing by the commotion of soldiers coming and going, no one could say. The homes of ordinary citizens were also tightly shut.
Because their group was such a large, mobile target, some of the Five Armies Garrison troops surrounding the Xie residence split off to pursue them, allowing the scouts riding in the opposite direction to slip away unnoticed.The gates of the Office of Presentations had long been forced open. The commanding officer stood in the courtyard with his hand on the hilt of his sword, bellowing, "Search everywhere! Any male child found is to be executed on sight!"
Tang Peiyi, He Xiujun, and several other officers emerged upon hearing the commotion. Seeing that the intruders were from the Five Armies Garrison, they refrained from direct confrontation. Tang Peiyi clasped his fists and asked, "May we inquire, General, why you have suddenly dispatched troops to raid the Office of Presentations?"
The officer, though several ranks below Tang Peiyi, merely sneered, "The Joint Trial by the Three Supreme Courts has uncovered that the rebel mother and son previously lost by the Court of Revision were harbored here in the Office of Presentations. I am under orders to conduct a search."
Tang Peiyi, straightforward by nature, grew visibly angered by the officer's contemptuous demeanor. He Xiujun, ever meticulous, immediately interjected, "Since you are acting under orders, we kindly request you present the search warrant to avoid misunderstandings and preserve harmony."
Unable to produce a warrant, the officer retorted, "Once we have the evidence, you can go to the Court of Revision to see the warrant!"
He Xiujun exchanged glances with Tang Peiyi and Zheng Wenchang, their eyes conveying silent understanding.
He Xiujun smiled amiably. "General, your words are puzzling. Since our summons to the capital, we have not left the Office of Presentations except by His Majesty's command. How could the fugitives lost by the Court of Revision possibly be hidden here? There must be some misunderstanding. The weather is cold—let your subordinates conduct the search. Why not join us inside to warm up and share a cup of tea to ward off the chill?"
As he spoke, he moved forward as if to take the officer by the elbow.
The officer's eyes flickered, and just as he was about to refuse, He Xiujun suddenly struck. Gripping the officer's arm, he twisted it behind his back and swept his legs out from under him, forcing the officer to his knees in a tight hold.
Zheng Wenchang, acting in perfect sync, drew his sword and pressed it to the officer's throat, shouting at the surrounding soldiers who surged forward, "Stand back!"
Realizing his carelessness, the officer gritted his teeth and glared at Tang Peiyi. "Let me find the boy and take him away, and we can all walk away unharmed. If you insist on wading into this mess, it won't be so easy to extricate yourselves."
Tang Peiyi studied him for a long moment before simply saying, "Tie him up!"
Personal guards immediately stepped forward with ropes and bound the officer securely.
Tang Peiyi, He Xiujun, and Zheng Wenchang shared quarters, and Tang Peiyi knew full well whether they were harboring a male child. Fan Changyu, being a female officer, resided in a separate courtyard. Tang Peiyi wasn't sure if Fan Changyu had truly orchestrated a prison break or if these soldiers were using the pretext to capture Yu Bao'er.
Holding the officer hostage, the group made their way to Fan Changyu's courtyard. The soldiers, wary of their commander's capture, ceased their search but kept their weapons trained on Tang Peiyi and his men, waiting for an opportunity to act.
Upon reaching Fan Changyu's courtyard, they saw Xie Wu standing with a blade in one hand, shielding an elderly couple behind him.
With only one arm to wield his weapon and two elderly people to protect, Xie Wu was clearly at a disadvantage. Blood stained his clothes, and the doors of several rooms in the courtyard stood wide open, as if the soldiers had already ransacked them.
Tang Peiyi immediately roared, "Halt!"
The soldiers surrounding Xie Wu exchanged glances upon seeing their commander captured and gradually eased their assault.
Tang Peiyi gave He Xiujun a meaningful look. He Xiujun promptly stepped forward with two personal guards to assist the elderly Zhao couple, while he himself supported Xie Wu and asked in a low voice, "Where is the young master?"Xie Wu replied, "He was secretly taken away by the general."
Hearing this answer, He Xiujun let out a subtle sigh of relief before turning to interrogate the Five Armies Garrison commander: "We are temporarily residing in this Office of Presentations by imperial decree. You conduct searches without orders—let's see who's in the right when this is brought before the Court of Revision!"
The commander stubbornly insisted, "The son of the rebel leader abducted from the Court of Revision is hiding here in the Office of Presentations. By harboring rebels, are you also plotting treason?"
Tang Peiyi's expression had turned extremely grim.
After receiving an imperceptible nod from He Xiujun, Tang Peiyi—now certain Yu Bao'er was no longer here—slapped the bound commander's face and sneered, "Then let your men search. If they find nothing, you'll leave behind an arm and a leg."
Upon hearing this, the commander glanced around and, not seeing Fan Changyu, shouted, "The rebel remnants have already been taken away by the General of the Cloud Banner, haven't they?"
At that moment, the sound of urgent, chaotic hoofbeats erupted outside the Office of Presentations, followed by the clashing of weapons.
Tang Peiyi and the others, holding the commander hostage, moved toward the front courtyard. Just past the moon gate, they saw a soldier come flying down the stone steps after being kicked, crashing into a flower bed and spitting blood.
Fan Changyu, dressed in martial attire with a longsword strapped to her back, fought her way in. Seeing Tang Peiyi's group holding the commander hostage, she relaxed slightly and called out, "General Tang!"
Tang Peiyi caught sight of the Blood-Clad Cavalry battling the soldiers outside the gate and urgently asked, "Niece Changyu, what's happening?"
Fan Changyu swiftly cut down an ambushing soldier and tersely replied, "The Li family is rebelling!"
Tang Peiyi, He Xiujun, and the others paled at this news.
Without pausing to wipe the blood from her face, Fan Changyu stepped forward and said to Tang Peiyi, "Great Yin is about to change hands. It's time to decide where you stand."
A rare solemnity crossed Tang Peiyi's rugged features. After a brief pause, he looked at Fan Changyu and asked, "What is the Marquis's stance?"
Blood trickled from a gash on Fan Changyu's temple down to her jaw. Her gaze was icy yet resolute: "The one on the throne is a virtue-less tyrant. The candidate the Li family supports, though descended from the Chengde Crown Prince, lived seventeen years in the Sui family as the eldest son of the Prince of Changxin. He conspired with the Li family to frame Wei Yan. The siege of Lu City and Lord He's death both stem from this. If this man ascends the throne, he'll be no benevolent ruler."
Only now did Tang Peiyi and the others learn these hidden truths. After a stunned silence, fury surfaced on their faces.
Had the ruthless scheme to empty Chongzhou and besiege Lu City been devised by the Li family and the imperial grandson?
Tang Peiyi turned to Fan Changyu: "The child you've kept by your side—isn't he the descendant of the Chengde Crown Prince?"
Fan Changyu answered, "That child is the imperial grandson's son."
He Xiujun glanced at the hostage commander, a cold smile appearing on his refined features: "So the Five Armies Garrison suddenly surrounded the Office of Presentations because the imperial grandson ordered the child's execution?"
Fan Changyu nodded gravely.
Before Tang Peiyi could respond, He Xiujun—whose hatred for the imperial grandson ran deep after his father's death—stepped forward decisively: "I stand with the Marquis in supporting the imperial great-grandson!"
Tang Peiyi looked at He Xiujun.He Xiujun was the oldest and most composed among the young men. He cupped his hands toward Tang Peiyi and said:
"My actions are not driven by impulsive grief over my father's death. The imperial grandson may vie for the throne, but he lacks compassion for the people. Like the Li family, he seeks to sacrifice countless soldiers' lives to pin a great crime on Wei Yan. In public affairs, he lacks the benevolence of a true ruler. In private, to seize the throne, he would even kill his own only son—wolves are not so cruel. If the Great Yin dynasty falls into such hands, how would it differ from when Wei Yan controlled the court? How could we ever face the soldiers who died outside Lu City?"
Zheng Wenchang immediately stood by Fan Changyu's side, followed by several Jizhou generals who had come to the capital.
The brutality of the Battle of Lu City remained a thorn in the hearts of these Jizhou commanders.
Tang Peiyi sighed deeply and looked at Fan Changyu: "I don't know if I'll regret today's decision, but neither the one supported by Wei Yan nor the one the Li family backs is worthy of the throne. Whether we succeed or fail tonight, I, Tang Peiyi, will follow the Marquis to change the fate of Great Yin!"
Only when Tang Peiyi agreed did Fan Changyu feel a weight lift from her heart.
With Tang Peiyi's help, Xie Zheng's chances of stabilizing the capital tonight increased by thirty percent!
Outside the Office of Presentations, the Blood-Clad Cavalry still clashed with the Five Armies Garrison troops. A bloody head was hurled from the gate, rolling several times on the stone pavement before stopping.
Fan Changyu's Horse-Cutting Sword dripped with fresh blood. Under the flickering lantern light, her eyes burned with the ferocity of a descending tiger. Her icy voice cut through the chaos of the cold night: "Zhou Tong, the assistant commander of the Right Flank Army, is dead. Surrender now, and tonight's crimes will be forgiven!"
The Five Armies Garrison stationed in the capital was divided into the Central, Left and Right Flank, and Left and Right Vanguard Battalions, with the Central Army Battalion being the largest.
The soldiers, seeing the bloody head, gradually ceased their fighting.
Tang Peiyi then declared: "This general will assist the Wu'an Marquis in apprehending the rebels. Those who do not surrender and continue besieging the Office of Presentations will be charged with treason."
The Right Flank Army, now leaderless and intimidated by these words, hesitated before finally laying down their weapons.
With the situation at the Office of Presentations under control, Fan Changyu turned to Tang Peiyi: "General Tang, I leave this to you."
Tang Peiyi asked, "Will you not join us in heading to the palace?"
Fan Changyu mounted her horse, the cold wind tousling the loose strands of hair from her earlier fight. "I will stop the Divine Machine Battalion from reinforcing the palace."
With just that, Tang Peiyi understood her plan.
"Take more men with you!" he said, selecting several soldiers to accompany her, including Zheng Wenchang.
Fan Changyu did not refuse. From horseback, she clasped her fists in gratitude. "Thank you, General!"
She rode west toward the imperial gardens with Zheng Wenchang and the Blood-Clad Cavalry.
As they disappeared into the distance, Tang Peiyi barked at the surrendered Right Flank Army: "Follow me to 'protect the emperor'!"
The twilight deepened, the snowstorm grew fiercer, and a thin layer of snow settled on the lantern covers hanging along the corridors.The dim yellow light under the eaves cast swaying bamboo shadows onto the illuminated doors and windows of the side chamber, faintly revealing the blurred silhouettes of two figures seated on either side of a low table, engaged in a game of chess.
One figure was gaunt yet ethereal, with sparse hair tied into a small bun at the back of his head and secured with a long hairpin. From time to time, he stroked the few sparse strands of long beard that hung from his chin.
The other figure was robust and vigorous, sitting cross-legged on a cushion with a posture as straight as a pine tree. His moves on the board were decisive, carrying an air of battle and strategy.
Both men resembled mountains—one as serene and elegant as a flowing stream through high peaks, the other as towering and majestic as Mount Song.
As his aged, bony fingers placed another white piece onto the board, Grand Tutor Tao looked at the man across from him and sighed faintly, "Yi Gui, this game—you've walked into a dead end."
"Gui," a ceremonial jade vessel. "Yi Gui" was the courtesy name of Wei Yan.
Nowadays, across the entire court, only the weathered old man before him dared to address him by this name.
The wind outside grew stronger, rustling the bamboo shadows. Wei Yan placed the black piece in his hand back into the chess basket and merely said, "Not necessarily. Perhaps by dawn, a way to break the deadlock will emerge."
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