"Your Highness, my apologies."
Zhao Yu's tone was icy, yet carried a trace of regret amidst the howling bitter wind.
Yan Chi stood tall and graceful before the main hall, separated from the dim lamplight by only a door.
According to Zhao Yu's account, there should be Zhao Yu's subordinates inside the room, along with those discovered tonight who were being interrogated.
Yan Chi frowned with composed elegance, "What does the Vice Commander mean by this?"
Seeing Yan Chi's calm demeanor, Zhao Yu's own brow furrowed - Yan Chi's tranquility instead made him uneasy.
His gaze quickly swept across the roofs of the left and right wing rooms. In the ink-black night, everywhere beyond the area before the main hall was pitch darkness where one couldn't see their own hand. Zhao Yu could see nothing, yet he seemed to sense human presence.
Feeling somewhat reassured, his tone grew two degrees more solemn, "Your Highness, the Northern Garrison Army has already rebelled. The Empress and Crown Prince's actions are undoubtedly treasonous. Since Your Highness dared to assist the Empress and Crown Prince, you should have anticipated this day."
Though Zhao Yu's tone was grave, Yan Chi raised an eyebrow and laughed, "Is this the Emperor's account?"
Zhao Yu pressed his lips together, standing with a heavy expression. Having said this much was his final act of benevolence.
Seeing he wouldn't answer, Yan Chi sighed, "It seems I've fallen into the trap."
Zhao Yu remained standing over ten steps away from Yan Chi. In the biting wind and snow, his expression was somewhat blurred, yet the aura around him was intensely intimidating. Watching Yan Chi, he took a slight step back and suddenly said in a deep voice, "Attack—"
This was an order filled with deadly intent. Zhao Yu's low voice cutting through the violent storm carried a particularly sharp sense of clashing weapons.
Yet after his command, whether from the room behind Yan Chi or the roofs of the wing rooms, there was only silence.
As the wind raged and snow fell heavily, Zhao Yu stood rigidly for a long moment before realizing something was wrong.
His hawk-like eyes turned toward the warm-lit room, filled with uncertainty and suspicion.
Yan Chi smiled faintly, "Zhao Yu, you were originally talented for command. It's just a pity you became immersed in the capital's luxuries, wasting your potential for nothing."
Looking at Yan Chi's completely composed figure, Zhao Yu slowly moved his hand to the long sword at his side. His brow tightly furrowed, his eyes filled with shock. He had held some scholarly admiration for Yan Chi, and such words from Yan Chi touched him deeply. But now, he had no time to ponder whether he had earned Yan Chi's appreciation. He was only wondering where all the people he had meticulously arranged had gone, and why there was no response to his command.
Seeing Yan Chi's composure, Zhao Yu felt a chill creeping up from the soles of his feet.
Zhao Yu instinctively took a step back, but before he could take a second step, a sharp "twang" cut through the wind and snow. The next moment, a fierce gust of wind brushed past his calf as a cold-gleaming arrowhead embedded itself firmly in the ground less than three inches from his heel.
Zhao Yu instantly froze completely. He knew that if he moved again, the next arrow would pierce through his shinbone.
Just then, the door behind Yan Chi creaked open. Out walked a young man dressed in narrow-sleeved white robes - it was Bai Feng. Bai Feng bowed to Yan Chi, then looked impassively at Zhao Yu, "Since the Vice Commander has come, please enter. The wind is fierce and snow heavy tonight - we trouble the Vice Commander to take shelter from the storm here."Zhao Yu's hand gripping the long sword at his side bulged with veins. The snowstorm was too fierce, the sounds from the rooftop were muffled. Had he not been an expert in this field, he might not have detected the movement. Yet he never expected that all the effort he had invested here would be completely destroyed by Yan Chi in such a short time.
When did Yan Chi discover it? Since he had found out, why did he still come along with him?!
Seeing Zhao Yu remain motionless, Yan Chi's expression turned cold. "Today's journey was not your wish. I shall spare your life for now, but if you refuse this goodwill, I can do nothing. So? Will you leave or stay?" Yan Chi's tone could be considered gentle, yet these words sent a chill of fear down Zhao Yu's spine.
He could not leave this courtyard, just as he originally thought Yan Chi couldn't either.
With a "clatter," Zhao Yu unfastened the long sword from his waist and threw it to the ground, forcing himself to relax.
He stepped toward Yan Chi and, standing before him, said, "Since Your Highness has already guessed, why did you still make this trip?"
No emotion was visible on Yan Chi's face. His eyes grew distant for a moment, inexplicably tinged with sorrow. "I never intended to reach this point, but since the Emperor has forced me to this extent, I might as well take a gamble." After a pause, Yan Chi glanced at Zhao Yu. "I came here to borrow your men."
Zhao Yu was puzzled, but Bai Feng placed his fingers to his lips and let out a clear whistle. The next moment, dozens of black-clad figures descended from above, filling the small courtyard to capacity. When Zhao Yu turned to look, he saw these men were dressed in neat Imperial Guards uniforms, yet every face was unfamiliar. Zhao Yu drew a sharp breath.
The originally arranged men were all his own troops, with uniforms, weapons, and waist tokens all officially registered and manufactured by the imperial guards. Now, if these men walked out of this courtyard, not only could they impersonate the Imperial Guards outside the palace, but even at the palace gates, the imperial guards inside would open the doors to welcome them.
Zhao Yu's face turned pale, and thinking of the Emperor waiting for his news, his expression grew even more ashen.
At that moment, Bai Feng leaned close to Yan Chi's ear and whispered a few words. Yan Chi looked at Zhao Yu and said, "The Emperor is waiting for your news? In that case, I shall send him some good news."
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