Chapter 111
At the moment the fireworks burst into the sky, several shouts erupted from the front of the departing procession outside the city. Those still lingering within the walls quickened their pace. The soldier stood up, hesitated for only a moment before chasing after them, shouting, "Your Majesty, there's trouble in the inner city! Please return to take command—"
But no one paid him any heed.
One by one, lanterns lit up along the city walls. Shadows of people hurriedly moving back and forth flickered across the battlements, and some even called out his name. An overwhelming sense of dread rose in the soldier's heart—he vaguely realized he had committed a grave mistake.
Suddenly, gritting his teeth, he drew his saber and slashed heavily at his own arm and thigh. Before collapsing, he mustered all his strength to cry out, "Someone—help!"
Xia Jingshi led the group swiftly into the dense forest bordering the city as soon as they exited. Dismounting from the carriage, he urgently ordered his subordinates to unhitch the horses and saddle them. Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao, who had also emerged from the city, helped the Holy Emperor and Feng Xiyang out of their respective carriages.
Once steady on her feet, Feng Xiyang shook off Fu Yixiao's support. Yixiao paid her no mind, letting her stagger back a few steps until she bumped into a nearby carriage being unharnessed. Wincing in pain, Feng Xiyang nonetheless glared haughtily at Yixiao. "I can walk on my own. I don't need your help!"
Yixiao curled her lips. "Can you ride a horse? This isn't a leisurely outing—it's a desperate escape." "None of your concern," Feng Xiyang retorted, swaying as she began to move forward. "My husband will take care of me." "You'll only hold him back," Yixiao replied coldly. "After all the suffering and grave injuries you've caused him, do you want to cost him his life too?"
Feng Xiyang hesitated and stopped. "My husband... is injured?" "You didn't know?" Yixiao raised an eyebrow. "No wonder you treated that black-hearted Holy Emperor as your savior—His Highness is severely wounded. That's why he entrusted you to me. Wait here while I pick a steadier horse for you."
Meanwhile, the Holy Emperor, held firmly by Feng Suige, looked up at the lingering smoke in the sky and laughed loudly. "My Imperial Guard Barracks will arrive soon! You'd better surrender quietly!" Feng Suige joined in the laughter. "With you in our hands, why would we need to surrender?"
The Holy Emperor snorted and turned away, his gaze meeting Feng Xiyang's strange expression. Noticing her, Feng Suige asked with concern, "Didn't I tell you to stay with Yixiao?" Feng Xiyang stared fixedly at the Holy Emperor for a moment before suddenly saying, "I heard my husband is badly hurt."
Before Feng Suige could respond, the Holy Emperor grinned darkly. "Wasn't it you who delivered him into my hands? If you were smarter, you should have guessed the consequences." Feng Xiyang shuddered violently and cried out, "But you promised me—" "I only promised not to take his life. I never said—" The Holy Emperor's gloating words were cut short by Feng Suige's heavy punch to his gut. "If I were you, I'd stay very quiet right now," Feng Suige said dangerously, narrowing his eyes as he leaned closer. "Don't forget—your life is only temporarily in your hands!"Xiyang still stood there dazed, as if waiting for the Holy Emperor to finish speaking. Fu Yixiao rode up on horseback and stopped beside her, extending a hand. "Come up. There will be time for repentance after everyone is safe."
"Yixiao," Feng Suige sighed helplessly, "Must you—"
"Alright, alright," Yixiao shrugged nonchalantly. "Please mount up, Your Highness."
"The Imperial Guard Barracks must already be mobilizing," Xia Jingshi said worriedly, glancing at the sky. "At the tightest estimate, their three thousand elite cavalry can reach the inner city in less than three quarters of an hour. Including the time to receive orders upon entering the city, we have just over an hour."
Feng Suige pondered, "We don’t have enough horses—half will have to proceed on foot. It might be better to split up. That would make it easier to escape."
"Your Highness," Ning Fei, who had been listening nearby, stepped forward and said loudly, "The Phoenix Prince is right. If we force everyone to move together, we’ll only hinder each other in the end. Our people are more familiar with Brocade. Why not give all the horses to the Su Sha military generals? We’ll split into two groups—those without mounts can follow me into the woods. This way, we can divert some of the pursuers without dragging each other down."
Xia Jingshi nodded. "That’s feasible."
Feng Suige didn’t decline. After a brief consideration, he looked at Ning Fei. "Very well. We’ll head toward Lucheng first. You catch up as quickly as possible."
Xia Jingshi was taken aback, and Ning Fei also murmured in surprise, "Lucheng?"
"Exactly," Feng Suige smiled. "Xiao Weiran and I agreed earlier—once he returns to Lucheng, he will immediately rally the stationed troops and march toward the Holy City. On one hand, this will pressure the Holy City. On the other, it prepares us for emergencies like this."
Xia Jingshi frowned. "Once we mobilize Lucheng’s garrison, outsiders will inevitably see it as rebellion. Then—"
"The Holy Emperor is foolish and envious of talent," Ning Fei clenched her fist indignantly. "Why not seize the throne yourself, Your Highness, and eliminate future troubles?"
Before Xia Jingshi could respond, Feng Suige added leisurely, "If you only plan to retreat into seclusion, have you prepared an escape route for all your subordinates? Once we escape and release the Holy Emperor, he won’t swallow his pride. He’ll tear up the peace treaty and declare war on Su Sha. But aside from you, who in Brocade can withstand my Su Sha iron army? Even if you were willing to set aside past grievances and return to lead the troops, would he accept it?"
Seeing Xia Jingshi fall silent, Feng Suige stretched lazily. "Call me despicable or opportunistic if you will, but there’s another reason I didn’t mention that day—if the Brocade Dynasty were under your rule, I’d have more confidence in lasting peace between Brocade and Su Sha... Think it over. Time is short."
With that, he patted Ning Fei’s shoulder. "Let the King Who Pacifies the South have a moment alone. Come with me to arrange the troops."
Xia Jingshi stood shrouded in darkness, only his eyes reflecting the starlight with a complex gleam. After a long silence, he sighed softly. "Father... your son is not unwilling to inherit the great task... Perhaps... I have been too selfish."
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