The city gate was bustling with activity, a constant stream of people flowing like a woven tapestry.
On this warm, spring-breeze caressed day, an endless procession of elegant carriages and fine steeds headed out of the city to enjoy the scenery. As far as the eye could see, the dusty world pulsed with life, colorful canopies stretching to the sky.
Along the main road, merchant caravans waiting to enter the city formed a winding queue, twisting and turning with no end in sight.
It was a scene of prosperous peace and flourishing times.
When Duke Weiguo Li Zhongqian’s carriage entered the imperial city, the commoners along the road recognized the Xie family’s banner. They halted their carts and horses, clearing the way, and couldn’t help but stop and watch.
The mounted guards with swords riding before and after the carriage were all dressed in mourning attire, wearing hemp and white garments, their expressions stern and cold.
They were in mourning for Princess Wenzhao.
The commoners whispered among themselves, murmuring quietly: "I heard Duke Weiguo was severely injured, his martial skills completely lost. He can never return to the battlefield again. And now his only sister has died beyond the frontier. How pitiful and lamentable!"
Amid the murmurs, the carriage curtain remained still, undisturbed by the wind, hanging low from start to finish. The second prince, who used to love galloping into the city on a tall steed after each victorious return, seemed too ashamed to show his face, never once making an appearance.
The people watched the carriage disappear into the distance, recalling the spirited and dashing second prince of old. They exchanged glances, shaking their heads with sighs.
The news quickly reached the Taiji Palace, where a eunuch entered to report.
Li De frowned and said, "Have the Thousand Ox Guards keep an eye on him."
The eunuch acknowledged the order, and the decree was passed to the Thousand Ox Guards. Caught off guard, they hastily gathered their men and rushed out of the inner city in a flurry to receive him.
An hour later, hundreds of armored guards from the Gate Guard, Left and Right Thousand Ox Guards, and Left and Right Valiant Guards stood watch in front of Duke Weiguo’s residence, poised for action. The gleam of blades flickered in the gate passage, and from the long street to the square, soldiers were stationed at every turn.
Zheng Jing and Xue Wu hurriedly responded to the summons, waiting on the steps before the mansion gate.
The young men who once chased after the Seventh Princess on horseback now served together in court, both clad in green round-collared official robes.
Xue Wu looked nervous, constantly wiping sweat from his brow.
Zheng Jing shot him a glance. "What are you afraid of?"
Xue Wu rolled his eyes in response. "Zheng San, aren’t you afraid of Duke Weiguo? Who was it that nearly got scared off his horse by him back in the day?"
Hearing this mention of the past, Zheng Jing was taken aback.
Yes, he too had once feared Li Zhongqian—which of the noble youths who admired Princess Wenzhao did not?
Princess Wenzhao was graceful and refined in her demeanor, while Li Zhongqian, born of the same mother, Consort Xie, was domineering and crude, acting as though heaven was first, earth second, and he third. His shocking and outrageous behavior was widely scorned by society.
In those two years, more than half of the noble sons who sought Princess Wenzhao’s hand were beaten half to death by Li Zhongqian.
To cite a recent example, there was Xiao Balang from the Prime Minister’s family, who kept several beautiful concubines outside and had already fathered three or four children, yet dared to seek Princess Wenzhao’s hand. Li Zhongqian beat him until his head was covered in bruises.
Then there was the eldest grandson of the Boling Cui family, who swore he had no concubines, no outside mistresses, and certainly no illegitimate children, only to be exposed for his preference for male companions. Enraged, Li Zhongqian broke Cui Dalang’s leg right in front of Emperor Li De and all the civil and military officials.
Zheng Jing had been present at the time. Cui Dalang’s agonized screams seemed to "linger in the air," unforgettable for three days straight. Just thinking about it made Zheng Jing ache in sympathy.
So when Zheng Jing went to the prince’s residence to seek the princess’s hand, his mother wept and begged, nearly kneeling to stop him: "Everyone knows how much Li Zhongqian dotes on Princess Wenzhao. You have no achievements or fame—how dare you seek to marry the princess? Do you have a death wish?"Zheng Jing was innately prudent, never one to step out of line, yet that one time he had mustered the audacity to propose marriage on his own behalf.
He thought himself fearless, but when Li Zhongqian’s phoenix-like eyes turned a cold gaze upon him, he was so terrified his soul seemed to flee his body, wishing only to find a crack in the ground to hide in.
That icy glare remained etched in Zheng Jing’s memory, sending chills down his spine even now.
Back then, when he sincerely sought to marry Princess Wenzhao, Li Zhongqian’s eyes had seemed ready to behead him on the spot.
Now, Princess Wenzhao was dead.
She had died alone, a thousand miles away, after who knew how much suffering.
Would Li Zhongqian, the man who had once broken Elder Cui’s leg, let this rest?
Every official at court knew the answer: no.
The Taiji Palace and the Crown Prince’s Palace had tightened their guard. The princely guards were disbanded and reassigned to various offices. Only the Xie family’s personal troops remained by Li Zhongqian’s side, yet the officials remained uneasy. They dismissed even those troops, permitting Li Zhongqian to bring only twenty men into the city.
A mere twenty men could not turn the world upside down.
Moreover, Li Zhongqian was already a broken man, no longer able to wield the golden mace he was famed for. Otherwise, how would Li De dare to allow him back to the capital?
Zheng Jing remained calm and composed, but Xue Wu could not steady his nerves.
Standing on tiptoe to peer down the long street, he spat softly and muttered, “We’re only sent here to greet the Duke of Wei because we’re newly appointed officials with shallow roots. Those people did it on purpose! If the Duke of Wei decides to cut us down when he arrives, do you think the Emperor would blame him? We’re just here to be his punching bags!”
Zheng Jing lowered his gaze without a word.
Xue Wu smirked sarcastically. “Zheng San, have you not heard about He Lanyang?”
Zheng Jing shook his head.
Xue Wu leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Two years ago, when the Emperor was fighting Southern Chu for Jingxiang, he suffered a major defeat. His advisor He Lanyang suggested marrying off Princess Wenzhao to win the support of Jingxiang’s powerful clans. The Duke of Wei was on the battlefield at the time. Enraged by the proposal, he led three thousand light cavalry to break the siege and resolve the crisis in Jingxiang. Then he stormed into the command tent, and in front of the Emperor, cut down He Lanyang with a single stroke—blood splattered across the entire tent.”
“After that, no one dared to advise anything regarding Princess Wenzhao’s marriage. Otherwise, how would any of us have had the chance to propose?”
Xue Wu trembled again, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
“I’m not trying to scare you. When the Duke of Wei returns to the capital this time, he will surely kill a few to vent his rage. The Emperor feels guilty about Princess Wenzhao and won’t punish him. I’ve offended the Duke before—today, I might just end up crushed beneath his mace!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the rumble of carriage wheels over brick pavement echoed from the long street. A carriage, flanked by white-clad guards, slowly approached.
Xue Wu leaped three feet in the air in fright.
Zheng Jing stepped forward to meet it.
Stunned for a moment, Xue Wu cursed inwardly at Zheng Jing’s recklessness. Gritting his teeth, he signaled the hidden guards to stay alert and followed.
The carriage did not stop until it reached the stone steps. The captain of the Qianniu Guard ordered the eunuch holding the imperial decree to wait aside, then strode forward with his long blade and demanded, “The Emperor’s decree is here. Why does the Duke of Wei not descend to receive it?”
The guards remained silent.
Frowning deeply, the captain repeated loudly, “The Emperor’s decree is here! Why does the Duke of Wei still not descend to receive it?”
The carriage curtain did not stir, and the guards uttered no word.
Enraged, the captain strode forward and yanked open the curtain. Peering inside, he froze for a moment, then instinctively retreated two steps.
Zheng Jing and Xue Wu followed his gaze.A frail and gaunt figure was helped down from the carriage by his guards, standing unsteadily on the ground, swaying several times before lifting his head.
Silence fell over the entrance of the estate.
Zheng Jing looked astonished, while Xue Wu’s reaction was even more intense—his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
The once brave, skilled, tall, and robust Li Zhongqian was not only emaciated to the point of being skin and bones, unable to stand steadily, but even his sharp gaze had vanished. He appeared utterly dispirited and listless, as if drained of all vitality, leaving behind nothing but a walking corpse.
Everyone was horrified, momentarily at a loss for words.
It was said that the Duke of Wei had been afflicted by a strange poison and turned into a cripple—it turned out to be true!
After a moment, the Imperial Guards sheathed their long blades.
Xue Wu, recovering from his shock, quietly exhaled: the current Duke of Wei could hardly even walk without support, let alone kill anyone to vent his anger. How could he possibly commit murder?
He stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Duke of Wei, His Majesty has issued an edict."
Li Zhongqian lifted his eyelids and cast a cold, indifferent glance at him.
"Get lost."
His voice was weak and listless.
Xue Wu hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but Li Zhongqian had already brushed past him. He took large strides but grew breathless after just a few steps. His personal guards hurriedly stopped, and after he growled a few times, they fell silent and helped him ascend the stone steps.
The Imperial Guards watched Li Zhongqian’s trembling, receding figure for a while before one of them called out loudly, "Duke of Wei, do you intend to defy the imperial decree?"
A eunuch stepped forward, holding the edict.
Li Zhongqian paused mid-step and glanced at his personal guard beside him.
Understanding his intent, the guard turned, rushed down the steps, drew his waist blade, and struck the box in the eunuch’s hands.
With two loud crashes, the box shattered into pieces and fell to the ground, the edict inside torn to shreds.
The eunuch, terrified out of his wits, shrieked and stumbled backward.
The Imperial Guards were enraged: "Duke of Wei, how dare you show such disrespect to His Majesty!"
Li Zhongqian ignored them and walked into the estate without looking back.
With a loud bang, the gate slammed shut from the inside.
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.
Zheng Jing and Xue Wu looked at each other and returned to the palace to report.
Although the Duke of Wei had acted defiantly and refused to accept the edict, it was fortunate that he had not taken any lives.
Xue Wu spoke a few words in Li Zhongqian’s defense.
His superior frowned and asked, "Has the Duke of Wei truly become a cripple?"
Both men nodded: "Yes, we saw it with our own eyes."
Xue Wu clicked his tongue and sighed, "If only you had seen him—the Duke of Wei has become as thin as a bamboo pole! A gust of wind could knock him over, and he’s out of breath after just a few steps, panting like a bellows."
The renowned warrior, once spoken of in the same breath as the Crown Prince Li Xuanzhen, had been reduced to a cripple.
The superior nodded and entered the hall to report to Li De.
The next day, at the Crown Prince’s Palace.
A maid reported the news she had gathered to Zheng Biyu: "Last night, His Majesty sent imperial physicians to the Duke’s estate to examine the Duke of Wei. Several physicians confirmed that his martial skills are indeed ruined—he can’t even hold a pair of chopsticks without trembling uncontrollably. His Majesty issued an edict to commend the Duke of Wei, but the Duke refused to accept it. His guards injured several eunuchs, and when several ministers from the Hall of State Affairs went to visit him, they were also driven away by his guards. Now, no one dares to approach the Duke’s estate."
Zheng Biyu breathed a sigh of relief.
If Li Zhongqian had not been injured, he would surely have caused chaos in Chang’an. In his current state, it was for the best for everyone.
Wei Ming, still uneasy, continued to send people to investigate.
The scouts reported that Li Zhongqian flew into a rage whenever anyone from the palace visited. The maids had seen him try to lift his golden hammer to strike someone on several occasions, but before he could even raise it, he would collapse to the ground.The officials of the Crown Prince's Palace secretly rejoiced: this fearsome deity could no longer threaten the Crown Prince's position.
Wei Ming reported this joyous news to Li Xuanzhen.
Li Xuanzhen, still recovering from his injuries, leaned against an armrest and responded with an indifferent grunt, then reassigned Wei Ming to tutor the Crown Prince's grandson.
Wei Ming froze for a moment, smiled bitterly, bowed to Li Xuanzhen, and withdrew.
Everyone was baffled: What was wrong with the Crown Prince? Why would he send away his most trusted Chief Secretary Wei?
Some pleaded with Zheng Biyu to intervene on Wei Ming's behalf.
Zheng Biyu sternly refused, stating that as an inner household woman, she should not interfere with the affairs of the Crown Prince's Palace.
The officials could only console Wei Ming: Once the Crown Prince's anger subsides, he would surely recall him!
Wei Ming felt disheartened. Before leaving, he instructed everyone, "If there are any further changes regarding Princess Wenzhao, you must let me know!"
Everyone readily agreed, though inwardly they paid little heed.
Princess Wenzhao was already dead—what further changes could there be?
They were now preoccupied with another matter: Zhu Lvyun had secretly slipped away and was nowhere to be found. Despite extensive searches, there was no trace of her.
Fortunately, Li Xuanzhen, still severely injured and disoriented, had not inquired about Zhu Lvyun.
Li Zhongqian's return to the capital had put the entire court on edge. However, now that his martial skills were crippled and he caused no major disturbances, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
The next day, a grand banquet was held in the palace to celebrate the triumphant soldiers.
The feast took place in the West Pavilion of the Hall of Auspicious Virtue, filled with music, dance, and the glow of colorful candles.
Li Xuanzhen, who had not been seen in public for a long time, attended the banquet, his face pale and gloomy.
Officials raised their cups to approach and converse with him, but he responded coldly, unlike his usual approachable self. The officials retreated awkwardly.
Zheng Jing, seated at a corner table, glanced at Li Xuanzhen a few times, lost in thought, then stood up and walked toward him.
"Your Highness," Zheng Jing raised his cup and scanned the surroundings. "I recall the night Princess Wenzhao requested marriage, it was a banquet just like this. She appeared in splendid attire, radiant and peerless. Envoys from various countries were all inquiring about which princess she was."
Li Xuanzhen closed his eyes briefly and poured himself a cup of wine.
Zheng Jing smiled faintly without meaning and returned to his seat.
The court officials, half-drunk, watched as Li De stood up, dipped his fingernail in wine, and flicked it into the air. Just as he was about to encourage the soldiers, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the hall.
The music came to an abrupt halt.
The atmosphere instantly turned stiff and heavy.
Everyone was taken aback, unsure of what had happened, and turned their gaze toward the source of the noise.
In the flickering candlelight, a tall figure slowly ascended the stone steps, step by step, until he stood in the center of the hall.
It was Li Zhongqian, his martial arts completely crippled.
Dressed in a snow-white robe, gaunt and bony, he stood in the hall, his narrow phoenix eyes sweeping coldly across the room.
A shiver ran down everyone's spine, their hearts pounding like drums. Their eyes fell to his waist, where they saw he wore plain white robes and carried no swords or the dreaded pair of golden hammers that once struck fear into hearts. They quietly let out a sigh of relief.
A crippled Li Zhongqian was no cause for concern.
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