Chapter 121: Struck by an Arrow
Prince Rui forced a laugh and asked, "Might I inquire why Her Majesty the Empress has summoned Marquis Changxing here? Bringing heavy troops to storm the palace gates in the dead of night is rather prone to misunderstandings!"
The Empress sneered, "How bold of you, Prince Rui! Whom I choose to summon—since when does it require your approval?"
Prince Rui was momentarily speechless.
Meanwhile, a short, unassuming man appeared silently beside Ye Xian—it was Song Si, whom Li Xianhuai had sent out earlier. Petite in stature and trained in bone-shrinking techniques in his youth, Song Si could move about with ease. He whispered to Ye Xian, "Young Master, Guard Li has brought Minister Zhao to the Meridian Gate."
Ye Xian pressed his hand lightly, signaling his acknowledgment.
Zhao Yinchi's arrival might secure his father's safety, but if Ye Xian wanted to ensure Prince Rui's downfall, he needed the prince to commit something grave—something that would justify his execution.
Ye Xian gazed steadily at Prince Rui and said slowly, "Your Highness, isn't it far more suspicious that you and the two commanders of the Divine Machine Battalion have laid an ambush outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony? You accuse my father of treason, but who the real traitor is—you know best. If my father truly intended rebellion, would he bring a mere two thousand men? The Divine Machine Battalion alone could overpower them, let alone the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It would be a shame to fail in treason only to be crushed instead."
Cornered, Prince Rui grew furious. "How dare you, Ye Xian! Don’t you dare slander me—"
His voice abruptly cut off.
A wildly audacious idea flashed through Prince Rui’s mind.
Just as Ye Xian had said, the Divine Machine Battalion now obeyed him, the commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Golden Crow Guard were his allies, and he had private forces stationed at East Ring Mountain. Marquis Changxing had brought only two thousand men. If the Divine Machine Battalion and the Embroidered Uniform Guard seized him now, and if he could control the Empress and the Crown Prince… who could stop him then? The entire realm would bow to his will—what were Marquis Changxing and Zhang Julian compared to that?
Such a perfect opportunity—why should he pave the way for that old fox Zhang Julian by eliminating Marquis Changxing, when he could seize the throne for himself?
Prince Rui inwardly cursed Xiao You. The man had only schemed against the Marquis’s household—why hadn’t he considered rebellion? And he called himself Prince Cheng’s strategist! Once he became emperor, who could defy him?
A cold smile curled Prince Rui’s lips. "The Young Master is right. How could Marquis Changxing’s paltry two thousand men stand against the Divine Machine Battalion and the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Hidden crossbowmen were already in position.
Hearing this, the two Divine Machine Battalion commanders exchanged uneasy glances. Assisting Prince Rui against Marquis Changxing was one thing, but aiding him in a coup was another. Few rebels ever met a good end—and now they were tied to Prince Rui’s fate. Even if they refused to help him today, Marquis Changxing would surely not spare them afterward.
The Empress frowned sharply. "What do you mean by this, Prince Rui?"
Prince Rui cast her a dismissive glance and replied coolly, "Why the haste, Your Majesty? This humble subject will show you shortly."
Lowering his voice, he said to the two commanders, "Gentlemen, the arrow is already nocked—it must be loosed. Aid me in this, and I promise you both the rank of marquis once we succeed."The two commanders of the Divine Machine Battalion exchanged a glance before ordering their men to encircle Marquis Changxing's forces and the Empress, trapping them all. Supporting Prince Rui, who also bore royal blood, was a gamble—but one worth taking for the sake of wealth and power!
The Empress was stunned. She had never imagined Prince Rui would be so bold as to openly rebel!
Her panicked gaze flickered toward Ye Xian. Despite her long-standing position of authority, she was utterly flustered in the face of crisis.
Ye Xian signaled for her to remain calm and said to those behind him, "Open the Huangji Gate."
As the two forces clashed, the Huangji Gate slowly creaked open amidst the tension. A light drizzle fell, and beyond the gate, countless shadowy figures emerged from the night mist. At their forefront was Minister of War Zhao Yinchi, seated atop a majestic steed, followed by countless soldiers from the Five Armies Battalion and the Three Thousand Battalion.
Zhao Yinchi spoke coldly, "Zhu Zaixian, how dare you collude with the Divine Machine Battalion and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to rebel! Did you think the Five Armies Battalion and the Three Thousand Battalion would stand idly by?"
As soon as his words fell, the soldiers behind him erupted in thunderous roars, their voices surging like tidal waves, overwhelming in their might.
Prince Rui paled at the sight of Zhao Yinchi.
How... How had Zhao Yinchi arrived with his forces at this moment?
When had he managed to muster the Five Armies and Three Thousand Battalions?
Zhao Yinchi swiftly dismounted, and his troops poured through the Huangji Gate like a flood, swiftly encircling the Divine Machine Battalion and the Embroidered Uniform Guard from both sides. The Divine Machine Battalion was still locked in combat with the Iron Cavalry Battalion, and Marquis Changxing had already cut down several of their men. With the addition of the Three Thousand and Five Armies Battalions, the tide of battle turned overwhelmingly. Marquis Changxing cast a cold glance at Prince Rui, who stood amidst the Divine Machine Battalion, before swinging his long blade once more at their officers.
Zhao Yinchi approached the Empress and knelt, his voice solemn. "This humble official has come to your aid, Your Majesty. You must have been greatly alarmed."
The Empress forced a weak smile. "You arrived just in time..." Her life had always been smooth sailing, and this ordeal had truly shaken her.
Ye Xian glanced at the remnants of the Divine Machine Battalion still resisting and said to Zhao Yinchi, "...Prince Rui conspired with the Divine Machine Battalion to rebel—his treachery is unforgivable. Do not show mercy, my lord. Ensure none escape alive."
His tone was eerily gentle.
Zhao Yinchi immediately clasped his hands. "Rest assured, Young Master. Not a single one will slip away!"
Prince Rui, however, roared in fury, "Ye Xian, it must have been you! You—" Before he could finish, Marquis Changxing broke through the encirclement and slashed his blade across Prince Rui's back. The prince wore no armor, and the blade pierced clean through his chest. Staring in disbelief at the silver tip protruding from his chest, his eyes widened in shock.
Marquis Changxing withdrew his blade, and Prince Rui collapsed to the ground. Blood pooled around him as his unblinking eyes stared lifelessly into the void.
With Prince Rui dead, the two commanders faltered. Their earlier fervor for rebellion had been fueled by ambition, but now that their leader was gone... what could they do? The Divine Machine Battalion soldiers lost their will to fight, their defenses crumbling until they were swiftly captured by the Iron Cavalry Battalion. The remaining rebels were cornered by the Three Thousand and Five Armies Battalions, rendered powerless.
To crush rebellion, strike first at its leader. With Prince Rui slain, their morale shattered.
Seeing the battle decided, Marquis Changxing sheathed his blade and walked toward his son.He wore a faint smile on his face, his armor still stained with blood.
Ye Xian rarely saw such an approving smile on his father's face—toward him, the man was always stern and imposing.
Marquis Changxing wanted to embrace his son or offer words of praise, but before he could step closer, he saw Ye Xian's expression change drastically, as if shouting something he couldn't quite hear. Then he felt a sudden chill in his chest. Looking down, he saw the tip of an arrow protruding from it.
Before he could reach Ye Xian, he staggered back, his legs giving way first before his entire body collapsed with a heavy thud.
The soldiers of the Iron Cavalry Battalion immediately rushed forward, lifting Marquis Changxing amid the chaos.
The Empress paled at the sight of the marquis being struck by an arrow. Who could have fired this hidden shot? The situation had already been settled! She urgently called to the eunuch beside her, "Summon the imperial physicians at once!"
The eunuch bowed and hurried toward the Imperial Hospital.
Zhao Yinchi stepped forward, directing the officers to carry Marquis Changxing onto the moon platform to shelter from the rain before removing his heavy armor.
Raindrops fell, streaking Ye Xian's face, making it appear deathly pale. He slowly walked toward his father, lips tightly pressed together, his hands clenched so hard they trembled.
Marquis Changxing's eyes remained shut as the soldiers removing his armor found their hands covered in blood. Ye Xian stared at the arrowhead—his father had been wearing heavy armor. A normal arrow couldn't have pierced it!
It was a specially crafted arrowhead, the kind he often used... with a small seal-script character for "Ye" engraved on the shaft. Li Xianhuai, who had just arrived, also noticed it, his expression turning grim. The marquis had been shot... with an arrow belonging to the heir!
If this got out, it would invite endless speculation.
He whispered, "Young Master, we can't pull the arrow out now. If others see it, you won't be able to explain yourself... Who could be so ruthless?"
Who else could it be? Ye Xian knew all too well—no one but Xiao You could be this meticulous. He had prepared for countless possibilities. If the Divine Machine Battalion's commander had succeeded in killing Marquis Changxing, the plan would have gone smoothly. But if the Divine Machine Battalion failed, he had a backup—an ambush with Ye Xian's crossbow. The marquis would die by his own son's arrow... Each move was more vicious than the last!
Ye Xian glanced around darkly and ordered, "Seal the Huangji and Ningshou Gates! No one leaves!... A traitor has emerged from the Marquis Changxing household. Whoever captures him will be richly rewarded!"
The Iron Cavalry Battalion immediately closed the Huangji and Ningshou Gates. Others fetched lanterns and torches from the Huangji Hall, while the commanders of the Five Armies and Three Thousand Battalions directed their troops to search the Sumeru pedestals and the eastern and western side chambers, uncovering many hidden crossbowmen.
Even Li Xianhuai had to admire Ye Xian's quick thinking. By immediately declaring the existence of a traitor and ordering his capture, he had effectively cleared himself of suspicion. Had he waited to explain later, it would have seemed like a cover-up. This bold declaration left no room for doubt.
The imperial physicians arrived swiftly, and Marquis Changxing was carried into the Huangji Hall for treatment—his fate uncertain.
Li Xianhuai wanted to say something to Ye Xian, but the young man was staring into the dark night, lips pressed tightly together, his face unnervingly calm and cold.
Hesitating, Li Xianhuai swallowed his words of praise.Xiao You was startled awake in the middle of the night by the clamor outside. Throwing on a Taoist robe, he stepped out of his chamber door to find Liu Zhou had returned. The night watch servant curled up under the corridor eaves, fast asleep.
Liu Zhou held a slender-necked celadon wine pot and said with a smile, "I noticed you weren't sleeping well tonight, Master, so I specially brought you some millet wine from Mingzhao Lane. I've also got sliced beef and roast goose—shall I join you for a couple of drinks?"
PS:
Many thanks to Orange316 for the pink votes and Xin Ying for the Scented Sachet, mwah~~
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