Hearing Xie Yanlai's words, the imperial guards looked shocked and their faces turned even paler, but no one voiced any objections.
If it weren't for Xie Yanlai, they would all be corpses by now.
It had happened suddenly. They were in the midst of changing shifts at the city gate when they saw the approaching guards. Just as they were about to step forward out of habit, Xie Yanlai suddenly stopped them.
"Who is the shift leader today?" Xie Yanlai demanded.
The guards on the other side were clearly taken aback, then snapped back, "Why do you care?"
As soon as those words were spoken, Xie Yanlai shouted, "Die, you traitors!"
With that, his hand went to his long blade.
The imperial guards were startled. What was Xie Yanlai doing?
It was common for him to quarrel and even come to blows with others, especially these past few days. Although they had always looked down on him, they had previously maintained surface courtesy out of respect for his status as a member of the Xie family. But ever since Xie Yanlai was publicly whipped by his family, their disdain for him had become openly apparent.
Some even sneered right to his face.
Though still injured, Xie Yanlai remained as combative as ever, getting into shoving matches almost daily.
But drawing a blade was different—this was about taking lives. If villagers from some remote mountain village died, a Xie scion might emerge unscathed. But if imperial guards were killed within the Imperial City, it wouldn't be something the Xie family patriarch could resolve with mere scolding or beatings.
Though none of them particularly liked Xie Yanlai, a death would cause trouble for everyone. The guards rushed forward to restrain him, but before they could lay hands on him, they saw the incoming shift guards clattering and drawing their blades—
The imperial guards froze. Was this really necessary? Why was everyone so impulsive tonight? Xie Yanlai hadn't even drawn his blade yet, but the other side already had theirs out?
Were they also ready to fight to the death?
As this side hesitated, the guards opposite seemed equally stunned, creating an eerie atmosphere.
"You—" The guard beside Xie Yanlai also sensed something amiss and stopped advancing, instead asking a question.
But before he could finish, the opposing guards, realizing they were exposed, dropped all pretense.
"Kill them all," their leader shouted.
And so the slaughter began.
The casualties were severe. In what seemed like a blink, half the imperial guards had become enemies.
Thanks to Xie Yanlai's intervention and bluff, the impostors were forced to reveal themselves prematurely, giving the real guards a chance to retreat and sound the alarm. They eventually managed to fall back to the gate tower.
From the high tower, they could see the capital engulfed in fighting, fires burning everywhere.
What was happening? How had things escalated so suddenly?
"The Crown Prince... has something really happened to him?" one guard murmured.
During the earlier fight, their opponents had shouted many terrifying things—that the Crown Prince was dead, that the Yang and Xie families were rebelling, that the Third Prince was punishing traitors and protecting the throne, that they should surrender immediately or be deemed rebels—
Having lived their lives in the capital, they knew to take such chaotic claims with a grain of salt. But the most critical part was the first statement: The Crown Prince is dead.
Everyone knew about the underlying tensions between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, but no one had truly believed the Third Prince would actually make a move, or that the Crown Prince could really die.
The men looked bewildered.
"I don't know," Xie Yanlai said, glancing around at them. "Do you want to surrender now?"
If the Crown Prince was dead, only the Third Prince remained, and in the future, the Third Prince would be—
The guards' expressions grew complicated.
"Killing me, a son of the Xie family, could count as a merit," Xie Yanlai continued, his gaze sweeping over them.By the light of torches, the youth draped in blood and gripping a blade exuded a terrifying aura of killing intent. Under his gaze, the men instinctively averted their eyes.
Earlier, some had entertained similar thoughts, and a few had even acted on them—attempting to strike from behind while Xie Yanlai was engaged in combat. But Xie Yanlai had swiftly countered and slain them.
After one, two, three attempts, no one dared try such tactics again.
They had long known of the Xie scion’s ferocity and brutality, but only today did they witness the true extent of his savagery.
“I advise you all not to attempt it,” Xie Yanlai said. “First, I have no intention of dying, so killing me won’t be easy. Second, even if you succeed, you’ll face no better fate.”
No better fate? The imperial guards lifted their heads, exchanging puzzled glances.
The youth leaped onto the parapet, turning his back to the crowd, his blade spinning deftly in his hand.
“Do not forget—your identity is that of imperial guards, sworn to protect the Imperial City and the forbidden palace for His Majesty. Without the Emperor’s decree, if you betray him and let others into the city, what good end awaits you?” He glanced back at them, his phoenix eyes glinting coldly in the torchlight. “The Emperor will not spare you, and the future ruler will have no use for men like you.”
Their expressions shifted. As guards closest to imperial authority, they understood the nature of those in power all too well.
“Yan Lai is right!” one guard stepped forward, declaring loudly. “We are imperial guards of the Imperial City. Our duty is to defend it. Whoever dares to invade with troops—even the Crown Prince—is a traitor. Without His Majesty’s command, we will defend the Imperial City to the death.”
His cry rallied more guards, who voiced their agreement one after another.
“Yan Lai is right.” “Stop scheming against Yan Lai’s life—think about who is trying to kill us instead.”
Morale surged, sweeping away the earlier confusion as all eyes turned to the blade-wielding youth standing atop the parapet.
“Yan Lai, we will follow your lead.”
Ignoring the clamor behind him, Xie Yanlai gripped his blade and gazed beyond the city walls. “There’s no need to follow me. Just fulfill your duties to the best of your ability. As for the outcome—do your part and leave the rest to fate.”
The guard who had spoken earlier waved a hand. “Fulfilling our duty means even in death, our families will not be implicated. Now disperse and guard the walls.”
The guards chorused their assent and scattered without hesitation.
Only a few guards remained. They called out to Xie Yanlai again.
“Yan Lai, rest assured. At this point, we’re all fighting for our lives. No one will think of trading you for merit.”
Another added fiercely, “If anyone dares try, I’ll be the first to cut them down. My life was saved by you, Yan Lai. If you hadn’t taken that blow for me, I’d be facing the King of Hell by now.”
Xie Yanlai showed no emotion at such declarations of loyalty, replying calmly, “We’ve fought this far. We must see it through to the end.”
The men nodded. One added, “Yan Lai, word just came that a group seems to have emerged from the inner palace.”
Xie Yanlai looked toward the inner palace. The lights there flickered uncertainly, veiled in darkness, making it impossible to discern anything clearly.
“Have they come this way?” he asked.
The guard shook his head. “No. It’s unclear what they’re doing.” He stepped closer, unable to resist asking, “Yan Lai, should we go and investigate?”
Xie Yanlai scoffed. “No need. If they don’t care, neither do we. Let’s just wait it out.”
The guards murmured their agreement.Xie Yanlai said nothing more. Just wait. Not only was he indifferent to the current situation, but he also didn’t care about the outcome.
Whatever the result, he would meet a bad end.
If the Third Prince won, the Xie family would be finished, and so would he. If Xie Yanfang won, he would still be nothing but a dog of the Xie family.
Xie Yanlai withdrew his gaze and looked beyond the city walls. The chaotic battle outside was still raging. How was that girl faring?
She had been determined to leave the capital, yet she had never managed to fulfill her wish. Now she was caught in the turmoil.
Was she hating him now? Blaming him for not delivering her letter sooner so her father could take her away?
At this thought, Xie Yanlai couldn’t help but smile faintly, his hanging hand tightening around his sword.
Chu Zhao, you’d better stay alive. If you survive this, I’ll deliver your letter right away.
That is, if I manage to survive this time too.
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