Insidе thе саrriаge, it was likе а раrаdise untouchеd bу the world, whilе outside, it wаs а living hеll.
Fiftу аssаssins stood mеnacingly around the саrriagеs, their blаdеs glеаming in the light. Тhе lеаdеr glanсed at the "оld, wеak, siсk, and disabled" оn the cаrriage аnd snееrеd, his ехрression full оf disdаin. "No nееd fоr us to dirtу our hаnds," hе said. "You саn just kill yоurselves. Savеs us the trouble оf сlеaning оur blades latеr."
Fоr а momеnt, еvеrуоnе in the саrriagе fell silеnt, exсhanging glаnсеs befоrе filing оut оne after аnother.
The assаssin leader thоught to himself, Нow оbеdient! Тhey’re not even crying out or panicking—completely different from ordinary fools!
But the next moment, he saw these obedient people holding strange objects in their hands—some held blacksmith’s hammers, others carried long hooks for roasting pigs, and there were even those clutching abacuses and rattan canes!
"What’s this? Trying to resist?" he mocked, waving his hand. "Brothers, charge! Let them see whether our blades are sharper or their scrap metal is tougher!"
A chorus of roars erupted as the fifty assassins rushed forward simultaneously.
What was it they said? The blind fear no cliffs, and newborn calves fear no tigers. Yin Yanzhong sighed inwardly. Truly, clothes make the man. If these bastards were clad in armor, would they dare charge like this?
Luo Hao, on the other hand, was thrilled. After living as a law-abiding citizen for so long, he had almost forgotten the taste of blood on the battlefield. Though this wasn’t a battlefield, if someone was offering their life, they couldn’t just refuse!
Madam Qiu gently tapped her abacus, kicked an assassin charging at her into the air, and said gracefully, "Let’s beat the hell out of them!"
And so, the fifty confident assassins found themselves fiercely counterattacked by this group of "old, weak, sick, and disabled." The one wielding the hammer struck with such force that each blow knocked someone unconscious, the dull thuds making bystanders instinctively cover their heads. Thinking the women would be easier to handle? The lady in the autumn-scented robe kicked with such ferocity that even the strongest men felt their chests tighten and their vision blur.
"You dumb bastards, come at me again! My long hook is just scrap metal, huh?"
"Talk big now, why don’t you? Talk big now!"
The leader was dumbfounded. He had no idea what was happening. The orders from above had said there were only about twenty people on this journey, all useless. How could fifty skilled assassins possibly lose?
Guan Zhi held Lingshu close, watching the commotion from the side while marveling, "Still sharp as ever, huh? Truly impressive!"
Lingshu frowned, disliking the bloody scene, and buried her face in Guan Zhi’s chest, refusing to watch any longer.
With too many casualties, the assassins finally realized these so-called "ordinary folks" were no pushovers. A clever one among them signaled his companions to cover him as he charged toward the First Prince’s carriage with his blade. He lifted the curtain, intending to stab inside and finish the job!
But as the curtain lifted, he met a gaze as cold as frost and snow, followed by the realization that the person’s appearance was extraordinary—almost divine. How could someone be this beautiful?
In that moment of distraction, Yin Gezhi impatiently freed one hand, sent a flying dart into the assassin’s forehead, and kicked him out of the carriage. The body landed with a heavy thud not far away.With one hand missing to cover her ears, Feng Yue was about to mutter when that hand swiftly returned, as if nothing had happened, continuing to shield her from the noise outside.
Witnessing the scene, Guan Zhi sighed, looking at the half-dead assassin lying at his feet, and whispered, "You couldn't even defeat the others, yet you wanted to attack the one in the carriage? What were you thinking?"
The assassin convulsed for a moment before closing his eyes.
Amitabha. With hands pressed together in prayer, Guan Zhi bowed to the corpse, then continued watching the fight with great interest.
By the time Feng Yue woke up, the carriage was already moving forward as if nothing had happened.
Propping herself up, she asked, "How much longer until we reach the border of Wei Kingdom?"
Yin Gezhi replied indifferently, "If we travel through the night, we’ll cross the border early tomorrow morning."
Nodding, Feng Yue lifted the carriage curtain to look at the others. They had all been unusually quiet along the way, perhaps feeling a bit subdued while traveling with the First Prince? Should she think of a way to help them relax?
As she pondered this, kneeling on the carriage shaft and glancing back, Feng Yue’s jaw nearly dropped.
Luo Hao was so excited, jumping up and down on the carriage roof. Madam Qiu was tapping her abacus and singing folk songs. The others also wore broad smiles.
Utterly bewildered, Feng Yue turned to ask the person inside the carriage, "Did they find silver while I was asleep?"
Yin Gezhi shook his head. "No."
"Then why are they so happy?"
Turning his gaze elsewhere, the First Prince said with a cold expression, "Perhaps the weather is nice today."
Squinting at him, then leaning out to look at the gloomy sky, Feng Yue scratched her head and thought, Let them be. Surely nothing major happened, or they would have told me.
The grand procession finally entered the border of Wei Kingdom. Yin Gezhi had sent the diplomatic letter from Wu Kingdom ahead to Lidu, along with a personal letter inquiring after his father’s well-being.
When the documents reached Lidu, the entire court of Wei Kingdom was shocked. Everyone had assumed the First Prince would find it difficult to return from Wu Kingdom. How had he come back so quickly and unexpectedly, bringing with him the diplomatic letter from Wu Kingdom?
Emperor Wen of Wei was extremely anxious. While ordering preparations to welcome the First Prince back to the palace, he also went to the Eastern Palace with a troubled expression to seek counsel.
"Finally back," Feng Yue murmured, taking a deep breath as she saw the characters "Lidu" on the distant city wall, her eyes filled with unreadable emotions.
The others were also deeply moved. The place they had left in haste three years ago remained as prosperous as ever. They wondered how their old friends who had stayed behind were faring.
"Your Highness," Feng Yue said, smiling at Yin Gezhi. "Thank you for your assistance along the way. Once we enter the city, we’ll go our separate ways."
Guan Zhi, sitting on the carriage shaft, frowned upon hearing this. The two had gotten along quite well during the journey, and parting ways upon arrival seemed too cruel. But... recalling Feng Yue’s identity, which he had learned along the way, he let out a long sigh.
What could he possibly say to make her stay?
"Do you have a place to stay in Lidu?" Yin Gezhi asked casually, his eyelids lifting slightly.
Feng Yue thought for a moment and replied, "I should. Someone returned ahead of time to make arrangements, so I assume a place has already been found."Fingers gently twisting, Yin Gezhi said, "It must have been hard for those people dragging you, this troublemaker, along. It doesn't matter if they're recognized—they have no crimes on their hands. But you're in trouble. You were supposed to be a dead person, yet you're alive and well. Once discovered, they'll all be implicated for harboring a criminal official."
Slightly startled, Feng Yue frowned, "I'll stay locked up in the house and won't go out. Even if I do, I'll disguise myself properly so no one recognizes me."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, yes."
"...!" Closing his eyes, Yin Gezhi grew slightly annoyed. As soon as they entered the city, he grabbed Feng Yue by the collar and threw her out of the carriage!
"Your Highness is as ungentle as ever!"
Pouting as she stood up, Feng Yue took the luggage handed to her by Guan Zhi and threw a flirtatious glance at Yin Gezhi. Just like their first meeting at Dream Return Pavilion, she licked her lips and said seductively, "But thank you, Your Highness. Until we meet again."
Yin Gezhi snorted coldly, flung the carriage curtain shut, and ordered in a low voice, "Guan Zhi, back to the palace!"
"Yes!"
Several carriages then headed in two different directions. Feng Yue squeezed into the nearby carriage with a smile and let out a long sigh of relief, "We're back. Let's get everything ready and proceed as planned."
"Alright," everyone nodded in agreement.
At the palace gate, civil and military officials, princes, and princesses stood in several rows. As soon as Yin Gezhi's carriage appeared, Princess Nan Ping rushed forward, choking back tears as she called out, "Imperial Brother!"
Lifting the carriage curtain, Yin Gezhi slowly stepped down, reaching out to catch his beloved sister who loved to act spoiled. Then he glanced ahead.
"Welcome back to the palace, Your Highness!" Everyone bowed in unison—some cupped their hands, others knelt. Only the one in the middle, dressed in a silver-gray robe embroidered with a four-clawed dragon, remained unmoving, offering only a slight nod.
Looking at the man's attire, Yin Gezhi felt a moment of confusion, "Has the Wei Kingdom appointed a Crown Prince?"
The hand clutching his sleeve tightened, and Nan Ping quickly whispered, "Father thought you wouldn't return, so he appointed Second Imperial Brother. It hasn't been long since..."
"Imperial Brother must be exhausted from the long journey. Let's pay respects to Father first before discussing anything else," Yin Chenjue stepped forward, his expression stiff.
Yin Gezhi nodded, his eyes dark and unreadable. He acknowledged the senior officials behind him one by one before stepping into the long-unseen Wei Kingdom palace.
When he had decided to follow Yi Guoru back to the Wu Kingdom as a hostage, Emperor Wen of Wei had spoken to him with great sorrow, saying that even if he left, the Wei Kingdom would wait for his return. He would always be his most worthy and proud son, the only prince fit to reside in the Eastern Palace. No matter how much he coveted the throne, one day, it would be placed in his hands.
Yin Gezhi had been moved then, for Emperor Wen of Wei was truly obsessed with imperial power. For so many years, he had refused to appoint a Crown Prince, unwilling to let anyone legitimately share the authority in his hands. To say such words to him was a testament to how deeply he cherished him.
But now, gazing at this familiar yet unfamiliar palace and watching the man in the four-clawed dragon robe walking ahead, Yin Gezhi suddenly understood.
Emperor Wen of Wei was not afraid to appoint a Crown Prince—he was afraid to appoint him as Crown Prince. He gave him the Eastern Palace and let him lead battles, but never shared even a sliver of the court's power with him. Rather than resembling a prince, he was more like a general—one who could only be used by the imperial family, one who could not overshadow the emperor before he willingly relinquished power.In an instant, he suddenly understood why so many people would rather wander destitute with Guan Fengyue than remain in the Wei Kingdom to continue serving the royal family. If even his own son was guarded against like this, had his imperial father ever truly trusted anyone?
"My son!" A trembling voice echoed through the court hall. Yin Gezhi looked up and realized he had already ascended the high steps before the throne, raising his eyes to see the person seated upon the imperial throne.
Emperor Wen of Wei, his face full of paternal kindness, rose excitedly from the throne and descended, spreading his arms before him, saying, "You have finally returned!"
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