Chapter Seventy-Six: Exposed Movements

The two, full of vigilance, relaxed only after hearing the voice outside the door. The visitor was none other than Zheng Tianlan. Lu Jue, helpless, sheathed his sword and opened the door for him. Zheng Tianlan entered, baffled, looking at the two who were rolling their eyes, and asked in confusion, “Your Majesty, Young Master Lu, why do you both look like that?”

Feng Yewu couldn’t be bothered to answer, turning over to continue resting, for tomorrow promised another day of travel. Lu Jue pulled Zheng Tianlan to sit and questioned him about his purpose in following. Zheng Tianlan chuckled, poured himself a cup of water and downed it in one gulp. “Lord Wei Nanxi sent me. He feared Your Majesty might meet with danger on the road.”

Lying on the bed, Feng Yewu closed his eyes and replied calmly, “Wei Nanxi is indeed thoughtful.” Zheng Tianlan smiled, watching Feng Yewu rest, afraid to speak loudly, and quietly asked Lu Jue, “Young Master Lu, are you and His Majesty heading to the northwest?”

Lu Jue nodded, but suddenly his ears twitched and his eyes widened with alarm. He asked Zheng Tianlan nervously, “Did you come alone, or did you bring others?” Zheng Tianlan was taken aback, shook his head, saying he was alone. Lu Jue’s expression grew stern. After warning Zheng Tianlan, he took his sword and went out. “Protect His Majesty!”

Zheng Tianlan hurriedly drew his blade and stood guard by the bed, while Lu Jue went out alone. Moments later, the sounds of clashing blades echoed from the roof, followed by muffled groans and the thud of sandbags hitting the ground. Lu Jue led in a cold-faced corpse dressed in black. Feng Yewu, now awake, sat by the bed with a grave expression, staring at the body. “All dead?”

Lu Jue nodded, regretful. “Professional assassins. The only survivor likely took poison.” Feng Yewu’s eyes narrowed as he listened, and a suspicion formed in his mind. Lu Jue tore open the fabric at the corpse’s shoulder, revealing the mark of the Penglai Pavilion. After Lu Jue and Zheng Tianlan finished dealing with the bodies, they returned to the room.

“It seems our movements have been discovered. We must quicken our pace.”

Zheng Tianlan glanced at the two, his expression serious. “Your Majesty, Lord Wei Nanxi asked me to deliver a message.” Feng Yewu, curious, asked, “What is it?” “Lord Wei said that if nothing happened today, I should leave; but if there were any plots, Your Majesty should return early to prevent trouble in the capital.”

Feng Yewu was quite pleased with Wei Nanxi’s cleverness. As he said, if nothing happened, it meant their departure from the palace was unnoticed. If assassins appeared, it meant someone in the palace leaked the information, and the traitor would surely incite officials to disrupt the court.

“Your Majesty…” Zheng Tianlan hesitated, clearly awaiting Feng Yewu’s decision. Feng Yewu and Lu Jue exchanged a glance, and, resolved, Feng Yewu lay back down. “We’ve come this far. I trust Wu Muxue to handle matters until I return.”

Feng Yewu knew that now, heading to the northwest was inevitable; their movements exposed, even if they returned, the spies in the palace would remain unknown, and future departures would be fraught with trouble. This journey, as Lu Jue said, even if they could only subdue King Jiangyuan by a third, they must go.

Within the capital, King Pingyi’s confidants carried secret letters between the offices of various officials. The next day, in the imperial court, Wu Muxue stood below the phoenix throne, facing the hundred officials, flanked by Wei Nanxi and Sun Changxi.

Wu Muxue addressed the officials with solemn dignity. “His Majesty caught a chill last night and will not attend court this morning.” At her words, the officials murmured among themselves but raised no objections, and soon departed.

When only Wu Muxue, Wei Nanxi, and Sun Changxi remained in the hall, Wei Nanxi sighed softly. “I fear the coming days will bring turmoil.” He glanced at the departing crowd with a complex look.

Sun Changxi was puzzled. “His Majesty is ill, merely resting for a few days. Do you think someone will try to rebel?” Wei Nanxi, seeing Sun Changxi’s blank expression, didn’t bother to explain and left first.

Wu Muxue, faced with Sun Changxi’s earnest gaze, gave a bitter smile. “Yesterday, Lord Wei sent Zheng Tianlan to protect His Majesty, instructing him to return if nothing happened. As he has not come back, it seems His Majesty and Young Master Lu’s movements have been exposed.”

Sun Changxi nodded absently, still confused. “What does that have to do with today’s court? Didn’t those officials refrain from questioning?”

Wu Muxue looked at Sun Changxi with a hint of pity for his intellect, and explained helplessly, “If anyone had questioned today, it would mean they were unaware His Majesty left the palace yesterday. Since none did, it means they already knew and are merely watching and waiting.”

With that, Wu Muxue no longer paid attention to the suddenly enlightened Sun Changxi, and left, troubled.

In King Pingyi’s mansion, a spy reported the court’s developments to Wang Changgen. Wang Changgen smiled slightly, everything proceeding as planned.

“Your Highness, will those officials really submit a joint memorial to the throne?” Beside Wang Changgen, Zhao Xiyan poured tea, her tone anxious.

After all, Wang Changgen’s connections were not what they once were. Wang Changgen put down his book and smiled. “Why not? I merely gave them a few clues; these old foxes each have their own schemes.”

He took the tea Zhao Xiyan had poured and drank it in one gulp.

In the northwest of the Ye Dynasty, near the border with the Tidi tribe, a group of cavalry armed with cold iron blades patrolled King Jiangyuan’s mining district. Vast snow fell sparsely, and the fierce northern wind obscured the riders’ vision.

“Your Highness, we cannot go further. The Tidi tribe frequents the area ahead!” A sentinel rode swiftly through the gale, shouting to the young commander leading the iron cavalry.

This commander was Zhu An, heir of King Jiangyuan. Zhu An squinted against the wind, his brows tightly knit, clearly unwilling to retreat. Days ago, word came that the Tidi tribe might launch a surprise attack today, prompting Zhu An to seek permission from Zhu Bangyan.

He brought his elite troops to set an ambush, but the blizzard was unexpected. The deputy behind Zhu An dismounted, approaching to urge again, “Your Highness, with weather like this, the Tidi tribe likely canceled their plans. Let’s return early and spare the king worry.”

Zhu An sighed, nodding in agreement. “Let’s go. The weather isn’t in our favor today. We’ll find another chance to teach them a lesson.”

No sooner had he spoken, than as the group turned to leave, a series of muffled sounds echoed from the distance. Zhu An’s heart sank. He shouted to his men, “Beware! It’s an ambush!”