Chapter 77: Holding Back the Troops
“What a well-staged show,” the Crown Prince sneered coldly. “This man is probably a death soldier too, from the same group that tried to assassinate us. All were following someone’s orders. As for what this man said before he died, those were the words his master instructed him to deliver. Someone has confessed in person to sending assassins after the Crown Prince and Princess, and even claimed to be a remnant of the former dynasty. There’s no need for Father to launch an investigation; the truth has already come to light.”
The Crown Prince began to clap, but his eyes grew even colder. “Truly a fine performance, worthy of admiration.”
Lord Wang spoke up, “Most importantly, Your Highness, while you were away from the capital, there were indeed rumors circulating that remnants of the previous dynasty were active nearby.”
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, silent in thought.
After a while, he gave another cold laugh. “That person is truly cunning. Even the rumors were put to use. There were claims of former dynasty remnants nearby, and now, conveniently, one is captured, confesses to the crime, and then dies, leaving no one to refute it. The entire blame is shifted to these so-called ‘remnants,’ while the true mastermind leaves no evidence behind. Each step is perfectly calculated, nothing overlooked. Impressive. No wonder they’ve managed to endure in the palace, biding their time all these years.”
“Your Highness, what should we do now? Shall we just wait and do nothing?”
“For now, we must swallow this bitter loss in silence,” the Crown Prince muttered, his cold smile lingering. “That person has blocked every possible path forward for us. With no evidence, we have no choice but to let ourselves be led by the nose.”
“The most infuriating part is that I can’t even speak plainly to Father. All I can do is help push the blame onto the remnants of the former dynasty. Since we have no proof, voicing suspicions would only let the other side seize upon our words, accusing me of being paranoid. That would leave Father in a difficult position and give others ammunition against me.”
This grudge would not go unpaid—he would repay it in full, and with interest!
The Crown Prince clenched his fists, a flash of malice passing through his eyes.
“You may go,” he said after a pause, waving his hand wearily.
“Yes, Your Highness. I take my leave,” Lord Wang replied.
After Lord Wang departed, the Crown Prince sat alone for a moment, letting out a deep sigh. The journey back had been long and perilous; it was no small feat to have returned alive.
He glanced at the plain clothes he wore, hurriedly summoned attendants to bring hot water, washed away the dust of travel, changed into his court robes, and strode purposefully toward the Palace of Clouds and Mist.
“Your Highness,” a young eunuch hurried to report as he walked, “news has just come from the military camp. General Chang’an, for reasons unknown, went to the camp himself and received one hundred strokes of the staff.”
One hundred strokes?
The Crown Prince stopped in his tracks.
A hundred strokes was no small punishment—most people couldn’t survive fifty, and a hundred was usually reserved for only the gravest breaches of military law. Such a sentence could easily be fatal.
This Lie Chang’an was indeed stubborn to the core. A man like him, once he fixed his heart on something, would never change his mind for a lifetime.
The Crown Prince shook his head with a sigh and waved his hand. “Let him be.”
The Palace of Clouds and Mist was already in chaos.
Palace maids and eunuchs knelt everywhere, each silently praying that their mistress would survive this ordeal. The concubines of the inner palace crowded into the room, heads bowed, hands covering tear-stained faces, sobbing as if the princess were already dead.
As soon as the Crown Prince entered, the sound of their wailing grated on his nerves. He pressed his aching brow and said, “Father, let the concubines return to their quarters. Standing here won’t help anyone.”
At these words, the Crown Prince caught glimpses of the concubines’ expressions—some visibly relieved, though most continued to weep quietly, their sobs barely muffled.