Chapter 77: Secret

Snow blanketed the shoulders of the soldiers as they stood resolutely, their eyes fixed on the vast army below. Everyone was prepared to fight to the death. But just then, the enemy forces suddenly began retreating in chaos, with flames bursting through the darkness and countless figures darting in the distance.

On the city tower, the cold wind billowed the man’s robes. A member of the imperial guards hurriedly rushed up, knelt before the man, and respectfully reported, “Your Majesty, General Li’s troops have surrounded the rebel army. The Regent is currently engaged in eliminating the remaining rebels, seemingly aiming to capture Prince Zhi and his followers.”

The battle below was so chaotic that it was impossible to tell which side was which. Xiao Jing gazed steadily for a moment before suddenly ordering, “Send a message to the Regent—capture them alive. Prince Zhi’s life must not be taken.”

Having just ascended the throne, he could not afford to be branded as one who kills his own brother. Even though his fifth brother had rebelled, imprisoning him would suffice. That would show his magnanimity as a ruler, winning the people over through virtue.

“Yes!” The imperial guard promptly turned and left after receiving the command.

The surrounded rebels did not struggle for long. Exhausted and no match for the reinforcements, they soon surrendered. Seeing their prince abandon them, most soldiers gave up the fight, and all were eventually forced to submit.

The night was dark, and the ground outside the city gates was littered with bodies, rivers of blood flowing. Severed limbs and corpses were scattered everywhere, but the battle had finally ended. The imperial guards methodically began clearing the scene. No citizen waking up the next morning should witness such carnage.

A large black wooden carriage slowly approached the city gate. The imperial guards saw the green-robed man driving it and immediately made way, not daring to glance at him.

The thick smell of blood drifted inside the carriage. Xia Tong gently lifted the curtain, and upon seeing the mangled bodies outside, her stomach churned, and her nausea began to act up.

Xifeng, who had sharp hearing, grew tense and asked anxiously, “Is everything alright, Princess?”

A calm voice replied from within the carriage, “I’m fine, just a normal reaction.”

Upon hearing this, Xifeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. If anything had happened to the princess again, he wouldn’t have had the face to see his master. What a shame it was—a golden opportunity had been wasted. The emperor had gained the upper hand due to the princess being kidnapped.

Unlike the battlefield outside, the city was eerily quiet. The carriage traveled slowly down the deserted streets, with guards closely following, ever watchful for any danger. Suddenly, a graceful figure appeared ahead, and Xifeng narrowed his eyes. He quickly pulled the reins, bringing the carriage to a halt.

Sensing something unusual, Xia Tong lifted the curtain again and saw a familiar figure standing outside. Dressed in a light purple fox fur coat, her hair elegantly pinned up with her jade hairpin swaying slightly—it was none other than Princess Changyang.

“I heard the princess had some trouble. Seeing that you’re safe now, it seems the heavens have favored you,” Princess Changyang said warmly.

Xia Tong was curious why she was out here, but she smiled and responded, “It’s so cold tonight. Why are you alone, Princess?”

Princess Changyang walked closer to the carriage, a gentle and elegant smile flashing across her face as she replied, “I wanted to check on the battle at the city tower, but my brother wouldn’t allow it. So I decided to take a walk alone. If the princess doesn’t mind, would you like to join me for a stroll in the snowy night?”

*

The cold wind swayed the countless branches, with flickering flames illuminating the area. The chaotic sound of footsteps echoed everywhere, accompanied by the relentless clattering of hooves. Soldiers chased down fleeing enemies in the distance.

In a small valley below, the sounds of battle rang out endlessly. A small group of remaining forces stubbornly resisted. Among them was a man in a brocade robe, moving swiftly through the crowd, cutting down anyone who approached him with deadly precision.

Above the valley, a row of archers stood poised, watching intently. A man on horseback, his sharp features devoid of any emotion, observed the scene below. A black-clad general approached and respectfully reported, “Your Highness, all the rebels at the city gate have surrendered, and the princess has safely entered the city.”

Down below, the brocade-robed man fought fiercely. Watching his swift movements, Gu Qin slowly reached out his hand. A bow was immediately placed in his grasp. He nocked an arrow, his eyes narrowing slightly. As he released the arrow, it whistled through the air, piercing the crowd. The brocade-robed man clutched his arm where the arrow struck, retreating rapidly.

“Your Highness…” the black-clad general beside him hesitated to speak. It seemed the prince was deliberately sparing the Fifth Prince’s life.

Seizing a moment of confusion, the brocade-robed man slipped away, vanishing from sight. A squad of soldiers quickly pursued him.

Before long, a blood-soaked soldier approached, presenting a sheepskin map with a bow. “Your Highness, this fell from Prince Zhi.”

Taking the map, Gu Qin glanced at it, his gaze growing deeper. The black-clad general’s expression also changed. “Isn’t this a map of the capital?”

This was something only passed down from one emperor to the next. How had Prince Zhi obtained such an item?

Gu Qin clenched his fist, glanced at the battlefield beneath him, and suddenly turned his horse around. His voice was cold and detached: “Leave no one alive.”

Snow fell heavily, blanketing the streets in a thick layer. Two figures of differing heights walked one behind the other, leaving a winding trail of footprints in the snow.

The world around them was eerily silent, with only the sound of falling snow to break the stillness. Glancing back at Xifeng, who followed closely, Xia Tong felt slightly relieved. Curiosity piqued, she turned to the woman beside her. “What brings you out on such a refined stroll tonight, Princess?”

The street remained quiet, with Xifeng maintaining a distance of about two meters behind them, vigilantly watching the surroundings for any movement.

“Just contemplating how unpredictable life is,” the princess said softly. She tilted her head slightly, catching a snowflake in her hand, her delicate brows furrowed. “In terms of ability, my fifth brother is indeed outstanding, but he’s too selfish, always prioritizing his own gain at the expense of the bigger picture. It’s no wonder Father ultimately chose my eldest brother to inherit the throne. It’s just a shame that my fifth brother couldn’t see this.”

Xia Tong remained silent as she gazed at the footprints they were leaving in the snow. Who doesn’t have their own selfish desires? Even Princess Changyang wanted to marry Gu Qin. History, after all, is written by the victors.

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw the regent,” the princess continued, her voice quiet. “My mother and I were terrified because the ground was littered with the bodies of assassins. Mother said the regent was planning a rebellion, harboring treasonous thoughts. But I didn’t believe it. Knowing his background, anyone would seek revenge in his position, especially a man like him, filled with such resolve.”

Startled, Xia Tong cast a deep glance at the woman beside her. The princess’s profile was elegant and gentle, but her eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions, as if recalling distant memories.

“I told my father I wanted to marry the regent, but he flew into a rage, threatening to strip me of my royal status. My mother drank poison to save me, but my father didn’t show the slightest hint of sorrow. Heartbroken, I asked to be sent to guard my mother’s tomb. Only recently did my father summon me back to the capital,” the princess said, her voice turning icy as she let out a cold laugh. “He knows he’s dying, so now he remembers us, his children. But to him, we’re nothing more than pawns in his grand plan for the empire. He even banished several of my brothers to far-off lands and is forcing me to marry into the regent’s household, just to act as a spy for my eldest brother.”

Her tone was flat, yet filled with bitter irony. Xia Tong was shocked, struggling to process the princess’s confession. So the old emperor truly was despicable, scheming against Gu Qin even in his final days. Perhaps in his mind, only the hero was his true son, while the rest were mere tools.

“I once hated them too. That’s why I thought, even if the regent rebelled, I would stand by his side. I loathe the royal family and the title of princess,” the princess said softly, slowly turning to fix her empty gaze on Xia Tong. “But when I returned, everything had changed.”

Their eyes met, and Xia Tong’s lips parted slightly. “Princess, you still have better choices. The regent isn’t your only option.”

Xia Tong didn’t understand why the princess was confiding so much in her tonight. Perhaps it was because of something triggered by Xiao Ming. But the princess could have a much better life, marrying a well-mannered and accomplished nobleman and living in peace. Why insist on being with Gu Qin? Knowing his personality, even without her saying anything, he would never allow a royal woman near him—especially the daughter of the man who killed his father.

Princess Changyang faltered, her gaze distant as a flicker of complicated emotions crossed her eyes. She looked calmly at Xia Tong and replied softly, “But I no longer have the chance to turn back.”

**

Author’s note: The princess currently has no intentions of harming the heroine. With Xifeng there, the heroine won’t be in any danger. This scene is just setting up for future developments.