Chapter 276: The Night of Turmoil in the Capital Prefecture

In the backyard of Prince Wu's mansion, a servant slowly led Du Changsheng towards the banquet hall. At every intersection or doorway, the mansion staff would gesture for him to proceed, showing full courtesy.

"Master Du, please come this way."

"Alright!"

After passing through corridors and gardens, and walking among pavilions for quite a while, they finally reached the banquet venue for the evening. A group of servants were still preparing for the dinner, but Du Changsheng noticed no other guests.

"Uh... aren't the lords who were with the Prince coming?"

Du Changsheng asked the person beside him.

"Begging your pardon, Master, perhaps the Prince has other matters to attend to. You may wait here for a moment, and please help yourself to the pastries and preserved fruits on the table!"

As they spoke, another servant hurried over from the front, approaching Du Changsheng outside the banquet hall and bowing.

"Master Du, the Prince has instructed that you and the guests may begin dining. He has other engagements today and will not be attending."

"And the other guests?"

"They will arrive shortly. Master, please take your seat."

Du Changsheng smiled and nodded.

"Very well."

Once the messenger left, Du Changsheng looked around, then towards the front hall of the Prince's mansion, where he vaguely perceived towering red flames rising.

He tugged at his collar, and hot, sweaty air seeped out.

‘Oh heavens, this is really not the time to be here. The imperial almanac from the Department of Astrology said today was auspicious... Never mind, never mind. If I don't slip away now, I'll likely get caught up in something big...’

Sweat trickled from Du Changsheng, but his expression remained unreadable as he smiled and asked someone nearby.

"Excuse me, is there a latrine near the banquet hall?"

"Master Du, the latrine is at the end of the long corridor to the left, behind the banquet hall. I can show you the way."

"Oh, no, no, that's quite alright. I can find my way. Please, carry on with your duties!"

Du Changsheng used the excuse of needing to relieve himself, circled past the banquet hall, walked down the back corridor, and reached the latrine. After checking that no one was around, he pulled a pouch from an inner pocket in his chest. From it, he carefully took out a small yellow paper cutout in the shape of a person.

"Ah..."

He sighed, then frowned and bit his index finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the yellow paper.

"Summon the strongman!"

The humanoid paper figure floated down. After a yellow glow enveloped it, the paper rapidly expanded. A figure, transforming from shriveled to robust, appeared instantly where the paper landed. Its appearance was blurry; from a distance, it looked like a real person, but upon closer inspection, it resembled an exquisite paper effigy from a funeral shop.

"Quick, quick, help me get out of the mansion!"

Master Du said impatiently. The strongman then crouched down, serving as a step. Master Du climbed onto its back, and the strongman slowly stood up, helping him scale the wall.

"Hey, hey, hey, careful, slow down... Ouch!"

He scrambled over the wall and stumbled upon landing, but fortunately, having been cleansed by spiritual energy, his body was strong, and the fall wasn't very painful.

Looking at the secluded alley outside, Du Changsheng raised his hand, ready to retrieve the floating yellow paper and quickly leave, but the paper did not fly back to him.

‘Oh no, did it fall back into the courtyard? What am I going to do?’

He definitely had to go back for it; the item was too important. Just as he was about to take out another piece of yellow paper, Du Changsheng looked up at the courtyard wall and noticed a strange paper bird perched on a corner of the mansion's wall. Its head seemed to be clutching his yellow paper.

‘Whose naughty child's toy is that? Did the yellow paper get stuck when it flew over?’

Du Changsheng paused, looked around, and found a reasonably long dry branch. He raised it, intending to knock down the paper bird and the yellow paper. But just as the branch poked it, the paper bird on the wall flapped its wings and flew off on its own, startling Du Changsheng.

"It can fly? Hey, wait! My paper strongman!"

In his haste, Du Changsheng chased the paper bird, running through the narrow alley. After passing through a long stretch of it, he suddenly stopped, realizing something.

‘How can a paper bird fly on its own? Have I encountered some spirit or demon? Or perhaps a truly powerful master? Should I continue to chase it or not?’

As he pondered, he saw the paper bird had stopped on a wall on one side of the alley. Its beak and neck were clasping the humanoid yellow paper, and it was facing him. Although a paper bird shouldn't have eyes, Du Changsheng felt as if it were watching him.

‘This is too bizarre. I should just get out of here...’

Just as Du Changsheng was about to turn away, he saw a man in a green robe walking towards him from the end of the alley. The paper bird immediately flew up and, carrying the humanoid yellow paper, landed on the man's shoulder.

"Master Du, your method is quite unique. My surname is Ji. Might I have the honor of inviting you for a chat and some tea?"

Du Changsheng looked at the newcomer, who appeared to be an ordinary person in every way. However, given the timing and circumstances, he couldn't be ordinary. Upon closer inspection, the man's eyes seemed unusual, and the paper bird had indeed landed on his shoulder.

"Uh... I have an urgent matter to attend to, so it might be inconvenient..."

"Oh, then please do as you wish, Master... Return the item to Master Du."

Ji Yuan's first half of the sentence was directed at Du Changsheng, while the second half was spoken to the paper crane. However, the paper crane, still clasping the yellow paper, did not move, seemingly unwilling to return it.

"Hmm? Are you not listening to me now?"

The paper crane fidgeted its two paper wings, then flew up again. Carrying the yellow paper, it flew above Du Changsheng's head, then released its grip, letting the yellow paper fall.

"In that case, I will take my leave. I apologize for disturbing you, Master Du."

Seeing Du Changsheng catch the yellow paper, Ji Yuan cupped his hands and turned to leave.

"Sir, wait, sir!"

Du Changsheng almost instinctively called out to stop him. After a brief hesitation, he quickly hurried after Ji Yuan, taking long strides.

As the two walked towards a teahouse on Yongning Street, conversing along the way,

Ji Yuan also turned back to look at the aura rising from Prince Wu's mansion in the distance. He remarked with emotion, observing how a prince's murderous intent could even influence the imperial city's atmosphere.

"Tonight, it seems, will be far from peaceful!"

Du Changsheng glanced at the man beside him, just as those pale, ancient eyes turned to look at him. They were calm, profound, and held no reflection.

"Uh, Sir, are you referring to Prince Wu's mansion?"

"Heh heh, you could say that."

Inside the Zhangjian Camp, a skilled messenger from Prince Wu's mansion secretly entered the commander's quarters to deliver the Prince's orders.

"What did you say!?"

Qian Junke, who was eating, immediately stood up upon hearing this.

"His Highness has commanded us to raise an army and storm the palace! Commander Qian, your great service to the new emperor will be tonight!"

Qian Junke closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his expression was resolute.

"Things have come to this; there's no turning back! Alright, raise the army!"

"Boom, boom, boom, boom..."

The sound of drums echoed thunderously throughout the camp.

"Quick, quick, quick! Prepare your armor and weapons! Everyone, assemble!"

Throughout the Zhangjian Camp, there was the sound of armored soldiers assembling, the rhythmic thud of footsteps, and the clatter of weapons and armor.

"Everyone move quickly! Archers, make sure you have your arrows!"

"The imperial palace has suffered a great upheaval! Traitors have seized His Majesty! By order of His Royal Highness Prince Wu, we are to swiftly enter the palace to aid the Emperor! Hurry, hurry, hurry! This is a matter that concerns the entire realm!"

Under such agitation, all the soldiers became extremely tense.

Besides the Zhangjian Camp, soldiers from the Beixuan Camp and the Southern Army were also assembling in groups as night fell.

A little later, Prince Wu, clad in armor and wielding a sword, personally led a host of military officials and expert guards from his mansion, charging towards the imperial palace with his soldiers.

The setting sun still cast a faint yellow glow, and some large lanterns in front of the palace had just been lit. The imperial guards defending the palace suddenly noticed a large number of soldiers invading the imperial city, and upon closer inspection, it was Prince Wu leading them.

"Stop! Your Royal Highness Prince Wu, this is the imperial palace! Are you bringing soldiers here because you intend to rebel?"

The gate general, hands on his sword, glared and shouted. Soldiers nearby had already gone to relay the message.

"Traitors have seized Father Emperor and disrupted the Great Zhen dynasty! I have received this news and am leading my forces to aid the Emperor. Those who obstruct will be executed without mercy!"

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"

Having reached this point, Prince Wu had no more patience for words. With a wave of his hand, the armored soldiers behind him drew their weapons and charged towards the palace. The two opposing sides immediately began to fight.

On the long street outside Prince Jin's mansion, Prince Jin's carriage was also embroiled in combat, with Prince Jin himself drawing his sword and joining the fray.

The surroundings were filled with experts. Besides the swift, soaring exchanges, the battle around the continuously moving carriage was especially fierce. Even though Prince Jin had secretly prepared hidden guards, the number of attackers was simply too great, certainly exceeding a hundred.

"Thud..."

A bladed weapon sliced through flesh. A guard near Prince Jin was cut down. The attacking guard hadn't even had time to catch his breath when he suddenly felt a prickling sensation on his back.

"Your Highness, look out!"

"Whizz, whizz, whizz, whizz..."

Dozens of crossbow bolts flew through the air.

"Thunk, thunk, thunk..." "Clang, clang, clang..." "Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack..."

At least three guards were fatally wounded, and Prince Jin himself was shot in the left arm.

Amidst the horses' agonizing whinnies that seemed to tear through eardrums, the horses dragged the damaged carriage, careening wildly.

"Teacher!"

"Your Highness, you're wounded!" "Protect His Highness!"

"Stop the carriage, the teacher is still on it!"

"It's the yellow crossbows! Your Highness, quickly leave! The Imperial Guards might be here too!"

Prince Jin was drenched in sweat, gritting his teeth in pain as he tied his own wound.

"Stop the carriage! Don't panic, this isn't the Imperial Guards with heavy forces. They've long since misappropriated heavy weaponry from the army's arsenal. Go quickly and stop the carriage!"

Several guards supported Prince Jin as they ran at top speed, while the remaining dozen or so experts fought desperately on all sides, chasing the carriage ahead.

At this moment, the injured horses pulling the carriage seemed possessed, crashing wildly ahead. Several experts, using their light-footed martial arts, leaped onto the carriage to fight and clear a path.

"Whizz, whizz, whizz, whizz..."

This was the sound of the deadly yellow crossbows. After the volley of bolts, several more guards fell protecting Prince Jin. More and more assassins surrounded them. Although Prince Jin's retainers generally had superior martial arts, they were gradually overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

"Where are our people? How long until they arrive?"

"Those who infiltrated the city days ago should be on their way!"

"Fight your way out, fight your way out... towards the Capital Prefecture office!"

At midnight, Prince Wu, stained with blood from the fighting, led his soldiers to the vicinity of the Emperor's study. Only two hundred Imperial Guards and a dozen imperial bodyguards stood in defense there.

By this time, Emperor Yuande was still reading in his study.

He was naturally aware of the deafening fighting throughout the night. Even earlier, before the initial palace defenses were breached, secret reports had come in, stating that Prince Jin had been ambushed by numerous assassins outside the palace and had managed to break through and escape into the jurisdiction of the Capital Prefecture office.

"Your Majesty... if, if Commander Qian and his men truly..."

The old eunuch's forehead was slick with sweat. He knew the Emperor had made preparations, but even he could not remain calm in this situation.

The Emperor looked at him, then put down his book.

"Then let him have this empire."

The old emperor rose from his couch, his body weary.

"Come, let's go meet this son of mine, Li Sizhe."

"Your humble servant is here!"

"Bring the edict of abdication."

The old eunuch paused, then instinctively asked.

"Which one?"

Emperor Yuande chuckled.

"The one for Prince Jin."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The old eunuch slowly walked to the bookcase beside the imperial desk and opened a sandalwood box. Inside were two imperial edicts. To ensure he took the correct one, he unrolled both and examined them.

These two edicts belonged to Prince Wu and Prince Jin, respectively, and surprisingly, both were dated the first day of the ninth month—the very day Yin Zhaoxian had arrived in the capital to have an audience with the Emperor.