Chapter 392: Death Warrior

The Spring Hunt Feast was filled with clinking cups, peaceful singing, and dancing. However, beneath the surface, undercurrents stirred, and guests occasionally stole glances at the Crown Prince and Prince Fu; no one could truly relax and drink. In previous years, guests would have actively offered toasts to the Crown Prince and exchanged pleasantries. But this year was different; only the Crown Prince remained, seated behind his table, pouring and drinking by himself.

Chen Ji glanced over. The Crown Prince always maintained his gentle and refined demeanor, never showing a hint of urgency even when Prince Fu usurped the main seat. Could such a person truly be so malicious? Chen Ji only trusted his own deductions.

Just as he was contemplating, Prince Fu suddenly rose, carrying a wine pot, and left the main seat. Dressed in a black imperial robe, he stood before the Crown Prince's table, casting a large shadow. Guests seated near the Crown Prince quickly stood up, pretending to toast others, creating a wide empty space between the two men.

Prince Fu held the wine pot and filled the Crown Prince's cup. "Your Royal Highness, please." The Crown Prince didn't look up, simply picked up the cup, and drained it. Before he could set the cup down, Prince Fu filled it again, allowing the wine to overflow between his fingers. "Please." The Crown Prince looked at his wine-soaked hand, gripped the cup, and drank it down once more.

When Prince Fu filled his cup for the third time, the Crown Prince looked up at the tall Prince Fu. "Brother, what is the meaning of this?" Prince Fu sneered, "This is to teach you not to refuse a toast and then have to drink a forfeit."

The Crown Prince looked at his sharp-edged brother, his expression unchanged. "Brother, aren't you afraid of being punished by Father when we return to the capital, after all these transgressions today?" Prince Fu was unconcerned. "You still don't understand one principle. As long as I don't want that position, even if I commit a grave mistake, I will still be his son. A son who makes a mistake can just be beaten once; if that's not enough, then twice; if twice isn't enough, then three times. Anyway, I can take a beating. But you are different. You dream of sitting in that position. Now, you are no longer his son; you are his enemy."

The Crown Prince said lightly, "Brother, do you truly not want to contend?"

Prince Fu placed the wine pot on the table, pressing his palm on the lid, and sneered, "I am different from you. You clearly desire many things but dare not speak of them. But when I say I don't want to contend, I genuinely don't want to contend."

The Crown Prince smiled faintly. "The Hu family and the Empress do not think so."

Prince Fu leaned in, staring closely at the Crown Prince. "It doesn't matter. I may not possess great wisdom, but my ability to sicken people is absolutely first-rate. You will witness it." The Crown Prince's smile remained. "Brother, just wait and see."

The air between them froze, and the guests fell silent.

Just as the tension escalated, musicians from the Entertainment Bureau entered through the archway, one after another, carrying their instruments, and settled onto the red carpet. The crisp twang of a lute string, as a musician tested its sound, instantly melted the heavy atmosphere between the Crown Prince and Prince Fu.

The Crown Prince said softly, "Brother, let's listen to the opera." Prince Fu gave a relaxed smile and returned to his main seat. The sound of the lute began, and the graceful singing of the actors followed.

Listening to the opera, Chen Ji realized that the play, "The Immortal's Guidance," actually depicted the founding emperor of the Ning Dynasty. During his conquest, he suffered a defeat in Ganzhou, got separated from his troops while fleeing for his life, and accidentally entered a mountain forest. The forest was filled with dense miasma, making it difficult to discern directions. A giant white python, ten meters long, slithered out and led the emperor out of the miasma. After emerging from the miasma, the emperor thanked the white python. The white python spoke in human tongue: "The Celestial Venerable Yuanshi of Pure Jade in Eastern Kunlun sent me to guide you. You may take the divine sword from my belly to act on behalf of Heaven. The ruler of the world shall be one of virtue." The emperor then raised his saber, cut off the white python's head, and the python transformed into white clouds and vanished, leaving behind a divine sword that could cut through metal as if it were mud. This very national treasure, the divine sword, now hangs behind the plaque of the Jianji Hall. Hearing this, Chen Ji couldn't help but ponder. If he hadn't known about the Forty-Nine Heavens, it would have been fine, but now that he did, listening to this story felt eerie... Did the Ning Dynasty receive aid from the Forty-Nine Heavens when it was founded?

However, the opera had not yet finished when dense footsteps and the rustling sound of straw cloaks rubbing together were heard from outside Red Leaf Villa. The next moment, Giải Phiền Guards, cloaked in straw and wearing bamboo hats, filed in through the archway, their cloaks carrying the scent of wind and frost. The Giải Phiền Guards held their hands on their waist sabers, their gazes hidden beneath the shadows of their hats. The feast's lanterns illuminated them but could not penetrate their straw cloaks and hats. Everyone could only see the lower halves of their faces, their expressions unreadable. Yet, the guests distinctly felt cold, piercing gazes slowly sweeping over them from beneath the hats. All the guests were startled; no one had expected the Giải Phiền Guards to arrive so quickly. The musicians, in a panic, clutched their instruments, rose, and retreated to the corners of the feast hall.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince and Prince Fu, the Giải Phiền Guards neither bowed nor offered greetings. The lead guard immediately showed his waist token and stated directly, "Where is the body?" The Crown Prince pointed north. "It's near my bedchamber." The Giải Phiền Guard calmly said, "Lead us there. Effective immediately, the Giải Phiền Guards are taking over the security of Red Leaf Villa. No one is permitted to leave without permission." The Crown Prince quietly told his attendant, "Lead them."

The Giải Phiền Guards wasted no more words. Five of them followed the attendant to inspect the body, while the remaining guards unfastened the crossbows from their waists and ascended the watchtowers of Red Leaf Villa. Red Leaf Villa served as a temporary imperial residence, equipped with five watchtowers that offered a panoramic view of the entire estate, securing all entrances and exits. Chen Ji frowned in thought. Logically, even at top speed, it would take until dawn to return to the capital from Red Leaf Villa. How could the Giải Phiền Guards have arrived so quickly?

The Crown Prince also asked the attendant who had gone to report, "How did you return so quickly?" The attendant explained, "Your humble servant hadn't even reached Fengtai Post Station when I happened to encounter this group of Giải Phiền Guards, who said they were on official business to Datong. Upon hearing of this matter, they came directly to Red Leaf Villa." The Crown Prince nodded. "What a coincidence."

Someone whispered, "What do we do now? Are we to wait here for the Giải Phiền Guards to investigate the case?" Prince Fu said lazily, "How long would that take? Let us retire early, gentlemen. You still have the spring hunt tomorrow." Someone was startled. "After such an incident, there's still a spring hunt?" Prince Fu glanced sideways, saying playfully, "The spring hunt is a fixed imperial ritual; how can it be canceled for a minor incident? Even if the sky were to fall, we would still go through the motions. Furthermore, the Emperor's decree has arrived, promising noble titles. Gentlemen, you should be fighting for your lives for this; it's an honor your ancestors might not even have achieved. Alright, everyone, go back and rest. The Giải Phiền Guards will summon you if they need anything."

The Crown Prince turned to Mr. Liao and instructed, "Mr. Liao, please arrange lodging for the guests." Mr. Liao bowed his head and assented. He gestured to the minor officials in Red Leaf Villa, and dozens of them came forward with lanterns, leading the guests to their designated residences.

Chen Ji and Zhang Xia walked side by side, but at a fork in a small alley, the two officials leading them went one left and one right, intending to separate Chen Ji, Qi Zhenzhuo, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Xia. Zhang Xia stopped at the fork and asked, "Which courtyard am I staying in?" The official quickly replied, "To Second Miss Zhang, you and your brother will be staying in Spring Dew Courtyard." Zhang Xia then asked, "Which courtyard are Chen Ji and Qi Zhenzhuo staying in?" Another official replied, "Your humble servant is to lead Lord Qi and Lord Chen to Winter Snow Courtyard." Zhang Xia closed her eyes, recalling. "One at the far east, one at the far west. Who arranged this?" The official bowed his head. "Your humble servant does not know." Zhang Xia frowned and asked, "Who was assigned to the Immortal's Retreat next to Winter Snow Courtyard?" The official was startled, not expecting Zhang Xia to know Red Leaf Villa so intimately. "It is where the esteemed lady of the Qi family resides." Zhang Xia then asked, "And who is staying in the Assembly of Sages, next to my Spring Dew Courtyard?" The official's head drooped even lower. "Your humble servant does not know." Zhang Xia smiled. "We won't go to Spring Dew Courtyard. My brother and I can simply stay in the east and west wing rooms of Winter Snow Courtyard." The official hastily said, "How can this be? Your humble servant dares not lead the way arbitrarily; it must be according to the arrangements on the list." Zhang Xia didn't wait for him to lead and walked straight towards Winter Snow Courtyard. "Then you don't need to lead; I know where it is."

Behind them, Qi Zhaoning suddenly interjected, "Wait, how can you two stay together?" Zhang Xia looked back with a sidelong glance. "How can it be considered staying together when we're in different rooms? With my brother here, what is there to avoid?" Qi Zhaoning frowned. "But it's the same courtyard! Haven't you studied the 'Admonitions for Women'? How can you act so recklessly?" Zhang Xia said as if it were obvious, "No, I haven't. What's wrong with that?" Qi Zhaoning was taken aback. By the time she wanted to retort again, Zhang Xia had already walked away.

Upon entering Winter Snow Courtyard, Chen Ji turned to close the gate, but saw Zhang Xia looking at Qi Zhenzhuo. "You go to the house next door and stay with your sister." Qi Zhenzhuo hesitated, wanting to speak, but finally gave in under Zhang Xia's gaze and turned to go to Immortal's Retreat. Zhang Xia closed the courtyard gate, immediately turned with her back against the wooden door, and whispered, "Be careful, those people are not Giải Phiền Guards." Zhang Zheng and Chen Ji's pupils suddenly contracted. No wonder Zhang Xia insisted on staying in Winter Snow Courtyard, and no wonder she wanted to send Qi Zhenzhuo away as well. With such a major incident, not a single outsider could be kept nearby. Chen Ji glanced around, then pulled the two of them into the main house, casually lighting a candle. He pressed himself against the door, peeking through the crack to look outside. "You can speak now."

Zhang Zheng asked doubtfully, "A-Xia, how do you know they aren't Giải Phiền Guards?" Zhang Xia sat down by the eight-immortal table and whispered, "The crossbows they carry have a subtle difference from those of the Giải Phiền Guards. Although both are made from ox back sinews, the Giải Phiền Guards' bowstrings are mixed with silk, whereas these people's bowstrings clearly aren't, so their luster is different." Chen Ji mused, "If used for a long time, even bowstrings mixed with silk would lose their luster." Zhang Xia suddenly fell silent. What Chen Ji said made sense, and it seemed she had another secret. She was silent for a moment. "There's a reason I'm so certain. You don't need to concern yourselves with how I know for now. The important thing is, who dares to impersonate Giải Phiền Guards right under the Emperor's nose? What do they intend to do?"

Zhang Zheng lowered his head in thought. "The Crown Prince? Prince Fu? Only these two could maintain so many loyal assassins, and only these two would have the means to hide so many crossbows." Private possession of bows and crossbows was a major taboo in the Ning Dynasty, and impersonating Giải Phiền Guards was an even greater one. Whoever dared to do this certainly had no intention of letting these fake Giải Phiền Guards live. These impersonators must also deeply understand that they wouldn't survive after the deed was done. These were true loyal assassins. Zhang Zheng pondered, "Could it be Prince Fu? He was clearly targeting the Crown Prince today. Does he want to seize the position of Crown Prince?" Chen Ji closed his eyes. "Not Prince Fu. Although he is lazy and reckless, he has a strong sense of proportion. He has made too many mistakes over the years, yet he can still enjoy wealth and luxury in the capital because he knows what he can and cannot do. As long as he maintains his boundaries, even if he genuinely took the opportunity to beat the Crown Prince, he wouldn't die. But impersonating Giải Phiền Guards and privately possessing bows and crossbows—the crime is too great. That is rebellion." Zhang Zheng frowned. "Then it's the Crown Prince? But would the Crown Prince do something so foolish? Even if he wanted to die, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths, would he? He could just find three feet of white silk and hang himself from a rafter."

Zhang Xia looked at Chen Ji, her expression grave. "The spring hunt is inevitable and absolutely cannot be canceled midway. Regardless of who impersonated the Giải Phiền Guards, you must stay far away from the Crown Prince and Prince Fu tomorrow to avoid getting involved."