"I regret it," the Holy Emperor said with deceptive leisure, tapping against the golden cage with one finger. The jade bird inside startled into frantic hopping, wings beating uselessly against gilded bars.
The Empress Dowager's voice carried the weight of exhaustion. "Does Your Majesty still not understand my intentions?"
"I understand," the Holy Emperor replied, his smile cold as he withdrew his hand from tormenting the caged creature. "Mother doesn't want to antagonize Susha further. But, setting aside Feng Xiyang, I believe Susha would be quite pleased to see Xia Jingshi's head."
"Has Your Majesty considered," the Empress Dowager said with renewed gravity, "given Xia Jingshi's prestige in the military, if his former subordinates rise in anger, they will fight to the last man against the Imperial Guards!"
"Mother, you have too little faith in the Imperial Guards," the Holy Emperor waved his hand with visible impatience. "As the saying goes, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. With Xia Jingshi gone, what's there to fear from his former subordinates? Would they risk being labeled as traitors for a dead man?"
"You're too willful," the Empress Dowager's voice rose in rare defiance. "Last time you didn't listen to my advice…"
"Mother!" The Holy Emperor whirled around, glaring at her with such fierce intensity that she fell silent. Then, as quickly as the storm had come, his expression transformed back to its usual gentleness—making the shift all the more unsettling. "I suspect that foolish woman has already said everything she shouldn't have. So, we can't wait any longer. Mother, you said it yourself, if you don't sacrifice the child, you can't catch the wolf!"
"I just sent someone to scout, and there are indeed many more hidden sentries around." Xia Jingshi's voice was measured, controlled despite the gravity of his words. "If what she said is true, Ning Fei is most likely already in the Holy Emperor's hands, and given Yixiao's temperament, hearing those rumors will make her rush back."
He unconsciously gripped the half of a glass hairpin that had grown warm in his palm—a tangible connection to absent friends. "But at this moment, neither moving nor waiting is good. We can only keep her steady and not let the Holy Emperor realize that we already know his plan."
Xiao Weiran, though still looking pale and drawn, was in much better spirits than days past. He now sat frowning against a cushion, his mind clearly working through the problem. "It's indeed tricky. If we send someone to stop Yixiao from coming back, she'll surely sense the gravity of the situation and rush here even more desperately. As for Ning Fei, each day Yixiao doesn't arrive is another day of safety for him…"
As they spoke in hushed tones, a military officer responsible for the outer perimeter suddenly came running toward them. Even before he drew close, his panic was evident in every hurried step. "Your Highness, I have important news to report."
Xia Jingshi stepped forward to meet him, keeping his voice low and steady. "Don't panic. Whatever it is, tell me slowly."
The officer leaned in close, his words barely audible over the sound of his own labored breathing. "Half an hour ago, the Imperial Guards were secretly summoned into the city. Now all four city gates are closed, and the streets around the villa have been cleared." He took a quick breath, his cheeks flushed with the kind of excitement that comes before battle. "It looks like they're coming for us!"
Xia Jingshi's body tensed almost imperceptibly, but before he could formulate a response, the officer had already dropped to his knees at his feet. His shout rang with fierce devotion. "Your Highness, please rest assured. No matter what, we swear to protect Your Highness's safety with our lives. No one can threaten Your Highness while we still draw breath!"
"Stand up first," Xia Jingshi said gently, helping the man to his feet. Then he turned and pointed toward Xiao Weiran. "Find a few trustworthy brothers to escort Staff Officer Xiao out of the city. If that's not possible, at least hide him in a safe place. Wait until things calm down before sending him away."
"Your Highness," Xiao Weiran protested, his voice rising in alarm.
Xia Jingshi raised his hand sharply to stop the unspoken arguments, his tone brooking no disagreement. "No matter what happens, you are not allowed to come back. You must intercept Yixiao as soon as possible and prevent her from returning!"
"But…" In his agitation, Xiao Weiran couldn't finish his sentence before his body betrayed him. He began coughing violently, each spasm shaking his frame.
Xia Jingshi slowly raised his head to look into the distance, his gaze fixed on something beyond the immediate horizon. The Imperial Guards would arrive soon. "Don't worry, I won't meekly await slaughter. Have Yixiao rush back to Lu City to retrieve my military tally. She's a general appointed by the Holy Emperor himself and a princess of our dynasty. She'll have no problem mobilizing troops. No matter what, we must rescue Ning Fei. Xueying is pregnant, we can't let the child be born fatherless."
"Vice Commander Xue," Xia Jingshi said, turning to address the military officer standing rigidly before him.
He saw that the officer's right hand was clenched tight around the hilt of his sword, knuckles white with tension. His lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line, his eyes shot through with red—full of the fearless determination of one ready to die fighting. Hearing Xia Jingshi speak his name, his pupils contracted sharply. He responded with a voice made hoarse by emotion. "Your Highness!"
"Pass down the order, no resistance is allowed," Xia Jingshi said, his voice preternaturally calm—like the eye of a gathering storm.
"Your Highness," the officer cried out in anguish, "We would give our lives to escort you and Staff Officer Xiao safely out of the city…"
"No," Xia Jingshi said, and his smile carried both warmth and sorrow. "The Imperial Guards are well-prepared, and we only have about a hundred men. Moreover, if we resist, who knows what crimes we'll be charged with? So, I order you, do not resist."
"Your Highness," the officer before him was openly sobbing now, tears cutting tracks through the dust on his weathered face. "Our lives don't matter. It's our honor to fight for Your Highness."
Xia Jingshi felt his own eyes grow hot with unshed tears. He took a deep, steadying breath and reached out to pat the officer's shoulder armor with deliberate force. "I've never said this, but you are my honor. You always have been."
The officer stood frozen, stunned by the words he'd never expected to hear. Tears streamed freely down his face. These tough men who never cried on the battlefield—who had faced death without flinching—were now weeping like children.
Xia Jingshi smiled gently through his own emotion. "Why are you crying like a woman? Big men look awful when they cry."
When the Imperial Guards entered the villa, the courtyard was already filled with soldiers who had accompanied Xia Jingshi from Lu City. Xia Jingshi stood in the hall wearing a plain robe, arms folded across his chest in a posture of quiet defiance. He was surrounded by a dozen military officers, and every glance they shot toward the Imperial Guards burned with barely restrained hatred.
Seeing this scene—this silent wall of loyalty—even the Imperial Guard commander faltered for a moment. But he quickly recovered his composure and led his men in a formal salute to Xia Jingshi. "This humble servant, Jiang Weirong of the Imperial Guards, pays respects to Your Highness."
Behind him, armor clanged and rattled as all the Imperial Guards bowed in unison—a clamor of metal against metal that echoed through the tense courtyard.
"This morning, after receiving secret intelligence, the city defense forces uncovered a large quantity of military equipment from Your Highness's entourage. This servant has received orders from His Majesty the Holy Emperor to invite Your Highness to the royal city to assist in the investigation…"
"Even the Imperial Guards have come. I must be quite important," Xia Jingshi said, his sneer cutting through the formal pretense like a blade. "I wonder how the character for 'invite' was written in His Majesty's decree?"
"This servant is only following orders. Please don't make things difficult for us," Jiang Weirong replied with a forced laugh that fooled no one. His eyes scanned the assembled men with growing unease before settling on a conspicuous absence. "Where is Staff Officer Xiao?"
"Staff Officer Xiao's condition has worsened, and I've already sent someone to take him to seek medical attention. His Majesty is busy with state affairs, so I didn't report such a small matter." Xia Jingshi's tone remained calm, but authority radiated from every word. "What? Does Staff Officer Xiao, gravely injured as he is, also need to enter the palace for investigation?"
Jiang Weirong felt an inexplicable chill crawl down his spine despite the warm day. He instinctively stammered denials, shaking his head repeatedly.
After a moment of tense standoff—neither side willing to be the first to break—Jiang Weirong gritted his teeth and issued his orders. "Disarm everyone and take their weapons to Jinghui Hall for inspection!"
The command hung in the air like an executioner's blade, and the fate of empires turned on what would happen next.
Next
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Comments
Post a Comment