As Feng Suige stepped onto the carriage, the evening breeze brought a faint scent of incense mixed with the smell of blood through the swaying curtains. His heart tightened, and he forcefully pushed aside the curtains. Before he could see inside, Yixiao's familiar voice came from within. "Quick, come in!"
Feng Suige instinctively released his grip, and the heavy curtains fell behind him. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light inside, he suddenly exclaimed, "Xia Jingshi!"
Xia Jingshi, dressed in Emperor Shengdi's attire, was leaning wearily against the carriage wall, nodding in greeting.
Yixiao, having completely forgotten about their earlier quarrel, sprang forward and wrapped her arms around Feng Suige's, chuckling, "Look, doesn't His Highness look just like the Emperor? Even the imperial guards didn't recognize him. We'll go rescue the others soon. With the Emperor's token in hand, we can leave here at dawn..."
Seeing her covered in blood, Feng Suige didn't bother listening to her chatter. He quickly pulled her close to examine her carefully. "Why are you covered in blood? Are you hurt?"
"I'm not hurt at all," Yixiao tugged at her clothes. "It's all His Highness's blood."
Slightly relieved, Feng Suige asked, "How did you two escape?"
Yixiao pointed to the shadows in the carriage. "We took the Emperor hostage, knocked him unconscious, and tied him up as soon as we got in the carriage. He hasn't moved at all this entire time... You weren't here earlier—you don't know how dangerous it was..."
"There's no rush to explain everything now," Feng Suige interrupted her, removing his outer robe and draping it over Yixiao's shoulders. "We don't have much time. Go inside and change into something easier to move in, and find some medicine to stop the Prince of Zhennan's bleeding. Be quiet—don't alert anyone."
Yixiao agreed and quickly jumped off the carriage, running into the residence.
Inside the carriage, only Feng Suige and Xia Jingshi remained.
"I didn't expect you to come," Xia Jingshi broke the silence first. "You've taken good care of her. She's much more composed than before."
Feng Suige smiled slightly. "People always grow up. Can you hold on?"
"Of course," Xia Jingshi exhaled. "Thank you both."
"If you want to thank someone, thank her. I'm doing this for my own reasons," Feng Suige's lips twitched. "Tell me about your escape. Then we'll discuss how to get everyone safely out of the imperial city!"
In the western part of the imperial city, a heavily fortified stone prison was the place where important prisoners had been detained for generations. The entire prison was deeply embedded in the mountain, with a rushing river in front, connected only by an iron chain bridge.
In the night, a group of soldiers dressed as imperial guards escorted a carriage slowly approaching.
"Halt! Who goes there?" With a shout, a heavily armored guard strode forward to inspect. The carriage driver hurriedly pulled the reins tight, and the stallions impatiently stamped their hooves, snorting loudly.
"How dare you!" A sharp rebuke came from the carriage. Yixiao raised the side curtain. "This princess is here on Emperor Shengdi's orders to interrogate important prisoners. I have the Emperor's token as proof. Who dares to stop us?"
As she spoke, a gleaming imperial gold token dangled from her hand resting on the window frame, clanking against the carriage.
"Ah! It's Princess Xingping!" The guard hurriedly knelt. "This servant didn't know the Princess was here in person. I've offended the Princess—please forgive me."
"Never mind," Yixiao coldly withdrew the token. "His Majesty wants to personally interrogate all the prisoners in the private weapons case. Hurry and bring them out!"
The guard repeatedly agreed and began to retreat.
"Wait!" A simply dressed military officer approached, stopping the guard. He bowed to Yixiao before continuing, "His Majesty gave orders earlier that this case is of great importance. Without His Majesty's written decree, no one, regardless of who they are, can..."
"Nonsense!" Yixiao's face darkened. "This princess is acting on orders. You're here obstructing me. Are you trying to dismiss me, or are you questioning His Majesty's imperial edict?"
"I wouldn't dare," the officer said respectfully but didn't budge an inch. "It's just that this matter is of utmost importance—I must be extremely cautious. Please wait a moment, Your Highness, while I send someone to request His Majesty's written order. Then we can respectfully escort Your Highness back to the inner city..."
Yixiao lifted the curtain and stepped out, her face ashen. She quickly strode forward from the carriage step and swiftly slapped the officer, causing him to stagger. She coldly rebuked, "Is it because this princess is not of the direct imperial lineage that you look down on me and disrespect my orders?"
"I do not..." The officer, angered by the slap, raised his voice. "Princess, you also come from a military background. You should understand..."
The sound of their argument carried far in the quiet night. Gradually, several guards on duty walked out to observe from a distance. Yixiao grew anxious, her face suddenly darkening. "Today, this princess will teach you how to write the word 'obey'!"
Before she finished speaking, with a sweep of her sleeve, Yixiao quickly closed in, reaching for the officer's sword at his waist.
The officer's reaction was a step too slow. As he reached out to stop her, Yixiao had already grasped the sword hilt. She pressed the mechanism and retracted the spring, all in one fluid motion. With a clang, the steel blade was drawn, slashing like lightning into the officer's throat. Fresh blood immediately splattered like blooming roses.
"It's just one stroke. You'd better remember it well," Yixiao sneered, turning her cold gaze to the stunned guards. "What are you staring at? Hurry and bring out the prisoners!"
"Yes... yes..." The guards hastily agreed, turning to run inside.
"Stop," Yixiao called out again.
The pale-faced guard quickly turned back and knelt. Yixiao hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "Have someone take care of his body later. I will report this matter to His Majesty myself. Until new appointments are made, you will temporarily take over all matters under his jurisdiction."
Watching the guard run into the stone prison, Yixiao, her palm still clammy with cold sweat, looked back at the imperial guards disguised as Su Sha soldiers. She released a long breath. "It's done."
Meanwhile, Feng Suige and Xia Jingshi were waiting for Yixiao's return at the residence. The jailer of the inner palace prison was bound with his hands behind his back, his mouth gagged, locked in the adjacent flower hall with the still unconscious Emperor Shengdi, closely guarded by four Su Sha guards.
Xia Jingshi's wounds had been cleaned and bandaged, and he'd changed into a clean inner robe. He was still wearing the Emperor's outer robe, sitting under the lamp, quietly gazing at the flickering candle flame. Feng Suige stood by the door with furrowed brows, seemingly lost in thought, also silent.
"You..." Suddenly, both spoke at the same time, then stopped, seeing the other had something to say. After a moment of eye contact, Xia Jingshi inquired first. "Besides doing it for her, what else are you doing this for?"
Feng Suige raised an eyebrow. "If I say it's only for her, would you believe me?"
"I believe you," Xia Jingshi simply uttered those words.
"You shouldn't believe me," Feng Suige smiled, turning to pace a few steps in the room. "What I wanted to ask earlier was—if my Su Sha puts all its effort into helping you, would you be willing to raise the banner of rebellion and take the throne?"
He glanced back at Xia Jingshi. "This is my other private reason besides her. My conditions are simple: after you ascend to the throne, make Xiyang the empress, and... treat her well!"
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