Chapter 147: Before the Vermilion Bird Gate

It was exactly the mao hour.

Yunzhou City was completely silent.

One last check.

Inside Prince Ren’s Estate, there was the sound of clattering armor plates.

Chest Hair patted himself down, confirming that his Wu Army armor was fastened tightly, and his saber at his hip and the golden melon hammer at his lower back were properly equipped.

Xia Tieying quickly checked the Barrier-Breaking Bow, which had its string removed and was carried on her back disguised as an ordinary weapon.

After everyone finished their checks, Ding Suian confirmed their respective tasks once more.

Chest Hair, you take twenty brothers and coordinate with Commander Lu to seize the gate; Miss Xia, you don’t need to worry about anything else, just shoot and kill Prince De at the first opportunity; the rest of the brothers follow me to intercept the two princes’ guards. Is that clear?

Clear!

Understood!

Good!

Ding Suian said no more. After looking around at everyone, he whispered, Victory!

Victory!

At the second quarter of the mao hour, the Prince of Nanshun rode out of the estate.

The long street was silent, and the starlight was dim.

The rain had indeed stopped.

The pervasive cold dampness in the air gave the capital of Southern Zhao a piercing chill.

The horses exhaled white mist, and the armored Soldiers marched forward in silence.

A quarter of an hour later, Prince Ren’s group arrived outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, the southern gate of the Imperial City.

Sir, Deputy Commander Li has arrived.

Li An, Commander of the Zhenxuan Army’s Armored Battalion, was leaning against the parapet and looking down at Prince Ren’s group approaching slowly below. He turned his head upon hearing the voice.

On the ramp leading up to the city wall, Li Dangxiong led dozens of personal guards up to the top.

Lord Li, why have you come?

Li An stepped forward two paces, cupped his hands, and offered a salute.

Li Dangxiong waved his hand, signaling him not to stand on ceremony, and simply asked, Is there anything unusual?

As his superior, it was common for him to occasionally inspect, and he had only brought a few dozen men, so Li An didn’t think much of it. He led Li Dangxiong to the parapet, gestured with his chin toward the people below, and whispered, Prince Ren arrived early, but he only brought a few people.

Does he have anyone extra to bring?

Li Dangxiong looked down with his hands behind his back, his tone seeming to lack respect.

Li An chuckled softly.

According to protocol, a prince could take two hundred guards when traveling within the city, but even mid-level officers like them had heard about Prince Ren’s current situation.

He really didn’t have many people to use.

As a result, his entourage looked very shabby.

In this world, some people might tend to a cold stove, but no one would bother with a dead one.

Lord Li, I heard that after Prince Ren returned to the capital, because his beloved concubine died, he drinks himself into a stupor in his estate every day and often wails in the middle of the night. Deeply affectionate and righteous—Prince Ren’s benevolence is truly well-deserved.

Li An used quite respectful words to express his disdain for Prince Ren.

This revealed two pieces of information: first, that Prince Ren was a hopeless case was common knowledge.

Second, the fact that such news could leak out indicated that there were indeed outsiders’ spies in his estate.

In the thick night, a series of footsteps and hoofbeats sounded from afar, and both of them looked over.

The two princes are here. Prepare to open the gates.

As Li Dangxiong’s voice fell, on the wide Imperial Street, the ceremonial procession of Prince De and Prince Rui slowly appeared in sight, led by huge palace lanterns.

Walking in the front were warriors holding axes and golden melon hammers, as well as a ceremonial sword guard with huge swords.

Each one was tall and fierce, but Li An knew these were all just for show.

Behind them was the four-clawed Dragon flag representing the princes.

An intricately decorated green-canopied carriage followed closely behind.

There were also ceremonial standards, banners, and tallies symbolizing their status.

Of the four hundred guards the two men had, eighty percent were just for these things.

However, no one felt anything was wrong; after all, this was the capital of Great Zhao, outside the Imperial City, so there was no fear of safety issues, and naturally, they had to emphasize pomp and circumstance.

Li An turned and glanced at the water clock; it was almost the mao hour, time to open the palace gates. Open the gates.

Of the four gates of the Imperial City, ministers used the East Gate, while the South Gate, the Vermilion Bird Gate, was reserved for princes to enter and exit for court.

But even a prince could not bring guards into the inner palace. The normal procedure was for the prince to enter alone, while the guards and ceremonial procession waited outside the Vermilion Bird Gate.

During the brief interval while waiting for the gate to open, the two princes rode side-by-side and slowly approached Prince Ren.

Heh, greetings, Royal Brother.

The two sat on horseback, looking down from a height, and cupped their hands casually.

The Prince of Nanshun actually did not return the salute this time. Instead, he glanced at the ceremonial procession in the distance and said, Two virtuous younger brothers, although the Emperor works diligently to govern, our Great Zhao has limited land and a small population, and supporting the imperial court and officials is already quite difficult. Such luxurious pomp should be avoided if possible.

…

…

Prince De and Prince Rui were stunned for a moment, then looked at each other and burst into loud laughter in unison.

Hahaha!

Did the sun rise from the west?

This useless older brother actually dared to lecture them?

Prince De laughed until tears came out, panting, Royal Brother, have you cried yourself stupid over your concubine? Some people are born as ants and grass, destined to crawl in the mud and support others; some people are born as Dragons, Phoenixes, and Qilins, destined to stand in the highest heavens and be supported by all the people. This is the moral order of the Heavenly Dao; how can a few sour words of compassion for the suffering of the common people change it?

Prince Rui also said in a mocking tone, We are of noble blood, and our ceremonial procession is glorious, which is exactly what demonstrates that we are chosen by Heaven! If you, Royal Brother, want to save even this little bit of pomp, aren’t you demeaning your own status and placing yourself on the same level as the commoners?

Speaking of which, he gave an effeminate smile and lowered his voice, No wonder that girl Zhao Ning could get together with a lowly Wu dog; this is called like father, like daughter!

Behind the Prince of Nanshun, a slender guard heard this, her breathing hitched, and her almond eyes widened.

Fortunately, the night covered up her abnormal reaction.

Behind her, Ding Suian, who was hidden in the crowd, turned to look to his side and back; Xia Tieying, who had just finished tying the bowstring, nodded at him.

Just then, they suddenly heard a sharp, continuous creak-creak.

Inside the wide, deep gateway of the Vermilion Bird Gate, the two huge, thick vermilion palace gates slowly opened under the combined efforts of dozens of Soldiers.

Do it!

Ding Suian’s voice was not loud, but the moment the words left his mouth, Xia Tieying bent her arm, nocked an arrow, and drew the string. It was as fast as lightning.

Only a faint twang was heard.

The next second, Prince De, sitting high on his horse, seemed to be hit by an invisible heavy fist hidden in the night. His whole body flew backward; while still in mid-air, the black and white fluid of his eyeballs mixed with red and white brain matter had already splattered out.

This arrow entered through the right eye and exited through the back of the head.

Because the incident happened too suddenly, Prince Rui, who was splattered with blood on his face, did not react for a moment, and a mocking smile still hung on his face.

On the other hand, Wang Xigui’s unit, which rushed into the gateway to seize the gate at the first opportunity, was the first to engage in battle.

Clang!

Enemy attack!

Enemy attack!

AZhi! Protect Prince Ren!

Ding Suian gave an instruction and rushed straight at Prince Rui.

Before the Vermilion Bird Gate, chaos immediately ensued.

What’s going on!

On the city wall, Li An watched the Prince De below get hit by an arrow and die on the spot, and Prince Ren’s guards rushing toward Prince Rui like hungry tigers pouncing on prey; his first feeling was confusion.

First, the impression of Prince Ren’s cowardice was deeply rooted, and the moment the guards suddenly attacked, his first reaction was to think that Prince Ren was being coerced.

Second, this was the Imperial Palace; who would dare to cause trouble here?

It was not until he witnessed Prince Ren’s guards starting to seize the gate that Li An woke up and hurriedly said, Follow me down the wall!

After passing the Vermilion Bird Gate and crossing a square, one would reach the Chengtian Hall!

At this moment, Your Majesty should be discussing matters with all the civil and military officials in the hall. If they disturbed the Imperial procession, he would be finished!

But just as he turned around, he suddenly felt a chill at his neck.

Commander Li! What are you trying to do!

Li An was terrified.

The cold blade pressed against his throat made him dare not act rashly.

The Soldiers on the city wall who were preparing to go down to support the gateway suddenly fell into confusion and chaos. A superior was coercing a superior?

Li Dangxiong held a short dagger against Li An’s throat and stepped back two paces, backing against the wall to avoid being surrounded. The dozens of personal guards he brought quickly formed a semicircle, protecting him in the middle.

His Majesty’s secret decree! Prince De and Prince Rui are rebellious and unfilial, and intend to commit treason! Prince Ren is ordered to execute them!

With a loud shout, the already chaotic Soldiers of the Zhenxuan Army’s Armored Battalion were even more at a loss.

Commander Li! Have you gone mad!

Li An knew that at this very moment, a coup d’etat was taking place before the Vermilion Bird Gate.

Li Dangxiong, who had him restrained in his arm, whispered in Li An’s ear, If it succeeds, Prince Ren promises you the position of Commander of the Zhenxuan Army and the title of Thousand-Household Marquis! Lord Li, life or death is just a thought away!

Before the Vermilion Bird Gate.

The two princes did not have many true guards to begin with, and the strongest fighter among them, Dui Gu, had been crippled by Ding Suian last month. After the two sides clashed, they were immediately suppressed by Xia Tieying’s Barrier-Breaking arrows, combined with Ding Suian, who moved as if in an empty land.

Clang!

Ding Suian slashed down with his saber, cutting a guard and his blade into two pieces. Another person rushed from the side, but with a swish, he was pierced through by a Barrier-Breaking arrow shot by Xia Tieying.

Ding Suian turned back, gave Xia Tieying a thumbs-up, and then locked his gaze on Prince Rui, who was turning his horse around, trying to escape first in the chaos.

The two were still three or four zhang apart when Ding Suian shouted, AYing, shoot the horse!

As the words left his mouth, the arrow had already arrived.

Her arrows were exceptionally violent. Every time they hit a target, it didn’t look like being shot at all; instead, it was like being struck by a battering ram, with bones shattered and flesh mangled, flying far away.

Prince De’s horse was no exception.

The Barrier-Breaking arrow, shot from the side and rear, directly shattered the horse’s right leg along with most of its buttocks.

With a whinny, it collapsed to the ground.

Prince Rui, who fell with it, was dizzy. After regaining some clarity, he turned his head and looked. In the hazy lamplight, a Wu Army Soldier was slowly approaching, holding a dripping straight blade.

Prince Rui wanted to escape, but his right leg was firmly pinned to the ground by the horse’s carcass. He struggled twice, but it was useless. He hurriedly looked up and said, Don’t kill me! Whatever the Prince of Nanshun gives you, I will give you double!

Why is it you!

It was not until the other person squatted down beside him that Prince Rui showed a fearful expression.

You and I serve different masters, so some conflicts are not a big deal, but you shouldn’t have, you really shouldn’t have, brought up my family’s women.

Wait! This Prince…

Seeing the saber Kunwu descending, the terrified Prince Rui still wanted to talk to Ding Suian, while subconsciously raising his arm to block.

But that arm failed to provide any resistance. The blade cut down, first severing the right arm, then slicing the neck.

Ding Suian grabbed Prince Rui’s hair, held his head in his hand, turned back a few steps, and then severed Prince De’s head.

His Majesty’s secret decree! Prince De and Prince Rui are rebellious and unfilial, and intend to commit treason! Prince Ren is ordered to execute them!

Before the Vermilion Bird Gate, a loud shout rang out.

The guards and ceremonial procession, whether fleeing or fighting, subconsciously turned to look.

They saw a tall and upright Prince Ren’s guard holding a dripping head in each of his raised arms.

One was Prince De, and the other was Prince Rui.