Chapter 195 The Token: He would never let go of Shuangyan.

Outside the Imperial Study, Ajiu stopped abruptly upon hearing Mu You's words inside. Cui Jin was right; the Great Way inevitably involves bloodshed, and it wouldn't be surprising if rivers of blood flowed beneath the dragon throne. Ajiu looked down at the twin-dimpled sword in her hand—"When the throne is within your grasp, I'll use their blood to send you soaring to the heavens."

Ah Jiu, everything is ready.

Their blood... Xingguofang, and everyone on Canglang Island, Ji Fang who was executed by slow slicing, Feng Shisan whose fate is unknown, Xiao Ma whose whereabouts are unknown... Will Guan Ye also be unable to escape? And Mu Chenbi who was kept in the dark and spoke out for justice... They are all pawns in Cui Jin's game, disposable and willing to die, except for themselves.

In the imperial study, Mu Chenbi looked up with tears in his eyes, gazing intently at the lofty Mu You, his most respected and admired father. During the rebellion in Xiguan, he was entrusted with a critical mission, leading reinforcements to the battlefield. When the crossbowmen were completely wiped out, he stood guard a hundred meters above Eagle Ridge, vowing not to retreat even a step... He was the most accomplished emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty. He was benevolent and virtuous, and was supported by the court and the people. He and the Empress were respectful and harmonious, and he personally taught his eldest son... Mu Chenbi was proud of his unbreakable father-son bond, but only now did he realize that he seemed to have only just come to know his father.

Before returning to the palace, Mu Chenbi still fantasized that everything was Guan Ye's absurd speculation, and that all the glory was rightfully his father's. Mu Chenbi wanted to know what had really happened, and now he knew.

“This path to becoming an emperor is one I cannot walk.” Mu Chenbi straightened up and looked at his father.

"What did you say?" Mu You's face twitched.

Mu Chenbi slowly stood up. "You said that Xingguofang harbored a wanted criminal. If all those cases were wrongful convictions, then the wanted criminals could be exonerated, and Xiao Ma and the others would no longer be guilty. Xingguofang swore never to leave the island without an imperial edict, but that couldn't stop others from coming from elsewhere..." Mu Chenbi's eyes swept over Cui Jin and her father. "Otherwise... where did Ajiu come from?"

Mu Youcang's eyes darkened, all compassion gone and replaced by gloom. Mu Chenbi continued, "And there's the living sacrifice furnace? Can living sacrifice furnace melt meteorite? The Imperial Preceptor is knowledgeable and experienced. If you believe such absurd claims, you're unworthy of being an immortal of Cangshan. Putting aside whether this is true or not, even if the meteor sword is indeed stained with blood, it can't be attributed to everyone. So why the need for such a ruthless extermination?"

“Your Highness…” Cui Jin lowered his voice, “If you say it like that, you will hurt your father’s feelings.”

"Let him speak." Mu You said meaningfully, leaning forward unconsciously as if he wanted to know how much his son, who had grown up under his wing, could actually understand.

Mu Chenbi took a deep breath. He knew he shouldn't say many things, but at this moment, Guan Ye's words echoed in his ears again and again—"What if I insist on resisting?"

"Besides our own people, the Imperial Study is full of those who are about to die," Mu You said in a low voice, trying to entice him. "Let me hear what my good son, whom I raised with my own hands, can still say."

—"The Bloody Crossbow Case".

A death knell tolled in Mu You's ears, "What did you say?"

"The real reason Xingguofang is going to die is because of the Blood Crossbow Case, isn't it?" Mu Chenbi stared at his father. "The crimes committed by the family members of the wanted criminals hiding in Xingguofang are also related to the old Blood Crossbow Case. The counterfeit copper coins that I mentioned to Father Emperor, and the brass that went missing from the Ma family's mint back then, are the key to the Blood Crossbow Case. Now, after all the twists and turns, the missing brass has been smelted by Xingguofang. This is also the last thing Xingguofang did for the Great Jin. It's a pity for the Pei family. They thought that they could make something of themselves by returning to the court after being summoned, but who knew... there was no future for them, and their future was a dead end. If they had known that this would be the ending, Pei Yuan would never have brought everyone back to Rongdu."

“Your Highness is mistaken,” Cui Jin said. “Even if he had known this would be the outcome, Pei Yuan would have faced death without hesitation. At least he had already ascended to the Heavenly Realm and served his ancestors in the imperial court once again. Even if he was destined to die, he would not have lived a glorious life.”

Mu Chenbi sneered, "The glory that the Grand Preceptor speaks of is nothing more than being a pawn to be used. Such glory is what the Grand Preceptor desires, but it may not be what others want."

"So you don't want it either?" Mu You looked at his son meaningfully.

Mu Chenbi was stunned and dared not think about it for a moment.

"I'm tired." Mu You waved his sleeve. "You may all leave."

The door opened, and the Eagle Guards dragged Ji Fang out. Cui Jin followed the bloodstains at Ji Fang's feet and watched him being taken away, whispering, "There will definitely be a big show in three days."

Mu You rested his chin on the back of his hand and chuckled dryly, "Then I'll trouble the Grand Preceptor to make this performance even bigger. I can't wait any longer."

"Father!" Mu Chenbi was interrupted impatiently by Mu You before he could even open his mouth.

"Get out." Mu You coughed in displeasure. "Chang Lu, A Jiu is still in the palace, isn't she?"

"Yes, he should be here," Chang Lu hurriedly replied. "This old servant will go and summon him to see the Emperor."

Mu You narrowed his eyes, meeting Mu Chenbi's resentful dark eyes. Their gazes locked, neither father nor son giving an inch.

“Ji Fang…” A Jiu, who was outside the Imperial Study, saw the face of the person being led out. Although the face was covered in blood and the features were unrecognizable, A Jiu still recognized Ji Fang at a glance. “Ji Fang.” A Jiu chased after him for a few steps.

"No, no!" Chang Lu stumbled and grabbed A Jiu's clothes. "This man has committed a serious crime. You mustn't dirty your hands. The Emperor wants to see you. Young Master A Jiu, you must come with this old servant."

"A-Jiu..." Ji Fang murmured, trying desperately to find the source of the voice, "Save me...save me..."

Just as Ajiu was about to give chase, she suddenly saw Cui Jin and Mu Chenbi walking out of the Imperial Study, so she had to stop.

"Your Majesty and Ajiu are truly of one mind," Cui Jin said loudly on purpose. "His Majesty just said he wanted to see you, and you're right outside the door. Hurry up and go, don't keep His Majesty waiting."

Mu Chenbi brushed past Ajiu's stiff body, then suddenly stopped and looked her over. "My clothes fit you quite well."

Ajiu stretched out her arms and looked around. "I drank a lot of wine at the palace banquet and got it on my clothes, so the palace servants brought them to me to change. Maybe it's..."

Mu Chenbi chuckled knowingly, "You think I'm the Empress? Yes, it's because we look so alike." Mu Chenbi took a few steps closer to avoid Cui Jin, placed her palm on A Jiu's shoulder, and raised her phoenix-feathered eyelashes toward the direction where Ji Fang was being taken away, lowering her voice to say, "Ji Fang didn't confess anything about Xingguo Ward. In three days, he will be executed by slow slicing at Caishikou. Remember, Ji Fang didn't say anything."

"Where is Guan Ye?" Ajiu asked in a low voice.

Mu Chenbi picked up his sword, swiped past Ajiu's black robes, turned and left without saying another word.

Crown Prince

Upon seeing Mu Chenbi's figure in the distance, Luo Yichen hurried closer. "Your Highness, you're back so soon?"

Mu Chenbi raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled. Luo Yichen then asked, "The palace servants said you were going to see the Emperor. It hasn't been long. Is it inconvenient for the Emperor to summon you?" Seeing Mu Chenbi's expression, Luo Yichen assumed he was worried about Guan Ye and quickly replied, "I arranged the matter you entrusted to me without delay. The Black Hawk Guard brothers are still outside, and there's still no news about Miss Guan. I think no news is good news, and Miss Guan must be alright. It would be bad if there were news..."

Luo Yichen said with a look of regret, "I heard that the swordsman Ji Fang has been captured. He was caught in the inner palace, and it was that guy named... Cang Yu who set the trap. He personally handed over his former comrade to Grand Preceptor Cui. This act of sacrificing family for the greater good has earned the Grand Preceptor's praise. It seems he was even taken to the palace. Oh dear!" Luo Yichen slapped his thigh, "You didn't see the Emperor, so it seems the Emperor must be personally interrogating Ji Fang..."

"Are you done talking?" Mu Chenbi's face fell.

"Uh..." Luo Yichen felt uneasy, scratching his head, wondering if he had said anything wrong. "This subordinate... has been incompetent. I'll leave the palace now and continue the search, continue the search..."

"Stop!" Mu Chenbi snapped at him. "Who told you to leave the palace to find Guan Ye?"

Luo Yichen stopped in his tracks and turned to the side, saying, "Your Highness...isn't it you?" As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized something was wrong. Luo Yichen became alert and turned around abruptly, disregarding the difference between ruler and subject, staring directly at Mu Chenbi's face. He suddenly took a few steps back and knelt down with a thud, "Your Highness...this subordinate...deserves death!"

Mu Chenbi stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable. "You keep calling him 'Your Highness,' is that how you address him too?"

Luo Yichen's face turned pale, and he dared not even breathe as he peered at Mu Chenbi's expression. "Your subordinate... Your subordinate... The incident happened so suddenly that I lost my composure and rushed to report to Your Highness... That's why... That's why, I am guilty, I deserve to die."

"You rushed here to report to me." Mu Chenbi chuckled, her phoenix eyelashes sweeping over Luo Yichen. "You rushed here to report to me as soon as you received the news, and that's why you lost your composure? That's not right. Outside Gongcheng Money House, your words and sentences with Manager Mei were clear, logical, and you were very calm."

Luo Yichen looked at Mu Chenbi in surprise, "Your Highness...you...how did you know?"

"Stupid!" Mu Chenbi angrily flicked her sleeve. "Guan Ye and I were watching you from the corner of the alley. You call yourself the leader of the Black Hawk Guard? Is this how you act?"

Luo Yichen felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. "Your subordinate deserves to die."

Mu Chenbi clenched his fist and then slowly relaxed it, gently raising the back of his hand and saying, "Get up and we'll talk about it later."

After hearing Mu Chenbi recount everything, Luo Yichen's back was soaked with sweat, then dried, then soaked again. The winter wind was chilly. He could mistake Ajiu for the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince were outside the palace and someone mistook him for Ajiu... and used it as an opportunity to get rid of him as a remnant of Xingguo Ward... Luo Yichen was terrified by the thought, and the stubble on his chin stood up.

Luo Yichen's knees buckled and he knelt down again. "From this moment on, your subordinate will never leave Your Highness's side."

"How many Black Hawk Guards can you command?" Mu Chenbi suddenly asked.

Luo Yichen blinked. "Exactly one hundred people, no more, no less." Seeing that Mu Chenbi remained silent, Luo Yichen assumed he thought there were too few people and quickly added, "Although there aren't many people, each one is a master, and each one can easily take on ten."

A thought flashed through Mu Chenbi's mind, but he immediately rejected it. He had been the Crown Prince of Ansheng for twenty years and had heard many terrible stories, but he never thought that such stories would happen to him. He had not even taken his mother's advice seriously. Now that he wanted to do something, Mu Chenbi realized that there was nothing he could do.

"Why does Your Highness ask this?" Luo Yichen asked suspiciously. "If you think it's not enough, I can go to the Eagle Guard and get some more."

"Are your Black Hawk Guards still reliable?" Mu Chenbi couldn't help but ask again.

Luo Yichen patted his chest heavily, as if he wanted to prove himself with his heart, "They are all loyal and trustworthy, and would go through fire and water without batting an eye. What are your orders, Your Highness?"

Mu Chenbi stared into Luo Yichen's unbiased eyes. He certainly believed in the Black Hawk Guards trained by Luo Yichen, but... what could a hundred or so men do? And most importantly... did he really dare to do it?

If I insist on fighting back... it would be like throwing an egg against a rock, only fulfilling Cui Jin's promise that "everything is ready."

"Your Highness? Your Highness?" Luo Yichen called out several times.

Mu Chenbi snapped out of his daze and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing, just asking casually. Things have been complicated lately, so the Black Hawk Guards should be more cautious."

Luo Yichen nodded emphatically. Although he felt something was amiss, he didn't dare to ask any further questions.

Mu Chenbi raised the sword in his hand, and Luo Yichen saw it at a glance, saying anxiously, "It's this sword... No wonder! I knew my eyes weren't blind. Ajiu always carries Your Highness's sword. I only forgot to look closely at his face when I saw the sword... That's why I mistook him for someone else." Luo Yichen took a few steps closer and looked at Mu Chenbi's sword again, "Your Highness, this is Ajiu's sword, your... Twin Dimples Sword. How did it end up in Ajiu's hands? That's your... most cherished possession."

Yes, it's A-Jiu's sword. On the streets of Rongdu, Cui Jin probably called out A-Jiu's name because of this sword... Mu Chenbi's heart stirred, and he gripped the hilt of his sword without saying a word.

"If you see the Twin Dimples Sword, do you mean you've seen me?" Mu Chenbi asked in a low voice.

"Yes." Luo Yichen nodded honestly. "Your Highness cherishes Shuangyan. I thought Your Highness would never let go of Shuangyan, that's why... I am guilty."

Mu Chenbi seemed to be deep in thought, then suddenly raised her eyelashes and said, "Since that's the case, if you see the Twin Dimples Sword again in the future, it will be as if you see me. Can you do that?"

Luo Yichen hesitated, "But... if this sword falls into the hands of someone else, it would be like... that A-Jiu... if he had tricked His Highness out of his possessions..."

Mu Chenbi clenched her fist. "I will never let go of the Twin Dimples Sword. If anyone else holds the Twin Dimples Sword, it must be because they have my permission. You can just obey their orders. The Twin Dimples Sword is the token between me and the Black Hawk Guard."

"Yes, sir!"