Ming Wang has been offline.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy on the carriage returning from the palace to the Prince Heng's residence. Jiang Wanzhi leaned against the cushions, watching the street scenes rushing past the window, the emperor's words and Munasha's resentful gaze echoing in her mind. She knew that beneath the temporary calm, the crisis was far from over.
Zongzheng Hengyu sat opposite her, his eyes closed in rest, but his slightly furrowed brows showed that he was not relaxed. Munasha's actions in the palace today, as well as his father's attitude towards the Northern Abyss delegation, made him sense a deeper storm brewing.
“Your Highness,” Jiang Wanzhi spoke softly, breaking the silence, “Princess Munasha… seems unlikely to give up easily.”
Zongzheng Hengyu opened his eyes, his deep gaze falling on her worried face: "She doesn't have that chance anymore." His tone was cold and certain, "The envoy of Beiyuan has received a secret order from the royal court and will send her back to the country soon."
Jiang Wanzhi was slightly taken aback, then understood. This must be the result of the man's machinations. He always acted with such swift and decisiveness, leaving no loose ends. She felt a slight sense of relief, but another worry arose: "That Night Eagle Pavilion..."
“They can’t hide for long.” Zongzheng Hengyu’s voice grew cold. “The fox’s tail will eventually be revealed.”
...
Night falls in the study of Prince Heng's residence.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating Zongzheng Hengyu's cold, hard profile. Yan Cheng appeared silently, handing him a secret report.
"Your Highness, our people monitoring the Northern Abyss delegation discovered that an hour ago, a suspicious Northern Abyss merchant attempted to purchase a batch of... Drunken Dream Powder through a black market channel we control in the south of the city."
"Drunken Dream Dissipation" is the secret medicine that Munasha intended to use on Jiang Wanzhi at the lotus appreciation banquet.
A cold glint flashed in Zongzheng Hengyu's eyes: "Where are they?"
"He has been apprehended by our people and is being interrogated. He insists it's for his own caravan's needs, but his subordinates suspect it's related to Princess Munasha. She may be trying to make one last push before leaving the capital."
"Keep a close eye on her. If she makes any unusual moves, take her down immediately. No need to ask for instructions," Zongzheng Hengyu ordered, his actions swift and decisive. "Also, what's the situation with the Night Hawk Pavilion?"
"After we eliminated their three outer strongholds, their core members seemed to become more cautious, and their activities almost came to a standstill. Based on the last vague information from our informant, they seem to be planning a major operation, which may be aimed at Your Highness or Miss Jiang."
Zongzheng Hengyu snorted coldly: "That's exactly what we've been waiting for." He spread out a map of the capital and pointed to several key locations with his finger. "Strengthen patrols and sentries in these areas. Spread the word that in three days, I will escort Miss Jiang to the royal temple in the west of the city to offer incense and fulfill her vow."
Yan Cheng understood immediately: "Your Highness intends to... lure the snake out of its hole?"
"Since they're hiding in their cave and refusing to come out, let's give them a reason to move." A sharp glint flashed in Zongzheng Hengyu's eyes. "This time, we must wipe out their main force in one fell swoop!"
...
Meanwhile, inside the Prince Zhao's residence.
Zongzheng Zhaoran also received a similar message. The masked man, concealing his presence, reported: "Your Highness, Prince Heng seems to intend to use himself and Miss Jiang as bait to lure the Night Hawk Pavilion into making a move. Should we…"
Zongzheng Zhaoran fiddled with a jade thumb ring, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He hoped that Prince Heng could eliminate the threat of the Night Eagle Pavilion, but he was also worried about Jiang Wanzhi's safety and did not want to see Prince Heng use this opportunity to gain further merit.
"Have our people keep a close watch on us, and if necessary... while ensuring Jiang Wanzhi's safety, they can cause some trouble for the Night Hawk Pavilion, but they must not be exposed." He finally made his decision. What he wanted was for the two sides to fight, so that he could reap the benefits.
…………
Just as undercurrents were surging in the capital, a military report, delivered by express courier, arrived at the Privy Council and was immediately sent to the palace.
In the northern border region, near Blackrock Town, a band of outlaws composed of scattered soldiers from the Northern Abyss and some exiled criminals suddenly attacked a large entropy village on the border, burning, killing, and looting, causing dozens of civilian casualties.
The border troops swiftly counterattacked and wiped out most of the bandits, but the bandit leader escaped. It is believed that he was involved with the exiled deposed prince, Zongzheng Mingchen!
The news sent shockwaves through the court and the public!
Emperor Zongzheng Hong was awakened in the middle of the night, his face ashen as he looked at the blood-stained military report. He never expected that his good-for-nothing son, even after being exiled to the northern border, could still cause such trouble, and might even be colluding with Bei Yuan!
"You unfilial son! This unfilial son!" The emperor trembled with rage and slammed the paperweight on his desk to the ground.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Eunuch Zhou quickly stepped forward to appease him. "The most urgent task is to quell the banditry as soon as possible, capture the bandit leader, and find out the truth."
The emperor took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. His gaze was grim: "Issue my decree, ordering the Northern Border Command to do everything in its power to wipe out the bandits, to capture the bandit leader, alive or dead! Find out exactly what role Zongzheng Mingchen played in this!"
This imperial decree, like a death warrant, flew towards the northern border.
Inside the Prince Heng's residence, Zongzheng Hengyu quickly received the news. He looked at the military report, his eyes icy. Zongzheng Mingchen… truly a menace. He had been busy with affairs in the capital and had relaxed his surveillance of the northern border, never expecting that this stray dog would find an opportunity to stir up trouble.
"Your Highness, could this be a trap deliberately set by Night Hawk Pavilion or Northern Abyss to divert our attention to the Northern Border?" Yan Cheng analyzed.
“That possibility cannot be ruled out,” Zongzheng Hengyu said in a deep voice. “But the banditry in the northern border is a fact, and it is also possible that Zongzheng Mingchen is involved. In any case, the northern border cannot be allowed to fall into chaos.”
After a moment's thought, he ordered, "Send more of our men to the northern border to assist the Governor's Office in quelling the rebellion. At the same time, find Zongzheng Mingchen. If he is indeed involved, do not escort him back to the capital; kill him on the spot!"
He had long since lost all affection for this brother.
That night, the powerful figures in the capital and the border guards in the north were all on edge because of this sudden military report. Munasha's conspiracy, the Night Hawk Pavilion's infiltration, the banditry in the north, the deposed prince's dying struggle... all the conflicts seemed to be pushed to a climax at this moment.
…………
The military report from the northern border was like cold water thrown into boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar. In the imperial court, the ministers were furious, and calls for severe punishment of the bandits and a thorough investigation of Zongzheng Mingchen grew louder and louder.
Emperor Zongzheng Hong's decree has been issued, and the Northern Border Governor's Office dares not delay, mobilizing troops and generals to carry out a full-scale extermination.
However, this band of bandits was exceptionally cunning. Relying on their familiarity with the terrain and the possible support secretly provided by Beiyuan, they played hide-and-seek with the government troops, and several encirclement and suppression efforts failed to achieve complete success.
Meanwhile, rumors about the deposed prince Zongzheng Mingchen colluding with the bandit leader "Lone Wolf" spread more and more widely in the northern border, with some even claiming to have seen Zongzheng Mingchen appear in the bandit's ranks.
Just as the Northern Governor was in a state of utter panic, the elite squad dispatched by Prince Heng had quietly arrived. This team, composed of Prince Heng's secret guards and skilled scouts from the army, would not participate in the main battle; their only mission was to find Zongzheng Mingchen and the bandit leader "Lone Wolf."
Meanwhile, in the capital, the news that Prince Heng, Zongzheng Hengyu, was "escorting his future princess to the royal temple in the west of the city to offer incense and fulfill a vow" quietly spread within certain circles, as expected.
Three days later, at the first light of dawn, a procession of carriages slowly emerged from the Prince Heng's residence, escorted by elite guards at the front and rear, their banners gleaming—it was the Prince Heng's entourage. The magnificent carriage in the center of the procession, its curtains drawn low, stirred the imagination.
When the convoy reached a relatively secluded mountain road in the west of the city, a sudden change occurred!
Suddenly, countless poisoned crossbow bolts shot out from the forests on both sides, attacking the caravan! At the same time, dozens of assassins dressed in black and with black veils on their faces leaped out from their hiding places, wielding sharp blades, and fearlessly charged towards the carriage at the heart of the caravan.
"Protect His Highness! Protect Miss Jiang!" the guard leader shouted, and the well-trained guards instantly formed a battle formation. Swords flashed and shadows danced as they clashed with the assassins. Crossbow bolts pierced the carriage walls and shields with a clanging sound, and the scene instantly descended into chaos.
These assassins were agile, coordinated, and ruthless, completely disregarding their own safety; they were clearly suicide squads. Their target was clear: the carriage!
Just as the assassins broke through the outer guards and were about to approach the carriage, the carriage suddenly exploded!
Amidst the flying sawdust, a figure in black, wielding a long sword, charged out fiercely! In an instant, he cut down the first few assassins who were charging at the front!
The man raised his head, his face cold and stern. Who else could it be but Zongzheng Hengyu?
The carriage was empty; there was no sign of Jiang Wanzhi at all!
"We've fallen into their trap!" one of the assassins exclaimed.
But it was too late!
Suddenly, deafening battle cries erupted from the surrounding mountains and forests! The ambush troops of the Jingji Camp, who had been lying in wait, emerged and surrounded the area like an iron barrel. Arrows rained down, instantly suppressing the remaining assassins.
Zongzheng Hengyu stood in the center of the field, longsword in hand, his black royal robes fluttering in the wind, like a war god descending upon the world. His icy gaze swept over the stubborn warriors, his voice like clashing ice: "Leave none alive!"
This was a massacre with no suspense whatsoever. Faced with overwhelming numerical superiority, these Nighthawk Pavilion's carefully trained assassins, despite their bravery, could not escape their fate of annihilation.
The battle ended quickly, leaving behind dozens of black-clad corpses. A few seriously wounded and captured individuals also unhesitatingly crushed the poison sacs between their teeth.
Zongzheng Hengyu walked up to the corpse of an assassin who looked like the leader, and used the tip of his sword to pry open his mask and collar. Below his collarbone, he found a small eagle tattoo that matched the pattern on the token he had previously seized.
"As expected, it was the Night Hawk Pavilion." He sneered. Although this attempt to lure the enemy out of their hole failed to capture the key figures alive, it annihilated most of the Night Hawk Pavilion's elite assassins lurking in the capital, undoubtedly severing one of their important arms.
…………
Almost simultaneously with the swift operation in the capital, news of victory also arrived from the north.
The elite squad dispatched by King Heng, following a clue from one of the "Lone Wolf's" trusted men, finally found the bandits' temporary hideout in a secluded valley, where Zongzheng Mingchen was hiding.
At that time, Zongzheng Mingchen had long lost the demeanor of a prince. He was dressed in rags, his face was withered, and his eyes were cloudy and crazy. He was bossing around a few bandit leaders, describing his unrealistic blueprint for "restoration".
"Take them down!" The squad leader gave the order, and all the elite troops were dispatched.
The bandits hastily engaged in battle, but were utterly defeated by these experts. "Lone Wolf" attempted to escape through the secret passage with Zongzheng Mingchen, but was ambushed by the well-prepared team members.
In the fierce battle, "Lone Wolf" was killed on the spot.
Seeing that all was lost, Zongzheng Mingchen collapsed to the ground in terror, tears streaming down his face, begging for mercy: "Don't kill me! Don't kill me! I'm a prince! I'm..."
"Pfft..."
A cold flash of light cut through his final groan. The squad leader, expressionless, sheathed his blood-stained sword and watched as Zongzheng Mingchen clutched his neck, his eyes widening in disbelief, before slowly collapsing to the ground. He twitched a few times and then fell silent.
Until his death, he never understood why he had ended up in such a state. His so-called ambition and revenge were nothing but a laughable, self-destructive farce in the face of true power.
"Clean up the scene and confirm the target's death. Bring all the heads back and submit them to the Governor's Office for verification," the squad leader calmly ordered.
The threat to the northern border had temporarily subsided with the execution of Zongzheng Mingchen and the annihilation of the "Lone Wolf" bandits. When the news reached the capital, Emperor Zongzheng Hong remained silent for a long time, finally waving his hand to acknowledge it. He had nothing more to say to this son.
The thunderclaps that resounded almost simultaneously in the capital and the northern border finally dispelled the long-standing gloom. The Night Hawk Pavilion suffered heavy losses, the Northern Abyss Princess was about to be repatriated, and the deposed prince was executed... A series of victories seemed to indicate that the situation was developing in a positive direction.
However, both Zongzheng Hengyu and Jiang Wanzhi knew that the biggest scourge, the Lord of Night Hawk Pavilion, remained hidden in the shadows. It seemed that it was time to completely expose the secrets of this former dynasty's prince.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
