Once the carriage stopped, Bai Liang opened his eyes. The carriage was knocked three times from outside and under everyone's confusion, he opened the door to reveal the woods outside the palace walls.
Wang Ke saluted. "Everything is ready."
Bai Liang stepped out of the carriage and took off his veil. "Bring them to safety."
"Yes, Madame." Wang Ke signalled one of his subordinates behind him.
"Madame Huo?" Yu Shen-Jia lifted his veil, his eyes anxious. "What is going on?"
"No need to worry, Young Master Yu." Bai Liang took off his white robe, revealing the black robe underneath, and gestured at Wang Ke's subordinate. "Just follow this gentleman's instruction and everything will be fine. His Highness also knows of this."
Hearing this was approved by Tian Qing-Shan, Yu Shen-Jia calmed himself down. He gave a firm nod and closed the door back. After the carriage left, Wang Ke handed Bai Liang his parasol. "Madame, the other side is still waiting. They will most likely move at midnight. Should we start capturing them?"
"No, let them make their move." Bai Liang smiled. "It's a waste of opportunity if we don't catch them red-handed."
Wang Ke shuddered from Bai Liang's smile and lowered his head. "Yes, Madame."
The general's wife indeed.
"Let's go." Bai Liang bolted and leapt across the palace walls. Wang Ke followed closely behind.
Hidden throughout the imperial palace, several figures blended into the night and watched their prey lurking in the darkness. The hunters were unaware they were merely rabbits hopping about in a snake den.
On the other side, the convoy finally reached the spiritual lake nearing midnight. They spread out in meticulous order, following the leader of their respective section to form an arc facing the lake with the emperor at the centre.
The crystal-horned tiger which was carried by a large cart was pushed to the front. Even after more than 3 months, its carcass didn't have a hint of rotting and its fur shone with lustre under the moonlight.
Tian Qing-Shan stepped forward with the emperor and delivered the offering to the shore. Once everything was ready, he rang the bell in his hand three times, and the emperor began the rite with words of gratitude and worship. After he finished, the clear moon reflected on the still surface began to ripple and the ground trembled from within. With the emperor's lead, everyone knelt in reverence.
A pillar of water burst into the sky and rained its surroundings with its drizzle. The water dispersed and a creature, greater than the mountain, revealed its might. Its blue scale glistened like luminous ice and its eyes were purer than any gold the mortal world could ever produce.
The air was heavy with celestial pressure and sent divine chills to all people present. They kowtowed in the presence of the sacred dragon and did not dare to raise an inch of their nose off the ground.
A wave of water swallowed the crystal-horned tiger and dragged it to the bottom of the lake. The dragon leaned his head down towards Tian Qing-Shan only to stop and shift his pupils towards Huo Zhang. Without opening his mouth, his voice reverberated through the sky and straight into the deepest part of one's soul. If Bai Liang and Xue Liang were present, they would certainly recognize the familiar voice.
"Child of Huo."
Everyone tensed in place and didn't dare to breathe. Even the emperor and Tian Qing-Shan had their hearts fell to their stomach. Why did the dragon address Huo Zhang? Could it be that the reign of Tian would meet its end?
Huo Zhang also wasn't without any thought though he was more composed than the rest. "Yes, Your Sacredness."
"Take good care of your wife."
Everyone, "???"
Huo Zhang's thoughts were instantly cleared, and he lowered his head further. Hidden underneath was a sincere smile. "Even in death, Your Sacredness."
The dragon hummed in approval and focused his eyes back on Tian Qing-Shan. "First child, you shall succeed your father's throne."
Tian Qing-Shan also lowered his head further. "This one accepts his honourable fate, Your Sacredness."
The dragon straightened his body back before diving back down in an arc. His tail splashed a wave of water with a flick and submerged along with his body in a blink. When the ripples receded, the lake returned to its previous tranquil.
Sounds of exhalation echoed across the crowd, and the people slowly stood up. They couldn't help but look at Huo Zhang with different eyes.
Could it be that his wife truly was an immortal fairy from heaven? The dragon even prioritized saying it before appointing the rightful heir to the throne.
Only Lan Gao-Ye couldn't care less. Why were Tian Qing-Shan and the emperor still alive!? Their body should've been riddled with holes right now! The assassins should've shot them when they were kneeling, just before the dragon appeared. Both the ambush at the forest and the sniping at the lake didn't happen as he arranged them to.
His only hope now was the shadows at the palace. It would take at least a full day for them to return, and the palace was basically empty with only a few dozen of guards. This was their only chance to find and acquire the dragon seal.
Meanwhile, Bai Liang grew tired of standing in wait inside the throne hall and finally decided to sit down on the steps towards the throne. He voiced his doubt, "Captain Wang, did you guys scatter the clues to guide them here properly?"
Wang Ke was also confused. "We did, Madame. We've been instilling that the dragon seal is under the throne for the past week."
"They didn't get lost, did they?"
"That's…very unlikely."
Almost 20 minutes after Bai Liang's inquiry, he finally sensed people outside the hall at the foot of the stairs. He and Wang Ke leapt upwards using the pillars with brisk light steps and stood perched over the beams to watch the scene below.
9 people cladded in black entered the hall with and quickly closed the door behind them. The person at the centre with the largest body looked up at the throne, on his hand was the Heavenly Star Bow. He swiftly went up with 2 other people while the other stood guard.
Who would've thought they were late because they were taking a souvenir?
Just as the two people lifted the throne, Bai Liang gracefully descended and landed on top of the throne soundlessly, as if he was a leaf landing on top of a soft hair.
"Good evening, Commander Han." He unsheathed his sword with a smile. "What do you think you're doing with the dragon throne?"
Han Pei-Yang was startled and before he knew it, the 2 people by his side dropped the dragon throne and fell limp to the ground motionlessly. He had only shifted his gaze from the angel of death for a split second but when his eyes looked back, he was already gone.
He felt a shiver from behind and turned around only for his vision to be splattered with red.
***
2 days after the rite, the emperor's convoy reached back to the capital by morning. With their veils off, Tian Qing-Shan rode his horse side by side with the emperor, telling the world that he was the chosen heir to the throne.
The street was filled with the common people welcoming their safe return from the rite as they paraded to the imperial palace's gate where it was completely quiet. Lan Gao-Ye's heart raced in anticipation.
The convoy dispersed aside from the eunuchs, princes, officials, and some soldiers who followed the emperor to the throne hall. When they entered, they immediately noticed the man standing in front of the throne holding a box in his hand.
"Commander Han, what do you think you are doing!?" the minister of defence yelled in disbelief.
"Impudent! How dare you step foot upon the emperor's throne! Are you admitting yourself to treason!?" the head eunuch also berated.
The soldiers quickly drew their swords but instead of rushing to drag Han Pei-Yang down, they pointed their swords towards the convoy.
"W-what is the meaning of this!?" The minister of justice turned to Lan Gao-Ye in suspicion. "You…is this your doing!? Have you finally lost your mind!?"
Lan Gao-Ye laughed in satisfaction. He walked out of the crowd and brazenly strode to the throne to take the box from the commander. He opened it to see the seal and showed it with a triumphant smile.
"The dragon seal is in my possession. Bow to me and live or defy me and die!" he declared and looked at the emperor condescendingly. "Your Majesty, hand over your crown to me and I'll consider giving you a painless death."
The emperor only gazed at his prime minister with emotionless eyes. "Seize the traitor."