"Your Majesty, the MoLan prince has raised a rebellion," ShangGuanCY hurried into the imperial study, reporting to ChengSangKing, who was rubbing his temple in frustration.
ChengSangKing quickly lifted his head, but he didn't seem surprised. He had been aware of ChengSangMo's every move through ShangGuanCY and had prepared for this day. He gestured for Eunuch Liu to hand something over. Eunuch Liu passed a golden whistle to ShangGuanCY.
ShangGuanCY took the whistle, moved to the window, took a deep breath, and blew it. The piercing sound of the whistle echoed through the capital, reaching the hidden troops stationed throughout the city.
Months ago,
LiLuoning: "Your Majesty, this is called the Phoenix Cry and Dragon Roar. A single Phoenix Cry can simultaneously trigger multiple Dragon Roars from a thousand miles away. When the Phoenix Cry is blown, the Dragon Roar will receive the signal and emit a sound."
Months prior, ShangGuanCY had reported ChengSangMo's ambitions to the Emperor, and they devised a counter-strategy. LiLuoning, who appeared to have fled, was secretly investigating in the city. They had troops ambushed on the routes ChengSangMo's forces would take to enter the city. Once ChengSangMo's troops entered the capital, they would close the gates and trap them.
Sure enough, on the southern and northern streets, troops emerged after hearing the signal, and the Lin family's elite cavalry charged in from outside the city, surrounding ChengSangMo's forces.
In the midst of the battle, LinMuchuan feinted and retreated a few steps, whistling to summon his horse. Mounting it, he laughed and said, "It seems the MoLan prince hasn't read enough military books. Such a risky all-or-nothing tactic is easily countered. If you surrender now, we can avoid more bloodshed."
ChengSangMo lowered his head, silent. After a moment, he looked up with a chilling smile, saying, "General Lin, you're right. An all-or-nothing tactic is unwise. But as a general, you should also know the principle of deception in war. Do you think I'd be so foolish to bring just one army into the city for such an important rebellion? Or perhaps my true intention isn't to enter the palace at all? If I hadn't promised not to kill you, I'd love to see how strong you've become since your youth."
LinMuchuan frowned, contemplating ChengSangMo's words. Realization dawned on him, and his grip on his spear tightened.
Meanwhile, the positions of the two armies in the city had shifted. The Lin family's cavalry now backed the city gates, while ChengSangMo's forces were closer to the imperial palace. ChengSangMo never intended to storm the palace; he aimed to intercept those rushing to save the Emperor.
"ChengSangMo raises a rebellion but doesn't enter the palace. What is he planning?" LinMuchuan thought grimly.
Within the palace, the gates of the abandoned residence of Empress Xiao slowly opened. A man with black dragon-patterned boots stepped out, wearing a half mask, followed by Cui Yi and others. They had used a secret tunnel from the Xiao residence to the rear of the palace. Cui Yi had to find a place to enter the city undetected, and the nearby riverbank perfectly served this purpose.
The door to the imperial study burst open. Eunuchs guarding the door were kicked inside as masked men with short knives entered.
"Guards, protec—" Eunuch Liu's words were cut short by a silver needle from the black-clad assailants, and he fell to the ground.
ShangGuanCY quickly pulled ChengSangJY behind him, shielding him as they retreated towards ChengSangKing's desk. He couldn't believe someone had breached the imperial study so easily. ChengSangKing grabbed a sword from beside him and unsheathed it.
"Who are you, daring to assassinate the Emperor?" ShangGuanCY demanded.
"Cui Yi?" ChengSangJY recognized a familiar figure among the intruders.
Cui Yi smiled and waved at ChengSangJY, then looked at the black-clad men and back at ChengSangJY with a mocking gaze.
ChengSangJY recalled how he had inadvertently revealed much about the palace to Cui Yi during their interactions, including the Emperor's schedule, palace layout, and guard shifts. Realizing this, he gasped, struggling to maintain his composure. Cui Yi had approached him with a purpose from the start.
The assailants lined up, with a tall man wearing a half mask standing in the middle. Cui Yi stood smilingly at the man's left side. ChengSangKing, ShangGuanCY, and ChengSangJY were cornered in the imperial study, with no escape.
"ChengSangKing, it's been a while," said the man with the half mask.
"This voice... Who are you?" ChengSangKing's eyes widened in horror as he recognized the voice. He shook his head in disbelief.
The man seemed pleased with ChengSangKing's reaction. He stepped forward, raised his hands, and removed his hood. Even with half his face covered by a mask, his menacing aura and murderous intent were evident.
"What's this? An old friend reunited after so long, and you're not even a bit happy?" the man said, stepping forward again but was forced back by a hidden weapon.
The window shattered, and MuJinling and LinHuaichu jumped in from outside.
The man who had been forced back by the hidden weapon removed his cloak, revealing a tall, muscular figure. Even in his black soft armor, his hard, defined muscles were evident, and his aura was one of a seasoned general.
"The Zhiyue Pavilion doesn't interfere with court affairs. That's a rule of the martial world. I advise the Pavilion Master to mind his own business," the man said, glancing at MuJinling.
MuJinling smiled and replied, "The Zhiyue Pavilion indeed doesn't interfere with court affairs, but this matter happens to be a family affair of the MuJin family. Moreover, Huaichu is my sworn brother. How can I stand by and do nothing?"
LinHuaichu, puzzled, pointed at himself and asked, "Me? What does this have to do with me? Aren't they here to assassinate the Emperor?"
ShangGuanCY and ChengSangJY were equally bewildered, looking at MuJinling. Only ChengSangKing, behind the desk, remained silent with downcast eyes.
"Haha, it seems you already know who I am. Then you should also know why I'm here today. I advise you not to get involved," the man warned in a low voice.
MuJinling shrugged nonchalantly and said, "If you're here for a family reunion, I wouldn't interfere. Like you, I'd love nothing more than to see ChengSangKing dead, to avenge the dozens of lives from the MuJin family. But as the saying goes, the country cannot be without a king for a day. If we kill him now, it would only benefit the outsider ChengSangMo. After all, ChengSangKing is still my brother's biological father, so he cannot be killed yet." Saying this, she winked at ChengSangJY.
"I will have ChengSangKing's life today," the man said through gritted teeth.
MuJinling leisurely walked to the desk, sat on it, and took a sip of tea from the table. "Whether we take his life or not can be discussed later. But at this point, don't you think it's time to take off that half-mask? Am I right, General Lin?"
Everyone was stunned by MuJinling's deliberate naming. LinHuaichu, in particular, looked at the man in disbelief, his expression full of fear and confusion, then turned to MuJinling and shook his head. "Ling Brother, don't joke. This man doesn't look anything like my elder brother."
MuJinling pushed LinHuaichu's head with a finger and said, "Silly boy, your brother isn't this old. Familiar with the palace's secret passages, knowledgeable about the city's military deployments, and aware of the Lin family's elite cavalry and the Emperor's habits. This tall, handsome figure with exceptional martial skills—there's no one else like him in the world."
The man laughed loudly at MuJinling's words. "I'm not sure if the Pavilion Master is complimenting me or bragging about the Zhiyue Pavilion's investigative abilities."
As the mask fell to the ground, the expressions of the people varied. ChengSangKing's eyes were filled with shock and disbelief, MuJinling continued sipping her tea, while ShangGuanCY, ChengSangJY, and LinHuaichu were utterly confused.
"MuJin Brother called this man General Lin, but Huaichu doesn't seem to recognize him. Given his age, he seems to be around my father's age. Could it be...!" ChengSangJY thought, glancing at the general and then at LinHuaichu.
MuJinling put down the tea, jumped off the desk, extended a hand towards General Lin, and explained to the bewildered group, "Let me introduce you. This is General Lin Yuan, undefeated in battle, the Emperor's former study companion, the former head of the Lin family, the beloved of Princess Lan Shi, and ChengSangMo's biological father."
The name Lin Yuan was like a bell ringing in LinHuaichu's mind. He had never seen General Lin but had heard stories from his elder brother and mother. To him, his father Lin Yuan had always been a heroic figure who fought bravely for the country. He couldn't believe that his idolized father was now meeting him as a conspirator in the imperial study.
ShangGuanCY and ChengSangJY were also shocked. MuJinling's words contained so much information that their minds were momentarily overwhelmed. Hadn't General Lin Yuan died in battle? And how was he ChengSangMo's biological father?
On South Middle Street, LinMuchuan and ChengSangMo were in a standoff, neither making a move. ChengSangMo hadn't forced his way into the palace but had stationed his troops outside. If LinMuchuan acted without knowing the situation in the palace, it would be seen as rebellion.
ChengSangMo yawned on his horse, lazily saying, "LinMuchuan, I advise you to retreat. This standoff is tiring for both of us. Besides, you don't know the situation in the palace. If I were just marching my troops around the city, it would at most be a charge of privately raising troops. But if you attack, it would be rebellion, and your Lin family's generations of loyalty would be ruined by your impulsiveness. Your elite cavalry would also pay for your rashness."
ChengSangMo seemed certain that LinMuchuan wouldn't dare to attack, and so he provoked him.
"You! Northern Desert wolf, how dare you be so arrogant here!"
LinMuchuan shouted angrily, but before he could finish, a figure landed between the two.
"Mr. Li?"
LiLuoning raised his hand and tossed a pill to LinMuchuan, saying, "Take this."
ChengSangMo, sitting on his horse, laughed. "Li Taifu, it's been a long time. What? Couldn't be the Crown Prince's tutor, so you turned to alchemy? Bringing medicine at this late hour is a bit too late, don't you think?"
LiLuoning turned to ChengSangMo and, with a calm expression, said, "MoLan prince, I advise you to stop. The northern rebels have been completely annihilated. If you insist on fighting General Lin, it will only result in mutual destruction. The pill I just gave General Lin is Niu Wound. After taking it, he will be immune to sword wounds. You can't defeat him."
ChengSangMo sneered, unconcerned. "I've heard tales of Li Lanxing's countless treasures. I didn't expect such strange things. I should have recruited you into my ranks back then. But trying to deceive me with such parlor tricks is rather clumsy."
As they spoke, a glowing butterfly slowly descended from the sky. LiLuoning caught it and examined it, his expression changing noticeably. He then closed his hand, and the butterfly vanished.
"Haha, it seems Li Lanxing is not only a collector but also a master of these little tricks," ChengSangMo mocked.
LiLuoning knew that ChengSangMo's purpose in blocking LinMuchuan was to buy time. He also knew that even without LinMuchuan's appearance, ChengSangMo wouldn't enter the palace. His task today was to guard the imperial city gates and prevent any rescue forces from entering.
"MuChuan, attack," LiLuoning commanded firmly, stepping back.
In the imperial study,
"To think the Lin family, known for its loyalty to the royal family, has now become rebels," MuJinling remarked.
"XB, what's going on? Didn't General Lin Yuan die in the Northern Desert massacre?" ShangGuanCY asked.
MuJinling smiled slightly, turned to look at ChengSangKing, who was hiding behind the desk with a guilty expression, and asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to explain, or shall I?"
ChengSangKing's face was ashen, and he dared not look up.
"I'll explain," Lin Yuan said, stepping forward. "The so-called Northern Desert massacre was nothing but a trap set by this foolish king. He was jealous of Lan Shi's affection for me, so he devised this scheme. He first summoned the Chi Lin cavalry into the city and then led troops to massacre both the cavalry and the citizens. I was deceived into protecting the emperor, only to be stabbed in the back by this despicable king. If not for the unique constitution of the Lin family, this truth would never have seen the light of day."
"So, the massacre wasn't committed by General Lin but by the Emperor," ChengSangJY muttered, turning to look at the bewildered LinHuaichu.
"And ChengSangMo is your son with Lan Shi?" ShangGuanCY asked.
Lin Yuan nodded, looking at ChengSangKing. "You've always known about Mo Er's true identity, haven't you?"
With the final secret unveiled, ChengSangKing closed his eyes in defeat, dropped his sword, and slowly stepped out from behind the desk, saying, "I didn't know at first, but as Mo Er grew up, I noticed he resembled Lan Shi but lacked the birthmark of the ChengSang family. I began to suspect his lineage. By chance, I learned that Lady MuJin had the gift of foresight and asked her to divine Mo Er's fate."
MuJinling's eyes flickered, and she calmly asked, "So, the real reason the MuJin family was executed was because of this?"
ChengSangKing sighed deeply and nodded. "Lady MuJin not only divined Mo Er's true identity but also predicted he would one day seek power and kill his father to revive the Northern Desert."
ChengSangJY, recalling something, asked in surprise, "So, the assassination during the hunt wasn't by the Xiao family but by Father?" The thought that his father would attempt to kill a child he had raised for years over a prophecy filled him with dread. If his father had divined his fate, he might not have survived to this day.
ChengSangKing tacitly acknowledged ChengSangJY's question. Feeling that he was doomed, he began to confess, his voice filled with guilt and regret. "After that incident, I thought Mo Er's injuries would shorten his life, so I didn't act against him again. But who could have predicted this?"
Lin Yuan chuckled, mocking, "I should thank you for raising my sons all these years."
ChengSangJY, seeing LinHuaichu still in shock, gently pushed his arm, whispering, "Huaichu, Huaichu."
"Don't touch me!" LinHuaichu, unable to accept the truth, lashed out, pushing ChengSangJY away.
The push was too strong, causing ChengSangJY to lose balance and fall backward toward Lin Yuan.
MuJinling realized the danger and tried to reach out to catch ChengSangJY, as did ShangGuanCY, but they were too slow.
Lin Yuan swiftly grabbed ChengSangJY by the collar, pulling him into a chokehold. "JY!" everyone exclaimed.
Lin Yuan's eyes gleamed with a near-madness as he smirked. "Little Crown Prince, you've survived a few times before, but today you'll pay for your father's sins. I'll make him watch as his precious son dies in front of him." He tightened his grip, choking ChengSangJY.
"Stop!" ChengSangKing shouted. "If you want revenge, take my life, but let JY go."
"Father," ChengSangJY struggled to breathe, touched by the words.
Lin Yuan didn't ease his grip, saying, "Keep him alive? If the Xiao family were still around, I'd have them buried with my cavalry. But they're long dead, so I'll settle for you repaying your mother's debt. Besides, only your death will legitimize Mo Er's claim to the throne." He tightened his grip further.
ChengSangJY felt his vision blur as he struggled to breathe. With his last bit of strength, he whispered, "I'm... not... her... son."
Lin Yuan paused, his grip loosening slightly. "What did you say?"
"I said, I'm not Xiao Rui's son," ChengSangJY repeated.
Given the situation, Lin Yuan didn't believe him. He mocked, "A cowardly father can only sire such a cowardly son. You'll say anything to save your life."
"He's not Empress Xiao's son. His mother is my mother, MuJin Zhiyao," MuJinling interjected.
ChengSangKing's eyes widened in shock, and he stammered, "What did you say?"
Lin Yuan looked skeptical, asking, "Do you have proof?"
MuJinling explained, "Empress Xiao, in her youth, consumed a prescription that included cistanche, making her unable to bear children. Xiao Yongnian, to prevent power from falling into another family, struck a deal with ChengSangKing, helping him ascend the throne on the condition that Xiao Rui be made Empress and no other consorts be taken."
ChengSangKing's cold expression confirmed MuJinling's words.
MuJinling continued, "The Xiao family thought their plan was flawless, using my mother's life and the lives of our entire clan to force her to bear a child for them, thinking they'd be safe in the palace. But my mother, with her gift of foresight, saw through their scheme. Empress Xiao thought she could secure a royal heir by having ChengSangKing take advantage of my drunken mother. But my mother was already pregnant before entering the palace. She foresaw the MuJin family's future calamity and gave birth to JY in the palace to protect him."