novelraw Chapter 709 - 689: Fury and Shock
Chapter 709 - 689: Fury and Shock
After the Lunar New Year’s Eve, snow continued to blanket the land. Xie Jue and Lan Ningzhen could no longer remain in the town; staying too long would arouse the Second Prince’s suspicion. Moreover, Lan Ningzhen, being a member of the Lan Family, could not miss the family’s important banquets. The Beiman valued unity deeply, hosting gatherings both large and small every day after New Year’s Eve. Prominent members of the family were required to attend.
Before returning to the city, Xie Jue disguised his appearance again. Lan Ningzhen watched as his once stunning visage transformed under her gaze into something ordinary—his brows deliberately darkened and thickened to the extent that they obscured his captivating eyes.
What a pity, and yet a privilege, to have been the only one who could witness such beauty.
After paying the physician a hefty sum, Lan Ningzhen applied the ointment to Xie Jue’s face. Both of them wrapped themselves snugly for the journey back to the city. The snow along the way was exceptionally thick, and though Beiman warhorses were accustomed to traveling through snowy terrain, it took nearly three hours to reach the city gates. Near Fox City, a path had been cleared outside the city walls, making the journey less arduous.
Once inside the city, they parted ways, each returning to their respective homes!
Upon arriving at the Second Prince Manor, Xie Jue experienced an abrupt shift from the ease he enjoyed during his time in town to an oppressive sense of apprehension. He had scarcely returned before learning that the strategist, Xiao Jinghong, had died.
"Why?" Xie Jue was slightly startled. Xiao Jinghong and Du Fang were the two most trusted strategists of the Second Prince Manor. Before Xie Jue’s arrival, the Second Prince adhered to their counsel in many matters. The Second Prince, impetuous by nature, relied heavily on his tacticians to secure a foothold in the Imperial Court. Thriving in both health and vitality in the prime of his life, how could Xiao Jinghong meet such an end?
Still visibly shaken, Du Fang recounted a major incident that had unfolded in the Imperial Court on Lunar New Year’s Eve: "That night, the Great King summoned all the princes to a banquet. Each manor was permitted to bring their princess and two of their strategists. Coincidentally, I was stricken with a cold and didn’t want to spread my illness, so the Prince only brought Xiao Jinghong to the banquet. Who could’ve foreseen that during the feast the Ninth Prince would suddenly cause a scene, accusing the Second Prince of bullying him too much? He claimed that General Meng’s death had caused suspicion to fall on the Sixth Prince, leaving the Sixth Prince distraught and confined to his home, recovering from illness. The Ninth Prince questioned why the Second Prince repeatedly troubled the Sixth Prince Manor without evidence, and further accused him of slandering the Great Prince with elaborate lies—all part of a scheme designed to win favor with the Great King. The Ninth Prince, championing his elder brother, appealed to the Great King to intervene. The Prince naturally argued his case, but his hot temper flared after being provoked by a few sharp remarks from the Great Prince. The Great King, who valued harmony and camaraderie amongst his sons, was infuriated. The Great Prince argued that the Second Prince, being reckless and simple-minded, could never orchestrate such schemes alone—the blame must surely lie with the strategist, whose aim was to sow discord among the brothers. The Ninth Prince chimed in, and the Great King dismissed the Second Prince’s defense, ordering Xiao Jinghong’s execution on the spot."
At this revelation, Xie Jue was gripped with fear. With Xiao Jinghong gone, General Meng’s death would be deemed resolved and attributed to no one—an affair conveniently put to rest. Since the tactician had faced punishment, no further charges could be levied against the Second Prince. As such, the Beiman King commanded the Second Prince to apologize to his brothers, signaling an end to the matter. Poor Xiao Jinghong never had the chance to justify himself, nor did he ever meet the Beiman King before being beheaded.
The Beiman King also publicly reprimanded the strategists of all the manors, warning them that anyone attempting to foment division amongst the princes would meet the same fate. This decree instilled fear among all the tacticians, leading to an unusual calm within Fox City, where the bustling atmosphere of the New Year prevailed.
Xie Jue reflected bitterly—if Lan Ningzhen hadn’t taken him out of the manor, lodging in the town for a few days and avoiding the New Year’s Eve banquet, could he have escaped the Beiman King’s wrathful warning?
Absolutely not!
Certainly not!
Had the Second Prince insisted Xie Jue accompany him to the palace, Xie Jue was sure he would have gone. Even if the Second Prince could only bring one person, Xie Jue would have maneuvered to replace Xiao Jinghong. The outcome, however, would have been his death.
An unceremonious death—even without the chance to speak in his defense.
For centuries since the founding of Yanyang, whether under the previous dynasties or up till now, the nation had governed by rule of law. Yet for those in power, the decision to eliminate someone of lower rank often required no more than a word or a look.
This was true both in Beiman and Yanyang.
In Beiman, the situation was especially peculiar. They treated their brave warriors like brothers, yet simultaneously regarded those who betrayed them with utter disdain—as if they were mere animals.
Upon returning to the city, the Beiman King had heard of the conflicts among the Great Prince, Second Prince, and Sixth Prince but refrained from immediate action. He deliberately waited until New Year’s Eve, then summoned the strategists from all the prince manors to the Imperial Court.
From the very beginning, the fate of the strategists was sealed. The Beiman King intended to make an example of them, warning the princes and those ambitious men standing behind them against sowing discord. He was telling them that the princes of Beiman must remain united.
Any tactician driven by unbridled ambition who fought to enter the Imperial Court on New Year’s Eve was certain to lose their life.
Xie Jue pondered with unease at how blindsided he had been by this sudden crisis. If not for Lan Ningzhen taking him out of the city, his injured face, and the heavy snowfall, he might have been laid to rest in the Beiman Imperial Court.
In Fox City, Xie Jue resolved to be cautious, exceedingly cautious. Every step he took had to anticipate ten steps ahead. With no allies, facing insurmountable odds, his survival could hinge on life-and-death decisions at any moment.
"Brother Xiao... I failed him." Xie Jue’s eyes grew red and damp. "He died because of me."
The suggestion was Xiao Jinghong’s idea. Du Fang, Xiao Jinghong, and Xie Jue all knew—this deadlock was originally intended for him. What he now said was merely meant to console Du Fang.
Du Fang replied, "You can’t be blamed. We all serve the Prince loyally; no one could’ve expected such an unforeseen disaster on New Year’s Eve."
"Where is Brother Xiao buried? Let me properly pay my respects and share a few cups of clear wine in his honor."
"The King tossed his body into the snowy mountains, where it was consumed by vultures—nothing remains of him. The Prince wanted to retrieve the remains but was thwarted and almost faced punishment himself." Du Fang sighed deeply. "None can defy the King’s authority in Beiman, especially in Fox City. What he decrees is law, what he does is final."
After the Second Prince returned to the manor, Xie Jue went to pay his respects and confess his guilt for having stayed outside the city with Lan Ningzhen for several days. He apologized for delaying matters of great importance to the manor and invited the Second Prince to punish him. The Second Prince regarded Xie Jue with a solemn and dark expression. While Xie Jue had indeed been instrumental in sowing discord between the Great Prince and the Sixth Prince, and had secured significant power and territory for the Second Prince before the Great Prince returned to the city—fostering alliances among powerful tribes in the process—the death of Xiao Jinghong weighed heavily.
Xiao Jinghong had spent far more time in the manor; even if he hadn’t achieved greatness, his efforts were tireless. Killed on New Year’s Eve, the Second Prince had wanted to convene a meeting to devise a strategy, but Du Fang, shaken by fear, dared do nothing but counsel patience—urging the Second Prince to first pacify the Beiman King’s fury and demonstrate a united front among the princes.
The Second Prince lambasted Du Fang, though he begrudgingly acknowledged the wisdom in his advice. Yet after Xiao Jinghong’s death, his thoughts turned to vengeance. He had lost an arm, figuratively speaking, and wanted the Great Prince to lose one as well. But at this critical juncture, Xie Jue had been absent, leisurely wandering amid the mountains—a fact that infuriated the Second Prince deeply.