Chapter Sixty-Two: Seething with Fury

The morning sun broke through the clouds and rose, its warm light bathing them so that their whole bodies seemed gilded with gold. By the time the sun had fully emerged, he had carried her on his back to the city gates of Wangcheng. The guards, seeing Zhongli Yu from afar, wore looks of astonishment—wondering why Prince Chun was leaving the city so early. But what shocked them even more was that he was carrying the princess on his back. Had she been injured?

“Greetings, my lord, my lady,” they quickly saluted as Zhongli Yu approached.

“At ease,” Zhongli Yu replied coolly.

“Put me down,” Zhan Yan said awkwardly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at being seen by so many people as Zhongli Yu carried her on his back.

“I simply like carrying you,” he ignored her protests, continuing forward.

“There are so many people watching,” Zhan Yan said helplessly.

“Who dares to look?” Zhongli Yu cast a cold glance at the city guards. That single look was enough to make their knees tremble. Immediately, they fixed their gaze straight ahead, their eyes on their noses, noses on their hearts, not daring to move a muscle.

Satisfied with their response, Zhongli Yu continued on, Zhan Yan exasperated—this man was truly something else…

Before long, they returned to their residence. As Qing Yun and the others saw Zhan Yan on Zhongli Yu’s back, they hurried over in concern. “My lord, what’s happened to Miss?”

“I’m fine, just a bit tired,” Zhan Yan replied, her cheeks reddening further. Clearly, her maids thought she was hurt.

“We’re home, my dear,” Zhongli Yu gently set her down.

“You're so shameless,” Zhan Yan shot him a sidelong glance, though her heart was sweet with happiness.

“To the study,” she said, striding off. Zhongli Yu followed, knowing full well what she intended—now that the hostage was secured, it was time to write the ransom note—or rather, the exchange letter.

“I’ll grind the ink for you,” Zhongli Yu offered, taking up the menial task at the desk.

Zhan Yan did not refuse, settling in to write. Before long, the letter was finished. It read: “If you want the Second Prince alive, have Yang Yuxiong exchange him for Zhan Tianyi of Dongling, the Prince of the South. In three days, deliver Zhan Tianyi to Wangcheng. If he is not delivered within three days, Yang Qi will lose his head.”

“Such boldness, my dear,” Zhongli Yu commented with a smile after glancing at the letter.

“Of course. Am I not a natural at kidnappings?” Zhan Yan replied with pride, though upon reading what she’d written, she realized it did seem a bit bloody. She was, after all, a law-abiding citizen, not fond of killing.

“Indeed, a real talent,” Zhongli Yu nodded, playing along.

“Find someone to deliver it,” Zhan Yan said, blowing the ink dry and handing the letter to Zhongli Yu.

“Lihun,” Zhongli Yu called.

Soon, Lihun appeared in the study, grinning. “Young master, you called?” He lingered at the doorway, wary of entering, still remembering how he had interrupted Zhongli Yu’s plans a few days ago.

“What, afraid I’ll eat you if you come in?” Zhongli Yu looked at him with a half-smile.

“Coming, young master. What are your orders?” Lihun hurried to Zhongli Yu’s side, speaking respectfully.

“Deliver this to the Western Border garrison outside the city,” Zhongli Yu instructed, handing him the letter.

“Yes, young master.” With that, Lihun took the letter and vanished from the study.

“Why is he so afraid of you?” Zhan Yan asked, amused by Lihun’s behavior.

“He’s not afraid of me, just of my punishments,” Zhongli Yu replied indifferently.

“Oh? What kind of punishments do you give him?” Zhan Yan asked, smiling, for Zhongli Yu did not seem a cruel man.

“Do you want to know?”

“A little.”

“Kiss me and I’ll tell you.”

“Even now you want your reward?”

“Of course.”

…

Moments later, laughter burst from the study, so loud that even Qing Yun and the others, waiting some distance away, could hear it. “What’s come over the young lady? She’s never laughed like this before. It seems marrying the prince was the right choice after all,” they thought to themselves.

Li Lan and the others, who were closer and possessed keen hearing, caught every word their master said to the princess. They had heard Zhongli Yu say, “It’s nothing much—I simply make them carry buckets of manure for the farmers, so they can experience how hard farm work is. After that, they can’t manage a bite for three days straight.” At this, Li Lan and the others prayed silently that the princess would never follow the prince’s example.

Meanwhile, in the Western Capital’s imperial palace, the officials had already assembled in the Golden Hall to await the morning court.

“The Emperor arrives!” Before long, the shrill voice of the eunuch rang out, and Yang Yuxiong entered the hall in his bright yellow dragon robe.

“Long live the Emperor!” the officials all knelt and paid their respects.

“Rise,” Yang Yuxiong said, seating himself on the golden throne with a solemn voice.

“Duke Ding, Yang Ming, receive the decree,” he called, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials.

“Yang Ming receives the decree,” replied a man of nearly forty, kneeling in the center of the hall. He was Yang Yuxin’s brother, Zhan Yan’s uncle, and now the head of the Duke Ding’s household, the current Duke Ding of the Western Capital. He had no idea what duty the emperor would assign him—there had been no prior hint. Suddenly called to receive a decree, he could only comply, for imperial command could not be refused.

“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Duke Ding, Yang Ming, gifted in both civil and martial arts, brave and wise, is hereby ordered to proceed to the frontier to take over the Second Prince’s military affairs. Upon arrival, the Second Prince is to return to the capital without delay. Thus decreed.” Consort Liang’s pleas had finally moved Yang Yuxiong; unwilling to see her grieve, he agreed to send someone to exchange her son and bring him home.

“I thank Your Majesty for your great favor.”

“Report! Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from the frontier!” Just as Yang Ming prepared to bow in gratitude, a guard’s voice came urgently from outside.

“Announce him quickly,” Yang Yuxiong’s eyelid twitched.

Soon, a soldier in armor burst in, clearly exhausted from riding hard.

“Your Majesty, disaster! The Second Prince has been captured!” The soldier, not even pausing to salute, collapsed on the spot, still clutching a letter.

All present realized the gravity of the situation and dared not make a sound.

“Bring me the letter in his hand,” Yang Yuxiong commanded, his voice low, though inside he was already panicked. Yang Qi was his chosen successor, and now he had been taken. How could he not be alarmed?

A eunuch hurried to the fallen soldier, took the letter, and presented it to Yang Yuxiong. After reading, his face turned ashen with rage. Who would dare such audacity, to threaten him so and even say Yang Qi’s head would roll? He flung the letter at the eunuch, who then passed it down for the officials to read. After perusing its contents, sweat broke out on every brow—who was this, so bold as to make such wild demands?

“Summon everyone from the Grand General’s residence at once,” Yang Yuxiong ordered, recovering his composure. Years ago, he had left Zhan Tianyi’s fate in Yan Kuan’s hands and now did not know whether Zhan Tianyi lived or died. If Zhan Tianyi was already dead, his own son’s chances looked grim. But Yan Kuan was gone, and he could not question him. All he could do now was summon those who had been close to him.