Leaving the Palace, Chen Xuerong Joins the Party

Early the next morning, before dawn had broken.

Outside Clear Breeze Pavilion, Wang Bao and the other eunuchs had long since made their preparations and gathered outside Zhao Hongming's bedchamber, exchanging uneasy looks.

At this hour, their masters would ordinarily still be fast asleep.

If they forcibly woke a master, one with a good temper might merely give them a scolding; one with a bad temper would inevitably give them a vicious beating.

They had never woken the Fifth Prince at this hour before and had no idea what sort of temper he might have.

Just as everyone hesitated, Gao Yanshi stepped forward of his own accord and called out through gritted teeth, "Your Highness, word has come from the Imperial Clan Court. We are to depart at once."

Zhao Hongming's airy voice drifted from within the bedchamber. "All right, I understand. Come in and help This Prince dress."

There was none of the expected scolding. Gao Yanshi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Yes, Your Highness. This servant is coming in now."

He turned and beckoned, calling the other Little Eunuchs into Zhao Hongming's bedchamber with him.

In truth, Zhao Hongming could go an entire night without sleep and still lose none of his vigor.

Ordinarily, he only slept two or three hours a day.

The moment Gao Yanshi and the others arrived at Clear Breeze Pavilion, Zhao Hongming had already heard their footsteps.

By the time they reached his door, he was fully awake.

After the Little Eunuchs entered, they began helping Zhao Hongming wash and dress, while also gathering the necessities he needed to take from the room.

They had received professional training, and their hands moved swiftly. In roughly a quarter of an hour, they had tidied everything up neatly and efficiently.

Zhao Hongming took the long saber hanging on the wall and headed out of the bedchamber. Then, as though remembering something, he turned back to Gao Yanshi and asked, "What is your name?"

Hearing Zhao Hongming's question, Gao Yanshi hurriedly replied, "In reply to Your Highness, this servant is Little Gao."

"This Prince asked for your name."

His name?

Was this settling accounts after the autumn harvest?

Gao Yanshi dropped to his knees in terror. "This servant is called Gao Yanshi."

"Yanshi, bring the books by This Prince's bedside."

With that, Zhao Hongming strode away.

Gao Yanshi immediately understood that he had caught Zhao Hongming's attention. Overwhelmed by favor, he answered, "Yes."

He sprang up like a coiled spring, rushed to Zhao Hongming's bedside, found the several Blue Books worn ragged from being read, placed them in a square box, and hugged it as he followed.

Seeing this, the other Little Eunuchs could not help feeling that Gao Yanshi had stepped in dog shit. Their eyes brimmed with envy and sour jealousy.

Gao Yanshi turned a blind eye to those looks and followed behind Zhao Hongming with his head lowered.

Zhao Hongming casually glanced at Gao Yanshi.

When everyone else had been wavering just now, Gao Yanshi alone had dared step forward and wake him.

He felt that this Little Eunuch was rather clever and courageous.

He was subject to many restrictions in the palace now, with few people at his disposal, so he casually gave Gao Yanshi a small opportunity.

He would see whether Gao Yanshi was worth cultivating.

After leaving Clear Breeze Pavilion in the East Fifth Residence, Zhao Hongming found a four-horse carriage already waiting outside.

Wang Bao and Chang Wubing stood separately at the entrance, waiting respectfully for Zhao Hongming.

The two spoke in unison. "Your Highness! This servant (subordinate) has made all preparations. We may depart at any time."

Zhao Hongming nodded. "Let us go now."

"Yes."

The carriage was laid with a carpet. A small table sat atop it, holding an incense burner and some pastries.

Zhao Hongming could sit or lie down inside.

He entered the carriage, laid his long saber across his knees, and sat down. The carriage slowly began moving.

The other servants followed closely along both sides of the carriage, jogging in small steps.

Near the window, Zhao Hongming lifted the curtain and asked, "Wang Bao, do you know where we are going?"

Wang Bao stepped forward and respectfully replied, "In reply to Your Highness, this servant does not yet know."

Zhao Hongming lowered the curtain and said no more.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the square before Zhenghe Hall.

The moon shone bright amid sparse stars, while the sky had yet to lighten.

There were six convoys like his.

Five of them had four-horse carriages, while only one had five.

According to the rites of Wei Country, the Son of Heaven drives six, the Crown Prince drives five, princes drive four, ministers drive three, scholars drive two, and commoners drive one.

That five-horse carriage should have belonged to the Crown Prince.

Zhao Hongming gave it an inconspicuous glance and found that the Crown Prince's entourage was more than four times the size of his own.

There were more than a dozen martial artists among them who appeared to possess considerable cultivation.

After surveying them all, he found that his convoy was the shabbiest. Counting carefully, the only true martial artists were Chang Wubing and Wang Bao.

Faced with such circumstances, Zhao Hongming could only sigh helplessly.

They did not wait long in the square before Commander of the Palace Guards Wan Youqing arrived with six battalions of Imperial Guards, assigning them behind the respective carriages.

Each convoy received one battalion, roughly a hundred Imperial Guard soldiers as escort.

Yet there were differences even among the Imperial Guards, and the battalion commanders seemed to vary widely in strength.

For instance, the Imperial Guards assigned to the Crown Prince were plainly more elite, their strength a notch greater as well.

From Zhao Hongming's perspective, however, the battalion commander assigned to him had fair skin and no real calluses on his hands. He did not look like a martial artist of high cultivation.

After Wan Youqing confirmed that every party had its full complement, he gave an order, and they headed toward the palace gates one after another.

After traveling for a while and nearing the city gate, a carriage drew close.

"Fifth Brother, Fifth Brother!"

Hearing the familiar call, Zhao Hongming lifted the curtain and looked out, seeing Zhao Hongguang.

The latter wore an excited expression. "This time, we're leaving the palace. Fifth Brother, aren't you happy?"

Zhao Hongming smiled. "It is not as though we are going out to enjoy ourselves. With so many Imperial Guards watching us, what is there to be happy about? Something unexpected may even happen. Aren't you afraid?"

The Eighth Prince waved his hand. "With so many Imperial Guards, and with my imperial mother having found four martial artists for me from her maternal family, what is there to fear? Fifth Brother, though, aren't you a little short on manpower?"

"It is enough." Zhao Hongming asked, "Eighth Brother, do you know where we are going this time?"

"I do not know either. My imperial mother guessed that we are going to the Zhengyi Sect."

"The Zhengyi Sect?" Zhao Hongming considered it carefully. The possibility was quite high.

After all, the Zhengyi Sect was very powerful in Wei Country and made a suitable refuge.

"Ah, Fifth Brother, we are splitting up."

Zhao Hongming looked ahead and saw that after leaving the palace, the six parties had each gone in a different direction.

"No matter. We will meet again before long. Safe travels, Eighth Brother."

"The same to you, Fifth Brother."

Zhao Hongming watched as the Eighth Prince's party parted ways with his and headed in another direction.

"Your Highness, it seems someone is waiting before our convoy."

Chang Wubing guarded one side of the carriage and leaned closer as he spoke softly.

Following the direction Chang Wubing indicated, Zhao Hongming saw a woman in a close-fitting outfit, a long saber hanging at her waist, waiting there on horseback.

Chen Xuerong?!

Why was she here?

The battalion commander of this convoy stepped forward and spoke with Chen Xuerong.

After Chen Xuerong produced a token, he allowed her to join the party.

She rode closer to Zhao Hongming's carriage.

Zhao Hongming lifted the curtain and saw Chen Xuerong's familiar pretty face. Rather surprised, he asked, "Miss Chen, why are you here?"

"Your Highness is leaving the palace, and the journey is rather unsafe. This subject's daughter intends to escort Your Highness for part of the way."

Zhao Hongming was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "Miss Chen, you are most thoughtful."

Chen Xuerong gave a slight nod, lifted her proud chest, and rode beside the carriage.

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