"Um..." To Chu Lu's surprise, instead of receiving a firm and decisive answer, he heard a hesitant question. "Does it have to be today?"
Chu Lu frowned. "If not today, then when?"
"But..."
Chu Lu asked suspiciously, "What's going on? Don't tell me you're scared? Is Prince Qin that formidable?"
"Of course not! This general would never be afraid, it's just..."
Growing somewhat impatient, Chu Lu looked up at Su Muyun and immediately understood what she was hesitating over.
Although Su Muyun was clad in armor, the exhaustion on her face was impossible to conceal.
So that's it. Chu Lu thought. Makes sense. They've been killing alongside me from dawn until dusk, then from dusk until dawn. I have cultivation techniques, so this little expenditure means nothing to me. But they're different. They've probably reached the end of their tether.
"I understand. Go rest. Let the soldiers rest as well. I'll use someone else."
"Yes."
Su Muyun withdrew, and Chu Lu did not mind.
At this point, he did not really need them anymore.
How many people could Prince Qin's residence have in total?
He alone would be enough.
Chu Lu summoned Xiao Lizi and had her bring the imperial decree to Prince Qin's residence, ordering them to enter the palace.
Xiao Lizi nodded in acceptance and left with several attendants.
Chu Lu waited in the study. He had thought he would soon meet the legendary Liu Jinli.
After all, Prince Qin lived within the imperial capital, not too far away.
Yet Xiao Lizi did not return until the afternoon. She came late, her face carrying hesitation and embarrassment.
Chu Lu frowned. "What is it?"
Xiao Lizi said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Qin and the others... they claim to be unwell and unable to enter the palace."
Chu Lu froze.
—Was this defying an imperial decree?
"Besides that." Xiao Lizi took out another letter. "Prince Qin also instructed this servant to deliver this letter to Your Majesty. She said the Heir's wife had something to say."
Chu Lu's expression immediately turned subtle. "Give me the letter."
After receiving it, he unfolded it. A row of elegant, tiny characters covered the page.
"Your Majesty, the fact that you were able to trace matters to Prince Qin's residence proves that you have pried information about me from my elder sister's mouth. This humble woman deeply admires you for it. I never expected that, even at this stage, you could turn the tide against the current. It truly makes one curious how you accomplished it. No matter what, I have lost this round, and this humble woman willingly bows to your superiority.
"From now on, I will no longer make a move against the throne. But I also advise Your Majesty to stop while you are ahead and cease investigating my whereabouts. Otherwise, Your Majesty will soon understand what it means to provoke someone you cannot afford to provoke. The knowledge I possess far exceeds your imagination, and the techniques I command have already transcended this world. The methods I taught my elder sister were merely the tip of the iceberg.
"Though Your Majesty's performance yesterday was impressive, if I truly made a move, killing you would be as easy as turning over my hand.
"So pinky promise—let us live in peace."
At the end of the letter, there was a smiling face.
The corner of Chu Lu's mouth twitched.
The next moment, he tore the letter straight into pieces.
"Xiao Lizi." Chu Lu rose to his feet. "Go arrange some people. They need not be brimming with vigor like dragons and tigers; as long as they are still alert and not so exhausted that they are dozing off, that will do."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xiao Lizi instinctively agreed, then asked in confusion, "What does Your Majesty intend to do?"
"Of course, leave the palace." Chu Lu narrowed his eyes. "Since Prince Qin refuses to enter the palace, then I shall go there personally!"
Chu Lu had originally thought that he had killed enough these past two days and could ease off for a while. But he had not expected Liu Jinli to be so eager to reincarnate. Since that was the case, he could only grant her wish and arrange an overtime match.
Prince Qin's Residence
Everything within the residence was as usual. It appeared that there was nothing particularly unusual.
However, in the study, the mother and daughter of Prince Qin's family were conversing.
The Heir had a slender frame and average height. She had a fair, clean face and gentle features, but lacked a touch of resolve. Her large, round eyes were full of worry.
"Mother," she said. "Aren't we going too far?"
In stark contrast to her somewhat delicate daughter, Prince Qin was already old, her face covered in wrinkles and her body slightly stooped. Yet her brows tilted upward, her phoenix eyes were sharp, and her bearing carried both the weathered traces of a life lived and the decisiveness forged on the battlefield.
Seeing her daughter like this, Prince Qin felt somewhat dissatisfied. Shaking her head, she said, "Silly child, what do you mean, too far? We only have this one road left. Are you really going to the Imperial Palace?"
Naturally, the Heir was unwilling. No matter how foolish she was, she could see that the Emperor had come with ill intent. Hiding within the prince's residence, at least everyone around her was one of their own. But once she entered the Imperial Palace, things would no longer be under her control.
"But if we defy the imperial decree, the Emperor will not let this go, will she? Judging from yesterday's great upheaval, she is no soft-hearted, indecisive person," the Heir said.
Prince Qin gave a cold laugh. "Heh, what is there to fear? The Empress suffered a crushing defeat because they went too far. They practically had 'plotting to seize the throne' written across their faces. They broke the rules and lost the moral high ground, so naturally they were purged. But what about us? By status, I am the late Emperor's younger sister and her aunt. By merit, when we fought to win this realm, I was at the very front. By ties of affection, in order to let them sit securely on the throne, I handed over all my power and honestly became an idle prince."
Prince Qin continued her analysis. "Tell me, what crime have I committed? Since I am innocent, how would she dare lay a hand on me?! If she dares come, I dare drive her out! A yellow-haired little girl—don't dream of running wild before me! Besides, even if she truly intends to tear off all pretenses, I still have my trump card at the bottom of the chest!"
Hearing this, the Heir felt that it did make sense. Even if the matter of the Empress truly had something to do with them, there was no proof beyond empty words. Could she really come and arrest them? If she did, the Emperor herself would become someone who had lost the moral high ground.
Especially her mother's trump card at the bottom of the chest—the Heir thought that was indeed a treasure that could make even the Emperor hesitate to act rashly.
The Heir relaxed somewhat. "Now that Mother puts it that way, it does make sense. Your child was overthinking."
Prince Qin smiled faintly. "It is good that you understand. Where is the Heir's wife?"
The Heir replied, "She is resting in the inner room. The imperial decree seems to have frightened her."
Prince Qin said with concern, "Go and take good care of her, lest it disturb the pregnancy. You have so many wives and concubines, yet only this one is with child. Nothing must happen to her. I still want to hold my granddaughter."
The Heir nodded and rose, just about to go find the Heir's wife, when someone outside anxiously reported, "Your Highness, Your Highness, this is bad! The Emperor has arrived!"
Both of their expressions changed at once.
The Heir was first struck with terror, then her face filled with worry and fear.
Prince Qin, however, raised her brows and said coldly, "Good! I never expected she would truly dare come! And so quickly too! Does she really think I am so easy to bully?!"
"You need not show yourself, child. Go keep your Heir's wife company." Prince Qin strode out with imposing bearing, as though heading into battle. "As for that Xu Liniang, leave her to Mother!"
Sorry for the late update. There was a lot going on today, and I only had time to write at night. Sorry.
Before you continue