Fu Qi's Plan

October 28.

Taicheng, Southern Secretariat.

Fu Qi emerged from the court, his expression stiff.

As he recalled what had just happened inside, a chill ran through his entire body.

"Commander Fu, you went before His Majesty to urge him to execute that treacherous minister, Zhu Yi, and calm the people. How did it go?"

A man in military attire waited outside the court. He held a helmet painted bright red in one hand and a sword in the other.

As soon as he saw Fu Qi, he hurried over and asked anxiously.

Fu Qi's expression remained blank.

He said nothing.

It was as though everything happening around him had nothing to do with him.

His body had left the court, but his mind was still caught in the earlier audience.

"Commander Fu? Commander Fu?"

After a long while, a cold wind blew straight into his face.

Fu Qi shuddered.

At last, he came to his senses. In the moonlight, he saw the anxious, worried look on the military officer's face.

Fu Qi drew a deep breath.

He wasn't opposed to the fantastical, beautiful tales or rumors surrounding the Supreme One.

After all, he himself, like most of those in court, was familiar with the tricks of monks, Daoists, and alchemists.

Many great clans of the Southern Dynasties had risen to power through such means.

That was how they had been able to subdue the unruly refugee commanders who fled from farther north when Chang'an fell, win the people's support, and lead hundreds of thousands across the natural barrier of the Yangtze River.

They had left the north, which was certain to fall into the hands of the northern barbarians, and established a second foundation in the Southern Dynasties.

But...

Whenever Fu Qi thought of what he had seen on the throne that day, a chill of revulsion crept over him.

What a loathsome thing.

Viscous liquid dripped from the Liang throne.

Even with the bamboo screen in the way, the figure seated on the throne had looked to Fu Qi like little more than a vaguely human outline.

From beginning to end, Fu Qi had not seen Xiao Yan's face.

His hands and feet, too, had been shrouded in a bright red kasaya.

From head to toe, he emanated an aura that was cold, uncanny, and sacred.

"Perhaps Crown Prince Xiao Tong was right... Those wicked monks... They've bewitched His Majesty."

As he spoke, Fu Qi glanced nervously around.

Fortunately, he was among the first courtiers to leave the court.

And for some reason, over the past few days, the number of palace maids and eunuchs inside the palace had been dwindling almost daily.

The jade steps and horse road between the Southern Secretariat and the court lay deserted.

Only a few maids and eunuchs stood sparsely along the road.

They were all far apart, unlikely to have heard what he had just said.

"What do you mean?"

A glint flashed in Yang Kan's eyes as he lowered his voice.

"The city faces powerful enemies without and demons within. Taicheng cannot hold."

Looking at the military officer, who had always been loyal to Xiao Liang, Fu Qi grabbed Yang Kan's hand.

He spoke in a low voice.

"Lately, members of the Xiao Liang royal house have been dying one after another. I fear it's no coincidence..."

"Commander Fu, tell me plainly what you want me to do."

Yang Kan's gaze was resolute.

"His Majesty and the former Crown Prince have shown my family great kindness."

"As long as you don't ask me to betray my country, I'll die without regret."

Hearing Yang Kan's words, Fu Qi's eyes flickered with emotion.

He knew Yang Kan meant every word.

From childhood, Fu Qi had been given a prediction by a great master.

He possessed spiritual eyes like those of his grandfather, Fu Yan.

They could perceive the divine and ward off evil spirits.

That was how he had steadily risen through the ranks to where he was today.

It was also how he had seen, before anyone else, the terrifying spirit that had usurped the throne in the forbidden palace.

"I want you to help me escort Xiao Dong, the grandson of the former Crown Prince Xiao Tong, out of Taicheng."

Fu Qi spoke each word distinctly.

At that, Yang Kan fell silent.

But Fu Qi waited patiently.

"Even if you asked me to raise troops this instant and kill that treacherous villain Zhu Yi, I'd gladly endure being cut to pieces for it afterward. But this... It would separate His Majesty from his own flesh and blood."

Yang Kan shook his head.

"His Majesty has treated me well. I can't help you without cause."

"Even if it means standing by as the wicked monks of Tongtai Temple devour every last member of the Xiao Liang royal house?"

A voice came from the shadows of the palace wall to their left.

Both men's hair stood on end.

"Who's there?"

Yang Kan drew his sword and warily scanned his surroundings.

"I am Minghe, a humble monk. By order of the abbot of Tongtai Temple and the Son of Heaven of Xiao Liang, I have come to help the royal house escape danger."

The voice drew nearer.

Yang Kan kept his eyes fixed on where it came from.

He knew there were many great monks in Taicheng preparing the Wu-Zhe Assembly for the emperor.

And Xiao Yan had never hidden his fondness for the monks of Tongtai Temple.

But Yang Kan was certain he had never seen this young monk among them.

"What proof do you have?"

Yang Kan asked in a low voice, his gaze still wary.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes briefly settled on the sword at Yang Kan's waist.

The sword, with its bronze hilt wrapped in silk, gave Zhu Yuanzhang a sense of danger.

"This is an excerpt from a Blood Sutra written by Abbot Fahui. Many of the Xiao Liang royal family's bones are buried in the Zen Courtyard."

"His Majesty has long been on guard against these wicked monks, so he ordered Tongtai Temple to secretly send trusted monks into the city to assist us."

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke slowly, weaving the information he had just heard into a lie that was just plausible enough. Then he tossed the Blood Sutra, wrapped in silk, into Yang Kan's hands.

Yang Kan used some method to verify that the Blood Sutra was genuine.

Then he handed it back to Zhu Yuanzhang, his tone considerably softer.

"If there really is an unforeseeable danger to the royal bloodline within Taicheng, I'll do all I can to help you escort the former Crown Prince's descendant out of the city."

"But..."

Yang Kan changed tack.

"How can I trust that the two of you can protect Xiao Dong and keep him from falling into Hou Jing's hands?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked toward Fu Qi.

But the other man seemed to have planned for this already. His confidence shone in his eyes as he said,

"Yesterday, a messenger reported that Prince of Xiangdong Xiao Yi and Prince of Hedong Xiao Yu had joined forces in Jinling with their relief armies. Prince of Shaoling Xiao Lun has already led thirty thousand infantry and cavalry toward Jingkou. If we coordinate our efforts inside and outside the city, a small force should be able to break through Hou Jing's siege."

"Good!"

Yang Kan gave Zhu Yuanzhang a long look.

Then he put on his helmet.

"I'll return to the Grand Marshal's office at once and arrange the men to accompany him out of the city. Please bring Prince of Yuzhang here as soon as you can."

Another cold wind swept in from the Qinhuai River, carrying the smell of blood.

The Longevity Forest on either side of the palace let out a rustling sound like ghostly whispers.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched Yang Kan walk away.

Unlike Fu Qi, who had completely lost his composure after seeing Emperor Wu of Liang's true appearance, Yang Kan didn't seem to have taken his words on faith.

So... should he trust him?

Could it be a trap?

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Whatever. I can always start over."

"Even if it is a trap, this is still the easiest way out of Taicheng."

"Please, come with me, Zen Master Minghe."

Fu Qi's voice came from beside him.

"His Highness is in Hualin Garden, keeping vigil for the late Prince of Yuzhang. It's still quite a walk."