Targeting

After carefully verifying Liu Qingni's token, the armored guards defending the city lingered a moment longer over the two exotic Dragon Horses beside them.

Once they had registered the accompanying information, they raised a hand and let them pass.

They emerged from the broad passage beneath the city gates and stepped onto the central streets of Great Jin's Imperial Capital!

Before long, the roaring clamor of the crowds crashed over them.

Su Qingyang lifted his eyes and looked into the distance.

Within Great Harmony City, colossal pillars of profound black rose in every direction, stabbing straight into the clouds like heaven-supporting columns holding up the world.

Black dragon patterns coiled around those pillars, every scale distinct, every claw spread wide, the dragons raising their heads in furious roars!

A vast, weighty imperial majesty bore down upon them, unfathomable and magnificent.

"Worthy of being an empire's capital. Its foundations truly are extraordinary."

As Su Qingyang gazed at the dragon-carved pillars, a flicker passed through his eyes. Without betraying a trace of it, he took in the city's entire layout.

The two of them strolled down the street side by side.

Great Harmony City was packed shoulder to shoulder with people, while carriages and horses streamed endlessly through the streets. Taverns, pawnshops, silk stores, and apothecaries lined both sides, stretching so far that the ends of the streets and alleys could not be seen at a glance.

"Young Master, let us first find a tavern to rest and eat. I need to send word to the Secret Bureau and report your situation."

She led Su Qingyang into a bustling tavern and told him to wait there.

Then she circled around to the corridor behind the courtyard. Her figure flashed, vanishing amid the scattered buildings.

Su Qingyang did not mind.

As Great Jin's foremost intelligence organization, the Secret Bureau had no official offices in the open.

Its spies were spread throughout the court and the common streets alike, each with an ordinary identity before others. Only when carrying out missions would they reveal their hidden affiliation.

He headed straight up to an elegant window-side seat on the second floor.

"Welcome, honored guest! Please, take the best seat!"

"Our tavern is among Great Harmony City's ten most famous establishments. Our signature Thousand Gold Wine and Buddha's Smile Brew are one of a kind—nowhere else in the entire Imperial Capital can you find them! We have every sort of delicacy and game meat as well. We guarantee it will suit your taste!"

The waiter hurried forward eagerly, vigorously wiping the already spotless rosewood table as he endlessly introduced the tavern's special wines and dishes.

"Bring a pot each of Thousand Gold Wine and Buddha's Smile Brew. As for the rest, choose a few dishes as you see fit."

Su Qingyang spoke blandly and slowly took his seat.

"Right away! Please wait just a moment, honored guest."

The waiter immediately answered with enthusiasm and departed.

Su Qingyang sat alone beside the window, his expression calm. The tavern rang with noise, while the fragrance of wine and food filled the entire room.

In a tavern with such a complicated flow of people, all manner of folk gathered and came and went. It was the easiest place to hear street rumors, as well as secret tales both true and false.

"Have you heard? Just yesterday, another Sixth Prince appeared at Purple Pavilion Manor. That makes him the seventh Sixth Prince found in recent days, doesn't it?"

"Shh! Keep it down. Who doesn't know about this now? The whole affair has practically made the court lose all face... They find one, and he is not the real one. They find another, and he is still a fake..."

"If you ask me, the real Sixth Prince probably left this world long ago."

"Also, I heard those madmen from Lovesickness Tower have been carrying out indiscriminate assassinations like lunatics. One of the 'Sixth Princes' who was found earlier has already died beneath their blades."

"It enraged the court completely, which was why they dispatched more than a thousand Black Wind Cavalry!!"

"If they eventually confirm that the true Sixth Prince was slaughtered on the road long ago, I would like to see how the court intends to clean up this mess..."

"Tell me, just who has such great ability that they can command those desperadoes from Lovesickness Tower..."

"It cannot be that man imprisoned in the heavenly prison, can it? It would already be a stroke of luck if he could preserve his life. Where would he find the money and connections to mobilize Lovesickness Tower's assassins?"

"No one can say for sure!!"

"Do not forget that the man in prison does not merely have the identity of the Sixth Prince. His martial arts have also reached the Innate Realm..."

"At barely over twenty years old, he had already entered the Innate Realm."

"Given time, he might even step into the Grandmaster realm! Besides, he has now been stripped of his status as the Sixth Prince, so he poses no threat to the various heirs to the throne. Perhaps he may yet walk out of the heavenly prison unharmed..."

"Great Jin's court cannot be so shortsighted as to destroy, for no reason at all, a prodigy with the potential to become a Grandmaster."

At that moment, Su Qingyang still sat quietly at the rosewood wine table by the window, but brilliant light now surged in his otherwise placid eyes!

"Purple Pavilion Manor..."

"The Sixth Prince..."

Su Qingyang murmured to himself. From these people's scattered words, combined with the information he had received from Liu Qingni, many hidden details had already become roughly clear.

The people below continued their quiet discussion.

Suddenly, an exceedingly abrupt voice rang out.

"Tsk tsk... What a farce over the real and fake Sixth Princes. This has truly opened my eyes."

"One is said to be skilled in both letters and arms, while the other has likely drifted through the countryside, ignorant and unlearned, no different from a beggar."

"If these two were to meet, what a sight that would be. Which one would bring greater shame upon the imperial family?"

"If the real prince were suddenly seized by killing intent and wanted to behead the fake prince, how would the court deal with it then?"

"How curious indeed!!"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

Everyone turned their gazes toward the speaker, wanting to see just who was bold enough to speak so recklessly!

To utter such outrageous words!

There!

A young man in white robes was sitting there in utter stillness!

His white robes fluttered, his eyes seeming to be half-closed as he raised a cup of fine wine, apparently about to taste it.

His handsome face was tranquil, as though he stood apart from the mortal world. He carried an otherworldly air, while the aura around him possessed the natural simplicity of returning to one's true self.

"Who is this man?"

"With such an appearance and bearing, he is surely no ordinary person, but..."

Some among the onlookers revealed faintly gloating expressions!

But... this was the Imperial Capital. To make such wild remarks here, treating the court's dignity as nothing—what sort of end awaited him needed no explanation.

Bang!!

The tavern doors were suddenly kicked open with vicious force!

Three people strode in from outside. Leading them was a woman in black robes. She was beautiful, but her gaze was exceptionally sharp.

She swept her eyes over the young man, then shouted coldly, "You just recklessly discussed the imperial prince. This is an act of great treason. Come with me to the magistrate's office and stand trial!"

Hearing this, the young man burst into laughter, wholly unconcerned. "What? Did I say anything wrong?"

"Impudent!"

Bai Bijun snapped, her expression turning cold. "What are you that you dare recklessly discuss His Highness the Sixth Prince!"

"For those mad words alone, I can execute you on the spot!"

The young man's eyes slowly narrowed. He gently set down his wine cup, swept his gaze across Bai Bijun, and suddenly said with a smile that was not quite a smile:

"The Sixth Prince Your Excellency speaks of...

"Is he the true Sixth Prince, whose whereabouts remain unknown and who has yet to be found?"

"Or is he that fake prince in the heavenly prison, a prince in name only?"

That one sentence instantly left Bai Bijun speechless.

Her delicate brows drew tightly together, and the chill in her eyes surged.

"Smooth-tongued and full of sophistry!"

Bai Bijun flicked her sleeve. "How can the imperial bloodline be subject to the wild conjectures, mockery, and criticism of a mere commoner like you?"

"I merely asked a question. Miss, there is no need to be so angry."

The young man remained seated there, a smile stirring across his handsome face. He clearly had not come with good intentions.

"Actually, if you ask me, the court need not waste manpower searching everywhere for some real Sixth Prince.

"The man imprisoned in the heavenly prison is skilled in both letters and arms. As for that true prince who has been missing for twenty years, even if he can truly be found, he is likely crude and ignorant, and would only disgrace the imperial family."

"What utter nonsense!" Bai Bijun's pretty face changed color as well.

This man's words were sharp. After publicly discussing the matter of the Sixth Prince and circling around for so long, he was actually trying to drag Su Chang'an, who was in prison, into it.

Su Chang'an was already trapped behind bars.

If these rumors reached the court, his situation would only go from bad to worse.

Someone was using this chance to beat a drowning dog, determined to cut off his last path to survival!!

Clang!!

A longsword left its sheath!

Bai Bijun's figure suddenly flickered. Like a startled swan skimming over shadows, she lunged straight at the young man in white. Icy sword light howled forth, sweeping in all directions!

"Stirring up trouble and provoking disturbances. Since you refuse to submit quietly and allow yourself to be captured, do not blame us for using force!"