"Your servant, Jiang Qifeng, Commander of the Lin'an Guard, kowtowed before my king."
The middle-aged commander hurried out and knelt on the icy ground. Several heads lay beside him, their eyes wide open, as if they had found their deaths unbelievable.
"Cao Long and Xiao Yi refused to submit. Your servant has executed them. Their heads are here."
Those who recognized them examined the heads closely. They were indeed the men themselves.
A faint smile appeared on Prince Qi's face. He helped Jiang Qifeng to his feet with both hands and said, "With the state on the verge of collapse, you understand Heaven's will and answer the call to great deeds. You are indeed a loyal minister and fine general."
"The affairs of state hang by a thread. As a subject of Great Zheng, how could I dare not give my all?" Jiang Qifeng answered with a solemn expression. "This is merely the duty of your servant and the others. I dare not claim credit."
Prince Qi nodded, then picked up Xiao Yi's head and smiled. "Xiao Yi, so you too have this day!"
As he spoke, he laughed.
Cao Long was one thing—he was merely a Hundred-Household Officer. But Xiao Yi was the son of the Marquis Yin'an, a Third Rank Imperial Guard within the palace. Prince Qi had once tried to win him over, only for the man to reject him without the slightest courtesy.
Prince Qi had smashed a wine cup over it.
According to Zheng regulations, the gates within and outside the Capital City were guarded in rotating shifts by the garrison troops, with the Imperial Guard Corps overseeing them—thus, Xiao Yi had been on rotation with the Lin'an Guard this time, only to die here.
After laughing, Prince Qi praised him again.
"Lord Jiang, you