The chain rattled amid the clash of blades. Shen Yangge had no choice but to draw the dagger hidden inside his robes, keeping a close eye on the situation.
Jia Zhengyuan wore a smug grin as he raised his sword and attacked Xue Pingyuan. The two fought fiercely, neither giving ground.
When had the commoners inside and outside the city ever seen such a scene? Great Chu's Capital City had been peaceful for decades. For some locals, this was their first time seeing two armed forces clash.
Many of those doing business near the city gates packed up early, shutting their doors and windows as though to keep the trouble at bay.
The Eighth Prince gritted his teeth. After such an exhausting journey, this had happened before they could even get through the gates.
Chu Tianyin certainly knew how to play his cards, securing a powerful backer like Jia Zhengyuan.
Now that Jia Zhengyuan had returned to the capital ahead of them, the situation there had changed in an instant.
They should never have let his imperial brother leave the Capital City. Otherwise, how could the Fourth Prince's schemes have taken root?
He sighed silently and knocked down another soldier who tried to attack him.
The chaotic battle dragged on until Jia Zhengyuan's troops surrounded them all once more, leaving Xue Pingyuan no choice but to retreat.
He had intended to escort Chu Xuanzhen to safety, but Chu Xuanzhen refused.
"Your Highness, if you refuse to leave, won't you fall into the Fourth Prince's trap?"
Chu Xuanzhen said, "Without destruction, there is no end. How can you capture a tiger cub without entering the tiger's den?"
After hearing that, Xue Pingyuan gripped his sword and broke through the encirclement with several trusted men, fleeing south.
That night, Jia Zhengyuan escorted