In the dark night, the streets of Guyuan were eerily quiet.

Everyone reined in their horses and looked back, silently watching the lone yellow-brown horse approach.

Li Xuan, Commander of the Imperial Forest Army, dismounted, walked quickly to take the yellow-brown horse’s reins, and examined it thoroughly.

He ran his hand over the horse’s body, then brought his fingers closer—there was blood.

Li Xuan turned to the Prince: “Your Highness, I’m afraid Wang Guang has met with an accident.”

The Prince, draped in a white fox-fur cloak, frowned silently. He looked up into the distance, where the dark gray formidable pass loomed like a gaping maw, ready to swallow people whole.

Qi Zhenzhuo drew the long sword from his waist and said grimly: “Your Highness, the Guyuan Border Army is lawless. How is ambushing the Imperial Guard any different from treason?”

Li Xuan led the yellow-brown horse back to the Prince’s white steed and looked up, saying: “Your Highness, this place is not safe for prolonged stay. Please depart immediately. We can rest in Tianshui County tonight and then proceed to Taiyuan Prefecture tomorrow to petition His Majesty to dispatch the Jiefan Guard and the Wansui Army to quell the rebellion! At the speed of a 600-li urgent dispatch, the memorial will reach the capital in six days. There’s still time!”

Chen Liqin was startled: “Quell the rebellion? There’s no evidence yet, General Li. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Li Xuan’s expression hardened: “First, the Border Army poisoned thirty-four members of the Chen family, and now they’ve intercepted Your Highness’s 600-li urgent dispatch. What else could this be but rebellion? Master Chen, do you know the crime for intercepting a 600-li urgent dispatch?”

The Prince remained unhurriedly seated on his horse, looking towards Zhang Xia in the distance: “I’ve long heard that the Imperial Academy once had a female scholar who was proficient in both literature and mathematics, and could recite the Great Ning laws backward. May I ask what crime the Border Army has committed?”

Zhang Xia calmly replied: “Those who steal or intercept a 400-li urgent dispatch shall receive one hundred strokes of the cane, be branded, and exiled for three thousand li. Those who steal or intercept a 500-li urgent dispatch shall be immediately beheaded. Those who steal or intercept a 600-li urgent dispatch shall have their three familial clans executed.”

The Prince praised her: “Miss Zhang Er truly possesses a photographic memory. I am impressed.”

Zhang Xia replied indifferently: “Your Highness overpraises me.”

Li Xuan cupped his fists: “Your Highness, this is not the time for idle talk. Do not return to the Prefectural Military Office, that den of dragons and tigers. The Border Army daring to intercept a 600-li urgent dispatch shows they are desperate. If Your Highness remains here, there’s no guarantee they won’t commit even more heinous acts. Your Highness’s life is precious; please leave Guyuan with your humble general!”

The Prince shook his head: “His Majesty commanded me to thoroughly investigate the case of killing good people for false merits. With no leads yet, how can I simply leave Guyuan? I am the crown prince of this nation, destined by heaven. How can I fear petty criminals? What would His Majesty think of me?”

Li Xuan said anxiously: “Your Highness, while there’s life, there’s hope. You only need to report the truth, and His Majesty will surely understand. If you refuse to leave, we will remain kneeling!”

With that, he signaled to the rest of the Imperial Forest Army.

Amidst the clatter of armor, the Imperial Forest Army dismounted one after another, cupped their fists, and knelt on one knee: “Your Highness, please take care of your esteemed self and leave Guyuan with us.”

The Prince, uncharacteristically, grew angry: “I came to Guyuan by His Majesty’s command to thoroughly investigate the case of killing good people for false merits. This is both my father’s command and an imperial decree; it embodies loyalty and filial piety. Just now, I promised my virtuous brother Wenzong that I would uncover the truth about the Guyuan Post Station; this embodies righteousness. By forcing me to leave now, are you not trapping me in a position of disloyalty, unfilial conduct, and unrighteousness? All of you, get up!”

The Imperial Forest Army remained kneeling on the ground, their white cloaks spread around them, unwilling to rise.

After a long while.

Chen Wenzong cupped his hands and said: “Your Highness’s person is precious; please ensure your own safety before making further plans.”

The Prince looked up at the night sky and sighed deeply: “Very well, very well. All of you, rise. I will heed your advice.”

Li Xuan was overjoyed and quickly remounted his horse.

He placed his hand on the long sword at his waist, tightened the reins, and declared: “Imperial Forest Army, follow me to escort His Highness out of the city! If the Border Army refuses passage, we will fight our way onto the city walls and force the gates open!”

Amidst the thunder of iron hooves, the Imperial Forest Army, like stars surrounding the moon, escorted the Prince, rushing towards the South Gate.

Zhang Xia glanced at Chen Ji: “What should we do? If the Border Army blocks us, a fierce fight is inevitable.”

Chen Ji watched the retreating figures of the Imperial Forest Army: “If we want to leave, tonight is our last chance. The Border Army acted hastily in killing; perhaps they weren’t prepared to hold the Prince. Li Xuan is quite decisive. If we miss tonight, the Prince might truly have no chance to leave, but…”

Zhang Xia, understanding, finished his thought: “…but why would the Border Army rebel?”

Chen Ji took a deep breath: “Yes, ever since the Chen family was poisoned tonight, things have been strange. Even if the Border Army and the Prince are at loggerheads, there’s no reason for them to kill so many members of the Chen family. If there was genuine enmity, they could kill the Prince or the Imperial Forest Army. What purpose would killing the Chen family serve? The Chens only arrived in Guyuan today. Who did the Chen family offend?”

Zhang Xia whispered: “It’s as if an unseen hand suddenly tightened and then snapped the cord between the Prince and the Border Army.”

“Exactly,” Chen Ji decided, spurring his horse to catch up with the Imperial Forest Army: “Let’s not think about this for now. First, let’s follow the Imperial Forest Army out of the city. Guyuan is definitely no longer safe to stay in.”

Hundreds of Imperial Forest Army cavalry galloped, their armored riders leaning low, weaving through the rows of mud-brick houses in Guyuan. The white cloaks of the Imperial Forest Army billowed behind them, and the white pheasant tails on their helmets swayed in the wind, resembling five hundred valiant white horse riders.

Li Xuan instructed those beside him: “When we reach the city gate, the Black Tortoise Guard will ensure His Highness’s safety, while the Azure Dragon Guard will charge with me. A soldier is trained for a thousand days for use in a single moment. If anyone dares to cower or falter, do not blame my sword for being merciless!”

Qi Zhenzhuo responded: “Rest assured, General, we will fight to the death!”

Li Xuan turned to the Prince and said: “Your Highness, we swear to protect you out of the city with our lives.”

The Prince said slowly: “Thank you, General Li. Additionally, please look after the family members of Master Chen and Master Zhang.”

“As you command.”

As the city gate grew closer, Li Xuan’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach.

His gaze swept across the long street, seeing hundreds of torches burning on the city walls, making it as bright as day. In front of the city gate, armored soldiers moved back and forth, carrying military equipment, pushing crossbow carts, and hauling sandbags, exceptionally busy.

The South Gate, which should not have been heavily guarded, now had thousands of Border Army soldiers gathered there, looking as if a major battle was imminent.

The Imperial Forest Army soldiers were somewhat at a loss, having already forgotten their boasts from moments before.

As it stood, they absolutely could not break out of this city gate on their own.

“Whoa!” Li Xuan reined in his horse, slowly stopping before the city gate.

His warhorse restlessly paced back and forth beneath him. The agitated torchlight from above and below the city walls cast his face in a ruddy glow.

Li Xuan looked up at the top of the city wall.

The next moment, a tall figure appeared between the battlements, looking down on them like a mountain.

Border Army soldiers held torches behind him. Amidst the flickering light and shadow, furious flames blazed behind the tall figure, while the figure itself remained shrouded in darkness, its face and expression indistinguishable.

The figure on the wall asked loudly: “Why has the Prince come in the middle of the night?”

Li Xuan’s heart leaped: Hu Junxian!

He steeled himself and shouted across the distance: “General Hu, the Prince has found some clues and must proceed to Tianshui County immediately! Open the gates quickly!”

Hu Junxian calmly replied: “I cannot open them.”

Li Xuan said furiously: “Hu Junxian, have you gone mad? Are you trying to place the Prince under house arrest?”

Hu Junxian’s voice was calm and resonant, like a grand bell: “General Li, calm your anger. Our scouts from the Guyuan Border Army encountered over ten Jing Dynasty traveling officials in the rear Ziwu Ridge. They might be elite soldiers from the Jing Dynasty’s Divine Martial Camp of the Heavenly Policy Army. Our scouts barely escaped with their lives, relying on their familiarity with the terrain. Since the enemy has crossed the mountains, they must have a scheme. If the Prince leaves the city now, I fear he might be ambushed by Jing Dynasty forces. This humble general cannot open the gates.”

Li Xuan was enraged: “Jing Dynasty troops wanting to penetrate Ning Dynasty territory would have to cross three hundred li of mountain roads with countless precipices. Even if you’re making up a lie, make it a believable one! And your Border Army scouts escaping from over ten traveling officials? You’re lying through your teeth!”

Hu Junxian was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: “Our Guyuan Border Army never fabricates lies about such matters. Believe it or not, please turn back.”

With that, he turned and left, disappearing behind the battlements.

Li Xuan cursed angrily: “Hu Junxian, this is high treason!”

Hu Junxian’s voice drifted down from the city wall as he moved further away: “Then, after this battle is over, you can ask His Majesty to punish me. But for now, please excuse this humble Hu, as I still have military duties to attend to. I shall not accompany you further.”