“Early to bed, early to rise, keep your health…”
Bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang!
At the fifth watch, the clappers had just fallen silent. The guards at Desheng Gate in the north yawned as they lifted the bolts and slowly pushed the heavy city gates open.
Through the morning mist, a group of riders galloped in, hooves striking the wet stone road with urgent rhythm.
Sun Yun’guang gripped his reins tightly, cold sweat soaking the underclothes beneath his armor. He touched the hidden pouch at his chest. The feel of parchment steadied him slightly. This entry into the capital to face the Emperor was a gamble with his clan’s very life. If he succeeded, he would rise in rank—the Crown Prince had promised him the title of General Zhenbei. If he failed, it would mean execution of nine generations. He, Sun Yun’guang, would be branded the traitor of the Sun clan.
“Make way! Delay military intelligence and you’ll pay the price!”
The shout snapped him from his thoughts.
Ahead, a black carriage blocked the road. Upon its shaft fluttered a crimson phoenix banner in the morning breeze. That was Princess Zhaohua’s insignia.
Sun Yun’guang’s heart clenched. His right hand instinctively pressed the hilt of his sword. Behind him, his guards spread into formation, shielding the trusted aide who carried the memorial wrapped in yellow silk.
The curtain lifted. Sun Yun’guang’s pupils shrank.
Princess Zhaohua gazed at him calmly, her eyes cold as a frozen northern lake.
“Deputy General Sun, such arrogance.” Her icy voice froze his blood. He reflexively touched his chest again.
The movement did not escape Baili Jun’s notice. A flash of cold light passed through her eyes.
Cursing his own stupidity, Sun Yun’guang quickly shifted his hand back to his sword. He forced himself to remain composed. She was only a palace woman—what storm could she raise?
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I march under military orders to present myself before the Emperor. I cannot be delayed.”
At his words, Princess Zhaohua’s lips curved into a cold smile. “I hear the northern frontier has been betrayed by traitors,” she said, stepping down from the carriage, her skirt sweeping the damp road. “I came especially to lend Deputy General Sun a hand.”
A chill ran down Sun Yun’guang’s spine. No, this woman knew something.
Suppressing panic, he gave a subtle hand signal. Two guards spurred forward, forming a pincer.
His throat bobbed. He recalled the Crown Prince’s instructions: no matter what, he must insist on Xiao Yan’s guilt of treason.
But the Crown Prince had not warned him of Princess Zhaohua herself standing in his way.
“Your Highness jests,” Sun Yun’guang forced out, voice dry. “My mission is precisely to impeach the traitor who colluded with the enemy…”
Before he could finish, a flash of steel cut the air.
He instinctively leaned back, hearing the hiss of cloth tearing—a chill spread across his chest.
When he realized, the figure had already retreated to Princess Zhaohua’s side—holding in her hand the deadly roll of parchment.
Sun Yun’guang’s pupils contracted. His right hand slashed down. “Stop her!”
His guards drew blades, but suddenly dozens of archers appeared on the surrounding rooftops, arrowheads gleaming, all aimed at them.
“This is the ‘iron proof’ Deputy General Sun intends to present to my father?” Baili Jun lifted the parchment with her fingertips. The barbarian script glared in the morning light.
She sneered, pulling another letter from her sleeve and unfolding it.
“Recognize this?”
Sun Yun’guang stared at the familiar handwriting. His mind roared. It was the secret letter he himself had written to Ji Huai’an!
The letter detailed exactly how to forge evidence to frame Xiao Yan. But why was this secret letter in Princess Zhaohua’s hands? Had Ji Huai’an betrayed the Crown Prince?
Sun Yun’guang’s teeth ground audibly. Suddenly, he gave a twisted laugh.
“Your Highness thinks this is the end?” he lowered his voice. “The northern military report has already…”
“Already what?” Baili Jun stepped forward, sword tip pressing against his throat. “You mean to say you, Sun Yun’guang, personally saw my uncle collude with the enemy?”
Her eyes blazed with killing intent. “Too bad. Those eyes of yours won’t be speaking much longer.”
Sun Yun’guang felt his whole body turn cold. This woman knew everything!
He jerked back, shouting, “Break through! Get the report out!”
But before his cry had faded, the archers on the rooftops loosed their strings. Arrows whistled down, striking precisely before the hooves of his eight guards’ horses, forcing the beasts to rear with terrified screams.
“I advise Deputy General Sun not to move,” Baili Jun said, her sword steady at his throat, carving a thin line of blood. “Otherwise, I cannot guarantee this blade won’t take your head.”
Cold sweat beaded on his brow. His peripheral vision caught his men surrounded by archers.
The aide carrying the memorial wrapped in yellow silk was pinned by Qingluan’s silver needle at the nape, unable to move.
“Your Highness, is this rebellion?” Sun Yun’guang forced his trembling voice. “To intercept a military report is a capital crime!”
Baili Jun suddenly laughed. The smile never reached her eyes, chilling Sun Yun’guang to the bone.
“Rebellion?” She flicked her sword downward, slicing off the token sash at his waist. “Carrying forged barbarian letters into court to slander the loyal—that is the crime of exterminating nine clans.”
Qingluan swiftly searched the aide and presented the memorial.
Baili Jun unfolded it with one hand. Her gaze swept over the words *‘Xiao Yan guilty of treason’*, her eyes growing colder.
“Take him.” She sheathed her sword. “I will personally deliver Deputy General Sun… before the Emperor.”
…
At the second quarter of the *mao* hour, dawn’s pale light spread across the sky.
A faint smell of smoke lingered over the capital.
In one night, the prince consort’s mansion had turned to ash. News of Ji Huai’an’s charred corpse had already spread like wildfire through the city.
At the palace’s Meridian Gate, officials hurried into court, exchanging uneasy glances.
The Taihe Hall—also called the Jinluan Hall—awaited.
Outside, the Emperor had not yet arrived, and ministers gathered to wait. On ordinary mornings, they would rest with closed eyes or chat quietly. But today, they clustered in groups, faces grave, trading news.
“Have you heard? Last night, on Princess Zhaohua’s wedding night, the consort’s mansion burned. The prince consort and all within perished.”
“More than heard! My son is the deputy commander of the southern garrison. When they rushed to the mansion, he saw Princess Zhaohua himself. Her appearance…”
The speaker fell silent, glancing around before lowering his voice.
“Covered in blood. Even her red wedding robe was darkened.”
A refined minister spoke. “Princess Zhaohua has always been dignified and restrained. She would never kill without cause. Surely the prince consort committed some heinous crime.”
Right Censor Wang Shian snorted. “Lord Zhang, you are mistaken. No matter how noble, murder and arson are grave crimes!”
Nearby, Left Censor Xu Congyi remained calm, his gaze sweeping past Wang Shian to the Crown Prince, who stood silent.
Crown Prince Baili Zhang wore a pale yellow robe embroidered with dragons, his face handsome as jade. He lowered his eyes to the dragon motif on the tiles, lips curling in a faint, imperceptible smile.
As the debate grew louder, the great doors of the Jinluan Hall slowly opened.
“Officials, enter court—” The eunuch’s shrill voice pierced the morning mist.
The ministers fell silent, filing inside according to rank.