Volume One: The Turmoil of Yan and Yun Chapter Fifty-Six: Murder on a Rainy Night (Part Three)

Money can indeed make even ghosts work for you; that saying is true. Before long, Shui Dongliu returned to the hall and addressed Du Gu Zhe with utmost respect: "All the flowers have been moved to the Eastern Sea; both deputy palace masters from the Flower Palace now reside in the Bohai Prince's mansion."

Du Gu Zhe was stunned.

What Feng Qi could anticipate, he could as well.

In fact, he could even foresee what Feng Qi could not.

Precisely because of this, it was difficult for him to accept.

Feng Qi glanced at Du Gu Zhe sympathetically, thinking that, by seniority, perhaps the Bohai Prince could be considered his great uncle?

The old emperor had no sons. To comfort him in his later years, the royal family would send a child to Qianyang Palace every century to fulfill filial duties.

To call it filial duty was rather a form of instruction.

Children who had studied at Qianyang Palace were regarded by outsiders as part of the old emperor’s lineage.

Counting up, the Bohai Prince, the current emperor, and the present crown prince were the only remaining members of the old emperor’s line; all others were gone.

"The human heart harbors calamity; a few years of instruction can never overcome two centuries of ambition," Feng Qi sighed. "Your Highness need not be troubled."

Du Gu Zhe shook his head, thinking that some matters were royal scandals, known only to those within.

The Carefree Pavilion answered questions, but offered no solutions.

Upon leaving the Carefree Pavilion, the rain outside persisted. Darkness prevailed, the torrential rain fell like pillars, making it impossible to judge the time.

The storm had arrived.

The mountain rain was about to come.

The enemy hid in the shadows while they stood in the light; the situation was indeed passive at every turn, and even Feng Qi could not think of a better solution.

"Must we really let them lead us by the nose?" Du Gu Zhe muttered irritably. "Even with the Sword Command for protection, the risk remains too great."

Feng Qi thought to himself, it was not so much the risk, but the fact that once the Sword Command was used, all of his and the emperor's plans would fall through; he simply did not want to miss out.

But did he truly have such confidence to preserve his own life?

"Your Highness, you must know what consequences would follow if anything happened to you?" Feng Qi asked softly. "If you cannot understand even this, I suggest you have the Carefree Pavilion inform His Majesty now and let him send the divine guards to escort you back to the palace."

Du Gu Zhe dismissed Feng Qi's suggestion without a second thought, replying seriously, "I know what I am doing. Besides, my father has many sons; my eldest brother is over a hundred years old. Even if I were to die, it would not shake the foundation of the realm."

Feng Qi wanted to persuade him further, but swallowed his words and instead let out a soft laugh.

Du Gu Zhe asked what he was laughing at.

Feng Qi's laughter grew harder to suppress, until finally he burst out laughing.

Du Gu Zhe joined in.

Feng Qi asked, "Why are you laughing, Your Highness?"

Du Gu Zhe retorted, "Why are you laughing?"

Gasping for breath, Feng Qi said, "I finally understand how Uncle Mo and Steward Fei must have felt, helpless when watching me risk my life in the past."

Du Gu Zhe paused, then smiled and replied, "I laugh because you know what I am thinking, and you believe I will not fail."

Joking and laughing, they walked from the Carefree Pavilion onto the long street.

On either side, several vendors were already tidying up, preparing their stalls. By the light of their candles, Feng Qi and Du Gu Zhe caught sight of a man in black sitting at the end of the road.

He sat in the center of the street, wearing a bamboo hat and a rain cape, cradling a sword in his arms, murderous intent radiating from him.

One look was all it took for Feng Qi to realize this man was not one he could defeat.

Even among those with insight, there are levels.

Some, he could challenge beyond his rank; others, he could not.

The chasm of cultivation may not be obvious between genius and mediocrity, but talent does not equate to mastery.

As now.

"What should we do?" Du Gu Zhe said. "If he is an enemy, I cannot defeat him."

"Nor can I," Feng Qi shrugged. "Has the Governor of Ji Province gone off to eat dung?"

Du Gu Zhe answered, "Among the provinces, many support me, but a few still back other royal brothers."

Feng Qi retorted calmly, "No matter how much the Governor of Ji Province favors the eldest prince, he would never let the crown prince die here for nothing."

Du Gu Zhe sighed, "The heart is hidden behind the flesh; how can I guess his thoughts? Perhaps he truly has a way to remain uninvolved."

"Then what can we do? This murderous aura... has sealed the long street," Feng Qi sighed.

"Perhaps we could retreat into the Carefree Pavilion; no one in the realm dares provoke them, not even the cults," Du Gu Zhe suggested.

Feng Qi shot him a glare, then realized Du Gu Zhe might not see it in the darkness, so he said, "This man’s murderous intent is like a rainbow; do you think these vendors here are ordinary?"

He scanned the area. "If we retreat, they will surely strike us from behind."

"If we advance, we will be attacked from all sides," Du Gu Zhe said.

Feng Qi was exasperated, unwilling to argue further.

Du Gu Zhe paused, then grew slightly angry.

"Are you the Crown Prince and the Heir of Yanbei?" came a deep voice from beneath the bamboo hat. "Scarlet Mist, the Mad Blade, has waited here for a long time."

Feng Qi raised an eyebrow, "Scarlet Mist, ranked eleventh on the Dragon Gate List? You shouldn’t be a member of the cult."

Scarlet Mist snorted coldly, "Those specters and demons pollute my sight and foul my ears."

Feng Qi asked again, "May I ask, Dragon Gate Eleven, what is your purpose here?"

Scarlet Mist said, "To take your lives."

Feng Qi was taken aback, then replied, "Mad Blade... are you seeking vengeance for your clan?"

Scarlet Mist answered, "My clan was wiped out before you were born; what meaning has your question now?"

Feng Qi sighed, "No chance of negotiation?"

Scarlet Mist replied, "No point."

Feng Qi said, "And what does that mean?"

Scarlet Mist answered, "The dead do not need to know what it means, for it is even more meaningless."

Feng Qi sighed, pointing at Du Gu Zhe, "I beg you, this is the crown prince; do you truly think you can kill him?"

Scarlet Mist said, "If I miss this chance, I will never be able to kill him."

Feng Qi nodded, "It seems your grudge against the royal family runs deep. In that case, I’ll just leave; if you want revenge, deal with the crown prince. I was never here."

Scarlet Mist was stunned, incredulous, "Are you truly the Heir of Yanbei?"

Feng Qi straightened, "Absolutely."

Scarlet Mist was furious, "How could the leader of the Charmer List produce such a disgrace?"

Feng Qi smiled, saying nothing.

Du Gu Zhe had heard of Feng Qi’s ways, recalling Feng Qi’s recent feats against powerful masters, then seeing his current shamelessness, could not help but sigh, "The Heir of Yanbei truly knows when to yield and when to stand tall."

Feng Qi felt no shame whatsoever, and replied in a low voice, "That is the proper conduct of a true man!"

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