Xie Yanfang looked ahead, his face showing no fear, and spurred his horse. “We’ll know once we go look.”
…
…
The high, imposing, and majestic city gate had, in a single night, seemingly taken on a layer of grayish defeat.
Corpses and weapons were scattered everywhere, along with burning torches—no longer showing any trace of former prosperity.
The gate top was calm and quiet, as if it were an uninhabited realm.
But when Xie Yanfang approached, countless arrows fell like rain, standing upright in orderly rows on the ground to form a barrier.
“The imperial palace is under martial law! All unauthorized persons are forbidden from entering the city!” a shout came from atop the gate. “Withdraw immediately!”
Imperial palace under martial law. Unauthorized persons.
“I am Xie Yanfang,” Xie Yanfang suddenly raised his voice and shouted. “I am protecting the bodies of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. I must enter the palace to see His Majesty.”
As he spoke, he spurred his horse forward one step, crossing over that dense line of arrows.
Du Qi nervously followed, staying close to protect his side.
This time, no arrows shot down from the gate. Instead, a person stepped forward and looked down.
This was an unfamiliar military officer, tall and burly, with a dark red complexion. From high atop the gate, he examined the young gentleman below.
“Xie Yanfang? Who are you?”
Whether this ignorance was real or feigned was unclear, but as long as they hadn’t shot him, there was opportunity. Even if Xiao Xun had already seized the advantage, he could still persuade Xiao Xun— Xie Yanfang called out, “I am the third younger brother of the Crown Princess.”
The officer made a sound of acknowledgment—unclear whether he understood or not—but he didn’t pursue the question. Instead, he waved his hand.
“You just fall back and continue protecting the Crown Prince and Crown Princess,” he said. “Wait for the court to make subsequent arrangements.”
He still wasn’t letting him enter the city.
Xie Yanfang gripped his reins. “Sir, I must see His Majesty in person. It concerns the Third Prince.”
The officer remained unmoved. “You just fall back. When the court makes arrangements, they will summon you for an audience.”
As Xie Yanfang was about to say more, the officer suddenly turned to look to the side, bowed respectfully, and stepped back. Another person came forward.
The gate was high, and as that person appeared in Xie Yanfang’s line of sight, he wore armor and weapons, tall and thin, with a black and red cloak billowing behind him in the wind.
Clearly, this was an official of even higher rank than that officer, but—
Xie Yanfang didn’t call out. Instead, he looked at that person with some surprise.
Du Qi beside him also stared at that person. His eyes widened in disbelief. Were his eyes broken? Why would he see—
“Xie Yanlai!”