The imperial edict burned in the brazier, sending up black smoke that made the faces of those in the room as dark as the bottom of a pot.
The quiet command tent didn’t hold only Xiao Xun. Three court officials stood facing him.
They knew Xiao Xun came with ill intentions, but they still hadn’t expected him to burn the imperial edict right in front of them.
This left no face whatsoever—he had torn away all pretense directly.
“Young Master,” the lead court official shouted sternly, “How dare you!”
Xiao Xun smiled, his dimples deepening. “My lord, if I weren’t daring, could I have come this far? Do you all think I, Xiao Xun, am very timid? What I’ve come to do, you know very clearly in your hearts. What you’ve come to do, you also know very clearly.”
He pointed at the burning edict.
“Did you think holding this thing could stop me?”
One court official said gravely, “Xiao Xun, do you and your father truly intend to violate sacred instructions and commit acts of great treason?”
Xiao Xun sighed softly. “What are sacred instructions, and what is great treason? Have you forgotten that I also bear the Xiao surname? My father is also of imperial bloodline. The late Emperor was dissolute and incompetent, failed to educate his son properly, and committed such heinous acts against human ethics. This throne should rightfully be given to the worthy and able. Letting a small child sit on the throne, letting a minor official of humble origins and an imperial relative manage the court—this is what constitutes great treason.”
“Would a worthy and able person do what you’re doing? Bully an orphaned child who just ascended the throne after losing both parents?” the official said coldly. “Would a worthy and able person use commoners as shields to threaten the court?”
Another official said gravely, “This imperial edict is to preserve your father and son’s dignity, urging you to turn back from your wrong path. Everything can still be salvaged.”
Xiao Xun laughed heartily. Tie Ying even stepped forward, her blade aimed at this official.
The official’s expression changed slightly, but he straightened his spine without retreating.
“Don’t kill him yet,” Xiao Xun said. “It’s not time.”
Tie Ying sheathed her blade and stepped back.
“Bullying a young child,” Xiao Xun said softly. “Wasn’t my father also a young child back then?”
He looked at the three officials.
“Using commoners as shields—it’s not just me, but you as well.”
“Who are you issuing this imperial edict for? Not for me, but to deceive the people.”
“The capital garrison’s one hundred thousand troops have already formed battle arrays ahead. One hundred and fifty thousand provincial soldiers from all directions have surrounded us. You’re just waiting for me to refuse the edict, to disobey it, then start the war under charges of defiance. When blades are merciless and iron hooves roll over and crush the civilians, it won’t be the court’s fault.”
At this point, Xiao Xun smiled.
“But don’t worry. I won’t let the court’s intentions be wasted.”
“I accept the imperial edict and will obey orders to defend the capital.”
“However, there’s one saying you shouldn’t forget.”
“When a general is abroad, some sovereign commands need not be obeyed.”
With that, he signaled Tie Ying.
“Let the three lords rest.”
Before the three could react, Tie Ying stepped forward, drew and sheathed her blade, raised her hand three times and knocked all three unconscious. They collapsed to the ground.
Xiao Xun didn’t even glance at them as he stepped over them and walked out.
“Everyone, the three lords will also remain behind to defend the capital together with us,” he announced to the gathered civilians surrounding the camp. “Even without General Chu Ling, Xi Liang will not set foot in our Da Xia, will not harm a single subject of Da Xia!”
The people cheered loudly.
Amid the cheers, Xiao Xun said to the officers behind him, “Tomorrow, break camp. Divide forces into four routes and continue toward the capital.”
The officers acknowledged this.
Xiao Xun looked back toward the northwest. What a pity that girl couldn’t witness with her own eyes how he would conquer the capital.
……
……
Late at night, the capital garrison’s troops had not stopped.
Zhang Gu stood outside the camp, lost in thought.
“Chief,” a fellow courier ran over and asked quietly, “Something’s wrong here.”
“Of course something’s wrong,” Zhang Gu glared at him. “Are you stupid? Did you think everything was fine?”
Suddenly, large numbers of capital garrison troops were being mobilized. The claim was that the court was coordinating with Prince Zhongshan and the capital garrison together to defend the capital—such words were only meant to fool the people. Where would Prince Zhongshan get troops? A vassal prince raising an army meant death.
Moreover, such large troop movements had reached five hundred miles outside the capital, yet the courier garrison had received no prior information.
Clearly, Prince Zhongshan’s troops had evaded court surveillance.
What these troops intended—did it need guessing?
The courier said quietly, “Chief, I’m saying the court is also wrong.”
Zhang Gu looked at him. “The court can only do this for now—try their best to stop it. If they can’t—aren’t the troops already arrayed outside the capital?”
Provincial and prefecture troops from various regions were also on standby, having long prepared to respond to internal threats.
“No,” the courier said urgently. “I’m saying the court still hasn’t transmitted news to Empress Chu. They’re keeping it from her!”
The courier reports had been cut off by Prince Zhongshan’s side, but the court should restore them! The Empress was still at the border. Such a major event had occurred—why not inform Empress Chu?