Du Qi thought he was seeing things.
But with his ability to hit a target from a hundred paces, no matter how high and thick the city gate was, he wouldn’t mistake a person’s face.
Especially not Xie Yanlai’s face.
Who could forget that face once they’d seen it?
On top of the gate, the young man’s long eyes tilted slightly as he called out, “Third Brother.”
Xie Yanfang’s surprise faded, and he nodded at him.
“Xie Yanlai,” Du Qi shouted. “Quickly open the city gate!”
Hearing this, the corners of the young man’s mouth on the gate curved up. He folded his arms and leaned forward. “Du Qi, are you ordering me?”
Du Qi’s expression instantly darkened. Whether or not he was ordering Xie Yanlai aside, Xie Yanlai was deliberately being provocative.
Xie Yanlai was currently guarding the Son of Heaven’s city gate—only the Son of Heaven could give him orders.
This was cursing Du Qi for being insubordinate and arrogant, and it was also questioning Xie Yanfang.
This bastard! Du Qi gripped his crossbow. Did he think he wouldn’t dare shoot an arrow straight through him?
So what if you’re guarding the city gate under the Son of Heaven’s command? You’re still a son of the Xie family!
Xie Yanfang patted Du Qi. “Don’t you know his temperament? Fighting with him will only anger you to death.” After speaking, he looked up at the gate. Rather than mention entering the city, he only asked, “Yanlai, is the city safe?”
Xie Yanlai nodded and made a sound of affirmation. “It’s already safe.”
Xie Yanfang said, “That’s good then.” After speaking, he turned his horse around.
Though Du Qi was displeased, he followed his young master and turned as well.
Xie Yanlai’s shout came from atop the gate wall. “Hey, Third Brother—”
Xie Yanfang turned back on his horse.
“Come in,” the young man on the gate said. “The palace also wants to know what happened outside the city.”
After saying this, he raised his hand toward the officer beside him.
Du Qi watched as that officer, without saying another word, turned and personally went down to open the city gate.
This little brat—how did it look like he was already in charge?
One night outside the city, heaven and earth had been turned upside down. One night inside the city—it seemed extraordinary things had happened there as well.
…
…
The city gate slowly opened. Xie Yanfang dismounted and walked over with Du Qi. Casually glancing around, he saw that the imperial guards here were all unfamiliar. Unfamiliar didn’t mean their faces—they wouldn’t remember what every gate guard looked like. What was unfamiliar was their aura.
These people were not the original imperial guards and gate sentries.
Xie Yanlai also came down from atop the gate. The young man walked leisurely, his manner still the same as before.
His clothes and face were very clean, unlike Xie Yanfang and the others who were covered in blood. But the young man, who had always been sharp, now seemed like a sword that had been tempered and honed, gleaming with light.
Moreover, that officer who had been blocking them from atop the gate now followed behind Xie Yanlai with a respectful demeanor.
“How is His Majesty?” Xie Yanfang put away his scrutiny and asked.
Xie Yanlai didn’t say “no comment” but answered readily, “His Majesty already knows the Crown Prince met with disaster and also knows the Third Prince caused the rebellion.”
Xie Yanfang glanced ahead. In the hazy morning light, inside the gate was a scene of chaos, though cleanup had already begun. Soldiers and officers were putting out fires and moving corpses.
“The Crown Princess—” he said.
“Third Brother, you should enter the palace to see His Majesty,” Xie Yanlai interrupted him. “Tell His Majesty about the matter in detail.”
Xie Yanfang thought that just like opening the city gate, he had very easily and casually said to enter the palace.
“However,” Xie Yanlai pointed at Xie Yanfang, “you must leave your weapons behind. The Grand Tutor has ordered that aside from soldiers, no one may carry weapons while moving about the city.”
“Alright.” Xie Yanfang nodded without the slightest hesitation and handed over his crossbow and swords to the soldiers nearby.
Though Du Qi was somewhat unwilling, he didn’t say anything and handed over his weapons.
Even without weapons, in a moment of danger he could still protect his young master.
Xie Yanlai added, “I’ll accompany you. It’s not so easy to get through the palace gates.” After speaking, he turned to the officer and said, “I’m going to the palace.”
The officer nodded. “You go, Yanlai. I’ve got things here.”
They were already calling each other by name, as if they were familiar old friends and companions. Du Qi glanced at that officer, and the burly officer was extremely sharp, immediately returning his gaze with keen and fierce eyes.
Du Qi withdrew his gaze.
Xie Yanfang remounted his horse. Xie Yanlai also took the reins of a horse led over by a soldier nearby. The two brothers, one in front and one behind, along with Du Qi, galloped forward.
All along the way, the once-prosperous streets were in a terrible state. Many residences were still burning, the ground was covered in blood stains, and corpses were constantly being collected. However, there were quite a few people on the streets. Besides soldiers and officers cleaning up and putting out fires, there were also many officials patrolling.
Almost every street had an official leading a team.
Seeing the officials, civilians gradually emerged in greater numbers, running out from their homes and hiding places, crying to the officials and following them, unwilling to leave.
The officials comforted them one by one.