Third Imperial Brother, This Time You Are Certain to Lose
The poison within Bai Qingyu’s body had nearly cost him his life. Fortunately, treatment had been timely, yet the remaining toxin still took two full months to be completely cleared.
During this period, the two of them understood each other without words. Neither mentioned the matter of injury in their letters home.
Once fully recovered, they immediately set out, leading troops toward Dongshang Jing.
Some days prior, Zhao Lu had sent word. They had already repelled Yu Kui and successfully taken Dongshang Jing. The army remained stationed within the territory, resting and awaiting their return.
In the twelfth month, Lu Ronghuai returned to Dongshang Jing. The dark mass of troops advanced along the official road, their footsteps uniform and orderly. Hearing the commotion, the common people of the Kingdom of Yu poked their heads out to look.
The formation stretched long, so long that its end could not be seen at a glance.
This was only a small portion. Most of the troops remained outside the city, resting, and had not entered.
Aside from the fifty thousand soldiers originally brought out, after annihilating Xiqiang, he had also taken in a considerable number of surrendered troops.
During Bai Qingyu’s recovery, Lu Ronghuai had little to occupy himself. His greatest pastime each day was training the army. After two months, the results were striking. The ninety thousand surrendered soldiers no longer retained their former timid and shrinking demeanor. At a glance, they were almost indistinguishable from the soldiers of the Kingdom of Lu.
The winter of the Kingdom of Yu was far milder than that of the Kingdom of Lu. Lu Ronghuai rested only a single day before leading one hundred thousand troops within the territory to attack Anyuan Jing.
His offensive was fierce. The general of Anyuan Jing was born of a noble family and had long lived in comfort. How could he withstand Lu Ronghuai? Seeing that the city could not be defended, he neither intended to flee nor to continue fighting.
He led his men to open the gates directly and surrendered of his own accord.
When Yu Kui heard this news, he was so enraged that he spat out a mouthful of blood.
The eunuchs urged him to flee at once. With Anyuan Jing fallen, next would be Cifeng Jing.
Lu Ronghuai loomed with predatory intent. Seven parts of the Kingdom of Yu’s territory had already been taken. What remained could only resist stubbornly, unable to change the tide.
In the latter part of the twelfth month, the army of the Kingdom of Lu pressed upon Cifeng.
Eight days later, the city gates were broken. The iron cavalry of the Kingdom of Lu entered the capital, advancing without obstruction all the way to the imperial palace.
Within the palace, the great hall’s doors were tightly shut. Inside, men, women, old and young were crowded together.
All the consorts, princes, nobles, and ministers, along with their families, were present. They crouched upon the ground without regard for dignity, speaking to one another in deliberately lowered voices.
Among them, some could not restrain themselves from weeping, yet the sound was quickly stifled, and the atmosphere froze for an instant.
Afterward, they cast lingering fearful glances toward Yu Kui upon the main seat.
Yu Kui sat at the head. His expression was extremely calm, unmoving where he sat.
Yet upon closer look, one would see that his eyes were blood-red. In each hand he held a sword. Fresh blood slid in thin streams along the blades, dripping at his feet, thick and dark.
Not far before him lay a corpse.
That had once been a consort he had greatly favored. For attempting to flee, she had been cut through the throat with one stroke, and then stabbed seven or eight times more. Blood flowed from the holes in her body, staining the ground red.
His eyes moved slowly, passing over the corpse to the trembling crowd below. A cruel and excited smile curved his lips.
“You wish to flee as well?”
No one below dared to speak.
He began to laugh on his own again, his expression nearly deranged. “None of you may flee. None of you can escape, hahaha.”
Lu Lingshuang hugged her knees and leaned against a pillar of the hall. She watched Yu Kui’s madness with cold indifference, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.
Very soon, the sound of firm footsteps approached.
The doors of the hall were opened from outside. Sunlight and cold wind rushed in together.
A pair of long legs, full of strength and grace, stepped inside. The pace was leisurely, composed, as though strolling through his own courtyard.
Countless pairs of eyes turned toward Lu Ronghuai, each bearing a different expression.
Seeing the chaotic crowd before him, Lu Ronghuai raised a brow with slight interest. “Are you all here to welcome This Prince?”
“How thoughtful.”
“It spares This Prince the trouble of seeking you out one by one. It has been a long time since I encountered such considerate captives.”
The crowd: “...”
He walked forward with his hands behind his back. As he approached, the crowd parted of its own accord. There was a smile upon Lu Ronghuai’s face, yet to the people of the Kingdom of Yu, that smile was no different from a death sentence.
They lowered their heads. Even their breathing was softened, unwilling to provoke malevolent spirit.
“Your households should all be quite wealthy. Are you willing to come as guests to the Kingdom of Lu?”
“My son will soon reach his first birthday. He favors simple, unadorned gold ingots. The more, the better.”
One man raised his head. He glanced back at Yu Kui, whose face remained expressionless, then gathered his courage and said, “This official is willing to submit to Your Highness. All my family’s wealth shall be presented. I beg Your Highness to spare the lives of my entire household.”
Lu Ronghuai: “Good man. Your mind turns quickly. Take your family and leave.”
Joy immediately appeared upon the man’s face. With one hand supporting his wife and the other protecting his child, he hurriedly fled the hall.
Once one person stepped forward, what followed became far easier.
After half a quarter of an hour, only a few people remained in the hall.
Only then did Lu Ronghuai lift his gaze toward Yu Kui, who sat upon the main seat, heaving breath in his high seat.
“Ruler of the Kingdom of Yu is truly impressive. Even with the fall of your state, so many are still willing to follow you.” He gave a perfunctory clap.
Yu Kui looked at the remaining consorts below. His breathing grew heavier, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.
Lu Ronghuai is humiliating him.
From the moment he entered, he forced him to watch his ministers desert him without the slightest hesitation. Apart from these useless women, not a single official was willing to follow him.
“And how much stronger are you than I? Your fourth brother holds power in Ye Jing. He is more beloved by the people than you. Do you think you can sit upon the throne?”
Lu Ronghuai found it amusing. “The world belongs to the capable. If he is more capable than this Prince, then letting him sit upon that throne is no matter. Since when was it your place to speak such sour words?”
“What This Prince desires, I take openly and uprightly. You, however, only steal.”
Yu Kui seemed to be struck by something and retorted sharply, “Yes, this Ruler cannot defeat you and cannot defend the Kingdom of Yu. This Ruler has failed the ancestors. Yet this Ruler conducts himself openly and aboveboard!”
“Shameless.”
A cold female voice suddenly sounded from outside the hall.
Yu Kui glared angrily toward the entrance. “Who are you?”
Fu Qing stepped behind Lu Ronghuai. She removed her veil, her clear eyes filled with hardship and frost.
“Do you still remember me, Yu Kui?”
Yu Kui’s anger was replaced by terror.
“You... you!”
“You did not expect that I still live?” Fu Qing sneered. “When you struck at me and stole my military merit, did you never think I might one day return?”
Yu Kui’s nostrils flared, his chest rising and falling violently.
“So it was you who led the assault on the Kingdom of Yu these days! You are the Grand Princess of the Kingdom of Yu!”
“Now you remember that I am the Grand Princess?” Fu Qing gave a mirthless laugh. The laughter faded, and hatred filled her eyes. “When you and Father Emperor joined hands to destroy my chastity and bound me before throwing me into the Ye River, did you remember who I was?”
“Fearing I would outshine you, fearing that the Kingdom of Yu might truly have a woman as its ruler... you are no better than beasts.”
“I struggled to live on...” Fu Qing drew in a breath. At some point, a dagger had appeared in her hand. “So that I might return all the suffering you forced upon me, tenfold.”
Yu Kui: “You killed Father Emperor? You dared commit patricide?!”
Fu Qing: “Yes. I will fall to underworld when I die, yet I do not fear. I only wish to seek justice for myself.”
“I killed him. I took the defensive map. The Kingdom of Yu is rotten to the core. Its fall is a mercy for the people.”
“Madwoman. You are mad!”
Yu Kui roared, raising his sword as he rushed down the steps, his eyes fierce and twisted.
Fu Qing’s expression eased. She stepped forward to meet him.
The two began to fight within the hall.
Very quickly, Yu Kui fell into disadvantage.
Fu Qing drove the dagger forward again and again. Cold intent and killing force mingled within her eyes. To her, the man before her was already as good as dead.
Each strike sank deep, yet none killed him at once. After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Yu Kui’s body swayed twice before crashing heavily to the ground.
“Ahhhhh—!”
The consorts within the hall shrieked, their faces drained of color as they clung together in terror, weeping.
Yu Kui lay upon the ground, his entire body soaked in blood. He convulsed, froth and blood spilling from his mouth, his eyes refusing to close even in death.
Fu Qing looked at the corpse for a moment. She casually cast aside the dagger. There were several cuts upon her arms and body, yet she paid them no heed. Turning, she clasped her hands toward Lu Ronghuai.
“Many thanks, Your Highness, for allowing me to personally slay my enemy.”
“A small matter. Go and have the military physician tend to your wounds.”
Once Fu Qing left, Lu Ronghuai’s gaze swept toward the consorts huddled in the corner. His long, dark eyes were sharp.
“Leave.”
How could they dare remain? His words were as an amnesty. They fled at once, stumbling and running toward the doors.
“Stop. Did This Prince permit you to leave?”
A cold, indifferent voice sounded from behind them.
They froze, trembling as they turned back, hearts lodged in their throats.
Then they saw Lu Lingshuang, equally stiff with fear.
So he meant her.
The other concubines fled even faster.
Measured footsteps approached. Lu Lingshuang tensed instantly, all color draining from her lips.
“You still wish to flee?” Lu Ronghuai’s tone carried mockery.
Seeing no path to escape, Lu Lingshuang glared at the man she had despised for over a decade and shouted loudly, “If you have the ability, then kill me!”
Lu Ronghuai replied, “Very well.”
Lu Lingshuang: “……”
“How would you like to die? Shall I flay your skin and hang you upon the city walls to dry, or sever your limbs and place you in a jar to be taken back to Lu Kingdom? Choose for yourself.”
Her face turned as pale as paper at the mention of such punishments.
Of all people, the one she feared most was Lu Ronghuai.
Perhaps believing death was inevitable, she found an inexplicable courage and dared to provoke him.
“Lu Ronghuai, an executioner like you, your hands stained with blood, harming your own kin and devoid of all conscience, will surely meet a miserable end.”
Lu Ronghuai responded, “Have you not heard? A scourge lives for a thousand years.”
“…Indeed,” Lu Lingshuang seemed momentarily choked, yet soon revealed a meaningful smile. “Third Imperial Brother, you must live long. But your Prince Consort may soon descend to accompany me.”
Lu Ronghuai flexed his fingers, his expression unchanged.
“You have misunderstood one thing.”
“What?”
“Ten Liu Mingyue would still not be a match for Ah-Yuan.”
“You! … How could you…” Lu Lingshuang’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“How did I know Liu Mingyue is here?” Lu Ronghuai let out a faint laugh. “With your limited wit, you could never persuade Shi Kingdom and Yu Kingdom to form an alliance.”
“If This Prince is not mistaken, Liu Mingyue is no longer within Yu Kingdom. Instead, he has borrowed troops to attack the Western Frontier, intending to seize the Prince Consort to threaten This Prince, is that correct?”
“Utterly foolish.”
Lu Lingshuang trembled all over.
He had guessed all of it.
The plan Liu Mingyue had told her had been almost entirely deduced.
“This Prince will spare your life for now. Watch closely. Within a month, Liu Mingyue will be beaten until he cannot lift a finger in retaliation.”
“No… impossible… Cousin commands one hundred and twenty thousand troops. The Western Frontier has only fifty thousand defenders. Cousin will not lose!”
“That is not certain.”
“He will not lose. And besides, Fourth Imperial Brother will help us as well.” Lu Lingshuang seemed to regain her confidence. A strange light blazed in both eyes. She looked at him with a dark, knowing gaze and bared her teeth in a slow smile.
“We have all underestimated Fourth Imperial Brother. Third Imperial Brother, this time you are bound to lose.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Revealing the answer: the man in black is Liu Mingyue.
Not the author revealing the person lmao. - IsitRo
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