In the Imperial Study, Xue Liulan stared at the memorial, unable to believe his eyes.
It was from Zhen, the new commander of Wuchuan. Murong Yan and Zuo Xunxiao had been found. Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived. His gaze fell to the next line, and his face drained of blood.
Vanguard General Murong Jin is missing.
His hand shook. A weight pressed on his chest, suffocating him.
"Your Majesty." Little Dingzi entered with tea, freezing when he saw the Emperor's expression.
"Summon the Fourth Prince," Xue Liulan rasped, barely controlling his voice. "Now. Do not delay."
Little Dingzi ran. He had never seen Xue Liulan like this.
The Emperor had been back for a while, but the Empress was nowhere to be seen. He spent his days with Consort Guo, watching dances, going on outings, playing the fool.
But those who saw his return knew the truth. The palace was not calm.
When he had returned, he had found Xue Zhuoran in the grand hall, holding the infant prince, facing down a crowd of angry officials.
"The Emperor is dead," one minister declared. "By ancestral rule, the young prince must ascend the throne."
Xue Zhuoran looked at him calmly, then at the confused baby in his arms. Make this child Emperor? He would be a puppet for life, killed at the first sign of resistance.
Xue Zhuoran and Li Yan knew the truth. Xue Liulan had gone to Wuchuan to find Murong Jin. He wasn't in Jiangnan looking for beauties.
"Wrong," Li Yan stepped forward. "We have only heard rumors. No body has been found. To crown a new Emperor so hastily would shake the foundations of the state."
"Does Minister Li support the Fourth Prince, then?"
"That violates ancestral law! It cannot be done!"
"Yes! Impossible!"
The ministers clamored. Guo Shangzhong stood to the side, watching the show.
Xue Zhuoran exchanged a look with Li Yan. Li Yan had sent word to Xue Liulan. If he wasn't back yet, it meant trouble in Wuchuan, or a trap on the road.
"You say my ascension violates the law," Xue Zhuoran said, his voice cutting through the noise. "But Qi'er is an infant. He cannot rule. If we crown him, who will make the decisions?"
The ministers fell silent. They couldn't say Guo Shangzhong. Not openly.
Li Yan hid a smile. The Fourth Prince was sharp. He had trapped them.
"There is only one solution," Xue Zhuoran continued coldly. "Like the Duke of Zhou aiding King Cheng, I will act as regent until my nephew comes of age."
"I think that is an excellent idea." A voice rang out from the doorway.
The ministers turned. Xue Liulan stood there, wearing dragon robes. He looked tired, but alive.
Guo Shangzhong's expression didn't change. He dismissed his attendant with a wave. The assassins hadn't returned. He knew Murong Jin must have sent someone to protect Xue Liulan.
So the Murong family still has strength, he thought. I underestimated Murong Yan.
"Long live the Emperor!" The court knelt. Xue Zhuoran knelt too, holding the baby.
Xue Liulan strode to him and helped him up. "You have worked hard, Brother. Thank you."
"Your Majesty is too kind." Xue Zhuoran handed him the child.
Xue Qi saw his father and reached out, his chubby arms wrapping around Xue Liulan's neck, his face breaking into a happy smile.
Xue Liulan held him tight, his eyes darkening. How is Murong Jin?
"This old slave greets the Emperor." Guo Shangzhong knelt.
"Rise, Eunuch Guo." Xue Liulan's tone was unfriendly.
Guo Shangzhong knew the Emperor was displeased.
"I dare not." He kept his head down.
"Oh?" Xue Liulan raised an eyebrow, focusing on his son. He wouldn't touch Guo Shangzhong yet. But he would make it clear: some people were off-limits.
"I failed to protect the little prince. I have betrayed Your Majesty's trust." Guo Shangzhong kowtowed heavily.
Xue Liulan looked at his brother, then at Li Yan. "The prince is fine. What do you mean?"
"Your Majesty, the little prince has been poisoned!" Guo Shangzhong shouted.
"What? Poisoned?"
"Did the Fourth Prince poison him?"
"Sima Zhao's heart is known to all!"
Whispers erupted. Xue Liulan's eyes narrowed, a flash of killing intent directed at Guo Shangzhong. But it vanished instantly.
"How can you tell?" he asked calmly. He knew Xue Zhuoran wouldn't do it. And he knew Guo Shangzhong wouldn't kill the boy now.
But he was still worried.
"There is a dark purple hue between his brows. A sign of a rare poison."
Xue Liulan looked closely. There was indeed a faint purple tint on the baby's forehead.
"Is there a cure?" His heart tightened. This child was Murong Jin's life. If anything happened to him, she wouldn't survive it.
Guo Shangzhong shook his head, looking pointedly at Xue Zhuoran.
Xue Zhuoran understood. He's asking me, the 'poisoner', for the antidote.
"I know the Physician Saint, Chong Hua, is in Yin. We can send for him," Xue Zhuoran said.
Xue Liulan nodded. "Do as Fourth Brother says. I am tired. Court dismissed."
After the court cleared, Xue Liulan stayed with Xue Qi until Chong Hua arrived with the antidote. The poison was mild, but it had weakened the boy's constitution.
"How is he?" Xue Zhuoran asked, rushing into the study.
"He will likely be sickly," Xue Liulan sighed.
"It's my fault. I didn't think Guo Shangzhong could poison him in the court." Xue Zhuoran looked guilty.
The poison had been a colorless, odorless gas, released in the hall. The dose was small, affecting only the infant.
"Don't blame yourself, Siyou. We were outplayed."
Xue Zhuoran nodded. "Why did you summon me so urgently?"
"Look at this." Xue Liulan handed him the memorial. "It arrived today."
"Murong Jin is missing?" Xue Zhuoran scanned it. "Wuchuan's forces couldn't find her?"
"It says she chased Guo Ren and vanished. They found Guo Ren's body by a cliff." Xue Liulan shuddered. A cliff. What were the chances of survival?
Xue Zhuoran fell silent. Zhen had sent the report. Did that mean even the Vermilion Bird Camp had given up?
"What will you do?"
"I can't leave Jindu. I need you to find her." Xue Liulan sighed heavily. If he could, he would fly to Wuchuan himself.
"Don't worry. I will bring her back." Xue Zhuoran put a hand on his brother's shoulder. Xue Liulan was rigid, trembling with suppressed emotion.
Perhaps she sensed someone worrying about her. In her haze, Murong Jin struggled to wake, to return to Jindu.
She opened her eyes.
"Finally awake." A strange voice, cool and clear as a mountain spring.
She turned. A man stood by her bed. White robes, flowing hair. Like an immortal hermit.
"Who are you?"
"You fell from the cliff. I found you while gathering herbs." He turned back to his mortar and pestle.
"Thank you." She tried to sit up, but her legs were numb. She couldn't move.
"Your leg tendons were severed. I'm reattaching them. You can't move yet." He put down the pestle and pushed her back down. "On the battlefield, you are a general. Here, you are a patient. Lie still."
She fell back, helpless. Annoyed. "May I ask my benefactor's name?"
"So you can ask your Emperor husband to reward me?" He sneered without turning.
"I don't like owing debts. You saved my life. I should know your name so I can repay you."
"No need. Sometimes I save birds and beasts if I'm in a good mood."
Is he calling me a beast? She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, feigning sleep.
Hearing nothing, he turned. Seeing her tight lips, he chuckled and shook his head, returning to his work.