In the eyes of the Imperial Guards, the newly appointed commander, Bai Fanxi, hardly seemed diligent. Each day after the morning court session, he would merely make a brief circuit around the government offices before departing early. There was no trace of the customary fervor new officials displayed; he barely even bothered to manage himself properly. Within two days, murmurs from outspoken court officials escalated into direct admonitions during the audience, accusing Commander Bai Fanxi of negligence and dereliction of duty.
Known for his short temper, Bai Fanxi remained unruffled. He defended himself thus:
"Since Yan Jide's imprisonment, all affairs of the Imperial Guards have been overseen by Yan Congzheng. Upon review of the past year's duty records and new guard rotation regulations, I find them flawless—truly astonishing and admirable. Hence, I can only follow the established precedents."
The phrase "following the footsteps of Xiao He and Cao Shen" alluded to the Han Dynasty chancellors—Xiao He, who devised an impeccable legal system, and Cao Shen, who faithfully adhered to it thereafter. Bai Fanxi's words artfully explained his own laissez-faire governance while extolling Yan Congzheng's achievements, effectively silencing the critics.
At court's end, Bai Fanxi deliberately called back Yan Congzheng, who bowed respectfully, his eyes shining like bright stars, and modestly replied,
"General Bai overpraises me today."
"Not at all," Bai Fanxi retorted, brushing an imaginary speck of dust from his sleeve, then stiffened briefly before self-mockingly adding,
"Having spent long days on the frontier, I'm used to thinking a casual kneel means a body covered in dust. Yet how could there be a trace of dirt in the Ming Palace?"
Yan Congzheng sensed the unspoken meaning but feigned ignorance, responding,
"The palace servants are diligent; it is spotless here."
Bai Fanxi nodded slowly; some truths need not be spoken aloud. Standing side by side on the grand steps of the Zichen Hall, bathed in the first golden rays of dawn that trimmed their official robes with light, Bai Fanxi said,
"General Yan, your youth and talents are remarkable, but sometimes, wisdom surpasses effort."
"I do not understand," Yan replied solemnly. He needed no reminder on how to conduct himself; loyalty to the emperor and protection of a trusted few were his sole commitments.
Bai Fanxi fixed his gaze on Yan's eyes, the look laden with meaning, before pressing his lips tight, flicking his sleeve, and descending the steps with composed resolve. After examining the guard's documents, Bai Fanxi had resolved to show leniency—but only to a point. Watching the tides of court intrigue, Yan Congzheng's days were destined to grow arduous.
Meanwhile, in Jinzhou, every carriage bore a distinct hub emblem. Qing Feng traced one back to a rental service rather than a sale. Cross-referencing the lease forms revealed a man who had rented a carriage under an alias and had yet to return it.
"Where was the handover?" Qing Feng demanded, a blade pressed at the proprietor's throat.
"Five li outside the city, beneath Kingfisher Mountain," the owner confessed honestly.
Qing Feng sheathed his blade, pressing a pouch of silver into the man's hand as reassurance.
"Fear not," he urged, "and keep this confidential."
Still shaken, the man clutched the coin, warning,
"Those people look dangerous."
"More fearsome than me?" Qing Feng smiled arrogantly.
"Hard to say," the owner muttered, stepping back cautiously, "but there's something sinister about them."
"I will recover the carriage for you," Qing Feng assured.
"I want nothing more to do with it!" The owner retreated behind his door, resolute.
The handover near Kingfisher Mountain was likely the closest to the hidden stockpile of Arm-stretch Crossbows. Before the search, Li Ce deliberately brought along Imperial Censor Lin Qing and former Treasury Official Hu Jia—one the emperor's agent, the other aligned with the crown prince. Since they accompanied him, they must play their roles fully, not appear only in safe moments. Through fire and blade, they would face danger together.
Lin Qing still harbored resentment for Li Ce abandoning him on the boat. Qing Feng comforted him,
"Master Lin, rest assured, this time we won't leave you behind."
Hu Jia rambled on incessantly.
"Have you found the carriage? The prince moves swiftly! Reminds me of when His Highness the Crown Prince led the Northwest Army to crush Tubo, declaring they wouldn't see nightfall."
Yanyun, driving, nearly stuffed his fingers in his ears.
"You were Treasury Official then, not with the Northwest Army," he teased, rubbing his ears.
"Just hearsay," Hu Jia mumbled.
As Li Ce's carriage exited the city gate, a horse thundered after them. Ye Changgeng cracked his whip, grinning at Li Ce who peeked from beneath the curtain.
"Going hunting without me?"
Li Ce had purposely left Ye Changgeng behind, wary of danger.
"I hoped you'd stay in Jinzhou. If anything happens to me, the city still has you," he said solemnly.
Hearing this, Lin Qing gripped Qing Feng's arm anxiously.
"Will something happen? What kind of danger? I heard wolves have mysteriously increased outside Jinzhou—are we at risk?"
Qing Feng recalled his courtroom jibe at Li Ce, smirking,
"Wolves or not, I suspect the prince may be secretly aiding fugitives."
Lin Qing was struck dumb, face flushing scarlet, then asked Ye Changgeng,
"Mr. Ye, it's just about retrieving crossbows—how could it be serious?"
Just beyond the city gate, retreat was still possible. Ye Changgeng shook his head firmly, eyes resolute:
"As long as I stand, nothing shall befall you."
His presence meant sacrifice if needed.
Li Ce's hand stiffened as he drew back the curtain, eyes moist. They were siblings of unyielding character. He forced a smile,
"It's not that dire."
Losing or hiding a few military crossbows did not constitute a grave crime.
"Is it not?" Ye Changgeng suddenly turned sharply. Along the official road, a burly horseman bowed his head; a man carrying a pole reached into his sleeve. Soldiers on the city wall withdrew behind battlements. Vigilance was crucial.
"The Ministry of Works and Watercraft have no capable fighters," Ye Changgeng said, "I've sent a message to Governor Zhou Ci—he will bring troops and respond by signal."
"Good," Li Ce acknowledged.
As Ye Changgeng turned back, Li Ce stiffened, upright in the carriage, drawing Ye Jiao's dagger. Seeing Lin Qing's alarmed expression, he handed a blade to Qing Feng.
"I don't want it!" Lin Qing protested, but a hefty foreign sword suddenly dropped into his arms.
The carriage jolted onto a rugged forest path, bumping for half an hour to the handover point described by the carriage owner. The silence was unnerving—no people, no birds, no wind—only cautious insects stirring in the spring grass.
Li Ce stepped out and exchanged a glance with Ye Changgeng.
A subtle sound echoed—"creak—snap!"—the loading of Tang bows and crossbows.
"Into the carriage!" Li Ce commanded, thrusting Qing Feng inside before ducking in himself.
At that moment, countless arrows pierced the air, striking the carriage with thunderous clangs.
"Fortunately, the prince foresaw this," Qing Feng joked, knocking aside a sword-arrow that slipped through the window, "and reinforced the carriage with steel plates."
Lin Qing lay pressed beneath the carriage floor, clutching his broadsword, motionless.
"Out!" Li Ce ordered.
"I refuse!" Lin Qing cried, but before he finished, a fire arrow struck his head. Screaming, he patted the flames in panic, first to flee the carriage—only to face gleaming steel.
Qing Feng grabbed him back, kicking an assailant's sword hilt.
"Your opponent," he bellowed, "is me!"
About a dozen masked, agile black-clad attackers surged forward.
Li Ce's side had Ye Changgeng, Qing Feng, and Yanyun. Though Lin Qing was a liability, Hu Jia's military experience was invaluable. Small but nimble, Hu Jia struck legs instead of torso, all while hurling insults:
"Your mother must have been eighty when she bore you! Think you've got strength to fight? You can't hit me, can't hit me..."
Their enemies faltered from the verbal barrage, but Li Ce's group was hardly unscathed.
"Silence!" Yanyun roared, and Hu Jia finally ceased his tirade, wounded by a narrow three-inch sword thrust through his abdomen, pinning him to the ground. Crimson blood spread, mingling with earth in a grim mosaic.
Yanyun severed an attacker's arm, scanning desperately for Li Ce amid the blood haze.
Signal fires exploded in the sky, calling for reinforcements.
Under the smoky veil, Li Ce pursued the retreating assassins with Ye Changgeng close behind.
Armed only with a dagger, Li Ce seized a sleeve crossbow from Ye Changgeng, enabling him to strike from afar and defend himself.
Their coordination was flawless; Ye Changgeng led, driving off wounded or disarmed foes.
They distanced themselves from Yanyun's group as no aid arrived.
"Cease pursuit," Li Ce warned atop a hill, "this may be a trap."
Yet the enemies refused to relent.
Blinding light descended from above as a blade slashed toward Li Ce's shoulder—he narrowly evaded, plunging his dagger into his assailant's chest.
Suddenly, a fierce wind rose through the forest.
Li Ce stood bloodied on the hill, the fallen before him rigid and rolling down the slope.
His robe billowed wildly, revealing a blood-stained white undergarment.
Amid the raging tempest, Li Ce stood drenched in blood, resolute and unyielding.