Li Ce had always been fastidious about cleanliness, changing both his outer and inner garments daily without fail. Disliking the attentions of servants, he folded and packed his clothes himself. Though he had been away from the capital for quite some time and had opened and closed his portable wooden trunk numerous times, he never noticed anything amiss.
Only after receiving a cryptic letter from Ye Jiao did he sense something was unusual—it hinted at a singular possibility: the trunk contained something of utmost importance.
Li Ce removed his garments one by one, revealing a white lining at the bottom of the chest. Though it appeared to be mere cloth, it was padded with a thin layer of cotton, keeping it warm to the touch even in winter.
As his slender fingers brushed across the lining, they met a slight bulge—a hard object hidden beneath. His heart skipped a beat, already surmising what it might be.
A yellow cloth pouch lay concealed beneath, having journeyed with him all the way from the capital to Jinzhou, unnoticed until now. Embroidered upon it was the solemn symbol of "黻," the very one Ye Jiao had shown him before his departure.
He lifted the pouch, weighing heavily in his palm. He didn't need to open it to know—it held an imperial token, etched with the words, "By Imperial Decree". A talisman of life and death in times of peril.
And Ye Jiao had entrusted it to him.
In that instant, Li Ce was overwhelmed by a maelstrom of emotion. His eyes glistened, yet his heart was weighed with worry.
Without this token, if calamity befell the capital, what would become of Jiao Jiao?
No, he must have Qingfeng return it at once.
But as he clenched the token and turned to act, the courtyard erupted with clamorous voices.
Zheng Feng'an, Military Governor of Hedong, entered with Zhou Ci, the Prefect of Jinzhou, in tow. Behind them followed Ye Changgen.
Judging by the grave expressions on their faces, it was clear they bore no good news.
"They've rebelled," Zhou Ci cried, pale as death and forgetting even to salute. "They've truly rebelled!"
Ye Changgen cast him a sidelong glance, his expression darkened with disappointment.
Li Ce quietly stowed the token and said evenly, "A bit of theatrical bloodshed—nothing more. The Prefect will have to tolerate it."
Though his tone lacked mockery, it offered little comfort.
Overnight, every prisoner in the Jinzhou prison had perished. Among them were villagers involved in a brawl, as well as unrelated inmates.
Though Zhou Ci presided over the investigation and detained every jailer who had handled their meals, the case remained unsolved.
Li Ce had already led officials in an attempt to pacify the bereaved families, but grief had driven them to fury.
The black dog's blood splashed outside Li Ce's residence was their expression of despair.
He had not ordered his guards to drive them off—for he understood. Compared to the pain of losing a loved one, this kind of protest was inconsequential.
"That wasn't dog's blood," said Zheng Feng'an as he entered the room, brows furrowed. "One of the dead was the only son of a commanding officer from the Prefecture of Puzhou. Upon hearing the news, the officer brought troops from Puzhou. They clashed with the garrison at the city's outskirts. Though no one died, over a dozen were injured."
This was indeed tantamount to mutiny.
Ye Changgen added, "I was just returning from the dam when I saw the skirmish myself. The Puzhou soldiers were blinded by vengeance—most of the wounded were our own troops. I managed to stop them at the gates, but they're cursing loudly, threatening to blockade the Yellow River and cut off all return paths for the capital's envoys. They want this matter to reach the palace."
Puzhou lay west of Jinzhou, between the province and the capital—indeed a strategic point for such a blockade.
"The court is already aware," Zhou Ci said dejectedly. "Censor Lin has surely filed a memorial. I submitted one as well."
Censor Lin was known for reporting only misfortunes, and Zhou Ci seemed resigned to despair.
Li Ce nodded. "The court has informed me—the number of crossbows discovered here matches precisely the number reported missing by the Northwestern Army. His Majesty has since found the Crown Prince culpable and placed him under house arrest in the palace.
"Jinzhou must not fall into chaos. First, we must uncover the true culprit behind the prison poisoning. Second, we must stabilize the border and all provincial administrations."
Even in such dire circumstances, Li Ce remained composed, as though neither the spilled blood nor the brewing rebellion could shake his calm.
In times of panic, what the world needs most is the judgment of a steady hand.
Zheng Feng'an nodded. Zhou Ci shrank back, looking utterly defeated. "I will do all in my power."
"As for the troops from Puzhou," Li Ce continued, "keep a close watch. Do not let them harm the common folk. And I must trouble you both to urge the Prefect of Puzhou to discipline his subordinates."
Clearly, someone sought to throw Jinzhou into disarray.
Li Ce had not responded with military force. In times of urgency, one must act with flexibility; when matters allow, act with grace. He had patience enough to wait for the instigators to show their hand.
He touched the weighty fold of his sleeve, watching Zheng Feng'an and the others leave, mind heavy with thought.
With Puzhou's forces blocking the roads, Jinzhou's situation was grim. The token could no longer be sent back.
Ye Changgen stood beside Li Ce, arms crossed, gazing at the fortified courtyard.
Though it was daytime, the clouds hung oppressively low.
A storm was brewing.
The air was thick with the raw, metallic scent of disturbed earth.
The sky darkened, like the gates of the underworld opening, heralding the rise of demons and phantoms.
Ye Changgen sneered. "The water diversion project is complete. Zhou Ci is useless. I'll find out who poisoned the prisoners, no matter what."
Li Ce raised a hand and patted his shoulder. "Then I'll count on you, Brother Ye."
"Don't be so formal," Ye Changgen said gruffly. "We're family. And I cannot bear to see our own wronged."
He turned to leave, his broad, resolute figure seeming to shatter the malignant aura around them.
Family…
The word settled in Li Ce's heart like a winter cloak in the dead of night—bringing a grounded, comforting warmth.
"Brother Ye!"
Li Ce suddenly called out, his voice uncharacteristically loud across the distance.
It was rare for him to do so—it lacked his usual composure.
Ye Changgen turned halfway, "What is it?"
"Be careful."
"Don't worry," he said, waving a hand and disappearing through the gate.
Yet for some reason, Li Ce's heart remained taut, like a bowstring drawn tight—unable to find release.
The rain fell not only in Jinzhou but also in the capital.
The spring drizzle came with a lingering chill, fine as silk, veiling the world like a gauzy curtain of winter's return.
A carriage halted at the gate of the Eastern Palace. The Sixth Prince's attendant had already opened an umbrella.
Li Can lowered his head, using the attendant's arm for support as he descended.
His pace was unhurried, eyes distant and unfocused. Entering the Eastern Palace, he made his way directly to the Crown Prince's study, cast off his cloak, and asked, "Is there food? I'm starving."
A man seated by the low screen in the corner pulled the cloak from his head with evident displeasure.
"Did Your Highness not see me, or was it deliberate?"
It was none other than Fu Mingzhu, son of the Grand Chancellor.
Just as he emerged from beneath the cloak, Li Can kicked off his boots—nearly hitting him.
Under Fu Mingzhu's exasperated gaze, Li Can slouched into a seat, fished a teacup from his sleeve, and said while pouring himself tea, "Deliberate."
His frankness left Fu Mingzhu speechless.
Sensing the tension, the Crown Prince, Li Zhang, who had been retrieving books from the shelf, interjected.
He first instructed the steward, "Prepare lunch for His Highness the Sixth Prince and bring it here."
Once the steward withdrew, leaving only the three of them, Li Zhang asked, "Is it done?"
The day before, Li Can had caught Ye Jiao changing clothes and reported it to Li Zhang.
They all sensed something unusual. After observing the Prince of Wei's manor, they saw Li Chen dispatch his trusted adviser to Jinzhou, with Ye Jiao's people in tow.
Curious, Li Can had followed like a hidden sparrow, not returning for a whole night. Li Zhang was certain something had happened.
Li Can, propping his chin on his wrist and gazing at Fu Mingzhu, replied to Li Zhang, "Fourth Brother tried to drown Ye Jiao's men. I happened to pull one out. The young man was tight-lipped, but I did get to read Ye Jiao's letter."
"What letter?" asked Fu Mingzhu immediately. Li Zhang also turned, face darkening.