Chapter 104: Inheriting the Father's Title

Inside Guanlin City, news of the War King’s return spread through every street and alley. The common folk were abuzz, recounting how, upon reaching the city gates, the War King had commanded, "The War King returns to the city; open the gates at once!"

His tone had carried the air of a man returning to his own home at the Prince Yuan Estate. As he took up residence there, the older generation began to recall the truth: Guanlin City was the hereditary fiefdom of the late Prince Yuan. Why else would such an estate exist here? Hereditary fiefs are passed from father to son. As the sole heir to the late Prince Yuan’s title, Feng Jinye naturally inherited the land, the title, and the armies. In other words, Guanlin City belonged to him, making his declaration entirely justified.

Though the Prince Yuan Estate had seemed quiet, for over a decade it had held the city’s lifeblood. Feng Jinye’s authority to conscript soldiers and collect taxes meant that the life of every person in Guanlin rested in his hands. As the people realized this, and following Lu Liyuan’s swift and ruthless suppression of those spreading slander, the rumors regarding the Princess Consort and the Lu family began to dissipate.

Several cities away, following a bumpy journey, Weishao Qianyu had been put through the wringer. Huangfu Chen had changed, becoming someone she found utterly unrecognizable. After days of traveling, they finally reached a post station. Weishao Qianyu was relieved at the prospect of a hot meal after surviving on dry rations for days. The station master greeted them warmly, bustling about to serve her as soon as she sat down.

Once she had finished a cup of tea, the station master asked with a beaming smile, "What dishes would the lady like?"

"Something quick, I'm starving!" she replied.

"Very well, I shall arrange it for you both immediately!"

Before long, several exquisite dishes were brought out. Weishao Qianyu was pleasantly surprised to see her favorite, cabbage lucky bags. She immediately popped one into her mouth. Soon, however, she noticed the plate was nearly empty and looked over in surprise to see Huangfu Chen eating them himself. She quickly averted her gaze, lowered her head to her rice, and lost all appetite for the meal. Perhaps out of a sudden twinge of conscience, Huangfu Chen decided they would rest at the station for the night rather than push on.

As night fell and the stars twinkled, Weishao Qianyu leaned by the window, recalling the palace banquet earlier that year when she had served Feng Jinye a cabbage lucky bag. He had found it difficult to swallow, yet forced it down for her sake. She also remembered Huangfu Chen’s reaction to cilantro juice at the Mu'ai Pavilion. As they neared Guanlin City, the rumors of the Lu family’s treason weighed heavily on her mind, and she worried for those waiting in the distance. Two days later, she and Huangfu Chen finally arrived at the military camp outside the city.

***

Huangfu Chen was appointed as a general, taking command of the ten thousand troops stationed outside Guanlin. The imperial decree ordering the arrest of the Lu family and the War King was also delivered to the Prince Yuan Estate. Feng Jinye spent several days handling the city’s affairs. Duke Lu and Lu Liyuan had managed the city so meticulously that he found nothing amiss. He grasped the situation with ease, though he still furrowed his brow: no wonder his Princess Consort favored a carefree prince—he, too, favored the wife of a carefree prince.

The next day, a public notice from the War King rocked Guanlin City. It was concise:

"Princess Consort Weishao Qianyu has no connection to the Mu'ai Pavilion. Anyone who tarnishes the Princess’s reputation shall be treated as a slanderer, and for defaming a royal title, the penalty is death. Qu Jun, who slandered the Princess, has been executed by the War King’s shadow guards; this has no relation to the Duke Lu Estate. The Qu family colluded with the Mu'ai Pavilion to abduct the Lu family’s daughter, coercing the Princess Consort into agreeing to a marriage between the Qu and Weishao families; such intent warrants execution. Rumors of a 'Heavenly Maiden born to the Weishao line every hundred years' were spread by the Qu family, whose ambition to wed her was clear. The Princess Consort saw through their scheme, and Qu Jun spread rumors to silence the Lu family; all previous gossip regarding the Princess and the Lu family was fabricated by Qu Jun. Crown Prince Yunming is not dead, but was poisoned by the Mu'ai Pavilion and now hangs between life and death. The Emperor’s previous decrees were issued under duress by the Pavilion; henceforth, the Prince Yuan Estate will only obey decrees that are clearly and legitimately issued."

The citizens were stunned. Reading between the lines, the message was clear: the War King was declaring open rebellion. The people connected this to the previous imperial edicts read by Qu Jun and realized they were likely baseless fabrications used to justify the kidnapping of the Princess Consort and the Lu daughter. They speculated that the War King had remained silent only because his wife was being held hostage. Now that she had been rescued, his fury was unleashed.

Weishao Qianyu, hearing the news from outside the city, nearly choked on her tea. Since when did Feng Jinye lack such restraint? The style was so like something she would do. She doubted whether he had truly written it himself. She was also amazed to learn that Guanlin was his hereditary fief; he was essentially a "local emperor" who could do as he pleased, provided he didn't don the imperial robes.

***

Weishao Qianyu couldn't help but smile, thinking, "The War King is living off his inheritance." Yet, beneath her amusement lay endless worry. By stating that he would only follow legitimate imperial orders, Feng Jinye had burned his bridges. Was he doing all this just to protect the Lu family?

As she clutched the copied notice, she read the softness of his heart between the aggressive lines. Feng Jinye had left a way out for everyone else, yet none for himself. The Lu family had done nothing wrong; their actions in Guanlin were under his orders. The Emperor was merely a victim of the Mu'ai Pavilion. If Feng Jinye won, history would be written by the victor. If he lost, he could justify sparing Huangfu Chen, claiming the Emperor had been coerced. But what of Feng Jinye himself? Her heart ached at the thought.

Why had Huangfu Chen brought her here? Was he truly going to make her kill Feng Jinye? She remembered the cabbage lucky bags at the post station; it was highly likely he intended to use her as a hostage to threaten Feng Jinye. How could she break this deadlock? She was alone and unfamiliar with the terrain.

Under the cover of night, she left her tent to scout the surroundings. In the distance, she saw the faint glow of fires, which she knew to be Guanlin City. She heard Huangfu Chen organizing his troops—a battle was coming. Yet, she noticed he hadn't prepared any siege equipment, not even scaling ladders. Was this how one attacked a city? It seemed he intended to win through cunning. And what "cunning" could there be, other than a beauty trap?

She returned to her tent, bracing herself. If Huangfu Chen truly intended to use her as a pawn, he would surely strip her of any weapons by tomorrow. As she racked her brain for a plan, the tent flap opened, and Huangfu Chen entered.

"We go to negotiate tomorrow," he said lightly, as if she and Feng Jinye would be meeting under pleasant circumstances.

Weishao Qianyu refused to waste words with him. "Get out!"