Chapter 113

Chapter 113: The Messenger Delivers the Letter The next morning, the Third Prince awoke from his drunken stupor, his head spinning and throbbing. Rubbing his forehead, he sat up and called in a hoarse voice, “Someone come here! This prince wants water. This prince wants to bathe and change clothes.” The maid serving outside heard the Third Prince’s call and brought in water for him to wash up. After helping him finish washing, the Third Prince ordered, “Go call Feng Yu. This prince has something to instruct him to do.” “Yes, master,” the maid replied before going to summon Feng Yu. Feng Yu had been busy until the middle of the night and had slept for no more than one or two hours before the Third Prince summoned him again in a hurry. Forcing himself to stay awake, Feng Yu splashed his face with cold water, put on his outer robe, and hurried over to the Third Prince. “Your subordinate pays his respects to master.” Feng Yu bowed to Mu Yuyang. “Rise. Feng Yu, there is something I need you to do.” Mu Yuyang looked at Feng Yu intently. At that moment, he still had no idea that Feng Yu was already a spy planted among his people. “I wonder what Your Highness commands. Your subordinate will certainly accomplish it.” Feng Yu appeared utterly devoted as he spoke. “Go dispatch a squad of secret guards to assassinate General Luo as well. I refuse to believe that the old General Luo can withstand two assassination attempts at his age. Have the secret guards put on the uniforms of the Crown Prince’s guards and disguise themselves as people from the Crown Prince’s Residence. Do you understand?” “Yes, I understand.” Feng Yu struggled inwardly for a moment, but ultimately agreed. As Feng Yu walked out, he began planning to send a somewhat weaker squad of secret guards this time. At the same time, he still had to inform the Crown Prince. Once he had made up his mind, Feng Yu went to carry out his plan. Feng Yu quietly passed the news to the Crown Prince. At the same time, the movements within the Third Prince’s Residence did not escape the eyes of the black-clad agent. The black-clad agent murmured, “What an impatient fool. Still, this is just as well. The more chaotic things are within Dayi, the more advantageous it will be for the Ye Kingdom.” Upon receiving the news Feng Yu had sent, the Crown Prince said hatefully, “That Third Brother truly intends to destroy Dayi’s national destiny.” The guard commander accompanying him said, “Crown Prince, should we eliminate this group of secret guards? That way, they won’t be able to attack General Luo. After all, General Luo is currently in Jiangnan training troops for Dayi.” “Go make the arrangements. Be sure to leave no trace. Don’t let Third Brother discover who did it,” the Crown Prince ordered. “Yes, master.” After receiving the Crown Prince’s command, the guard commander went to make the arrangements. Meanwhile, Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng had already led their army to Dasan Pass. A few more days of travel would take them to the Qilian Mountains, and beyond the Qilian Mountains lay Dayi’s northwestern border frontier. Both Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng were concerned about the people suffering along the border frontier, so they traveled especially quickly. The messenger sent by the Crown Prince rode at a full gallop for three days and three nights. At last, he caught up with Mu Yuheng and Ling Jiayue at Dasan Pass. The messenger had galloped the entire way while searching for the Seventh Prince, Mu Yuheng. The soldiers in the army found his arrival rather strange. One kindhearted commander asked the messenger, “Where have you come from, and to whom are you delivering a letter? Tell me, and if we know, we’ll point you in the right direction. That will save you from searching aimlessly.” The messenger had received the Crown Prince’s instructions and knew that the letter could be delivered only to the Seventh Prince, Mu Yuheng. No one else was permitted to receive it. Thus, the messenger replied, “I am a messenger sent by the Crown Prince. His Highness has entrusted me with a personal letter that I must deliver into the Seventh Prince’s hands. I was afraid of delaying matters, so I rode for three days and three nights before finally catching up with the army.” The kindhearted commander nodded. “I see. Since you’re looking for the Seventh Prince, I’ll accompany you there. The Seventh Prince and General Ling are at the very front, so it will take us a while to reach them.” “In that case, thank you, big brother,” the messenger said gratefully. The kindhearted commander then led the messenger through the army until they reached the Seventh Prince, Mu Yuheng. Upon seeing Mu Yuheng, the messenger immediately knelt and said, “Your subordinate pays his respects to the Seventh Prince.” Mu Yuheng saw a commander suddenly leading over a stranger he did not recognize, who then proceeded to bow to him. He could not help examining the man as he asked, “Who are you, and what have you come here to do?” The messenger raised his head and replied, “Your subordinate is a messenger from the Crown Prince’s Residence. I have come here under the Crown Prince’s orders to deliver a letter written personally by His Highness to the Seventh Prince.” “Oh? Why would Eldest Brother suddenly write me a letter? Give it to me first.” Although Mu Yuheng was curious about why the Crown Prince had suddenly written to him, he still reached out to take the letter. He read through it rapidly, then let out a cold laugh. Unable to contain her curiosity, Ling Jiayue asked, “What does the letter say? Why are you making that expression?” Hearing her question, Mu Yuheng handed the letter to Ling Jiayue. “You should read it too.” When the messenger saw Mu Yuheng handing the letter to Ling Jiayue, he could not help speaking up. “Seventh Prince, the Crown Prince said that the letter could be read only by you. You…” Ling Jiayue had already reached out to accept the letter, but upon hearing this, she withdrew her hand. “It’s fine. General Ling is a loyal subject devoted to his country. There’s no harm in letting her read it.” Mu Yuheng smiled as he spoke, then handed the letter to Ling Jiayue again. Only then did Ling Jiayue take it and read it carefully. Before long, Ling Jiayue finished reading the letter as well. Mu Yuheng smiled and asked her, “What do you think? What are your thoughts after reading it?” Ling Jiayue gave a cold laugh as well. “I never expected that while we were rushing into battle to preserve Dayi’s peace, fearing neither hardship nor death, there would be such a pest in Dayi’s imperial court. He’s truly detestable.” “Yue’er, what do you think we should do now?” Mu Yuheng asked. “This person is foolish enough to form an alliance with the Ye Kingdom—he’s practically making a pact with a tiger. If we die on the battlefield this time, it will be greatly to their advantage. Moreover, Your Highness’s forces in the imperial court are probably already in a precarious position,” Ling Jiayue said calmly. “Yue’er, as you said, the troubles along Dayi’s northwestern border frontier are probably not simple either. If the Ye Kingdom can form an alliance from within our own country, why wouldn’t it ally with the Sheyu Kingdom as well? If the two kingdoms join forces to scheme against Dayi, then Dayi truly will fall into disintegration.” Mu Yuheng had been immersed in the affairs of the imperial court and the battlefield since childhood. He had immediately seen the crux of the problem. “Then let’s first send a spy to investigate the beginning and end of this matter. We should also be more careful on the battlefield,” Ling Jiayue said. “Mm. I’ll send Feng Yan to investigate. Feng Yan has been with me for many years. I trust him,” Mu Yuheng replied. After everything had been arranged, Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng set off once more. However, their moods were more complicated than before. If the truth behind this war was as complicated as it appeared, they would have to face it with their utmost vigilance.