Chapter 101

If Nan Gongxuan still couldn't grasp the full situation at this point, he might as well have relinquished his position as Crown Prince years ago. Yet, the truth was hard to accept, the one who had pushed him into the fire was the father he revered and trusted.
For years, the emperor and empress had maintained a respectful relationship. Since he was seven, Nan Gongxuan had been named Crown Prince, and until now, he had never realized that the father he admired had never truly trusted him.
Nan Gongxuan had sensed a shift in his father's attitude recently. Later, Jiang Yi discreetly warned him about Chancellor Jian and the Prince of Jiangxia, and only then did he understand the underlying reasons.
In a single day, the emperor's suspicions had grown; in a single night, Nan Gongxuan's heart had turned cold.
He was also shocked that the Jian family harbored such treacherous intentions. However, since the emperor had been careful not to alert them, Nan Gongxuan did not disrupt the plan. All investigations and arrangements were conducted in secret, though it seemed the emperor had far more information than he did.
At the very least, he hadn't known that Chancellor Jian would strike on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, nor had he known that the Prince of Jiangxia's forces were concentrated at the southern gate of the palace.
So when his father ordered him into the trap set by Chancellor Jian and the others, he had little reason to be wary, especially since the emperor's words were flawlessly convincing, leaving no room for doubt.
His father was testing him, checking whether he was conspiring with Chancellor Jian and the Prince of Jiangxia to force abdication. Recalling Jiang Yi's subtle reminder days earlier about the ruthlessness of emperors, which he had dismissed, he now found himself exploited by traitors like Chancellor Jian.
Chancellor Jian and his allies were now desperate fugitives on the brink of disaster. With pursuers closing in, if captured, their entire families would face certain doom. At this point, they cared nothing for Nan Gongxuan's life or death.
The delicate skin of the Crown Prince, nurtured by a life of luxury, was lightly grazed by the blade, and a trail of blood slowly trickled down his cheek.
Yan Yiming’s heart tightened, fearing that in his desperation, Chancellor Jian might recklessly take Nan Gongxuan’s life. Without further delay, she spoke coldly, “If you do not retreat now, you will have no choice but to present His Highness’s head to the Emperor.”
With that, she swiftly dismounted, snatched the blade from Chancellor Jian’s hand, and pulled Nan Gongxuan onto the horse with her. Pressing the blade firmly against his neck from behind, she urged the horse forward, demanding, “Will you yield or not?”
Chancellor Jian was momentarily stunned, perhaps never expecting a woman like the Princess Ming to possess such formidable skills. But now, they were all in the same boat, and there was no time to dwell on it. He ordered his men to follow closely behind Yan Yiming as they pressed onward. Jian Yuyan, who was protecting his mother, caught sight of Yan Yiming through the carriage window and suddenly felt as though he had never truly known her.
The moment Nan Gongxuan was thrown onto the horse, he was momentarily dazed. It took him a moment to process the shock of how a woman could possess such strength, effortlessly lifting a grown man like him. The humiliation only deepened. Having learned some basic self-defense, he attempted to dismount while Yan Yiming was off guard, but she saw through his intentions instantly. Her slender, pale arm wrapped around his neck, cutting off his breath and rendering him immobile.
The captain cried out in alarm, “Your Highness!” A soldier behind them, seeing her as a mere woman and so close, attempted to sneak an attack by stabbing the horse’s leg. But a sudden, agonized scream followed, and blood splattered everywhere.
The crowd stared in terror at the radiant woman. No one had seen how she detected the soldier’s movement or how she swiftly threw the blade, striking him precisely in the neck, killing him instantly.
Yan Yiming then slowly lowered her gaze to the Crown Prince, who had been struggling fiercely moments before but now stared wide-eyed, like a chaste woman who had been violated. With a swift chop to the back of his neck, she knocked him unconscious to spare herself the irritation of his words.
Her voice, once sweet and pleasant, now carried the chilling tone of a demon. “Will you step aside or not?”
After a moment of silence, the soldiers blocking the path parted like a receding tide, and the city gates slowly creaked open. Yan Yiming cracked her whip, urging the horse forward, with Chancellor Jian, Wei Xiongjie, and the others close behind, leaving only a cloud of dust in their wake.
Jiang Yi rushed to the scene as soon as he heard the news, but he was a step too late.
The young and elegant Minister, his deep-set eyes filled with a frantic anxiety no one had ever seen before, had anticipated Yan Yiming’s escape from the capital after that night. He had stationed men to block every possible route she might take. If she remained unaware, she would be trapped; if she discovered the blockade, she would have no choice but to retreat and flee alongside Chancellor Jian and his party.
Though uncertain how Chancellor Jian and the others managed to escape, he knew they would have to pass through the city gates. He had stationed troops at each gate in advance, even if they couldn’t stop the escape, they could delay it long enough for reinforcements to arrive. No matter what, Yan Yiming would not get away.
But he had never imagined that the Crown Prince would fall into Chancellor Jian’s hands, nor that the Emperor would be so ruthless as to push his own son into such peril.
When news of the Crown Prince's disappearance arrived, Jiang Yi had already sensed something amiss. He rushed over as quickly as possible, but it was still a step too late.
Chancellor Jian and the others had fled, and Yan Yiming was gone as well.
As the captain beside him remarked in disbelief at how Princess Ming could kill without batting an eye, her single strike having stunned everyone present, Jiang Yi's gaze fell upon the soldier who lay dead on the ground.
The dagger had been plunged deep and true, a testament to the strength and precision of the one who wielded it. He had once joked that Yan Yiming was both cultured and martial, now it seemed she was far more than just “capable” in both.
Today, his negligence had led to this predicament, but it was not beyond redemption.
The Crown Prince had to live, didn't he? As long as the Crown Prince was in danger, Yan Yiming could not achieve her goals. This undoubtedly bought him a fair amount of time. Moreover, Yan Yiming had no choice but to remain by the Crown Prince's side at all times to ensure his safety.
And the Crown Prince had to be found. Wherever the Crown Prince was, she would be there. With such a conspicuous target as the Crown Prince, he would surely track her down.
Jiang Yi stood silently, staring into the pitch-black darkness beyond the city gates. After a long while, he turned and left.
Back in the palace, the rebels' corpses were slowly being cleared away. There had been almost no casualties, but the Great Xia's future heir, the Crown Prince, was missing.
Upon hearing the news, the Empress fainted on the spot, while the Empress Dowager's tears would not cease. The Emperor and the other princes listened as the city guard captain recounted everything that had just transpired. On one hand, they were horrified by Princess Ming's ruthless methods; on the other, their minds raced with their own thoughts.
Only now did the Emperor believe that the Crown Prince had not conspired with Chancellor Jian and the others. Hearing how close the Crown Prince had come to death, he was filled with regret and anguish. He ordered the army to pursue them beyond the city, repeatedly emphasizing that the Crown Prince's life was paramount and must not be harmed. He also dispatched urgent orders to the southern commanderies to block Chancellor Jian and his followers.
Meanwhile, Yan Yiming and the others fled through the night, stopping only when their mounts could run no further.
Madam Jian and Jian Yu'er were still in a daze, and Chancellor Jian had no intention of explaining anything to them. After instructing his men to take care of everyone, he rose to discuss their next steps with Wei Xiongjie, Yan Yiming, and the others.
If Chancellor Jian had once looked down on Yan Yiming, he now regarded her with caution. He recalled Wei Xiongjie mentioning that the Prince of Jiangxia doted on Princess Ming, raising her as if she were a son, skilled in both archery and martial arts. He had dismissed it as mere showmanship, but now he realized it was the kind of skill that killed without leaving a trace.
The soldiers around them, exhausted from the day's flight, slumped wearily. Though the leaders were equally drained, they forced themselves to strategize.
Their faces were grim, unable to pinpoint where their plans had gone awry or who had exposed their every move. Yan Yiming and Jian Yuyan performed with the skill of seasoned actors, and given their statuses, no one suspected them.
Chancellor Jian leaned weakly against a tree. Years of meticulous planning had crumbled in an instant. Now, escape seemed impossible. Even if they survived and sought refuge with the Prince of Jiangxia, they would have to live under his thumb. Yet, that was already the best outcome they could hope for.
At this thought, Jian Xiang inexplicably swelled with rage and malice, toward the emperor, toward those who had secretly destroyed his foundation, until all of it was redirected toward Nan Gongxuan, who had just woken up and was tied up nearby.
Jian Xiang’s wrinkled eyes were filled with venom and ruthlessness. Fortunately, the Crown Prince was a bargaining chip for survival. Threatening the prince’s life made it relatively easy to secure a way out. Even if death was inevitable in the end, having the Crown Prince accompany him to the grave would not be a loss.
Yan Yiming observed Jian Xiang’s ferocious expression and, after a moment, calmly averted her gaze, only to meet Jian Yuyan’s heavy, contemplative eyes.
Nan Gongxuan falling into Jian Xiang’s hands was something she had never anticipated. The murderous intent in Jian Xiang’s eyes was too obvious, making Yan Yiming genuinely uneasy. No matter how vigilant she was, she couldn’t guarantee that Jian Xiang wouldn’t seize an opportunity to harm Nan Gongxuan.
However, for now, Jian Xiang had no choice but to follow her orders. Wei Xiongjie remained calm and unruffled throughout, which puzzled Yan Yiming. It wasn’t until more than ten days later, when the group arrived in Changzhou and the prefect personally welcomed them into his residence, that Yan Yiming understood.
Prince of Jiangxia’s influence was far greater than she had imagined.
After retreating to Changzhou, the group finally had a chance to catch their breath. With tens of thousands of troops stationed in Changzhou, they could defend the city and protect themselves. Coupled with the threat to the Crown Prince’s life, all they needed to do was wait for the Prince of Jiangxia’s reinforcements to arrive.
Yan Yiming didn’t know the details of Prince of Jiangxia’s rebellion in the original plot. Her only concern was Nan Gongxuan’s life. For now, she could move freely, but once Prince of Jiangxia arrived, she might not even be able to see Nan Gongxuan again.
Nan Gongxuan was currently under house arrest in the Changzhou government office. In the early hours of the morning, Yan Yiming used the pretext of visiting the Crown Prince to enter the office. The guards on duty were drowsy and sluggish. Yan Yiming launched a surprise attack, and before they could react, they were knocked unconscious.
Yan Yiming swiftly entered the room. Hearing the commotion, Nan Gongxuan had no time to speak before Yan Yiming quickly covered his mouth, signaling with her eyes for him to remain silent. Carefully, she led him out and began their overnight escape along the pre-planned route.