Green Mountain

Prince Fu was furious that his mother was being plotted against, so he defied the house arrest order and came to cause trouble.

Chen Ji felt a stir in his heart. Poisoned before death, leaving two lines of bloody tears? He had seen such a death before on others.

While pondering, Prince Fu turned to the Crown Prince again: "Crown Prince, you often stand in for Father Emperor during spring hunts and autumn expeditions, but you too must practice archery and equestrian skills regularly to set an example. Be sure not to return empty-handed over several days and make heroes from around the world mock our Zhu family for forgetting how these vast lands were seized."

Prince Fu's words were filled with sharpness.

The Crown Prince remained calm and composed: "Thank you for the reminder, Royal Brother, please."

As Prince Fu walked past Chen Ji, he stopped again: "You rascal, you caused Father Emperor to punish me previously, you'd better watch yourself."

Chen Ji: "..."

Prince Fu swaggered towards the depths of the Red Leaf Villa. As Zhou Kuang passed by Chen Ji with the Iron Bow on his back, he nodded slightly.

As everyone walked further in, they gradually heard the sounds of commotion. Exiting the alley, the view ahead opened up.

In a spacious courtyard, a long red carpet was spread out, with dozens of tables and chairs on either side, where guests were seated on the left and right. At the end of the red carpet was a table prepared for the Crown Prince.

Seeing Prince Fu, the guests hurriedly stood up: "Crown Prince, Prince Fu."

Prince Fu cheerfully pressed his hands down: "Everyone, please sit, no need to be formal."

During the banquet, a few men from the Five Armies Camp saw Zhou Kuang and hastily clasped their fists: "General Zhou."

Zhou Kuang replied with a nod: "Zhou is no longer serving in the Five Armies Camp, no need for formalities."

At this time, the Crown Prince said politely to Prince Fu: "I did not know that the Royal Brother would come, a seat was not set for you. Why not sit at the main seat together?"

The Crown Prince intended to be courteous yet Prince Fu agreed on the spot and walked straight to the main table, sitting down broadly. The table could accommodate two people, yet he sat right in the middle.

The guests looked at each other in disbelief, this was the first time they saw such an aggressive Prince Fu.

In the past, Prince Fu was known for his good temper and would linger among the feasts.

Prince Fu laughed heartily: "Why is everyone stunned, drink up!"

The Crown Prince remained silent for a moment, enduring it and sitting at the first table on the left beside the main seat.

Chen Ji found a seat at the end and sat down with Qi Zhenzhuo. Not far away, Yangyang kept signaling to Zhang Zheng, but Zhang Zheng seemed oblivious, sitting with Zhang Xia at the table next to Chen Ji.

Prince Fu glanced sideways at the Crown Prince: "Just now on the way here, I saw the Jiefan Guard carrying an Imperial Decree. I wonder what decree has been issued from the palace?"

The Crown Prince replied calmly: "Reporting to the Royal Brother, it is a victory report."

Prince Fu smiled and said: "Let me hear it."

Chen Ji's heart sank, what was bound to happen, would happen.

...

...

In the stable at Red Leaf Villa, Si Caogui removed the wooden yoke from the horse's neck and let it go to the feed trough to eat.

A servant from Red Leaf Villa waved him over: "Food prepared for the coachmen is inside and in the barrels, help yourself."

Si Caogui responded: "I'll go to the restroom first, been holding it all the way."

The servant waved impatiently: "Go about your business, no need to tell me."

Si Caogui walked towards the latrine, glancing back to ensure no one noticed him, then took a gray cloth from his sleeve and covered his face. With a light jump, he leaped onto the wall, stealthily making his way into Red Leaf Villa.

By now dusk had settled, and he moved like a swallow on the rooftop, effortlessly avoiding the guards.

Si Caogui crouched on the roof ridge, quietly observing the layout of Red Leaf Villa while removing his outer garment and wearing it inside out, turning the gray cloth into a black night suit.

After a few breaths, he lightly tread on the gray tiles towards the largest residence.

As soon as he arrived, he saw a Crown Prince's attendant bringing a tan document into the main house.

A moment later, the attendant exited empty-handed.

Si Caogui lay flat near the eaves, waiting for the attendant to walk away before flipping down soundlessly. He pressed his ear against the door for a moment, then carefully pushed it open, entering and closing the door with a reverse hand motion.

The Imperial Decree lay quietly on the table.

Si Caogui approached the table, then suddenly dodged. A flying knife shot down from the beam, piercing the spot where he had just been standing, embedding itself in the Imperial Decree.

Turning back, Si Caogui saw a young man squatting silently on the beam, face stern: "Who dares spy on the Crown Prince's chamber?"

As he spoke, the young man swooped down like a night owl, pressing a palm towards Si Caogui's face, moving with ghostly speed.

But Si Caogui was faster.

He leapt up, twisting and kicking towards the man's face.

The swooping young man's expression changed, blocking the kick with both arms. The force blew him back into the air, his back crashing heavily against the beam, causing a crack to sound from the sturdy beam.

The young man spat a mouthful of blood, hurriedly hooking his legs around the beam, twisting like a giant serpent back into the shadows above.

With a thud, a short knife nailed the beam where he had crashed before, the hilt vibrating with a hum. Had he been a moment slower, the short knife would have pierced his heart.

"Who are you?" The young man stared below in disbelief but saw only a shattered window, with no sign of Si Caogui.

The young man leapt down from the beam, flying like a swallow through the window to pursue Si Caogui.

No sooner did he emerge than he saw Si Caogui crouched beside the window, watching him coldly.

Not good!

He didn't leave!

...

...

At the banquet, Prince Fu stuffed a piece of lamb into his mouth, chewing as he curiously asked: "Why is the Crown Prince not speaking? Are there some secrets you can't disclose?"

The Crown Prince took a deep breath: "It's not that. The Imperial Decree reports that the small barbarian 'Siam' refused to pay tribute and killed our Ning Dynasty envoy in an attempted rebellion. Jiaotong Viceroy Yang Xun led 'The Kingdom of Annam' with 8,000 elites to suppress the rebellion, annihilating Siam's 20,000 elite soldiers. They are currently escorting the King of Siam to the capital."

Hearing these words, a weight suddenly lifted from Chen Ji's heart.

It wasn't the great victory against Korea.

The Crown Prince spoke again, raising his voice: "Your Majesty decrees that the champion of this spring hunt will be awarded a fifth-rank county viscount title with an annual stipend of 400 stones of grain, and a Qilin Jade Belt, allowing them to carry a sword at court. Amidst the current chaos, gentlemen should take this opportunity in the spring hunt to demonstrate martial prowess to the world."

Yangyang and others' expressions changed as the Ning Dynasty had not conferred a title outside of the royal family in decades. The only remaining noble titles were a hereditary Duke of England and three Marquises.

Even though it is merely a "county viscount" title, a noble title means that even if one commits a capital crime, the Eunuch Party can't execute first and report later. They must petition His Majesty, revoking the title before charging.

Prince Fu stroked his chin, intrigued: "Yang Xun is truly a patriot, using the barbarians' forces to defeat the rebellious barbarians, surely a name etched in history. No wonder Father Emperor is so delighted..."

Before he finished, cries rang out from afar: "Assassin!"

The guests were all startled.

The Crown Prince abruptly stood up, and the guards by the banquet quickly gathered, encircling him protectively.

Zhou Kuang also left the table, flashing to Prince Fu's side, holding the Iron Bow and vigilant of his surroundings.

At this moment, a Crown Prince attendant rushed in to report: "Crown Prince, the Right Guard suffered at the hands of villains. When this subordinate found him, the Right Guard was already lifeless, with a huge depression in his chest."

Prince Fu raised an eyebrow: "I swear it wasn't me!"