Chapter 125: Chapter 124. The Final Bell.

Chapter 124.

Xue Shu and He Shan split their forces, taking command of troops to secure key water and land chokepoints along the southern routes.

The last trace of Yin Chengjing was at the Huoxian ferry crossing. By the time Xue Shu’s troops arrived, the East Bureau agents had already taken over, clearing the area and halting all operations.

“Yin Chengjing escaped by boat from here?” Xue Shu asked as he rode his horse along the riverbank. The river was narrow and shallow, unfit for large vessels. Most boats here were small, used by merchants or common folk.

The commander of the pursuit team responded, “The hoofprints and wheel tracks end here. No other signs were found nearby. Judging by the tracks in the forest, it’s likely he fled by boat.”

Xue Shu didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he dismounted and walked through the nearby woods, inspecting the area for clues. Yin Chengjing might have abandoned his horses and cart to create a diversion, misleading them while heading elsewhere.

“Has there been any word from the men tracking the next ferry downstream?”

“They should report back soon,” the commander said.

Xue Shu studied the hoofprints on the ground, his brow furrowing. He had noticed them on the way—initially dense, indicating a sizeable group. But as they progressed, the tracks dispersed, leaving only a cart and about a dozen horses.

This confirmed that Yin Chengjing did head toward the ferry.

But something didn’t add up.

According to confessions from captured rebels, Yin Chengjing had stashed 5,000 private soldiers outside the capital. Yet from the tracks, only a few hundred had left the farm to meet him. If more soldiers were scattered elsewhere, He Shan would have encountered resistance by now. Thousands of troops, even dispersed, would attract attention.

The local prefectures had already tightened their inspections. These forces wouldn’t make it into the cities without being noticed. And yet, He Shan’s side remained silent.

Something wasn’t right.

“Where are the captured rebels?” Xue Shu asked.

“Locked in the imperial prison.”

With the rebels far away in the capital, re-interrogation wasn’t an option. Xue Shu sent word to He Shan and began moving his troops toward the next ferry.

Halfway there, a scout returned with news.

“Any sign of them?”

The scout shook his head. “We reached the next ferry too late. The passengers had already disembarked. Questioning the boatmen, they confirmed a group matching the description boarded but left the ferry upon arrival. No one knows where they went. We searched nearby towns but found no trace.”

“Three ferries stopped at the Huoxian dock yesterday morning. Were they all checked?”

“Yes. Their statements matched.”

Xue Shu’s eyes narrowed. “Matched?”

The scout hesitated, then nodded.

“Huoxian ferry isn’t large, but it’s busy. Merchants and travelers use it daily. If Yin Chengjing wanted to stay hidden, he’d travel quietly in disguise. These boatmen see countless faces every day—how is it they all remembered this particular group?”

Not only did the boatmen who ferried the group remember, but so did the other boatmen docked nearby.

This meant someone had instructed them on what to say—or those “boatmen” were planted there, ready to mislead him with false information.

But this wasn’t Yin Chengjing’s style.

If Yin Chengjing were taking such a risky, solitary route—traveling light and with the Yao Shi in tow—it meant he was desperate, aiming for the fastest escape south to Guangdong. If he moved quickly, the court’s response would be too slow to catch him. Once he reached the chaotic coastal regions, hiding would be much easier. There was no reason for him to waste time and resources at a ferry crossing.

So if this wasn’t Yin Chengjing’s doing, then who was behind it?

Xue Shu went over the possibilities and landed on one suspect: Yin Ciguang.

Who else but someone in the capital would benefit from delaying his pursuit?

The scout realized the implication. “I’ll have the boatmen brought in immediately!”

Xue Shu divided his forces. “Arrest the boatmen. Send a message to General He—withdraw the troops and regroup at Wuli Slope outside the capital.”

Without hesitation, he ordered his men to retreat toward Wangjing immediately.

By the time Xue Shu led his forces back to the capital, it was the third morning. He ordered the army to halt and conceal themselves at Wuli Slope, waiting for He Shan to regroup with them. Scouts were dispatched to infiltrate the city and gather intelligence.

As expected, every city gate was locked down. The guards at Yan Palace’s entrances were replaced with fresh, unfamiliar faces. No official word came from within, but whispers suggested that many officials had been summoned to the palace and had yet to reemerge. Military patrols on the streets had noticeably increased. While the common folk carried on with their lives as usual, an unspoken tension hung thick in the air.

After thoroughly scouting the nine city gates, the spies reported back.

"Guards at Dongzhimen, Xizhimen, and Chongwenmen are heavily fortified—new faces at every post. At Deshengmen, Andingmen, and the other gates, the guard presence remains as before. Additionally, we found Dongchang (Eastern Depot) markers near Andingmen and Chaoyangmen, indicating palace precautions in these areas."

Andingmen was a gateway for troop movements, while Chaoyangmen facilitated supply routes. Both roads were wide, sparsely trafficked, and strategically positioned—one to the north, one to the east—allowing rapid troop deployment into the city and coordinated support.

Xue Shu stared at the gates, his eyes dark and brooding.

The palace was already in motion, no doubt. But Yin Ciguang, lacking a firm foundation, had seen his influence divided and diluted by Gao Xian. His power wasn’t what it used to be. Even if Gao Xian held some control in the capital during Xue Shu’s absence, it likely extended to only three gates.

Before departing, Xue Shu had stationed Wei Xihe to oversee the Eastern Bureau. His Highness must have anticipated this turmoil, leaving behind those covert markers as a signal.

Steeling himself, Xue Shu waited until dusk. Only then did He Shan and Ying Hongxue arrive with their dispersed forces, rallying at Wuli Slope.

Seeing them approach, Xue Shu wasted no time: "The palace is unstable. I’ll return immediately. You and my sister will split your forces and set up ambushes outside the city. Listen for three signal arrows. The moment you hear them, storm in through Andingmen and Chaoyangmen to surround the palace."

Even as he suppressed it, a cold, murderous aura seeped into his tone. With one hand gripping his blade, his jaw tightened—barely able to contain his fury.

Ying Hongxue knew exactly what fueled his anger and nodded solemnly. "Go. Leave the rest to us."

Xue Shu nodded sharply and led a small detachment of Eastern Bureau elites into the city.

*

Under the cover of night, Xue Shu moved swiftly, surveying the city before slipping into the palace.

The guards at the palace gates had been entirely replaced with unfamiliar faces.

But with the arrangements at the city gates, there was no way the palace would be unguarded.

A sudden owl's cry pierced the stillness of the night.

Moments later, a team of Eastern Bureau agents appeared from the shadows. They exchanged coded signals before launching their coordinated assault.

Seething with anger, Xue Shu held nothing back, dispatching the gate guards with brutal efficiency before the alarm could be raised. Once the area was secured, he ordered the agents to hold their position at the gate and interrogated them about the situation at Ciqing Palace.

"Earlier this evening, Gao Xian arrived with an imperial edict, confining the Crown Prince to Ciqing Palace. Now the area is heavily guarded by the Imperial Army," one agent reported, nervously swallowing as Xue Shu’s expression darkened further. "But His Highness was prepared. Wei Gonggong has stationed operatives throughout the palace, and we’ve been waiting here to assist you."

The Crown Prince knew he would return.

Xue Shu’s chilling demeanor softened—just slightly. He instructed the agents to coordinate with the hidden operatives and seize control of the gates before marching toward Ciqing Palace.

The palace’s security was far tighter than usual tonight—guards stationed every ten steps.

Xue Shu led his team, avoiding unnecessary clashes when possible. When avoidance wasn’t an option, he struck quickly and silently, leaving no trace of the confrontation. By midnight, they reached the vicinity of Ciqing Palace.

The palace was surrounded by layers of Imperial Army soldiers, patrolling in organized rotations.

Xue Shu eyed the soldiers coldly, his fingers tightening on the hilt of his blade until his knuckles turned white. After a long moment, he quelled his anger and identified a weak point in their defenses. He ordered his agents to eliminate the guards quietly and don their armor to infiltrate the ranks while he slipped over the wall into Ciqing Palace.

As he landed silently inside, a patrol group nearby heard the faint noise.

“Who’s there?!”

Xue Shu locked eyes with the leader of the group. Recognizing Zhao Lin, he smirked coldly, raising a brow.

"Finally, the guards of Ciqing Palace are showing some semblance of competence."

He scanned his surroundings. The Palace of Ciqing was surrounded by the imperial guards, yet its internal defenses were no less formidable. In fact, the palace’s fortifications were even tighter than usual. No wonder the guards outside dared only to blockade, not storm the palace.

Zhao Lin’s expression shifted between surprise and relief when he saw him. “Commissioner Xue! His Highness has already retired. I’ll inform him right away.”

“No need,” Xue Shu cut him off, his tone sharp and final. “Captain Zhao, focus on your patrols. I’ll see myself in.” Without waiting for a reply, Xue Shu strode toward the sleeping quarters.

Zhao Lin hesitated for a moment, but knowing how often the Commissioner entered and left the Crown Prince’s chambers, he dismissed his doubts. Instead, he tightened security and personally inspected the area one more time.

Xue Shu entered the dimly lit sleeping quarters. Only two lanterns flickered faintly in the outer chamber. The guards, dismissed with a curt wave, left him alone. Pushing the door open, his gaze landed on the man sleeping on the bed. At that moment, all the turbulent emotions swirling in his chest settled, heavy and solid.

He knew the Crown Prince would have a plan, yet the uncertainty of not seeing it with his own eyes had gnawed at him. Striding forward, he leaned over the bed and wrapped the prince in a firm embrace.

Pressing his face into the crook of his neck, he murmured low, “Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince, Yin Chengyu, had woken the moment Xue Shu entered. Before he could react, he was enveloped in an iron grip.

They clung to each other. The faint scent of blood wafted through the air, and Yin Chengyu frowned. He knew instantly that Xue Shu must have rushed back to the palace with no regard for himself.

His fingers slid into Xue Shu’s hair, and he rubbed his face against the man’s in a rare gesture of comfort. His voice, still hoarse with sleep, carried a trace of scolding affection. “Why so fast? Seems my messenger didn’t catch you. I thought you wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow at the earliest.”

“The moment I sensed something was off, I came back,” Xue Shu replied, his voice rough, his breaths labored. Like a parched man in a desert, he buried his nose in Yin Chengyu’s neck, drawing in his scent to calm his frayed nerves.

Yin Chengyu didn’t push him away. Despite their awkward position, he continued speaking as if nothing were out of the ordinary. “Yin Chengjing has likely fallen into my eldest brother’s hands. The Yao family tipped him off, so they beat us to it. I heard he paraded two prisoners to the Qianqing Palace earlier today. The prisoners were masked and hidden, but I’m certain it’s Yin Chengjing and Consort De.”

Xue Shu grunted in acknowledgment, uninterested in the Crown Prince’s traitorous younger siblings.

Yin Chengyu’s fingers paused briefly, and he let out a soft sigh. “I can save him once, but not twice.”

Finally, Xue Shu lifted his head, locking eyes with the Crown Prince. “And if I hadn’t returned in time, what would you have done?”

“If you hadn’t returned by the day after tomorrow, I would have acted myself,” Yin Chengyu said, his tone calm and resolute. “Prince An is holding the emperor hostage and committing treason. As the Crown Prince, it’s my duty to eliminate him.” He sat up, propping himself on his elbows. His fingers traced the harsh lines of Xue Shu’s face. “But with only ten thousand soldiers under my command, even with prior arrangements in place, Gao Xian and the emperor’s loyalists still outnumber us. If it came to a fight, the casualties would have been devastating. Your timely return spares me that.”

The darkness in Xue Shu’s eyes lightened, though only slightly. Rising to his feet, he retrieved the Crown Prince’s robes from the screen and assisted him in dressing. “Leave the rest to me.”

Yin Chengyu nodded. “I’ve already stationed men at strategic points under Wei Xihe’s command. Find him and coordinate.”

Three signal arrows streaked into the night sky above the Palace of Cixiang.

Outside, the imperial guards were ready to send word of the breach when the palace doors swung open. A figure stepped out, blade in hand, face obscured by shadows.

Death incarnate.

Behind him, rows of soldiers emerged, armor glinting and weapons sharp.

The guards’ commander, sensing the shift in power, barked an order for reinforcements. But the messenger didn’t make it far. A blade pierced his back, silencing him mid-step.

Xue Shu’s gaze swept over the panicked imperial guards, his voice low and cold, cutting through the chaos like steel. “Surrender and live. Resist and die.”

The battle was over almost as quickly as it had begun. The pampered imperial guards of the capital, unaccustomed to real combat, crumbled under the assault of Xue Shu’s seasoned warriors. These men, trained in blood and forged in the crucible of the Eastern and Western Bureaus, left no room for mercy.

Xue Shu himself struck down the guards’ commander in a single, brutal stroke, breaking their morale entirely. Weapons clattered to the ground as the remaining soldiers surrendered one by one.

Leaving a team behind to clear the battlefield, Xue Shu led his forces straight toward the heavily fortified Qianqing Palace.

Standing at its gates, blood dripping from his blade, his voice thundered with lethal authority: “Rebels hold the emperor hostage! I am here to protect His Majesty. Stand aside, or you will be treated as traitors. No exceptions—death to all!”