The Crown Prince Rebels?
Several days later.
Li Ye stayed close to the imperial carriage, accompanying the emperor's vast army as it arrived at the Shanglin Gardens.
Though called palace gardens, the Shanglin Gardens stretched for hundreds of li, teeming with ferocious beasts—even 4th realm demon beasts lurked within. But for His Majesty the Emperor, it was hardly a challenge. Still, the annual autumn hunt was a chance to display his martial prowess, and Ji Xuan never missed it.
Over the past few days, Li Ye hadn't found another chance to be alone with Xue Yunrong. Had she noticed something? If she had, what was she waiting for?
Naturally, the Yan Shou Dan. Li Ye was at a loss. Hand it over, and he might end up like a dog after the rabbit's hunted—discarded once no longer useful. Hold it back, and he'd have to go home and admit to his mother he was a failure.
The hunt had nothing to do with him, nor with Xue Yunrong. As the favored consort, her presence in the emperor's autumn hunt entourage felt more like a vacation.
After loosing a single arrow, Ji Xuan let the martial generals and nobles have at it, while he led the imperial harem to enjoy song and dance.
In such a setting, Xue Yunrong wouldn't dance herself, but when she was in high spirits, she'd occasionally sing to liven things up. Being out of the palace for once, she was a bit excited too.
Ji Xuan was in fine fettle, joining the dances himself and even taking part in polo matches—looking nothing like a man in his sixties.
It was less an autumn hunt and more an autumn outing... Watching everyone having a blast, Li Ye felt a twinge of envy deep down. He could only stand obediently by Xue Yunrong's side, awaiting orders, unable to cut loose like the others.
Only when the moon and stars shone bright, and the campfires began to die out one by one, did the lively camp finally quiet down. Exhausted after a full day of fun, Xue Yunrong returned to the grand central tent, washed up, and prepared for bed.
Her tent adjoined Ji Xuan's, so Li Ye didn't dare get fresh. After standing all day, he headed back to his own tent to sleep.
In a daze, Li Ye was jolted awake by a sudden clamor of shouts and clashes. He rushed out to see fires stretching into the distance, cries of battle echoing sporadically. His heart leaped. Without a second thought, he bolted toward Consort Xue's tent.
It wasn't loyalty driving him—merely that her tent was right next to the emperor's, so it was probably the safest spot.
Along the way, panicked palace maids and eunuchs scurried about, but there were few imperial guards in sight. Li Ye found it odd. Relying on his life-saving tricks, he paused to listen to the distant shouts.
"The demon consort rebels—poisoning His Majesty!"
"The demon consort rebels—poisoning His Majesty!"
Just those two phrases, over and over. Li Ye grew even more puzzled. "Demon consort" could only mean Xue Yunrong—no other consort bore such a title. But her rebelling? He'd be the first to call bullshit.
He hurried to her tent, where ranks of imperial guards had already formed up before the cluster. Li Ye's confusion deepened; the guards stood in perfect formation, as if they'd been ready for this.
After flashing his token and being announced, Li Ye finally entered Xue Yunrong's tent. She seemed to have just been roused herself, hastily dressed with her hair still a mess. Spotting him, she asked urgently, "You've come from outside—what's happening?"
Li Ye shook his head. "The cries of battle woke me. Fearing for Your Ladyship's safety, I rushed over."
Xue Yunrong looked a touch disappointed but said no more.
At that moment, her maid Zihua entered from outside. Xue Yunrong asked, "What does His Majesty say?"
"His Majesty bids Your Ladyship not to worry and stay put in the tent. He will handle it himself."
Zihua's words eased Xue Yunrong somewhat, though sleep was now impossible. Composing herself, she turned to Li Ye. "You saw nothing?"
Li Ye hesitated, then said, "It looks like... someone’s staging a rebellion."
"A rebellion?" Xue Yunrong gasped.
Li Ye nodded.
"Who would dare rebel?" She still couldn't believe it.
Li Ye shook his head, staying silent, though his mind raced: Not the Crown Prince, surely...
"Not the Crown Prince, is it?" Xue Yunrong voiced his exact thought.
"Why do you say that?" Li Ye pressed.
Xue Yunrong was starting to panic. "Just before leaving the palace, His Majesty ordered the Eastern Depot to investigate the Crown Prince colluding with officials. This..."
"This servant heard the rebels chanting, 'The demon consort rebels—poisoning His Majesty.'" Li Ye was now mostly convinced it was the Crown Prince.
"Nonsense!" Xue Yunrong paled in fear.
"Your Ladyship, don't worry. The guards outside look solid—His Majesty seems prepared."
Zihua chimed in, "Hundreds of 3rd realm martial artists among the guards. Rest easy, my lady—the rebels won't break through."
As they spoke, the sounds of combat erupted outside. The three fell silent, straining to listen.
Suddenly, flames burst before the tent, smoke billowing thickly.
Li Ye grabbed the consort, shielding her. "Your Ladyship, out—now."
Ignoring Zihua, he dragged Xue Yunrong from the tent. Soldiers clashed fiercely, while Ji Xuan coldly faced off against a mounted general opposite.
No time to wonder if it was the Crown Prince. Li Ye meant to pull Xue Yunrong toward the emperor, but a wave of soldiers charged their way. Ji Xuan, eyes flicking toward her amid the fray, twitched.
Just then, the enemy general seized the moment, hurling a massive spear wreathed in eerie blood qi. The blast engulfed soldiers on both sides, turning them to pulp as it hurtled toward Ji Xuan.
Ji Xuan's face remained impassive. He raised a hand slightly, and invisible giant hands seemed to manifest from the air, slowly clamping the blood-red spear. It slowed, the demonic blood qi dissipating, until it became an ordinary lance hovering by his side.
Gripping the shaft, Ji Xuan sneered coldly, "Zhou Chi, you think a 6th realm like me gives you an opening?"
Zhou Chi laughed heartily. "Your Majesty tops the Earth List—even far from the capital, this subject dares not act rashly."
Suddenly, a raspy elder voice rang out: "An open spear is easy to dodge; a hidden arrow, hard to block."
With that, the lance shattered into countless blood-red darts, swarming Ji Xuan. He shuddered, a golden dragon qi erupting from his body, flinging the arrows aside.
"Liu Ziyou, this is how you serve as the Crown Prince's tutor?" Ji Xuan said icily.
Liu Ziyou emerged from the rebels, aged and frail. He sighed. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has done no wrong—why force him to death?"
Ji Xuan scoffed. "Hmph, rebel traitors—show yourselves, all of you. Today, I’ll sweep you clean."
Several more figures appeared among the rebels, radiating 6th realm auras. Li Ye had no desire to sidle up to the emperor now—he just wanted to stay invisible.
Unfortunately, while he could play transparent, Xue Yunrong couldn't. The Crown Prince spurred his horse forward amid the rebels, barking, "Seize the demon consort—make the tyrant hesitate!"
Then Li Ye saw the enemy army bearing down on them, multicolored attacks simultaneously raining on Ji Xuan.
"Chen Feng, strike!" Ji Xuan roared, charging forward instead of retreating. A golden hand coalesced from thin air, slamming several foes flat.
Li Ye had no attention for that side anymore. The fight flashed by in an instant; Ji Xuan hadn't spared them a glance. The charging horde could shred the guard line any second. In the tension, he recalled Xue Yunrong's words.
The weakness you perceive is merely the one they’ve handed you.
So, her own hard-won lesson? Was she the weakness Ji Xuan had crafted?
No time for reflection. He yanked Xue Yunrong into the dark behind them. After all the fooling around, he felt some attachment. At least, not until the last moment, he wouldn't abandon her to save himself.
Xue Yunrong glanced at the emperor's raging battle, a flicker of sorrow in her eyes, then decisively followed Li Ye into the night.
Li Ye kept watch behind, glancing back often. The clash never faded; brilliant bursts lit the battlefield, occasionally flooding the camp in stark daylight.
He could only lead Xue Yunrong onward. Her dance practice kept her in decent shape—she kept pace—but those flares also guided the rebels. Soon, a squad blocked their path ahead.
Clashes still raged behind. Li Ye cursed his Tianmo Jiuxiang silently—no combat power yet. Even a 1st realm martial artist would do.
"What now?" Xue Yunrong eyed the soldiers, her voice cracking with despair.
Li Ye shook his head. "It's fine, sis. I'll protect you."
With that, he activated the sword talisman hidden in his sleeve. A chill sword qi materialized silently—cold as ice, piercing as soulfrost. It gleamed faintly in the moonlight, slicing soundlessly through the squad before vanishing into the dark.
The foes crumpled without a cry. No time to admire the power, Li Ye pulled Xue Yunrong onward into the shadows.
Only then did she remember his 6th realm expert's sword talisman. Relief washed over her, mingled with complex feelings, as she hurried after him.
Neither noticed that, at the sword light's flash, both sides in the distant clash had glanced their way—then inwardly sighed in relief at no follow-up.
In the night, Li Ye lost track of distance, the battle sounds fading at last. Xue Yunrong's labored breaths filled his ears; exhaustion gripped him too.
Finding a secluded ravine, he stopped. "Let's rest."
Xue Yunrong was too winded to speak, gasping heavily.
They sat. Li Ye's mind reeled—how had a perfect outing turned to this? The emperor, shouting "Chen Feng, strike" and with guards at the ready, was clearly prepared. So why not spare an expert for the consort? Short on manpower to crush the rebels?
After a breather, Xue Yunrong caught her breath and opened her mouth—only to be drawn to Li Ye's profile. Handsome, yes, but more: calm, steady. Reliable. Her frantic heart found an anchor.
Without him, she'd likely be in rebel hands...
"What're you staring at, sis?"
Xue Yunrong blushed—hidden by the dark. "Nothing. Think His Majesty will win?"
"Probably. He seems ready for this."
Her face dimmed slightly.
Noticing her mood, Li Ye teased, "If he loses, no biggie. I'll whisk you from the palace—off to roam the world."
Perhaps the life-debt, or shared peril, stripped their usual guards and games. No lord and servant, no "siblings"—just two equals. Li Ye let a rare joke slip.
"Easier said. If the Crown Prince wins, he won't let me go."
"Lil' bro's got life-saving tricks. Relax."
Uncertain of the road ahead, Li Ye loosened up.
"You do have secrets." Her fox eyes twinkled; disheveled hair only heightened her allure.
"Just minor lifesavers. Enough to keep sis safe." He offered no more.
Hearing "protect," recalling the night, she softened, not pressing. With a light laugh, "Then... sis's life is in your hands."
"Deal. Or hey, quit being empress—wander the world with me?" He blurted whatever came to mind; maybe a sliver sincere, not even three parts.
"Hahaha..." She laughed till she shook, then leaned in close, her exquisite face inches away. "You'll keep me?"
"I'll keep you."
Xue Yunrong eyed the cheeky Li Ye, worlds from the deferential eunuch. This his true face?
Always dominant, equal banter with him felt... odd. But freeing? Her schemes forgotten, she rather liked it.
"Haha, whatever—tonight, you saved me. Thanks."
"So, how's sis gonna thank me?" Li Ye locked onto her moonlit, seductive fox eyes.