The next day, Beihua Gate.
Before dawn broke, the darkest hour before the light of day still blanketed the colossal city.
The immense, majestic city gates stood wide open, resembling the maw of a gargantuan beast under the glow of massive bright-pattern lamps.
Great cities in the heartland of Great Yan set up checkpoints at night rather than shutting their gates, taking in and churning out the provisions needed daily by countless common folk.
Amid these myriad merchant caravans, a modest convoy of only seven or eight carriages quietly slipped out of the Imperial Capital under the cloak of fading darkness, trundling unhurriedly toward the Northern Border.
Once on the official road, the demonic beasts up front gradually began to pick up speed, the clopping of their hooves echoing far into the distance.
Inside a carriage at the very center of the convoy, Xu Yuan sat quietly meditating in his seat, with Li Qingyan resting her eyes beside him, while across from them sat two familiar faces.
Second Prince Li Zhaoyuan and Third Prince Li Junqing.
Li Junqing was pouring himself drinks from the Qinghua Brew left over from the night before, while Li Zhaoyuan kept his gaze lowered on a book of unknown origin.
The carriage swayed gently with the rhythmic strides of the demonic beasts ahead.
Four of Great Yan's top young elites crammed into a low-grade carriage presented a rather incongruous sight.
Silence filled the carriage.
None of the four spoke, with only the occasional rustle of Li Zhaoyuan turning the pages of the ancient book breaking the quiet.
After an unknown span of time, Li Junqing slowly set down his wine cup and suddenly chuckled, "Second Brother, what kind of books do you read all day long?"
Hearing this, Li Zhaoyuan paused slightly as he turned a page, offering a faint smile. "Local gazetteers of the Northern Border."
At that, Li Junqing let out a long breath and leaned back against the cushions of the couch. "Gazetteers? Why bother reading those?"
Li Zhaoyuan's handsome, sharp-featured face remained completely composed. "Third Brother, the Northern Border is in chaos. If we were ever stranded out there, knowing the local customs would at least allow us to blend in."
A glint flickered in Li Junqing's eyes, and he grinned. "We're only going to the army to pad our credentials. Why be so cautious?"
"One can never be too prepared," Li Zhaoyuan replied patiently.
Li Junqing sighed softly. "Second Brother, you've always been like this since we were little. You love factoring every single detail into your calculations."
A momentary hush fell. The demonic beasts galloped swiftly along the official road, causing the entire carriage to rattle.
Li Zhaoyuan gave an ambiguous answer to the remark. "It is something I learned from the Crown Prince."
Li Junqing shook his head, seeming to remark pointedly, "Eldest Brother isn't nearly as steady as you, Second Brother. Everything he does is sluggish. Hesitation isn't steadiness."
Li Zhaoyuan gave a diplomatic reply. "His Highness the Crown Prince will inherit the throne in the future. Affairs of state cannot be handled rashly; one must think thrice before acting. How could I ever compare to His Highness—"
"Heh."
Xu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes at that moment, cutting him off with a light laugh. "Second Prince, you're being far too modest. My father's opinion of you is far higher than his opinion of the Crown Prince."
At those words, instant silence fell upon the carriage.
Li Qingyan remained with her eyes closed, aloof and composed.
Li Junqing froze for a second before his smile turned playful.
Li Zhaoyuan's expression remained unchanged, though he did not reply right away.
Though the ultimate purpose of this journey to the Northern Border was an exchange of hostages between the imperial family and the Chancellor's Manor, the selection of the hostages was something worth pondering.
Not the choice on the Chancellor's Manor's side, but the imperial family's.
The Second Prince currently had no shortage of supporters in court, yet he lacked a top-tier minister to openly back him.
Under such circumstances, the Second Prince had volunteered to go as a hostage to Zong Qingsheng, the supreme commander of the Chancellor's Manor's forces, and his request had even been granted. It was hard not to suspect something was going on under the table.
Yet could such matters ever be stated openly?
For Xu Changtian to say it so bluntly was practically putting Li Zhaoyuan over an open fire.
After a long pause, Li Zhaoyuan smiled faintly and chose not to hide it, replying directly, "I am grateful for Duke Xu's high regard. I know I still have many shortcomings, and I hope this journey to the Northern Border will help make up for them."
Pausing, Li Zhaoyuan stole an imperceptible glance at Li Qingyan opposite him.
Every family knew its own secrets.
The Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and the Ninth Princess were all born of the Empress.
Li Junqing had slacked off, having no desire to compete for the succession, while Li Qingyan, as a woman, could only support the Crown Prince.
The prominent officials backing them formed an almost impenetrable iron curtain across his path to the imperial throne.
Yet matters had come to this point, leaving him no way out.
Compared to these three full siblings, he, born of an imperial concubine, was merely an outsider.
Were it not for this, Li Zhaoyuan would never have wished to cooperate with that old fox Xu Yinhe.
Cooperating with Xu Yinhe was tantamount to plotting with a tiger for its hide; it would be all too easy to be stripped of power and reduced to a puppet.
Amid the silence, Li Qingyan suddenly opened her eyes, her sharp, phoenix-shaped gaze sweeping across the Third and Second Princes with a chill. "Now, with Great Yan facing troubles both without and within, while soldiers bleed at the front lines, don't you feel ashamed as members of the imperial family to sit here scheming for power and profit?"
"..."
Li Zhaoyuan fell silent for a moment, an expression of guilt surfacing on his face, though his mind began racing.
Her words caught him somewhat by surprise.
He had always assumed this renowned imperial sister of his would support the Crown Prince, but judging by her words, she seemingly had no desire to take part at all.
On second thought, it made sense. Qingyan had grown up in the Northern Border, campaigning year in and year out. How much familial affection could she possibly share with the Crown Prince? And what common interests could they have?
In that case, would Marquis Wucheng's stance also be neutral?
Marquis Wucheng was a loyal royalist, but he had never made a statement on which royal he supported.
With that thought, Li Zhaoyuan looked at Li Qingyan once more.
If he could discover what this imperial sister truly desired, perhaps he could even win her over...
While Li Zhaoyuan was still pondering, Li Junqing had already unabashedly begun to apologize: "Imperial Sister speaks the truth. Junqing has learned his lesson."
The numbering of imperial princes and princesses followed separate systems.
There could be a Third Prince and a Third Princess at the same time; though Li Qingyan was the Ninth Princess, she was older than the Third Prince, Li Junqing.
"..."
Silence.
Li Qingyan closed her eyes, unwilling to entertain the Third Prince.
Ever since her return to the capital, that eldest brother of hers—whom she had met only a few times growing up—had visited her seven or eight times.
Whether the concern in his words was genuine or false, she did not know, but their relationship was hardly close enough to warrant such frequent visits.
Li Junqing felt no embarrassment either, turning instead to Xu Yuan beside him. "Hey, Prince Consort, don't you think Imperial Father and the rest are truly something? Your marriage with Imperial Sister has already been arranged, yet they're still having the two of you head to the Northern Border together."
Xu Yuan spread his hands helplessly and said, "His Majesty and my old man want to exchange hostages. They couldn't exactly send the Crown Prince and my elder brother, could they?"
"..."
At those words, Li Junqing was struck dumb once more.
*Brother, can you really not speak so bluntly?*
Li Zhaoyuan smiled faintly at this point. "Changtian is as unpretentious and candid as ever."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Xu Yuan cupped his fists with a grin and reached out to take Li Junqing's wine, intending to have a sip, only for the boy to snatch it away first.
Li Junqing looked at Xu Yuan with surprise in his eyes. "Wait, what are you doing?"
Xu Yuan glanced at the half-empty bottle of Qinghua Brew. "Just taking a sip. Why be so stingy?"
"..."
Li Junqing gave a low chuckle and said in a sarcastic tone, "Does the Third Young Master not know you're supposed to pay for things?"
"..."
Xu Yuan said nothing, reaching out to drape an arm around Li Qingyan's shoulders.
Li Qingyan cast him a cold glance, but did not push him away.
Seeing that, Xu Yuan said as if it were only natural, "I'm your elder sister's fiancé. We're family. Who charges family money?"
Li Junqing stared at Xu Yuan for two seconds before suddenly breaking into a smile. "The Third Young Master speaks the truth. It's just that yesterday someone dined and dashed at my Yuntian Palace without paying, and that fellow looked quite a bit like you, Third Young Master. Made me a bit jumpy. Here."
With that, Li Junqing handed over the Qinghua Brew.
Xu Yuan found it rather amusing.
*I skipped the bill with my own skill, why should I pay?*
Just as he was about to take it, Li Qingyan intercepted it first, asking out of nowhere, "Junqing, what kind of place is this Yuntian Palace you speak of?"
Hearing this, Li Junqing grinned roguishly. "Replying to Imperial Sister: it's a newly opened pleasure house of mine, filled entirely with courtesans."
"..." Xu Yuan was speechless.
Damn it, the brat had set a trap for him right here.
"Courtesans?"
Li Qingyan narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, her tone tinged with a dangerous edge. "Did that bill-skipper stay the night?"
"Well, about that..."
Li Junqing stole an imperceptible glance at Xu Yuan, speaking with cautious hesitation: "That... I'm not entirely sure. But he seemingly went there with a beautiful woman. They even dismissed the servants and had a scuffle; afterward, the woman was lying motionless on the floor."
"..." Xu Yuan.
Li Qingyan glared coldly at Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan was quite experienced in handling such situations.
In a moment like this, you must never try to explain; the more you explain, the guiltier you look.
Without batting an eye or breaking a sweat, Xu Yuan replied calmly, "The world is vast, and it's inevitable there would be someone who resembles me. Last night, I was practicing swordsmanship at my maternal uncle's. He can vouch for me."
Except when dealing with his two nephews, Xu Yuan and Xu Changge, Feng Jiuxuan had a terrible temper with anyone else. Even Xu Yinhe had to treat him with utmost courtesy; nobody would dare verify with him.
Li Qingyan poured a cup of fine wine for Xu Yuan, smiling sweetly. "Come, Changtian, drink up."
Xu Yuan gave a light cough. "No need."
Li Qingyan looked surprised. "Not drinking? Once you enter my military camp, alcohol is forbidden."
At this point, her phoenix eyes curved into crescent slits. "Of course, as long as you're willing to take a whipping from me, Changtian, you're free to drink."
Xu Yuan coughed lightly, pushed the wine cup away, and diverted the topic, asking, "By the way, did we really need to be so secretive on this journey? Leaving aside flying demonic beasts, why doesn't our carriage even have a shock absorption device?"
Li Qingyan gave Xu Yuan a deep, lingering look before explaining, "Because of confidentiality. Cloud Qi Bombs cannot be placed into Sumeru rings, and the Transport Bureaus in the Northern Border government are largely riddled with sect spies. Waterways and aerial transit are their primary inspection points. Land travel has so much carriage traffic that it is the safest option."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan immediately understood in his heart, though he still had to play dumb. "So what if they inspect? Would they actually dare to seize them?"
Beside them, Li Zhaoyuan set down his ancient book and smiled. "Seize them? Naturally, they wouldn't dare. But they could tip off the Barbarians ahead of time."
Xu Yuan frowned. "I see. If the secret gets out, those barbarians won't take the bait?"
Li Zhaoyuan merely smiled without speaking, returning to his reading and scheming.
Meanwhile, Li Junqing looked at Xu Yuan with a rather peculiar glint in his eyes.
It was as if saying: *Act. Keep right on acting.*
With no one replying, the carriage fell into silence.
After the carriage had traveled for some time, Li Junqing seemingly couldn't bear the quiet any longer and piped up again: "By the way, Third Young Master, do you know about something?"
Xu Yuan gave the rascal no warmth, shooting back, "How would I know if you don't tell me?"
Li Junqing smiled faintly and whispered mysteriously, "That female constable who shares such deep ties of fate with you was demoted to Beifeng City a while back."
*Xu Mengxi was demoted?*
Arresting him last time had merely been routine business; his father was hardly the type of person to give someone a hard time over something like that.
Many people impeached his father in court, yet very few were ever dealt with.
Xu Yuan pondered for an instant, choosing not to play dumb as he chuckled, "She just wanted to throw me behind bars. There's no 'fate' between us."
Unexpectedly, Li Qingyan did not show any displeasure, only asking indifferently, "Someone from the Secret Investigation Bureau sent to Beifeng City?"
Li Junqing nodded. "Yes, demoted there two ten-day periods ago. Supposedly it was because she's too inflexible, but it's more likely her master sent her down to temper her through experience. Dangerous as the Northern Border is, it's also a great place to rack up merits."
Li Qingyan shook her head. "Merits in Beifeng City aren't easy to come by."
Xu Yuan had only been to Beifeng City once as a child, so he knew little about the situation there. "However complicated the situation in Beifeng City may be, surely it can't be more complicated than the Imperial Capital?"
Li Qingyan cast him a glance and said, "Even though Beifeng City is full of vermin, years of continuous warfare have made those people anything but soft. If you dare investigate their web of interests, they will make you vanish from the face of the earth. A previous imperial commissioner dispatched by the court to audit local tax revenues had his inn burn down the moment he entered the city."
Xu Yuan crossed his legs, frowning. "The northern frontier is that lawless?"
Li Qingyan lowered her eyes, smoothing the hem of her silk skirt as she nodded. "Unlike other border passes, aside from Uncle Mu's Beifeng Army, the border troops in the north have been completely infiltrated by the sects."
Saying this, Li Qingyan raised her gaze, thick killing intent flickering in her eyes. "Because of these parasites, the people of the Northern Border, and even countless soldiers under my command, died completely in vain."
Li Zhaoyuan looked up at Li Qingyan, a contemplative look appearing in his eyes.
He seemed to understand what this imperial sister of his truly wanted.
She seemed to hate the sects even more than the Barbarians.
At that thought, Li Zhaoyuan sighed inwardly.
Perhaps he would not be able to win her support after all...
Seeing this, Xu Yuan reached out and gently rubbed her back, speaking softly, "Vermin ought to be dragged to a cesspool and drowned. Princess, isn't resolving this precisely why we're making this journey?"
Over these past days, Li Qingyan had nearly grown accustomed to this man touching her. She nodded. "Once the Barbarian threat in the Northern Border is resolved, Uncle Mu promised he would grant me the chance to purge these parasites myself."
Her words faded into silence.
The beast-drawn carriage sped relentlessly along the wide official road toward the Northern Border...
One month later.
Bound in ice for a thousand miles, blanketed by snow across ten thousand leagues. Even though summer had arrived, dense snowclouds hung impenetrable in the sky, and the howling blizzard falling from the heavens reduced visibility on the official road to less than a hundred feet.
After traveling for another quarter of an hour, a colossal, majestic city that had held off the Barbarians for a thousand years dramatically came into view.
Chapter 223