Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 161: Prince Haoran Makes His Move

Chapter 161: Prince Haoran Makes His Move

My Lord,

We have captured Arughtai and all of his surviving army, numbering well over fifty thousand men, in a ravine outside the Xinghe Fortress.

I have taken the liberty of failing to kill all of the trapped prisoners. Instead, we have removed their thumbs and index fingers on both hands, so that they can never wield a sword, gun or bow and arrow against the Empire again.

I know this does not follow the strict words of your order to kill them all. At the time Your Majesty gave the order, it was not clear how vast the number of captured men was. In the mayhem of an active theatre of war, I have made a decision which I hope will be beneficial to Your Majesty and your reign.

By cutting off these four digits, we have removed the threat these soldiers posed, but allowed them to return to their wives, mothers and families, thus demonstrating to the People your humanity and magnanimity.

I have kept Arughtai as a prisoner, to be brought to kneel before you.

This was my decision alone and was done against the advice of Mei Renlong as my Chief Strategist. If I have made an error in interpreting your wishes, you have my abject apology, and of course, my life is yours, whether in service, or to be sacrificed for the greater good.

I await further orders from you and am already returning to the Capital with your victorious army and your enemy in chains.

Your faithful servant,

Commander Bai.

Meili watched the Emperor read Li’s message, and her heart sank as his brows lowered ominously. He balled up the paper and threw it in the brazier to burn.

The Emperor rubbed the spot between his eyes as he was wont to do when he was under stress, letting out a deep sigh.

"Call the Crown Prince to my study," he ordered Feng Bao.

Meili dallied as long as she dared, before racing off to the kitchen so she could try and return soon enough to catch some news.

Her heart was unsettled now.

What did that sigh mean? What could have changed since the army won such a great victory? Was Bai Li well? Were her four brothers alive? Surely His Majesty would have told her if any one of them had been killed or injured?

The Crown Prince strode into his Father’s study.

"Emperor Father," he bowed respectfully.

"Sit down, Yicai. I have some news to discuss with you."

"I have some important news to discuss with you too, Father."

"Report!" came a shout from the door.

Feng Bao ushered in General Meng, who immediately dropped to one knee before his Lord.

"Go ahead, General Meng," the Emperor gestured at him to speak freely in front of his son and the Chief Eunuch.

"Your Majesty, there are unusual troop movements to the east of the Capital," the man said with evident concern. "It’s not yet clear who they are, but they’re not from any neighbouring kingdoms. They appear to be Ming men."

"That’s what I wanted to report to you too, Emperor Father," said the Crown Prince. "My spies have spotted an unusual gathering of unauthorised troops not more than four days march from the Capital."

The Emperor closed his eyes momentarily, before opening them and looking to the heavens.

Only he knew that he sought his long deceased wife at this critical moment, sending her a silent prayer that this news wasn’t what he suspected that it was.

"What do you think is happening, General?" he growled.

"They appear to be marching under the banner of Prince Haoran," General Meng spoke reluctantly of his eldest son, not happy to be the bearer of such bad news.

The Emperor’s nebulous worst fears took on a solid shape.

"Crown Prince?" he asked his second son, without much hope of any better outcome.

"My spies have reported the same thing, Emperor Father," said Zhu Yicai seriously.

"Send the Imperial Guard to Prince Haoran’s quarters immediately and report back to me," the Emperor roared at Feng Bao. "If he’s still there, bring him before me. If he’s gone, God help those who were guarding the Palace of Purity!"

Feng Bao, who bowed so he was almost doubled over, rushed from the room.

"Commander Bai and the bulk of our army are at least a week’s march away," he informed the two men.

"There can be no coincidence in the timing of this attack, Emperor Father. I think we must prepare to defend against a Rebellion..."

"I need to send a message to Commander Bai immediately," the Emperor replied. "Feng Bao, prepare the ink! Where’s Feng Bao? Never mind, you do it," he pointed at a junior eunuch who had entered the room in place of Feng Bao. "General Meng, you are to lead half of the Imperial Guard out of the Capital to delay this army until Commander Bai can get back to the palace. Crown Prince, you will remain in the Capital and prepare to defend the Forbidden City."

"Yes, Majesty," General Meng bowed deeply. "I will leave immediately to prepare the Imperial Guard for departure." He turned swiftly and marched from the study.

"Report!" came the shout almost as soon as the General had disappeared from view.

The Captain of the Imperial Guards strode in and prostrated himself.

"I deserve death, Majesty," he called out. "Prince Haoran is no longer in the Palace of Purity! He replaced himself with a lookalike who posed as a drunkard dallying with his concubines. We can’t pinpoint when he left the palace or how. No one knows where he is."

"You do deserve death, Captain," said the Emperor scathingly, "but right now, you’d better focus on finding the Prince and returning him to his quarters."

"Yes, Majesty! I promise my men and I will do our utmost to recapture the Prince!"

"Crown Prince," the Emperor looked at his son with a steely glint in his eyes.

"Emperor Father," Zhu Yicai met his stare, unspoken words passing between them.

Both men knew what needed to be done...

"You’re in charge of the Forbidden City’s defences. Find your eldest brother and bring him before me."

Yicai scooped up the quivering Captain, who still lay prostrate on the floorboards, dragging him from the room by his elbow.

"Let’s go, Captain. We’re going to clean up this mess you’ve made. Do your best to redeem yourself, hmm?"

"Yes, Crown Prince! My men are at your disposal!"

"Gather them at the Dacheng Gate for orders. We’re about to turn this palace upside down!"