The Blood Crown - Chapter 274

As the commander of the garrison army, Zhu Lanting controlled all the military forces inside and outside the Forbidden City. To win this battle, capturing him would be key. If they failed, they would have to break through the city within three days before the Loyalist Army arrived. To do so, they would need at least double the number of troops.

Yan Sikong knew Zhu Lanting well. He came from a noble family, the Zhu family, which had always been one of the most prestigious families in the Great Sheng Empire. After the current emperor was born from a woman of the Zhu family, their power reached its peak.

Empress Dowager Zhu and her brother, Grand Tutor Zhu, were very clear-headed. They were imperial in-laws and never involved themselves in the factional struggles between the eunuchs and the aristocrats. Apart from pressuring Emperor Zhao Wu on the matter of succession, they had always been the emperor’s greatest support.

Zhu Lanting had been raised in wealth and luxury. After the death of Grand Tutor Zhu, he became the head of the Zhu family. Throughout his life, he had enjoyed endless honor, wealth, and respect. For a person like him, nothing could tempt him except greater power. However, he had a firm character and valued his reputation. He would only support the crown prince, Chen Mu, who had been recognized by the Zhu family, and would never allow Feng Ye to usurp the throne for personal gain.

Even though his cousin had given birth to a prince with half of the Zhu family’s bloodline.

Yan Sikong knew it was impossible to persuade him to become a rebel, and Feng Ye knew that too. Thus, they had to sow discord between Zhu Lanting and Chen Mu, preventing them from uniting.

The first thing they had to do was make Zhu Lanting feel threatened.

That night, Feng Ye sent troops to the border forts to further encircle the Forbidden City.

The border forts had walls, but they were not actual cities; they served as outposts for the city. Unlike ordinary outposts built within the city walls, the Forbidden City’s outposts were several miles away and surrounded by walls to prevent surprise attacks.

But the border forts had little defense, and when the army arrived, signal fires lit up, and the defenders quickly retreated. Before dawn, Feng Ye’s forces arrived at the outer walls of the Forbidden City, set up camp, and commanded tens of thousands of foot soldiers to line up at the city gates, inviting battle with thundering sounds. Waves of soldiers replaced one another without rest.

The Forbidden City had stood for centuries, weathering many storms. It was rare for rebellious forces to come so close and challenge it. In every such case, history had recorded it in bold strokes. Most of the soldiers defending the city had never seen such a sight in their lives.

Yan Sikong gazed at the majestic Forbidden City in the distance. It was like a luxurious and massive beast lying across the vast mountains and rivers, luring those with ambition inside with its gorgeous appearance. Then, through intoxicating wine and power, it harmed them unknowingly. Some lost their lives, others lost their souls.

Within this city, countless conspiracies, killings, blood, tears, and joys had unfolded, yet everyone still yearned to enter. Those who entered all hoped to climb higher, to reach the pinnacle where they could step on everyone else.

The sound of steady footsteps came from behind. Without turning, Yan Sikong knew it was Feng Ye.

“You still can’t get out of bed,” Feng Ye said.

“I only suffered a lash wound, not a broken leg,” Yan Sikong replied, still staring at the distant Forbidden City. He sighed, “When I left, I never expected to return so quickly.”

In just three years, he had helped Feng Ye return and kill his way back.

“I never expected it either. Father, mother, and elder brother must be protecting me from above.”

Yan Sikong remembered the day he left the capital, filled with immense ambition, riding out through the Yongding Gate. As he turned back and looked, he recalled the poem of Huang Chao: “After my flowers bloom, I’ll slay all others,” a phrase carrying the frustration of repeated failures and the surging ambition of unfulfilled dreams. Later, he led a rebellion and entered Chang’an.

Centuries later, Emperor Taizu also rose in rebellion and ruled the world. He used the past to draw parallels with the present, leaving behind the words: “When all flowers bloom, I stay silent. But when I bloom, all others will be frightened.”

Now, he and Feng Ye stood here.

Would they become the authors of history, or would they be merely an insignificant chapter?

A hundred years later, how would the world write about them, talk about them, and view them?

Feng Ye seemed to see through Yan Sikong’s thoughts. He focused on the territory he was determined to claim and spoke softly, “Are you wondering how history will remember us?”

Yan Sikong murmured, “Historians’ pens are swords that kill the heart. Let’s see how they carve me, one stroke at a time.”

“Victory or defeat, your life story is far from decided.”

Yan Sikong shook his head. “I don’t make any extravagant wishes.”

Feng Ye looked at the melancholy on Yan Sikong’s face, and suddenly felt a pang in his heart.

“This is for Zhu Lanting.” Yan Sikong suddenly took out a letter from his sleeve. “Send it to him.”

Feng Ye took the letter, read it, then tucked it away. “Do you still have letters exchanged with Zhu Lanting?”

“I burned them long ago,” Yan Sikong said. “But if necessary, I can forge his handwriting anytime. I remember everything. Let’s scare him first.”

“Alright, I’ve already ordered people to spread rumors, and the lavish gifts to Zhu’s family in Xichuan have already been sent.”

“Chen Mu is naturally suspicious. Even if he suspects this might be our scheme to sow discord, he won’t trust Zhu Lanting. After all, when we were in Yunnan, I mentioned that Zhu Lanting was my informant in the court,” Yan Sikong said flatly. “If Zhu Lanting doesn’t take the bait, Chen Mu will.”

“But even so, this might not be enough to break open the gates of the Forbidden City.”

“Keeping Chen Mu and Zhu Lanting from uniting has already bought you much time,” Yan Sikong suddenly thought of something. “When General Feng Ye took Shuntianwei, where was the Shuntian Prefect Zhou Yudao?”

“He’s locked up,” Feng Ye seemed to recall something as well. “His son… what was his name again?”

“Zhou Mixing,” Yan Sikong said, the name feeling somewhat distant. “I have quite a good relationship with him.”

“He’s likely in the capital. He enjoys the hustle and bustle here,” Yan Sikong pondered. “Although Zhou Mixing has wide connections, he holds no official position.”

Feng Ye sneered. “What if we make him one?”

“He’s a worthless young man. Zhu Lanting would never look up to him, and he wouldn’t be able to speak in front of Zhu Lanting,” Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes. “However, if he can convince his father, Zhou Yudao might help us win over some officials and generals.” He thought for a moment, then shook his head. “But if he and Zhou Yudao are in different locations, it won’t help us. We don’t have time to make contact with him.”

“I’ll have people look into it. Even if it’s not useful now, when I enter the capital, I’ll need influential ministers by my side.”

“Feng Ye,” Yan Sikong said in a deep voice, “If you really enter the capital, what will you do?”

“What, are you worried I’ll declare myself emperor right away? I’m not that foolish.” Feng Ye spoke with a slight smile at the corner of his lips, though his eyes were devoid of amusement. “As we discussed before, I’ll support a rightful heir. Unfortunately, my aunt has no sons. If Zhu Lanting knows what’s good for him, it will be the Thirteenth Prince.”

Yan Sikong had guessed as much but still worried about what Feng Ye might do… After all, with his boldness, there was nothing he wouldn’t dare to try.

“Rest assured, I won’t deceive you. I will stabilize the vassal kings.”

Yan Sikong nodded. “Alright, then what about Que Wang? He’s still in Chen Mu’s hands. What if he uses Que Wang to threaten you?”

“If he’s smart, he’ll trade Que Wang’s life for his own.”

Yan Sikong glared sideways at Feng Ye. “He might also kill Que Wang to retaliate against you, showing his determination to never reconcile with you.”

Feng Ye’s voice turned cold. “He dares.”

Yan Sikong sneered. “In your mind, the throne is more important than a person. How can I expect you to save Que Wang?”

Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong, gritting his teeth. “I regard Que Wang as a brother, and I will do everything in my power. But the moment Que Wang chose to follow me in rebellion, he had already prepared to risk his life for me. If you want me to trade the throne for him, how could he ever live with any honor?”

“I didn’t ask you to trade the throne for him. I’m not that naïve,” Yan Sikong bit out. “I want you to trade me for him when there’s no other option.”

“Impossible!” Feng Ye firmly rejected, glaring at Yan Sikong, his eyes red. “Don’t ever mention this to me again!” He turned and began walking away.

“Feng Ye!” Yan Sikong shouted harshly. “If Que Wang dies, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life.”

Feng Ye paused, glanced over his shoulder at Yan Sikong, and his lips moved slightly. Despite the intense pain in his chest, he calmly replied, “And what difference would that make?”

Yan Sikong stood frozen, staring at Feng Ye’s retreating figure until it disappeared.

—

The letter urging Zhu Lanting to surrender had just arrived in the capital when rumors began to spread rapidly. It was said that Feng Ye had secretly conspired with the Zhu family, abandoning the Prince of Chu to instead support the Thirteenth Prince. Within days, news of Feng Ye sending lavish gifts to the Zhu family’s ancestral home in Xichuan would spread across the world.

Rumors may not have hands, but they can kill.

At this crucial moment, with the military situation at a high point, it wasn’t so easy for the court to fall for this scheme. After all, the Zhu family were the imperial in-laws of Emperor Zhao Wu and had always been loyal to him. But Chen Mu knew about their covert dealings, and while the court might not believe it, Chen Mu did, and that was enough. Once Chen Mu believed it, the rest of the Loyalist Army would follow.

Once the letter was sent, it sank into silence. Zhu Lanting would never respond, especially with rumors flying everywhere.

But that was of no consequence. Once Zhu Lanting and Chen Mu couldn’t unite and faced the threat of the city being breached, they would be forced to surrender, which was the only way to pressure them into submission.

Feng Ye was making the final preparations for the siege. He needed to beat the Loyalist Army to the capital, at least to take the outer walls of the city before they arrived.

The battle was on the verge of erupting and would surely send shockwaves throughout the world.