The Sickly Regent Prince Who Was Abandoned as a Substitute Bride

Chapter 601

Moonlight slanted in through the cracks in the car window, casting interlaced lines of light and shadow on her pale face, like the marks of fate. The words "the late emperor's edict" and "the fate of the nation"—words she usually only encountered in stories—suddenly struck her heart like a hammer blow, instantly crushing the deep-seated conspiracies she thought she had long since seen through into an even larger fog of mystery.

“Then why do you think I’m the key to solving the mystery?” Her voice was as soft as a withered leaf drifting in late autumn, trembling without her even realizing it. The jade pendant with dragon patterns at the man’s waist clinked softly as the cart wheels rolled over the stones. His gaze seemed to pierce through her skin, reaching the depths of her soul: “Twenty years ago, the head of the Dongfang family accompanied the late emperor on his southern tour. In that sudden death, half a page of a tattered scroll was missing from the accompanying historian’s record.” He paused, reaching out to brush a withered leaf from her shoulder, “And why did your mother sew poisoned silver needles into your undergarment before her death? And why did she repeatedly murmur ‘jade pendants in pairs’ in her final moments?”

Dongfang Wan'er shuddered. Memories flooded back—her mother's withered fingers clutching her clothes tightly on her deathbed, her cloudy eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight outside the window, uttering indistinct syllables. At the time, she thought it was the babbling of a dying woman, but now, thinking back, it strangely matched the "jade pendant" the man had mentioned. Before she could ponder further, the carriage suddenly jolted violently, the sharp crack of the shaft breaking startling her as she slammed against the carriage wall.

"Young master, the road ahead is blocked by huge boulders!" The coachman's cry, carried by the night wind, rushed into the carriage. The man abruptly lifted the curtain. Under the starlit night sky, three carriages laden with boulders blocked the road, the gray stones bearing fresh chisel marks. Further away, torches snaked like crimson dragons, the clanging of armor and the neighing of warhorses shattering the silence. When the first glimmer of light came into view, Dongfang Wan'er gasped—the cloud and thunder patterns on the soldiers' armor were clearly the insignia of the Imperial Guard.

"By order of the Emperor, apprehend the suspect!" The general, mounted on a tall horse, slowly removed his helmet, the moonlight illuminating the hideous scars on his face. Dongfang Wan'er's pupils constricted; it was none other than the official who had read out the charges in the mansion during the day! The newly replaced gilded tiger tally at his waist gleamed coldly in the firelight, and the crossbows of three hundred elite soldiers behind him were already aimed at the carriage.

The man's sword sheath emitted a faint dragon's roar, and the thin layer of sweat on his palm dampened the rope binding the hilt. "It seems someone has bribed a palace informant to distort the 'investigation of the imperial edict' into 'treasonous intent.'" He suddenly chuckled, his bloodstained fingertips hooking a strand of Dongfang Wan'er's hair. "Afraid?"

Dongfang Wan'er gazed at the flickering fire in the man's eyes, recalling the life-or-death moments she had endured these past few days: the inexplicable fire in the woodshed, the old lady's deliberately evasive gaze, and now the royal army that had driven them to the brink of despair. She drew a short blade from her boot, its tip lifting the man's chin, a defiant smile playing on her lips: "Does young master know that in the Dongfang family's backyard, I once strangled a vicious dog that had bitten someone to death with my bare hands?"

The night wind swirled up fallen leaves, dancing between their back-to-back figures. As the first volley of arrows pierced the air, Dongfang Wan'er heard her own heart pounding, yet she was more lucid than ever before—this struggle against imperial power was no longer a fate she could choose. And in the depths of darkness, how many other eyes, piercing the fog of conspiracy, were watching this life-or-death gamble concerning the fate of the empire?

The night was as black as ink, thick and impenetrable, with only a few streaks of the setting sun casting a blood-red hue over the breathtaking battle. Arrows rained down like locusts from the shadows, their sharp whistling tearing through the deathly silence. The man, clad in black robes that fluttered in the wind, moved with the agility of a dragon, his longsword flashing and clanging, a constant tinkling of steel, like a resounding war song. He moved with the grace of a dragon, deflecting the incoming arrows, which fell to the ground, forming small mounds at his feet.

Dongfang Wan'er, dressed in a light pink outfit, possessed a heroic spirit that rivaled any man's. Seeing the man single-handedly fending off the rain of arrows, she was not to be outdone. Her short blade twirled nimbly in her hand, its cold light flashing like a butterfly in flight. She moved with agile grace, twisting and turning, targeting the arrows that slipped through the net. With a flick of her wrist, several arrows were deflected, tracing feeble arcs through the air.

The Imperial Guards, hidden in the shadows, grew increasingly serious when a volley of arrows failed to capture the two men. They slowly emerged from the darkness, approaching like ghosts. Moonlight shone on their cold armor, giving it a chilling gleam. The leading general, his face grim and eyes gleaming with ruthlessness, gave a cold laugh, his voice low and authoritative: "Charge! Kill them all!"

At the general's command, the Imperial Guards roared and surged forward like a tidal wave. The glint of swords clashed in the night, the shouts of battle deafening. Dongfang Wan'er and the man stood back to back, ready for battle, their blades clashing, sparks flying.

At this critical, life-or-death moment, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the distant official road, growing louder and louder like the beating of war drums. Amidst the rising dust, a cavalry unit sped towards them, led by a tall, imposing figure. The cavalrymen, clad in fine armor, stood in perfect unison, their banners fluttering in the wind, embroidered with the three large characters "King of Zhennan," gleaming in the twilight.

It turned out that the Prince of Zhennan had received the news and led his elite cavalry to come to their aid day and night. The Prince of Zhennan, with his agile figure, suddenly pulled on the reins, and his horse neighed loudly, stopping in front of the imperial guards. His eyes blazed as he surveyed the guards, and he roared, "Who dares to be so insolent and block our way!" His voice was like a booming bell, carrying an undeniable authority.

Upon seeing that it was the Prince of Zhennan, the general's face turned deathly pale, and his body trembled slightly. However, he still forced himself to remain calm and said with a stiff upper lip, "By order of the Emperor, I am here to arrest the suspect." But his voice had lost its previous confidence.

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Zhennan raised a thick eyebrow and sneered, "The Emperor's decree? How come I don't know about it? Could it be that someone is forging an imperial edict?" With that, he waved his hand, and the well-trained cavalry behind him moved swiftly, surrounding the Imperial Guards like an iron barrel. The gleaming weapons stood like a forest, completely blocking the Imperial Guards' retreat.

The situation reversed instantly. The Imperial Guards looked at each other, their faces filled with panic and helplessness, their weapons unconsciously drooping slightly. Dongfang Wan'er and the man exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise and relief flashing in their eyes, and the tension in their hearts eased slightly. However, they both understood that this struggle surrounding the late emperor's edict was only the beginning. What awaited them ahead were more conspiracies and challenges; a greater storm was quietly brewing in the shadows.

A night wind, carrying the stench of blood, churned in the deathly still air, and the breaths of the opposing sides condensed into a frosty mist. Just as the standoff reached a stalemate, and the tense atmosphere was about to explode, the general suddenly ripped open his cloak, revealing a darkly patterned python robe underneath. His withered fingers, like eagle claws, reached into his robe and abruptly pulled out a gilded token. The relief of nine dragons coiled around the token shimmered coldly in the moonlight, and the edge of the token was engraved with the vermilion seal script characters "As if the Emperor were present."

"To see this golden token is to see the Emperor himself!" The general's roar tore through the night, his voice distorted with excitement. The veins on his arm, which held the token high, bulged, and his eyes gleamed with manic triumph, as if he held a magic weapon capable of turning the tide of battle. The surrounding imperial guards, as if injected with a stimulant, instantly raised their weapons, and amidst the clanging of armor, some even took a half-step forward.

The jade pendant at the Prince of Zhennan's waist swayed slightly with his movements, producing a clear, melodious sound. His pupils contracted slightly, his gaze fixed intently on the gold token, his black python-patterned cloak fluttering in the wind. After a moment, he raised his hand and pressed it against the sword at his waist, his knuckles turning white from the force, yet he remained calm and composed: "Since the founding of the dynasty by the Great Ancestor, there has been a rule that a gold token for troop deployment must be issued in conjunction with an imperial edict. Today, there is neither an edict nor an imperial seal; even if there is a gold token, there must be something hidden behind this. As a member of the royal family, I will investigate this matter thoroughly!" His voice was deep and powerful, each word striking the hearts of the crowd like a heavy hammer.

Having said that, the Prince of Zhennan turned his horse around to face the blood-soaked Dongfang Wan'er and the man. His gaze swept over their blood-stained clothes, and he noticed the crooked silver hairpin in Dongfang Wan'er's hair. He sighed inwardly at the treacherous situation, but his tone became even more composed: "You two should come back to the palace with me first. The palace is heavily guarded, and I will definitely protect you." Before he finished speaking, he had already taken off his outer robe and thrown it away, revealing a soft armor with a dark cloud pattern embroidered on it. As he moved, the jade pendant collided with the wax seal at his waist, making a crisp sound.

Dongfang Wan'er and the man exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise and wariness. But the situation was dire, and there was no other way out. The two clasped their hands in a salute at the same time, their movements swift yet courteous: "Thank you for your help, Your Highness!" As the man sheathed his longsword, he deliberately turned the hilt inward, a subtle movement that did not escape the notice of the Prince of Zhennan.

With a wave of his command flag, the Prince of Zhennan's cavalry sprang into action. They confiscated the weapons of the Imperial Guards, chained the riders together with practiced ease. As the column moved, the sound of hooves mingled with the clanking of chains, and the air was thick with the faint scent of rust amidst the rising dust. Dongfang Wan'er, mounted on her horse, gazed at the Prince of Zhennan's upright figure ahead, then at the cavalrymen surrounding her, who seemed on high alert, her mind a jumble of thoughts. She gently touched the short blade at her waist, recalling the half-rolled imperial edict she had found in the dilapidated temple earlier that day; the still-wet ink on the yellowed Xuan paper seemed to linger before her eyes.

As night deepened, the glazed tiles of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion gleamed coldly in the moonlight. The vermilion gate slowly swung open, revealing a brightly lit interior, yet the candlelight failed to illuminate the shadows deep within the corridors. As Dongfang Wan'er stepped across the threshold, her boot ground over a smooth, cold pebble, its surface seeming to foreshadow the unknown path ahead. She instinctively gripped the short blade at her waist, unaware of how many eyes lurked behind the screens in this seemingly tranquil mansion, how many secrets were locked in the hidden compartments, and the truth behind the late emperor's edict—like a dilapidated building shrouded in mist, each layer unveiled revealing a deeper mystery.

The gilded gate with its beast-head handles slammed shut, and the candlelight in the main hall of the Prince of Zhennan's mansion flickered suddenly, as if a chilling wind had swept by. Dongfang Wan'er had just shaken off her blood-stained cloak when her gaze swept over the jade screen with its dragon-patterned design in the hall. Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps outside the corridor, mixed with the crisp clinking of copper bells, startling the night owls roosting beneath the eaves into a mournful cry.

"Your Highness! A eunuch has arrived from the palace, saying he has an imperial decree to take these two away!" The servant stumbled in, his official boots slipping on the blue brick floor, the ivory token at his waist jingling. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, and his voice was filled with barely concealed panic, as if a vengeful ghost was chasing after him.

The bronze teacup in the Prince of Zhennan's hand slammed down on the cloud-patterned table, splashing boiling tea that left dark stains on the carved wood. His brows furrowed, his gaze sweeping over Dongfang Wan'er's bloodstained dagger, then catching sight of the man's white knuckles gripping the hilt. A sense of foreboding washed over him. Outside, the night was thick and inky, and the bronze bells on the eaves of the Prince's mansion tinkled softly without wind, as if setting the stage for an impending storm.

"Please come in, Your Excellency," the Prince of Zhennan said in a deep voice, as resonant as an ancient temple bell. He slowly rose, his long black robe with python patterns trailing across the blue brick floor, the jade pendant at his waist swaying gently with his movements, emitting a clear, melodious sound. Dongfang Wan'er and the man exchanged a glance, both their pupils shrinking slightly—they hadn't felt this tense during the fight, yet now they felt as if they were caught in an invisible net, even their breathing becoming cautious.

A moment later, a shrill laugh pierced the silence, like fingernails scraping against a bronze mirror. A eunuch in a peacock-blue robe embroidered with gold python patterns strode in, his gilded whisk snapping with a "snap." His triangular eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a venomous snake. His crimson lips curled into a sneer as he said in a sarcastic tone, "His Majesty's decree orders that Dongfang Wan'er and her male companion be brought back to the palace immediately." Before he finished speaking, a silver needle hidden in his sleeve flickered, its cold light gleaming.

The Prince of Zhennan clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, yet his demeanor exuded an undeniable firmness: "Your Excellency, these two are involved in the late Emperor's will, and there must be something fishy about it. Let them stay in the Prince's residence for now, and I will make a decision after I have investigated the truth." As he spoke, the hidden guards behind him had already quietly placed their hands on the crossbows, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly froze, as if a single spark could ignite the entire powder keg.

Upon hearing this, the eunuch's shrill laughter grew even more grating: "Your Highness, do not defy the imperial decree! This crime of 'deceiving the emperor' is not something you can bear!" He suddenly took two steps closer, the powder puffs on his face falling off in a flurry, revealing a hideous scar at the corner of his eye. "The bloodshed at Xuanwu Gate last night, Your Highness, have you forgotten?" These threatening words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into the heart of the Prince of Zhennan.

Dongfang Wan'er's nails dug deeply into her palms, the sharkskin hilt of the short blade soaked with cold sweat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man's longsword already three inches from its sheath; the spine of the blade reflected his taut jaw, the veins throbbing slightly at his neck. The Prince of Zhennan's gaze sharpened, scanning back and forth between the eunuch and the two men, his mind racing: if he forcibly detained them, it would be blatant defiance of the imperial decree; if he released them, these two would likely have no chance of survival. And the secret of the late emperor's edict would be lost forever, its truth never to be revealed.

A sudden clap of thunder sounded outside the hall, and a torrential downpour began. Large raindrops pounded on the glazed tiles, creating a crackling sound. A new storm had quietly begun in this seemingly majestic royal palace.