Song of Adolescence

Jin Yan was silent for a long time, then he spoke again, "Can the Marquis bring me safely into the imperial palace?"

"I have my sabre, and three hundred Brave Tiger Guards ready outside. Gonggong, you should feel honoured. This escort is at the very least fit for a prince." Lanyue Marquis stood up and bowed his head towards Jin Xian. "Jin Xian Gonggong, please excuse us."

Jin Xian put down the Buddhist beads in his hand, his expression respectful. "Thank you, Marquis."

"You don't have to thank me. The one you should thank is His Majesty." Lanyue Marquis turned around and walked towards the door.

Xiao Se found a length of foxtail from somewhere and held it in his mouth while he lay down watching the sunset. Lei Wujie sat beside him, wiping his sword scabbard. Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan sat to one side, staring blankly into the distance. He also seemed to be watching the sunset. Shen Xiduo fiddled with the executioner's blade in his hand, and looked at Lanyue Marquis with interest.

Lanyue Marquis returned their looks and cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, those who gamble must accept when they lose. Thanks for letting me win!"

"Let's go." Xiao Se stood up immediately and walked straight out the door.

Lei Wujie followed hurriedly, feeling very confused. "Why? Hasn't Lanyue Marquis always been on our side? Since he won, he won't put us at a disadvantage, right?"

"Lanyue Marquis wouldn't step into this puddle of muddy water. He's here representing my imperial father," Xiao Se said.

"Representing the Emperor? Doesn't the Court of Judicial Review represent the Emperor?" Lei Wujie asked.

"Hence, this clearly shows that my imperial father has other plans. I can't guess what he's thinking. But it must have been a huge loss for him to let such an important person slip out of his hands. Besides, we don't know what will happen to him after he enters the imperial palace," Xiao Se said in a low voice.

Lei Wujie was taken aback for a moment, then he came back to himself. "You mean…"

"Notify everybody. Prepare to snatch the fugitive," Xiao Se said sharply. "We must not let him escape our hands."

Inside the Court of State Ceremonial, Shen Xiduo walked forward and asked, "Marquis, whose intent do you represent by coming here at this time?"

Lanyue Marquis smiled and said slowly, "His Majesty's intent."

"His Majesty has already handed this matter over to the Court of Judicial Review," Shen Xiduo said tentatively.

"The Court of Judicial Review has its orders, Lanyue Marquis has his orders." Lanyue Marquis patted Shen Xiduo on his shoulder. "Minister Shen, just carry out the duties within your jurisdiction."

Shen Xiduo frowned slightly. "I want to see His Majesty's decree."

Lanyue Marquis raised his eyebrows. "You're too bold!"

"You're on good terms with Yong'an Prince. How do I know that the Marquis is not lying to me?" Shen Xiduo said sharply.

"Minister Shen can go ahead and try," Lanyue Marquis challenged.

Shen Xiduo grabbed his executioner's blade. "Until I see His Majesty, I will only recognise the decree I have on hand."

"Please go ahead, then." Lanyue Marquis waved his long sleeves, and Shen Xiduo snorted coldly and walked out.

"Marquis." Jin Xuan Gonggong bowed respectfully.

"Does the Grand Eunuch have something to say?" Lanyue Marquis asked.

"How long does it take for a carriage to travel from the Court of State Ceremonial to the imperial palace?" Jin Xuan asked.

"Less than an hour, I suppose. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower," Lanyue Marquis said pointedly.

Jin Xuan smiled. "I'm afraid this road will not be easy tonight."

"Grand Eunuch, there's something I have to tell you," Lanyue Marquis said suddenly.

Jin Xuan's smile did not change. "Please speak."

"Huang-xiong has always kept one eye closed when it came to your affairs. That's because he cherishes the affection you shared growing up with him. But, there will always be a day when these affections run out. What's more, it's always better to keep some affection from the monarch." Lanyue Marquis smiled.

Jin Xuan lowered his head and said, "Jin Xuan has noted it. I also have something to tell Lanyue Marquis." 𝐟r𝒆ℯ𝘄𝑒𝒃𝚗𝒐𝘃e𝗹.c𝘰𝐦

"Do tell?" Lanyue Marquis looked at Jin Xuan curiously.

Jin Xuan patted Lanyue Marquis on his shoulder. "One can speak only when he's standing. Once you're dead, you'll have nothing." After speaking, Jin Xuan walked straight out the door.

Outside the Court of State Ceremonial, Shen Xiduo gestured at his vice minister, who quickly walked over.

"Your Excellency, the deal fell through?" The vice minister whispered.

Shen Xiduo nodded. "An unforeseen snag. In a while, the people inside will come out. Get our brothers to follow them and listen for my signal. We'll arrest Jin Yan in one fell swoop."

"Who's taking him away?" The vice minister asked.

"Lanyue Marquis," Shen Xiduo said solemnly.

The vice minister scratched his head, his expression bitter. "Your Excellency, can you afford to offend these powerful figures?"

Just as Jin Xuan came out, he immediately ran into Shen Xiduo.

"Is the Grand Eunuch returning to the imperial palace?" Shen Xiduo asked with a smile.

"Is Your Excellency returning to the Court of Judicial Review?" Jin Xuan asked rhetorically.

The two smiled and brushed past each other as they walked away.

"What a waste of a day. After all that talk, we still have to resort to our fists," Shen Xiduo said in a low voice.

In the Court of State Ceremonial, Jin Yan and Jin Xian also walked into the courtyard, accompanied by Ling Jun and Bo Yong, both armed with swords.

Lanyue Marquis was taken aback. "Jin Xian Gonggong, what's this about?"

"I'm sure I don't have to tell you, the Marquis must know as well. Once we step out of this door, there will be countless eyes on us." Jin Xian Gonggong had kept his Buddhist beads and was holding his Snowstorm sword that was renowned under Heaven. "Someone is definitely going to make a move before we reach the imperial palace. Although this shidi of mine made a mistake, I still want to save his life. Please allow me to accompany Lanyue Marquis."

"Then I'll have to trouble Gonggong." Lanyue Marquis did not refuse, and he returned a nod. Then he walked up to the doorway, blew a sharp whistle, and a carriage sped over from nearby.

"Brave Tiger Guards, assemble!" Lanyue Marquis suddenly shouted. The sound of horseshoes gradually grew louder from the darkness and hundreds of soldiers wearing armour emblazoned with tiger heads rode over from a distance. They gathered neatly in front of the door to the Court of State Ceremonial.

"The Brave Tiger Guards will lead the way. Lanyue Marquis and the Eunuch of Incense will guard the carriage. This sort of treatment is reserved only for the Emperor, you know." Lanyue Marquis waved his sleeves. "Please."

Jin Yan glanced around vigilantly. Jin Xian patted him on the shoulder, and consoled him, "Don't worry, no matter how bold they are, they wouldn't dare make a move here."

Jin Yan nodded and boarded the carriage. Jin Xian heard the sound of cracking tiles coming from the eaves. He raised his head and realised that Ji Xue, her white hair conspicuous in the night, was sitting on the roof.

"Jin Xian Gonggong, I've been busy all day and my prey was snatched away by someone else." Ji Xue's tone was full of resignation.

"Besides that document, Jin Yan has given Bai Xiao Hall all the information he collected in the past few decades. You didn't make a loss in this deal," Jin Xian said.

"But, I happen to only want that document." Ji Xue dangled a token from her hand, displaying the lifelike carving of a white tiger.

"Baihu?" Jin Xian subconsciously tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.

"What comes next, I won't be representing Bai Xiao Hall as Hallmaster. Instead, I will be Baihu, one of the Four Guardians of Heavenly Revelations." Ji Xue stood up and took a flying leap, disappearing into the distance.

"That's Ji Ruofeng's daughter," Lanyue Marquis whispered with emotion as he watched her retreating back.

The sun had set in the west, and night had fallen. The carriage was finally headed towards the imperial palace under the escort of hundreds of Brave Tiger Guards.

And along the way, monsters and demons hid in the shadows, a night parade of a hundred ghosts. Whether it was the two princes locked in an irreconcilable fight for the throne, or the human judge who convicted and sentenced criminals, or those who had been waiting bitterly and had yet to show their face.

They had all drawn their blades.